Founders of our museum were Pearl Edwin Lowrance, Katie Marie Adkins, and the Frank Rea Family which donated the ground for the building site.

The Carroll County Historical Society was first started by the vision of 5 citizens, who met in the basement of the Carrollton, VFW building on May 18, 1955. They were:

Earl F. Cheeseman, Editor of The Carrollton Daily Democrat
Paul W. West, Superintendent of Schools
Wade Maupin, Attorney
W.L. Adams, Superintendent of Carrollton Public Schools
Walter McGuire, Real Estate and Insurance Salesman

The Historical Society was permanently established on May 23, 1956, at which time Paul West, First Vice President wrote, "After 123 years of history, Carroll County has a Historical Society. The purpose of this society shall be to collect, and preserve information pertaining to historical events of Carroll County; to assume responsibility for proper recognition and preservation of various historical landmarks, relics, souvenirs, and Missouriana; to do suitable honor to those hardy pioneers of this county, who laid the foundation for our present happiness, by arranging and promulgating anniversary celebrations, and meetings in their memory; to engender rightful pride in the rich history of Carroll County, and the State of Missouri; and to establish and maintain a Carroll County Museum." The first officers were:

Earl F. Cheeseman, President
Paul W. West, 1st Vice President
Mrs. J. J. McKinney, 2nd Vice President
Mrs. Phillip Huff, Secretary
Miss Marie Betzler, Treasurer

First dues were $1.00 Charter membership.

By May 1960 the City of Carrollton was permitting the Historical Society to meet in the old Library room, in the basement of the City Hall. The walls were soon painted, show cases secured, and made ready for the first exhibits. The first recorded membership committee was:

Pearl Edwin Lowrance, Chairman
Ethel Rose, Bogard
Harry Mattox, Norborne
Rebecca Clay, Bosworth
Clifford Austin, Tina
William Flandermeyer, Hale
Otto Boelsen, DeWitt
Anna Jean Crouch, Carrollton
Dan Brand,
Beulah Smith,
Marie Tanzberger

By 1970, there were 503 members. Ground breaking was held on March 9, 1970 for a new museum building, which was named "Our Museum." It is 140 feet north-south and 60 feet east-west. Herman Parks of Carrollton was the general contractor, with Paul Harper as the assistant over the building. The Wakenda Lodge No 52 A.F. and A.M. placed the cornerstone in August 1970. An additional building has since been built to store the large amount of antique machinery, and the 1954 Seagrave Fire Engine.

The Museum was formally dedicated on June 14, 1971.

Today the Museum is operated by the Carroll County Historical Society, financed largely by the sale of their reprinted history books, and other projects they undertake. Gifts and memorials are always much appreciated for the upkeep of the museum.

There are forty period rooms from Carroll County homes. Each room has just the right wallpaper, furnishings, and floorcovering to represent that period. At the end of the home side is a replica of one of the oldest log cabins of Carroll County. A very old actual log cabin was found, and rebuilt for this room. There are the hand hewn logs, the rough table, and stool, iron pots, and even the garret under its sloping roof, with a young boy looking down.

There is the old Depot from Wakenda, and the first Post Office from Tina. Behind the buckshot riddled door of the Country Store, two old timers sit close to a pot bellied stove. The old Telphone Exchange unit is from Bosworth, and beside it stands the original desk, which holds the pull out bed for the night operator.

In the Drug Store from Hale is the same old ice cream parlor, and reflected in the huge mirror, behind the soda fountain, are two youngsters being served sodas in the old time soda glasses. The Ladies Ready to Wear Store from Hale has their authentic goods. The Barber Shop from Bosworth has its old genuine barber pole, and shoeshine chair. In the Dentists Office from Norborne, a foot pumped wheel supplies the power for the tooth drill. The old Church, and the Print Shop are worth seeing.

As Maxene Harris wrote in her article, "A museum is to show the culture of a people-which is the one thing that lasts. It is the real heritage of generations to come. This Museum has a choice collection of fine articles from the families of Carroll County."

It is a place where men-long gone from the county-come back to trace a family tree, browse through old records, and school pictures, and look with nostalgia at the scarred desk, on which they added their mark to the others.

And it's a place where school children come to look, and learn about their county's history, in agriculture, government and war. It's all there, in the old tools, documents, uniforms, and citations. They come in groups to study old skills, spinning, weaving, and needlework. Here they can see, as well as read about, how things once were, and how they were done.

Tour Bus groups, School groups, and Church groups are always welcome by appointment during the Summer OPEN season.

GENEALOGYMUSEUM/PUBLICATIONS

Background and Bars By: Jelane's Free Web Graphics