US 36 Highway, Kansas; EXPEDITION

Expedition US-36

THE BOYER MUSEUM

ANIMATED CARVINGS COME TO LIFE

ORCHESTRA ON THE OREGON TRAIL A CROWN JEWELL EVENT IN MARSHALL COUNTY

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FOLK ART REVIVAL: BARN QUILTS REVITALIZING A CRAFT ONCE FORGOTTEN

HISTORICAL VALUE BAK

CORNERSTONE HAUS SHEPHERD’S MILL TOBE ZWEIGARDT

BAK

Biking Across

Kansas

USHWY36.COM

US HWY 36 TREASURE HUNT:

AND SO IT BEGAN...

“IT WILL NEVER WORK”.

This is the statement made to me by a good friend when he heard about our plans to create a 400 mile garage sale from Missouri to Colorado along US 36 Highway.

The idea originally came about by three Scandia individuals, Jim Erickson, Jane Ann Carlgren and Paul Kallman wanting to generate interest for our county (Republic) with the idea of a 36 mile garage sale on US 36.

We wanted an event to bring people to our area to get them accustomed to traveling US 36, increase traffic and hopefully generate interest to get a four lane highway completed. Jim, who was the Vice President of US 36 Highway Association at the time, mentioned the idea at one of the association board meetings. The board was very interested in this idea and expressed extreme interest in this project and suggested that we include the entire US 36 highway across Kansas and they would sponsor the event.

Well, that was 11 years ago and what we got was something much more than expected--- a huge monetary impact for our counties in Northern Kansas.

There are thousands of people that attended each year to make our event successful, and yes, they bring cash with them along with their vans, trailers, ropes and bungee cords. Not only do locals set up the 3rd weekend of September each year, but we are also seeing vendors come from other states to set up as well. Facebook and word of mouth are our greatest advertising tools.

Some families have scheduled family reunions around the event drawing people from all over the United States and even some foreign countries.

Additional information on the association, Treasure Hunt maps and individual county information can be accessed on our US 36 Highway website at: www.us36hwy.com In closing, I’m going to end with a quote from my same friend at the beginning of this article---“Do you remember what I told you when you guys came up with this idea? Well, I guess I was wrong!”

Hope to see you all September 16, 17 & 18, 2016.

By

2

PAUL

A

KALLMAN

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Expedition US-36

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Content / 2016

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TREASURE HUNT ACROSS KANSAS p. 2 / PRESIDENT’S LETTER p. 5 / BAK p. 2 / The Counties: East To West

Discover the 13 individual counties that contain the idealic stretch of US-36 in northern Kansas.

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Doniphan

13 Brown 17 Nemaha 25 Marshall 33 Washington 37 Republic 41 Jewell 45 Smith 49 Phillips 55 Norton 59 Decatur 69 Rawlins 75 Cheyenne

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president’s letter LEE E. [DOC] FRANKLIN

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Down The Road

ony Express, Oregon Trail, Western Cattle Trail Crossing, Ocean to Ocean Highway ----Now under its modern title on your map, the legendary “U.S. Route 36” is made up of all these! To you the New Pioneers, a Warm Western Welcome on your own “Expedition” of discovery to explore the very best of our “400 Mile Main Street”!

(Thanks to Marysville Mayor / Board Member Bill Phillipi for forging this best descriptive “Brand” for the most rewarding roadway to explore the Inland Empire.) And special thanks to Deveny Jeep for providing the “Rubicon “ for the cover shoot. Most appreciated!

As you, the intrepid travelers, are reporting, the American Dream, which seems to be disappearing elsewhere, is very much alive here, as you see in these pages! Our U.S. Route 36 photo-journals have the dual missions of introducing you to us, and then extending a personal invitation for you to discover our quality of life; Then, to arrive and join us, bringing your Family, your Business, and your best concepts to launch. We are the sons and daughters of the original Pioneers, and we invite you to come alongside us, and build the New West.

The Blonde in the picture is my “Consultant”, telling me to name some “Bucket List”, “Brand News”, and “Must Do’s” before I run out of your patience, and my space. Truthfully, I had only listed some of the best of 4 Counties, when I maxed the whole page. So I’ll write another list for later in the Magazine, and/or post it on the webstie if available space is gone, with apologies to everone for the short list.

Newest among the genuine attractions is the Motorcycle Museum in St. Francis. Astoundingly great collections! Best Steaks of your life at Big Ed’s in Bird City. Italian Calzones by the Chef (yes, Chef) of the McDonald Grocery. “Rod Run” early Spring, “Smokin On The Beaver” BBQ Contest, Music and Chainsaw Art, Atwood, in the Fall.

Barn Quilt Art enroute to and in Oberlin, plus Museum, Landmark

Inn and new Pool. Wood-burning Pizza Oven equipped “Destination Kitchen” in Norton + everything for your InnerChef; New Swimming Pool. Phillipsburg’s Classic City Square, Art Deco Theater restored; Major Hub for Treasure Hunt. Time capsule “Jiffy Burger” in Smith Center, plus architecture downtown. Great Museums and Classic Downtowns in Mankato, Courtland, Scandia (Birthplace of “Treasure Hunt”), and Belleville. Very intriguing Pawnee Indian Site north of Courtland, dating back to Rome.

Totally cool Mayberry’s and new Brew-Pub in Washington. Pony Express Festival in Hanover. Marysville hosts “Orchestra on the Oregon Trail”; Topeka Symphony Orchestra under the stars, + BBQ Labor Day Weekend.... Stunningly Beautiful visuals and sound; “Gravel Dash” Bike Race, and Big Blue BBQ. New Golf Course, Street Festival and County Fair in July, downtown Coffee Castle, and architecture in Seneca. Sabetha’s Downtown Coffee Company also has the best breakfast sandwich of your life; Classic Main Street, and Pony Express Museum. Fall Maple Leaf / Heritage Day Festival in Hiawatha, and Windmill Lane, Clock Tower / Architecture. Highland College’s Viticulture (Grapes) won State Wine Competition. Troy’s City Square Courthouse is must-see classic, plus Peter Toth-carved (very tall) Indian Monument; The Glacial Hills Scenic Byway will take you to one of the 8 Wonders of Kansas.

This hardly scratches the surface of the genuinely satisfying experiences created and reserved for you. Google these ultimateKansas places and events for more detailed planning information.

Then launch your own “Expedition” and post us regarding what you’re finding;.... We enjoy being discovered!

Best Personal Regards, Doc Franklin

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BAK

Biking Across Kansas June 4-11, 2016

An 8 Day Bicycle Tour Across The Great State Of Kansas

T

WORDS Stephanie Weaver | IMAGES Galen Spiller

he 800 to 900 bicyclists who participant in Biking Across Kansas know firsthand that seeing Kansas on two wheels is the best way to experience the beauty of the state.

Traveling 15 to 20 miles per hour on a bicycle versus 60 to 75 miles per hour on four wheels inside a vehicle offers quality time on the roads and in the towns of Kansas. There are simply no barriers. Instead bicyclists are totally immersed in the environment between Colorado and Missouri borders.

Biking Across Kansas (BAK) is 42 year old, annual, eight-day, bicycle tour across the state of Kansas.

BAK promotes health and wellness through bicycling, the history and beauty of the Kansas, and the warm hospitality of the Kansas towns and people.

BAK is a unique experience, something not everyone has the chance to do. It brings people of all ages (2 to 89), from as many as 30 states, and from all walks of life together with a common goal. Bicycling 400 to 500 miles across Kansas in eight days is great accomplishment, and nothing can match the feeling of success when bicyclists dip their tires in the Missouri River on day eight of the tour.

As bicyclists pedal across the state, they create a traveling community--developing relationships, sharing experiences, and building lifelong friendships.

Whether struggling up the next hill together, hanging out at a SAG (support) stop, sightseeing at a museum or historical site, joining together for an evening 6

meeting or entertainment, pitching in to wash dishes in a cafe, or changing a flat tire, the sense of community is ever present.

