Freestone County Historical Museum, located on E. Main Street in Fairfield, invites area residents to join the museum during its annual membership drive just launched.

The museum is a nonprofit entity, counting on memberships and assistance from Freestone county and the City of Fairfield to operate.

Many of the exhibits and the museum office are located in a new building paid for by private donations.

The exhibits building has attracted the attention of Texas Historical Commission and Texas Museum Association which have provided some grant money to the organization.

Memberships and donations are needed, though, for projects such as restoring the Carter log cabin built in 1845 and the old jail building.

The cabin is the oldest structure still standing in the county and is one of the largest of its kind in Texas. It was donated to the museum in 1967, moved to the grounds and received a Texas Historical Marker in 1969.

Estimated cost to restore the cabin is $130,000, of which the City of Fairfield has budged $80,000.

All donations to the museum are tax deductible.

Membership levels are: $15, individual; $25, family; $100, Silver Friend; $200, Gold Friend and $300, Platinum Friend.

Silver level donors receive a copy of “Two Stars in the Southern Sky” by David B. Carter, gold level receives an afghan depicting Freestone county landmarks, and platinum level receives the choice of an afghan or book, and their name on a donors plaque.

Memorial donations may also be made to the museum, for which the family of those honored receive a thank you card.