Legacy Fall 2012

T H E J O U R N A L O F T H E R E N O C O U N T Y H I S T O R I C A L S O C I E T Y

22have a “spooktacular”ride that windsunderground!

13want to go

huntingfor rocks

that “speak?”

Legacyh

FALL 2012

the hutchinson fire department boasts a rich heritage. see more on page 4.

DON’T MISS

SPOOKTA

CULA

R

I N S I D E

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Home LoansStay At Home.

HISTORICAL SOCIETY STAFF (full-time)

Linda Schmitt, executive director, rchs [email protected]

Jamin Landavazo, chief curator, rchs [email protected]

Gayle Ferrell, director of operations, kusm [email protected] Tonya Gehring, docent supervisor, kusm [email protected]

Mike Allen, finance manager, rchs [email protected]

Dave Unruh, maintenance supervisor, kusm [email protected]

Lynn Ledeboer, curatorial assistant, rcm [email protected]

Tina Moore, administrative assistant, rcm [email protected]

Kourtney Krehbiel, visitor services, kusm [email protected]

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Michael Armour, president • Charles Studt, treasurer

Shannon Holmberg, secretary • Richard Shank, president-

elect • Nan Hawver • Barbara Withrow • John Doswell

Tim Davies • Sherry Mundhenke • Patty Foss • Elaine Fallon

Billy Klug • Mary Wilson • Conrad Koehler • Myron Marcotte,

ex-officio • Lee Spence, ex-officio • Mike Carey, ex-officio

4 battling the blazes ...rich heritage uncovered in photo cache

13 kusm expands the adventure ...help spread the word!

14 overnight scouting ...and it’s all underground!

17 more supporters join rchs cause ...they make it all happen

18 endowment to ensure the future ...and keep our museums strong

19 fire memorabilia runs the gamut ...from firebugs to escape devices

22 spooktacular madness in the mine ...check out these fantastical events 23 don’t miss special christmas plans ...crafts, cookies and creativity

Volume 24, No. 4Legacy is published quarterly by The Reno County Historical Society, Inc. 100 S. Walnut St., P.O. Box 664, Hutchinson, Kansas 67504-0664For advertising or membership information, call 620-662-1184.

© 2012 The Reno County Historical Society, Inc. ISSN 1045-3423All rights reserved. The RCHS disclaims responsibility for statements

of fact or opinion made by contributors.

THE JOURNAL OF THE RENO COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Legacyh

on the coverfirefighters sit atopa horse-drawn fire truck in front of hutchinson fire department station #1 thatis adorned with bunting.

I

4

firefighters and others look out through a house devastated by fire, above.

the photos donated by the hutchinsonfire department have been added to reno county museum archives, and will be used for future research and ex-hibits. our “legacy” readers, however, are getting the first sneak peak! we don’t have spe-cific information for many of these photos, but if we do have hints or dates, they are indicated in the caption.

FIRE!...and those who fought it

By Jamin Landavazo, Chief Curator

rose from my chair as

the doorbell made a soft

“ding” to alert the staff

that a visitor had just

walked into the muse-

um on that cold January

day. We try our hardest

to greet every visitor that

comes into the museum

personally, to make sure

their needs are met and

they find a welcoming

place to explore.

As I made my way down

the steps from the office

area into the lobby, I

found a handful of fire-

fighters had just walked

in. They were dressed

in blue polo shirts and

slacks – not yellow hard-

hats and boots – so I

didn’t worry that they had

come because of a fire

in the museum that had

gone undetected.

I figured that we were

due for our annual

inspection, or perhaps

they had just stopped by

to look around; after all,

we often see them pass

through the museum’s

courtyard since Fire

Station #1 is located just

5

(See AVOID, page 6)

a treasure trove of hfdclippings and

photos

across the street.

On this day, however,

they had a different agen-

da. Battalion Chief Rex

Albright stepped forward

to shake my hand; in his

other arm he cradled a

slim, tan filing box.

He explained that when

cleaning out the station,

they had found the box

and thought we might be

interested in taking a look

inside. When Battal-

ion Chief Albright

opened the box,

I had no idea

what might

lie inside, but

I was certainly

excited.