The towns in which BAK stays open their arms and embrace the bicyclists—ensuring everyone has plenty of homemade food (pie is an all-time favorite) to eat, small town conversations to soak in, activities to enjoy, and sites to see. The charm and hospitality of the townspeople make riders feel right at home. For many small towns, hosting BAK stretches their resources, but they never fail. The result is an exhilarating cultural exchange that creates lasting impressions and BAK memories for everyone.

Biking Across Kansas 2016 takes place June 4-11. The bicyclists will start at the Kansas-Colorado line west of Saint Francis and will cycle the northern route along much of U.S. 36. Overnight stops will be in Oberlin, Phillipsburg, Mankato, Belleville, Marysville, Sabetha, and Troy. After cycling to the banks of the Missouri River they will celebrate the end of the ride in Elwood. BAK is also routed through Atwood, Norton, Smith Center, Barnes, Hiawatha, and many more Kansas towns.

Participants will pedal by the geographic center of the United States near Lebanon and Pony Express station in Hollenberg and take a short side trip to the Pawnee Indian Village. Cycling the northern part of the state along U.S. 36 is a favorite of past participants. For others passing through this beautiful part of Kansas will be a first but no doubt become a lifelong memory.

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BIKING across ks BAK.ORG

HISTORICAL VALUE BIKING ACROSS KANSAS IS A 42 YEAR OLD, ANNUAL, EIGHT-DAY BICYCLE TOUR ACROSS THE STATE OF KANSAS

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Expedition US-36

LEE E. (DOC) FRANKLIN President, US 36 Hwy Association

CRISTIANE (CRIQUET) COLE Association Marketing and Secretary

Publisher PELICAN PUBLICATIONS Creative Direction & Design KBR MEDIA TELEPHONE: 303-955-5036 EMAIL: CONTACT@MYPELICANMAGAZINE.COM OFFICE: 7550 W Yale Ave, Suite A-100, Denver, CO 80227 CONTACT@KBRGALLERY.COM No part of this magazine may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form, or by no means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission of the publisher.

THANK YOU TO OUR 2016 DONORS

DECATUR COUNTY BEEF, LLC Oberlin, Kansas

DECATUR COUNTY CO-OP Oberlin, Kansas

VAP CONSTRUCTION Atwood, Kansas

SPECIAL THANKS TO DEVENY MOTORS DevenyChryslerJeepDodge.com

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east to west

Doniphan

Photo provided by Arlyn Parish

Doniphan County was established August 25, 1855, and organized on September 18, 1855.

A History Of Irvin Hall Highland University, now Highland Community College, was chartered by the Kansas Territorial Legislature on February 9, 1858, making it the oldest surviving college in Kansas. (p .v) The building committee for the (university) board of trustees designed an enormous structure, 180 feet by 40 feet, which would four stories high in the center section and three stories high on the wings. (p. 14) The cornerstone for the new university building was laid on May 11, 1858. from The History of Highland Community College by ARLYN PARISH HCC IRVIN HALL / STANDING TALL p. 10

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t first, work on the building progressed rapidly. The first floor of the east wing was completed in time for the opening of the school year in the fall, 1858; however the second story of the east wing was not finished until 1860, and the rest of the building was never constructed because of lack of funds. The two stories of the east wing were 60 feet by 40 feet and 20 feet high. The bricks were made north

of Highland on the old Gates farm.

Lumber was brought in on ox carts from St. Joseph and Doniphan. The structure was known as the University Building until 1925 when it was officially named Irvin Hall (for the Rev. Samuel Irvin, the Presbyterian minister whose dedication to education was part of his mission to area Indian tribes). (pp. 15-16) In the ensuing years, Irvin Hall became home to a myriad of College operations

– classrooms, student union, shooting gallery, library, cafeteria, and offices, and now is serves as home to the Admissions Office as the welcoming center for the College, HCC’s Title III program, and counseling services. It is on the registry of the American Historical Buildings Survey conducted by the United States Department of the Interior.

Photos provided by Mary Winder

STANDING TALL IN TROY

J

by MAGGIE MCKEITHAN, Library District #1 Doniphan County

JUST OFF HIGHWAY 36 IN THE far northeast corner of the state is Troy, Kansas. In the town square of Troy, near the gazebo on the lawn of the Doniphan County courthouse, stands a tall wooden sculpture. The bust of Tall Oak, complete with feather headband reaching 27 feet into the sky, has been part of the Troy landscape since it was completed in 1978 by sculptor Peter Toth. Tall Oak’s features and dress are meant to symbolize the Potawatomie, Kickapoo, Sac and Fox, and Iowa tribes, who all have reservations in Northeast

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Kansas. Tall Oak was the 29th sculpture Toth completed in a series called The Trail of the Whispering Giants, which winds its way through all 50 states. A project of nearly 20 years, Toth began with the first sculpture in 1971 in La Jolla, California, and the 50th sculpture was completed in 1988 in Oahu, Hawaii.

Toth came to Troy in the fall of 1978 and took about two months to complete Tall Oak using only a chisel and a 5-pound mallet. Once completed, the Doniphan County Chamber of

Commerce and the American Legion Post 55 planned a huge dedication event in honor of the artist and the new sculpture. On September 29, 1979, Troy celebrated with a community breakfast, a flea market, an afternoon dedication ceremony, an evening supper, and a street dance. John Carlin, the governor of Kansas at the time, was the guest speaker at the dedication event, and Toth officially presented the new monument to the state of Kansas.

By 2010, the snow, rain, and sun had come down on Tall Oak for over 30 years, and the sculpture had become a true landmark of Troy. In order to preserve the wooden sculpture for future generations, some preservation work needed to be done, and the original sculptor was up for the job. Toth came back to Troy and spent several weeks repairing and weatherizing the sculpture to lengthen its life. On October 16, 2010, the town again gave thanks to the sculptor in a rededication ceremony. Tall Oak continues to stand tall on the lawn and remind everyone of the heritage and history of Troy.

Maggie McKeithan has been the Library Director of Library District #1 Doniphan County since 2013.

The information found in this article was gathered from the historical files found at the Troy Library. These files cover many local Doniphan County families and events, and they are available to the visiting public.

The Troy Library is part of Library District #1 Doniphan County, which is made up of branches in Elwood, Wathena, Troy, and Highland, Kansas. For more information about Library District #1 Doniphan County, visit the website at www.librarydistrict1.org or call the Troy Library at 785-985-2597. Troy resident Mary Winder provided the photos that accompany the article.

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doniphan county

From left: A vintage poster advertises the dedication in the fall of 1979; the sun shines brightly behind the monument, showcasing it’s detail and beauty.

Opposite: Toth returns to Troy and spent several weeks repairing and weatherizing the sculpture to lengthen its life.

8 x 5 1/4

• First College in Kansas • IRVIN HALL: Original 1858

36 Western Center Baileyville, KS

Highland Campus Highland, KS

College Building still in use

• 14 Acre Campus

- 11 campus buildings - 15 housing units - Athletic playing field

HCC CAMPUS IRVIN HALL

WESTERN CENTER WESTERN CENTER 313 Nemaha, Baileyville, KS 66404 785.336.2326 • WESTERN@highlandcc.edu

11 UShwy36.com

HIGHLAND CAMPUS 606 W. Main, Highland, KS 66035

785.442.6020 • ADMISSIONS@highlandcc.edu

Enjoy Time in Hiawatha

Maple Leaf and Heritage Day Festival September 17 102nd Halloween Parade and Frolic October 31

Maple Leaf and Homes Tour eritageHoliday DayDecember Festival 10 SeptemberAdditional 19

Points of Interest

Missy Davis Newell Memorial Memorial Auditorium Memorialand RunMuseum Ag Museum and Windmill September 19 Lane

Visit Hiawatha

The City of Beautiful Maples

www.hiawathachambe 785-742-7136

Our booth will be located in the Northeast Kansas Tourism C

Historic Downtown 100s of Colorful Maples st

101 Halloween Parade and Frolic October 31

www.growwithhiawatha.org 785-740-4333 12

SP5427

www.bckshistory.com 785-742-3330

www.hiawathachamber.com 785-742-7136 DONATE AT USHWY36.COM

east to west

Brown

Photo by Joey May / Hiawatha World

Following amendment to the Kansas Constitution in 1986, the county remained a prohibition, or “dry”, county until 2000, when voters approved the sale of alcoholic liquor.

