To the editor:

As an early staff member of the Watkins Museum, I am pleased that the Watkins “Building” continues to attract area attention. However, I find it odd that Jennifer Oldridge’s small Jan.15 feature article does not mention the Douglas County Historical Society, who owns the building, restored the complex structure as best it could and has operated the underfunded museum since 1975.

The city used the former bank building for many years as city hall but gave up its claim to the building when it moved out. The building reverted to secondary Watkins estate beneficiaries who transferred ownership to the Douglas County Historical Society. I regret that too many years of inadequate basic operating budget has now caused an intervention by the county to oversee the museum and building pending an uncertain reorganization and funding.

Why hasn’t the Douglas County Historical Society, greater Douglas County and especially the city of Lawrence (with over 70 percent of the county’s population) been able to generate the funding needed for a professional operation of this modest museum? In contrast, relatively large funds have been raised for the major renovation, restoration and maintenance of the building itself while there has been little or no real development of either the historical society or the museum beyond where they were in the late 1970s — and it seems that both are starting over again. Wake up Douglas County, come together and do it right this time!

Mick Braa,
Eudora