The box did not disap-

point. Photos and news-

paper clippings came

spilling out even before

the box was open all the

way, and I immediately

saw treasures.

He explained that this

box held items that had

been gathered and packed

away throughout the

years – newspaper clip-

pings, official group pho-

tos, snapshots and more.

There were even items

related to the police de-

partment that had made

their way into the mix.

FACING A DILEMMA

As he spoke, he hit

upon a dilemma that

many people and organi-

zations encounter – they

want to know the best

way to preserve the items

from the past for the

future.

Just then, the

alarm sounded

from the fire

station across

the street, and

the firefight-

ers sprang into

action. They knew

that they were needed,

but as Albright grabbed

the box and sprinted out

the door, he yelled over

his shoulder, “I’ll be back!”

They were back a couple

of weeks later, and had

decided that what they

really wanted to preserve

were copies of the materi-

als they had found. They

donated the originals to

the museum so that we

could preserve and protect

them, but also make them

available so that the whole

community could benefit

from the items that had

been hidden for many

years.

townspeople join

firefighters in

this WP & CO fire

truck in what

may have been a

special community

event.

ten men, right, stand in

front of a hutchinson

fire truck. the photo

is signed by

“garrett.”

(Continued from page 5)

a firefighter drives an open-top fire truck

with part of the hood propped up.

6

Avoid extreme environmental swings PRESERVATION TIPS

We understand that

not everyone is ready to

donate the photos and

memorabilia that they

have collected throughout

the years – and we prob-

ably don’t have room to

store everyone’s lifelong

memories.

However, if you are

just as concerned about

preserving your memories

as our local fire depart-

ment, there are certain

things that everyone can

do to make sure that their

photos last for generations

to come.

DO:n Keep the temperature and humidity constant. Studies abound about

the proper temperature

and humidity storage

conditions for photos. It is

true that often museums

employ special environ-

mentally controlled zones

to store images.

Often, this level of devo-

tion is not possible or eco-

nomical for family snap-

shots. But luckily there is

a much more manageable

way to preserve your pho-

tos that is almost as effec-

tive: Just control drastic

environmental swings.

Although extreme tem-

peratures and humidity

do cause deterioration,

it is rapid fluctuations in

temperature and humidity

that cause a majority of

take steps

to preserve your

family photos for

generations to come.

7

three firefighters on the stairs battle thick, dark smoke

in this house fire in march, 1967, at 504 E. avenue c.

below, fire trucks leave station #1. convention hall can

be seen in the background.

a fire truck

shoots water on

the blaze that

demolished the

historic bisonte

hotel on march 1,

1965.

problems. If you are not

able to keep your photos

at a cool 50-55 degrees

F, but are able to keep

them around 72 degrees

F year-round (with slight

seasonal variations), it will

certainly preserve them

better than keeping them

in a building where tem-

peratures are at the mercy

of the weather.

A good rule of thumb is

that for every 10 degrees

F increase in tempera-

ture, deterioration roughly

doubles. Even if you can’t

see any evidence on the

photos with the naked

eye, chemical changes

are happening at a micro-

scopic level. So don’t take

any chances.

n Back them up All of us have seen vid-

eos of people after major

natural disasters, scour-

ing the remnants of their

houses and looking

desperately for photos

– tangible reminders of

their memories.

Whether you’re wor-

ried about a natural di-

saster, theft or destruc-

tion, you will be able to

rest easier if your photos

have been backed up.

What exactly does that

mean? In the simplest

terms, it means having

another copy in one form

or another. This can

mean that you keep a film

negative when you have

already made a print of an

image, or it can mean that

you make a digital scan

of an image for which you

have no film negative.

It can mean that you

back up digital photo-

graphs to “the cloud”

(data storage provided

(See STAY, page 8)

8


Stay organized

the “h.f.d no.1” sign is in decorative glass above the open garage door

with back of fire truck in view.

on massive servers, often

at multiple locations, by

companies for a fee) or

that you copy them to a

CD, jump drive or SD card

(the type used in many

digital cameras).

