Bates County Museum Hosts the Border War Network

Members of the Missouri-Kansas Border War Network (BWN) met at the Bates County Museum on February 16th for their first meeting of 2011 and the first meeting conducted by their newly elected President, Peggy Buhr, Marketing Director for the Bates County Historical Society & Museum. Those present included Jim Beckner & Carol Bohl of the Cass County Historical Society, Richard Sunderwirth & Rick Reed of the St. Clair County Historical Society, Mark & Virginia Alley of Drexel, Art & Sharon Kelley of the Civil War Round Table of Western Missouri in Independence, Paul Bahnmaier of Constitution Hall in Lecompton, Kansas, and Alexis Woodall of Mahaffie House in Olathe, Kansas. Planning and coordination of events for the Civil War Sesquicentennial were discussed. The group approved a new budget for 2011 and unanimously agreed to have the website updated in order to provide a more user-friendly site (www.moksbwn.net)

It was announced that a Civil War Symposium, open and free to the public, will be held on March 26th at the North Independence Library, 317 W. 24 Highway, Independence, MO (816-252-0950). Speakers include David Blight, Civil War Historian and Professor at Yale University; Dwight Pithcaithley, retired National Parks Service Historian; and Arnold Schofield, Administrator of the Mine Creek Battlefield. Reservations are suggested.

Following the meeting the group adjourned to the Inn Café on the Butler Square for lunch. Dennis Straub, owner of Majestic Cellars, briefly joined the gathering and shared that his property was where archaeologist Ann Raab conducted her first survey and dig associated with the Civil War and Order No. 11.

Seated:  Jim Beckner, Richard Sunderwirth, Mark Alley & Rick Reed

Standing:  Dennis Straub, Virginia Alley, Sharon & Art Kelley, Carol Bohl, & Paul Bahnmaier