Artifacts From GI Landmark Now At Stuhr Museum

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Posted: 1:19 PM Jul 28, 2010 Artifacts From GI Landmark Now At Stuhr Museum Grand Island The Stuhr Museum has cataloged nearly 200 items from the Grand Island Candy Kitchen, which closed in 1993 after nearly 90 years in downtown GI. Reporter: News Release Email Address: sara.geake@1011now.com

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From the Stuhr Museum:

Over 180 artifacts from a well known and loved Grand Island landmark are now under the care of Stuhr Museum.

The Grand Island Candy Kitchen, established in 1906, existed until 1993 in downtown Grand Island, and was run by the Valonis family. Brothers Gus, Dick and William started the business, which made fresh candy and by many accounts, served children and adults in equal measure.

In May, the family of Pete Valonis, who is a nephew to the Candy Kitchen founders and inheritor of many artifacts from the business, contacted Stuhr Museum to talk about donating the materials gathered over the years.

Stuhr’s Curatorial staff met with the family and went through artifacts including everything from old menus to photo albums to joke books made by the brothers Valonis during their time in business.

By the time the process was complete, the family donated over 180 items including a marble table top used to make candy, to the Collections and Research departments of the museum.

“People still remember going to the Candy Kitchen for fresh ice cream or candy,” Jessica Waite, Stuhr Museum’s Curator of Research, said. “For a business to be owned and operated by one family for 85 years is remarkable. It was a big part of the community.”

Stuhr Museum is proud to preserve artifacts from Hall County landmarks like the GI Candy Kitchen for future generations. For more information on this donation or the practices of the museum contact us at (308) 385-5316 or via e-mail at research@stuhrmuseum.org.

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