W.S. Historical and Genealogical Society to reopen after 6 years

A Willow Springs High School alumnus will serve as curator as the Willow Springs Historical and Genealogical Society (WSH&GS) reopens to visitor after a six-year hiatus. Alex Biehl, class of 2012, will volunteer to curate, update, and digitize the collections. Located in The Sass House at 211 N. Harris Street, the historic home that houses hundreds of unique pieces of Willow Springs history will have a grand re-opening on Thursday, Feb. 5 at 1:00 p.m.

 

The museum will have limited hours at first. Biehl’s role will mostly be behind the scenes in the archive room, but longtime Willow resident Bob Chaney is serving as docent. Bob will work from 1p.m. to 5 p.m. every Thursday, while the Sass House is open to the public. 

 

Biehl is a Willow Springs native whose interest in local history began, he said, with his senior project at Willow Springs High School. In 2012, Biehl took top prize for his project on the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). His career has remained focused on local heritage, preservation, and public service with positions with the U.S. Forestry Service and Missouri Department of Conservation. Biehl also operates a Facebook page dedicated to local history: Ozarks History Archives. Now, he is expanding to the volunteer curator’s role at the WSH&GS.

 

Biehl’s first priority is to digitize the current records, photographs, newspapers, and other materials currently held by the WSH&GS. That database will not be immediately available to the public, Biehl said, but he hopes it can be at some point in the near future. 

 

The physical archives are available for in-person inspection by the public. Contact Biehl to arrange a search and viewing. 

 

In a Friday night interview, Biehl sat in the archive room, a back room of the historic house surrounded by boxes, envelopes, and bundles of donated Willow Springs memorabilia to be scanned. The to-be-scanned pile lines up against a full wall of the archive room, but Biehl says more local history can and should be added to archives. Anyone with any items of historic integrity such as photographs, documents, or artifacts, are encouraged to donate them to the growing collection. Please bring all donations during business hours of Thursdays from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. only. 

 

The collections currently on display will not change much, at first, Biehl says. His focus will be occupied with a digital archive, but local history buffs will enjoy displays of photos, maps, Wendell Bailey’s election materials, Missouri State Highway Patrol memorabilia, school memories, and Earl Shipley mementos. There is also a reading room dedicated to books written about Willow Springs. 

 

The museum, and the Sass House, are owned by the Willow Springs Community Foundation. Biehl stressed that the project is operating on a, “shoestring” budget. He himself is a volunteer, and donations are, “critical” to the project’s success. Cash donations can be made to the museum during regular business hours. Anyone interested in volunteering can contact Biehl at 417-252-3361.

 

General questions about the building and project should be directed to the Willow Springs Community Foundation Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 417-469-1400.