Like many other activities in 2020, the 40-year-old tradition of crowning Christmas royalty fell victim to COVID-19. God willing, the event can safely resume in 2021, but until then, take a stroll down memory lane with our past kings and queens.
Author: Museum Staff
Museum’s White House is the oldest House in Lakin
Check out this short video about one-room schools in Kearny County!
Lake McKinney: Kearny County’s once popular recreation destination
Museum to re-open to public June 2
We are pleased to announce that Kearny County Museum will re-open to the public on June 2. Visitors may view exhibits in the Main Museum Building and Annex, but all outer buildings will remain locked. We are limited to no more than 10 guests at a time. There will be no guided tours.
TO HELP US KEEP COVID-19 OUT OF OUR MUSEUM, THE FOLLOWING RULES WILL BE ENFORCED:
1. Face masks are required (wear your own as we will not provide them).
2. Maintain a social distance of 6 feet from other guests and staff.
3. Cover your coughs and sneezes.
4. Only sit in designated areas.
5. Do not touch artifacts or display cases.
6. Children 12 and younger must be accompanied by an adult who is responsible for supervising them and making sure they follow our rules.
7. You will be asked to leave if you do not follow these rules.
IF YOU ARE NOT FEELING WELL, HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH COVID-19 OR HAVE HAD RECENT CONTACT WITH A PERSON WHO HAS COVID-19, DO NOT VISIT THE MUSEUM UNTIL YOU ARE FEELING BETTER AND/OR HAVE SELF-QUARANTINED FOR 14 DAYS.
If you have items to donate, please call first for drop-off instructions.
The lasting impact of small town ways
The origin of “It takes a village to raise a child,” may be somewhat of a mystery, but that certainly makes the saying no less true. We are who we are mainly because of relationships we had with adults and values they taught us as children. This is especially true for those of us who grew up in small communities like Lakin, Deerfield and Kendall.
Our young minds were not only shaped by our parents but also by Sunday School instructors, Scout leaders, teachers and coaches. Even something as seemingly insignificant as the demeanor shown by the clerk who rang up our ‘candy’ bill at the local grocery store planted a seed about hospitality and good manners.
Local librarians ignited a spark that turned into a lifelong love of reading. Our first employers took a chance on fresh faces, taught us responsibility and rewarded us accordingly. As young athletes, musicians, and actors, we were cheered on by the entire community. Helpful words of advice were given freely and taken to heart.
Growing up in rural SW Kansas meant our parents knew everyone. We were set free on Halloween night to go all over town. Neighborhood moms were happy to give us a ride to school. Neighborhood dads shot hoops with us and repaired the flat tires on our bikes. We never went hungry because local gardeners were happy to share. Hand-me-downs from the family next door were eagerly accepted and appreciated. At our darkest moments, thoughtful souls stopped by with food for our families and words of comfort.
Times have changed, but fortunately Kearny County hasn’t. In this time of Covid-19 and all its uncertainty, we witness younger generations giving back to the “village” that gave them so much. In the midst of crisis, we see perhaps clearer than ever the true blessings of community and small town ways.
Museum remains closed as Covid-19 arrives in Kearny County
The Kearny County Historical Society Museum remains closed to the public at this time due to the potential spread of Covid-19. We are unsure when we will be able to open again as cases in Kearny County continue to increase. We will keep you posted on the situation, and rest assured, we will take every precaution to keep our visitors and staff safe when we are allowed to re-open.
Museum Closed to Visitors
Kearny County Museum values the health and well-being of our guests, community and staff. As a precautionary measure,we are closed to visitors until at least April 1. As the threat of Covid-19 increases and authorities make ever-changing recommendations and policies, we anticipate that we could be closed longer.
We apologize for any inconvenience and encourage you to practice social distancing, avoid large gatherings of people and stay at home if possible to protect yourself and your loved ones from the Coronavirus.
Our staff will still be available by phone during regular business hours should you have a question or need research assistance.
Covid-19 Leads to Cancellation of Annual Meeting
In keeping in line with the CDC’s recommendation that events involving groups of 50 or larger be postponed or cancelled, the Kearny County Historical Society will NOT be having its Annual Meeting on March 28. If possible, we will reschedule at a later date. We apologize to our members and friends. Please stay home and stay safe!
Annual Meeting 2020
The 62nd Annual Meeting of the Kearny County Historical Society will be Saturday, March 28, at the Deerfield Community Building. Doors will open at 6 p.m., and a meal of beef and noodles with mashed potatoes and all the fixin’s will be served at 6:30. The meal is being catered by Kandy Katz.
A short business meeting will follow the dinner. Election of board members will also take place. Only members of the Historical Society may vote.
Guest speaker for the evening will be Hannes Zacharias. In the summer of 1976, Zacharias put his kayak in the Arkansas River at his hometown of Dodge City and traveled all the way down the river to New Orleans. He promised himself that he would one day make the trip again. In 2018, the then 64-year-old fulfilled that promise, but this time he traveled the entire length of the Arkansas from its beginnings in the Rocky Mountains to Venice, Louisiana. Zacharias will be talking about his journey, and observations and friendships he made along the way.
The annual meeting and dinner are free, but reservations are required for the event. They can be made by calling the Kearny County Museum at 355-7448. RESERVATIONS MUST BE MADE BY 4 P.M. ON THURSDAY, MARCH 19.