Andover Historical Museum

08/31/2026

Andover's favorite secretary, Jenny Brouhard resigned from her position with USD 385 on December 27, 1974 and the Andover Associated Weekly Newspaper was there to cover the story along with KAKE TV, as she was nominated by students as the "Secretary of the Day". The Brouhards are a fine example of the kindness that has been generated out of the Andover community for years.

"After six years as secretary to three different Elementary principals, Jenny Brouhard has resigned. Dec 27 as her last day.
Jenny plans to stay home an is looking forward to doing all the things she wasn't able to do when she worked. Some of the projects she plans to do are refinishing furniture, upholstering, gardening and canning. Her patio area has great potential. Since she has been working during the past three summers, Jenny has not been able to spend time developing it. A pink velvet brisesmaid dress for her daughter, Karen, is the most immediate project on which she will be working.
Six and one half years ago, Jenny joined the staff at the elementary school as a library clerk. She worked half days for six months and then became the secretary there for Mr. Hubbard. Mr. Hipsher and Mr. Martin are the other principals for which she worked.
Being the Secretary at the Elementary School has been very special to her and also very rewarding. "You are mother, grandmother, counselor and nurse to the children as well as doing your regular office duties," Jenny remarked. "The children are so grateful and gracious. They always comment when I had a new hairdo or a new dress. I found myself dressing in brighter colors and clothes that appealed to them."
One of the most unusual things Jenny has to do was to help removed a bee from a Childs ear which had been placed there by a classmate. Later that dsame day, the classmate had put one in his own ear. So twice in one day, a bee was extracted.
Last June, Jenny was chosen as KAKE Secretary of the Day. All the members of the First, Second, and Third grades wrote letters to KAKE radio telling why she should be chosen. How they (the kids) managed to keep it a secret is still amazing to Jenny because it was a complete surprise. KAKE sent her the children's letters which she saved and will treasure forever.
Jenny has natural rapport with the children which may stem from the fact that she is one of 13 children. She has eight brothers and four sister. Counting her brothers, sisters, their children, grandchildren plus her own, they number 118.
Raised on a cattle ranch in Tampa, Kansas, Jenny attended business college in Salina where she met her husband, Jack. (Jack is head maintenance man for the Elementary and High school buildings. He also does custom plowing and mowing.) They lived in Salina four years before moving to Wichita. Nineteen years ago they build a house on 21st street in Andover School District. Building again seven years later, they erected the home on Church Street where they presently reside. Jenny did all the sanding, staining, painting and varnishing. She helped where needed on the rest of the house.
The Brouhards have four children: Kathy Kepler (Mrs. Don), a registered nurse at St. Francis Hospital; Mike, a junior in Engineering at WSU, Karen Winzer (Mrs. Scott) who lives in Wellington and Bill who is a junior at Andover High School. Kim Kepler, 2 1/2 years old is their only grandchild.
The children and staff at the Andover Elementary School will miss Jenny Brouhard as will the parents who are used to hearing her pleasant voice answering the phone. Jenny leaves with mixed emotions. She loved her job, but is also looking forward to being a full-time wife, mother and grandmother."

We shared this story because sometimes the people who make the biggest impact on a community dont even realize they're doing it. They simply show up, take care of people, lend a helping hand and treat everyone with kindness - and somehow those little things become the moments people remember most. Sometimes, just being a genuinely good person is enough to leave a lasting mark, and that's exactly what the Brouhards did. We are proud to call them part of our

08/31/2026

We try to make our fundraising options easy and convenient for you. TOMORROW - Dine at Freddys in Andover from 4-8PM, TELL THEM YOU ARE THERE FOR THE MUSEUM FUNDRAISER, and enjoy knowing you're supporting a good local cause. Freddy's will donate 15% of sales back to Andover's Largest Community Project: Andover Historical Museum.

We love you Andover, from our past to our future, and we also love CHEESEBURGERS AND ICE CREAM! See you there, friends!

08/31/2026

We love seeing photos from past GAD!! This one is fantastic with the friendly participants and the Methodist Church in the background! If you have old photos from Greater Andover Days, we would love to archive them for you and the . We would even scan them and return them back to you.

Registration is open for several exciting things and registration is filling up for several:

• Parade (40 spots left!)
sponsored by Credit Union of America

• Business/craft expo (3 spots left!)

