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ELLIS - The Walter P. Chrysler Boyhood
Home and Museum is located at 102 W. 10th. Chrysler, founder
of the Chrysler Corp., was born in Wamego in 1875 and moved to
Ellis with his family when he was 3 years old.
The home, where Walter lived until he was 22, when he left Ellis,
was built in 1889 by Walter, his father Henry and brother Ed.
Decorated in the period, the home gives visitors a feel for the
era, and includes photos and the Chrysler family Bible.
"It's as if the family just left for a walk. Walter could
come bounding down the stairs at any minute," said museum
director Karen Day.
A recent renovation, completed last year, was a four-year-long
process because of the extensive research to authenticate the
work. Decorators were consulted as well as Sears catalogs from
the time period. Though no photos exist of the house from that
time, Day said there are photos of area farm houses that gave
them a starting point. She also studied Walter's biography to
gain insight into his mother's personality to determine how she
might have decorated the house.
The museum is filled with Walter's personal effects, including
jewelry, books, photos and his desk from the Chrysler Corp. Much
of the artifacts were gathered from family members by Frank Rhodes,
his great-grandson, and Jack Chrysler Jr.
The museum also houses two cars donated by Rhodes, a 1924 Chrysler,
which was the first year the car had the Chrysler name, and a
1957 Plymouth Savoy.
A North Dakota couple added two vintage Chryslers - a 1965 and
1975 New Yorker - to the museum's collection this spring. Weyburn
and Mae Niewoehner said they had visited the museum three years
ago and decided it would be a good home for two of the vehicles
from their car collection.
Another building, across the street from the current museum,
currently is under construction. That structure primarily will
be used for storage.
A gift shop on the premises features Chrysler items such as T-shirts,
jackets and pins.
Museum hours from May through September are from 9:30 a.m. to
4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Sunday. Winter hours, October through April, are from 11 a.m.
to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday and 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday.
There is an admission charge of $3 for adults 16 and over, $1
for children 8 to 15 and $2.50 for senior citizens. Children
under 8 are admitted free with an adult.
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