The Valley Falls Historical Society Museum will be open at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 26, and will observe extended hours during the Memorial Day holiday period:
• On Sunday, May 27, the museum will open immediately following the Valley Falls High School reunion luncheon and program, closing no later than 4 p.m.
• On Monday, May 28, the museum will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Admission is free. Guided tours are available. Visitors are welcome.
May 22, 2012
May 15, 2012
New sign at the museum
Photo by Clarke Davis
Grads and vets honored in museum windows this month
— by Betty Jane Wilson, society president
The April window scene of the Valley Falls Historical Society Museum, featuring colorful nesting bird eggs nestled among branches of apple blossoms, creations of artist Susan Phillips, has been retired in favor of the current display honoring all Valley Falls graduates with emphasis on those of 2012.
School colors dominate with a scattering of small signs depicting diplomas and mortar boards, accompanied by enlarged photos of Valley Falls schools Number one and Number two, and an item of sports apparel.
The military window display remembers the sacrifices of men and women veterans, past and present, with miniature American flags and military company flags surrounded by red poppies interspersed with tiny white crosses reminiscent of the infamous WWI poem with introductory words: "In Flanders Field the poppies blow between the crosses row on row . . ." etc.
The museum is open Saturdays at 10 a.m. and at other times with advance arrangements. Guided tours are available. Admission is free.
The April window scene of the Valley Falls Historical Society Museum, featuring colorful nesting bird eggs nestled among branches of apple blossoms, creations of artist Susan Phillips, has been retired in favor of the current display honoring all Valley Falls graduates with emphasis on those of 2012.
School colors dominate with a scattering of small signs depicting diplomas and mortar boards, accompanied by enlarged photos of Valley Falls schools Number one and Number two, and an item of sports apparel.
The military window display remembers the sacrifices of men and women veterans, past and present, with miniature American flags and military company flags surrounded by red poppies interspersed with tiny white crosses reminiscent of the infamous WWI poem with introductory words: "In Flanders Field the poppies blow between the crosses row on row . . ." etc.
The museum is open Saturdays at 10 a.m. and at other times with advance arrangements. Guided tours are available. Admission is free.
May 04, 2012
Tragic death of Rufus H. Crosby
Compiled by Betty Jane Wilson, society president
"(The) Hon. R.H. Crosby, Gone to His Long Home!" were the blaring headlines of the Valley Falls New Era, Saturday, Jan. 2, 1892, followed by "The Tragic End of a Busy Life" and the story as follows:
"Last Tuesday afternoon, about 4 o'clock, the city was shocked by the news that 'Mr. Crosby is Dead.' It was, alas, too true; he was, indeed dead, and to make it more startling, at his own hands.
The particulars of the sad affair are quickly told, and to our mind, it is a plain case of temporary insanity. For several days, Mr. Crosby had been sick and was very nervous; his head bothered him a great deal. He complained in the forenoon of extreme pains in his head, almost unendurable; for weeks Mr. Crosby bore the appearance of fast failing health.
"He told hs wife about half an hour before his death was discovered, that he would 'take a little walk' and she observed him walking about their beautiful grounds and paid no special attention for some minutes, but later, missing him, she called, and receiving no answer, went to find him.
"Her attention was directed to the barn by the neighing of the horse at the door. She looked in and oh, horrors! There was her husband hanging from one of the left joists. Mr. McClurg was passing in a wagon at the time, to whom she gave the alarm, and he and Forrest Bliss took the dead man down. He was taken into the house and sympathizing friends gathered and sorrowfully viewed the remains of the departed.
"Mr. Crosby was one of the first settlers in this county. In 1855, he and his brother, William, established the first store of general merchandise in Valley Falls. He was a typical New Englander, born in Maine in 1834. He leaves a brother and sister in this county (William and Mrs. Mary Shepherd) and a brother, George, in Denver. He also leaves a loving wife and an affectionate daughter, Mrs. W.T. Kemper.
