After the passing of Empire historian Dave Taghon, the Empire Area Museum Complex enters a new chapter of its own history.
New museum President Lee Payment knows nobody can replace the knowledge Taghon displayed throughout his life.
“We came back to Empire 25 years ago, and ever since (Taghon and I) hooked up again, we were best buddies. It was such a shock when he passed,” Payment said.
The Empire Area Museum is a complex of five buildings offering visitors a comprehensive look at Empire dating back to the late 1800s. The main building houses the Roen Brothers Saloon. There is also a one-room schoolhouse, blacksmith shop, Beeman Barn, and a 1911 Hose House. The museum is manned by an all-volunteer crew organized by the late Taghon. He was the Enterprise’s “go-to” guy for information on anything related to Empire history and that of nearby communities. Taghon also made his mark on the community by serving in elected office. His tenure on the Empire Village Council was from 1967 to 1994 — serving as president from 1980 through 1994.
Although Taghon’s passing rocked the Empire community, Payment and many others are focusing on projects this summer to carry the torch of Empire history.
“I helped him a lot with different displays. He and I would do little projects together, and he had the knowledge. I don’t know how anybody could replace him,” Payment said. “Going forward, we are going to be alright. We got some young guys and volunteers helping us out.”
Payment reports the museum is in good financial standing.
The museum has several accessibility projects slated for this summer, including some sidewalk improvements and other projects that will improve accessibility to the local campus.
Empire Museum Secretary Bill Freeman will never forget his time with Dave.
“(Dave) had a memory like a trap ... You could ask him about anybody, and the ability to tie information together was amazing,” Freeman said. “He’s an all-around great guy, willing to meet everybody and memorize everybody’s names.”
Taghon, whose name became synonymous with Empire, died Friday, Jan. 3 at his home.
He was 81. Taghon was a hometown boy who attended Empire School and was among the first classes to graduate from Glen Lake Community Schools in 1961.
Following graduation, Taghon joined the U.S. Air Force and served four years.
Dave and his wife, Diane, returned to Empire in 1965 to raise their family. Dave went to work at the family-owned Empire Standard Oil gas station, taking over the business in 1980 after their retirement.
In the wake of Taghon’s passing, donations flooded in support of the museum, which was a lifelong project for Taghon.
“On behalf of the Empire Area Museum and the Dave Taghon family, we would like to thank all of you who generously donated to our organization in memory of Dave,” Dian Taghon said. “As a non-profit, those donations mean a great deal to us. It will be impossible to replace Face as he was our local historian and ambassador for the museum.”
If you want to join the museum as a member or docent or learn more about the Empire Museum, call 231-409-7993 or email information@empiremuseum. org.
