Elkhart County Historical Museum

Just the Facts

Elkhart County Historical Museum

The Elkhart County Historical Museum is housed in the historic Rush Memorial Center in Bristol, Indiana at 304 W. Vistula St. (St. Rd. 120). Phone: 574-848-4322. For general tour & reservations call 574-535-6458 Howard Rush purchased the former Bristol High School property in 1968, and donated it for a Museum to the Historical Society.

Also called the Rush Memorial Center, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1990.

Season: open all year

Matthew Schuld is the new Museum Director as of July, 2011. The museum offers many different programs that to appeal to young and old all year long. Museum is open Tuesday - Saturday, 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M., closed Sunday (except for special programs). Call Educational Director Rebecca Oestrich for information on registration for upcoming programs and tours at 574-848-4322.

Read the Museum blog which will provide information on E.C.H.S upcoming programs and events.

Bristol High School Alumni meet

Click here for View & Share Gallery to download all photos

The Class of 1961 was honored on their 50th Anniversary of graduation from Bristol High School at the Bristol Indiana Alumni Association held at the Rush Memorial Center in the Elkhart County Historical Museum, as represented here by Karleen Christensen and her mother, Mary Jane. The rest of the photos taken at the reunion can be accessed at the Gallery link above.

The alumni gathered in late afternoon to visit with class members before a delicious catered meal topped off with a wide variety of pies. A musical program and presentation by the Class of 1961 followed the meal.

Frances Scheiber Aldrich of the class of 1932, who attended with her daugher Barbara Wenger, was one of the oldest members, having weathered 79 years of reunions. Esther Menges Sawyer of the class of 1934 came for her 77th reunion with her daughter Ellen Wood and niece Nancy Lebian, all of California. Other classmates came from other distant states, including Florida.

The centerpiece of the room was the handmade wooden Bristol Pirate ship crafted by Don Kuefeldt of the Class of 1945. When asked how long it took to complete it, he smiled and replied that he doesn't keep track of time when doing what he enjoys. It is certain that all the other class members would agree that time stood still Saturday afernoon, Sept. 17, 2011, as they met and reminisced with each other over shared memories of the time they spent together at Bristol High School

For more information on upcoming events, call Rebecca Oestreich at 574-848-4322.