If you are in the Texas panhandle area [e.g. Amarillo] you may
want to stop and see this. Next to a typical oil rig of the
1920's oil boom.

====== Borger News-Herald article follows ========
http://www.borgernewsherald.com/content/view/125580/1/

Museum celebrates completion of Machine Shop
on 01-02-2008 11:41

By: Brooke Huff
Reporter

The Hutchinson County Historical Museum has been working on its
new Machine Shop exhibit for several years. On December 14, 2007
it was finally completed.

At the Hutchinson County Historical Commission meeting Monday
evening, the commission discussed the progress of the exhibit.
Hutchinson County Historical Museum director Ed Benz told the
commission that the construction has been completed, and they
were able to move all of the artifacts in on December 18. He also
said that the project cost them about $5,000 less than they
expected.
The Machine Shop, located across Main Street from the museum, is
open to tours, but they are still seeking exhibit sponsorship for
some inside work, such as wiring, that still needs to be done.
Benz said that they are working on a building fund for exhibitory
and restoration of some of the artifacts.
Benz hopes to be able to use the Machine Shop exhibit to help
promote Borger’s petroleum heritage. It will help improve the
museum’s outdoor exhibitions. The new exhibit, Benz said, is only
one of two complete Machine Shop exhibits in the country. He said
that back in the early 1920’s Borger was famous for its large
number of Machine Shops. Many of the artifacts currently housed
in the exhibit were once a part of working Machine Shops in the
surrounding area. The Machine Shop exhibit will also be home to a
Central Supply exhibit and an original Mac truck.
At the meeting, the commission also discussed the importance of
more volunteers. Benz said that recently, due to uncontrollable
circumstances, they have lost several of their faithful
volunteers. They are seeking volunteers because, Benz said,
volunteers play a vital role in the daily operation of the
museum. They help in the preservation of the county’s history by
assisting with building projects and giving tours. They also
travel the Panhandle giving educational presentations about
Hutchinson County and its heritage. On weekends, the volunteers
man the museum so the museum’s few full-time employees can have a
day off. Other duties include assisting with special
presentations at the museum and organizing events.
Benz did report to the commission that their number of volunteers
and Friends of the Hutchinson County Museum members have doubled.
They have also been able to increase their exhibits and donor
sponsorship.
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