Our Past Is Present November 28, 2017

November 28, 2017

            This is “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.

            Today’s story is titled “The Moose Is Loose.” It is the title of a song written in 1914 by Will A. Brown of Junction City.  Mr. Brown wrote the song as a campaign song about Teddy Roosevelt.  According to the Dictionary of American History, the term “Bull Moose” became a popular name for the Progressive Party that was formed in 1912.  When asked about his health, Teddy Roosevelt replied that he felt “fit as a bull-moose” and the name Bull Moose Party stuck.

            When Will Brown died in 1915 an article appeared on the front page of the Junction City Republic newspaper.  The author of the article stated that Mr. Brown, who was born in Ohio, was a long time resident of Junction City and had been employed by the Ziegler Lumber Company. He had pursued writing music set with words.  A Copy of “The Moose Is Loose”, “The Kansas State Song” and “Whisper of God” were for many years in the musical library of the late Alverta Trebilcock, organist at the Methodist Church.  After her passing in the 1980s, the choir director of the Methodist Church donated copies of these local compositions to our Museum. 

            Stop by the Museum at the corner of Sixth and Adams Streets to see our Galleries of Geary County artifacts.  Our doors are open for visitors between 1 and 4 Tuesdays through Saturdays and admission is free.