2017 Spring Newsletter

A celebra on including feas ng, dancing, games and music usually took place when the hunt returned to their reserva on. Dances o en took place in the Kan sas Indian Territory by the Miami Na on. Many of those dances took place at Pigeon Ridge, which was just east of Pigeon Lake. This was around the Fontana, Kansas area where wild pigeons flocked. Quite o en this took place a er they had received their annuity at Paola, Kansas. This and many other accounts of the Miami Indians can be read in “The Lost Years: Miami Indians in Kan sas” by REV. Clarence E. Hayward. This book is available at the Museum.)

8/9/1934 - 3/8/2017

The 100th Anniversary the U. S. Entry into the Great War On April 2, 1917, President Woodrow Wilson went before a joint session of Congress and asked for a declara on of war against Germany and her allies. On April 6, 1917 the Congress declared war. On August 5, 1917, Company D, 1st Kansas Regiment, Kansas Na onal Guard was mobilized into Federal service. In order to pay tribute to those who fought and served our country during WW 1, volunteers at the museum will present their story during 2017 and 2018. April through June 2017 we will briefly look at the incidents which moved the U. S. from being a neutral country to war. Once war was declared, how this affected the home front. Beginning in August the focus will move to the mobiliza on of Company D and their training. We will also take a look at the State Guard companies organized in Miami County. During 2018, while the men trained for war, the ladies of the county pitched in to support the war effort. August through December will be focused on Company D and the western front. WW 1 was basically a con nua on of the Franco-Prussian War. It will not be within the scope of the museum’s exhibits to discuss the run up to the start of WW1 in August 1914. There are many excellent sources available for reading about the events leading to the shoo ng war. As examples, if you like royalty and want a glimpse of Georgie, Nicky, and Willy, I recommend Catrine Clay’s King, Kaiser, Tsar Three Royal Cousins who led the World toWar. It was a tough read for me, but Barbara Tuchman’s (one of my favorite authors) The Proud Tower, A por trait of the world before the War: 1890-1914 will give you an idea of the efforts to prevent war and why it was not possible. Finally, Barbara Tuchman’s The Guns of August will take you through the first month of the WW1. REV. CLARENCE (GENE) HAYWARD Rev. Clarence (Gene) Hayward, 82, went home to his Lord on March 8, 2017. He was born in Chetopa, KS, on August 9, 1934, to Clarence A. and Ann (Leonard) Hayward.

Company D, 1st Kansas Regiment, Kansas Na onal Guard assembled in front of court house

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