If you have photos that

are particularly import-

ant or irreplaceable, you

might want to store one

copy in a fireproof safe or

safe deposit box.

If you are using digi-

tal back-ups, you may

have to migrate to other

file types or media in the

future. If CDs go the way

of floppy disks, you may

find it hard to locate the

hardware you need to

read them in the future.

Find an organization-

al system that works for

you. Many options are out

there to help you organize

your photos. You can go

high-tech and sort dig-

ital photos in folders by

date or event, or low-tech

and place prints in photo

albums.

You can spend money

to have your photos made

into books by online com-

panies, or you can utilize

low-cost photo boxes that

store large quantities of

photos in a smaller space

than albums.

Whatever you choose, I

encourage you to employ

some organizational struc-

ture, if only to promote

access to your photos.

You and your family are

much more likely to pull

an album from a shelf or

scroll through a folder if

there’s a good chance you

can easily find what you

are seeking.

u

9

military fire-fighters prepare to protect people and property in this april 13,

1945, photo.

(See SAY, page 10)

If you have hundreds

or thousands of photos,

organizing them might

seem like a daunting task.

I encourage you to start

now, however, because

chances are you will con-

tinue to add to the photos

you already have and the

job will continue to grow.

Start with a small pile

here and there while

you are watching TV or

waiting for the laundry to

finish drying. The sense

of accomplishment will be

great, and you will be one

step closer to sharing and

passing on mean-

ingful photos to

your friends and

family.

n Handle with care At museums,

photos are often

handled with white gloves

to prevent the oils from

people’s fingertips from

depositing on the prints.

While this may be overkill

when dealing with family

photos, some caution is

still necessary.

Handle prints and neg-

atives with clean hands

and along the edges to

minimize fingerprints.

Use albums or protective

coverings for photos that

will be accessed often.

Use caution when

selecting plastic sheets

for albums or individual

photos as many can

degrade over time and

cause damage to photos.

n Label the back This suggestion is con-

troversial, so weigh the

pros and cons carefully

before you decide what is

best for your photos.

Advocates of labeling

photos say that all too of-

ten, the information about

the people or places in a

photo is not passed down

with it. If it is written on

a piece of paper included

with an album, for exam-

ple, it can become

dissociated or lost.

With that infor-

mation gone, the

photo loses much

of its value. On

the other hand,

labeling photos

the dented front end of this fire truck draws close scrutiny. the vehicle appar-ently fell victim to a fender-bender in march, 1963.

10

Say “no” to these common mistakes


note the firefighters

smoking while putting

out the fire.

does alter and sometimes

permanently damages

them.

Many photos that have

come to the museum bear

the marks of people who

– with the best of inten-

tions – labeled the front of

a large group portrait with

the names written in ball-

point pen, often obscuring

parts of people in the pho-

to or causing deep creases

or small tears in the photo

from pressing too hard.

Other photos have names

written on the back with

a marker and, over time,

the ink leeches through to

the front of the image.

If you do decide to label

photos, we suggest using

a soft pencil to write near

the bottom edge of the

photo, and be careful not

to press too hard.

DO NOT:n Roll, fold or otherwise bend your photos It is often tempting

to roll longer panoramic

photos for easy storage,

fold the edge of a photo to

fit into a frame, or disre-

gard a small corner that

has been bent behind the

photo in an album.

The truth is, all these

methods can lead to per-

manent damage.

Folds and bends create

weaknesses that can lead

to cracks in the image or

tears in the print.

Rolling a photo can of-

ten be difficult or impos-

sible to reverse without

causing damage, especial-

ly if the rolled print has

aged considerably.

Rolled photos that do

not exhibit signs of crack-

ing, brittleness or other

damage can sometimes be

flattened by placing large

books or weights on them

for a prolonged period of

time.

Sometimes other

methods, such as gen-

tle humidification, are

faces from the past

eerily peek out from

the rolled-up photos,

right, presented to

the museum by the

hutchinson fire

department.

