Once a year, my son goes on a team to restore historic landmark buildings. This year it is a schoolhouse in Colorado. I am thankful for the work he does, and glad that we share a bond of enthusiasm for the significance of history.
So, to get a sense of the type of work he does, I went to Missouri Town 1855, in Lee’s Summit. The museum has moved 25 buildings from 7 surrounding counties, and lovingly brought them back to life.
Each building has been carefully dismantled piece by piece, and rebuilt on this 30 acre site.
Look at how TINY this schoolhouse is.
The church is much bigger. Ladies and children sit on one side, menfolk on the other; with the pulpit and stove in the middle. This was a “Primitive Baptist church”.
My favorite building is this small but noble law office.
This recreated village is meaningful, particularly for anyone whose ancestral homes no longer exist or their towns have been replaced with modern buildings. Find these living history museums nearby where your ancestors lived, and go experience their lifestyle in person. It will help you to connect with them in a way that is not possible by merely reading about the era.
After my morning exploration here, I stopped at the Whistle Stop Coffee and Mercantile for a fresh glass of iced White Jasmine tea. And of course, I chatted with the townspeople. There are very few simple pleasures that I enjoy more than drinking iced tea and chatting with the locals of the towns I am visiting.
I then went to the Lee’s Summit History Museum. The docents gathered around and regaled me with stories of the town’s fascinating families.
You could write a book just from the combined verbal information these people provide.
There are multiple displays, within the museum, of intriguing people from the region, including Cole Younger (the Jesse James gang). Cole’s indirect descendants donated his personal items to the museum. The display offers a rare, private view of the life of Cole Younger.
Other displays include The Metheny brothers of jazz fame, and Loula Long Comb of the massive Longview Farm.
The president of the museum gave me permission to tour the archives in the basement.
There were multiple rooms FULL of boxes of old family scrapbooks and individual photographs. Here is a picture of the Lee’s Summit newspaper from approximately 1880 – 1960. They have been tenderly bound, and are delicately handled. I am highly impressed with the people at this museum and what they are doing. They truly have a love for the history of their town.
As I ended my day, I thought of my son on the drive home. I visualized his role in handling the past and keeping it safe for the future. I have a deep appreciation for everyone who is involved in doing this type of great work.