January 24, 2010
WOLF CREEK HERITAGE MUSEUM NOTES
by Virginia Scott
MUSEUM HAPPENINGS
Our school tours have begun. Kirksey Elementary, Booker, invaded Lipscomb on Wednesday. Starting at 10 am the first buses arrived delivering students to the courthouse and to the museum. 40 energetic 2nd and 3rd grade students explored the museum for their individual art and to answer history questions pertaining to the county and to Booker. They then went to the courthouse and the courthouse group came to the museum and the process was repeated.
Mildred, Georgia, Fern, and I collapsed for lunch to prepare for the afternoon.
Afternoon brought the first and kindergarten classes for a total of 106 students for the day and four groups. The students successfully answered all the questions, explored the art to ruins exhibit with great enthusiasm, and found their own art. The energy and joy of these children is a site to behold and enjoy. The day was tiring but delightful. We thank and admire the teachers and parents who bring the students to explore their heritage. The questions that the students explored with are available to any visitor who wants to explore with purpose.
The deadline for the second volume of the county history book is drawing near. I hope everyone is writing your stories. We need family histories, histories of schools, businesses, churches, ranches, and organizations such as the lions, American legion, boy scouts, ffa, etc. Please contact the following members of the book committee for assistance or call the museum, Deadline is April:
Booker - Lois Ann Schultz
Darrouzett - Irene Gensman, Fern Howard
Follett - Liz Miller, LaVeta Buchner
Higgins - Arlene Walker
Lipscomb - LaVaun Kraft, Peg Herriage
At - Large - Anna Lee and Hugh Barton, Vesta Newman
Also the early bird purchase orders are needed by April at $65 per copy, forms at the museum or book committee.
HISTORICAL MUSINGS
Two interesting historical tidbits this week caught my eye:
- On Jan. 24, 1871, Britton Johnson was killed by a band of Kiowas who attached his wagon train. He had become legendary in the 1860's for pursuing Indians who kidnapped his wife and children. After his adventures on the Llano Estacado, Johnson worked as a teamster hauling goods between Weatherford and Fort Griffin. The evidence of spent cartridges suggests that he defended himself fiercely before dying. He and his men were buried in a common grave beside the road. His life was the subject on several movies and TV show in the 1970-80's.
- Jan.21, 1856, the American or Know-Nothing party of Texas met for the first time in open convention in Austin. The party was the political manifestation of the of the anti-foreigner, anti-Catholic secret society known as the American Order. In the summer of 1855 Texas Know-Nothing leaders launched a plan to gain political control of the state. Lt. Gov. David C. Dickson (former democrat) headed the ticket, though he and his fellow candidates steadfastly denied that they were members of the American Order. During the spirited ensuing campaign Sam Houston issued a public letter endorsing the principles of the American Order. Though incumbent Democratic governor Elisha M. Pease defeated Dickson in the August election, The American parted elected Lemuel D. Evans to Congress and about a dozen members to the state legislature. Buoyed by these limited successes, the party held a November rally in Austin at which Houston spoke, and at the January convention elected delegates to the national convention and nominated candidates for several state offices. But the national movement soon split over the issue of slavery, and by 1857 the American party had virtually disappeared in Texas.
Source for these tidbits is the Handbook of Texas Online Day by Day articles. This site offers interesting tidbits every day to enlighten us on our history. In election year, it is interesting to look back and see the different issues and political parties that emerge and fade and how our issues change but don't. I love the Know-Nothing party name... at least they were honest about their knowledge for answers to the problems of the day.
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