(See GUARD, page 12)

11

it appears as if equipment

is being tested as the fire

truck ladder is extended

high into the air in this

november, 1960, photo.

needed. Humidification

should only be attempted

by professionals as it can

often cause more damage

to fragile photos.

n Use adhesives Although fewer are

made today, self-adhe-

sive photo albums were

once a popular choice for

holding prints and other

paper documents firmly

in a book, while allowing

them to be repositioned if

necessary.

Over time, however, the

prints will pick up the

adhesive and it can leech

through the paper. At the

very least, when a print

is removed, it is likely

to leave adhesive on the

back of the print that is

difficult to safely remove.

The same can be said

for double-stick tape,

school glue, glue sticks or

any other type of adhe-

sive. Most will discolor

AND lose their effective-

ness over time – another

reason to avoid them.

Instead, choose albums

with individual sleeves for

photos, or use archival

photo corners, which have

adhesive on them but

allow the photo itself to

float free.

Avoid paper clips, bind-

er clips and rubber bands.

If you choose not to use

albums, you might be

drawn to dividing your

photos with one of these

methods to help organize

them – but just say no!

Paper clips and binder

clips exert pressure on the

photos, often scratching

them or leaving “dent”

marks. If they get wet or

deteriorate, they can rust

and leave stains on your

photos.

Rubber bands also exert

pressure, mainly on the

edges. When they dete-

riorate, they can become

either brittle or sticky –

neither of which is good

for your photos.

12


h

Paper strips wrapped

around groups of photos

and labeling them with

the date or event, or plac-

ing the photos in folders

or envelopes to keep them

separated can be good

alternatives.

n Store them in a base-ment or attic The temperature and

humidity fluctuations

discussed above aren’t the

only reason to shy away

from storage in attics and

basements. They can also

be the areas most likely

to flood or house pests,

which make them less

than ideal storage spaces

for treasured

images.

Instead, try

to place photos

on the main

floor both for

preservation

purposes and

because you

might be more

likely to look at them if

they are within arm’s

reach.

n Expose them to light Light – whether artificial

or from the sun– is one

of the greatest enemies of

prints.

Luckily, there are also

easy ways to protect your

images from this deterio-

ration. Store any photos

that you can out of direct

sunlight or overhead light.

Photo albums and boxes

are great for safeguarding

photos from light.

For those prints that

you just must display

(after all, that’s part of the

reason we take them!),

either print an extra copy

just for display, or take

advantage of new frames

that use glass with a UV

coating to block many of

the harmful rays that can

destroy your photos.

sharon mckee sits atop

a fire truck in the 1961

parade celebrating

hutchinson’s centennial.

Guard from light

a wichita kwch-tv

reporter, right, inter-

views a hutchinson

firefighter for the

camera while anoth-

er firefighter on the

truck looks on.

13

W

Check this out!…lots at KUSM to trip your wire

rock hunterscomb through piles of salt rocks in the mine during kusm’s “red rock-tober.” the annual event gives participants the chance to look for – and keep – those rocks that “speak”to them.

By Gayle Ferrell, KUSM Director of Operations

E’RE FUN! WE’RE EXCITING!! WE’RE AN ADVENTURE!!! I have to admit that those words were never ones that I associated with a stop at a museum. Nor did I ever dream that those were words I would someday use to describe a museum where I work! I was never interested in stopping at museums when I passed through small towns or big cities, whether in a car or on a motorcycle. If it had the word “museum” on the building, I wasn’t thrilled about spending any time in some stuffy old boring

place. Now if this so-called “museum” had a cool name or eye-catching street appeal that made me think I might get to

SEE or DO something special, well, then I want-ed to check it out. KANSAS UNDER-GROUND SALT MUSE-UM. Does the name grab your attention? Perhaps the word “underground” makes you wonder – is it

a museum about under-ground salt? How could that be interesting! Or does it mean that the museum might be under-ground. Like in a base-ment or in a cave. Except looking at the building, you can’t see a big opening for a cave en-trance. In fact, it is pretty plain and uninteresting on a corner with no trees or grass. So what would make you check it out?? For more than five years, we have been trying to dispel the image that it

(See page 14)

where’s the cave entrance??

