Focus to be on World War II
By: Lacey Korevec
World War II is still a memorable part of history for many. But with the battles having been fought over 60 years ago, the number of those who experienced it firsthand is in decline.
That’s why the Cranbury Museum is preparing a January exhibit that will tell the stories of locals who lived through the war. Though there are a few months before the doors open, Museum Curators Jerry Pevahouse and Don Swanagan are looking for items now that represent that particular era.
"We’re looking for almost anything that pertains to World War II or the period," Mr. Pevahouse said. "It could be early 1940s period items that could potentially pertain to World War II."
Photographs, scrapbooks, postcards, uniforms, souvenirs, flags and magazines are just a few examples of items the museum is looking for. Residents with items from family members, living or dead, or veterans themselves are invited to lend the exhibit their stories and their artifacts, Mr. Pevahouse said.
"It doesn’t have to be a veteran," he said. "A lot of people have things that they’ve saved. Their relative might be dead now, but they still have an old uniform or souvenirs that were brought back."
The Cranbury Museum held a similar World War II exhibit about 10 years ago, which was a great success because of help from local veterans, he said.
"The turnout was very good," said Mr. Pevahouse. "People seem to have a good interest in it. So, we want to do something that will attract people and be kind of relevant to what people are interested in as far as history right now."
And now is an especially important time to hold an exhibit of this sort, he said.
"This is a transitional period," he said. Probably within 10 years, there won’t be any World War II veterans left. It’s more relevant if you can do this when some of the veterans are still around."
The exhibit, which has not yet been named, won’t be just a showcase of artifacts, he said. Its purpose is to pass on personal accounts of what life was like during that time.
"We’ll exhibit it in such a way that you’ll get the stories," Mr. Pevahouse said. "A lot of museums are about artifacts. But I try to make it about the people as well. I want to have as many things as I can from local people."
To share a story and lend the exhibit personal World War II memorabilia, contact either Don Swanagan at (609) 395-0420 or Mr. Pevahouse at (609)662-1247.

