2017 1867
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The Weekender Saturday, March 18, 2017
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IOLA’S RAILROAD TIES NOTED Speaker: Trains shaped our history By RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register
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s the years pass, the evidence of Iola’s early love affair with trains has slowly melted away. But ask the long-timers — the ones around when the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe still ferried passengers from Iola to Kansas City or Tulsa, or the Missouri Pacific line took folks to Wichita and beyond — and you’ll see just how vital railroads were in shaping Iola, Allen County and much of southeast Kansas. Iolan Donna Houser spoke about how trains figured into Iola’s early growth, and how other factors eventually derailed the notion of longdistance travel via passenger or box car. Houser spoke Thursday to a group of about a dozen local history buffs at the Iola Public Library. MANY local historians are quick to point to the two rail lines most associate with Iola — the aforementioned Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe that still serves as
Iolan Donna Houser, left, spoke about how rail service helped shape Allen County’s early years, including the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad, top, which took passengers to Kansas City and Tulsa through the 1960s, and the old electric rail line that ferried workers from LaHarpe to downtown Iola each day. RAIL PHOTOS COURTESY OF DONNA HOUSER
the corridor for the Prairie Spirit Trail and Southwind Rail Trails — and the Missouri Pacific, which traveled east and west, including along the stretch through the heart of town that now serves as the newly developed MoPac walking trail. Iola’s first rail line, however, was the short-lived Lawrence, Leavenworth and
Galveston line (LL&G). Rail lines were eager to cover new territory, but southeast Kansas was largely left out of those plans because of the multitude of creeks and the Neosho River, Houser explained. “There were no bridges,” she noted. Officials from LL&G however worked in league with the
King Bridge Company and came to Allen County with a proposal. They’d build a line through town, going north and south, if the county could come up with $75,000 in bonds. Iolans figured the idea was a slam dunk, and the vote to approve the bonds passed overwhelmingly. Other parts of the county, however, weren’t as enthusiastic.
And in a highly controversial election — many votes were disallowed from Humboldt, Salem, Osage and other townships because of reports of coercion — the bond vote was approved, 615 to 420 in May 1870. The first rail line came to town at about the same time See RAILROAD | Page A3
Looking ahead with enthusiasm By BOB JOHNSON The Iola Register
Tracy Keagle, Humanity House founder, talks about upcoming events. REGISTER/SHELLIE SMITLEY
Humanity House gears up for action By SHELLIE SMITLEY The Iola Register
Tracy Keagle, founder of Humanity House, invites members of the community to partake in a slew of upcoming events. “Vino Need No Stinkin’ Brushes” is painting and wine-tasting forum at 7 p.m., March 24. The cost is $25. Anyone wishing to participate should call Humanity House to reserve their spot. The Humanity House Utility Relief Craft Festival Fundraiser is from 9
a.m. to 5 p.m. March 25-26 at the Riverside Park Community Building. Keagle will be selling Grandma Brewington’s chicken and homemade noodles on the Saturday, with proceeds to benefit Humanity House. “They are really good,” Keagle said. Ona Chapman, formerly of LaHarpe, will sponsor a booth for Humanity House at the craft fair. Those desiring to donate crafts or to rent a booth should contact Karla Ingroum. All booth See KEAGLE | Page A3
Quote of the day Vol. 119, No. 89
HUMBOLDT — Unique businesses staffed by employees with welcoming attitudes would go far to make Humboldt a commercial destination, Vada Aikins observed. Her comments and others occupied a 90-minute session of Allen County Tomorrow, a monthly get-together led by Thrive Allen County’s Damaris Kunkler here Thursday afternoon. Aikins is a long-term Humboldt council member, and not bashful about expressing herself. “We have to build on our
Humboldt’s Neosho River Park and nearby Marsh arch bridge. PHOTO COURTESY OF HISTORIC BRIDGES.COM
assets and have a better mindset,” she added. Focus of conversation was the March 1 Humboldt ReImagining Summit at which
better than 80 residents were challenged to find ways to invigorate Humboldt’s downSee HUMBOLDT | Page A6
Lawmakers reject across-the-board cuts TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas legislators showed Thursday that they have little appetite for cutting spending immediately to get the state through June without a budget deficit until it can collect new revenue from higher taxes. The state Senate voted 33-7 against a proposal from its top leader, President Susan Wagle, to reduce spending by $105 million before June 30.
Wagle, a Wichita Republican, offered the proposal as an amendment to a bill that would tide the state over until the July 1 start of its next fiscal year by authorizing internal government borrowing and temporarily shorting contributions to public employees’ pensions.
“Human beings, from their own point of view, are very different than what people see.” — Kurt Russell, actor 75 Cents
Senators also overwhelmingly rejected two proposals for smaller, across-the-board cuts from conservative Republican Sen. Dennis Pyle, of Hiawatha. The Senate then approved the bill Thursday night, 27-13. The House passed its own version last month, also authorizing borrowing and shorting pension contributions. The See BUDGET | Page A6
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