Newsletter - Summer 2026
“What’s it Worth?” Event Asks “Want to Know?”
Is there a “priceless” family heirloom sitting in your attic? That piece that every family member has heard the story of, but no one knows about for certain? If so you are not alone, it is a common story in families across the nation, and Cowley County Historical Society Museum set out to help nail down some of those stories in July. The museum brought together a group of twelve locals with knowledge and interest in historical pieces and opened their doors to the public to come see what they could find out.
Items from old canes, to musical instruments, art, jewelry, and even some glassware were looked over by volunteers. Some where truly old treasures and some where more modern reproductions, but every thing had a story to tell.
The event was titled “What’s it Worth” and was modeled on the popular television show “Antiques Road Show”. Visitors were asked to limit their initial visit to a pair of items to be looked at, but were free to return with more. While most came with an item or two, some folks came to just to watch, enjoying the event from the view of a spectator.
The Winfield Welcome
USD 465 decided to try something new this year as the organization returned the staff to the school district from summer break. The Winfield Welcome, as the event came to be called, was envisioned as a way for the staff of the various schools, whether new or returning, to be introduced to the varied organizations and business of Winfield and what they might offer to school staff. The museum was honored to set up a booth.
On Wednesday the 5th of August, office manager Dusty, and museum intern Eliza, joined with numerous folks to represent 29 different groups from the area. The beautiful table they worked was the brainchild of archivist Lou Tharp, and well represented the many features of the museum from research hub to fieldtrip destination.
Some great connections were made with district staff. The highlight of the event for the museum may have been the Winfield history pop quiz that was given to teachers to test their knowledge of local history. The quiz was later shared with museum social media followers on Facebook, and Instagram.
Museum Friends Brings Fair Memories
In an unusual turn of events the museum extended our Museum Friends program an extra month this year to include a presentation in the month of June. The presentation proved to be worthy of the addition. Mary Hittle and her daughter graced the museum with a history of the Cowley County Fair in celebration of fair’s one-hundredth anniversary. Museum friends enjoyed the presentation. This was successful enough to inspire Mary to repeat the presentation at the fair itself later in the year.
Wish Granted
The efforts to return the kindergarten cottage to its former glory have born their first fruits. With the help of a grant from the Heritage Trust Fund through the Kansas State Historic Preservation Office, and the hard work of the staff of Wright Floor Leveling out of Ponca City, the foundation of the building has been repaired.
There is still work to be done, and the museum is currently looking into bids to repair some of the siding of the over 100 year old building. While the building is getting a fresh coat of paint, the foundation was what was threatening long lasting damage to the structure.
Not only does this work excite the museum board, but also the state. Darbee Chard, our grant officer at the State Historic Preservation Office, said she was looking forward to watching the progress of our project and had high hopes for its success. These comments were made when the state made a visit to the museum in early August to formally present us the grant and take pictures of the work in progress.
Pickin’, Pork, and Pie still a Party
One-hundred degree temperatures did not keep the public from coming out on Sunday the 30th to the Cowley County Historical Society Museum’s “Pickin’, Pork, and Pie at the Pub” event. This is the second year for the fundraising event hosted by the museum, and it looks to be a fixture going forward.
Gathering a group of music lovers and museum sup-porters at Ladybird Brewing in downtown Winfield, the event presents food, fellowship, and a bit of bluegrass. Attendees are encouraged to donate fifteen dollars to the museum in exchange for a pulled pork sandwich, beans, coleslaw, and a piece of one of several different pies provided by museum volunteers.
The biggest draw of the event is the music. This year was hosted by Seth Bate, who favored those who braved the heat with a few tunes, and then introduced the main attraction of the night, Mandolin Monroe. Mandolin is one of the premier area musicians, with years of experience entertaining at festivals and gatherings.
While more attendees picked up food and took it home than in the previous year, plenty of folks remained and enjoyed the music. This year’s pulled pork was smoked by representatives of the Masonic Lodges of Kansas and served by the museum staff, board of directors, and a selection of volunteers. Pickin’, Pork, and Pie at the Pub was once again a success, serving over one hundred plates.
The museum wishes to thank sponsors Ladybird Brewing and Werner Creek Farms, as well as giving thanks to Winfield Walmart and the Masonic Lodges of Kansas in their help with providing the meal. Also noted are the many individuals who made sides, provided pies, or staffed the event.
Two for Tea
Saturday, the eighth of August, saw two full tables of adults and youngsters step back in time to share a bit of whimsy and a spot of tea. The tea was the latest in a series hosted as fundraisers for the Cowley County Historical Society Museum by Marsha Granberry. This one had a fairy tale theme and was focused on children. The popular event was quick to fill up, so be on the watch for the next to be announced.
