Basehor museum…it’s on the way
The Basehor Historical Society held its groundbreaking ceremony Sunday afternoon at the home of the city’s future museum, located at 158 Street and Parallel Road.
Speaking to the crowd, John Pfannenstiel, mayor of Basehor, said that the new museum represented an initiative taken by the local citizens.
“The people of Basehor are going to do for themselves without waiting for the government to do everything for them,” he said.
Pfannenstiel termed this project “the largest volunteer effort in Basehor’s history.”
Jarel Cooper, director of the historical society, said construction on the 2,900 square-foot building would begin in April and should be completed by November 2000.
“We’ve been working on the plans and model of the museum for three years,” Cooper said. The estimated cost of construction was initially set at $850,000, Cooper said.
The 10.2 acres where the museum will be built was donated to the historical society by Ray and Ann Breuer, Cooper said.
About 35 people currently belong to the historical society. Cooper said the first time land was given to the city was when the town was just forming, and Ephram Basehor and Rubin Basehor, brothers who had settled in Kansas and made their living as farmers, gave land to establish the city.
Among the out-of-town visitors who spoke at the ceremony were Rep. Ray Cox and Sen. Don Biggs.