The Trenton Historical Museum Isn't Boring, You're Boring

With barely an inch of free space on the walls, shelves and floors, an hour at the packs more excitement than a full season of "American Pickers."

Some of the most popular television shows right now are the History Channel's  "Pawn Stars" and "American Pickers" and A&E's "Storage Wars." The shows focus on antiques and their overall rarity, uniqueness and value.

I love watching those shows, but perhaps not for the same reasons as you. I don't watch the shows to find out the value of a random item. I like the history and the story behind the item. I cringe as my wife fast-forwards (we DVR everything) through a conversation between an elderly woman and a pawnshop owner about a dollar bill autographed by both the woman's father and Clark Gable. She, like many people, just wants to know how much the bill is worth and move on. Not me.

There isn't a single price tag at the historical museum, which is what makes it such a wonderful place to spend an afternoon. Nothing is for sale and no one knows the monetary value of any of the items inside the museum. Deal with it.

Nor should items be for sale. These trinkets, paintings, milk jug storage cases, model ships, creepy child mannequins, photos, coal burning stoves and wreaths made of human hair shouldn't be owned by one person, but rather shared with a community; a community that appreciates the value of story telling; a community like Trenton.

Volunteers run the entire operation. No one gets paid. There isn't any money to go around. The people who care for and protect the museum do it as a labor of love.

Ladies like museum secretaries Joanne Cranford and Judy Chuhran or Carol Hendricks of the help visitors get to know the past by teaching them about one interesting item at a time.

The volunteers at the museum have more than a few stories to tell guests. Each has a particular interest in certain items and can speak about them until you begin to feel a connection with the items.

You can imagine yourself using an old wooden Bissell carpet sweeper. You can close your eyes and pretend you're standing in front of the icebox in July with an ice pick in one hand and a glass of fresh lemonade in the other. For a moment, while the volunteers speak, you are filled with fear as a creepy child mannequin seemingly looks into your soul and smiles ever so slightly.

I'm 31-years-old. I have a 4-month-old son and a lovely wife. I am you. I represent a large portion of the population of Trenton. I share the same interests as many of you. If I had fun, so will you.

I encourage Patch readers and residents of Trenton to take an hour out of your Saturday between 1 and 4 p.m. and spend some time with some knowledgeable volunteers and some incredible pieces of history.

And if that doesn't work. Perhaps this will convince you to go to the historical museum. It's just like watching your favorite antique show--only bigger.

Disclaimer: the before mentioned creepy child mannequin may haunt your dreams as it has mine.