Community members shared their memories of Being Black in Junction City during a Memories at the Museum session on Saturday.
One topic that surfaced involved the lack of photos of the East Ninth Street area that was torn down many years ago, explained Geary County Historical Society Executive Director Heather Hagedorn. "We have no known photos of E. 9th Street prior to it being torn down in the 70's. " Hagedorn said Museum officials are looking for any and all photos of E. 9th as a whole." They would also like to find photos of E. 9th buildings, businesses and people."
Hagedorn said that's generally true of black history photos. "We just don't have many photos of the black community throughout Junction City history. " Hagedorn added there is the possibility the Museum was not previously viewed as a safe space for that history for those communities. "So we want people to know that we are a safe place for those stories, those photos, those artifacts because black history is Junction City history."
Noted during the conversation by those attending the session were the fact that there were African American owned businesses on E. 9th Street, and when that area was closed down it hurt those businesses that couldn't afford to relocate. It was noted that the reputation of the E. 9th Street area was negative because of prostitution and drugs in that area but there were also good businesses there ranging from a barbershop to a liquor store. One comment by Melanie Laster was that you lose stories once the people are gone.
Other topics included lack of accessibility to the Municipal Swimming Pool at times for African Americans...blacks had only limited access. There was some belief that while schools were overall integrated, internally there was segregation. One participant in the session, Leonetta Chaves Bibby, remembered her time in school in the early 1950's. "The one that I will never forget was when I was trying out for cheerleader when I was freshman in high school, wanted so badly to do that and I wanted to play the piano for the choir as some of my fellow students were doing and I was unable to do that." Bibby noted that she's sure she was unable to do those activities because she was black and those decisions were made by teachers. Bibby added that she did have the opportunity to be in the school play and school musicals were not segregated.
Other topics included one where blacks could only enter the back door of a cafe on Washington Street, and there were memories about segregation in housing for black Fort Riley Soldiers that received a brief mention.
Steve Hammond remembered that his father, the late Gilbert Hammond, was into the civil rights movement, but Steve noted that he did not experience prejudice in school and his childhood in Junction City was a positive experience.
Local NAACP Chapter Vice President Teresa Dixon reported that the organization will be building back up.
The Black History Trail that is being developed locally will include sites ranging from the Historical Museum and Rathert Field to the Ward Chapel and the VFW Post 8773. There will eventually be 12 stops on the trail.
There will be a Black History Day at the museum from 1-4 p.m. on Aug. 27. The community is being asked to bring in photos to the museum so that those photos can be digitized. There will also be a recording ability available so oral histories can be gathered. Museum officials are hoping to open a new Black History exhibit next year.