Touring Westphalia Missouri museum

On Sunday we went to Westphalia, Missouri, 

(Osage County) to visit the Westphalia Historical Museum.

It did not disappoint. It’s open every Sunday from May through October from 1:00 to 3:00 o’clock.

The blacksmith’s family goes way back in Osage County. His great grandparents' house is still standing in good condition. You can click here and see our visit.

The museum is 3 floors, plus a basement full of things from the past. 

Then you go outside to a restored, relocated log cabin. 

Shelly and Jeanine were our tour guides. It’s a small world, when the blacksmith made connections with Jeanine and realized he had forged the handles on her father’s casket.

Remember to click on each picture to see all the fine details.

 

A screened in playpen!

The bank vault that was literally rolled down and across the street to the museum.

 

The barber chair from the town's Barbershop.

An awesome needle tin!

A Singer feather weight machine!

A one-time there was a millinery shop in town.

Antique postcards from Westphalia.

This was a reconstructed fireplace like the one that could have been in the log cabin of that period.

The log cabin looks like it’s always resided there. The wrap around porch was not original but added to protect the logs. 

Afterwards we strolled through the memorial garden behind the school. 

Bernie made this weathervane several years ago for the Kloeppel family in memory of Norman Kloeppel, who was in the Blacksmith Association of Missouri club.

Before leaving town, we stopped by the cemetery to visiting his relative's graves. The St. Joseph cemetery was established in 1905. 

 

relatives

His uncle Jim, who was the last member to own the family farm.

I love her name! Cunigunde

Out of town we stopped by to see what remained of the old iron bridge over the Marie’s River.

August 17, 2020, a truck carrying 4 times the limit of the bridge attempted to cross it. The bridge had just passed inspection the previous week. 

Area residents now drive several miles extra on their trip to town. We were told the lawsuit has been settled and they are hopeful to have a new bridge built.

This is what it had looked like. 

The Story of Our Bridge by Mary Rakestraw

In 1893, the Kansas City Bridge Company was commissioned to come to Westphalia, Missouri, and build an iron and timber bridge over the Maries River. It provided a crossing from Westphalia to the eastern areas of Linn and Rich Fountain and south to Freeburg. It wasn’t long afterward that bridge reinforcements were needed. In 1902, Interstate Bridge Company added pony trusses so the bridge could handle heavier loads.

In the 1920s, the bridge did need to

accommodate heavier loads, as automobile

use became increasingly popular, and

vacationers and locals alike headed to

Westphalia’s Rehagen Park. 

We are excited to say we have now joined the Westphalia Historical Society. You can too! 

Congratulations to the Society as this year they celebrate 50 years from when they were formed!

The August meeting is in a restored 3 story log cabin. I can hardly wait.

After the Atlanta knife show

We just spent 4 days with friends in Cedar Hill.  It's always several days of fantastic fellowship and fine food with friends from far and wide, including the Netherlands, State of Washington, Illinois, and more. 

There isn't a more beautiful setting than Bonita's place. 

 

 

 

Hank's shop is equipped with some very neat antique tools, including this fly press. 

This is a Nazel 2B that was going to be repaired.

  

Son Kurt now has Hank's shop. Kurt picked up this beautiful Buffalo forge in St Louis, Mo.

Hank passed away 2 years ago from cancer. #CANCERSUCKS

Time to put the new part in the big hammer.  Howard Clark from Iowa is guiding from the top. Bob is directing the chain.

Test run. It worked!

Bernie and Kurt working on a hog splitter.

The Nazel is back in working order. Thanks to several blacksmiths.

The start of hog splitter.

Paul E. Krautmann brought his hand made cherry bowls. They are beautiful. 

 

 

Nathan, Bernie and Pat are just part of the Bradley Hammer crew!

Otto, who is 8 years old, and Jonathan, who is 5 years old, enjoy the creek so much. Here's Otto holding a crawdad. 

Did you know salamanders and toads are both born from tadpoles? Otto filled me in on them, in detail. 

Near the house is this bridge where the kids spend a lot of time. This day they first did sidewalk chalk, then went fishing. I had so much fun all week with Jonathon trying to remember my name. Success was made by day 3! 

The party is not short of craftspeople. Here Colleen gets a spinning lesson from Sharon. 

Beverley started with crocheting and finished with pot holder weaving.

This can only be titled it's a dog's life!

Eileen, John, and Bernie visit, as if we didn't have visiting time last week at the blacksmith gathering. You never get enough of visiting with blacksmith friends. They are like family!

Colleen and Ed catch up, after all its a once a year event!

We all passed many hours just socializing. 

Beverly visits with Sharon and Cindy who live nearby. 

It's pizza night. The fire is started early morning to make the oven work properly.

There's always plenty of food. Everyone brings so much. On Monday night it was roast beef, Tuesday was making your own pizza, 

Ed smoked ribs all day Wednesday. They were mouthwatering.

Our last night there, Thursday, Nathan fried catfish and tuna. His grilled vegetables and French bread were mouthwatering!

The Dutch guys went on a guided fishing trip Thursday, thanks to Bonita's grandson, Augie who owns Missouri Fly Life Guide Company Toni never caught a fish. So, when he returned, 8-year-old Otto was instructed to show him how to do it. 

Success!!!!

Once again, our hearts of full of good time and great memories and oh so much good food! We Thank you Bonita, Kurt, Sharon, Augy, Laura, Dutch, Cindy and Otto, and Jonathon for some of the best times ever . . . . until next year.

Hank will always be close to us.