"Mr. Crosby has always prospered financially in every undertaking. He was known not only in his own community, but his state acquaintances was (sic) large and he was recognized by all as a model businessman.
"He was a Temperance man, using no liquors or tobacco, and always doing what he could to stop the traffic. He was an intelligent, well-informed man, a great reader, and a writer of ability."
He was a member of the Topeka Constitutional Convention and edited a paper, the Jeffersonian, in 1863. In 1872-73 he was a county commissioner and was mayor of the city two or three times and was a radical Republican.
His son-in-law became his partner in the Valley Falls Bank of Deposit ever being recognized as one of the reliable, substantial banks of the state.
One of his latest endeavors was to see that Kansas and Jefferson County were shown up at the world's Columbian Exposition, of which he was on the promotion committee.
From the address of the Rev. A.I. Bradley delivered at the funeral of Hon. Rufus H. Crosby, Dec. 31, 1891: "If we were to strike out the name and interests of Rufus H. Crosby from the history of Valley Falls, we would destroy the fabric of that history. We shall see his familiar form pass no more."
The historical society museum will be open at 10 a.m. Saturday.
"(The) Hon. R.H. Crosby, Gone to His Long Home!" were the blaring headlines of the Valley Falls New Era, Saturday, Jan. 2, 1892, followed by "The Tragic End of a Busy Life" and the story as follows:
"Last Tuesday afternoon, about 4 o'clock, the city was shocked by the news that 'Mr. Crosby is Dead.' It was, alas, too true; he was, indeed dead, and to make it more startling, at his own hands.
The particulars of the sad affair are quickly told, and to our mind, it is a plain case of temporary insanity. For several days, Mr. Crosby had been sick and was very nervous; his head bothered him a great deal. He complained in the forenoon of extreme pains in his head, almost unendurable; for weeks Mr. Crosby bore the appearance of fast failing health.
"He told hs wife about half an hour before his death was discovered, that he would 'take a little walk' and she observed him walking about their beautiful grounds and paid no special attention for some minutes, but later, missing him, she called, and receiving no answer, went to find him.
"Her attention was directed to the barn by the neighing of the horse at the door. She looked in and oh, horrors! There was her husband hanging from one of the left joists. Mr. McClurg was passing in a wagon at the time, to whom she gave the alarm, and he and Forrest Bliss took the dead man down. He was taken into the house and sympathizing friends gathered and sorrowfully viewed the remains of the departed.
"Mr. Crosby was one of the first settlers in this county. In 1855, he and his brother, William, established the first store of general merchandise in Valley Falls. He was a typical New Englander, born in Maine in 1834. He leaves a brother and sister in this county (William and Mrs. Mary Shepherd) and a brother, George, in Denver. He also leaves a loving wife and an affectionate daughter, Mrs. W.T. Kemper.
"Mr. Crosby has always prospered financially in every undertaking. He was known not only in his own community, but his state acquaintances was (sic) large and he was recognized by all as a model businessman.
"He was a Temperance man, using no liquors or tobacco, and always doing what he could to stop the traffic. He was an intelligent, well-informed man, a great reader, and a writer of ability."
He was a member of the Topeka Constitutional Convention and edited a paper, the Jeffersonian, in 1863. In 1872-73 he was a county commissioner and was mayor of the city two or three times and was a radical Republican.
His son-in-law became his partner in the Valley Falls Bank of Deposit ever being recognized as one of the reliable, substantial banks of the state.
One of his latest endeavors was to see that Kansas and Jefferson County were shown up at the world's Columbian Exposition, of which he was on the promotion committee.
From the address of the Rev. A.I. Bradley delivered at the funeral of Hon. Rufus H. Crosby, Dec. 31, 1891: "If we were to strike out the name and interests of Rufus H. Crosby from the history of Valley Falls, we would destroy the fabric of that history. We shall see his familiar form pass no more."
The historical society museum will be open at 10 a.m. Saturday.
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