Articles » News

Historical Juggling Museum May Come To Beecher

The only historical juggling museum in the world may be making its home in Beecher in just a few years.

Lynn Dill  /  June 16, 2011  /  Views: 696  /   No Comments

Whether as part of a religious festival, children's games or for pure entertainment, juggling has been a part of cultures all over the world.

In a few years, Beecher may be at the center of this performing art with the opening of a historical museum of juggling.

"It would be the only one in the world," emphasized Kim Coleman, presenting the concept to the Beecher Village Board at its June 13 meeting.

Coleman said all of the paperwork had been completed for the non-profit venture. She will serve as museum director and will have a co-chairman, possibly from Finland or the United Kingdom, and a board member from Las Vegas and two from Illinois.

Though the idea of a juggling museum may seem a little eccentric to the average person, Coleman has grown up in the world of juggling. Her father, Ken Benge, also a Beecher resident, was a world champion juggler in the 1970s.

It is his original collection, which has been greatly expanded by another individual, that would be the focal point of the museum. Thirty years ago, Benge possessed the largest U.S. collection of juggling history, including pictures, props, books, articles and memorabilia.

He gave these items to fellow juggling enthusiast and successful businessman, Paul Bachman, who has continued to build it over the past 30 years. He has gathered props and autographs of juggling from world-class jugglers, accumulated more than 6,000 films and videos of the top jugglers, past and present, and put them into a digital system for easy access.

The collection includes juggling books, posters and props - portraying the entire history of juggling from vaudeville, circus and television, up to the Internet age.

"This is not the type of collection that can ever be duplicated," Benge stated in an outline Coleman provided to the board.

"To date, this is the most complete documentation and history of juggling world-wide," he added.

At the heart of the museum would be the 100 autographed props and historical narratives of the top jugglers in the world, many of whom are now gone. These items already are enclosed in individual glass cases.

The museum's mission would be public preservation and awareness of the history of juggling.

Coleman also pointed out the benefits for Beecher, including being home to a completely original museum, using the museum as a publicity draw, receiving sales tax revenue from the museum's gift shop, providing traffic to other businesses and, possibly, serving as a catalyst for downtown business revitalization.

Ideally, the museum planners would like a building from 3,000-to-7,000-square-feet, requiring minimum modification that is ADA approved, has existing washroom facilities for men and women, prominent visibility, minimal parking requirements, and is expandable, either internally or externally.

"What are you looking for from us - a building?" asked Trustee Brian Cleary.

Coleman responded that it would be wonderful if the village had a building available, but said she was at the meeting just to introduce the idea and get the board's response.

Mayor Paul Lohmann said the village did not have a building available, but suggested that the former Knuth's Kountry Market on the corner of Dixie and Indiana might be a good location. He also recommended seeking grants, and said the depot had received a $25,000 grant. He suggested Coleman contact Illinois state senators and representatives, along with fundraising activities.

Village Administrator Bob Barber said he and Lohmann recently had passed the Circus Hall of Fame in Peru, Indiana, and mentioned that Ringling Brothers Circus World is in Baraboo, Wisconsin. He said the addition of the historical juggling museum would make these three attractions spread over approximately 400 miles, attracting people that may like to visit all three attractions.

"This is a unique opportunity and can't be duplicated," said Benge, who also attended the meeting.

Unfortunately, Lohmann said the village had roads and water mains to fix and couldn't use taxpayer dollars for such a project, but he wished the museum planners the best of luck.

---

Be the First to Comment »

Name What's your name, again?

Email This isn't a valid email address.

Comment What did you want to say?

Your email address will never be published.
No HTML. No email addresses or phone numbers in the comment.
Be nice.