Daughters of Sunset set up display at Sikeston Depot Museum in honor of Black History Month

Throughout the month of February, a local organization, the Daughters of Sunset, has put together an exhibit at the Sikeston Depot Museum showcasing people, locations, companies and organizations from the Sunset community to mark Black History Month.

This year’s exhibit at Sikeston Depot was put together and set up by Mary White-Ross, a charter member of Daughters of Sunset, and Rose Johnson, another member.

The Daughters of Sunset started out with just 13 members, and White-Ross said the group was organized in 1984 at the home of Jessie Lane, who is also a charter member of Daughters of Sunset. She added the group is also celebrating its 39th anniversary this year.

Rose Johnson, member of the Daughters of Sunset in Sikeston, poses by the exhibit on the history of the Sunset community in Sikeston Friday, Dec. 3, 2023, at the Sikeston Depot Museum and Cultural Center. The exhibit will be display for the rest of the month at the museum, which is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. (Gina Williams/Standard Democrat)

Rose Johnson, member of the Daughters of Sunset in Sikeston, poses by the exhibit on the history of the Sunset community in Sikeston Friday, Dec. 3, 2023, at the Sikeston Depot Museum and Cultural Center. The exhibit will be display for the rest of the month at the museum, which is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. (Gina Williams/Standard Democrat)

White-Ross talked about the history of some of the pictures of businesses that used to be down in Sunset, which is located on the west end of Sikeston.

“This building here, Scott Grocery, is a business that was located on Osage and Thompson streets,” White-Ross said. “Those young folks who were not around in those days would not even have known that we had black businesses down there in Sunset.”

White-Ross also had an old photograph of Lincoln School, which is still standing and has been repaired, on display.

The Daughters of Sunset have been putting together a display for Black History Month at the Sikeston Depot for the past seven or eight years.

White-Ross said the exhibit has grown over the years, and they have had the opportunity to gather more historical pieces to put on display.

White-Ross added she would like to see more people come and look at the display.

“We want people to come out and look at the display,” White-Ross said. “We take time coming down here and setting this display up.”

Johnson adde they want people to come out as well, and they are open for new members for the Daughters of Sunset.

“We just want people to come out, support the museum, support the Daughters of Sunset,” Johnson said.

The Sikeston Depot Museum will have the display up for the rest of the month of February.

Sikeston Depot is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. Check out the Daughters of Sunset on Facebook.