Woodmen Circle Home opens to the public for museum benefit
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COURTESY PHOTO
Red River Historical Museum committee members, from left, Dorothy McKee, Marcia Rolbiecki, Bea Harmon and Dickie Gerig pose at the Woodmen Circle Home in Sherman while planning for a fundraising event, "History Comes Alive," to take place Saturday, Sept. 25. The event will open the grounds at the Home to the public and will feature viewing inside the building from multiple locations. Committee members not pictured are Tammy Blanton, Kathy Flynn and Patti Wolf.
BY KATHY WILLIAMS
HERALD DEMOCRAT
Getting a look inside the Woodmen Circle Home is now a possibility.
Those who would like to peek behind the giant old iron gates, participate in an old fashioned barbecue picnic and benefit the Red River Historical Museum can do so from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 25. The benefit "History Comes Alive" will feature several orphans who grew up there, a former employee and other guest speakers who will share their stories of the historic structure.
Some have wondered what lurks behind the overgrown shrubbery and inside what obviously once was a grand building without even knowing its name. Located at the intersection of State Highway 56 and FM 1417 in Sherman, the buildings and grounds, once 236 acres large, were home to orphans and "old folks" from the 1930s to the 1960s.
The Red River Historical Museum seeks to preserve local history through its permanent and special exhibits as well as through events such as this, where living witnesses share their personal stories.
"The Red River Historical Museum's mission is to collect, preserve and interpret objects of historical significance to Grayson County and North Texas, and to serve as a reference and research source for the community," said Kathy Flynn, who is heading up the effort to provide information to the public. "We also provide exhibits pertinent to all age groups."
Flynn explained that the Woodmen Circle Home is "unique in a number of ways. The Woodmen of the World insurance company was the first to value the life of women and to offer life insurance on women in the late 1800s, establishing the fraternal order of the Supreme Forest of the Woodmen Circle. With this insurance policy, a woman who was 'aged, indigent or in need' had the option to surrender her policy and move to the Woodmen Circle Home. Likewise, if an insured woman died, the policy guaranteed care for her minor children until each reached the age of 18."
The grand opening in 1930 was the largest public event ever planned locally at that time. Nearly 6,000 visitors came from 41 states. They dined on 3,000 pounds of barbecue beef and volunteers used 82 bushels of potatoes to make potato salad.
"For History Comes Alive, several of the surviving orphans will be returning to Sherman to share their stories and answer questions about how life was in the 1940s and 1950s," Flynn said. "Jim Vester, who came to the WCH in 1948, will return from Tulsa. Nancy Loughborough Walker, who came in 1952 at age 9 with two older sisters, also will return from her current home in Arizona."
"The day promises to answer questions for both long-time residents and the newly curious," she said. "It will include exhibits from private local collections, and a historical presentation on the women who made the Home possible, the historic cornerstone, and more recent history."
Linda Robertson, the only surviving employee of the Home, and Donna Hunt, local historian and former editor, will also be guest speakers.
Tickets for the day's activities, including the meal (based on Woodmen Circle Home's menu for its opening celebration, June 25, 1930), are $25 per person. If it rains, the event will take place the next day, a Sunday. Discounted tickets, for $20 each, are available only at the museum, 301 S. Walnut, Sherman. Call 903-893-7623 for more information. Tickets at $25 per person are available at Girls Inc., Touch of Class Antiques, the Book Rack and Fashion Reflections, all in Sherman, or can be ordered by phone at 903-893-7623.
The museum's current exhibit features two collections of photos from the WCH, as well as the stone bench that once graced the lawn at the home. For additional details, visit the museum's website.
Comments ... 16 found!
WOODMAN CIRCLE HOME : 7/30/2011
I REMBER DRIVING PAST THE HOME WHEN I WAS YOUNG.I USED TO WONDER WHAT IT WAS LIKE INSIDE.I HAVE BEEN AWAY FROM SHERMAN FOR 25 YEARS.I WILL BE THERE FOR THIS GET TOGETHER.
DAVID R.
WCH : 7/9/2011
Fire dept needs to do a controlled burn and get rid of the eye sore.
BURN
woodmens home : 7/4/2011
bobby it's not an eyesore, it's a piece of history, i would love to see them refurbish it! it's chock full of history and intrigue. i would have loved to have seen it at it's best, instead of what it later became a hippie dwelling for a cult. it was beautiful at one time! a native shermanite!
natalie
WMC : 6/7/2011
I remember as a teenager sneaking into WMC. I would love to know the stories and the history of the Manison good or bad. But it seems a shame to tear down the main building, a museum would be awesome. The out buildings could be taken down and use the material to help fix the main hall. WMC is very historical, with lots of memeories to behold.
Tom Bean
Woodman Circle Home : 4/18/2011
EYESORE..............Tear it Down
bobby s.
Jeronimo Joe : 4/16/2011
I worked for a funeral home back in the sixty's and as the elder passed away, we'd attend the deceased of th Establishment, as for "T-for Texas and T-for Tenn". The individuals of the Woodmen Circle Home, they were nothing, but a loving group of people that took care of the people and the kids and God Bless everyone that was a part of this great Fraternity. The big thing was, they took care of one another.
God Bless, em' all...
