newsletter of the Cloud County Historical Society Museum January 2015 e-mail: [email protected] 785-243-2866 w ww.cloudcountyks.org —————————————————————————————————————————————————————— 55th Annual Dinner Meeting & Program Highlights with Secretary Aline Luecke ————————————————————————————————————————————————————— The 55th Annual Dinner Meeting of the Cloud County Historical So- ciety was held at the Catholic Parish Hall on Thursday evening, October 16, 2014 at 6:00 p.m. There were 104 reservations for a wonderful meal catered by Donna Brummett. Guests were served by athletes of the CCCC baseball team and Donna’s husband Greg. Vice-President Dana Brewer welcomed everyone to the dinner meet- ing and asked Dr. Warren Freeborn to give the Invocation. Dana then gave a tribute for the late Robert “Bobby” Keiser who was a long time volunteer at the Cloud County Museum. Board member Dan Harris spent many hours at the Museum doing research of the Cloud County Historical Society’s Constitution, its amend- ments and revisions. Copies were placed on each table for members to read. A short business meeting commenced with Treasurer Betty Losh providing copies of the Society’s Annual Financial report at each table and giving an explanation regarding receipts and disbursements. Joan Freeborn made a motion to accept the report, seconded by Verna Hamel. It passed. Membership Chair Alice Walker gave an updated report for a total of 35 Courtesy members, 135 members that pay yearly dues and 176 Life time members for a combined total of 346 members. Our Curator Cindy Reimann gave a report on some of the things were happening at the Museum this year. She acknowledged Marilyn Johnston for the discovery of the letter and appreciation for contacting our guest speaker Susan Schoelwer, the Robert H. Smith Senior Curator at George Washington’s Mount Vernon. Cindy mentioned the interviews of Ed & Marion Pick and Lorene Fraser, conducted by Chris Stiles of Cat Scratch Productions that will be available soon. The book “Images of America: Concordia” by authors Dena Bisnette and Joe Gilliam will be available this spring. When Cindy passed the ham radio test, Joe Gilliam gave her a short wave radio. The Kansas-Nebraska Ham Radio Club will install an antenna, power supply, and radio donated by Joe Gilliam in the Museum. Other things mentioned were: Quilt of the Month More Highlights with Aline Luecke 2 displays; the Dwight D. Eisenhower Museum’s Three year Commemorative Anniversary Exhibit “World War II Remembered” displaying artifacts from the Cloud County Museum’s POW collection; vehicles have been moved to the Museum Annex with Norris & Lois Anderson’s 1949 Studebaker, Bonneville Land Speed Record Holder, in the front window; volunteers built a replica of Lester’s Sweet Shop store front and a mural 12’x6’ of children in the Sweet Shop (1950s) will be placed on the back wall of the display when funds are raised; and a mural of Concordia’s Main Street will be placed on the wall adjacent to the front window at the Museum Annex once funds are raised. Cindy Reimann and Dana Brewer acknowledged the Volunteers for their outstanding contribution to the Cloud County Museum. The election of Directors and Officers were held. The names presented for direc- tors were: Tom Gennette, James Bell, Bev Taddiken, Daniel Harris, and Alice Boschek. Mark Morgan moved to accept the nominees, seconded by Dallas Nading. It passed. Proposed officers for next year were: President-Tom Gennette, Vice-President-Dana Brewer, Recording Secretary-Aline Luecke, Treasurer - Betty Losh, and Membership Secretary-Alice Walker. Verna Hamel moved to elect these officers, sec- onded by Jim Buoy. It passed. Dana introduced our speaker, Susan Schoelwer who gave a presentation and discussion on “America’s first First Lady Martha Washington.” She gave a very interesting talk with pictures that helped to tell Martha Washington’s story. Schoelwer addressed the relationship between Martha (Patsy) and her niece Fanny Bassett Washington and Martha’s life during the war which included traveling to military en- campments during the winter to join her husband, George. Martha was a great hostess and one picture was of her five gallon punch bowl. Another picture shown was of Martha’s bathing gown, weights attached at the bottom of the gown, to keep it from rising up. A Martha Washington ten question quiz provided by Marilyn Johnston was placed at each table prior to the event. Betty Losh read the correct answers at the end of the program. We learned some cool stuff about the Washington’s. The original Martha Washington letter that was written January 27, 1793 to Fannie Bassett Washington was on display. —————————————————————————————————————————————————————- Ladies Auxiliary to the VFW Celebrates 100th Anniversary The LAVFW was established September 17, 1914 to assist the VFW Posts and members of the posts, auxiliaries and their