41st annual meeting

by Betty Jane Wilson, society president

The Valley Falls Historical Society’s 41st annual meeting was held Oct. 26 at The Barn Bed and Breakfast Inn. There were 65 members and guests present, including exchange students from Poland and South Korea.

The following officers were elected to serve the society for 2008-2009: president, Betty Jane Wilson; vice president, Lesa Brose; secretary, Maxine Hefty; treasurer, Gary Coleman; directors, Joan Reichart, Kyle Quasebarth, and James Durand; historians, Arthur Strawn and Frank Shrimplin.

Guest speaker, Kirk Shapland, presented “Cody of the Plains,” a portrayal of plainsman and showman, Buffalo Bill Cody.

The society’s museum will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1. Calendars for 2008 and 2009 calendars are available at the museum.

Museum ready for Halloween

by Betty Jane Wilson, society president

Black cats, a hoot owl, peaked witch’s hat, and battered broom surrounding a moonlit haunted house, earmarks of All Saints Eve set the mood for the window display at the Valley Falls Historical Society Museum. A lone figure with collection sacks waits for the “Trick-or-Treat” hour.

The veterans’ window, with a variety of American flags and Liberty posters emphasizes constant support of our troops.

Maxine Hefty, Patty Brown, and Joan Reichart will be museum hosts from 10 a.m to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25.

2008 and 2009 historical society calendars are available at the museum. Other souvenir items will be available at the society’s annual dinner, Sunday, Oct. 26, at The Barn Bed and Breakfast. The event begins at 1:30 p.m.

Century-old on display at museum

by Betty Jane Wilson, society president

Porcelain knobs and keys covered with celluloid are a few of the wonders of the Story & Clark Organ on display in the entry room of the Valley Falls Historical Society Museum.

Once stored in the Historical Shrine Church, the instrument was transferred to the museum where the late Emile George disassembled and restored the century-old organ that originally featured brass reeds. George declared that everything that wasn’t wood or metal was replaced.

Historian Arthur Strawn helped strip the walnut cabinet of many varnishes and George restored the instrument, which contained some hand carved ornaments, with a fine satin finish. The ornate stool accompanying the organ was also restored by George.

Paintings by local artists, cabinets by local artisans, now deceased, and the historic depot fern are just a few of many items on display at the museum.

New 2009 calendars are available for $5.

Jamie Durand, Glenn Lester, and Galen Reichart will be hosts from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 18. Admission is free.

Early-day photos are museum treat

by Betty Jane Wilson, society president

Three enlarged photographs of early-day Valley Falls scenes and a painting of a Valley Falls landmark mounted on the west wall of the entry room greet the visitor to the Valley Falls Historical Society Museum.

The photographs were from glass negatives obtained by the late Dale Irwin from the photographic studio of early-day photographer, Alice Gardiner Sennrich. The pictures are of the first depot, a wooden building built in 1872, featuring three young school teachers (circa 1905), Lenora Steele, Maud Myers, and Anna Kamm, on the platform next to the train. Also shown at the station are Bert McClure and his milk wagon.

The Harness racing picture depicts races held at the old fairgrounds near the river and the photo of the Ferris wheel (1911) recalls the days when carnivals were held in the downtown area, many near Broadway and Sycamore. The painting of the Piazzek Mill, built on the Delaware River in 1855, was acquired by the late Virginia Reichart and donated to the museum. Mrs. Reichart had the paintings done from photographs by the now-deceased artist Donald O. Ballou, one-time resident of Brewster place, Topeka, where Mrs. Reichart resided for several years.

Darlene Glassel, Geneva Lonard, and Ellen Schrick will be museum hosts from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11. Admission is free.

New, 2009 historical society calendars are available at the museum for $5. The 2008 calendars are still available for the same price.

Recent visitors; banquet ticket information

by Betty Jane Wilson, society president

July and August visitors to the Valley Falls Historical Society Museum were: Chet and Earlene Boyce, Wakomis, Okla.; Ellen Hefty, Akron, Ohio; Margaret and Dennis McGrath, Ft. Morgan, Colo.; Terry Urban, Hays; Shirley Arnold, Ozawkie; and James Sears, June Huston, Susan Phillips, Warren and June Boyce, Shirley Neibarger, Mildred Hefty, Anita Stutesman, Beverly Reichart, Alex Ferguson, Marie Lange and Danny Lange, all Valley Falls.

September visitors were: Andrew Lonard, Kansas City, Mo.; Doris McClenny Boisen, Miami Springs, Fla.; Robert Lonard, Houston, Texas; Dick Strecker, Hiltin Head Island, S.C.; Presha, Brock, and Celia Emmert, Alma; Ron Smith, Auburn; Clifford and Cora Belle Lobb and Erin J. Ellerman, all Nortonville; Karen Sue Gordon, Denison; Dan and Mildred Linn, Wichita; Chad Quasebarth, Centralia; Bill and Virginia Billings, Lancaster; Patrick and Linda Henry, Coffeyville; John, Erica, Austin, and Madison Acheson, Effingham; Debbie Weston and Robert Kramer, both Meriden; Karen Lonard, Lenexa; Gwen Towle and Sheila Strecker, Overland Park; Tony Lonard, Lawrence; Pat Yehle, Lawrence; Jim Palmber, Patricia McClenny Nix, Earlene and Roland Reichart, Connie and Rosemary Strole, Eleanor and Larry Strecker, all Topeka; Dianna Welsh, Valley Falls; Donna Dunn, Michael Brose, Tom and Leah Brown, Harold and Gladys Wunder, Veryle Gilleece, Ashley and Joann Westbrook, Karen Botkin, Phyllis Petesch, Marie Lange, Danny Lange, Linda Schneider, Heather Edwards, Gordon and Margaret Lowry, Terry and Sondra Sullivan, Edna Coleman, Eileen Bledsoe, Kyle, Laura, Jackson, and Myles Reich, Melody, Caylin, and Peyton Conser; Doug Arnold, Mary Henry, Francis and Rosalie Hosler; Ardith Spencer, Don Carder; Caleb Clark, Winona Deckard, Ted and Jessie Montgomery, Calleigh and Carson Clark; Jeanette Smith, Cleo Carson, Joe and Linda Heinen, Tam and Alvin Wilhite, Harry Leonard, Brandon Tucking, and Dalene Senn, all Valley Falls.

The museum will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4. Admission is free.

The Valley Falls Historical Society’s 41st annual meeting will be held Sunday, Oct. 26, at The Barn Bed and Breakfast Inn, 14910 Blue Mound Road. Lunch will be served at 1:30, entertainment at 2 p.m. featuring Kirk Shapland, reenactor of Buffalo Bill, portraying “Cody of the Plains.”

Ticket prices are $15 for the meal and entertainment or $5 for entertainment only. Tickets may be purchased in advance at the Kendall State Bank or from Gary Coleman, Betty Jane Wilson, Lesa Brose, Maxine Hefty, Frank Shrimplin, Kyle Quasebarth, Joan Reichart, or Jamie Durand.