Jan Petersen retires from museum again

By PHIL FAUVER staff writer

Jan Petersen retires from the San Rafael Museum Board.
Jan Petersen has decided to retire after serving Emery County at the San Rafael Museum for over 23 years in several capacities including Director of the San Rafael Museum.
Petersen began working with the museum when it was starting to collect items for display. In the beginning she mowed the lawn, picked up apples, cleaned the windows, turned on the water and kept the books. In those early days of the museum, she involved other board members in the acquisition of displays for the museum.
Jan said board members Dixon Peacock and Cliff Oviatt would go up on the mountains and collect items to put on display in the museum. “The San Rafael Museum was built with Community Impact Board money. They told the county that if they did not get some more displays in the museum they would no longer provide funding for the museum.
“At one time we invited Doctor Dave Gillette from Salt Lake to came and assist us with our dinosaur display. We purchased dinosaur bones from a museum in Las Vegas that was going out of business. The display workers assembling the bones could not make the bones work because they did not match. Doctor Gillette from the University of Utah with his students come down and helped match up the bones,” said Petersen.
Petersen said, “Working with the museum has been a labor of love. Thanks to all the members of the community who were very helpful in making the museum great. I loved working here, I loved putting up displays and painting the walls. I loved bringing in the Smithsonian Institute displays and other interesting traveling exhibits. It has been a fun ride.”
“Bryce Wilson the director of the Glee Club arranged to put on a benefit program to raise money for the purchase of our piano.
My most memorable event held in the museum was the traveling exhibit about World War II. We got all those photos and then incorporated the veterans in Emery County. The veterans brought in their memorabilia and we had display after display, after display and a great program honoring the veterans.
“We also had a traveling exhibit about China. In this one I incorporated the schools to help me do several programs. I always tried to involve people in what I did, because that is what has made the museum.
“We worked on the museum displays for 8 to 10 years before getting it set up for the San Rafael Museum dedication of September 25, 1983.
“Our goal was to get the people of Emery County to know what the museum was like with a lot of exciting programs held at the museum. The museum is the crown jewel of Emery County it always has been and always will be. That is our motto. Whenever we could get some grant money we would add another exhibit. Thanks to Cliff Oviatt and his artistic ability. That has been one of our greatest assets.
“We have had many dedicated people on our board. I am going to miss it. I want it to go on and on and be something special for Emery County. The museum is a special place and we want people to come and enjoy it and see what we have to offer here.
“I know Maegan Wilberg the new director with the help of Dawnette Tuttle and the museum board members will make the museum continue to do well,” said Petersen.