CENTERVILLE -- Even history needs a helping hand sometimes. Centerville's Whitaker Museum is currently seeking several volunteers, both to fill in empty positions on the museum board and to help create displays for several 1940s artifacts that will be used for a special event in May. Both positions are part of the museum's continued efforts to become a more integrated part of the surrounding community. "I firmly believe the museum has quite a potential as a community and educational center," said Rebekah Barton, former chair of the museum board.

"I wish the Whitaker Museum Board every success."

The five-member Whitaker Museum board, which has had several members resign due to other commitments during the past few months, the board is responsible for recommending and overseeing programs, policies, financing funding, and essentially over all administrative decisions involved with the museum.

Currently, the board's focus has been to improve community outreach, where it has met with mixed success at events such as the cancelled harvest festival and a well-attended evening with a Victorian Santa that occurred in conjunction with the city's Christmas lighting ceremony.

Their next planned event is May history month, which is where the display volunteers are needed.

The museum has a small selection of 1940s artifacts -- a few pieces of WWII military garb, an adding machine, hair clippers and curlers, and Noritake dishes made in Japan are among the collection -- that need displays and stories that will be used throughout the month.

The stories and displays will be used throughout a month's worth of activities, all of which at the moment are only tentatively scheduled.

A variety of historical talks and presentations will be included in the month of activities, as well as a dance exhibition and possibly a few Friday evenings of 1940s movies on the museum grounds.

A full day of games, food music and tours has also been scheduled for Saturday, May 17.

Anyone interested in becoming a part of the museum board should complete a Statement of Interest and Qualifications found at the city's Web site, www.center

villeut.net or requested by calling the city offices at 295-3477.

Those interested in creating a display or telling the story of one of the 1940s artifacts should call Richard Henrichsen at 294-5073.

jwardell@davisclipper.com