By ELISHA BECK

Special to

The Hays Daily News

The Ellis County Historical Society and Museum has many new exciting events and exhibits planned for 2010. Along with continuing renovations in the main gallery, we will be presenting many temporary exhibits in our historic stone church as well.

From March 30 to April 30, the exhibit "A Chronicle of Quilts: Revisiting Past Quilt Exhibits" will open. This exhibit will reflect on the variety of quilt exhibits ECHS has presented for more than 30 years.

Some of the quilts we will be displaying include Depression era quilts, crazy quilts, state quilts, baby quilts, club quilts and many other types. "A Chronicle of Quilts" will feature historic quilts from the museum collection and quilts loaned from local quilters.

If you have a quilt, old or new, that you are interested in having displayed in our exhibit, contact the museum during regular business hours.

This summer, from June 1 until Sept. 28, the exhibit "Sincerely Yours" will be open and will present the history of written communication in Ellis County. This exhibit also will feature stamps from local collectors. Throughout the year, we plan on renovating many exhibits in the main gallery, including exhibits on the history of medicine and health care, Fort Hays State University, toys, Lustron houses and several other interesting topics.

If you have any items suitable to any of the year's exhibits that you would like to donate to the museum collection, feel free to contact us by phone or e-mail. Also, any of the special exhibits and the permanent exhibits are a perfect opportunity for local schools and groups to learn the history of our community.

During regular hours, the cost of admission to the museum for school-age children is 50 cents per child if the group is at least 10 children or more, free admission for their teachers and bus drivers, and free admission for other adults, one free adult helper per 10 children. Call the museum in advance to make arrangements.

In addition to exhibits, the year is also full of a variety of events. In April we will have our annual spring historic bus tour. On May 12, we will have our annual Pioneer Day, so teachers, be sure to mark your calendars. During the Wild West Festival, a "Wild Bill" Hickok impersonator will be in the museum saloon.

On Sept. 18 and 19, we will be at the Midwest Deutsche Oktoberfest. On Oct. 31, join us at Boot Hill on the corner of 18th and Fort Street to hear the stories behind the cemetery as told by a narrator. Check out our Web site at www.elliscounty historicalmuseum.org to get full details on the exhibits and events.

New to the museum

You might have noticed a new building being constructed on the museum grounds. The building soon will be home to the Hays Fire Department Museum. Fire department volunteers recently reported they are working on finishing the inside and outside of the building and hope to finish the building sometime in the beginning of this year. The museum will contain two antique Hays Fire Department fire engines and numerous other fire department related artifacts. The Hays Fireman Relief Association is providing the majority of funds for the museum.

ECHS annual meeting

At 7 p.m Jan. 25, the Ellis County Historical Society will host its annual meeting. The meeting is open to the public, but only members will be allowed to vote on new board officers and trustees. Also, the board president and museum directors will present a recap of the accomplishments this past year and the society and museum's plans for the future.

Refreshments will be served, and after the meeting, attendees are free to view the newest exhibits in the museum. We also might have a special presentation. The meeting will be in the stone church, which is attached to the west side of the ECHS museum. Enter at the doors adjacent the church.

From the archives

While this winter weather seems to be worse than ever, there have been similar instances of frigid temperatures and blowing snow since the earliest of Ellis County records.

In January 1886, several newspapers reported about a snowstorm that struck the local area. According to the Ellis County Democrat on Jan. 7, 1886: "We can boom up our grand fine weather and now we can tell of the snowy blizzard that struck this section last Saturday night and Sunday that proved a terror. A foot of snow accompanied by fierce wind, made snow drifts that were impassible, in fact the worst storm here in 8 years. ...

"On Tuesday the farmers began to reach town reporting terribly drifted roads. At Treat's farm the snow drifted higher than the wire fence and packed and crested so hard his cattle were able to travel all over the farm."

Another significant blizzard hit Ellis County in the winter of 1911 to 1912. This winter was referred as "Der Harta Winter" -- the hard winter. Huge drifts of snow and a severe food shortage made it nearly impossible for farmers to care for their livestock.

The Ellis County area suffered "record-breaking" temperatures and snowfall in 1957, 1958 and once again in the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. On April 4, 1957, the Ellis County Farmer stated "stories of the great blizzards of by-gone years become the principal topic of discussion in and about the community, each time an unusual storm occurs."

For more information, contact us Tuesday through Friday between the hours of 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 100 W. Seventh in Hays, or call (785) 628-2624 or go to www.elliscountyhistoricalmuseum.org.

Admission to the museum is $4 for adults and $1 for children between the ages of 3 and 12. Members and children younger than 3 are admitted free of charge. Research facilities are included in museum fee.

Elisha Beck is curator and exhibit designer at the Ellis County Historical Society.