14

an actor entertainsthe crowd in one of the popular “murderin the mine” dinnertheatres.

(See page 16)

is scary, claustrophobic, dark or dangerous. Now don’t get me wrong – those are all important concerns to address so that visitors will come in the front doors. But we may have overlooked an even more important message – how this place makes one FEEL!!!

TIME STANDS STILL Our “negative six-fifty” is where time stands still. Two hours go by as fast as 30 minutes. There is a soothing calmness that is unlike anywhere else. The salt walls and pillars seem to embrace me like a soft co-coon and whisper to me of survival and endurance. It is my refuge where perspective is gained and my head is temporarily cleared. It is a thrill for me each and every time I step off the hoist, but our goal here is for each visitor, if possible, to discover his or her own personal connec-tion to the ageless Perm-ian Sea. So take that feeling a few steps further and picture Red Rock-tober, our annual rock hunt out

into the mine. It is BYOB – Bring Your Own Bucket – and participants get the chance to spend a couple hours looking through pile after pile of salt rocks for those

pieces that speak to them. There is nothing but you and the salt, and a bucket and flashlight. Time stops. Hunters become totally absorbed in their quests. There is little conversation as lights flicker and move over the mounds. Take the Salt Mine Express under-ground train ride. Literal-ly, take a train ride! This is not stuffy muse-um stuff! This is a journey into a raw and basically untouched area of our salt mine that is seen as it was left in the 1950s! To top it off, the train glides over rails and ties that were actually used to haul salt

to the skip as early as the 1920s! Or will it be the Dark Ride that connects you to the salt – enjoying a quiet ride with a tour guide as you learn about salt formations, air flow and discovery of this salt bed, then stopping to choose your very own souvenir piece of salt.

Have you experi-enced one of our

Murder in the Mine dinner theatres? Held under-ground in the

Event Center with new flushing

restrooms nearby, this interactive whodun-it is funny, relaxing and definitely unique. Whether you choose to attend in a theme-based costume (“Who Killed the 80s?” “Clue-less,” “A Very Brady Murder,” “The Spy Who Killed Me”) or just enjoy how others get

lots tothrill crowds

where timestands still


hutchinson salt employee willie rodriguez, right, is interviewed for the upcoming exhibit, “a miner’s life.”

OVERNIGHT SCOUTINGAT KUSM

• boys: nov. 10, dec. 8, jan. 12• boys’ geology merit badge: nov. 3, jan. 26 and feb. 2• girls: dec. 1, march 2

call tonya orkourtney

620-662-1425

15

16 h

this ominous-appearingroof sag is a feature one may see on “salt

safari” tours that start in 2014.


creative, it is always good food and lots of laughs. Perhaps you will be drawn to our next new exhibit, “A Miner’s Life.” You will see and hear miners tell in their own words what draws them back to the mine day after day and year after year. A sampling of awards and trophies given and received by Carey Salt and Hutchinson Salt over the past 90 years will also be on display. This exhibit will grow and expand in pieces for at least a year.

Or maybe you have been waiting for the ulti-mate adventure, the Salt Safari. Coming later in 2013, this hike into the mine will only be offered a few times each month. Adventure-seekers who have yearned for “more” and are physically able to walk more than a mile on rough, uneven and unlit terrain will not want to miss this opportunity!

The “Submarine” and “Tombstone” are two of many stops in this two- to three-hour experience. Now I know that I am “preachin’ to the choir,” because if you are reading this article you have prob-ably already visited us at least once. So I am asking the choir to preach to the congre-gation, ‘cuz they are all still sittin’ in the pews, all comfortable with their arms crossed and their feet up, thinking there is nothing here for them. They may be thinking that the Salt Museum is great for school field trips. And they would be right! But it is so much more!

IT’S UP TO YOU! Although we are drool-ing over a large LED screen that could be installed on our “blah” corner to showcase our museum as more of a fun adventure, the bottom line is that until we have the megabucks to buy it, you telling others what you’ve seen or heard or read could send people here searching for their own connection to the salt. This will open doors and opportunities for us to grow. It also will fulfill our mission: “…[to] provide a unique, entertaining and educational underground experience for visitors from around the world.”

as the poet pablo

neruda said in

his ode to salt:

“i know you won’t

believe me but it

sings, salt sings.”

drop in sometime

and see if you can

hear it, too.