For those who are not aware of these events, guests are invited to dress in older fashions of formalwear, and are greeted and served by ladies in Victorian attire. After the three course tea a tour of Granberry’s historic home is given which in this case included a few thematic surprises for guests. The teas serve as both an exciting look into the social gatherings and traditions of the past, and also serve as a way for grandmothers, mothers, and daughters to connect with each other and peers.
Festival Highlighted by Poster Donation
A timely donation was recently brought to the museum. A poster from the 1989 Walnut Valley Festival signed by all the performers from the festival that year. With this year’s Bluegrass just around the corner, it was a great reminder of how much this event has shaped the area.
Did you know the museum has a whole display dedicated to the festival? Just at the top of the stairs in the foyer, sit several glass cases of memorabilia, instruments, posters, and other artifacts from Bluegrasses past.
Cowley County Celebrates 250
It was a pleasure to watch the local community come together in celebration on July 3rd at Island Park. A crowd lined up for food, fun, music, and most importantly to celebrate the anniversary of the Untied States.
A group representing a spread of Winfield organizations led by Kent Melcher, Past Department Commander Sons of the Veterans of the Civil War, organized an event centered on the annual Fourth of July concert of the Winfield City Band. Prior to the concert, all were welcomed to the park to visit a number of booths presented by local organizations, featuring free plants, snow cones, face painting, historical toys and games and much more. Also available were free food and drink.
Finishing the evening’s festivities, was a tremendous band performance prefaced by a reading of a portion of the Declaration of Independence. The concert included patriotic favorites and a performance of “Lincoln Portrait”.
The following morning, a car show was hosted by Pharoh Car Club with a focus on our veterans. Car show participants made an effort to visit the local veterans’ home, starting the show with a cruise to Kansas Veterans’ Home.
Another portion of Winfield’s celebration was the display of a window in the Chamber of Commerce. The product of a partnership between the museum and the Eckes Camp of the Sons of the Veterans of the Civil War, the window display featured items from Winfield’s patriotic past. Also included was a history of Winfield as a major location for the United States Bicentennial celebration.
Other area principalities also planned festivities for the anniversary; but many were delayed or cancelled by severe storms that rolled into the area later in the day.
A Tradition Continues
For the seventh year in a row, the Southwestern Girls’ Basketball team will assist the museum in preparing for the annual membership drive. The ladies gather with board member, Cindy Goertz, to stuff and address our membership letters. The event acts as a service opportunity for the team as well as lets them get to know the museum itself. This tradition is just one of many ways the museum works to forge a bond with other groups in our area; and one we are always happy to see continue.
Watch your mail for your invitation to either continue or become a member of Cowley County Historical Society Museum. Museum members receive this very newsletter either by mail or email every quarter, as well as other advanced notices of museum events. We treasure each and every one of our contributors to museum programs.
State of the Museum
By Board President Julie Mignone
Dear CCHSM members and history fans;
It is with great pleasure and excitement that I get to send you this missive to culminate another year as president of CCHSM board of directors. I hope that by now many of you have met our office manager, Dustin Ward. A greeting and conversation with him is one I’m sure you would remember – or even just his voice and helpful responses on the phone would likely be memorable. We also welcomed a new member to our board of directors, Becky Winblad- a lifetime resident of Winfield, bringing our board to the 12 members suggested in our by-laws. We continue to be open Tuesday through Sunday 1 pm-4 pm. A greeter you might meet on Saturday if you visit, is Eliza Ward. We were lucky to receive a scholarship from Legacy to be able to hire her for one day of the weekend; and a board member is our docent/greeter on the other weekend day. Board members worked hard this spring on our gardens and we feel fortunate to be on the list for lawn mowing by the Prison Employees Crew. So things are looking good and working smoothly.
Last year’s main display room theme was Gone But Not Forgotten; displaying places, events and activities that were in Cowley County 1950 or so to 2000. We certainly heard many visitors reminiscing and enjoying remembrances. This year’s display theme is Youth Activities and Organization in Cowley County through the years. With many residents adding memorabilia to our research, we feel the display is packed full of, again, things and activities to be remembered. This display will be up for viewing until the end of 2026.
Museum Friends have outdone themselves offering wonderful programs each month. We got to learn about Extension Homemaking Unit organizations in the county, 5 generations of Memories in Island Park, Larry Hatteberg’s association with Governor Docking and other stories, Kent Melcher’s review of Civil War veterans that helped build Cowley County, history of Cowley County Fair, Building of Winfield City Lake, history of and celebration of 70 years for Winfield Recreation Center.
