By Dewey Terrill
JC Post
The JC Breakfast Optimist Club has support for the Geary County Historical Society with a donation to their Hands-on-History programs. Heather Hagedorn, Executive Director/Curator shared information about the work she and her staff of Kim Neptune, Director of Programs and Education and John Sterling, Maintenance and craftsman, do to preserve and protect the history of Geary County.
Hagadorn stated that there are 100,000 items from prehistoric fossils to current items. There are 10,000 photos from tin type to recent photos and newspapers and directories from their beginning. The most recent gallery display is the Black History Trail Gallery. "I have a passion for creating displays about history. History is also fun, interesting and remembered more when people get to physically touch and see things from the past", Heather said.
This philosophy is evidenced in programs like 'History Alive!' which included tepis for visitors to go inside of, reenactors who shared information about fur trapping and trading and even a sheriff who "arrested" visitors and took them to jail. All of this and more took place at the historic site at the corner of K-18 and Spring Valley Road. One thousand visitors experienced this event and 350 of them were students.
There will be another opportunity to experience 'History Alive!' next spring. Other activities put on by the Historical Society include an upcoming Ice Cream Social and Car show on September 20 titled Hot Dogs and Hot Rods. This will take place on the grounds outside of the Museum at the corner of Sixth and Adams Streets. There will be a Murder Mystery (Encore) in October; STEAM Saturdays; a sports history event; Acoustic Junction at the St. Joseph's Church site in eastern Geary County, and a cleanup day at the Highland Cemetery.
For more information about events, visitation or questions about Geary County History, please contact Heather Hagedorn at 785-238-1666. The Museum is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 1 until 4:00 PM. Admission is free.