The Bremen County Historical Society (BCHS) took a walk on the wild side and shared the work of Wildlife photographer KIP Ladage and the taxidermie -enthusiast AVA Murphy at their annual meeting on Saturday, April 26. Her shows found in the newly opened Albrecht Wing of the Bremen County Historical Museum in the corner of the Fourth St. SW and in the corner of the Fourth St. SW and in the corner of the Fourth St. SW.
Ava Murphy, Janesville
The guest speaker Ava Murphy shared her donation and research efforts with the introduction of an air-conditioned atmosphere in order to better preserve the taxidermat collection and history of CJ Albrecht, which includes ten large animals and a now aligned black rhino and over 20 species of birds.
The explorer, zoologist, animal sculptor and professor CJ Albrecht, a native of Bremen County, gave this wing and a large part of his animal taxidermie in the local museum. The 18-year-old Murphy, an enthusiastic taxidist, began with the taxidermy when she was only 14 years old.
“I am an animal lover. I was interested in how beautiful these animals are up close. I wanted to bring something to life that would otherwise fall for falling,” said Murphy, a motive that reflects CJ Albrecht's own discovery of taxidermy. Murphy sells and donates some of her taxidermia work via online sources.
“I found it a little strange that a vegetarian would be interested in taxididmia, but she put a lot of time and effort into her,” Ava's father Patrick Murphy remarked and reflected his daughter's interest.
Daughter Ava explains that the animals that she articulates are roadkill or have died natural death.
Ava Murphy contextualizes the era and collection of CJ Albrecht and the collection of Bremer County, whose work and artifacts here in Warly, in his Alma Mater in Iowa City, and in the Field Museum in Chicago, where he worked as a director.
“I understand that CJ had his collection at the time and had only a few ways to see children up close,” she said.
In the early 1900s, zoos, photography and films were not what they are today. Albrecht's trips led him from the Arctic to the African savannah. Albrecht's “African Watering Hole” remains a favorite of the Feldmuseum.
Kip Ladage, Tripolis
Popular TV nature shows such as “The Wild Kingdom” were early inspiration for the photographer and wildlife enthusiasts Kip Ladage of the rural tripolis. As a autodidactic photographer, Ladage promised to “photograph something wild every day” as a stress relief from his paid position as an emergency management coordinator of Bremer County, who works as a first aider, takes care of his mother and carries out death examinations.
His 24-year promise (and counting) to photograph all things that wildly gave wild, a work-life balance for him and delivers a magnificent amount of photos of common photos, including birds, mammals, water birds, insects, reptiles, flowers, “slimy things” and northern lights. The depth of his work aroused interest of photographic crews from the Discovery Channel.
“Did you know that we had so many birds in Bremen County?” Ladage asked the audience after introducing eagles, falcons, owls, cranes, kestrel, pelicans, herons and over 20 other bird species. He led the audience in an auditory experience with the imitation of the closed owl.
“It is adventure near home. Be patient. They are all here,” said Ladage.
Ladage is a committed environmentalist who is concerned about the segmentation of habitats if the carbon pipeline has reached this area. He earned this nickname through Wildlife Rescue, worked with rehabilitators and the reintroduction of the trumpeter Swan and the Otter river in his much photographed sweet Marsh area.
The interests of Murphy and Ladage overlap: Some of Ladage's photography show animals suffering from an influenza from Avians. Murphy hopes that her college studies will include the research of studies and migration of wildlife diseases and migration.
Lebens County story
The Bremen County Historical Museum is filled by volunteers until October. The 1862 building is the oldest commercial building in Bremen County and once served as a hotel and pill factory. Further information and voluntary options can be found on your website.
Representatives of the Bremen County Genealogical Society, the Sturdvant House and the Wavery Public Library were on April 26 to describe information about their diverse and diverse upcoming activities. The Waverly Public Library provided local history sources. The employees kept “stories in the city” to support the rich history of Bremer County.
The Bremen County Genealogical Society will present on Tuesday, May 6th, at 5:30 p.m. in the public library in Denver in the Denver Public Library “Civil War Ancestor Journey” and an excursion to the poor farm from Bremen County Sponsert in June.
On Saturday, May 3, Wavery Art Walk, Ira Sturdevant House and the Bremen County Historical Society have come together from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Start in Waverly Farmer's Exchange Building, where volunteers explain the role of the railway in this historical parking environment and offer experiences of the 1850s such as candlelight, change of butter and wash day work. Then continue to the falling house in the 502 First St. SW for further tours and surprises.