Water will be turned back on today at this fountain during a Fountain Day celebration at the Wyandotte County Museum, 126th and State Avenue, Bonner Springs. The event at 11 a.m. is open to the public.
The Wyandotte County Museum will celebrate Fountain Day with an event at 11 a.m. today, April 9, at the museum, 126th and State Avenue, Bonner Springs.
According to David Hartman, curator at the museum, a fountain that formerly was installed at the intersection of 4th and Minnesota in 1904 in Kansas City, Kansas, will be the focal point of the event.
The fountain’s purpose then was to provide water for horses. At that time, horses drank out of the top of the fountain, while cats and dogs could drink out of the bottom, he said.
When cars became popular, and the need declined for the fountain, it was moved to 18th and Parallel, where it was a monument for a number of years, Hartman said.
When that intersection was redone, the fountain was donated to the Wyandotte County Museum in 1967, he said.
The fountain was refurbished at the museum, but later, water lines were cut. This horse trough fountain will be turned back on today, after being off for about 10 years, Hartman said.
Hartman said this is the only public fountain in Wyandotte County. Others may be located at hotels or The Legends, but they are privately owned, he added.
The event today will be open to the public and light refreshments will be provided.
A storm may move into the region on Wednesday night, bringing a 20 percent chance of rain in Wyandotte County. (National Weather Service graphic) Temperatures could dip to about 32 degrees on Friday night and Saturday morning in Wyandotte County, according to the National Weather Service. (National Weather Service graphic)
Temperatures may reach a high of 77 today, and a cold front will move into the area, bringing storms on Wednesday night.
Strong storms are possible Wednesday night into early Thursday, according to the National Weather Service. Hail and strong winds are the main concerns of the storm.
During the day on Wednesday, there could be an increased risk of fire because of high winds, low humidity and dry conditions, according to the weather service.
A frost or freeze is possible on Friday and Saturday mornings, the weather service said. Friday night’s low will be around 32, while Saturday night’s low will be about 39 here. Thursday night’s low will be about 35.
According to the weather service, some flooding concerns may return along the Missouri River in the region toward the end of the week.
Today, it will be sunny, with a high near 77 and an east southeast wind of 7 to 10 mph, the weather service said.
Tonight, the low will be about 58 with partly cloudy skies and an east southeast wind of 8 to 11 mph, according to the weather service.
Wednesday, it will be partly sunny, with a high near 80. A south wind of 10 to 15 mph will increase to 16 to 21 mph in the afternoon, the weather service said. Winds may gust as high as 36 mph.
Wednesday night, the low will be around 53 with a slight, 20 percent, chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1 a.m., according to the weather service. A south wind of 16 to 20 mph may gust as high as 32 mph.
Thursday, there is a 20 percent chance of showers after 2 p.m., with a high near 57, the weather service said. A south southwest wind of 15 to 22 mph will gust as high as 37 mph.
Thursday night, there is a 20 percent chance of rain before 1 a.m., with a low of 35, according to the weather service.
Friday, it will be mostly cloudy with a high near 48, the weather service said.
Friday night, the low will be around 32 with partly cloudy skies, according to the weather service.
Saturday, it will be mostly sunny with a high near 54, the weather service said.
Saturday night, there is a 50 percent chance of showers after 1 a.m., with a low of 39, according to the weather service.
Sunday, it will be partly sunny with a high near 57, the weather service said.
Sunday night, the low will be around 42 with partly cloudy skies, according to the weather service.
Monday, it will be mostly sunny, with a high near 65, the weather service said.
Anne Lacey spoke about the Kansas Room to the Wyandotte County Historical Society on Sunday at the Wyandotte County Museum, Bonner Springs. (Photo from Murrel Bland)
by Murrel Bland
The Kansas Room at the Kansas City, Kansas, Main Library has evolved as it has taken on more historical documents and artifacts. That was the message of Anne Lacey, the librarian who takes care of the Kansas Room.
Lacey was the speaker at a quarterly membership meeting of the Wyandotte County Historical Society Sunday afternoon, April 7, at the Wyandotte County Museum. About 30 persons attended.
Lacey said that the Kansas Room was opened on the first floor of the library at 625 Minnesota Ave. after the construction of the building in 1966. It was moved to the second floor of the library in 2016 when the administrative offices of the school district moved to 2010 N. 59th St. The library system is part of the Kansas City, Kansas, School District.
The Kansas Room has extensive original materials of the William E. Connelley Collection including information about the Wyandot Indians dating back to before 1844 when the tribe moved from Upper Sandusky, Ohio to here. Connelley served as Wyandotte County Clerk for two terms after being elected in 1883. He served as president of the Kansas State Historical Society in 1912 and later was the society’s long-time secretary.
The Kansas Room also has extensive newspaper clippings and photos concerning Kansas City, Kansas, schools. Lacey said it is collecting and digitizing high school yearbooks from Wyandotte County.
Lacey said there is discussion of building a new main library building. If so, she said this could be an opportunity to plan for an expanded Kansas Room.
Rebecca Barber Meditz, the Society president, presented the organization’s annual awards. The Margaret Landis Award went to the Bonner Springs Library for its Kansas Room. The Kansas Room at the Kansas City, Kansas, Library received the V.J. Lane Award. Steve Zuk, who has produced an extensive slide show about the history of Wyandotte County, was named “Historian of the Year.” Quindaro Nancy Brown Guthrie was honored with the Dr. Virginia Smith Glandon Award; Guthrie was a Wyandot Indian who came here in 1844 and was the first woman to be married in Wyandotte County.
Honored as Volunteers of the Year were Debbie Felix and Mendy Smith. Lifetime Meritorious awards went to the late Gene Ashley and the late John J. Jurcyk. Craig Delich received the Historical Educator Award for his book on Wyandotte High School. Special Presidential awards went to Clarissa Haynes, Kevin Willmott, Sharon Grace O’Neal and Hoie Kuam.
Murrel Bland is the former editor of The Wyandotte West and The Piper Press. He is a member of the board of directors of the Wyandotte County Historical Society.