Small Town Beauty Along Highway 36, in the very northeast corner of Kansas, you will find Brown County and the iconic downtown of Hiawatha sitting right in the center of it. The Brown County Historical Society would like to welcome you to visit this perfect slice of small town life. Dubbed the “City of Beautiful Maples,” taking a drive through the city is a visual treat while admiring the many maple trees that line the streets.

by ERIC THOMPSON BEAUTIFUL HIAWATHA / HISTORIC HOMES p. 16

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IN 1918, T.H. KORTHANKE AND

his wife moved to 200 Miami Street in Hiawatha from a farm northeast of Hiawatha. On the corner of their yard was a stately hard maple tree which was admired by all who saw it in its full fall splendor. From that one tree, Mr. Korthanke was inspired to take seeds and plant them on a vacant lot north of his home. As the seedlings took root, he shared them with anyone who would agree to care for them. Mr. Korthanke died in 1941 before the trees reached maturity, but he indeed left Hiawatha with its legacy of the “City of Beautiful Maples.”

The city square, located in downtown Hiawatha, is dominated by the Brown County Courthouse that was built in 1925. Built of stone, the courthouse sits in the center of the public square. The building has 3 stories with large lobby areas on the first and second floors. Walking in the front door, one can see the attention to detail and the pride taken in the construction of the building from the gray and white marble floor and stairs to the ornate woodwork and the maple leaf adorned windows.

The same marble is on the walls and there are large marble pillars in the lobby of the second floor. The second floor is designed to resemble a bank with open windows in each office on a ledge of marble, making this a very beautiful area. In November 14

Photos are courtesy of Joey May/Hiawatha World. The Hiawatha World also contributed to this article. Find us at www.hiawathaworldonline.com or on Facebook.

11, 1926 the Courthouse was dedicated with a large parade and a 21-gun salute.

Directly south of the courthouse, is the Brown County Historical Society Museum in the Hiawatha Memorial Auditorium. The building was erected in 1920 and was the first auditorium and meeting hall to be built in Hiawatha. It was dedicated to the veterans of the Civil War, Spanish-American War and World War I. The auditorium was a center for activity in Hiawatha for many years, hosting lectures, opera singers, plays and movies in the 1,200 seat auditorium and dinners, dances and meetings in the basement dining hall. The upstairs housed the offices for the Grand Army of the Republic and the American Legion.

In the 1970’s the building was deemed too expensive to keep open and it was closed down and left to deteriorate. Because of leaks, flooding and vandalism, the City Commissioners entertained the notion to destroy the building. In 1978 public concern was aroused at the thought of the building being demolished and petitions were signed to support the establishment of the Brown County Historical Society. With the City paying to restore the building, the County supporting the Historical Society and the numerous donations of time and money from the people of Brown County, this beautiful building and the museum it houses are

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BROWN county

here for the enjoyment, pleasure and use of the citizens of Brown County and all who would like to visit it.

One of the most iconic buildings in Hiawatha is the Clock Tower Building which stands just west of the Courthouse at 701 Oregon. The Clock Tower design, however, was not the original building intended for that location. A three story building was erected in 1877 that was the First National bank and the top floor was the home of the Hiawatha Odd Fellows Lodge. On September 5th, 1890, a fire swept through the 700 block of Hiawatha and destroyed the building along with several others. In 1891 the building that currently stands was built. Architectural critics claim the building is the most unique and only historic clock tower between Indianapolis and Denver on US 36 Highway. The Clock Tower Building is an example of the Richardson Romanesque style, and in 1994, the building was placed on the Kansas Register or Historical Places.

Local history enthusiast Frances Sewell Plamann, who passed away in 2006 at the age of 90, was a Hiawatha native and longtime Brown County resident. After her death, Frances’ dedication to serving Hiawatha and Brown County continued as she left a sizable estate in the form of a charitable trust to be used for the restoration of a building

Fall splendor is on brilliant display throughout town

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in Hiawatha. By mid-2007, it was decided the best proposal was to renovate and restore the famous clock tower building at Seventh & Oregon, which had been vacant for the past 19 years! The original marble floors and pillars were cleaned and restored and the light fixtures were cleaned and wired for new electrical codes. A new staircase was installed to connect the interior of the first and second floors as well as the installation of an elevator to meet ADA accessibility requirements. On the second floor, the layout of the rooms and hallways remains largely intact with a few minor modifications to accommodate the change in usage and code requirements. The decorative tin ceiling was repaired and restored, and the wood floor was restored in the main hall. In the south rooms, the historic doors and most of the wall remain to convey a sense of the hall’s historic presence. The second floor is also home to “The History of Brown County,” a large mural painted by Ron Allerton in 1961 that depicts settlers, American Indians hunting bison, agricultural life, industry and an old-fashioned revival.

Our lovely downtown is just the start of the architectural adventures in Hiawatha; from the historic downtown buildings to the stately houses throughout town, the trips to the Ag Museum and Windmill Lane, the sites of the Davis Memorial and the rows of maple trees, Hiawatha is the place to visit.

BROWN county

PRTS Suites of 700 Oregon

Wisdom House

Benson House

Historic Homes of Hiawatha

Five beautiful, century-old homes were on display during the Chamber of Commerce’s Holiday Homes Tour.

H Hillyer House

Hawthorne House

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by JOEY MAY

iawatha, founded in 1857, is blessed to have more than 100 historic homes to add to our town’s architectural charm. This past year, the Hiawatha Chamber of Commerce featured five homes at least a century old in an old fashioned Holiday Homes Tour. This was the first time in nearly a decade that the traditional homes tour was planned and the response from the community was overwhelming as around 200 people supported the Chamber event and ventured around town to tour the homes, all occupied by Hiawatha residents.

Featured last year on the homes tour was the PRTS Medical Wellness Center’s Suites of 700 Oregon. This iconic building was purchased by the Nachtigals in 1986 and they restored it to its former beauty. It was constructed in 1896 as a mercantile and has since housed several businesses over the years including Bierers Clothing and a grocery store.

A few of the homes on the tour included the Joe and Karen Benson residence at 124 N. Sixth St., which was built around 1911 by one of the first pharmicists in town, John Pottenger. The house features a short cast-iron fence, which actually predates the house at 1880 at a cost of $2,000.

Jake and Matt Wisdom’s home at 416 Miami was also featured on last year’s Chamber’s homes tour. It was built in 1902 by Hannah A. Stewart, a daughter of Dr. Bowron, a well-known Hiawatha physician. The home is a 2 ½ story Queen Anne Victorian and has gone through several periods of restoration over the years.

The Hillyer home at 412 N. Second was built in 1912, ahead of its time with oversized bedrooms and large closets. It has also been updated and restored to offer the same charm as it did 100 years ago. While not currently used, the house also has a milk door and cold closet in the basement.

The Hiawatha School District owns one of Hiawatha’s oldest and prestigious brick homes, the Hawthorne House. It was built in 1908, forever to be used for education purposes. It provided housing in the early 1900s for the Hiawatha Academy, serving as dormitories. The home is currently occupied by Brady and Stacy Jasper, USD 415 staff, as the district only rents to school employees.

These are just a few of the homes featured in last year’s Chamber of Commerce Holiday Homes Tour and more are promised for the 2016 tour. They are also found on city maps of historic homes. Stop by the Brown County Historical Society and Hiawatha Chamber of Commerce at 611 Utah, to pick up information and maps when you visit our charming town.

