art exhibit
Greenwood County has a history of creative people. Now on display at the museum are creations showcasing the artistic talents of several of our past residents.
New Addition to the Museum Collection
Earliest known teaching certificate issued in Greenwood County donated to the Greenwood County Historical Society and Museum
This document was researched and discovered by Gib Rhodes and donated to the museum by the Robert Curry family of Madison.
The framed image includes the original hand-written teaching certificate issued to Sarah Lipsey on June 10, 1864 by Edwin Tucker, one of the founders of Eureka, often referred to as “the father of Eureka”; and a photograph of Sarah Reed Lipsey, the recipient of the certificate.
The certificate reads:
“This is 2 (to) certify that Sarah R. Lipsey has been examined and found competent 2 (to) give instruction in orthography, writing, arithmetic, English, grammar, and geography and have exhibited satisfactory testimonials of good moral character is authorized to teach these branches in any common school within this county.
Edwin Tucker
Superintendent Public Instruction of Greenwood County”
Sarah most likely taught at a log cabin or native lumber school in the Madison area. It was also likely the school building probably was not given a name and it was in the days before school district numbers were assigned to schools. Little is known about this period of time because school and teaching records were not required by Kansas law until 1886.
Included in the display are several early textbooks in reading, arithmetic, and English; a wood framed slate; and the lunchbox carried to school by Gladys Beuchat and her sister.
Come in and see this remarkable artifact and many other interesting items at the Greenwood County Historical Society Museum. We are open Monday – Friday from 10:00 – 4:00.
March Quilt of the month
Friendship Quilt
This quilt is from the Jack and Shirley Berentz estate and was purchased at an online estate sale by Connie M. Langhofer in September of 2020. Mrs. Langhofer contacted the Greenwood County Historical Society because she believed the quilt should remain in Greenwood County.
The quilt was started around 1911-1918 by the grandmother of Mrs. Berentz. It was completed in 1938. It was later entered in the Greenwood County Fair by Mrs. Berentz where it earned a top blue blue ribbon.
The following was with the quilt when it was donated to the museum:
"This quilt was completed in 1931 - 70 years ago.
It was started during the "Great Depression."
It was pieced by my grandmother, Mayme Borst. She lived on a farm east of McLouth, Kansas, about five miles.
It is named the "Friendship Quilt." Back then, all the farm women made their own dresses and the men's shirts. For this type of quilt, they ask friends and neighbors for scraps from the dresses and shirts they had made for their family members. Then my grandmother made a block of each neighbor or relative's scrap material and their name in the center of the block.
I remember some of the neighbor's names that are in the blocks. Also my grandmother from my dad's side of the family. Mayme was my mother's mother. Also a block with aunts, uncles, etc. and my grandfather's shirt block, Henry Worst."
Shirley Berentz