A new scrapbook documenting the history of the Wyeth Tootle Mansion aims to give readers a deeper appreciation for St. Joseph's past while highlighting the people behind the city's development.
Mementos and Moments, a Scrapbook History of the Wyeth Tootle Mansion features more than 200 postcards, colorized photographs, blueprints and other historical prints that tell the story of St. Joseph. The book explores topics ranging from the Wyeth and Tootle families' business ventures to their everyday domestic lives.
Author Maxwell Morgan said he hopes the book will encourage more people to take an interest in local history and recognize the human stories behind well-known historical figures.
"I really want people to read the book and maybe get more interested in local history and also the human aspect of that history, that these were not monolithic mythical figures, but they were people like you and me," Morgan said.
The book signing also gave visitors an opportunity to tour the newly renovated second floor of the Wyeth Tootle Mansion. The updated exhibits highlight the men and women whose contributions helped shape St. Joseph's history.
Morgan said community involvement is essential to the museum's mission.
"A museum doesn't have to just be the walls that it's in," he said. "A museum can really spread out into the community, and so we really want to be our community's museum and source of history."
Copies of Mementos and Moments are available for purchase online and at the Wyeth Tootle Mansion.