A Night at the Museum with the Ghosts of Jack County

Historic Spirits Come to Life at the Jack County Museum
 

Newspaper articles announcing “A Night at the Museum with the Ghosts of Jack County” always seem to lead to the increase of paranormal activity at the museum.  Jack County Museum volunteers, Museum Board members, and Friends of the Museum members have reported more subtle signs that spirit activity has increased at the museum.  Small changes, not necessarily obvious to the untrained eye, have been observed by the keen eyes of these regulars at the museum.
 
Stories from these “Ghosts” may be enjoyed at the Jack County Museum on Saturday, October 27, beginning at 6 p.m. with a meal.  The menu includes Witches Stew, Goblin’s (Regular) and Devil’s (Jalapeno) Cornbread, Graveyard Cake and Dirt Pudding, Spider Cider, and other spooky concoctions.
 
Ghosts sending an affirmative, while eerie, reply to our invitation to appear and tell their stories include these spirits from Jack County’s past:  H. H. McConnell, union soldier who came with the group who established Ft. Richardson and stayed to become a prominent citizen of Jacksboro; Henry Strong, lawman who also served as one of the scouts for Colonel Mackenzie;  Joe Horner, alias Frank Canton, outlaw and later a lawman;  and Oliver Loving, cattleman and trailblazer who owned land throughout North Texas and whose many cattle drives north led to a route being named the Goodnight/Loving Trail.
 
Representing East Jack County is Joel Sanders, Confederate soldier and Texas Ranger, while West Jack County is represented by George Marlow, accused outlaw and later lawman in Colorado, from the infamous Marlow brothers.  The story of the Marlow brothers is said to be the basis for the movie, The Sons of Katie Elder.  Also from West Jack County, representing the spirit of the pioneer women who settled here, will be Eliza Willis Kuykendall, wife of George Richard Kuykendall.  They moved to Jack County in 1877 and purchased land near Rock Creek.
 
Additional spirits will include Boss Smith, an original member of the Corn Club started by Tom Marks.  The Jack County Museum is located in the Tom Marks home, which is credited to be the birthplace of 4-H.  Mr. Smith left Jack County for a while to follow the oil boom but returned to Jack County in 1956, to reclaim the homeplace that he and his brothers inherited from his father.  Two other prominent citizens and authors will appear, along with a pioneer physician.  Thomas Horton was a judge and the author of History of Jack County.  Ida Lasater Huckaby was a caring woman who was active in the support of the needy in this area and the author of Ninety-Four Years in Jack County 1854 – 1948.  She was married to Dr. F.G. Huckaby, a doctor, who will appear with his wife, telling the story of the Huckaby family.
 
Tickets to “A Night at the Museum with the Ghosts of Jack County” are $10, which includes the meal and the entertainment.  Tickets are available from members of the Museum Board and Friends of the Jack County Museum.  Those wishing to reserve “will call” tickets for the October 27^th event may call the Museum at 940-567-5410 on Thursday through Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  Tickets may also be reserved by calling 940-507-0207 or 940-567-3206.  Please leave a message that includes your name and phone number, along with the number of tickets that you wish to reserve.  Ticket sales on the night of the event will be limited to the number for which food has been prepared.  Children are welcome to the event, but should be those interested in history and in listening to the program being offered, which should be both educational and fun.
 
A Night at the Museum with the Ghosts of Jack County will be held Saturday, October 27, at the Jack County Museum located at 241 West Belknap in Jacksboro from 6 – 9 p.m.  It is not a Spook House, but rather an opportunity to learn more about the rich history of Jack County.  It is a fundraising event to support maintenance and expansion at the museum and to promote its many interesting exhibits.