Author: Museum Staff

2019 Kearny County Historical Society Annual Meeting

Carol Bless is the newest member of the Kearny County Historical Society. She was selected at the 61st Annual Meeting on Saturday, April 27. Also elected to the board were incumbents, Linda Peters, Ginger Hartman, Judy Scott and Judy Moody.

The annual meeting was a huge success thanks to the delicious food prepared by Kandy Katz and her crew, an interesting program on depression era women by Dr. Sara Richter of Panhandle State University, and the many volunteers, board members and staff who helped out. Lastly, we are thankful for all those who attended and to everyone who supports the historical society and our museum!

 

 

 

 

Annual Meeting Slated for April 27

The Kearny County Historical Society will have its 61st Annual Meeting on Saturday, April 27, at the Veteran’s Memorial Building in Lakin. Dr. Sara Richter, Panhandle State University’s Dean of Liberal Arts, will be our guest speaker. Dr. Richter was born in Kansas and moved to Oklahoma with her family when she was in sixth grade. A published author, she holds master degrees in both history and English. Her Powerpoint presentation will be, “Gettin’ by by makin’ do: depression era women.”

The evening will start at 6 p.m. with a catered meal, followed by a short business meeting and election of board members. The dinner and program is by donation, but advance reservations are required. We are limited to the number of guests so the sooner you make your reservation the better. Deadline for reservations is 4 p.m. Thursday, April 18. There will be no exceptions! Call the museum at 620-355-7448 to place yours!

Kansas Day at the Kearny County Museum

For the past several years, Lakin second graders have been our special guests on Kansas Day, January 29 . Students learn about the history of Kansas Day and Kearny County including the Santa Fe Trail, the first inhabitants, how the pioneers lived, one-room schools, and early businesses. Last year the museum began a coloring contest in conjunction with the visit, and one student in each home room was awarded the top prize of a special “Kansas Tornado.” It was so successful that the tradition continued in 2019. This year’s winners were: Chloe Stahlecker, Ariel Carrizales and Tomasa Hernandez. All of the pictures colored by the classes will be on display in the museum lobby during the month of February. We encourage you to stop in and check them out. Our hours are  9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and there is no admission. All children must be accompanied by an adult.

Former Museum Director inducted into Santa Fe Trail Association’s Hall of Fame

Patricia “Pat” Heath was inducted into the Santa Fe Trail Association’s Hall of Fame at the organization’s 2018 Rendezvous in September. Pat became interested in history as an adult, taking her children to many museums and historical sites. She moved from Edmond, OK, to Lakin in 1982 to be near her grandchildren. She became interested in local history, particularly the Santa Fe Trail, while working at the Kearny County Library.  In 1986, she attended a SFT workshop and became a charter member of the SFTA. She attended every SFTA Symposium and Rendezvous through 2004 and was named Santa Fe Trail Ambassador in 1997. Pat was also hostess to the SFT Bicycle Treks from 1995-2004.

Pat became a member of the Kearny County Historical Society in 1986 and was elected to the board at the 1987 Annual Meeting. She was chosen as board secretary that April. Beginning in 1991, Pat served as director of the Kearny County Museum for 14 years, and she received a distinguished service award for community service from the Kansas Museum Association in 2005. Pat died the following year, but her love for the Trail lives on through her daughter, Linda Peters, who serves on the board of directors for the SFTA, is president of the Wagon Bed Springs Chapter and president of the Kearny County Historical Society.

GEOCACHING PRESENTATION AT THE KEARNY COUNTY MUSEUM NOV. 13

Beginning in May of 2000, people, armed with a GPSr and a sense of adventure, have been traveling the world looking for geocaches. Geocache is derived from GEO, the prefix for earth, and CACHE as a hiding place used to store items. Geocaching is an outdoor recreational activity, in which participants use a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver or mobile device and other navigational techniques to hide and seek containers called “geocaches” or “caches” at specific locations marked by coordinates all over the world.

Today there are over 3 million geocaches hidden around the world and over 13 thousand in Kansas alone. They are deep in the woods, underwater, or even stuck to the underside of park benches. Geocaching has become a hobby for individuals, friends and families.

Has your interest been piqued?? Here’s your chance to find out more. Come join geocacher, Ryan Semmels as he shares his knowledge and experiences, and assists you on beginning your adventures. The presentation will take place at the Kearny County Museum, 111 S. Buffalo in Lakin, on November 13 at 7 p.m.

This presentation is sponsored by the Wagon Bed Springs Chapter of the Santa Fe Trail Association. The Chapter is always looking for new members to help promote and preserve the Santa Fe Trail in Southwest Kansas. The Chapter will have meetings throughout the year with tours, speakers or other activities related to the Trail. The organization maintains SFT sites and signs, DAR markers and geocaches along the Trail.

For more information contact Linda Peters, Chapter President, at 620-640-3155 or Julie McCombs, Museum Director, at 355-7448.

