Find out what’s happening behind the scenes
By Pat Saxton
Museum Director
Continuing our efforts to renovate Guinep House through funds from the TCIG Infrastructure Fund, we installed new windows on the second floor of the Museum. Renovations to a 200-year-old house are never easy. To the untrained eye, one would think that the windows were fine. However, there always seems to be something unknown lurking behind the paint! True to form the windows were no different
Not only were the shutters rotten, which had not been opened in years, but the windows themselves had succumbed to the weather and insect damage. Luckily, the insect damage was stopped through the efforts of AND Construction last year. However, all of the mechanics of the windows had failed and wet rot had invaded the deep reveals that surround the windows.
We were able to close the Museum to the public for 5 days, including the weekend—while the work was completed. Any renovation is never easy but being a Museum that means covering or moving everything. Not an easy task when under a time limit.
AND Construction, under the leadership of Rene Carrillo (Project Manager) not only finished on time, but cleaned up every bit of dust, and residue from the work. The windows look great, in fact one would never know they were even replaced, because AND Construction made sure they kept the integrity of the building….now that is a good renovation!
- Published in A Day at the National Museum
By Candianne Williams
Gift Shop Attendant
A very excited and eager group of twenty –two students visited the museum on Wednesday 12th June 2013.
The grade three and four students of Richmond Hill Preparatory School in Providenciales were on a field trip to Grand Turk to visit historical sites. They were accompanied by parent Mrs. Maria McPherson and teachers, Mrs. Georgia Brown and Mr. Wilbert Brown.
The students were very attentive took lots of notes and pictures and also purchased souvenirs. They really enjoyed their learning experience.
- Published in A Day at the National Museum
By Cordelia Creese
Children’s Club Coordinator
The club convened on Saturday, June 8, 2013 at the museum and then we did a little “sandwatching” on a short portion of the West Road Beach from Missick’s Building to the Fishermen’s Port. Seven members attended.
We observed a number of things on the beach.
We noted that there is a GREAT need for users of the beach to keep it CLEANER.
We saw several sea biscuits.
One of the highlights of our Sandwatching was to witness a symbiotic relationship between a pelican and a laughing gull.
We say thank you to the fishermen on the beach who allowed us to photograph them catching “fries” and also allowed us to touch the “fries”.
Spread the word says our Pelican : “Keep Our Beaches Clean” !!!
- Published in A Day at the National Museum, Children's Club News
By Candianne Williams
Museum Gift Shop Manager
On Monday May 27th Diane Dibbins Kretz, the great great granddaughter of the illustrious Jeremiah Murphy, visited the museum.
Jeremiah Murphy, adventurer and pioneer of deep sea diving made Grand Turk his home from the 1850’s to the time of his death in 1895. A new exhibit which the museum plans to create on the history of diving in the Turks and Caicos will begin with the exploits of Jeremiah Murphy as a helmet diver.
Diane is very excited about this new project and said that she will be willing to help however she can. She loves Grand Turk and was enjoying her visit. However, snorkeling was the extent of her underwater adventures although she did not quite rule out becoming a diver at some point. You just never know. It is in the genes.
- Published in A Day at the National Museum
By Cordelia Creese
Children’s Club Coordinator
The third meeting of the Museum children’s club was held on Saturday May 18, 2013. Our theme for this session was” Basketry”. Nine children attended and four adults.
We all tried very hard to follow our instructor, Isabell Brown, and create our fish.
It took a lot of time and effort to be moderately accomplished in the fine art of weaving.
We all had such a great time in this very engaging session that three hours sped by without notice.
Our session ended with a short vote of thanks to Isabell by Andrew Clark.
The children’s club is extremely grateful to Ms. Brown for her donations of thatch, and samples of her work in basketry.
We will need many, more sessions to perfect our skills.
- Published in A Day at the National Museum, Children's Club News
By Cordelia Creese
Children’s Club Coordinator
The Museum’s Children’s club once again assembled on March 9, 2013. Our members ranged in age from seven to twelve.
At our first meeting, we made word puzzles and bookmarks based on our theme: “the Commonwealth”. We had a great time finding the countries and making the flashy bookmarks.
Our second meeting on April 13, 2013 brought adventure; as we journey into the past and visited five of the fourteen chimneys remaining on Grand Turk.
We observed, drew and took photos of these chimneys.
The cooking areas below these chimneys were divided into compartments or sections. Why was this done is very puzzling; and the answer will be available in our next blog. Stay tuned!!!
