History Mysteries at the Museum, “Reflections and Achievements Elizabeth Krebs”

Written by Lynn Marie Allen

Today many of our lives have been focused on COVID. Perhaps we can take a few moments to recognize a few of the accomplishments and achievements of Elizabeth Krebs. Did you know she was an avid gardener? Did you know that she is outspoken and often voices her opinions in the Hiawatha Daily World? Elizabeth’s comments will generally speak of her concern over flowers and the courthouse gardens. Elizabeth Krebs will also be responsible for the establishment of the Hiawatha Garden Club. Did you know the Kreb’s live at least for a time in Baker?

Elizabeth marries John Krebs, and they have four children. The children were John Jr., Lottie, Emma, and Louise. Louise is the only child who lives a long life. Louise also bears two grandchildren Harold and George. Around the time of the establishment of the frolic, Harold would have been “hooligan age.” George, the younger of the two boys, would have certainly benefited and enjoyed the Halloween frolic! Imagining Elizabeth as a grandmother, I bet she was a hoot!

Despite the many challenges and obstacles encountered in life, Elizabeth was most certainly a positive influence on the community. March is women’s history month. Perhaps you know of someone who has celebrated many accomplishments and achievements. As always, there is so much more to every story. Find it, be sure to reach out, and let me know what you discover! #HistoryMysteries

Photograph is the intellectual property of Brown County World

History Mysteries at the Museum, “Reflections and Achievements Lena Mae Grier Carper”

Written by Lynn Marie Allen

On November 13, 1920, Lena Mae Grier was born in Hiawatha, Kansas. Lena will attend school in Hiawatha and moves to Topeka in 1939. When Lena moved to Topeka, she worked at the NYA Center (still uncovering this detail) in Topeka under Franklin Delano Roosevelts New Deal for Women.

There are many other accolades to which Lena can claim mother, seamstress, child care worker, and instrumental in the development of the church in which Lena attended. Perhaps the most profoundly significant impact in her life was the acts as a global citizen and humanitarian. Keep in mind Lena was doing all of this before it was trendy. Lena was one of the original plaintiffs who signed Brown v. Board of Education.

Lena watched as she sent her children off to school before signing the bill, trekking the four blocks to the bus stop. During winter, that walk would have been bone-chilling and frigid. In those moments, perhaps her decision materialized where Lena would fight alongside others to ensure that all children have the right to learn together, regardless of ethnic diversity. After all, it is the uniqueness in each of us that makes us sparkle a little brighter. Lena faced each obstacle with perseverance. Lena demonstrates what it means to be a positive influence on the community. Brown County can consider itself fortunate to include Lena as a trailblazer, global citizen, and humanitarian.

March is women’s history month, and February was Black history month. March is also social worker appreciation month, and I would consider the acts that Lena committed her life to as acts of social work. I hope you will appreciate this story as much as I have!  As usual, another history investigator who is also a descendant of Lena tipped me off to this incredible story!  

The New Deal for Women became a launching pad for women to demonstrate their expertise, determination, and capabilities while enhancing and strengthening valuable working partnerships. Women have long illustrated their ability to perform similar tasks working in the workforce alongside male counterparts.  

Consider, if you will, the ramifications of Brown v. Board of Education, most of the goals were integration for all students, which was a profoundly positive impact. The negative ramifications were the educators who taught exclusively to the ethnically diverse population. The final ruling altered many lives with the loss of teaching contracts.

As always, there is so much more to every story. Find it, be sure to reach out, and let me know what you discover! #HistoryMysteries

Photo by Francesco Ungaro on Pexels.com

Kentucky Fried Chicken and Floyd

The summer I met my dad for the first time, my brother and I spent the summer at my Grandpa Floyds! Jimmy and I had an incredible adventure on the airplane together!

Grandpa Floyd smoked camel cigarettes with no filter. Grandpa Floyd smoked cigars and had two partial fingers missing. His index and middle finger the fingers he would grasp the cigarette or cigar tightly and tell these incredibly tall tales of how he had lost those fingers.

My Aunt Terry was nearly my age and was more like a sister to me. Her hair was straight and a much deeper auburn than my tightly coiled curls (who am I kidding). It was a vibrant red afro! The trouble we would encounter on our adventures! We stole cigarettes from Grandpa Floyd to “try” smoking out in the back of the house! Note to anyone listening, I wholeheartedly advise against drinking perfume! The taste was wretched! I cannot believe I drank perfume to try to make sure no one knew I smoked a cigarette, Grandpa Floyd still knew!

