The Ginger House Museum Opens in Independence

100 W Moore St. Independence, MO

The Ginger House Museum at 100 W Moore Street, Independence, Missouri, is the birthplace of famed actress, singer, and dancer Ginger Rogers. The Museum opened to the public on August 22, 2018. A ribbon cutting was held by the Independence Chamber of Commerce on August 21.

Marge and Gene Padgitt, of Independence, Missouri purchased the property in February of 2016 and began the restoration process, which was quite extensive. Marge Padgitt is a Ginger Rogers fan and wanted to save the house for the public to enjoy. The Padgitts own several businesses including HearthMasters, Inc., which is a chimney and fireplace restoration company, and Three Trails Cottages, LLC, which is a real estate investment business. Gene Padgitt was the general contractor for the Ginger House Museum project. The interior has been restored to as close to original as possible with the addition of museum displays which include photos, posters, clothing and items that Ginger Rogers owned, and her family history. The exterior of the home and landscaping will be completed in the spring of 2019.

The 1906 home was designated as an Historic Landmark Property by the City of Independence in 1994 when Ginger Rogers visited for her birthday celebration. Mayor Ron Stewart affixed the plaque to the home at that time.

Audrey Elder, author of “Guide to Selling Historic Properties for Real Estate Agents” and 29 historic property books including “100 W Moore Street,” is the manager for The Ginger House Museum. After recently leaving a twelve-year career in real estate, Audrey now teaches continued education about working with historic properties for realtors in Missouri and Kansas, as well as training presentations specific to historic preservation and sustainable community building in historic districts. Audrey served three years on the City of Independence Missouri Heritage Commission, is a member of many local historical societies.

Audrey Elder at the front desk

Museum hours are 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm Wednesday – Saturday from April 1 to September 30, and weekends in October through December, and again in February for special holiday theme tours. The museum is open to private group tours by appointment year-round.  

Ticket prices are $8 for ages 13 and up, $6 for seniors, military, fire, and police,and $4 for children aged 5 – 12. The Ginger House Museum hosts the annual Ginger Festival in honor of Ginger Rogers. Plans for the 2019 Festival are underway and include a 1940’s theme, fashion show with Ginger Rogers gowns, a banquet and dance.

Fundraising for the project includes the sale of engraved bricks for the new sidewalks, which will be installed in 2019. Bricks may be purchased for $100. Larger contributions are accepted. The museum has several items for sale including books written by Ginger Rogers, postcards, and milk bottles from her Oregon ranch. 

The museum is seeking volunteer docents to work part time on their own schedule. For more information visit www.thegingerhouse.org or call 816-833-1602. The blog address is www.thegingerrogershouse.blogspot.com, and the museum has a Facebook account where updates are posted.

Was Lucille Ball Ginger Rogers Cousin?

Lucille Ball

So here's the scoop on the rumor that Lucille Ball was Ginger Rogers' distant cousin. After two years of genealogy research my daughter and I cannot find any connection to the two women. The one thing they had in common was that they had an ancestor with the name of Saphrona Ball on both sides - but the Saphronas were different people altogether. One died as a child, and the other was Ginger's Grandmother who lived to an old age.

The only possible connection we've found goes back to Martha Washington, who may have been a common ancestor. We will keep digging! 

Lucille Ball and Ginger Rogers were born the same year only a month apart. Lucille was under the tutelage of Lela Rogers and was a very good friend of Ginger's. I hope they put that part of her life in the new film that Lucille's children are making about her. 


Photo: By Studio - Flickr, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=69664506
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Marge Padgitt is a genealogy researcher and director of the Ginger House Museum in Independence, Missouri. Contact her at thegingerhousemuseum@gmail.com.

Grand Opening of the Ginger House Museum

The Ginger House Museum Opens in Independence

The Ginger House Museum

The Ginger House Museum at 100 W Moore Street, Independence, Missouri, is the birthplace of famed actress and dancer Ginger Rogers. The Museum opens to the public on August 21 after a 3:00 pm ribbon cutting ceremony by the Independence Chamber of Commerce, and will celebrate the grand opening until August 31.

Marge and Gene Padgitt with Three Trails Cottages, Inc. own the property and have been restoring it since they purchased it in February of 2016. The Padgitt’s own several businesses including HearthMasters, which is a chimney and fireplace restoration company, and Three Trails Properties, which is a real estate investment company. Gene Padgitt is the general contractor for the Ginger House Museum project. The interior has been restored to as close to original as possible with the addition of museum displays which include photos, posters, clothing and items that Ginger Rogers owned, and her family history. The exterior of the home and landscaping will be completed in the spring of 2019.

The home was designated as an Historic Landmark Property by the City of Independence in 1994 when Ginger Rogers visited for her birthday celebration.

