The current temporary exhibit at the Legler Barn Museum is Hank Bendorf's Popeye Collection
He's short, balding, ornery and downright ugly by anyone's standards, but countless numbers of fans have grown up admiring and identifying with this unpretentious hero since his introduction to the public in 1929.
Hank Bendorf, a former Lenexan, has an extensive collection of Popeye memoraabilia dating back to 1975. His son actually started the collection at the age of ten. As Hank traveled a lot he would pick up Popeye items for his son. His son later lost interest in the collection but Bendorf was so used to looking for Popeye items he continued to do so.
When his son died in 1999 Bendorf didn't collect as much, but every so often he would find an item to add. His collection consists of books, puzzles, figures, banks, pillows, clothing, stuffed toys, etc. The items will be on loan to the Legler Barn Museum throughout the run of the exhibit.
There is a raffle drawing for a popeye doll, $ .50 a ticket donation or three tickets for $ 1.00. Proceeds go to the Lenexa Historicial Society. Also, a bean toss game; get the bean bags in the hole and win a prize.