Kathleen Scranton retiring as Big Timbers Museum Curator after 17 years – being honored at “A Night at the Museum” July 18

Curator Kathleen Scranton posing with some of her favorite artifacts at Big Timbers Museum

Kathleen Scranton has submitted notice to the county that she will be retiring from her position as Curator for Big Timbers Museum. She has been working for Prowers County in this capacity for 17 years.  She was gracious enough to give me an interview as well as a personal tour of the museum, which was the first time I’d visited it.  For those who have not had the pleasure of seeing it, I highly recommend it!  Ms. Scranton described it perfectly, calling it an “emerald on the plains” and a “mini-Smithsonian”.  It is a treasure-trove of Lamar and Prowers County history, with exhibits that change throughout the year.  There truly is something for everyone, including kids, to discover and enjoy learning about.  A visitor favorite is a a large display on the famous Fleagle Gang and their Lamar connection with the robbery of Lamar’s First National Bank in 1928, complete with the guns used and numerous photographs, articles and other artifacts. But you’ll need to visit it yourself, as this article shines the spotlight on Ms. Scranton, who has lovingly cared for the museum during her 17 years.  She has been a major part of its success and growth, but gives credit to many others who have contributed throughout those years.

She became the curator almost unwillingly, having worked as a teacher in Lamar for many years.  When asked if she wanted the job, her first thought was “A curator?  Why me?”.  Fortunately for Prowers County she mulled it over and decided “why not?”.  As she does with everything, she jumped in wholeheartedly.  She said she’s been told that the museum has been called eclectic, busy or even crowded; however, she sees it as a wonderfully whimsical and organized collection. I completely agree with her.  She can recall where every item is within the buildings and throughout our tour was constantly telling me wonderful stories and histories of each article on display.  She has done extensive work cataloguing items over the years, working magic within the four walls with her organizing and artistic display skills.

The building itself was formerly the AT & T building, built in 1929.  It contained repeater equipment for the Denver-Kansas City long distance lines until 1966 when the old open lines were discontinued and coaxial cable was put into service.  After the equipment was removed, it was presented to the Prowers County Historical Society to be used as a museum.  It was later acquired by Prowers County who maintains the building, provides the staff and has given the Prowers County Historical Society a 99-year lease. The Big Timbers Transportation Museum next door to the main building, built in 2011, was constructed to blend seamlessly with the original museum building, with the brick cap line in perfect alignment and colors carefully replicated. Ms. Scranton even hand-picked the colors for the interiors and exteriors of the many display cases to reflect colors found in nature on the plains.   The Transportation Building is also full of a wide variety of “things with wheels” that will delight everyone.  Credit for its conception and building process goes largely to Ms. Scranton, who also personally oversaw every inch of its construction due to an illness of another Department Director, a role she tells me was “completely out of my comfort zone.” She daily signed off on materials provided and work done and kept the project on schedule and saw it through to its completion. She worked tirelessly on securing grants from the Colorado Dept. of Transportation, Colorado’s Department of Local Affairs and the Federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.  Mr. and Mrs. Charles H. Corning and Jeanne “Jinx” Clark provided cash matching donations. She told me building is a rarity, in that CDOT rarely offers grants to build museums. Also instrumental in securing these grants were commissioners Wendy Buxton-Andrade and Tom Grasmick, both of whom Ms. Scranton said were integral to the project. These two commissioners also helped with the preservation of the original museum building, which is now eligible for the National Registry of Historic Places and, as part of a 30-member team, helped plan, create and implement the Mountain Branch of the Colorado Santa Fe Trail Scenic and Historic byway kiosks outside the museum, which qualify as a world-wide destination attraction.  The project came together with the addition of the Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution Santa Fe Trail marker.  This trail marker and the kiosks were made possible with help from the Fort Bent chapter of DAR; the Prowers County Historical Society; Prowers County, a Colorado Creative Industries grant; a Colorado Mountain Branch of the Santa Fe Trail & Historic Byway grant; a national DAR grant; three Huddleston Butler Memorial Foundation grants and in-kind work from Camp and Currell Construction who built the impressive kiosks and trail marker, which are located south of the museum.  During all this, she was working on the CDOT Wayfaring kiosk and the historic preservation clearances that were necessary to add the Tri-State 9-11 Memorial to the property.

Ms. Scranton offered the following list of thanks she wished to express.

“I am grateful to all of the sitting and former elected officials, Prowers County Commissioners, department directors, staff, as well as Prowers County Historical Society boards and members.  In particular, at this time I’d like to thank Mark Westhoff, Prowers County Administrator; Paula Gonzales, Budget/Finance Officer; Brenda Brown, Human Resource Manager/Payroll Clerk; Meranda Jarmillo, Accounts Payable Clerk/Administrative assistant; Linda Hawkins, PCHS President; Mary Jane Torres, PCHS VP; Debbie Haggard, PCHS Secretary; Adele Harmon, PCHS Treasurer; Trevor LaCost, PCHS Director, Caroline Hedge, PCHS Director; Jane Felter, PCHS Director and Allen Medina, PCHS Director, all of whom I’ve greatly enjoyed working with. I cannot write this without expressing my appreciation for my Curator Assistant, Caroline Hedge.  I could not have asked for a more knowledgeable, talented and dedicated assistant.  Thank you, Caro! As we say goodbye to Commissioners Wendy Buxton-Andrade and Tom Grasmick, I would like to say a very special thank you for their dedication and support. Big Timbers Museum could not have become what it is today without the many businesses, organizations and citizens who have taken great care of us when we needed to purchase goods and services or needed donations for projects, events and parties.  A special thank you to all who have donated to the Prowers County Historical Society collections and archives. Thank you to our partners Wiley Little Rock School Museum and the Bristol Community Senior Center. We have had some great projects together so far and there are more to come!  It has been an honor to have worked on so many wonderful historical projects and events with so many amazing partners, citizens of Prowers County and so many others who have become friends along the way.  It has truly been an honor to serve Prowers County as Big Timbers Museum Curator for 17 years!”

Ms. Scranton, while you call the museum the “emerald of the plains”, I call you the “gem of Prowers County history”!  Best wishes for your much-deserved retirement and I think I speak for all citizens when I say “Thank YOU!”

By: Barbara Crimond