Recordernews.com

CANAJOHARIE — The Arkell Museum at Canajoharie announces its special Beech-Nut "Family Day," slated for Sunday, with an afternoon full of activities from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m.

"The story of the Canajoharie area and the Arkell Museum is intimately tied to the story of the Beech-Nut Company," said Andy Albertson, the museum's curator of education and public programs. "We have organized this May family day to bring anyone with a love of Beech-Nut advertising, culture and even their products to the museum to celebrate the rich history of the company."

Several collectors of Beech-Nut memorabilia will display their collections throughout the afternoon in the museum's Great Hall. Short guided tours of the Arkell Museum's permanent Beech-Nut exhibition will be provided by museum docents. In addition, families can create their own Beech-Nut decoupage frames using reproduction labels and Beech-Nut clip art.

Jeff Heiser, the company's production manager, will hold several walking tours of the factory grounds as well as a presentation in the museum's great hall, of highlights in the company's history. Company CEO and President Christoph Rudolf will also be present to greet the crowd of family day visitors. Families can participate in a Beech-Nut scavenger hunt in the museum's exhibition and meet a Beech-Nut gum girl in costume as they exit the museum.

"This day should definitely prove to be an adventure for visitors," said Albertson. "There will be plenty to see and do, and we hope that people will leave with a greater appreciation for the history of the Beech-Nut Company's legacy in Canajoharie and the greater area."

Museum staff will be on hand to collect contact information for past and present Beech-Nut employees in the hope of conducting oral histories in the future. "We thought this would be the ideal day to begin building a roster of employees who want to share their story of working for Beech-Nut," said Albertson. "While we won't be doing the actual oral histories on Beech-Nut family day, we will be getting the important contact information to reach people in the future and talk to them about working for the company."

Arkell Museum Family Discovery Days are free to museum members and to visitors residing within the following zip codes: 12166, 13317, 13339, 13410, 13428 and 13459. For all others, regular museum admission is $7 for adults, $5 for students and senior citizens and free for children under 11.

The Arkell Museum is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 12:30 to 5 p.m. For information call 673-2314 or visit www.arkellmuseum.org.