Girard History Museum

06/03/2026

Some of you might wanna bring your kids and grandkids into the Girard History Museum to check out our old phone collection! 🤣

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05/26/2026

Sickle Bar Mowers, ‘New’ Technology from before 1900
By Brook Settle

I grew up in the mountains. Sunset Gardening Book characterized the soil of my home as ‘decomposed granite’ and suggested that gardeners would need to import soil. It is the region writer John Muir waxed eloquent regarding, titled ‘My First Summer in the Sierra’, which I listened to as I re-floored my Girard home’s kitchen. It is not the land of farming. All farm equipment looks similar to me: large, unknown, and rusting. I tend to ‘move on by’. However, my recent trip to the Galesburg Museum inspired me to stop being so lazy, and at least attempt to grasp what I was looking at, so I took camera snapshots of a few pieces of equipment at the Girard History Museum, attempted to locate what I was looking at in blogs by more knowledgeable folk, and locate within history news pieces from The Girard Press where some of that machinery might have been mentioned. �
Today’s blog is regarding the John Deere Big No. 4 Horse Drawn Sickle Bar Mower, made in Moline Illinois. The viewer might see the ‘tractor style seat’ first, or notice the wooden beam that extends from in front of that tractor seat out to where horses presumably would be hitched up to the equipment. They might notice a blade in the ‘not being used at the moment’ vertical position that, with its multiple wicked looking cutting blades, stands taller than many humans. I did not originally understand what this equipment was used for, but in reading newspaper excerpts written between 1874 and 1900, I believe this mower was used to cut larger sections of hay or grasses, replacing the shorter hand-held blades known as sickles, or the long-handled blades that would be swung, called scythes. I can see why a farmer with many acres to harvest in between rain storms might want this mower that might cut in 7’-8’ swaths, however, reading the accidents where horses became startled and then farmers were thrown from their seat into the path of these blades, (as occurred to a farmer in Weir,) I’m not certain that ‘bigger was better’. I am certain, though, that many farmers were relieved to have the more efficient equipment of that day.

Our museum houses many fascinating pieces of equipment, and bits of history. We are always working to improve our stewardship of our local history. I hope you’ll come by and see some of it. I hope you’ll tell a museum volunteer a story of something in the museum that you know about. I know, for me, I now have a much higher value for those enormous farm pieces which feature a fully enclosed place for farmers to sit.

05/18/2026

SEK Passports and Local Treasures
by Brook Settle

The wonderful sunny skies and gentler temperatures of spring have triggered the ‘explore’ facet within me. I’m aware that parents face an oncoming summer and the highest gas prices we’ve seen in quite some time. Maybe you are wondering what resources you can explore locally, perhaps have a ‘staycation’? Or, maybe you are retired, or just want ‘to get out a little bit’? Sometime in the last two years, someone put into my hands a little book which carries the title “Passport”. The small print reads ‘SEK Museum Alliance’, and ’Small Towns- Big Histories’. We have ‘passports’ and the accompanying ‘passport stamp’ at our Girard History Museum, in our office, as do other museums listed in this little book. I thumbed through the forty-nine listed museums listed here in Southeast Kansas and realized my husband and I have made a good start in learning the fascinating history that reflects Kansas within these museums. I still need to get our little book stamped, so that its easier to target new places we have not yet explored.

Here in Girard, there are quite a few influential people who created the wonderful foundational history we have: a history of excellent schools, care for the working man, writers, and so much more. In our own Girard museum, I began to understand some of the sacrifices and contributions of people here before us. In Fort Scott, my husband and I learned of an international photographer, filmmaker, writer and musician named Gordon Parks, whose museum is part of the college campus there. Galesburg Museum was an eye-opener! I was startled by the absolutely excellent and well designed displays at the Galesburg museum involving motor bikes and farm implements where women were prominently displayed as some of those using the Shaw equipment. Chanute’s museum was another shocker: some of the first ‘nature documentaries’ came from local Kansans, people who travelled the world and brought the world back to the U.S. so an era of people who still regarded film and aeronautical travel as new could witness cultures and critters of places far away. Those same documentary makers wrote books for children and the museum is attached to the local library. If you haven’t seen Big Brutus, honestly, its a ‘must see in person’ item and museum that no online source can help your mind grasp, and that’s just a few miles from here.

We also had the privilege of picnicking in Sedan. Enroute, we found the graves of the ancestors of former president Barak Obama, (his great-great grandparents). While what we wanted to see in Sedan was closed, when we made inquiries at City Hall, they called the owner of the Emmett Kelly Museum, and she gave us a personal tour, taking time out from her second job. These sort of 'gifts of persons' are what we small towns can miss if we aren’t looking. Maybe getting the ‘inside scoop’ from the townsfolk of Coffeyville and how they stood against the organized crime of the Dalton Gang will inspire you. We found the story filled with hope. Our friends in Cherryvale wanted to see the Brown Mansion in Coffeyville, and we made a day of it. What a beautiful heritage for Coffeyville! The stories of the Osage and priests, just outside of St. Paul, and the building which housed an amazing collection of preserved animals will hold the attention of just audiences of all ages, I believe. We’ve walked the halls of the ‘Brown vs. The Board of Education’ museum in Topeka, (even though that’s a bit beyond Southeast Kansas, I mention it because I am uncertain whether it will survive changes in museum fundings, and no museum should be taken for granted.) I hope this ‘quickie’ tour of just a few spots we’ve enjoyed will inspire you to come see us and other Southeast Kansas museums. Pick up a ‘Passport’. Get it stamped! Take time to visit and enjoy. See you soon.

