Museum visitors on Grasshopper Falls Day

by Betty Jane Wilson, society president

Visitors at the Valley Falls Historical Society Museum Grasshopper
Falls Day, Sept. 18, were:

Brent and Johanna Cobb, Oskaloosa; John Schoenfeldt, Ozawkie; Dot and
Bob Hensley, Olathe; Fred and Lynne Leif, Kansas City, Mo.; and Sonya
Staples and Hunter Aspindale;

Francis and Rosalie Hosler; Francis and Virginia Grollmes, Edna
Coleman, Jeanette Smith, Tamie, Richard, and Shelby Ferrell, Irene
Hurst, Tamie and William Willhite, Eleanor Pears, Kyle, Laura,
Jackson, and Myles Reich, Dera and Chris Erhart, Leo Grollmes, and
Ione Botkin, all Valley Falls.

Special hosts for the day were: Dodie Bolz, Dee Bayless, Geneva
Lonard, Ellen Schrick, Patty Brown, Anna Irwin, Dalene Senn, Maxine
Hefty, Ella Mae Holding, and Susan Phillips.

Anna Irwin and Dalene Senn will be museum hosts from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 25. Admission is free.

Looking for a DVD player for the museum

The museum is in need of a DVD player, to play the films created by the historical society for guests. If you have a working player you'd be willing to donate, please contact Betty Jane at 785-945-3576, or Julie at 785-876-2445.

Grasshopper fame depicted in display

—Betty Jane Wilson, society president

Despised by farmers for his voracious appetite, berated by the frugal ants of folklore for his irresponsible capers, the indestructible grasshopper lives on.

Featured in the September Valley Falls Historical Society Museum window display, the winged creature enjoys celebrity status in the city’s history.

Located center stage, an aged weather beaten replica of the insect surrounded by late 1900 and early 2000 Grasshopper Days programs promoting celebrations are evidence of prior days of fun and frolic.

A mega mural backdrop depicting a 19th century locomotive on the old river bridge crossing the Delaware (formerly Grasshopper River) coupled with photos of 20th century “doodle bug” rail transportation and depot plus late years photos of organization sponsored Grasshopper Day concessions touting delectable “grasshopper legs” enhance the image of the survival of the grasshopper as symbolic of the town’s discovery and original Grasshopper Falls name.

The veterans’ window continues to honor our veterans past and present and to support our troops world wide.

The museum will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 4.