Judy Garland - Letter from Home - December News!

October and November were busy months, so here’s all the latest news about Judy from Grand Rapids!

John Kelsch Visits Frank Gumm’s Birthplace

This past October, John Kelsch traveled to Murfreesboro, Tennessee to visit to the birthplace of Judy Garland’s beloved father, Frank Gumm. When Frank was born on March 20^th, 1886, Murfreesboro was a small town. Now the city, which lies 35 miles southeast of Nashville, is in the second fastest growing county in the United States, nevertheless, Mr. Kelsch, who had never visited the South before, was impressed by the warm and friendly “southern hospitality” welcome he received.

One of the important stops on John Kelsch’s trip was his visit to the University of the South at Sewanee, where Frank Gumm attended school for six years – from the age of 13 to 19. Sewanee is located south of Murfreesboro and sits on a large mountain overlooking plains of farmland. Of course, much has changed since Frank Gumm resided there, mainly the amount of huge stone buildings which make the university look like an old English town. 

While he was there, Mr. Kelsch also visited the University archives where, assisted by interim archives assistant, Meg Beasley, he was able to make some new discoveries on Frank Gumm’s history at the school.

On the journey to Sewanee, Mr. Kelsch took a side trip to the town of Tullahoma, where

John Kelsch with one of Judy's cousins, Claire Weber
Claire's father, Edwin Rion, was Frank Gumm's first
cousin

Frank and his sister, Mary Gumm, lived around 1910. During that time, he worked for his Uncle’s brother, Walter D. Fox. As a member of the Knights of Pythias, Fox was busy building a group of homes for widows and orphans. Kelsch was given a tour of this site which as Ovoca. Now privately owned, it includes a lake and a waterfall!

Michelle Russell in the entrance hall of the home
where Frank Gumm was born. Standing next to
her is the present owner. According to him,
the home was not as grand at that time.

In Murfreesboro, John Kelsch met up with author Michelle Russell, who was there to give a talk on her book, “From Tennessee to Oz – The Amazing Saga of Judy Garland’s Family History.” Ms. Russell has many connections in the town of Murfreesboro and was able to arrange a personal tour of the home where Frank Gumm was born.

The Rutherford County Tennessee home where Rev. Henry
Hartwell Marable of Virginia moved around 1810. 

There were many other points of interest on this trip, including The Hermitage, home of President Andrew Jackson. Jackson was a frequent visitor to the little town of Old Jefferson and probably rubbed shoulders with Judy’s fourth great-grandfather, Norton Gum who was the town supervisor. Another historic home visited was that of the South’s Boy Hero, Sam Davis. The museum has moved the home that Sam Davis was born in onto the estate with hopes of restoring it. It so happens that this home was the home of Judy Garland’s great great great grandfather, Reverend Henry Hartwell Marable a well-known Methodist Minister who preached “the Word” for over fifty years.

Finally, one of the most important homes related to Judy’s heritage is Oaklands. In the late 1800s, this home was owned by George Darrow and his wife, Tempe Swope. Darrow was the man who first recognized Frank Gumm’s musical talent and, as a result, sent him to Sewanee on a scholarship. It was there that he received a fine musical education, and, as they say, the rest is history.

Oaklands where George Darrow lived at the time
he sent Frank Gumm to Sewanee 

The Judy Garland Museum Undergoes Renovation

This past October, as The Judy Garland Museum returned to winter hours (open only Friday and Saturday, except for school groups), the renovation of exhibits began. The old Judy Garland exhibit has been packed up, cases moved and 50 new display cases, courtesy of a special benefactor, have been moved in.

During the next six months, a new 3,000 piece Wizard of Oz collection will be unpacked and prepared for display in the main gallery with the carriage. In addition, a totally new exhibition of Judy Garland Memorabilia will be unveiled and will include many rare one of kind items to delight Garland fans!

The Itasca Historical Society Turns Over the Second 

Installment of their Collection

After a recent move from the Old Schoolhouse to a new site on Pokegama Avenue, The Itasca Historical Society made the decision to focus their collection on the Gumm Family in Grand Rapids. Meanwhile, they also made the generous decision to turn over all Garland Memorabilia pertaining to Judy Garland’s career outside Grand Rapids to the Judy Garland Museum.

A few weeks ago, the Museum received the second installment delivery of this collection. Although John Kelsch previously worked for the Itasca Historical Society and was responsible for collecting a great deal of this collection, opening the boxes was like Christmas. Among the items found was an original script from The Wizard of Oz and the Luft/Garland housekeeper’s date book (circa 1950s) detailing every appointment and dinner guest at that time. There are many, many more treasures to be seen next June when the Museum opens its new exhibit display!

Jean Hanson’s Family Donates Garland Collection

Recently, another grand collection arrived at the Judy Garland Museum when Mrs. Jean Hanson’s children shipped her Judy Garland memorabilia, collected over decades to the museum.

At present, we do not have much information on Jean Hanson. She was born Jean Campbell in 1918. She and her husband John Hanson were married in 1942 and for many years lived in Dutch Flat, C. Mrs. Hanson passed away in 2008. Looking at her collection, John Kelsch feels certain that she knew Judy and her daughter Liza because there are many personal photos in this collection.  If anyone has any further information on Mrs. Hanson, please contact the museum and fill us in.

Ho-Ho HoDown Christmas

November 30^th, The Judy Garland and Children’s Museum hosted a “Ho-Ho Hoe-Down Christmas with 20 minute sleigh rides in the snow.  Over 180 adults and children attended. This exciting event heralded the arrival of the Christmas season with a visit from Santa Claus who arrived in a sleigh pulled by a horse.

The 2014 Judy Garland Festival Schedule is Announced

For nearly six months now, folks in Grand Rapids have been hard at work preparing for the 2014 Judy Garland Festival. 2014 will celebrate the 75^th Anniversary of The Wizard of Oz. The Festival will open on June 10^th, the 92^nd Anniversary of Judy Garland’s birth. As we look at the young Judy who seems forever young in the role of Dorothy, it is difficult to realize that much time has passed. 

The opening day of the 2014 Festival will begin with the unveiling of the new museum exhibitions, including the amazing 3,000 piece Wizard of Oz Collection.  There will also be birthday cake, to celebrate Judy’s birthday. That evening from 7 to 11pm, a birthday party for Judy Garland will be held at the Sawmill Inn Ballroom. The ballroom, which will be decorated like that Land of Oz, will have a cash bar, appetizer menu and “Judy” Karaoke, so make your plans now to join in the fun! 

More announcements about The 2014 Judy Garland Festival will be included in our January newsletter.

So have yourself a Merry Little Christmas and a very Happy New Year!

Visit the Judy Garland Museum: http://www.judygarlandmuseum.com