Our Past Is Present May 23, 2018

May 23, 2018

            This is “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.  Today we are beginning another two part series.  This time the topic is about “Becoming The Geary County Historical Society.”  The research for this program was done by Heather Hagedorn, our Curator with some thoughts from others who attended and shared at our most recent “Memories at the Museum” session. 

            Heather wrote that the history of the Geary County Historical Society actually extends all the way back to 1920, when J.B. Henderson attempted to start a society. A few items were gathered including the pioneer photographs that now hang in the current museum main hallway.  However, unfortunately the organization never gained enough support.  In the 1950’s a group of people had a desire to begin a museum, however, again there was a struggle to get things going.

            The next attempt at a historical society occurred in 1972 at the suggestion of Bonnie Loeb after a small group of people tried to save the Degitz Blacksmith Shop.  While the blacksmith shop ultimately was not saved, that small organization did  take root and on October 31, 1972, the Society was formed with 120 charter members.  Officers elected to this first Historical Society included: John B. Jeffries, Reverend Charles Ledin, Bonnie Loeb, Sue Wilcox, Dr. Larry Slaten, Bob Waters and Polly Collins.  The constitution and bylaws were prepared by Bob Weary.

            Early storage was housed above Waters Hardware, among other places and membership meetings were held in various locations until the fall of 1979, when Fred Bramlage made available the old Durland Store Building at 117 West 7^th Street.  As the museum collection had been housed all over town, it took months of hauling and organizing before everything was moved into the 7^th Street location and on May 3, 1980, the museum celebrated its Grand Opening.

            Tomorrow we will pick up this timeline again as we share how the Geary County Historical Society got started and continued to grow.  Read up tomorrow on “Our Past Is Present from the Geary County Historical Society.