The museum’s two newest displays highlight very different subjects. One focuses on the history of nursing, while the other features a TV cowboy star.
The museum is immensely proud to display artifacts from the the Ruth Brant School of Nursing
that were housed in the East Ohio Regional Hospital prior to the hospital’s closing. Organized by
Brant in 1925, and later named in her honor, the school graduated more than 500 nurses before
closing in 1965. The Ruth Brant Alumni Association donated many items such as uniforms from
the early 1900’s, all class photographs, and equipment that were a part of their collection, as well
as a monetary donation to the museum. A section of the Martins Ferry room is now dedicated to
this display.
Another new display spotlights Hendrysburg native William Boyd who gained fame for
portraying cowboy hero Hopalong Cassidy. The items, donated by New Concord resident Laura
Bates, were part of her collection that was open to the public at the Hopalong Cassidy Museum
in Cambridge, OH. Following a fire, the museum was closed in 2016. Items in this display
include “Hoppy” merchandise and promotional items. In addition to buying the rights to the
Hopalong Cassidy movies for television syndication, Boyd, who became the first national TV
star, vastly increased the popularity of his character through the marketing of over 2,400
products that bear his name and likeness.