The Oct. 7 meeting of the Greenwood County Historical Society (GWCHS) board was called to order by President Mike Pitko.
Those present were: John Bills, Dusty Booth, Taylor Hunt, Jamie Lindamood, Kent Olson, Dana Mills, Pitko, Gib Rhodes, Rise Russin, Stan Skaer, Jan Stephens and Museum Director Robin Himes.
Minutes
The minutes of the Aug. 5 board meeting were read. There were no changes or corrections.
Stephens moved to approve the minutes. Rhodes seconded the motion.
Treasurer’s Report
Olson reported that July and August looked pretty good. The Year-to-Date statements are correct. Investments have gained a little bit. Everything else looks good.
Rhodes moved to accept the treasurer’s report. Mills seconded the motion.
Visitors
In August, the museum had 32 visitors from Kansas, Wisconsin, Texas and Georgia (eastern Europe).
In September, the museum had 61 visitors. This number included 19 students and two adults from Hamilton Elementary School, four students and one teacher from Eureka Junior/Senior High School doing Community Service and 24 people attending the Fifth Monday presentation on Sept. 29.
Communications
Pitko read a letter from Kevin Hough resigning from the museum board. Rhodes moved to accept Hough’s resignation, Stephens seconded. The motion was approved.
Himes read a thank you note from Barb and Howard Redburn, Shari Griffin, Rene Kreie and Donna Mc-Coy to Olson and secretary Kim Gorman expressing appreciation for the tour of the museum and the extra information regarding non-profits. Olson shared additional information about the couple, their collection and their plans to turn it into a museum.
A letter from Humanities Kansas was read, expressing appreciation to the GWCHS for its donation of $100 and a notice from the Sunflower Summer program was shared saying that GWCHS had 18 claimed tickets to its site and had been reimbursed $90.
Old Business
Pitko shared photos of the inside of Claycomb School and explained what work would need to be done to the interior.
New Business
Discussion regarding Cattleman’s Day: Himes shared the following information: GWCHS will be open on Cattlemen’s Day from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. GWCHS has a volunteer coming in to clean and condition the collection of saddles (there are nine) and they will be on display. Joel Edmondson will be at the museum for part of the morning – times still to be set. There will be activities for kids with bandanas and sheriff’s badges to hand out. There will be new displays for Cattlemen’s Day.
Hunt was asked if he would create a flier/poster for Cattlemen’s Day showing the activities at the museum. Lindamood shared that there will be an assembly on Oct. 23 at Marshall Elementary put on by the Cattlewomen and asked if GWCHS could make a smaller flier that could be handed out to the students on that day. Mills asked if the flier could be digital so that she could share it with other organizations.
Stephens asked about doing something to improve the signage on each side of town. Discussion was held about what changes could be made and people who might be able to work with GWCHS; this included Coffelt Signs in Emporia who did the ones that are currently up. Local individuals who do sign work were also mentioned. Olson said that there is a possibility that KDOT would need to approve what is put on the signs. Bills asked if the group has to pay rent to whoever owns the land where the current signs are placed – the group does not.
Olson mentioned that 2025 is being recognized as the 200th anniversary of Norwegian emigration to the United States. His cousin who just returned from a tour of the country and family homesteads was asked to provide information for a Norwegian publication. Stories of the Norwegian experience in Greenwood County are of particular interest, so Olson is providing various accounts.
Pitko asked for ideas of people to be considered to fill the open position on the board for the museum. Pitko told board members and the executive board to let him know if they were not interested in continuing on the board. The board and executive board will stay the same unless he is notified of any changes.
Pitko shared that GWCHS is out of Volume II of the history books. He has taken a copy to Chester Press in Emporia and has gotten bids of $1,240 for 30 books and $2,000 for 50 books. These are quotes for soft-cover, spiral-bound books. Discussion followed about the possibility of self-publishing the books. Olson suggested that if GWCHS self-publishes, it could make a digital document that would be searchable. No decisions were made. The group will continue to explore options for printing Volume II.
Pitko reminded the board that they have an upcoming insurance payment due on Dec. 1. He is anticipating an increase, based on the increase from last year.
Pitko asked the board’s opinion on shutting the museum down from the middle of December through the first of February. There was no discussion against this, so the museum will close at the end of the day Dec. 12 and reopen Feb. 2, 2026.
Hunt shared that he was able to upload accession records to the new accession system so that they will now be searchable.
Olson passed a photo around of one of Eureka’s original street lights that is being donated to the museum by Mason Branstetter, who recently donated “Cap” Sounders’ fire chief hat.
Mills volunteered her sons to remove the leaves from the outside farm equipment display when they are ready to have that done.
Mills made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Bills seconded the motion.
