The Kell House Museum (KHM) is one of 15 museums that make up the Regional Museum Network (RMN), based out of Wichita Falls. The KHM is an important museum for Wichita Falls because the Kell family played a big part in the growth of Wichita Falls.
After setbacks from a historic drought, COVID-19 and Winter Storm Uri, the historic Kell House Museum is back on track for major renovations.
The 112-year-old former home of city father Frank Kell, has taken some licks over the past few years, staring with the drought that began in 2010.
“The drought caused major damage to underneath the house,” said Delores Culley, executive director of the Wichita County Heritage Society, the nonprofit that owns and operates the museum.
It cost about $450,000 to get that fixed. But the foundation damage had caused some of the bricks on the exterior to separate and the porch and columns to weaken.
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From the very beginning of the Civil War, many advocated for African Americans to fight. The controversy that ensued was just as “hot” in Connecticut as anywhere else in the nation. Gov. William Buckingham, from Norwich, stood solidly in favor of allowing these men to volunteer, and fight for liberty. He helped create, raise and support two “Black” regiments from Connecticut; the 29th Connecticut Regiment and the 30th Connecticut Regiment.
The 29th Connecticut Regiment recruited volunteers throughout the winter of 1863 and was mustered into service on March 8, 1864. The regiment had white officers and contained all Black enlisted soldiers totaling 1,005 men. The unit was raised in New Haven from all over Connecticut. Southeastern Connecticut was well represented, and Norwich had 32 men serving in the regiment. William B. Wooster from Derby was appointed colonel of the 29th Connecticut; he formerly served as lieutenant colonel of the 20th Connecticut.
Cops catch burglar in Kell House
According to Wichita Falls Police spokesman Sgt. Charlie Eipper:
Patrol officers were sent to the mansion on Bluff Street Monday morning to check on a burglary.
They found a broken window and evidence someone had been inside the building. After finding an unlocked door, police searched the building and found a woman, later identified as Olivia Ayala, inside a closet wearing a shirt and jacket that were stolen from the building. They also found over $1,000 worth of brass plates in her pants that were also stolen.
Police arrested Ayala and charged her with Burglary of a Building.