RURAL ONE-ROOM SCHOOL "ALUMNI" GATHER
Katie Goerl, KSU senior is researching information related to one-room schools as part of her work as intern with the Chapman Center for Rural Studies. These former students of one-room rural schools were invited to come together at the museum on Saturday, November 5 to share their memories of those early days with her. She and her mentor Dr. Morgan, Research Lab Director at Chapman Center, are shown in the picture on the left waiting for the participants to fill out their questionnaires. They elicited interesting discussions from these "alumni" of those rural schools of former years.
The conversation and interaction became much more lively and interesting following the filling out of information about themselves as they are shown doing in these pictures. The camera was put away during the more lively discussion to avoid any chance of distraction.
Two pictures of students standing in front of Jenkins School are also shown below.
GRANT
ONEOK/Kansas Gas Service generously donated $2,500 to the Wiziarde Circus Building at the Rock Creek Valley Historical Society to assist with the restoration of this training barn. We were told that some of the officials of the company had a special interest in the project as they remembered watching Whizzo the Clown on TV. In real life, Whizzo was Frank Wiziarde who grew up in Westmoreland and trained in this barn with his family when they were preparing to take their show on the road.
BEFORE:
The Wiziarde Training Barn as it looked when it was first moved to the Museum Complex. (See "Complex" page for progress of restoration project as of April, 2011.)
WIZIARDE TRAINING BARN RESTORATION PROJECT
November 6, 2010: Work on the Wiziarde Barn restoration project proceeded. Several workdays, involving approximately 25 volunteers, have been scheduled. The lean-to has been completely built, door installed, and painting finished. The interior finishing will come later. As shown in the picture, volunteers are finishing the roof replacement. Snacks and lunch for the workmen have been prepared by other volunteers.
Update: The restoration project was essentially put on hold during the winter months, but is now in full swing again since weather condtions have improved.
KANSAS SAMPLER FEST
RETURNING TO KANSAS SAMPLER FEST -- May 7-8, 2011 --Visit us there!
Our Museum's booth proved to be popular with visitors at the Kansas Sampler Fest in Leavenworth May 1 and 2, 2010. It was estimated that approximately 8,500 people attended the Fest in search of interesting places to visit in Kansas. Westmoreland Chamber of Commerce had a companion booth right next to ours, and we had a common goal of sharing information about the interesting places to visit and things to see in our community. We appreciate all of you who visited our booth and hope you will be coming to visit us at home soon. Thanks to Bobbi Prinz and Trudie Hoffman for preparing and operating the booth. Also thanks to City Clerk, Vicki Zentner, for her assistance.
Our Museum's booth proved to be popular with visitors at the Kansas Sampler Fest in Leavenworth May 1 and 2, 2010. It was estimated that approximately 8,500 people attended the Fest in search of interesting places to visit in Kansas. Westmoreland Chamber of Commerce had a companion booth right next to ours, and we had a common goal of sharing information about the interesting places to visit and things to see in our community. We appreciate all of you who visited our booth and hope you will be coming to visit us at home soon. Thanks to Bobbi Prinz and Trudie Hoffman for preparing and operating the booth. Also thanks to City Clerk, Vicki Zentner, for her assistance.
WIZIARDE RESTORATION PROJECT RECEIVES GRANT
Rock Creek Valley Historical Society, of Westmoreland, is one of only four tourism projects in Kansas to receive an Attraction Development Grant from the Travel and Tourism Division of the Kansas Department of Commerce. We will receive $10,500 in grant money and $16,305 in leveraged (matching) funds . The funding will assist in the refurbishment of the Wiziarde Circus building, the winter home of the Wiziarde family. The family used the barn to practice their tight-rope circus act. Frank Wiziarde later became Whizzo the Clown, host of a popular children's TV show that ran from 1954 to 1987. Trudie Hoffman and Bobbi Prinz spearheaded the effort to obtain the grant, working with Julie Roller of the Pottawatomie County Economic Development Corporation. Matching funds required to qualify for the grant monies will be acquired through pledged donations of money and volunteer work and supplies. Citizens of Westmoreland generously pledged to provide those 'matching funds.'
HOFFMAN PHARMACY ONE OF "8 WONDERS OF KANSAS"
Hoffman Pharmacy and Soda Fountain has been named one of the
"8 Wonders of Kansas Customs" by the Kansas Sampler Foundation.
One can sit at the counter and order a sundae, shake, or float at this
50's style soda fountain, one of only 24 remaining in Kansas.
KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY HISTORY GRANT
The Board of Directors of the Museum agreed to sponsor a group of K-State students on a History is Now grant project entitled "Filling the Larder, Feeding the Family." The students will be researching old newspapers and maps located at the museum and interviewing local residents to gather information related to their project. Students of a K-State history class are shown here with their instructor, Dr. M.J. Morgan, browsing through some of the historical old editions of the Westmoreland Recorder .
INTERESTED IN KEEPING INFORMED, VOLUNTEERING, OR JOINING?
Memberships in the Historical Society are being accepted for the year 2011. Our membership year is from January 1 to December 31 each year. Dues for one year are $5.00 per person. Lifetime memberships are also available for $100 each. Anyone interested in helping to preserve the history of our community is encouraged to join. Memberships help us maintain our site and continue to collect and preserve our historical past. Anyone who wishes to join and did not receive a letter with membership form may indicate interest by leaving a note under "Contact Us" (see menu bar above), mailing intent to the Historical Society at PO Box 13, Westmoreland, KS 66549, or by calling or dropping by the museum.
Board of Directors meet on the first Wednesday of every month at 7:30 at the Museum. The annual meeting of members is held each August. Information is sent out to all members at that time. Anyone interested in the activities of the Society and perhaps in joining is also welcome to attend.
If you would like to receive news, notices, and updates about our events and progress or would like to volunteer to help with a project or activity, leave us a note and your email address. We hope to be able to increase our communications with interested parties by use of this website and email notices.
Board of Directors meet on the first Wednesday of every month at 7:30 at the Museum. The annual meeting of members is held each August. Information is sent out to all members at that time. Anyone interested in the activities of the Society and perhaps in joining is also welcome to attend.
If you would like to receive news, notices, and updates about our events and progress or would like to volunteer to help with a project or activity, leave us a note and your email address. We hope to be able to increase our communications with interested parties by use of this website and email notices.