We hosted programs and events including: Voices from the Past at Highland Cemetery, Pickin’, Pork and Pie at Ladybird Brewery, Fun Hub scavenger hunt for participating youth, Elea-nor Roosevelt’s visit to Winfield depicted through photographs donated by Larry Hatteberg, our Annual Appreciation Dinner at Baden Square, 3 sessions of Victorian Brunch at Marsha Granberry’s Victorian home, supported Etzanoa Conservancy Open House, Donald Blakeslee’s presentation of Native American presence in Cowley County and Quivera history was presented in our museum (He also visited with our patron’s bringing their collected artifacts), we assisted in Celebrate Cowley County presentation at Baden Square where two of our board members, Sharon Taylor and Chris Jarvis, made presentations of their research, participated in July 3 America Celebrates 250 at Island Park, decorated the Chamber of Commerce window with 250 year celebration with memorabilia from the museum in coordination with Sons of Veterans of the Civil War Camp Eckes, presented “What’s it Worth” (similar to Antique Road Show) with county volunteers offering information and connections to patrons bringing cherished items from home, and presented “Fairytale Tea” for mothers, grandmothers and especially children at Marsha Granberry’s home. Whew! SO. Yes, we have been busy and inviting the county to stay busy with us! We have been gratified to have many organizations and community groups hold their meetings in our main display room throughout the year. We participated in the “Giving Back” campaign with Legacy.
And we were delighted to be voted Best Museum in the County through C-T online voting for the 9th year in a row. Many of these activities have been featured in our newsletters throughout this year.
Now, to tell you a little about our expansion plans: we have begun the process and hope to have it accomplished in the next two years. The Kindergarten Building, the program added to USD 465 public schools in 1925, has been our site for storage of items that have been donated to CCHSM and is frequently rotated through our displays. It was in need of restoration due to failing foundation, termite damage, siding deterioration and “loss” of paint. We were fortunate to acquire a grant from the State Historical Society to help fund all the needed repairs to bring it back to historical value, significance, and viability. Much of that work has been accomplished! Yea! We now hope to repurpose that Kindergarten Building into a Children’s Museum. There is not such a facility in our area and we hope to bring more traveling visitors to us and the county. It would, of course, be necessary to build a new storage facility (with possibly additional display space) to accomplish that. Another, larger grant will be applied for and a campaign for funding will be necessary. Please bear with us as we work toward that goal. The board is fully aware, as we want you to be, that your contributions and donations are what keep us afloat throughout the year. We truly appreciate it.
We hope to see you all at the museum soon!
Sincerely,
President of the Board of Directors at CCHSM
CCHSM Board of Directors
Summer Brings Sunflowers Back to Museum
For the third year, Cowley County Historical Society Museum has been a proud participant in the Sunflower Summer Program. The program provides admission to a myriad of museums, zoos, state parks, and other educational sites for school children and their families in Kansas during the Summer school break. While the museum has never charged admission, being included in the program puts the museum in front of the eyes of families across the state.
For the second year running, the museum has set up a map for our Sunflower visitors to place a pin in so that we visualize the outreach the program has given the museum. It is a pleasure to say that this year there are some new pinholes in the map as the museum draws visitors from different areas of the state.
Future 2026 Fall Events
- Celebrating 100+ Years of Boy Scouts - Monday, September 21st, at 4:30 P.M. at the museum. Presented by Museum Friends
- Historic Home Porch Tour — Sunday, October 18th, at 1:30 P.M. and 4:00 P.M. at the museum.
- 125 Years of 4-H in Cowley County—Monday, October 19th, at 4:30 P.M. at the museum. Presented by Museum Friends
CCHSM Board of Directors
Jonathan Leeper, Bill Mueller, Vice President Sharon Taylor, Joe Chrisman, Chris Jarvis, Graham Donals, Secretary Jody Lawrence, John Baker, Treasurer Karen Vann Young, Becky Winblad, Cindy Goertz, and President Julie Mignone
Commemorative Bricks
We partner with Dawson Monument to engrave bricks, which are for sale, make great memorials, and also sup-port the museum. The bricks border the walkway from the parking lot to the front steps. To purchase, forms can be found on the table by the books for sale or call 620-221-4811.
There are three levels of donations: Flat red brick with 2 lines of 12 characters -$75 donation. Flat red brick with 3 lines of 12 characters -$100 donation.
A contrasting brick with 12 characters-$500 donation.
Fewer letters may be used if you wish.
Established in 1931 and revitalized in 1967 with a relocation to our current home on Mansfield Street in the historic Bryant School building, the Cowley County Historical Society is dedicated to safeguarding and sharing the vibrant stories of our county’s past.
We are committed to fostering and promoting endeavors that celebrate local history. We take pride in our extensive archive of historical documents and treasured photographic memories.
Come visit and see what’s new (or old) at the museum!
All donations, both monetary and historical artifacts, are greatly appreciated. Our building is over 140 years old and requires significant ongoing maintenance in addition to operating costs. We continue to be a no fee museum and we have no plans to change that.
Your continued support will allow us to best serve the community.
We are especially seeking anything from diverse ethnic groups to add to our displays.
These businesses support us—won't you support them?
(We hope to add more during the coming months.)
Cowley County Historical Society Museum is funded in part by the taxpayers of Cowley County.
