During the Dorcheat Museum’s Night at the Museum on March 10, former museum director Schelley Brown Francis took the audience on a nostalgic journey through her life, sharing stories of resilience, adventure, and dedication to preserving history.
“They say your life is made up of a beginning date, a dash, and an end date,” Francis began. “Tonight is about the dash.”
Francis, who grew up in the Hico/Dubach area, recalled her early jobs, from wrapping Christmas gifts at a local drugstore to working as a cashier. She also sewed Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls in high school and once sold signed excuse slips to tardy students. Her brief venture into selling bootlegged beer ended swiftly when Chief Bloxom advised, “I think y’all better shut this down.”
Her career path was diverse, ranging from working at Bonanza and the old Plantation Club to sewing buttons at the Jack Leonard pants factory, a job she quickly left for a trucking company role, answering phones in the truck. She later became a cocktail waitress at Adam’s Rib in Shreveport, worked in antique and grocery stores, and eventually returned to Minden the day the Challenger shuttle exploded, opening an antique and craft store with her parents.
In the early 1990s, Francis entered the casino industry, working at the Horseshoe from its opening until 1996. Although the money was good, she disliked the job. Seeking a new direction, she tried selling cars, a role she quickly embraced. “It was like being a cocktail waitress — you kept talking and circling until they ordered or bought one. It was the perfect job for me,” she said.
Her passion for vintage cars began with a 1951 Pontiac and led to the purchase of a historic home in Minden and a 1937 Buick named Olivia. She became deeply involved in the Minden historic district and cemetery preservation, organizing home tours, ghost walks, and car shows.
Francis’ life took another turn in 2006 when she met her husband, Danny Francis. By 2007, she sought a new career path and met with tourism board member Pam Bloxom to discuss creating a museum dedicated to Minden and Webster Parish history. In 2008, the Dorcheat Museum opened its doors with just a few exhibits. Over the years, Francis expanded the museum and, in 2010, was named Minden’s Woman of the Year. She married Danny in 2011 and joined the Motor Maids, the oldest female riding organization in the U.S. and Canada, in 2012.
In 2024, Francis and her husband reignited their passion for classic cars, acquiring three Model T Fords and joining the Ark-La-Tex Model A Ford Club. “So I’m still staying busy, even in retirement,” she said.
Her dedication to the Dorcheat Museum never wavered, and she was determined to find the right successor before stepping down. That person turned out to be Jessica Gorman, who initially approached Francis seeking permission to clean tombstones at the Minden Cemetery. “I’m very protective of this museum,” Francis said. “I spent almost 20 years of my life making sure the doors stayed open.” She eventually persuaded Gorman to join the museum, even cutting her own salary to ensure its success. Today, Gorman serves as the Webster Parish historian and executive director of the museum.
Though Francis had planned to retire in August 2023, a colon cancer diagnosis in June led her to retire early. Fortunately, she is now in good health and continues to support the museum.
Francis encourages the community to donate to the museum, emphasizing that even small contributions make a significant impact. Donations can be made online at www.dorcheatmuseum.com/donate. Gorman urges residents to consider donating historical documents or artifacts, as they may hold valuable historical significance.
The Dorcheat Museum, located at 116 Pearl Street in Minden, remains free to the public, preserving the rich history of Webster Parish for future generations.