families, and to show allegiance, fidelity and patriot- ism to the United States. Its members are relatives of de- ceased or honorably discharged officers or enlisted military whose service entitles them to membership in the VFW. Local members of Martin LeSage Ladies Auxiliary to Post #588 celebrated its 80th anniversary in January 2014. They share many good memories of helping all veterans, especially local veterans and their families, working with youth programs, assisting members with cancer grants, and donating to and participating in community groups and projects. Cloud County Historical Society members Gertrude Breault serves as President, Ruth Bombardier as Sr. Vice-President & Trustee, and Cheryl Sulkosky as Secretary of the LAVFW to Post #588. A Special Visitor to the Museum September’s VFW Auxiliary display prompted a visitor, Ethan Elwood of Belleville, to inquire into further related articles of the VFW in the Museum. Ethan was shown the VFW section and after going through many scrap books, was pleased to find several newspaper articles about his grandfather, the late Leonard Wiltse, who was an active VFW member and an employee of the Blade-Empire, as well as his great-aunt, the late Dorothy Lawyer, Leonard’s sister, who served the Auxiliary in many capacities. 3 CLOUD COUNTY MUSEUM ANNEX Home of The Whole Wall MURAL We are pleased to announce brick masons Shawn Cyphers and Dell Lee have completed the final installation of the Recognition Pathway Bricks located on the south side of the entrance to the Museum Annex. If you would like to locate your brick, there is a reference map available at the Barons Hotel desk. Susie Haver of Cloud County Tourism would be happy to assist you, or if you require further assistance, feel free to call on Aline Luecke at the Museum. From the Editor—Cindy Reimann NOW OPEN FOR BUSINESS! In 1971, an article appeared in the Blade-Empire that regaled the many business enterprises of Charles and Isabell Blosser as having helped Concordia grow. It was 1927 when Charles H. Blosser started his first business, the Blosser Motor Company (a Chevrolet car dealership), in the building we now embrace as the Museum Annex, and in later days as Everitt Hardware. It’s been said the engine that drove American Industrial production was always close at hand, under the hoods of our cars. We are compelled to dedicate this space once again to remember and enjoy the love affair we have experienced with our automobiles and trucks. With help from Harley Adams of Concordia Tractor Inc., and Charles Bowers of Concordia Chevrolet & Buick, we were able to move Isabell Blosser—photo courtesy of James Bell several vehicles between the Annex and the main Museum building. Wes Freeman of CTI and Charles Bowers of Concordia Auto Mart collaborated and successfully managed to move the 1928 International truck to the Annex. This project took some thought and strategic planning since the tires on the truck had all but disintegrated. It took a tow dolly under the rear wheels and a tow truck lift at the front end to maneuver the vehicle into the rear entrance of the building. With several sets of wheel dollies provided by David Hansen and Paul Moon, and with the help of Wes Freeman and Justin Snyder of CTI, Alan Jackson, Dan Morrissette and Charlie Bowers of Concordia Auto Mart, David Hansen, Museum volunteers Tom Istus, John Luecke and (left side) Alan Jackson, David Hansen, Wes your Museum Director, we were able to physically move the truck into place. Freeman, and Justin Snyder (right side) The next truck to be moved to the Annex was the 1950 International. More Blosser Motor Company 4 with Aline Luecke at the wheel, Wes Freeman supervising, and Justin Sny- der driving the John Deere Gator, this was a fairly smooth operation. Jean Franey stopped by just in time to help us push the truck into the An- nex . Once inside, we had surmised that this endeavor would be a piece of cake, and it was, until we tried to slide the truck into its final resting place. The guys put wheel dollies under each wheel, but the truck was so heavy, the ball bearing rollers began to collapse to the outside. It was down home country ingenuity and the floor jack that saved the day. To our delight, Jean brought home made ice cream —a perfect ending to our day! The Blosser Stan- dard Service Station 302 West Sixth Street Concordia, Kansas Among the many accomplishments of Charles Blosser, he served in the United States Army in France during World War I, earned a degree in Mechani- cal & Electrical Engineering from Kansas State University, and a degree in Business from Central Business College. Taken from the Museum’s DVD col- lection, “Interview: Isabell Blosser by Donna Berner” from the Video Li- brary of James Bell, Isabell recalls when Charlie was a co-owner in a Chevro- let dealership and that upon proposing marriage to her, he suggested Isabell marry him and be his bookkeeper.