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06/26/2003 Archived Entry: "NATIONAL DROVERS HALL OF FAME"

NATIONAL DROVERS HALL OF FAME

As soon as the paperwork changes hands, the “Insurance Building” in downtown Ellsworth will be in the hands of thirteen board members who are dedicated to preserving the heritage of the cattle drovers who spread the cattle industry across America.

It only took three meetings for this group to form the National Drovers Hall of Fame Association.

Members of the board are: Jim Gray, president; Linda Kohls; vice-president, Phyllis Dolezal, secretary; Scott Moore, treasurer; Don and Garnell Hanson; Peg Britton; Dennis Katzenmeier; Mark Roehrman; Paula Svaty; Linda Mowery-Denning; John Curry and Ken Wasserman.

The National Drovers Hall of Fame Association seeks to acknowledge the endeavors of the drovers as the founders of the Great American Cattle Industry. The association proposes to recognize the unique history of the cattle drive era by honoring the drovers, the cattle, the horses, the men, the women, the railroads and the cattle towns which made it all happen by sharing the legacy, promoting the beef industry and preserving the cowboy way of life.

The National Drovers Hall of Fame Museum in Ellsworth intends to memorialize the cattle drive era through the preservation of the Insurance Building to house a portion of the museum. The organization plans to create a world class museum, singularly unique in that it will recognize and honor the people who made the era of the cattle drive synonymous with the development of the United States.

The drover rode over the rim with all of the abandon, energy, insolence, pride, carelessness and confidence that epitomized the booming West. The cowboy was largely responsible for creating the greatest nation on earth through the development of the western two-thirds of the United States.

The anchor building for the project will be the “Insurance Building” located two doors south of Drovers Mercantile. The distinctive oriel on the building naturally draws a visitor’s attention. The building is recognized state-wide as the “signature” of Ellsworth because of this unique feature which is visible when approaching the downtown area from both the north and south.

The building has remained vacant for over thirty years and will require extensive restoration to bring it back into use. Projected plans include the use of nearby buildings to house cattle drive exhibits, a theater, food bar/saloon, gift shop and a library/research center.

Donations to help in this effort may be mailed to:

National Drovers Hall of Fame
119 North Douglas
Ellsworth Kansas 67439
785.473.4703 for further information