- Published in A Day at the National Museum, Children's Club News
By Dr. Toni Carrell
Treasurer, Friends of the Turks & Caicos National Museum
Yes the rumors are true, April 30, 2013 was the last day that Museum gift shop and volunteer manager Jackie Garbarino was an employee. Jackie is leaving, but happily for us, she won’t be completely gone. She will continue her involvement by remaining on the Museum Foundation and Friends Boards.
It’s hard to believe that nearly three years have flown by – it was September 2010 when Jackie and Pat Saxton took over the reins of the Museum and began its renaissance. They rolled up their sleeves and went to work. Jackie took on the daunting task of completely reorganizing the Gift Shop bringing in wonderful new goodies to tempt shoppers. Under her guidance the shop space was remodeled, repainted and renewed. Jackie even brought us into the 21st century by adding a credit card machine!
Exercising her green thumb, or at least good landscaping sense, Jackie cleaned up the entry area with its small garden and made it more open and inviting. Not being satisfied, new signs at the front door welcome visitors and residents alike. True to her Italian roots, she made everyone feel at home the minute they arrived with a “My House is Your House” smile.
Having her finger on the pulse of the Grand Turk social scene, Jackie organized “Movie Night at the Museum.” With a popcorn machine (what’s a movie without popcorn!), cookies, drinks, and lots of laughs, it’s become a regular, much looked-forward-to event. It also raises money to support the Museum.
Jackie also quickly recruited volunteers to do everything from fixing electrical outlets, flying items from Grand Turk to Provo, helping with membership and data entry, cleaning exhibits, popping popcorn and bartending on movie night, cataloging the museum’s small library, helping with gift shop inventory and sales, to doing a gift shop makeover.
For those of you who have seen the Museum blog, you will recognize Jackie’s wicked, funny sense of humor. Her unique outlook on life and perspective on what the rest of us would call ordinary has made for some laugh-out-loud posts.
Jackie arm-wrestled the flagging membership. Under her guidance not only has the Museum membership grown but renewals are up. Who can resist her emails with a reminder to renew?
In all ways, Jackie was the visible face of the Musuem. It was her smile that greeted dazed passengers from the cruise ships, wandering visitors from the hotels, local residents looking for that perfect gift, and volunteers who simply love the Museum and want to see it thrive.
The short of it is Jackie will be sorely missed. Her understudy at the front, Candianne Williams, is stepping up to greet one and all with her own dazzling smile. Although gone from the Museum, Jackie will still be around teaching yoga, working on her Italian, and making us laugh. Who knows, she may even find time to volunteer now and then. Ciao Jackie!
- Published in A Day at the National Museum
By Jackie Garbarino
Museum Gift Shop and Volunteer Manager
On April 8th Floyd and Candianne Williams hosted Floyd’s sister Dean and her friend Prue to a tour of The Best Little Museum in the Caribbean. Dean and Prue traveled by land, air, sea and land again to visit from the UK. They were very impressed with the exhibits and the wealth of information about the history and culture of the Turks & Caicos Islands.
Of course having sister in law Candianne as the tour guide and brother Floyd as transporter in chief made the landing on Grand Turk very special. They were off to other islands on their Caribbean cruise but none could match the museum and family combo they found here. Museum Members make the most of family visits. Join the museum and your family will visit!
- Published in A Day at the National Museum
By Jackie Garbarino
Museum Gift Shop and Volunteer Manager
Bernice & Allan (aka Big Red) Neasham of Bermuda have been members of the museum for donkey years and they gift a membership every year to a friend. They spend some of the winter months in Grand Turk.
Whenever they are here the local bands are happy to have Big Red play his bucket bass. He is a retired professional musician so he adds class to whatever band lucky enough to have his as a guest. Now the fact that he is a museum member probably does not improve his musical talent….but just maybe. Join the museum and play the bass!
- Published in A Day at the National Museum
By Jackie Garbarino
Museum Gift Shop and Volunteer Manager
Mitchell Loeb, our “do whatever you need done” volunteer and loyal museum member, has expanded his repertoire to include deep sea fishing. He landed this Wahoo in his small boat on his own! It was quite a fight but luckily for his friends he won the battle. And he now has more “best friends” than he was aware of but being a generous fisherman he shared. Now the fact he is a museum member probably did not bring him luck…but just maybe. Join the museum and catch big fish!
- Published in A Day at the National Museum