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east to west

Nemaha Berry Hill Farm Photo by Daniel Hartler

On May 30, 1879, the “Irving, Kansas Tornado� passed through Nemaha county, killing eighteen and injuring sixty.

Alive with History & Culture Hello from Sabetha Kansas! Sabetha is located on the eastern most edge of Nemaha County and is a thriving, active community full of history. There are a few facts that make Sabetha a very distinct community for northeast Kansas, first of all, it is the only community in the entire country with this particular name and, secondly, during the workday our population comes close to doubling.

It is a huge industrial hub for northeast Kansas with major industries that have sprung from local ideas and ingenuity, actually beginning in barns and growing to become internationally known companies. Sabetha also has one of the best 9-hole golf courses in Kansas, two major lakes for fishing, skiing, and other water sports, a wonderful ball park in Somerset Park which is now home to the Sabetha Lebos, a semi-professional ball team.

In 2017 we will be debuting the new Sabetha Aquatic Park which will feature several distinct water sport areas including a lap pool, a kiddie area, lane pool and a lazy river!

Sabetha is a great place to live, work and raise a family! Come visit, explore our historic downtown, local museum which is rich with history on John Brown and the Underground Railroad, or take in a baseball game!

We hope you enjoy our community and all that it has to offer and, maybe, you too will choose to make Sabetha your home! Please visit www.sabethachamber.com for more information on the great community of Sabetha! from the SABETHA MAYOR BASEBALL p. 18 / A NEW BUZZ p. 19 / WILDWOOD p. 20 / NO PLACE LIKE HOME p. 21 / NEMAHA FAIR p. 22

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NEMAHA county

S

tan Keim, President and owner of flatbed company Keim TS, Inc., decided he wanted to design and build a baseball field in Sabetha, Kansas in 2006.

There were no blueprints. Nor were there any architects or sports consulting firms. The design team was made mostly of his trucking employees and a couple of local contractors and builders. Most didn’t even follow baseball, but each person had input and a “stamp” in the construction of what is now known as Somerset Park.

Dave Thieme, the local contractor, was able to find 73 chair back seats from old Comiskey Park – home of the Chicago White Sox and the infamous July 12, 1979 Disco Demolition Night. No one really knows why Thieme decided on these seats – whether it was the taste of history of the old park or a disdain of disco music, but they remain a conversation piece of the park.

The Park hosted its first game on Tuesday, June 12, 2007 to immediate fanfare. The Topeka Daily Capital had a feature story about it within a couple of weeks. Word spread about a brand new baseball park throughout the state. The very next year, the Kansas American Legion Baseball program awarded Sabetha with the State AA tournament. The tourney went so smoothly that the state wanted Sabetha to host the 2009 State AA tournament. This was only the 3rd time in the 50+ year history of Kansas AA Legion Baseball that a town had hosted back-to-back state tournaments.

Due to the anticipated success of Somerset Park, a nonprofit organization called Sabetha Area Amateur Baseball Association (SAABA) was formed to run the baseball program. Its efforts, with their many volunteers, has enabled a continuing enjoyable baseball experience. Improvements have been made to the facility. A kids’ playground was constructed in 2010, field turf was installed in 2011 and a picnic area was built before the 2012 season, in conjunction with the state tournament. The picnic area was built due to the popularity of the concession stand.

The installation of the infield field turf started a greater demand for the field. Since rainouts are virtually unheard of, there was an increase in demand and request for use of the field – and not just from the Sabetha teams. Many college teams now inquire about the availability of the field during their seasons. College teams from North Dakota, Minnesota, South Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska and Kansas have played on the field. College teams have also requested practice time on the field. High school teams who have qualified for state and need a practice on artificial turf have requested use of the field. Since 2011, the field has averaged over 60 games. In 2016, the Sabetha American Legion teams will be sharing the field with the Sabetha Lobos. The Lobos are a summer collegiate baseball team featuring some of the best talent in college – and not just locally. The Lobos compete in the Eight-Team Mid Plains League which also features teams in Rossville, Junction City, Topeka, Baldwin City, Independence, Mo, Belton, MO, and Liberty, MO. There are currently 55 regular season games scheduled at Somerset Park. Depending upon post season, another 20+ games could be on the calendar. Please come out to the ballpark, located about ½ mile east of Highway 75 on 192nd road. Hope to see you at the park!

1106 Main Street • Sabetha, KS 66534

Phone (785) 284-2108 Hours Mon-Fri 7:30-6:00 Sat 7:30-4:00

sabethahardware@gmail.com

A New Buzz: Cornerstone Coffee Haus

HISTORICAL VALUE BUILT IN 1889 AS THE FORMER FIRST NATIONAL BANK BUILDING, AN ORNATE RED BRICK RICHARDSONIAN DESIGN THAT WAS THE PRIDE OF SENECA AND REMAINS A LANDMARK ON MAIN STREET TO THIS DAY.

A long and rich history follow the newest managers of the Cornerstone Coffee Haus located at Fifth and Main street in Seneca, Kansas

by KYLEE LUCKEROTH

A SENECA

Amy and Aaron Duryea, both originally from the area, reopened the coffee house on February 1, 2016 after the café and coffee purveyor had been closed for a few months previously.

“Our main goal is to focus on quality food and specialty drinks,” Amy said. “We are both so excited to start our new adventure.”

The building that now holds Cornerstone Coffee Haus was built in 1889 as the former First National Bank Building, an ornate red brick Richardsonian design that was the pride of Seneca and remains a landmark on Main Street in Seneca to this day. The bank owners wanted the building to have a sense of grandeur and permanence, a monument to Seneca’s growing success in late 19th century. History flourished within the walls of building with the upstairs once holding the office of Dr. Kinsley, a local dentist, the brother of Florence Naismith who was married to James Naismith the inventor of basketball.

Mrs. Naismith later moved to Seneca after the passing of her husband and lived in the beautiful Guilford Hotel a few blocks from the Cornerstone.

The “old First National Bank building” as it was commonly known prior to 2009 truly ran the spectrum on uses, from its original uses to offices and even being rented as apartments at times the building obviously fell into disrepair. That is until Cathy Holthaus decided to breathe life back into the historic building. Holthaus and her family remodeled the building, hauling away an estimated 50,000 pounds of plaster on the way to restoring an original look to the interior architecture of the building. They removed the shake shingles from the west facing tiffany style windows, rewired, fixed leaks and brought the building up to code. After months of hard work and loads

of time Holthaus opened the doors to Cornerstone Coffee Haus on May 20, 2009. Cornerstone offered all the “fancy” coffee drinks that you formerly couldn’t find in the town of about 2,000.

Additionally, a double horse shoe bar and full soda foundation, both resurrected from Harsh Drug Store, formerly located across the street are both in full working order. Ice cream, breakfast and lunch items were all on the menu.

During it’s time of operation Holthaus continued to work on the building receiving a Kansas Heritage Trust Fund Grant to help with restorations. Second story and basement level apartments have both been restored to working order and can be rented out for short term leases. Unfortunately, due to other commits Holthaus had to close the doors of the coffee house in late 2015.

However, Seneca needn’t suffer long as the Duryea’s took over the day the day operations in the beginning of 2016 offering much of the same menu as before. Cornerstone Coffee Haus has become a staple in the Seneca community, people come from all around to enjoy the coffee and conversation and take in the beautiful turn of the century architecture.

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NEMAHA county

Wildwood Designs, LLC The McNary’s love a good challenge; and will bring just about anything to life with their dimensional printing.

B Custom artwork from reclaimed barn board

by SHERRI MCNARY …BECAUSE WE CAN. This is the motto of Wildwood Creations LLC in Sabetha, Kansas.

Opened in September 2015, the company uses the latest in UV-LED print technology to provide full color prints with a unique layered texture for dimensional results. “We can bring anything from an old photograph to your child’s artwork to life by making the finished product touchable.” Manufactured by Go Vivid (a division of Rowmark), the equipment is environmentally friendly and offers a completely cured, odor free graphic in a matter of seconds. Wildwood Creations also provides engraving, signage (including ADA), awards, gifts and custom logo design.

