Page 48 - Amarillo Senior Link Magazine Fall 2021 - Online Magazine

HONORING SENIORS
Armstrong County Museum
A JEWEL
OF HISTORY
by Kay Fields Henard
laude, the county seat of
Armstrong County in the
CTexas Panhandle, is one of
multiple small towns that supports
a county museum. Armstrong
County Museum (ACM) is
preserving the history of
its pioneers and citizens.
Many exhibits represent
the 1870s and forward
through the 20th century.
Visitors enter ACM to a
treasure-trove of special
rooms and exhibits. Folks
can tour Pioneer Hall,
where families have
honored their loved ones
who helped found and
grow the area. Ranching Heritage
Hall sports a panoramic history
of the JA Ranch, as well as a lively
portrayal of the Charles and Mary
Ann Goodnight Ranch in an adjacent
room. The Goodnight Ranch home,
built in 1887, is also open for public
tours in the community of Goodnight
nearby.
A large room in ACM depicts Old
Town Claude. It was a labor of love
for the 12 founding board members
to assemble with the help of town
folks in 1990. Then, in 1993, the
community chipped in and restored
the adjacent Gem Theatre, which
originally opened in 1915 with live
vaudeville performances. It continues
to host periodic live performances.
There is also an Art Gallery that
displays appealing exhibits regularly
from area artists, quilters, and
organizations such as Humanities
Texas.
Among the countless treasures the
Museum offers is a Military Hall of
48 Amarillo Senior Link
Honor. There,
you will find
pictures of at least 175 Armstrong
County men and women who have
served in the military. Families
of veterans who have
been long-time residents
of the county have each
contributed a picture and
facts about their loved one’s
service. This information
is archived and proudly
shared year-round on the
walls of the Military Hall
of Honor. A few pictures
represent World War I
service members, many
represent World War II,
some were in the Korean War, and
more were in the Vietnam War and
beyond.
Armstrong County had at least 483
serving in World War II. The last two
known living World War II veterans
from Armstrong County died in
2020. Each had been previously
honored with a Quilt of Valor sewn
by the community quilters group.
Many more county veterans have
been so honored by the quilters over
the last few years.
One of Armstrong
County’s best-
known World
War II veterans
was Private First-
Class Charles
Howard Roan,
U.S. Marine
Corps. He
posthumously
received the
Congressional
Medal of Honor
for service “above
and beyond the
call of duty.”
Private Roan
gave his life
to save fellow
Marines during
the Battle of
Peleliu, Palau
Islands on Sept. 18, 1944. The USS
Charles H. Roan, a Gearing-class
destroyer of the United States Navy,
was named after him. The Ussery-
Roan Veteran’s Home in Amarillo
carries his name as well. The Military
Hall of Honor at ACM has a display
honoring Private Charles H. Roan.
A memorial park, supported by the
local American Legion Chapter,
proudly celebrates and honors
Private Roan and other county
veterans.
To tour Armstrong County Museum
and its Military Hall of Honor, travel to
Claude, approximately 28 miles east of
Amarillo on US Hwy 287. The Museum
is located at 120 North Trice Street,
just north of the town square. It is open
Tuesday through Saturday, noon-4
p.m. Contact 806-226-2187 for more
information.