• Art Contest (unlimited spots available)
sponsored by Reeds Cove Health & Rehab

• Car Show (unlimited spots available)

• Pet Show (unlimited spots available)

• Disc Golf Tournament (unlimited spots available)
sponsored by Tony Durano - State Farm Agent

• Corn Hole Tournament (58 spots left)
sponsored by USI Insurance Services

• Jeep Night (unlimited spots available)
sponsored by GFT

• Volleyball Tournament (4 teams left)
sponsored by Agri Center & David Curry - State Farm Agent

Greater Andover Days has something for everyone, whether you're a sports enthusiast or simply love to celebrate our wonderful community.

REGISTER TODAY:
www.andoverks.gov/recreation

08/30/2026

Before technology, traveling teams, elaborate sports complexes and perfectly manicured ball fields, there was a ball, a bat and a few coaches with a group of kids who simply loved to play.

These 1970 photographs capture the Andover Pirates, the first place team of 10-11 year old boys in a local baseball tournament held and organized by the Andover, Ks Kiwanis Club. The second place team was the Braves and the 3rd place team was the Cowboy Cleaners. We are hoping someone can confirm the exact location of the ball field which was said to be on Main Street, possible to the west side of old downtown. We do have multiple years of baseball tournament photos, and each of them appear to be on this same field.

The uniforms may look simple by today's standards but to these young players, putting on that jersey and stepping on to the field was a pretty big deal. Community baseball was more than a game - it was where kids learned teamwork, competition, sportsmanship and the importance of showing up for one another. 56-years later, these photographs remind us that the history of Andover isn't only found in buildings and documents, but in the dusty fields and memories of a group of kids proud to call themselves the Andover Pirates!

08/29/2026

Last week when we were in search of an ad for Wanda's Cafe we also came across this advertisement page printed in the Andover Associated Weekly printed on Jan 1, 1975. How many of these businesses do you remember?

Considering we dont have newspaper articles to clip and save ANDOVER BUSINESS HISTORY anymore with the age of technology, we are trying to collect the stories of local businesses today to archive into our files for the next generation. If you have a local business, write down a brief summary of who you are, what you do, and how you started your business. We would love to save it to our local history! If you have stories of past businesses, we would love to archive those as well! HELP US SAVE THE STORY OF ANDOVER!

08/28/2026

1970 Greater Andover Days Dunk Tank. When a dunk tank didn't need a manufacturer... just a few boards, a stock tank, some rope and a little ingenuity..... Built by the community, for the community.

Please let us know if you have names for anyone pictured.

08/27/2026

We have received some really great items over the past year to go into the "FROM CHALKBOARDS TO CHAMPIONS: THE STORY OF ANDOVER SCHOOLS" Exhibit. But we felt like it was still a good time to reach out and see if anyone else has items to include? HINT: we are real short of yearbooks from both schools, all grades. Yearbooks document more than just school history, they also document what was happening around Andover.

08/27/2026

A fun throwback photo published in the Andover Journal on October 21, 1976. This property located at 837 N Andover Road has been many things over the years. A law office, a coffee shop, recently a Mexican restaurant and soon to be a donut shop. But who remembers when it was proposed to be the new Andover Community Center in 1976?

"A NEW COMMUNITY BUILDING - This is the site at Willow and Andover Road where the new community building, proposed by the Andover City Council would be located. It is a rank long shot for the federal funding, according to Mayor Goldie Buchanan, but in the event the city gets the 100% federal funding for the building, they will go ahead with the plans. But modifications will be made to allow fire department trucks more immediate access to Andover Road." - Andover Journal

08/26/2026

What a great part of the

Aug. 19, 1996, was an important date in Mickaela Bonnewell’s life. It was the date she started seventh grade at USD 385 - Andover Middle.

“That date was a major day for me,” Mickaela says. “Of course I didn’t know it at the time.”

Specifically, it was the date she met Jan Arterburn and Lisa Stinson, two teachers who influenced her life in Andover and who continue to be her friends and mentors to this day.

Now Mickaela Holmes, she went on to graduate from Andover Central High School in 2002. She is comptroller for a grain storage and farm supply cooperative in Pratt.

She says she learned much more from Arterburn and Stinson than social studies and English language arts, respectively.

“The greatest educators lift us up, believe in us and help shape who we become,” Mickaela says.

So when the 30th anniversary of that first day of school approached, Mickaela researched the exact date and surprised both Arterburn and Stinson with visits to thank them on the three-decade anniversary of that life-changing day.

“I’m so thankful that our paths crossed and that I still have them in my life,” Mickaela says. “I think about these teachers every single day.”

08/26/2026

📅 Speaker Series Lineup

Here’s a preview of upcoming Speaker Series programs at the Kansas Oil Museum.

Sponsored by Commerce Bank, with lunch available for pre-order through the museum and provided by BrewCo.

Stay tuned for full event details!