Aunt Terry and I would go to the Alstead General Store and buy penny candy. On special rare occasion we would by Vanilla, Chocolate or Strawberry Charleston Chews! Chocolate was and is by far my favorite! I remember wearing my favorite soft pink sweatshirt with Shawn Cassidy’s image on it! I don’t remember where I got the sweatshirt because I rarely had brand new store-bought clothing! I would typically get a new dress or outfit for Christmas. And I just knew someday I would marry Shawn Cassidy or Parker Stevenson!! Parker was my favorite, and I watched each week anxiously for the Hardy Boys to see my favorite. I wanted desperately to be Barbara Streisand and would belt out her songs from the “Main Event!” My mother would remind me, and anyone who would listen! “Lynn cannot sing and is tone-deaf!” This rarely sways me from the concert that always occurs when I am in the vehicle!

Aunt Terry and I would go for walks up the winding road from Grandpa’s house. There was this little cottage we never saw anyone come in or go out of, but we terrified each other with the spooky tales of a magnificent witch who lived in that house, and she was waiting for the opportunity to gobble little children up who strayed from home. Too far! Gleefully we would shriek and run away as quickly as we could.

That summer was also the summer that another boy other than Shawn Cassidy and Parker Stevenson caught my eye. He had braces, and I think his name might have been David. The boy had full headgear wrapped around his head, and I thought he was glorious! The boy with the headgear and stolen glances and fiercely red cheeks blazoned my face! He was a dream! I was way too young for his kisses!

Of course Grandpa Floyd had rules. One in particular was during dinner if you complained about something you didn’t like then you got a second helping. I tried to convince Grandpa I was not at all fond of Kentucky Fried Chicken! Sadly, Grandpa was a quick study and became aware of my ruse! I don’t remember eating out Kentucky Fried Chicken any other time as a child, but that dinner was deep-fried heaven!

Mornings were a ritual. I can still remember being horrified walking into Grandpa’s bedroom. In a glass on his nightstand were his teeth! What monster had come into the house and taken his teeth out of his head! My horror quickly replaced with the smells of breakfast drifting upstairs! I could smell the salt pork cooking downstairs with the heavenly aroma wafting up the stairs! I die a little death each time I remember I ate pork fat for breakfast!

Holy Crud!

Hold on to your hats lads and lassies! I think I am finally figuring out my blog, sat down and as usual the words jumped from my head to the pen and finally landed on paper! 

Anytime someone asks who we are as an individual; it is not an easy question to answer! There are so many layers to every single person. Still, here I sit in my chair, charged with this daunting task. Who am I…? I don’t think that I can tell you everything there is to know about me in a paragraph or two, but here goes. I am a mother! I consider myself a lifelong student, I love learning. I have three Master’s degrees, and at some point, I hope to obtain my Ph.D. The piece of paper does not define me or anyone else by his or her character. Getting a piece of paper is simply an indication of an achievement.

Albert Einstein loved to learn and was, by all accounts, a genius. Ironically, Albert Einstein despised rote learning modalities, and he did fail areas in his academic career. Perhaps Albert suffered from test anxiety! Besides, there have been suggestions that Albert may have had a learning disability. There is more to this story. Find it!
I love being a mother. I consider this as my defining moment and most outstanding achievement! I have always been an avid lover of history; I share this passion for history with my children. I love to explore, I love nature, and I love adventure. If this adventure involves extreme heights or snakes, I may revise my former love of adventure. I love all things Star Wars, and now I have alluded to my nerdy side. I enjoy reading and investigating the stories behind history. I love any opportunity that allows me to be creative. I love photography. I am also a writer; I have written four books, three of which I have had the proud honor to have published. In the fourth book, I am still waiting for my oldest to complete the illustrations. (tapping foot) I have so many more stories to write running amuck in my head, but there is not enough time in the day.

Why on earth am I boring you to pieces with this incredible story? It is merely a piece of the story. In high school, I was timid and awkward! I had mountains of red, incredibly curly hair! In high school, often ridiculed with the most unkind names “Medusa” and “Mask” and “Pippy Longstocking” and “Little Orphan Annie!” I am honest! I am gentle! I believe passionately in integrity and being humble! I believe in everyone’s sparkle! I persevere! I am beautiful, and I love myself. May the words and actions you choose going forward always matter! I choose to be more! Kindness matters!

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