"Telling Tales Out Of School" with Carleton Prothro August 10th, 2009

“Telling Tales Out Of School” will be the August theme for Dorcheat Historical Association’s “Night For The Museum”
The Dorcheat Historical Association Museum, Inc., announces the 8th “Night for the Museum” of 2009. The monthly events have been a huge success with very interesting speakers. Each event has been recorded and made into a DVD. These DVDs are a part of the fundraising efforts of the always expanding and progressing new museum.
Monday, August 10th, Carleton Prothro will be the eighth guest speaker for the 2009 season. Prothro known by many as “The Colonel” will be speaking on his many comical experiences in the Webster Parish school system. This is certain to be an evening you don’t want to miss!
Prothro is a graduate of Byrd H.S. and the University of Arkansas. He was married to Lois Price in 1957, and the couple has two sons: Carleton who lives in Danbury, Ct. and works for Bunge Corp in White Plains, New York and Lance who lives in Las Vegas, and is a geologist for Dept of Energy. The Prothro’s have two grandchildren: granddaughter, Whitney, whom recently became employed by St. Jude, and currently lives in Pittsburg, Pa., and grandson, Hunt, who is a junior at Auburn University.
Carlton’s career includes his military service of 27 years of active and reserve duty. He retired in 1981, with the rank of colonel. He is most known for his teaching career from 1958-1995 as teacher, counselor, assistant principal, and Title 1 coordinator. It is this part of Prothro’s life that will be the focus of the evening. The many pranks that have been played, memorable excuses from class, and tales of caught skippers will be told by one of Minden’s most beloved educators. Always a smile on his face and a joke on his lips is what most people think of, when they think of this Minden icon. His humor is sometimes questionable, but always brings a laugh to anyone within hearing distance.
The museum has an exciting list of speakers lined up for its history filled 2009 schedule. The events will be held at Christopher’s located at 615 Main Street in Minden, on the 2nd Monday of the month. Doors open around 5:30 refreshments are served at 6:00 p.m. with speakers to begin at 6:30. No admission is charged for the events but donations to the museum are welcomed. If you would like to help with refreshments by bringing cake, cookies, or sandwiches please do so. It is recommended that you bring a lawn chair due to the large crowds. Seating goes quickly. For more information on the museum you can visit the web site at http://www.museuminminden.blogspot.com/ or call Schelley Brown at 318-423-0192.

“The Tales of Two Treebys” Draws a Standing Room Only Crowd”

On Monday June 8th, 2009, Joan Andress Williamson was the sixth guest speaker for the 2009 season to pack Christopher’s on Main. Speaking to a standing room only crowd, Mrs. Williamson spoke from the memoirs written by her mother Treeby Miller Andress and her grandmother Treeby Chaffee Miller.
This night was truly a look back at Minden’s history; the stories written so many years ago brought back memories and unveiled a glimpse of the past for many. Joan’s grandmother was the daughter of Christopher Chaffe, one of Minden’s early pioneer families. Joan’s mother, also named Treeby, was equally interesting and filled with many stories from the 20s, 30s and 40s era of Minden. “These stories reflected a bygone era that most of us would never have known anything about. These two women were not professional writers but were very gifted writers and conveyed their life experiences with the written word in a manner that was spell-binding. The Andress family is very fortunate to have this connection to their past in this form.” commented museum director Schelley Brown.
Brown also stated, “This kind of response is what we hoped for when we started this in 2008. We want to teach history in a fun and exciting way and I think we are doing that. We are also capturing these history lessons on DVD. These are a valuable tool for learning, as well as fundraising. The events have included a wide range of subjects from the Civil War, WWII, the 1940’s and 50’s recreation at Hunter’s Playhouse, Black American history and each is available for $10 each or the entire 2008 series for $75.”
The museum has an exciting list of speakers lined up for its history filled 2009 schedule. The events will be held at Christopher’s, located at 615 Main Street, in Minden on the 2nd Monday of the month. Doors open around 5:30, refreshments are served at 6:00 p.m, and speakers begin their programs at 6:30. No admission is charged for the events, but donations to the museum are welcomed. It is recommended that you bring a lawn chair due to the large crowds. Seating goes quickly. For more information on the museum you can visit the web site at http://www.museuminminden.blogspot.com/ or call Schelley Brown at 318-423-0192.

Miller Andress, Joan Andress Williamson, and Thad Andress

Jr. Service League 5k A Big Success For Dorcheat Museum

Jamie Barnett, Spring Spectacular race coordinator, far left, and Lela Lemoine, Jr. Service League president, far right, present Dorcheat Historical Association Museum Director Schelly Brown with a check in the amount of $2,800, proceeds from this year’s race.