Owned by James and Sherri McNary, Wildwood Creations is the result of years of planning. In April 2015, the couple broke ground on a new building and with the help of family and friends, completed construction in late June. On July 1st, Sherri left her longtime job at the local hospital to return to school and handle the day to day operations of the new business. Situated on the working family farm in Nemaha County, Kansas, the location also allows Sherri to continue her work as

a Certified Wildlife Rehabilitator with Northeast Kansas Wildlife Rescue.

Her husband and co-owner James McNary works full time at Wenger Manufacturing in Sabetha. With more than 20 years of experience as a machinist and woodworker, he handles the cutting and polishing of raw materials. “I’m not allowed around sharp objects,” jokes Sherri. “The equipment also requires a clean room environment, so we actually have a separate location for handling raw materials. James’ talent in working with raw materials allows us the ability to truly customize every order at an affordable price.”

“We love a good challenge,” says owner, Sherri McNary. “If it sits still long enough, I’ve probably printed on it.” For the grand opening of the business, Sherri printed her logo on the raw yolk of an egg. “Why? Because I could. A chicken ran by the window of my studio and my husband jokingly suggested I print on an egg. That didn’t seem like a big deal. Anyone can print on an egg. Instead, I printed on the yolk.” This creativity and willingness to push the boundaries has led to several unique jobs such as printing on leaves for a fall wedding, business cards on peacock feathers, and creating modern art from reclaimed materials (i.e. barn board).

Wildwood Creations continues to grow. In December 2015, a rotary attachment was added that allows them to print full color on cylindrical objects including wine bottles, glasses and more. The company has also expanded to offer full color prints on apparel and is working toward licensing rights with area collegiate teams. “This technology is so much fun,” says owner Sherri McNary. “The possibilities are truly limited only by my imagination or that of my customers. We’ve put full color photographs and logos on everything from wine bottles to baseballs! If you can dream it, we’ll print it.”

While many companies charge an additional

HEARTHSIDE COUNTRY STORE 2 MILES NORTH OF SABETHA, KANSAS ON HWY 75 Hours: Mon. - Sat. 8:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

BEVERLY GOODMAN Manager 2494 200th Road Sabetha, KS 66534

Phone & Fax: (785) 284-0303 E-mail: hearthside2494@att.net

www.hearthsidecountrystore.com ~ Follow us on facebook ~

fee for more than one color print, Wildwood Creations encourages their customers to color their world . “Our customers are no longer limited to black and white or choosing only one additional color because of excessive cost. Wildwood Creations does not charge

for multiple color combinations and have the technology to provide color matching services.

“Our technology allows us to print vibrant and consistent color on every item.” Product pricing is determined by layers of ink. For example, tactile prints such as ADA signage involve layering ink to achieve a raised print.

Wildwood Creations also has no minimum to buy. “We understand how hard it is to run a small business in rural America and there are times when you only need one or two items.”

There are some limits to what they will print.

Wildwood Creations reserves the right to refuse any request that will not result in a high quality finished product (i.e. no photocopies) or photography that violates copyright laws.

Wildwood Creations is located at 2575 W4 Road in Sabetha, Kansas. Business hours are Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 900 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday by appointment only. The company does not operate a public gift shop, however, it does work with entrepreneurs and businesses to create exclusive product lines for wholesale.

To learn more, visit their website at www. wildwoodcreationsllc.com, call 1-785-284-2699 or email sherri@wildwoodinc.net.

Handmade pies are one of the popular items at The Downtown Coffee Co.

SABETHA

No Place Like Home After a destructive tornado rips through Sabetha and damages many of the historical buildings, residents refused defeat by rebuilding stronger and better.

by KATLYNN RONNEBAUM

H

E

O L L

from Sabetha

Kansas!

Sabetha is located on the eastern most edge of Nemaha County and is a thriving, active community full of history. There are a few facts that make Sabetha a very distinct community for northeast Kansas, first of all, it is the only community in the entire country with this particular name and, secondly, during the workday our population comes close to doubling.

It is a huge industrial hub for northeast Kansas with major industries that have sprung from local ideas and ingenuity, actually beginning in barns and growing to become internationally known companies. Sabetha also has one of the best 9-hole golf courses in Kansas, two major lakes for fishing, skiing, and other water sports, a wonderful ball park in Somerset Park which is now home to the Sabetha Lebos, a collegiate ball team. In 2017 we will be debuting the new Sabetha Aquatic Park which will feature several distinct water sport areas including a lap pool, a kiddie area, lane pool and a lazy river!

O

n the morning of June 13, 1998 the D& G appliance store stood tall, a two-story brick building that has been in Sabetha since the late 1800s, but not even twelve hours later everything changed. A destructive tornado ripped through Sabetha and damaged many of its historical buildings, including the appliance store. Though, the small community refused to let that defeat them, and the buildings were rebuilt. Stronger, better, and new, the D & G’s changed over time. A flower shop, newspaper, and even a movie rental store, this building has seen many faces. Tom and Susan Gudenkauf have once again given this building on Main Street a new name and new face. Now The Downtown Coffee Co. offers everyone in Sabetha a place to come hang out, enjoy a cup of coffee and a fresh, homemade treat from the bakery.

Family has always been important to Tom and Susan, and they made sure to include that in the theme of their little café, and although there is a modern feel to it, The Downtown has traces of family everywhere a person looks. “We want everyone in Sabetha to feel like they’re at home when they step through our door,” Susan Gudenkauf said in brief interview.

From hamburgers, to hot sandwiches, the homiest thing about the coffee shop would have to be the bakery. Everything inside its glass display is homemade, from the gooey cinnamon rolls all the way to the whip cream used to top the cream pies with. Luci Goodman, the manager of the store, bakes these homemade delights with her sister Marcy. Even Tom’s mother gets involved with the bakery. Janice Gudenkauf is in charge of the pies, and man are they sure a hit. Her and granddaughter Katlynn mix up homemade dough together and even make homemade pie fillings such as apple and apricot.

Sabetha is a great place to live, work and raise a family! Come visit, explore our historic downtown, local museum which is rich with history on John Brown and the Underground Railroad, or take in a baseball game! We hope you enjoy our community and all that it has to offer and, maybe, you too will choose to make Sabetha your home! Please visit www.sabethachamber.com for more information on the great community of Sabetha!

“Open for Expansion”

Gina Murchison

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805 Main Street 785-285-2139 Sabetha, KS 66534 sabethachamber@gmail.com www.sabethachamber.com

DIRECTOR

Nemaha County Free Fair

Horses and hogs and cows, oh my! There is just something magical about fair time!

by KYLEE LUCKEROTH There is nothing that hits the quintessential spot about small town America more than that of the county fair and the Nemaha County Free Fair, located at the Fair Grounds in Seneca, is no different. The Nemaha County Fair has all the usual suspects: arts, horticulture, and other projects featured inside the county’s Community Building and on the outside hog, horse, sheep, and cattle shows and competitions. In addition to the 4-H activities the community of Seneca offers up other ways for fair goers and residents alike to enjoy all that the town has to offer.

The Seneca Area Chamber and Downtown Impact puts on three different events during fair weekend. On the Friday evening, this year falling on July 29, they are hosting a brand new event, the Seneca Street Festival. This event will take place on Main Street in Seneca, shops will be open late and offering summer time sales. The streets will be blocked off and there will be games for the whole family provided starting at 5pm. Live music will be featured on the street with an area roped off with picnic table seating. The games and such will continue until 8pm when Spanky’s Bar and Grill will take over the music and offer a street dance for people into the night.

Saturday evening the Seneca Area Chamber and Downtown Impact will host the annual Cruise Night. Where classic and new cars alike are welcomed to come “Cruise the Route” through historic downtown Seneca. The local radio station, KMZA switches their station programming from country to classic rock music to help seal the mood. Cars are welcomed to register for the event for the chance to win great door prizes, but isn’t necessary. Following the Cruise Night on Saturday is the Annual Seneca Car Show on Sunday. The Seneca Car Show is a Seneca Tradition and brings people from far and wide to not only show their cars but also just to view and enjoy.

