About Blue Springs

PRESS RELEASE:

Contact: Mary Potter

Phone #: 816-797-4870

MPotterEducation@comcast.net

www.BlueSpringsHistory.org

Date: October 27, 2011

Who:  Blue Springs Historical Society

What: Civil War Program by Gregg Higginbotham for the Civil War’s 150 year anniversary.

When:  Sunday, November 6, 2011 – 2:00 – 3:00 pm

Where: Masonic Hall, 308 S.W. Main Street, Blue Springs, MO 64015

            This is a change in location.

Gregg Higginbotham a well-known local and national speaker on the Civil War will be at the Masonic Hall, 308 S.W. Main Street, Blue Springs, MO 64015, on Sunday, November 6^th.  The door will open at 1:30 pm with Gregg speaking from 2:00 – 3:00 pm.  In 2011, this will be the third event the Blue Springs Historical Society has sponsored for the Civil War Sesquicentennial.   The first was a program by Gregg Higginbotham.  The second was the 3^rd Annual Blue Springs Has Talent entertainment and meal.  At the Talent Show, the performers played and sang Civil War songs.  Barbara Hughes as Mary Lobb told about the impact of the War on her life.

Higginbotham is a member of the national and state of Missouri Committees on the 150 year Anniversary of the Civil War.  He is a member of the Company of Military Historians, a member of The Civil War Round Table of Western Missouri.  He is a past president of the Missouri Civil War Re-enactor Association and is employed by the Kansas City Metropolitan Library information network.

His topic will be the Civil War or for eastern Jackson County residents in 1860, the War Between the States.  He will be available to answer questions about the Civil War after his speech.   

There is no admission charge but the Blue Springs Historical Society would like a donation toward our budget. For more information contact: Mary Potter 816-797-4870 or MPotterEducation@comcast.net

Who:  Blue Springs Historical Society

What: 3^rd Annual Blue Springs Has Talent dinner and entertainment celebrating the Historical Society’s 35^th birthday and the Civil War’s 150 year anniversary.

When:  Tuesday, October 25, 2011 – 6:00 pm

Where: Blue Springs High School, 2000 N.W. Ashton Road, Blue Springs, MO 64015

Some of the performers’ tunes will take you back to 1861.  Barbara Hughes, as an Eastern Jackson County settler 150 years ago, will tell about the “happenings”.  Blue Springs Councilman Grant Bowerman as MC will display his since of humor while keeping the program moving.  Other performers are former Mayor and Magician Steve Steiner and the City Councilmen’s skit, still to be disclosed, will keep you laughing.  It has not been disclosed if Scarlet or Jose or some other dancer will make an appearance.    Songs by guitarists, fiddlers, and vocalists will be reminiscent of the War Between the States.  And, can you believe a Civil War Rap song?  Of course, ELVIS will reappear and yes, when you listen to him sing, you will think the “real” Elvis really did drop by.  Other talent may still apply.  David Cook put Blue Springs on the map with his singing ability.  Now, the public has the opportunity to hear other Blue Springs entertainers on the same stage, some for the first time.

There will be a silent auction held for the benefit of Save Our Depot.  The money will be used to reach the $20,000.000 it takes to move the depot before July 29, 2012.

The Blue Springs Historical Society will celebrate their 35^th birthday by honoring the charter members.  Without their vision and hard work there would be no museum in the 1906 home of Morgan and Melvin Dillingham, builders, and second owner Narra Lewis Birthday cake will be served. 

The potato bar and a variety of salads will be cooked by the Eastern Star ladies.  The meal and entertainment for one person is $18.00 and for two people $35.00.  Your reservation(s) check should be mailed to Blue Springs Historical Society, P.O. Box 762, Blue Springs, MO 64013 by October 21^st.  After this date to pay at the door  reservation, please contact: Mary Potter, Blue Springs Historical Society, president @ 816.797.4870 or MPotterEducation@comcast.net For more information go to our website www.BlueSpringsHistory.org

PRESS RELEASE:

Contact: Shirl Quick 220-0232

On behalf of the Blue Springs Historical Society

BLUEGRASS BENEFIT CONCERT TO SAVE TRAIN DEPOT!

True Blue Gospel Bluegrass Band

The Blue Springs Historical Society is sponsoring a Fundraising Benefit Concert on November 4^th at 7:00 pm at the First Baptist Church on the corner of Main Street and 15^th Street to raise funds to save a part of our local history by relocating the Blue Springs Chicago & Alton Depot!

True Blue Gospel Bluegrass Band will perform some of your favorite songs with the best of the true spirit of Bluegrass music heard in our area. Their Bluegrass Band has performed at the Fall Fun Festival in Blue Springs, the Santa-Cali-Gon Days Festival in Independence, and many other local fairs and festivals. Lead singer, Larry Ellis is a professional performer and outstanding fiddle player and he performs weekly in a Country Music Show in Pleasant Hill, Missouri.

The Colonial Hills Children’s Choir will also be featured during the Benefit Concert performing a railroad song complete with Engineer Hats and Train Whistles! The Blue Springs Historical Society has these whistles and hats, along with Save the Train Depot sweatshirts for sale at the Dillingham-Lewis Museum at 101 SW 15^th Street in Blue Springs as part of their fundraising effort.

