• About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
Wednesday, January 20, 2021
46 °f
Platte
30 ° Fri
30 ° Sat
37 ° Sun
30 ° Mon
The Platte County Landmark Newspaper
  • Home
  • Local News
  • Opinion
  • Landmark Live!
  • Looking Backward
  • Home
  • Local News
  • Opinion
  • Landmark Live!
  • Looking Backward
No Result
View All Result
The Platte County Landmark Newspaper
No Result
View All Result

Games of the past on display in Platte City

Debbie Coleman-Topi by Debbie Coleman-Topi
August 13, 2018
in Platte City
4
SHARES
94
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare via Email

Today’s “gamers” are electronic device wizards. But, a little more than a century ago, games were anything but high-tech and utilized everyday items such as string, paper bags and household kitchen items.

A “Parties of the Past” exhibit explores games from the 1800s through the mid-1900s. While a few were boxed games, most utilized scant items but required a vivid imagination.

RelatedNews

City to hire out work for curbs, base repair

Firework sales could be booming this year

The end of an era

The exhibit runs through Saturday, July 28 at the Ben Ferrel Museum, 2020 Ferrel St., Platte City and highlights the most popular amusements of the 1800s to mid-1900s.

The museum is opened from 1 to 4 p.m. Thursday, July 24 and Friday, July 25, and from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, July 28.

The exhibit includes parlor games, musical instruments, photos of parties and dances, period clothing and samples of party wares.

Most items in the exhibit were donated on loan by Platte County area residents and “represent Platte County experiences,” said curator Lisa Wittmeyer, who gathered objects and information.

The following museum volunteers helped comprise the displays: Craig Kirkpatrick, Zelda Reeber, Cheri Lomas and Sue Hurd VanAmburg.

The exhibit aligns with the museum’s mission of telling the stories of those who have called the Platte County area ‘home,’ she said, adding that photos show Platte County area folk frolicking during their free time.

In doing research, Wittmeyer drew heavily from information in the “Annals of Platte County, Missouri: From its Exploration Down to June 1, 1897; With Genealogies of its Noted Families, and sketches of its Pioneers and Distinguished People,” written by William Paxton.

A Platte County attorney, Paxton wrote the 1,182-page history of the area.

Although born in 1840 in Kentucky, Paxton moved to Platte County where he became a well-known political figure and businessman. A label marks the chair, in the museum’s dining room, where Paxton sat as he wrote.

“He recorded so many things that happened in Platte County,” Wittmeyer said, adding that his information was “very helpful for giving the exhibit authenticity for its Platte County roots.”

She added, “He was just prolific, accurate and interested in what happened.”

One game description details how players took turns spinning a wooden bread bowl or circular tray dubbed the “trencher,” while calling out the name of another player who must catch the item before it stops spinning.

A boxed candy display features detailed information about popular candies from the 1800s through 1940s which, perhaps surprisingly, can be found on store shelves today.

Some exhibit items are photos and memorabilia from dances held between the 1920s to 60s.

One depicts a Leap Year dance held during the later 1800s at Ford’s Hotel in Parkville, which no longer exists. The dance was a role reversal masquerade in which women invited men and attendees dressed in costumes and disguises.

Another popular dance during mid-1900s, was held at Bean Lake Pavilion and a photo depicts the costumed band performers and instruments at the gathering.

In addition, a display of musical items includes organettes or roller organs, which were small table-top players used in churches and home dances.

A Victrola (record player) and a vast collection of records also are included. Other dance-related items include a handmade square dance dress worn by a girl from a Parkville farm who often went square and round dancing at a barn at the then Melody Farm during 1940s and 50s, Wittmeyer said.

A man’s shirt dates to the mid-1800s and other clothing ranges from the 1920s to 1950s.

Several items were worn by Merydith Schroeder, who sang at Platte County churches and attended area dances. In fact, most of the dresses on display belong to Barbara Schroeder, Merydith’s daughter-in-law, Wittmeyer said.