Sunday of fair weekend is wrapped up with the annual parade down Main Street where many businesses and organizations bring floats to participate. The parade begins at 6:30pm and provides family friendly entertainment, and of course lots of candy.

Many other events go on during the Nemaha County Free Fair including, team penning, the antique tractor cruise, and barbecues just to name a few. The final weekend in July is one of Seneca’s greatest times of year offering tons of opportunities to make memories with family and friends. In addition to the fair activities Seneca offers a beautiful 18 hole golf course, wonderful new aquatic center, and lots of great shopping and dining options.

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Cruise night, the Seneca Car Show and annual parade all promise a memorable summer in Seneca

Spend your Labor Day Weekend in Marshall County!

SunDAY Sept. 4, 2016

Appearing on the Main Stage at 7 p.m.

Blue Rapids, KS

 Monday – Thurs 11 am – 9 pm  Friday – Saturday 11 am – 10 pm  Sunday 11 am – 3 pm Call ahead to schedule Parties and Special Request

THE PLACE FOR AUTHENTIC MEXICAN FOOD! 410 Broadway – Downtown Marysville (785) 562 - 5123

east to west

Marshall

Photo by Tom Parker

On May 30, 1879, the “Irving, Kansas Tornado” passed through Marshall county, killing eighteen and injuring sixty.

A Crown Jewel Event On a hot September evening last year in a broad meadow a few miles south of Marysville, 1,500 people were enjoying a rousing finale by the Topeka Symphony Orchestra when high above the performance tent a line of Pony Express riders materialized at the edge of a 90-foot bluff. The sudden appearance triggered a collective gasp from the crowd as they watched the riders fan out, their unfurled American flags snapping in the dusk.

The ensuing explosion of patriotic fervor was a fitting climax to the inaugural Orchestra on the Oregon Trail, an all-day event blending live music from multiple genres, historical re-enactors, nature and photo walks, wagon rides and presentations on the historical significance of Alcove Spring Historic Park. It was, as organizer John Schwartz said, a “crown jewel” event, utterly unique not only in its scope but in its innovative fusion of music and place. “There’s never been anything like this in the history of Marshall County,” Schwartz said.

by TOM PARKER the ORCHESTRA ON THE OREGON TRAIL / BACK FROM THE BRINK p. 30

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O ORCHESTRA on the OREGON TRAIL Topeka Symphony to return to Alcove Spring Historic Park

The park was an ideal venue for the outdoor concert.

Spanning 246 acres of largely undeveloped land near the Big Blue River on East River Road, the site includes the famous spring where Oregon-bound emigrants stopped for water as well as swales carved by thousands of wagons headed to nearby Independence Crossing. In particular, the largest of three meadows strung along a perennial creek culminates at the foot of a 90-foot sheer cliff to form a perfect amphitheater. When Topeka Symphony conductor Kyle Wylie Pickett first saw the layout of the meadow, he could barely constrain himself.

“IT’S FANTASTIC!” HE SAID. “IT’S A PERFECT LOCATION, ALMOST LIKE IT WAS MADE FOR A CONCERT.” >>

MARSHALL COUNTY

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<< Pickett chose patriotic and Western themes for the symphonic performance, with iconic selections by American composer Aaron Copland. Copland’s most famous works—Appalachian Spring, Billy the Kid, Rodeo and others— evoked the vast American landscape with a distinctive style whose familiarity resonated in the rolling hills and open grasslands of the historic park. “There’s not a better tribute to the grit and guts of the pioneers,” he said.

Other entertainers included Susan Werner, a folk, jazz and pop musician from Chicago, Il; Centralia singer/songwriter Tim Strathman, accompanied by Joel Naaf, Marysville; Lucas Maddy and the Kansas Cartel, a country rock band from northwestern Kansas; and Cryin’ Heart, a blues, soul and rock-and-roll band from Lincoln, Neb. Historical interpreters and re-enactors rounded out the playbill, and included cowboy poet Don Welborn, named Kansas Cowboy Poetry Champion in 2012; Leslie D. Vilda, named “Ambassador of the Santa Fe Trail” in 1987; Jan Pope, who portrayed Sarah Keyes, the first of the infamous Donner-Reed party to die—and at Alcove Spring, no less; Steve McPhail as Johnny Appleseed; George and Diane Bernheimer as the Reverend Thomas and Sarah Johnson, for whom Johnson County was named; Dr. Joyce Thierer, who portrayed “Grower,” a woman of the Earth Lodge People; and Kitty Frank as Kittie Hays Houghton, adopted daughter of frontiersman Seth Millington Hays of Council Grove.

Building on the success of the first event, organizers are now planning another performance on Sunday, Sept. 4. Once again, the Topeka Symphony Orchestra will perform under the direction of Pickett, with other entertainers performing throughout the day. This year’s theme will be “Symphony of the Land,” with emphasis on the Native American influence and connection to the area. Tickets go on sale Thursday, April 28, and can be purchased online at www.ooot.org or at the Marshall County Travel and Tourism office, 101 N. 10th St. Marysville.

Approximately 2,000 tickets will be available for purchase on a first-come, firstserved basis, and are expected to sell out fast. All ticket sales are final.

Pickett said he is looking forward to a return engagement. “It’s important to me to take the orchestra out of the hall from time to time,” he said. “That’s partly because as a youngster my introduction to concerts frequently happened outdoors.” He recalled hearing orchestral pieces during 4th of July celebrations, and in particular the time he heard the Boston Symphony perform at Tanglewood. “Sitting out there on the lawn and hearing the great music come over you was an unparalleled experience,” he said. “No matter how great the greatest concert hall is, when you’re sitting out there in nature hearing those sounds, it’s a very powerful experience. and Alcove Spring is a perfect place for it.”

Orchestra on the Oregon Trail is sponsored in part by the Marshall County Arts Cooperative and the Alcove Spring Trust. For more information, visit www.ooot.org or call 785-562-3101.

t i s i v

MARYSVILLE

Back From The Brink

HISTORICAL VALUE WHEN THE DEPOT WAS DEBUTED IN 1929, IT WAS CLEARLY SOMETHING SPECIAL. DESIGNED

BY GILBERT STANLEY UNDERWOOD, THE GIFTED ARCHITECT RESPONSIBLE FOR OMAHA’S UNION STATION.

A local group is working hard to preserve Marysville’s historic Union Pacific Railroad Depot.

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by TOM PARKER

Big Blue River Days

Downtown Marysville

A Very “Merry-sville” Christmas Koester House Museum

Orchestra on the Oregon Trail Alcove Spring Historic Park

June 3-5, 2016 Lee Dam Center for Fine Art 201 S 9th • Marysville

Sept. 4, 2016

Marshall County Visitors Center 101 North 10th Street, Marysville 785-562-3101

visitmarysvilleks.org

CVisit Marysville

When Mandy Habig and Trent Becker toured Marysville’s Union Pacific Depot not long ago they were looking for a suitable place to hold a wedding. Habig wanted something different than the usual local venues, and the depot—recently purchased by the Marysville Union Pacific Depot Preservation Society—fit the bill.

“I wanted something rustic, something unique,” Habig said.

Rustic it certainly was. The interior of the depot looked gutted, its lighting fixtures long gone, paint peeling from the walls and the black-and-ivory floor tiles scuffed and faded. Voices echoed endlessly in empty, shadowed recesses and down long corridors branching off the main chamber.

“It’s perfect!” Habig said.

The wedding, scheduled for May, marks the beginning of a new era for the depot. Not only is it the first wedding in the building’s history, it also marks the first public event to be held inside the depot since being spared the wrecking ball in early 2015.