17

insight, innovation, integrity. . .every day

At Martindell Swearer Shaffer Ridenour LLP some things never change…such as our founders’ commitment in 1886 to superb client service, integrity and the highest ethical standards.

That legacy has made us who we are today – trusted legal advisors to local, national and international businesses, governmental entities and people in our own community.

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www.martindell.comHutchinson 20 Compound Drive | 620-662-3331

Cimarron 107 South Main | 620-855-7051

A hearty welcome to all the new members of Reno County Historical Society, and a heartfelt thank you to all those who renewed between June 1 and Octo-ber 10.

FRIENDSWhitey & Shirley AlpersAngeline “KiKi” CapponyMary Alice DitgenSally Holmes McPhersonJudith MielkeJames & LaVerna ShawMr. & Mrs. J.B. StuckyClark & Charlene WesleyCleyton & Laura Yowell

SUPPORTERS*Susan ClemensRichard & Marcia Cooper*Somnath Dasgupta*Pupan K. Dev

Bob & Sharon DeVaultRichard & Jane Falter*Arlene Frederiksen*Shane George*Gary HackneyGreg Hoefer*Linford HoldemanKyle & Shannon Holmberg*Daniel HoltmanJack & Ginger KoellingRon & Joleen Leslie*Ron MooreDr. & Mrs. Robert MorrisonJack & Jeanette Mull*Jim & Viola O’Connell*Ronald & Judith O’HaraSam & Judy OntjesDr. David & Nancy Richman*Julie Robinette*Tammy Root*Rebecca Rothe*Dilrukshan Silva*Ahmad Vaqar

Dr. Michael WesleyRobert & June Winslow*Jill Zeger

BACKERSFrank & Sally DepenbuschRoger & Judy HawkGary & Sue PolteraVirginia RaylBob & Charlotte Summers

PRESERVERMerl Sellers

DONORS’ CIRCLEAdvertising Specialties*Ball Doctor Pro ShopBridgman Oil Co., Inc.Shep Chev, Inc.*Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary

DIRECTORS’ CIRCLEBank of Kansas * New member

Thank you, supporters

I

18

We’re proud to share our hometown with you.How fortunate we are to live in a community with such diverse and high quality amenities -- including the Reno County Museum and Kansas Underground Salt Museum!

4 Hutchinson locations to serve you

IT’S CALLED

REVITALIZATION...AND A SECURE FUTURE

t’s hard to believe that I have been at the Reno County Historical Society and its museums for six years. So much has happened that to think about it all makes it seem much longer in some ways and shorter in others. At the Kansas Under-

ground Salt Museum, we’ve made great strides since the modest opening five and a half years ago. Without a visitor center, underground bathrooms or train, the museum was in debt and struggling. The same can be said about the Reno Coun-ty Museum. For years it had fallen behind because of the demands of salt museum development. This led to debt, a maintenance crisis in 2009, and shelves full of unprocessed arti-facts. It took diligent staff and many

volunteers to begin to turn things around for the museums. Today both are debt-free and living within their means. At RCM, the backlog is caught up and we are col-lecting again. In 2011 and 2012 a total of 15 exhibits were created – 13 of which were placed at locations in the county. Because of community support, new signage will greet visitors at outdoor exhibits to provide better interpretation than ever before. A special source of pride for our staff was RCM’s involve-ment in the removal and replacement of the Con-vention/Memorial Hall Time Capsule in 2011 and 2012. This afforded a rare opportunity to revisit the past and send a message into the future that was inspirational for many. Watch for three new exhibits at RCM in 2013 that will include a travel-ing exhibit, tools and my

personal favorite – jewelry! At KUSM the progress in only five years has been astounding due to generous donors, the quarter-cent sales tax, thousands of enthusiastic visitors and careful man-agement of resources. The underground bathroom complex is now finished. As a result, our visitors can now stay

underground longer in comfort, and the Event Center can host almost any kind of occasion, regardless of how

grand. The Salt Mine

Express underground train added a third unique attraction to round out the Gallery and Dark Ride experiences. Changes were made to empower KUSM visitors to personalize their under-ground experience and go at their own pace. The next year we’ll see the opening of another new exhibit, “A Miner’s Life,” that will explore

museums

thriving with

promise of bright

future

martha slater farrell and cris ary of first gener-ation video inter-view hutchinson salt general laborer willie miller for the upcoming exhibit, “a miner’s life.”

