In the west room…special items of interest…WW II uniforms are displayed along with pictures of who they belonged to, war ration stamps, V-mails, and histories.
A collection of early-day glass-lantern slides and a projector for their viewing. The slides were used in the former Princess Movie Theater in Ordway.
Wedding dresses from the early 1900’s, worn by Flossie Pantle and Myrtle Langhorst—a lovely party dress owned by Mrs. E.P. Johnson. A 1940’s flower girl dress worn by Dorothy Wyeno is in the showcase of old dresses.
In the ranch room… a saddle once owned by pioneer Ernest “Red” Lundahl, made by former Mac’s Saddlery of Pueblo. Another saddle, Spanish style, once owned by pioneer Ed Whitney.
Cast-iron cooking pots were used on cattle drives by the owner, Walt Wright, an early pioneer rancher.
An unusual item used on cattle drives carried on the chuck wagon is an insulated
“Thermatic Fireless Stove”, patented in 1914. This cooker has three units, with stones you would heat and place in the cooker units to simmer items such as beans, potatoes, or meats, then your supper for the evening meal was “READY’. It worked like a modern-day crock pot.
In the east room…many historical pictures and articles about the towns in the county, ethnic cultures, such as Japanese, Hispanic, and German-Russian immigrants coming to the area, the Missouri Pacific Railroad, Colorado Canal irrigation and farming, ranching, and many other items of interest.
Research Possibilities In The Museum
Irrigation in Crowley County…The National Sugar Factory and Carey Family… beet dumps along the railroad…The Cudahy Ranch, with new pictures displayed with permission from the Marion Crowe Family collection… Boston Farm…tomato factory in Crowley…orchards in the area…turkey raising and processing…King Center Hay Mill& Auckland Farm and Ranch…Alfalfa Mill at Ordway and Crowley…years of the KKK in the county…properties that were homesteaded…war history…banking in the county…country schools dating back to the early 1900s…history of the churches… Japanese, Hispanic, and German-Russian cultures… and of each town and the county.