When the depot was debuted in 1929, it was clearly something special. Designed by Gilbert Stanley Underwood, the gifted architect responsible for Omaha’s Union Station and a handful of historic lodges, including Old Faithful Lodge in Yellowstone National Park, Bryce Canyon Lodge and Grand Canyon Lodge, the depot’s Mediterranean-themed construction set it firmly apart from local architectural styles. With its tall arched windows, terra-cotta tiles, gargoyle faces and colorful medallions, it was a work of unparalleled originality and beauty, and marked the beginning of a period of prosperity for both the railroad and Marshall County.

The fortunes of the depot rose and fell with the times.

For decades it was a bustling hub of passenger travel and commerce, but the demise of passenger service in the 1960s signaled the beginning of the end. Union Pacific employees continued to use the depot until 2009 when a new yard office and rail bypass were built to the north. After sitting empty for years, the railroad announced in 2013 that it would demolish

MARSHALL county >> the depot and sell off the land surrounding it. The news galvanized community members to action.

After an initial core group was unable to raise enough funds to secure its purchase, a new group organized to carry the effort forward. The Marysville Union Pacific Depot Preservation Society, a nonprofit formed in early 2013 and whose membership includes city officials, rail history buffs, current and retired railroaders and local history enthusiasts, worked with the city of Marysville to secure its purchase. After two years of negotiations, Union Pacific sold the entire property (including the depot, adjacent parking, former rail bed to the west, and overflow parking lot to the east) to the city, which then sold the depot along with land to the north and south to the preservation society in February 2015.

Renovation work began immediately. Walls and drop ceilings that were not part of the original floor plan were removed and the lobby was returned to its original grand space. A full asbestos remediation and lead paint encapsulation project was completed.

Work on the interior is now taking place. The preservation society’s goal is to restore and preserve the depot while creating a unique and versatile public space, contributing educational programs, and offering a destination point as the southern trail head for the Blue River Rail Trail, a hiking and biking trail that follows the former U.P. railbed. The trail is linked to the Quad State Trail System and would eventually connect Marysville to Iowa.

Though the remodeling of the interior of the building is far from complete, society members were delighted when inquiries started to come in for potential weddings, engagement photo sessions, graduation parties and other community events.

“I was ecstatic, and honestly a bit shocked, when the couple inquired about having a wedding in the depot in its current condition,” Rachel Frye, president of the preservation society, said. “The mother of the bride stated that the depot represents what lies ahead—love, dedication and promise, looking at the past to appreciate the future.”

“We thought it would be special to celebrate our big day with friends and family in a venue that is equally special to our community,” Habig said. “The depot holds a lot of history and memories, mostly old, to Marysville and even the Habig side of the family. We now get to be a part of making new memories in the depot and hope others do, too.”

Habig and Becker intend to personalize their wedding with railroad paraphernalia. They recently purchased her grandfather’s house where they discovered six goblet glasses etched with the Union Pacific Railroad emblem.

“I don’t think it’s a simple coincidence,” Habig said. “We’ll use them for our toast.”

For more information on the depot preservation project, call 785-579-9179 or e-mail marysvilledepot@gmail.com.

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east to west

Washington

Photos by Tom Parker

In 2010, the Keystone-Cushing Pipeline (Phase II) was constructed north to south through Washington County, with much controversy over tax exemption and environmental concerns.

A Wonderful World Of Pie MarCon Pies was established more than 25 years ago as a cottage industry by Marilyn Hanshaw and Connie Allen. Initially, they baked delicious homemade in their own kitchens for their catering business and for auction lunch stands. Increased requests for their pies soon evolved into a local pie delivery route. The name they chose for their fledgling business was “MarCon”, a combination of part of their first names. The pies’ popularity and the resulting increased orders soon found their homes filled with wall-to-wall pies. This eventually forced them to purchase a separate building that became the start and site of the present factory.

by GLORIA MOORE MARCON PIES / DOGS CHANGING LIVES p. 35

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oday, MarCon Pies sells more than 90 varieties of pies and cheesecakes to supermarkets, restaurants and to customers in its retail shop at the factory.

Interest in using MarCon pies for organizational fundraisers continues to flourish. Schools, clubs and churches have found this to be a profitable way to raise needed funds.

We proudly feel that MarCon pies are the closest to homemade that can be found in a commercial product Don Walsh, current owner.

The making of the pies from start to finish was always a total hands-on process until more recent years. The top and bottom crusts are now formed with the aid of presses. However, the balance of the pie assembly is still done entirely by hand. On an average, about 500 pies are processed per day for the normal four-day baking week. Holidays, however, do increase those numbers substantially. For instance, at Thanksgiving, the average is more than 1,000 pies per day while working a seven-day week. More than 100,000 pies are baked yearly.

In 2009 MarCon was honored to be selected, by popular vote, as one of the 8 Wonders of Kansas Commerce a project of the Kansas Sampler Foundation. MarCon Pies is located in Washington County, which is the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Pie Capital of Kansasâ&#x20AC;?; at 124 West 8th St., Washington, Kansas and open 8 am to 5 pm Monday through Fridays. Tours are welcome by appointment Mon. - Thurs. Phone 785-325-2439.

WASHINGTON COUNTY TRAVEL & TOURISM Gloria J. Moore, Director Courthouse, Washington KS 66968 Cell # 785-747-8757 E-mail: ecdevo@bluevalley.net

MARCON PIES

Fresh Homemade Pies Baked Daily Monday thru Friday

Visitors are Welcome

124 W 8th Street Washington, Kansas 66968 Www.marconpies.com

785-325-2439

WASHINGTON COUNTY

Changing Lives One Dog At A Time During the past 25 years, KSDS Assistance Dogs has placed over 500 teams of graduates and trained dogs in 32 states.

by GLORIA MOORE

K

SDS Assistance Dogs, Inc. in Washington Kansas was founded in 1990 to provide professionally trained Guide, Service and Facility dogs for people in need of a canine partner to enhance their independence. KSDS has been a very active and successful business for the past 25 years. During that time they have placed over 500 teams (graduate/trained dog) in 32 states. Each trained dog is valued at $25,000 and they are given away at no cost to graduates. The success of the organization has been enhanced by the volunteer puppy raisers as well as a network of other volunteers that have contributed countless hours of labor and dollars on behalf of the organization.

KSDS is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, that operates entirely on donations, grants and bequests. No tax dollars are used to support the programs. The breeding program includes black and yellow labradors and golden retrievers. KSDS has been a member of Assistance Dogs International (ADI) since 2003. ADI is a coalition of not for profit assistance dog organizations. The purpose of ADI is to improve the areas of training, placement and utilization of assistance dogs, staff and volunteer education, as well as educating the public about assistance dogs, and advocating for the legal rights of people with disabilities partnered with assistance dogs. ADI has a comprehensive accreditation system and members have to be regularly evaluated to ensure they meet the minimum standard and ethics for training.

Puppies are born and spend their first two weeks in the whelping room at the canine housing unit. They are then brought to the public kennel area in the CHU where they continue to receive loving attention by the staff. During the next six weeks they will undergo a series of health and care checks. At five weeks the litter is named. At four weeks they begin socializing with volunteers to prepare them for their next step in life. At eight weeks puppies go home with volunteer puppy raisers where they will learn basic obedience and some intermediate skills until they return to KSDS at about 18-20 months of age. On their return, they will be taken to the Kansas State Vet hospital for OFAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s (bone and joint) and eye testing. Upon passing they are evaluated for placement and training to be Guide Dogs, Service Dogs or Facility Dogs. The dogs are then selectively matched for temperament and physical attributes with people who need the specially trained canines.

In order to graduate from the program the team must train together at KSDS for one to three weeks. After graduation, KSDS staff provides on-going support to all teams who have graduated. Important services that are provided as part of the KSDS program includes an ongoing educational and demonstration program or tours that are available to the public. With every graduating team, the KSDS Family continues to grow.

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KSDS Assistance Dogs, Inc. 120 W. 7th St (785) 325-2256 Changing Lives One Dog a Time!

