February’s free programs at Finney County Historical Museum’s History at High Noon and Evening at the Museum will feature an unusual aspect of the Civil War.
Troy Krehbiel of Holcomb will present “Rebs in Kansas” at noon on Feb. 11 and at 7 p.m. on Feb. 17.
Krehbiel, a history enthusiast, researcher and reenactor, plans to talk about “Galvanized Yankees” – Civil War Confederate POWs who took oaths of allegiance to serve with the Union Army in guarding western forts and railroads, primarily as part of U.S.-Native American conflicts. Most were assigned duties in the West, away from North-South confrontations, with some serving in the newly admitted free state of Kansas.
The speaker has provided previous programs for the museum on the American West and Civil War, including in-character reenactment appearances as a Union soldier and as early-day Garden City settler, Dr. Andrew Sabine. He has also given lectures on Kansas history, the lives of 19th Century soldiers and Bent’s Fort.
In addition, he has portrayed historical characters at the Bent’s Fort National Historic Site, located 148 miles west of Garden City near Las Animas, Colo.; and the Fort Larned National Historic Site, 96 miles east of Garden City in Pawnee County.
The museum is located at 403 S. Fourth Street in Garden City’s Finnup Park, adjacent to Lee Richardson Zoo.
Those attending should use the museum’s north entrance. Beverages and cookies will be provided. Listeners are welcome to bring their own lunch or dinner.
The lecture series, which will continue in March and April on the second Wednesday and third Tuesday of the month, are sponsored by GCB Bank of Garden City, a branch of Grant County Bank.
Later programs will include “Signature and Autograph Quilts” at noon March 11 and 7 p.m. March 17; a segment called “Queen of Gems,” by Garden City goldsmith Janet Doll at noon April 8, about the history of pearls; and a presentation at 7 p.m. April 21 by Avocational Archeologist Chad Myers, Kalvesta, who will identify arrowheads and other stone points brought by the audience, as well as outlining recent archeological discoveries.
The two January programs focused on Camp Amache, a World War II Japanese-American internment camp 83 miles west of Garden City, near Granada, Colo.
