Tribune Photo/Rayma Silvers Ralph Richards Museum employees Ashley Maus and Flo Rector pack historical clothing used for the museum's exhibits. Each historical item is packed carefully in a box and cataloged for future access. [Click to enlarge]

The Fort Scott Tribune

Area residents and local historians will no longer have the opportunity to walk through the Ralph Richards Museum to learn more about one of Fort Scott's pioneer families.

About one year ago, members of the Historical Preservation Society of Bourbon County found themselves having to make a very difficult decision. According to HPA board member Don Miller, the Ralph Richards Museum was not bringing in enough money to offset operational costs. Then, after some bad weather, the museum suffered a leaky roof, which had an estimated repair cost of $2,500. In order to fix the roof, the HPA would need to get a loan. Miller added that the utility bills in the museum building were extremely high. The HPA board members had to take action in order for the organization to stay afloat. It seemed the only thing to be done, Miller said, was to close the museum.

According to Miller, HPA board members mailed surveys to all HPA members in order to find out what the majority of the organization's members wanted to do with the museum's building. After receiving advice from about 25 percent of the historical society's members, who said that the HPA should sell the building, the HPA board placed the building on the real estate market.

It did not take long for local attorney Justin Meeks to purchase one half of the building, which now houses his law practice. The second part of the building is under contract to an undisclosed buyer. The paperwork on the second half of the building will be finalized in early May, according to Miller.

Now that the museum's building has been sold, the historical artifacts that were once skillfully displayed are now being skillfully wrapped and boxed for storage, Miller said.

Ralph Richards Museum employee and tour guide Flo Rector said that she will really miss working in the museum. She said that it was not just a job to her, as she really enjoyed the days that she was able to introduce Richards to museum tourees. Through her years of employment at the museum, Rector said that she had the opportunity to meet some of Richards' family members, and that she will miss seeing his family members come through the museum on occasion.

(Advertisement)

For the last two months, Rector in addition to her granddaughter Ashley Maus have been carefully packing and cataloging each of the historical pieces that the museum housed.

Miller said that the museum's final caretaker Oliver Wright had the museum in good array.

"The museum looked as good as it ever had under Oliver," Miller said. "He had the muscle and know how to create displays."

According to Miller, some of the items that were on loan to the museum have already been claimed by the owners of the items. The remaining pieces of history will be carefully stored by the HPA until further notice.

Even though the museum is closed for now and the items that brought history alive for so many residents and out of town visitors are tucked neatly away, Miller said re-opening the museum at a later date is not out of the question.

"Under the right circumstance," Miller said, "I look forward to re-opening in the future."

He added that it may be possible for several like-minded organizations to work together to re-open the museum.

Miller said all funds raised by the HPA are put into the local community. Currently, HPA is helping to spruce up the downtown area by matching the city's amount up to $500 for each individual downtown facade grant for downtown businesses.