h

Linda SchmittExecutive Director,

Reno County Historical

Society

[email protected]

new signage will provide more comprehensiveinformation at the siegrist claim house.

what it’s like to be a salt miner working under-ground every day and why so many stay with the mine for decades. Future plans include a geology exhibit and an adventure hike out into the mine itself. Be sure to read Gayle Ferrell’s article in this Legacy for the ex-citing details! It has been a challenge to get where we are today. The Time Capsule proj-ect brought home to me the importance of perma-nency and sustainability. This is why I will be shift-ing my focus for the next year to establishing secure

and permanent funding for the museums. To this end, the Permian Salt Fund Endowment has been set up at the Hutchinson Community Foundation. By 2025, we hope that 20 percent of KUSM operations will be funded from endowment interest.

LOOKING AHEAD Just as our salt from the Permian Sea is time-less, people far into the future should have the opportunity to experience this incredible under-ground space. RCM is charged with

safeguarding and preserv-ing Reno County history for generations to come. Planned giving must also be part of its future if it is to be secure. One hundred years from now, when the time capsule is opened, it is my hope that those who catch a glimpse into Hutchin-son’s past through the artifacts safely tucked inside, will recognize not only the continued strength and importance of our two museums, but also how the citizens of the 21st century made their vitality and longevity a reality.

please help make this vision

of the future a reality by

remembering the museums

in your estate plans and

charitable gifts.

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FIRE!...and the tools to fight it

Fire! That yell and the clanging bell caused much terror in the hearts of every Reno County pioneer. Even today with our technological advances and improved building materials, fire wields the same power to both capti-vate and frighten. The Reno County Muse-um has many fire-related items in its collection. Here are but a few that represent our ongoing love/hate relationship with fire.

this pyrene fire extinguisher and holder, copyright 1917, was meant to hang on a wall or in a vehicle. 2003.00.150

this bright-eyed patch was worn by the midian firebugs, a volunteer fire organization that owner dale hobbs belonged to around 1970. 1997.18.16

some lucky child played with this fire truck from the 1950s. 1993.83.01

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this brass bell was used on hutchinson’s first fire truckpurchased in 1906. 1989.116.01

davy’s automatic safety fire escape, circa 1910, was promoted as the best ever. 1985.00.2385

800-760-5315 620-662-5315

this hat, with detail at far right, readily identi-fied firefighters around 1970. 2006.09.03

tetco extingisher, circa 1939, above, was found in the partridge post office. 1999.45.02

the merlite fire alarm system, above right, kept homes safe around 1950. 1995.56.03

the 7-inch brass pyrene extinguisher, right, was used in the johnson and sons funeral home ambulance around 1930. 1988.107.03

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KANSAS UNDERGROUNDSALT MUSEUM

9 am–5 pm Tues–Sat 1–5 pm Sunday

closed Mondaysexcept for special

holiday tours

last tour departsat 3 pm each day.

reservations strongly recommended

call us or check our website for holiday

hours.

NEW SALT BLAST PASSour best deal

includes gallery tour,dark ride (both handi-

capped-accessible) and new train ride.

adults: $19seniors (60+) and aaa: $17

children (4-12) & members: $12.50

reno county residents: $14

children under 4 not admitted

due to mine safetyregulations.

pricing availableto add only dark ride

or train ride togallery admission.

all prices include sales tax.

special pricing forgroups over 28 and school groups witharrangements made

one week in advance.