Ribbon Cutting with the Independence Chamber

Audrey Elder, author of “Guide to Selling Historic Properties for Real Estate Agents” and 29 historic property books including “100 W Moore Street,” was recently hired to manage the Ginger House Museum. Audrey is the co-owner of Past to Present Research LLC. Past to Present specializes in historic research, education and sustainability consultation. After recently leaving a twelve-year career in real estate, Audrey now teaches continued education on working with historic properties for realtors in Missouri and Kansas as well as training presentations specific to historic preservation and sustainable community building in historic districts. Audrey served three years on the City of Independence Missouri Heritage Commission, is a member of many local historic societies, Missouri Main Street member, founder of sustainability community group Meaningful Living and Co-Chair of Education Outreach for the Oregon California Trails Association.

Museum hours are 1:00 pm – 6:00 pm Wednesday – Saturday and 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm on Sunday from April 1 to September 30. From October through March the Museum will be open for private group tours by appointment. Prices are $8 for  ages 13 and over, $6 for seniors and military, and $4 for ages

Grand Opening Cake

5 - 12. The museum is seeking volunteer docents to work part time on their own schedule. For more information visit www.thegingerhouse.org or call 816-833-1602.

Store Open at the Ginger House Museum

The Ginger House Museum (birthplace of Ginger Rogers) just opened an online store and is offering several items from the Roberta Olden Ginger Collection.

Milk bottle

Among the items available are posters from the 2018 Ginger Rogers Festival, milk bottles from the Rogers Rogue River Ranch, paperback and hardback copies of the book "Ginger My Story" by Ginger Rogers, and two prints of paintings done in oil and watercolor by Ginger Rogers in 1940 and 1968.  Ginger was truly a gifted artist in many aspects.

Ginger Rogers was born on July 16, 1911 in Independence, Missouri. She was a multi-talented singer, dancer, and actress who starred on Vaudeville and Broadway, in 73 motion pictures, multiple radio and TV shows, and her own acts. She traveled all over the U.S. England, and elsewhere. 

Still Life 1940
Copyright Ginger Rogers

Other items, including programs from shows Ginger Rogers starred in will be available soon.

These items will also be available in the museum, which opens August 22, 2018.



Proceeds go to the restoration of the birthplace of Ginger Rogers at 100 W Moore Street, Independence, Missouri.

Website: www.thegingerhouse.org
Contact: Marge Padgitt, Director, at mp@thegingerhouse.org

A KC Find!

Check out what Huey found in Kansas City! I didn't know this existed.

https://jwhueyblog.blogspot.com/2018/08/another-gingery-find-whilst-in-kansas.html

Star on a sidewalk in Kansas City - photo by Huey

Ginger Rogers Festival a Success

The first Ginger Rogers festival hosted by The Ginger House Museum July 13-15, 2018 was a big success.

We were thrilled to be able to have several amazing speakers at the event including Audrey Elder of Past to Present Research who has done extensive research on the property and wrote the book "100 W Moore Street"; Tom Talbert with Tom Talbert Video, who shared his amazing story about video taping Ginger Rogers in 1994; Gene Padgitt, with HearthMasters, Inc. who is the general contractor responsible for the restoration of the property; Linda Lee Sutton, with Linda Lee Sutton Original Dolls who created the Fancy Feet Doll approved by Ginger Rogers; and your's truly, who discussed Ginger's unique history and family tree.

We were especially pleased with the keynote presentation by Roberta Olden, who was Ginger Rogers' assistant for the last 18 years of her life. Roberta shared many of her interesting stories about the time she spent with Ginger and answered many questions from the audience. Roberta donated some very unique items to the museum that were owned and worn by Ginger Rogers. Some items were sold at the fundraising auction, but most are going on display in the museum.

Among the items on display are two stunning ball gowns (one is the blue dress Ginger wore to the 1967 Academy Awards ceremony), one red and yellow polka dot dress that Ginger is shown wearing in a photo on the back of a book, a negligee set that Ginger designed for JC Penney, the key to the City and proclamation from the 1964 "Ginger Rogers Day" event in Independence, and gloves and purses. A pair of shoes and pair of boots that Ginger wore were among several items that sold at the auction.

Christine McDonald donated a beautiful pink gown with feathered sleeves to the museum, which will be on display soon.

Joann Carlson donated many items to the museum which are now on display. Vivian Miner also donated many clippings and other items, and we have books, magazines, an collectibles that were donated by multiple individuals.

An "everyday" skirt, blouse, and jacket are on loan from Mrs. Marilyn Stewart. This item was purchased at the estate sale in California.

We hosted a Ginger Rogers Fan Club meeting at the museum on Sunday morning so attendees could take the first tour of the house. Even though all of the displays are not yet up, the crowd seemed to enjoy seeing all of our hard work. It was so nice to be able to see people face-to-face that we've been communicating with via social media, and to be able to speak with other die-hard Ginger Rogers fans!

The museum security system and camera system are installed and we are currently working on anti-UV light display cases for the gowns.

We are gearing up for our grand opening on August 16 at 4:00 pm  with a ribbon-cutting ceremony with the Independence Chamber of Commerce. The museum will be open to the public on August 17. For more information and tickets visit www.thegingerhouse.org.
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Marge Padgitt is the Director and owner of The Ginger House Museum, and the President and Director of the Local History Preservation Society which is a not-for-profit organization who handles donations to the museum. mp@thegingerhouse.org.

Ginger Rogers home tour