Tom Mix Museum gets into the spirit of things with fundraiser event

Dewey, a town steeped in rich history, has found many ways to make the fall pumpkin season entertaining and educational through Halloween events centering around Washington County’s past.

The Tom Mix Fundraiser “Haunts of Memories Past” will be Thursday, Oct. 27, and Saturday, Oct. 29, in Dewey. It will feature local residents portraying notable county founders who are now residents of the Dewey Cemetery, but are not forgotten. The event will be held at “Sippin’ Sweet,” located just east of the museum on Don Tyler Avenue.

One notable “spirit” will be businessman and founder of the famous Dewey Roundup, Jacob Bartles, who will be portrayed by Greg Williams. Bartles is the namesake of Bartlesville and founder of Dewey. Other notables will be Norvel Woodard, portrayed by Alan Gentes. Kay Little will speak about the life of Rilla Blanche Rogers, whose father was a U.S. deputy marshal in Indian Territory. Eric Jaekel will tell of the World War II adventures, mishaps and kidnapping of Dewey banker O.A. Patridge. Betty Keim, Tom Mix Museum's director, will bring the prairie to life by portraying Leona Moore, the wife of notable rancher Monsieur Moore. Lastly, Levi Wilson will share a short video presentation of the famous outlaw Henry Wells.

“There are so many interesting and important people in Dewey that came before us,” Keim said. “We are so lucky to have such accomplished actors to portray them.”

The Tom Mix Museum depends on fundraisers such as this to keep operating, as state funding was cut in 2015, Tom Mix Museum Manager Fawn Lassiter said.

Tom Mix was an early day Western movie star and stuntman. Before making 300 movies in the late 1930s, he was a town marshal in Dewey. His museum displays many of his costumes, memorabilia, photographs and personal property.

The fundraising event will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 27, and Saturday, Oct. 29, at the Sippin’ Sweet, 306 E Don Tyler Ave., which was formerly the Heritage Theater. Doors will open at 6:15 p.m. Tickets may be purchased at the Tom Mix Museum, 721 N Delaware in Dewey, or by calling the museum at 918-534-1555. Tickets are also available at the door, but you are encouraged to purchase tickets beforehand. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students and children 13 and younger are free, but must have a ticket. Sippin’ Sweet will have snacks and specially designed Tom Mix cookies available for purchase to add to the fundraising event.

This is the third year for the event.

This article originally appeared on Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise: Tom Mix Museum brings to life spirits of Washington County past