Delaware Ag Museum recognizes major donors

The Delaware Agricultural Museum and Village in Dover recently recognized two longtime museum volunteers and supporters for their contributions to the DAMV Adopt-A-Building program.

Adopt-A-Building donors contribute $25,000 toward the long-term preservation of museum village buildings. To date, three of the village’s nine buildings have been adopted.

With his gift, Dr. Donald Arthur Boon, a former chemistry professor at Wesley College, adopted the Woodside (aka Loockerman Landing) Train Station. Because of Boon’s many years of volunteer work serving as the museum’s train stationmaster, the building held a special place in his heart. Boon also held the title of Mr. Fixit, thanks to his affinity and passion for working on anything mechanical, from clocks to washing machines to organs. Boon generously donated his time and talents to repairing the many mechanical artifacts in the museum’s inventory.

The contribution of Arthur Gene Carlisle, another seasoned museum volunteer, will go toward preservation of the Mill Lane one-room schoolhouse. Having taught in Delaware public schools for 30 years, Carlisle started his career as an educator in a very small Sussex County school. This was Carlisle’s second donation to the Adopt-A-Building program, as he also gave $25,000 in 2019 to address long-term preservation needs associated with the St. Thomas Methodist Episcopal Church.

The two gentlemen’s generous donations will go a long way to help the museum achieve its mission of preserving and promoting Delaware’s rich farming heritage.

To learn more, go to agriculturalmuseum.org.