 

“Bright Days & Starry Nights Along the Santa Fe Trail”

Fifty years ago, the National Trails System Act of 1968 was signed establishing three different types of trails: National Scenic Trails, National Recreation Trails, and Connecting and Side Trails. In 1978, President Jimmy Carter signed into law a bill that created an additional category of trails: National Historic Trails. To commemorate the act’s 50th anniversary, the Cimarron Cut-Off Chapter of the Santa Fe Trail has planned “Bright Days & Starry Nights Along the Santa Fe Trail.” The 3-day series of events starts off in Elkhart, KS on Oct. 5. The next day will find participants in Boise City, OK, with Clayton, NM the final destination on Oct. 7. An agenda is pictured for those who are interested in attending. Reservations for all meals and bus tours are requested by Sept. 22 by contacting Jay Williams at 620-697-2378 or the Morton County Museum, 620-697-2833.

For more information, contact the Morton County Museum, Herzstein Museum at (575)374-2977 or Camp Billy Joe at (580)261-7482. More information is available on the web at www.okie-tex.com search “Star Gazing.”

Familiar faces left lasting impressions

Each morning on my way to work, I pass by Jo Speer’s immaculate flower gardens. Immediately I am filled with joy. Jo’s flowers are just one of the familiar sights that make Lakin home and make me proud to live in this community.

When I was in high school, I couldn’t wait to get out of Lakin. It’s funny how age changes one’s perspective. Now I realize how fortunate I was to grow up where we knew everyone on a first-name basis, a town where the entire community rejoiced over someone’s good fortune and grieved over someone’s loss. A teacher once told me that familiarity breeds disinterest. I beg to differ. It brings comfort.

There are many faces etched permanently in my memories, like the high school English teacher who took a young girl under his wing because he knew how much she loved to write. (Thank you, Uncle Walt.) I still envision John Henderson in the stands cheering on his beloved Broncs. I smile when I think of Juan Perez making funny faces during church to entertain a restless child in the pew ahead of him. I can even still smell the somewhat sweet scent of Al Guyer’s cigar and what I would give for one of the giant cinnamon rolls served up by those smiling ladies in the grade school kitchen! I’m grateful for Paul McVey’s graciousness in allowing neighborhood kids to use his basketball goal and for his patience with young, inquisitive tykes who just wanted to visit with him.

As a kid, I would run to the tracks in hopes to find a sugar beet that had been left behind. Then there were the times I ran for my life when the fire whistle went off because Hap Claar was behind the wheel of that fire engine barreling down Waterman Avenue! On Halloween there were outhouses placed on Main by some of the town’s orneriest fellas, and then there was John Plummer who asked for tricks before he gave out treats. There were seemingly endless rodeo parades led by Otis Jennings and thrilling performances under Friday night lights of the LHS marching band directed by Chris Coots. I still hear Fred Bohl fiddling out “Red Wing” and Velma Cox calling me, “kid.” I treasure memories of Saturday mornings spent visiting Maybelle Gropp and Sulie Mace. There are faces remembered simply because they showed kindness like Thelma Leonard, Esther Carter, Benny Hilger, and others too numerous to mention.

I feel privileged to keep the memories alive of the people who made my childhood great. Just like Jo Speer’s flowers, those colorful personalities touched my heart and made Lakin “home.”

(This editorial appeared in the most recent issue of the Kearny County Historical Society’s newsletter and was written by Julie McCombs, Museum Director. Many thanks to Jo Speer and her daughter-in-law Robin for taking time out from gardening to visit and pose for pictures.)

“Run, Drive, Fly to Lakin” slated for Memorial Day weekend

The public is invited to come join in the fun at “Run, Drive, Fly To Lakin” on Saturday, May 26. The Kearny County Museum will be open that day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for anyone wishing to take a peek at our displays. There is no admission fee.

A slew of activities are planned at the Kearny County Airport including an airshow, car show, flea market, food stands, kids’ activities and more. Other events include a 5K Run/Walk, tour of the Lakin USD 215 school buildings and free entertainment in the city park featuring Steve Desmond’s God and Country Concert.

The Lakin High School Alumni Banquet will be at 5 p.m. at the Kearny County Fairgrounds. Honored classes will be the classes of 1948, 1953, 1958, 1963, 1968, 1978, 1988, 1998, 2008 and the class of 2018. Reservations for the meal may be made by calling Joyce and Allan Bemis at 620-355-6702 or Donna and Martin Neff at 620-355-7197. The cost of the meal is $10, and annual alumni dues are $5.

An event schedule is available on the Run, Drive, Fly to Lakin Facebook page.

New Officers Elected

The Kearny County Historical Society held its regular monthly meeting this past Monday, April 30. The election of officers for the coming year took place at the end of the meeting. Linda Peters who has served on the board since 2003 accepted the role of president. Ginger Hartman was elected to fill Linda’s spot as secretary. The other officers remain the same and include Cary Henderson, first vice-president; Raymond Eves, second vice-president, and John White, treasurer. At this time we would like to thank Dave Horner for his dedication and service as past president of the organization. Dave will continue to serve as a board member at large, but due to his responsibilities as Kearny County Sheriff, Dave felt he could no longer fill the president position.