A message from the Effingham County Museum's President, Delaine Donaldson 

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If you visit the Museum, you will notice some changes on the outside of the building.  The County is replacing the sidewalks on the courthouse square.  This work should be completed rather quickly.  The shrubs around the building, as of today, Monday, October 28, have been removed. 
Also, thanks to Board member, Robert McMullen, the Johnny Appleseed tree commemoration sign is in place.  Additonal anchoring of the sign might be need, once the ground gets some hydration in it.

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At the September 2024 ECCCMA Board meeting, Fred Johnson introducted Luke Jansen to the members.  Luke, in turn, offered to loan a special artifact to the Museum, a wooden grave marker, for his relative, Elizabeth Brummer. Below, Luke is pictured  with that special item.  Shown, also, is the current grave marker for that gravesite.

The Effingham County Courthouse Museum is pleased to announce the addition of a historical grave marker on loan from the family of Elizabeth Brummer. The Exhibit was presented to the museum by Luke Jansen, a descendant of Elizabeth Brummer, on behalf of the Brummer family. Luke Jansen is shown holding the original marker. 

Elizabeth Brummer (1789-1841) was the wife of John B. Brummer, one of the first German settlers in the rural Green Creek Community north of Effingham. They are both buried at St. Mary’s Help of Christians Church Cemetery (aka Green Creek Cemetery). The couple had one child, a daughter, also named Elizabeth. Anton Bernard Jansen (Anton B Jansen) came to the area in 1841 and worked as a farmhand for John B. Brummer. In April of 1842, Anton B. Jansen married Elizabeth, the daughter of John B. and Elizabeth Brummer. The original wooden grave marker of Elizabeth Brummer is depicted with its German engraving. The exact date of the wooden marker is uncertain.
The original marker was eventually replaced in 2008 or 2009, with the granite marker shown here. 

The Exhibit depicts the original hand carved, well-preserved inscription shown in the photograph. The museum expresses its appreciation to the descendants of Elizabeth Brummer for their generous contribution.