Newsletter - Spring 2018

Sunflowers on My Mind Quilt

Win an opportunity to own this beautiful quilt made by Janice Rhodes. The quilt features applique and several three-dimensional blocks. Each block was made using a different technique. It measures 67 by 85 inches, a generous queen-size bed cover. Be sure to see the quilt; it must be seen to be appreciated. It is on display at Graves in Winfield.

Tickets are 1 ticket for $1 or 6 tickets for $5. Tickets can be purchased at Graves in Winfield or the museum. The drawing will take place on May 6th. You don’t have to be present at the drawing to win.

Donations Accepted

We will gladly accept donations of Winfield city directories from the year 2005 to the present. City directories and yearbooks from Arkansas City and yearbooks from Atlanta, Burden, Cambridge, Dexter, and Udall would also be appreciated.

We want very much to be a museum that represents the whole county, but we only have what we are given.

That CRAZY Kansas Weather

Kansas weather – people talk about it; people write about it; people photograph it! The weather impacts lives in significant ways and is al-ways a topic of discussion. At this time of year, everyone becomes especially cautious about the weather. People are attuned to their weather radios, the apps on their cell phones, and televised weather reports.

It’s the ideal time for a program on the weather, and this is what the Cowley County Historical Society, in conjunction with the Kansas Humanities Council, has planned. The presentation is scheduled for Sunday, March 25, at 2:00 p.m. at the museum.

Kansas author Caryn Mirriam-Goldberg will explore Kansas weather. She is the author of Chasing Weather: Tornadoes, Tempests, and Thunderous Skies in Words and Images. Her presentation will include photos from storm chaser Stephen Locke.

The program will be interactive. You are invited to bring your own weather photos and tell how the weather impacted you personally.

Admission is free and everyone is invited.

Soda Fountains in Kansas

“Soda Fountains in Kansas” will be presented on Sunday, May 6, at 2:00 p.m. This special program will be presented in partnership with the Kansas Humanities Council. The speaker will be Cindy Higgins, a journalist and Kansas historian. Take a trip down memory lane as we look back at the soda fountains we remember and discover how those wonderful soda fountain concoctions evolved. You will have an opportunity to create your own soda fountain concoction. Please bring your photos of Cowley County soda fountains. Everyone is invited and admission is free.

Big & Rich

Do you enjoy attending country music concerts? You can do so and support the Cowley County Historical Society at the same time.

Big & Rich will be featured at The Wichita Wingnuts’ Community Benefit concert scheduled for Saturday, June 16, at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium in Wichita. Tickets are $40 each and are on sale now. To purchase tickets, go to the Wingnuts’ website, www.wingnuts.com, click on Benefit Concert, select nonprofit partners, and then click the link for the Cowley County Historical Museum. To benefit the historical society, you must use the promo code MUSEUM when making your purchase.

Voices From the Past-Civil War Era

Mark your calendars now! “Voices From the Past – a Guided Walking Cemetery Tour” is returning! Union/Graham Cemetery will be the site of this year’s tour on Saturday, June 9, and Sunday, June 10. The theme for the event is “Voices From the Past – Civil War Era”. This tour will feature costumed volunteers portraying important and interesting Winfield citizens who lived during the Civil War era. You will enjoy their stories and make interesting stops as you tour with your guide. In addition to the walking tour, a Civil War encampment, complete with re-enactors, will be set up. The reenactment will let you experience life in a typical Civil War camp. A visit to the encampment will be available only with the purchase of a ticket to the guided walking cemetery tour.

There will be three performances. On Saturday, June 9, there will be performances at 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. On Sunday, June 10, there will be one performance at 2:00 p.m. Tickets will be sold for specific performances. Your ticket will admit you to both the guided cemetery tour and the Civil War encampment. Tickets are $10 and will be available for purchase beginning May 1 at the museum as well as Graves Drug in Winfield. Only a limited number of tickets will be available for each performance and must be paid for at the time of purchase.

Golf cart transportation will be available for those who are handicapped. When purchasing a ticket, please indicate that this service will be needed. Participants can rest on benches along the tour route and at each stop.

GAME NIGHT WITH THE WINGNUTS

Join us for baseball fun! Once again there will be a “Cowley County Historical Society Night” at the Wichita Wingnuts game. The game will be on Wednesday, May 30th
, at 7:05 PM at Lawrence Dumont Stadium. Tickets can be purchased for $10 at the museum. When you purchase tickets, you support the historical society.

“Winfield Through a Photographer’s Lens”

The new exhibit, “Winfield Through a Photographer’s Lens” is now open. It celebrates the special places and events that have been captured by photographers through the years. Photographers from the late 1800s through 2017 are featured. Beginning with early Winfield photographers Rodecker and Dresser and continuing with talented photographers through 2017, many places and events have been documented. In June 1992, photographers spent 24 hours documenting ordinary life in Winfield. Their photographs were collected and exhibited. Last June, 25 years later, many talented photographers participated in a similar event and once again documented life in Winfield. The 1992 and 2017 collections are on display. Other photos and photographers are also featured in this special exhibit. It includes a wonderful photo of the old Winfield High School by Larry Hatteberg. Check out the museum’s website for a sneak preview of this exhibit. It will be in place through December.

The Cowley County Historical Society dates from 1931 with a major reorganization and move to our present location in 1967. The CCHS's mission is to preserve and make available the colorful history of the county. We also support and encourage activities pertaining to local history throughout the county. Our bookstore makes available an assortment of items dealing with local history. The historical society also maintains a fine collection of historical records and vintage photographs.

Buy a Brick!

We continue to sell bricks to help beautify the museum grounds. Pricing is as follows: flat red bricks with 2 lines of 12 characters each for a $75 donation; flat red bricks with 3 lines of 12 characters each for a $100 donation; a contrasting brick with 3 lines of 12 characters each for a $500 donation.

Cowley County Heritage, Vol. II Book Update

We have nearly finished all of the sections. The scariest part is still to come: THE INDEX!! We are working hard to create a book you will want to own, so order now!

You can preorder books for $55 until we send the book to the publisher.