3504 e. avenue g (at airport road)

hutchinson, ks 67501

620-662-1425toll-free 866-755-3450

Miners’ Trash Display

See this fascinating new display case of items left behind by miners. It’s a preview of the larger Min-ers’ Break Room exhibit coming later.

salT Mine express

Hurry aboard to ride the thrilling new underground train on the original rails and ties used underground.

salT secreTs Salt secrets exposed!

KANSAS UNDERGROUND SALT MUSEUM EVENTS

perMian playgrounD Go interactive and explore the incredible varieties of salt. First hand!

Mine corriDor Explore the general history of salt mining in Hutchinson.

The ioDine Deficiency DisorDer sTory Explore the efforts of Kiwanis International and UNICEF in using salt to combat IDD.

KUSM EXHIBITS

spookTacular Deal& celebraTionSunday, October 28, from 1-6 p.m.Rides depart every 20 minutesLast tour departs at 4 p.m.Walk-ins welcome, but reservationguarantees you a seat.620-662-1425 • 866-755-3450

Get a Salt Blast Pass for just $10 when you come wearing a Halloween costume! That’s up to a $9 saving per person and includes both the Salt Mine Express train and Dark Ride!

Everyone must wear a hard hat underground. You must remove your mask if you wear one, and no make-up is allowed above your brow line.

“Mayan MaDness in The Mine”Dinner TheaTre Friday, December 21$60 per person / Table of eight: $440Doors open at 5 p.m.Last trip underground: 6:15 p.m.For details and reservations:620-662-1425 • 866-755-3450

On December 21, the Mayan calendar comes to an end, marking the end of the world. What better place to be than 650 feet underground! Only 200 will survive! (This adults-only [18+] event strictly limited to 200 paid reservations. Tables must be purchased by one person. Full price charged if one or more cancels. Price includes meal, theater production, access to Gallery and Gift Shop, plus the chance to win survival prizes!)

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Take iT wiTh a grain of salT Discover how live bacteria were extracted from ancient Permian salt.

MyronMobile

Come see the “Myronmobile,” from TV’s “Dirty Jobs,” filmed in the Hutchinson Salt mine.

The sTory of unDer-grounD VaulTs & sTorage View costumes and props from your favorite movies.

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see belowfor more

info...

EXHIBITS & EVENTS

Underground scouting details, page 14.

sold out!waiting list only. watch for the next“murder.”

SOLD OUT!

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Hail to tHe Hall: 100 Years of Convention Hall This exhibit traces the history of Convention Hall and officially displays the items from the Conven-tion/Memorial Hall 1911 time capsule box.

Don’t missRCM events

RENO COUNTYMUSEUM HOURS

9 am–5 pm tues-Fri

11-5 saturday

closed sunday

and monday

free admission

unless

otherwise

noted

100 S. Walnut

620-662-1184

Old-Fashioned Christmas

Saturday, December 811:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

$1.50 for all crafts

Don’t miss out on this annual holiday favorite

featuring winter crafts for children, ages 4-12.

Cookie DecoratingThursday, December 20

5:30 to 7:30 p.m.(or until the cookies

run out!)

One of our most popular events, this fun fest is

where sugar and creativity meet!

RENO COUNTY MUSEUM EXHIBITS

“86.121” Meet past Reno County resident Mildred Hobbs (donor #86.121) through the vast collection of arti-facts she and her family generously donated.

a few of our favorite

tHings

The Reno County Histor-ical Society staff chose their favorite artifacts, most never before shown.

transportation gallerY Come enjoy the Schuttler wagon, an Amish buggy, the Indian motorcycle, sidecar and much more.

Bisonte Hotel:tHe Best in tHe west Visitors have the opportu-nity to take a long-awaited look at one of Hutchin-son’s most beloved mem-ories – the Bisonte Hotel. from the early 1900s to more modern times.

watch for details on our new exhibit all about tools, due to open by

the end of this year. it will be “tool-tally”

awesome.

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Can you guess what theseearly day tools were used for?

reno county historical societyp.o. box 664hutchinson, kansas 67504-0664

return service requested

FIGHTING HUTCHINSON FIRESPAGE 4

If your address changes, please call us at 620-662-1184.

Documents

Legacy Fall 2012