05/11/2026

What fun, having fifth graders come visit the Girard History Museum!

05/08/2026

G.A.R., Decoration Day, and Poppies
by Brook Settle

“G.A.R.”. “Decoration Day”. “Poppies”. These are just a few words or phrases that every year become harder for me to define. Even though I am an ‘old’ mother to three veterans and a veteran 'daughter-in-love', still these terms aren’t familiar. I only mention that to say that if you read these words and are familiar with them, please don’t be impatient with my brief review of some beautiful concepts I am discussing here that once were familiar to all of Girard.

Memorial Day is coming soon. G.A.R., according to Wikipedia, is defined as an organization that was for veterans of the American Civil War, founded in 1866, and ending in 1956. G.A.R. stands for the ‘Grand Army of the Republic’, a fraternal organization, just as the American Legion is a fraternal organization, started by congress in 1919 after WW1, which is still going. In May of 1925, according to the Girard Press, the Girard Band, the Color bearers and guard, the G.A.R., Spanish American War Veterans, the American Legion, the Boy Scouts, the Girl Scouts, and the Chamber of Commerce all created a parade ending at the cemetery, where the ‘Star Spangled Banner’ was played by the band, the crowd was addressed by the G.A.R. Post Commander, the G.A.R. Post Chaplain prayed, the Reading of the Roll of Honor by the G.A.R. and the General Order No. 11 by a Spanish American War Veteran was read, and the Gettysburg Address was read by the Adjutant American Legion Post. It must have been quite the ceremony.

The newspaper had made known that through the G.A.R. headstones could be applied for to be erected at the graves of soldiers whose families turned in those applications and were able to place the headstones. The Legion Auxiliary sold poppies which were made by disabled veterans who were in the hospitals. Proceeds went toward welfare work of the Legion and the Auxiliary, who had pledged raising $100,000 toward the Kansas Home for orphans of World War veterans, to be built in Independence. They had, at the time of publication, raised $80,000. According to Copilot Ai, the idea was abandoned, because the thought of large institutional orphanages was becoming less popular and placement with relatives or foster families was being prioritized, (as documented in the 1927-1930 Kansas Biennial Report on Charities). Poppy sale proceeds were required to be used for veterans welfare, and for their dependents. Sales of these today go directly to assist disabled and hospitalized veterans. I read that they also go for the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival and Honor Flight and food insecurity relief for service members nationwide.

Rather than missing the opportunity to mourn U.S. military personnel who have lost their lives, we hope you will embrace the opportunities for contemplation, for visiting cemeteries, for decorating graves. If you would like to support those who support our veterans and their families, I’d encourage you to bring meaningful presence to the Girard American Legion, and donate as you are able. Don’t forget that the Girard History Museum has some wonderful uniforms, stories, compiled lists of those who served and artifacts used by military personnel over time. We hope you’ll spend some time with us. Bring stories, bring curiosity. Bring gratitude. We will be so glad you came.

05/06/2026

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Wonderful to see a local man doing so well!

🥉 𝐃𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐌𝐞𝐢𝐧 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐩𝐨𝐝𝐢𝐮𝐦! 🌎🎯

Competing against nearly 1,300 shooters from around the globe at the 2026 World English Sporting Clay Championship in San Antonio, Texas, two-time Olympian 𝐃𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐌𝐞𝐢𝐧 earned a 3rd Place Main Event High Over All finish.

Mein battled his way into the prestigious Super Final alongside five of the world’s top competitors and made a late charge during the final 25 targets to move into a tie for second before ultimately finishing third after a shoot-off.

The Kansas native also turned in strong performances in both FITASC and 5-Stand competition against fields packed with current and former World Champions.

Another impressive international performance for one of America’s top sporting clay competitors. 🇺🇸💥

05/04/2026

The Girard History Museum now has toys for sale! All toys are $1-$3, except for the $5 metal slinkies. Purchase of toys help support the museum.

We also have some special 250th American Anniversary items for sale! We have assorted $1 silicone bracelets, $1 pins, and $1 rubber duckies to help celebrate!

04/30/2026

We had a question today at the museum about a business that was in Girard in the 50s and later. It was called "Frank and Son Fruits and Vegetables". Does anyone recall this business, how long it existed, and where it was located?

04/24/2026

Jane Addams.... helped influence Girard & we got our wonderful library!

04/23/2026

In the past, Girard was referred to by some as the "Printing Capital of the World" because of all the printing presses, the newspapers, and the Little Blue Books that were published here. I thought this little tidbit of history fit right in with our own printing history.

The terms uppercase and lowercase letters or characters are used commonly today in the language of desktop publishing. Have you ever stopped to think where the terms originated?

Strangely enough most publishing terms actually come from the old print industry. When documents were originally put together for printing, all the letters had to be manually placed onto the press before the page was pressed.

All the characters were stored in the printer’s case of letters, which had an upper part of the case where capital letters were stored, and a lower part of the case where the other letters were stored. Thus was born the language of upper case letters and lower case letters.