Levi Meiwes is like most 7-year-old boys. He likes to play cowboys and Indians and help his parents, Paul and Becky Meiwes, take care of the chickens and horses on their farm.
What is atypical about Meiwes is that at such a young age he also enjoys history and visiting the Allen County Historical Museums.
“I like the exhibit that shows settlers in wagons crossing the prairie. I also like going to the Old Jail Museum. You know some of those cowboys probably got thrown in jail.” he said.
In August, Meiwes discovered the monthly Allen County Historical Society question contest for a T-shirt giveaway.
“We were at the Farmers Market and went into the museum to cool off. That is when Levi decided to try and answer the question for a T-shirt,” Becky said.
The question was which of the antique wedding dresses on display at the museum was the oldest.
“I looked at the dresses and decided the one from 1912 was the oldest,” he said. His answer was correct.
Meiwes has become so infatuated with the museums that he paid $10 in August to become the youngest member of the Allen County Historical Society.
JEFF KLUEVER, director of the museums, said he was pleased with the response to the T-shirt contest.
“We had 15 entries in the August contest, which doesn’t sound like a lot, but we didn’t expect 100 kids to walk through the doors — at least not yet,” Kluever said.
Kluever said one young boy brought his pad and pencil so he could figure which wedding dress was the oldest.
Monthly questions are posted on the comics page of The Iola Register. The correct answer, found in historic sites around town, are rewarded by a drawing for a T-shirt.
September’s question is “In what year was the Garfield School quilt made?”
The Garfield School quilt, a Farm-City Days quilt and a farm quilt are on display at the Allen County Historical Museum, 20 S. Washington Ave.
Submissions must be received by Oct. 1 with the winner to be drawn on Oct. 2.
EXHIBITS ARE constantly changing at the museum and will coincide with special local events such as Farm-City Days and the Buster Keaton Celebration, while other exhibits will be about Abraham Lincoln and Veterans Day.
“I know it is hard for teachers to always bring their students to the museum. I would be more than happy to take pieces of exhibits to the classroom to relate to their lesson plans,” Kluever said.
The Historical Museum is open from 12:30 to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