Jeronimo Joe
WCH : 3/18/2011
I lived in the big house for several years. After they closed it down as a nursing home, for failing fire safety code. My husband was a Sherman Policeman, and they paid him to live there and guard it from vandals. It was really scarry and I stayed in one room, with the door locked most of the time. I had to walk through the big dining room to the kitchen, and when I was there cooking in the big kitchen, I was scared. I also had to go to the basement and wash and dry clothes. I had my sister in law come and sit with me, because it was so scarry. I felt like all the people that lived and died there were haunting it. The grounds were so pretty and in evenings we would go to the gazebo, and visit with friends. I used to have my friends from work come and take them on tours. We had a good time when we stayed there. and there is lots of memories. This was in the early 1970's. Now since no one guards it, the vandals have torn it up. Its surely a hazard for anyone who enters. It would be nice to restore it, but probably too costly.
JAM
: 2/19/2011
i have always like woodmans circle home i disagree with tearing it down i understand there is alot of decay but there is to much history to throw away and the money it would cost to tear down would go a long way on restoring it back to its glory it might have bad history with some of the people that lived there but there is alot of the that has good memories there do not destroy our history i would love to talk to anybody that lived there or that owned it
paul seale
Mixed Thoughts : 9/8/2010
It's sad to look at it now and know how it looked over 40 years ago. I would like to see it preserved. Others have wonderful memories there on how well they were treated especially during the depression era. Good luck!
Former Grayson Resident
Woodman home : 9/1/2010
Well I'll be there and look forward to it. How sad that so many of this generation just want to "tear down" reminders of our past. Just like they did with the old historical Denison H.S. If we have nothing to remind us of where we came from I don't hold out much hope of where we're going. I DO agree that it would be nice if we had some people in our area who actually tried to PRESERVE these old historical buildings. As for Sharons above post re: being the very last two orphans there. I recall reading a book written by one of the orphans recalling a much gentler experience. That was a book I bought in the downtown Sherman Antique mall (complete with pictures etc). I imagine times were very tough back then. Maybe you should at least be glad there was a place to go to. I recall the horror stories my husbands 97 year old stepfather related re: when his dad died and HE was orphaned at 15 in Muskogee, OK. He didn't HAVE a place to go (well...yeah...the YMCA). He turned out to be quite successful. Perhaps born from having to forge his own way.
Anne O.
Woodmen Circle Home : 8/30/2010
Didn't a fellow by the name of Ariel Sherman once live there with his followers?
Jerry of Dallas
Woodmen Circle Home : 8/30/2010
As with many people in the Grayson County area, I have been fascinated with WCH since I was a child. I recall many trips as young as 5 or so and knowing that landmark as being when to know we were in Sherman. I was extremely excited as a teen, that a haunted house was held there in maybe 1990, my dad took me and my brother and I think I mostly wanted to go, just because it was there, I was amazed. My Grandmother rememebers many children and people from WCH and recalls how at one time, "it was such a beautiful place"... and then my Dad graduated from SHS in 61' and recalls of times he and his buddies having friends that lived there. He said that they would go there and swim in the "swimming hole" that was back behind the buildings. There is just something about that building that holds a place in a lot of locals minds and hearts. It has rich history, so many stories, some bad, some good - but mostly we all sit in awe and wonder. Many a time I have traveled to other areas out of Texas and you would be amazed as to how many people know of WCH. We want to know the history, the personal stories and be able to later tell our grandchildren about the "big mansion" in Sherman.
I don't mind at all donating money for the Red River Historical Society and we have frequented the museum. Places like WCH are past the point of repair, and I can see where to some it is an "eyesore". It's with the Historical Society though that helps to step in to have these areas restored before they get to the point that they are beyond repair. I did notice that this did not say anything about the money going back into the care or repair of WCH but to help raise money for the Historical Society. I'll have to make some calls to see what all this entails, as it seems to be a picnic on the "grounds" with some speakers and exhibits, but not something that exactly benefits WCH... I think this is something the Red River Historical Society should do more often. Maybe the next picnic should be somewhere like Woodlake - which is yet another place that I'd love to take a peek at :)
KSmith
Haunted House : 8/30/2010
I remember one yar they had a Haunted House there during Halloween week. It was a scary old place.You could almost feel the cruelty that went on inside the old place.Better it remain there until it collapses to remind us of man's cruelty to other men.
T for Texas,T for Tennessee
Museum Benefit : 8/29/2010
In response to John Q's previous comment I would like to say that I agree that at some point Woodman Circle Home should be torn down or renovated (most likely not feasible to renovate in this economy and due to the decay). I was raised here and remember Halloween haunted houses being held in portions of the buildings or teenagers trying to sneak in the property to explore the tales of ghosts that lived there. However, the article states that the event in September will be merely a "benefit" to raise funds for the Red River Historical Museum and that there are no plans to make the old home an actual museum. I do believe that $20 or $25 is a rather high price to pay for this event and a family of four or more would most likely have a hard time affording to attend. It seems as though local businesses could have been asked to sponsor this event or donate food to bring the cost down.
C.S.
Woodman Circle Home : 8/29/2010
My brother and I were the last orphans at the Woodman Circle Home. All I can say is that is a time in my life best forgotten. It was not a happy time. The elderly women and one man (Mr Wilson) were not treated well. If it had not been for friends, I'm not sure how things would have turned out. The Phelps family and the Ferguson family were our saviors.
Sharon Moe
Old Woodmen Home : 8/29/2010
The place has been a rundown eyesore for the past 20 something years I've lived in Sherman. Tear it down and make room for new growth. The old buildings are so decayed they will not meet current codes. I applaude the idea of making it a museum but don't think there will be enough interest in it to keep the doors open. I know I won't be going and even the ones that do will be one time visitors.
John Q
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Comments ... 16 found!