The Junior Service League of Minden presented the Dorcheat Historical Association Museum a check in the amount of $2,800 Wednesday afternoon, proceeds from this year’s 9th Annual Webster Parish Spring Spectacular 1 mile fun run/walk and 5K run/walk.
This year’s race attracted approximately 115 runners and walkers who enjoyed a post party, complete with entertainment, refreshments and door prizes.
The Dorcheat Historical Association Museum, Inc. was established to promote a strong sense of community pride by preserving the past for future generations. Their goal is to make patrons aware of Webster Parish’s historical assets and significance by promoting, teaching, involving and displaying history in many unique ways for the Webster Parish community and for others outside of the area.
The museum, which opened in June 2008, is located in the heart of Minden’s historical downtown at 116 Pearl St. To learn more about the museum, visit http://www.museuminminden.blogspot.com/.
Race winners were: Overall Female Open - 1. India Tucker and 2. Cherie Bonner; Female 14 and Under - 1. Bailey Hassell and 2. Alayna Robles; Female 15 to 24 – 1. Kelsey Hunter, and 2. Ashley Tyman; Female 25 to 34 – 1. Melissa Easter and 2. Anna Sanders; Female 35 to 44 – 1. Starla Townsend and 2. Staci Jo Kendall; Female 45 to 54 - 1. Anita Meeks and 2. Carol Twyman; Female 55 and over – 1. Jenneth Merriman and 2. Carolyn Smith; Overall Male Open Winners – 1. Trey Allen and 2. Michael Fontana; Male 14 and under – 1. Tyler Robles and 2. Cade Clemons; Male 15 to 24 – 1. Zachary Landers and 2. S. Southerland; Male 25 to 34 - 1. Gary Wilson and 2. Mac McGuire; Male 35 to 44 – 1. Micheal Harper and 2. Baudilio Rodriguez; Male 45 to 54 – 1. Micheal Meeks and 2. Richard Twyman; Male 55 and over – 1. Tad Jurgens and 2. Ramon Bosworth.
The Junior Service League would like to thank the following race sponsors for their support in making this year’s Spring Spectacular a tremendous success: $200 Level Sponsorship – Pitman’s Metal Words, Best Western of Minden, Dr. Scott & Dr. Elizabeth Phillips, Up-and-Running, First United Methodist Church of Minden, Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Minden, Inc., Waller Petroleum, Inc., Gina Almond – Allstate Insurance, The Grove Golf Course, Wal-Mart Supercenter of Minden, Erin E. Soleto, MD, Blazer Construction, Wise Insurance Agency, LLC, TG Garden & Gifts, Age Less Medical Spa, Mark Wise – Big Dawgg Productions, briancarlisle.com; $150 After Race Party – Dr. Carlos & Dr. Kathryn Irizarry; and $100 Registration Tables – Minden Presbyterian Church and Thad and Oneta Andress;.
Additional sponsors include: $75 Water/Check points – Jeanne Martin State Farm and Minden Athletic; $50 Distance Markers – Nedra T. Kelly, Minden Family Medicine, Richland State Bank, Sentell Law Firm, Madden Supply, LLC, and State Rep. Jean M. Doerge.
Other financial support was provided by: Elm Street Dental Center, LLC and Performance Physical Therapy; Door Prizes – Concepts, Crawfish Hole, Dorcheat Historical Museum, Embroidery House, Fanette’s, Mary Kay – Emily Walker, Merle Norman, Music Mountain Water, and Oak Alley Boutique; Post Race Party – Copeland’s Restaurant, Copeland’s Cheesecake Bistro, Domino’s Pizza, Subway (Homer Rd.), Save-a-lot, Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Minden, Inc., Dixie Paper, Brookshire’s, Interstate RV Park, and The Good Life Health Food Store and Deli.
A special thank you goes to Minden Presbyterian Church for the use of their gym and to Jeanne Martin State Farm for the water at the water check point.
Founded in 1931, the Junior Service League focuses on serving the Minden area through projects such as the annual 5K run/walk, which raises money for worthwhile organizations around Webster Parish; the Treeby Miller Andress scholarship, presented each year to a deserving high school senior; and the Angel Tea, which provides area school children with uniforms and school supplies during the Christmas season.
In addition, the League supports the Girl Scouts of Minden by maintaining the “Girl Scout Hut,” where the scouts hold weekly meetings. The hut also serves as a meeting place for the League’s monthly meetings.