2023 Fall Newsletter

Secetary’s Report September Another Successful Community Outreach Month September was a busy month as we conducted four Community Outreach events bringing the 2023 total to 20 events. Early in the month, a momentous occasion was marked when a member of the Peruvian Consulate arrived to “bring home” a priceless 1,000-year-old polychrome vessel made by ancient Peruvian peoples. Although our donated collection of indigenous antiquities was impressive, it had nothing to do with Miami county, leading the museum on a quest to send all artifacts back to where they belong – their counties of origin. This moment marked the first successful repatriation of items from the collection and was well attended by Paola’s Mayor and other residents and reporters. In fact, not only did our own Republic publish a front page article, a statewide paper, Kansas Reflector, pub lished an article on this event. We want to thank Shar ice Davids and her staff for helping us with this effort.

Full story on page 11

Our October program (Saturday, October 21st at 1:00) takes a slightly different view of Quantrill’s Lawrence raid as compared to our August speaker although both speakers base their presentations on eyewitness ac counts and other archival documents. It was very in teresting to compare differences!

Our September speaker and topic, Wes Cole on the Osawatomie State Hospital, were very near and dear to many county residents attracting a large audience.

Mid-month, the Museum and Simple Simon’s Pizza co-sponsored the Paola stop of a Pottawatomie Trail of Death reenactment at Park Square. The riders, re freshed from the stop and lunch, then continued to Osawatomie for an evening event.

Pictured above on the left,Derek Wendt Assistant Risk Manager at Osawatomie State Hospital and preivous Hospital Superintent,Wes Cole.

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