Admission for the Bluegrass Fundraising Benefit Concert is $10 per individual or $20 per family. Admission will be taken at the door. Benefit funds will help move the Blue Springs Chicago & Alton Depot to another location. The railroad played a significant role in the present location of Blue Springs, as the town moved up the hill from Woods Chapel Road and Walnut to it’s present location to be near the railroad tracks for better commerce.

This Benefit Concert allows you to be a part of this historical effort to save an important piece of the history of Blue Springs. For Benefit information, contact Shirl Quick at (816) 220-0232 or the Blue Springs Historical Society Website: www.BlueSpringsHistory.org

TONIGHT at 6:30 pm at the Dillingham-Lewis Museum, 15^th and Main --- Chicago & Alton Train Depot Meeting to Discuss getting an extension on the Demolition(set for August 2) from Kansas City Southern Railway.

Please feel free to forward this email to people interested in saving the train depot.  Hope to see you on Wednesday.

Sincerely,

Mary Potter

Blue Springs Historical Society, president

City of Blue Springs Historic Preservation Commission, member Blue Springs Historical Society representative

816-797-4870

MPotterEducation@comcast.net

BSHistory@comcast.net

www.BlueSpringsHistory.org

PRESS RELEASE:

Contact: Ron Potter

Phone #: 816-229-8293

Date: April 25, 2011

Who:  Blue Springs Historical Society

What:  One-on-One Beginner Genealogy Family Tree Maker Instruction (Ancestry.com)

When:  Sunday, July 17 – 1:15 – 3:30 pm

Where:  Dillingham-Lewis House Museum, 101 SW 15^th Street, Blue Springs, MO 64015         

Virginia Winters will conduct a beginner program for individuals who want to learn how to use the Family Tree Maker program from ancestry.com.  The lesson will be conducted on version 2009.  This program creates a family tree for those wishing to research and store their family genealogy.   Students are encouraged to bring any family genealogy and/or their laptop computer with Family Tree Maker installed.  Virginia will have a computer with the program for them to use. 

Appointments need to be scheduled by e-mail or phone call to Mary Potter at 816-797-4870 or MPotterEducation@comcast.net.   The times are 1:15 – 1:45 pm, 1:50 – 2:20 pm, 2:25 – 2:55 pm, or 3:00 – 3:30 pm on Sunday, July 17 at the Dillingham-Lewis Museum, 101 SW 15^th Street, Blue Springs, MO 64015.  There is a $2.00 charge for your 30 minute session.

Hi, Friends,

Barbara Hughes will be portraying Mary Lobb this Sunday, June 12^th at the Dillingham-Lewis Museum, 15^th and Main Street, downtown Blue Springs.  The museum is open from 1:00 – 4:00 pm.  Barbara’s program, ‘Mary and Aquilla Lobb – western Missouri Border and Civil Wars and Lobb Cemetery will be from 2:00 – 3:00 pm.  Barbara Hughes known for her women portrayals and knowledge of the Civil War, will give a vignette as Mary Lobb and then a power point presentation.  She will be available for questions.  Any Questions Contact: Mary Potter 816-797-4870 or MPotterEducation@comcast.net or Barbara Hughes 816-229-0978.

Hope to see you Sunday

Thank you,

Mary Potter

There are a number of Eagle Scout projects going on at the Dillingham-Lewis Museum for the Blue Springs Historical Society.  One is from Tanner Richardson who is building a historical-looking fence at the entrance of the beautiful new historical garden. 

The other is from Jacob Mozer, previously been written about for his lemonade stand, who is building a 32 foot long historical-looking pergola on the opposite end of the historical garden.  

There is a third Eagle Project planned (an arbore) for the future from a different troop.  It is hoped that this site will be a gathering place for Blue Springs residents to use for community events such as musicians, etc. in the future. 

These types of projects are a great way for each of us to get involved and help this treasure of Blue Springs continue to restore and refurbish the home.  The home needs a lot of exterior work such as fixing wood that has rotted and then painting the exterior of the house.  Funding and skilled volunteers are needed!

If you or someone you would recommend would like to help, please contact Mary Potter at mpottereducation@comcast.net or 816-797-4870.

Click here to watch Positively Blue Springs! http://got.im/9b5U

“Shave and a haircut, two bits.”

The time of a shave and a haircut for just 25 cents is long gone in America, but Courtney Brothers Barber & Shaving Parlor at 1424 West U.S. 40 recently opened in Blue Springs, and I was excited to find that it offers and encourages the old-fashioned straight-razor shave. Gentlemen, while our ladies enjoy a trip to the day spa or beauty salon, it is time for us guys to get a little pampering too.

Mike and Matt Courtney do an excellent job of creating that old-fashioned barbershop feel that many of us remember from childhood; that nostalgic feeling of going to the barber shop on Saturday morning with our fathers and listening to the local men chat about the week’s business and who caught the biggest fish.

For me, it brings back memories of an older gentleman who sat each Saturday in the shop, hand carving walking canes with two wooden balls captured in a wooden cage naturally embedded in the handle of the cane. I always marveled at the magic of how he carved the cage without the legs breaking and still ended up with a viable walking cane.

Next door to the new barbershop, another new business opened its doors this week. Sandy’s Café is occupying the vacant location of the former Betty’s restaurant. I am looking forward to dropping in for breakfast and trying out the cuisine.

It is great to see to empty buildings occupied and new business in our town! Please join me in supporting our local businesses, both those that are new and those that have served our community for many years.

Buying local, choosing local businesses for our goods and services helps our local economy. Buy Blue Springs, because next door means more!