OPHS Celebrates 30 Years!
In the early 1990s, after saving the Strang Line Car Barn from being sold to a party who was going to teat it down, it was restored with public donations and Community Development Block Grant Funds by the Overland Park 2000 Foundation, later known as the Overland Park Heritage Foundation. This was a small group with membership limited to that of board members. It was realized that a much larger organization was necessary to discover,preserve, record and share the history of Overland Park and surrounding areas.
The Foundation hired attorney Bruce Mayfield to prepare Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws for the Overland Park Historical Society, a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization. These Articles were approved by the Kansas Secretaryof State on September 28, 1994. Among the charter members were Maxine Bauman, Jo Ann Crouch, Virginia Owen, Bruce Mayfield, Florent Wagner and George Cox, Jr. The Overland Park Presbyterian Church loaned the new society a room on the third floor of the church to use as an office. Some furniture was donated as well, and the new society was off and running.
Over the past 30 years the society has grown its membership to over 200. Several important books highlighting the city’s history have been produced, as well as a PBS-quality film titled “Rails to Suburbia” in 2007. A presentation highlighting our 30-year history was given at the November general meeting on November 9 at 10:00 a.m. at the American Legion Post. Photos of past events and copies of newsletters and other highlights will be part of this presentation. As we prepare for the next 30 years of our journey with the opening of “Discover O.P.” in 2025, let’s look back with pride over the past 30 years and the wonderful growth of this important organization. Presentation will be posted here very soon.
In the early 1990s, after saving the Strang Line Car Barn from being sold to a party who was going to teat it down, it was restored with public donations and Community Development Block Grant Funds by the Overland Park 2000 Foundation, later known as the Overland Park Heritage Foundation. This was a small group with membership limited to that of board members. It was realized that a much larger organization was necessary to discover,preserve, record and share the history of Overland Park and surrounding areas.
The Foundation hired attorney Bruce Mayfield to prepare Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws for the Overland Park Historical Society, a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization. These Articles were approved by the Kansas Secretaryof State on September 28, 1994. Among the charter members were Maxine Bauman, Jo Ann Crouch, Virginia Owen, Bruce Mayfield, Florent Wagner and George Cox, Jr. The Overland Park Presbyterian Church loaned the new society a room on the third floor of the church to use as an office. Some furniture was donated as well, and the new society was off and running.
Over the past 30 years the society has grown its membership to over 200. Several important books highlighting the city’s history have been produced, as well as a PBS-quality film titled “Rails to Suburbia” in 2007. A presentation highlighting our 30-year history was given at the November general meeting on November 9 at 10:00 a.m. at the American Legion Post. Photos of past events and copies of newsletters and other highlights will be part of this presentation. As we prepare for the next 30 years of our journey with the opening of “Discover O.P.” in 2025, let’s look back with pride over the past 30 years and the wonderful growth of this important organization. Presentation will be posted here very soon.
