Everything old is new again

History became the present last week with the longawaited opening of the Big Toy Museum, located in the old middle school. In a ceremonial ribbon cutting hosted by the Sallisaw Chamber of Commerce, owner Larry Crowe was joined by his wife, Lori, and J.D. Chandler, along with chamber president Marley Abell and members of the chamber and Sallisaw businesses to christen the museum. Located in the remodeled school at Main Street and Creek Avenue, it was a trip down Memory Lane, especially for students recalling their school days in the repurposed building. The opening coincided with the annual Diamond Daze festival, and Crowe offered tours of the museum on Friday and Saturday. The museum is open to the public 7 to 9 p.m. Fridays and 2 to 6 p.m. Saturdays. To schedule special visits for groups of 10 or more, or to reserve the meeting room at the museum, call 405-820-2517 after 1 p.m.The museum traces the legacy of transportation, with exhibits of 65 cars and trucks, a dozen motorcycles, tractors from the 1950s, fire trucks, replica airplanes and horsedrawn carriages. The museum’s main entrance features a classic van with a bicycle mounted on top.