Unlike today’s games which are mainly played “for fun,” some of the displayed early games centered on special occasions, such as holidays or seasons. Some even included an intended purpose, such as the special Valentines party and matchmaking parlor games of the 1800s, which were intended to spark romance.

One, known as the “marriage game,” typically was played by children and teens and required boys and girls to each choose the name of a famous person of the same sex whose identity they assumed. Boys took turns “proposing” to a female of their choice. The female either denied or accepted the proposal but was obligated to tell why. The purpose was to give young people the opportunity to think about and explain what they were looking for in a prospective mate.

Wittmeyer said, “They were great ways to get to know each other and learn interactive teamwork.”

Tags: parkvilleplatte cityplatte county
Debbie Coleman-Topi

Debbie Coleman-Topi

Debbie's journalism career began at the University of Missouri School of Journalism, where she was trained.

Her works have appeared in The Kansas City Star and its Sunday magazine, The (Independence) Examiner and TWINS Magazine. Debbie has written for The Landmark for the past four years where she has reported on a wide range of Platte County area issues and people.

These include the longest-running issue of her three-decade career--a massive development in Parkville, which spawned a citizens' movement that objects to the way city officials manage the city.

She is the author of "TWINformation: The Biology, Psychology and Development of Twins”, written in response to having and raising fraternal male twins (she and her husband later welcomed a girl to the family.)

She is also the author of “Memories of A War Bride,” which chronicles the life of her husband's Godmother, a WWII English war bride.

Debbie and her husband, John, live in Blue Springs, a long car drive from events and meetings she covers for The Landmark. In fact, when she first met publisher Ivan Foley, after answering his ad for a reporter she told him she should have packed a lunch for the long journey. When she heard no response following the job interview, Debbie called to ask if Foley was not interested in her joining the staff. He was interested, but assumed the drive was too long.

Obviously, he was wrong.

Related Posts

Stephanie McKinley

Familiar face, familiar place

by Debbie Coleman-Topi
January 18, 2021
0

Assistant takes over as chamber director The newly appointed executive director of the Platte City Chamber of Commerce already has a lifetime of local contacts. Stephanie McKinley was just named last week to replace Angie Mutti, who left the position...

Fatal fire at Weston

Scene of fatal fire

by Ivan Foley
January 18, 2021
0

Arson and murder charges have been filed in a deadly blaze that occurred at this home in the 600 block of Prospect Street in Weston early Sunday. Local authorities and fire investigators were still on the scene Monday morning investigating...

Anthony C. Fleming

Arson, murder charges filed in deadly blaze

by Ivan Foley
January 18, 2021
0

Weston man dies in fire at residence Arson and murder charges have been filed in a deadly blaze that occurred at a home in Weston early Sunday. Local authorities and fire investigators were still on site Monday morning investigating the...

Weston fire

Weston man dead at suspicious fire scene

by Ivan Foley
January 17, 2021
0

Detectives speaking with person of interest A Weston man was found dead inside a structure fire in the 600 block of Prospect Street in Weston early today. According to authorities, at just before 2 a.m. this morning (Sunday), the Platte...

Next Post

New owner for Zona Rosa could be in place soon

Popular News

  • Parkville Mayor Nan Johnston

    State ethics board investigating Parkville mayor

    35 shares
    Share 14 Tweet 9
  • Arson, murder charges filed in deadly blaze

    22 shares
    Share 9 Tweet 6
  • Weston man dead at suspicious fire scene

    21 shares
    Share 8 Tweet 5
  • Things ‘just make sense’ for North Platte senior

    18 shares
    Share 7 Tweet 5
  • Scene of fatal fire

    15 shares
    Share 6 Tweet 4
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
Call us at 816-858-0363

Copyright © 2019-2020 The Platte County Landmark Newspaper - All Rights Reserved

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Subscribe Online
  • Local News
  • Opinion
  • Landmark Live!
  • Looking Backward

Copyright © 2019-2020 The Platte County Landmark Newspaper - All Rights Reserved