Thanks to reorganization efforts and donations, the Chehalis Valley Historical Museum in Montesano is set to expand its services for those wanting to dig deeper into the past.

The reorganization and modernizing of the museum is in an effort to better serve community interest in the area’s history. Darrel White, author of the museum’s newsletter, The Chehalis Valley Historian, said reorganization efforts at the museum happened by chance.

“The effort began about two years ago and as we began to clean and sort the items, individuals suggested organizational changes,” White said.

The reorganization not only made things look a little nicer at the museum, but the extra space will allow for additional services.

White said now available at the museum is a schools collection that includes yearbooks and other memorabilia. Also new is an alphabetized filing general system, the installation of a heating system for the basement area and the installation of Internet services, all of which will facilitate research and family history work.

The removal of the cabinets and sink from the downstairs kitchen area creates a place for quarterly thematic displays of items from the museum’s collection. Museum volunteers also sorted out items that had little or no connection to the Chehalis Valley.

The two most exciting developments that were featured in the museum’s most recent newsletter were the family history and thematic display additions.

The idea for a genealogy and family history area came from discussions by the museum board and a suggestion to organize materials so they could be easily accessed and utilized by patrons. Setting up the genealogy station at the museum required installing heat for the basement and Internet access for the museum. Those upgrades were gifted by two patrons and cost about $6,000.

“As space became available downstairs the idea grew to fruition and shelving was devoted to an alphabetized collection of family histories,” White said.

White said the museum is a nonprofit and therefore $20 donations are requested but not required for the genealogy services.

“We are hopeful that there will be those who will come to us for assistance,” White said. “We have several very experienced genealogists, including some who have been doing family history research for more than 40 years.”

White said that while the museum is mostly focused on the Chehalis Valley its volunteers and genealogists can assist anyone who wants to know more about their family history.

Learning about history is one thing, but the museum soon will offer patrons a chance to see history by way of themed displays. As of now the idea is for the displays to operate on a quarterly basis three quarters out of the year.

White says the museum already has some ideas for what could be their first displays. School days, farming, logging, historic hobbies, parks, tree farms, area athletics and pioneer families are all potential themes. The displays will be located in the old kitchen area.

White said those interested in volunteering, learning more about the Chehalis Valley or researching family history are welcome to stop by the museum which is open Saturdays and Sundays, noon to 4 p.m.