Washington, KS 66968 Faxat(785) 325-2258 To promote the independence and inclusion www.ksds.org of people with disabilities.

(785)325-2256 120 W. 7th St. Washington, KS 66968

www.ksds.org

east to west

Republic

Photo provided by Annie Boyer; Boyer Museum

Republic County was first settled around 1860. The territory was principally inhabited by Pawnees, Iowas, and Otoes who greeted the incoming settlers - mostly farmers - peaceably.

Boyer Museum Of Animated Carvings Paul Boyer was born in 1930, in Aurora, Kansas. He has been carving for over 60 years. Paul has no formal training in art or engineering, in fact he only has a 4th grade education, he claims a 8th grade education, but then says he spent the last four years of that hiding in the creek. Paul has a great imagination and a wonderful sense of humor. When he comes up with a new idea for a carving or motion machine, he thinks of it as a new challenge and canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t wait to get started on it. Paul doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t make blueprints, he says if he can see it in his head he can build it in front of him. The museum houses one of his first carvings; made when he was just 12 years old. by daughter ANNIE BOYE the BOYER MUSEUM

REPUBLIC county of it and broke it, Paul then threw it in the trash, and unbeknownst to him, his wife, Cecilia, dug it out of the trash and hid it away thinking she would give it to him some day when he retired. That day came sooner than they s repair, and the rest is history. Paul’s masterpiece is his Wind Calliope. When he was just a boy, and the family would go to the fair, all of the other kids in the family would go spend time on the rides and games and Paul would rush off to see the wind calliope. He was always intrigued by it and said that one day he would build one. In 1976 his wind calliope dream became a reality.

It took Paul about one year to build his calliope, but the result is a beautiful musical machine, built out of cedar, that plays 2 songs, “Chariots of Fire” and “Mockingbird Hill.” His wife, Cecilia, an accomplished pianist, worked with Paul to tune the calliope. It is the only piece of Paul’s work that they both worked on, what a treasure! We now have a wonderful collection of Paul’s work to treasure forever. How fortunate we all are that Paul wants to share his work with all of us.

Thank you, Dad, for making us all smile!! We love you!!

P

Paul got his inspiration from his Dad who loved to build things. When Paul was about 5 years old, he watched his Dad make 2 eight foot propeller blades for a wind generator. Paul can remember being hit in the head with the wood shavings as his Dad worked to carve them. That was the beginning of Paul’s interest in carving. Paul and his siblings were all encouraged to build things.

They are all very talented and can build just about anything.

In 1965, when Paul was 35, he was in a bad accident and lost his leg, then contracted Hepatitis C through a blood transfusion. He was only given about 5 years to live. Paul was never able to go back to work and that is how he had the time to build all of his wonderful creations. He has defied the doctors’ prognosis and he will be 77 this year, (2007). Because of many other health problems, Paul cannot spend as much time in his workshop as he would like to. He has a lot of carving to catch up on and only wishes to feel good enough to work in his shop for a couple of hours a day. On days when Paul feels well enough, he enjoys coming to the museum to do tune ups on his carvings or just visit with our guests. Paul’s wish is to keep his collection together where people can see it and enjoy it.

Most of his collection that we have in the museum today is from 1975 to the present day. We moved here from Michigan in 1975 and Paul gave away most of his work to family and friends so that it would not get broken in the move. The oldest carving that we have on display is from about 1942, when Paul was only 12 years old. After Paul built it, his mother had put it away for safe keeping and when he got out of the service, Paul is a Korean War veteran; his mother gave it to him. When Paul’s oldest son was just a tot, he got a hold

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HOW PAUL BOYER CREATES Paul comes up with an idea, sometimes he literally dreams them up in his sleep, sometimes they just come from his unique imagination, or he sees an interesting machine and decides it would be a challenge to build it. Never using a blue print, Paul says if he can see it in his head, he can build it in front of him. Now, with the plans for his next creation in his head, the project begins He hand carves the figures for his animated carvings. For his people figures he uses sugar pine. Each piece of wood being carefully picked out, it must have the right grain and weight, or it may not work for a particular project.

Sugar pine is very hard to find locally and Paul cannot go shopping for it, so whenever he does manage to acquire some it is like finding a great treasure for himself. For some of his machinery replicas he uses maple or walnut, and for barrels, jugs and wooden pulleys he uses cedar. That wood is usually given to him by a family member or a friend after they have cut down a tree they no longer wanted.

After he carves and paints the figures he assembles the cases and decides what kind of motor to use, usually timer motors like the ones used in washers and dryers. Next comes sorting through his collection of gears to find just the right ones to use for his creation. Paul has collected gears for many years. People have been known just to leave small boxes of clocks or broken watches on Paul’s doorstep just in case he can use the gears from them. Then comes the very intricate task of figuring out the wire mechanisms he has to individually shape and bend to connect the figurines to the motors to make it all run. Some of the wire Paul uses some in big rolls, so he has to stretch the wire piece by piece before he can begin to bend and shape it into the mechanisms he needs.

After a project is finished, he always looks forward to starting a new one.

Because of his health issues he does not get to spend as much time in his workshop as he would like to, but he usually considers it a good day if he can spend even just a little bit of time in his shop doing what he loves most…. creating.

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39 UShwy36.com

PK

Collections

Antiques Collectibles Primitives Furniture Paul Kallman, Owner US 36 & K Street Belleville, KS 66935 (785) – 955 – 0985

Jane Ann Carlgren, Owner

Open by Chance or Appointment OPEN EVERY DAY for TREASURE HUNT 3rd week in September

east to west

Jewell

Imagery provided by Emma Menhusen

Jewell County was named for Lieutenant Colonel Lewis R. Jewell of the 6th Regiment Kansas Volunteer Cavalry.

Friends Of Mankato Car Show A small town Saturday night used to mean cruising down Main Street in your hotrod without a care in the world, and that spirit lives on in Mankato, Kansas. Not only can you find an old parts car behind most barns, but there is most likely a shiny, pretty antique car inside as well. To celebrate Mankato’s love of cars, the Friends of Mankato City Park hosted the 1st Annual Car Show on September 10th, 2015.

The show was a huge success, being attended by 62 exhibitors. The collection of rat rods, hotrods, and antiques sat in the shade for display while exhibitors, visitors, and vendors enjoyed the afternoon of nostalgia.

This year’s car show will be on October 1, 2016. The Friends of Mankato City Parks would like to invite you to the show! Follow Friends of Mankato City Parks on Facebook to stay up-to-date on the car show.

by EMMA MENHUSEN the CAR SHOW / KEN’S BODY WORKS p. 42

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Ken’s Body Works

Putting the finishing touches on countless pieces of automotive history, this body shop is keeping it all in the family.

by EMMA MENHUSEN Back in 1970, when Simon & Garfunkel were on the radio, Kenny Walker was just starting high school in Mankato, KS. Kenny wasn’t very interested in sports or working on his parents farm, so he got a part-time job working at Ron’s Body Shop. From there, Kenny’s interest in cars grew under the influence of hotrod owners like Ron Stouffer and movies like American Graffiti, and soon Kenny was picking up chicks in his way cool 1955 Chevy.

Kenny was hooked on cars. Flash forward 45 years later, and Kenny is owner and operator of his own body shop. Kenny bought the business from Ron is 1979, and expanded after a fire in 1987. Today, Ken’s Body Works mostly handles insurance claims and collisions, but there’s no question that they aren’t a run of mill auto body collision repair shop.

Over the years, Ken’s Body Works has put the finishing touches on countless muscle cars, and there’s usually some piece of history sitting in their shop. From Chevelles and Camaros, to crop-dusting airplanes and fire trucks, this small business does it all.

Running a business often means taking your kids to work, and that’s exactly what Kenny did. Kenny’s two sons, Steven and Dakota, grew up running around the shop, tearing apart RC cars, and learning from their dad’s work ethic; therefore, the love of cars was handed down. Steven, 26, is working for the family business. He’s eager to help solve problems for customers and greets everyone with a big, genuine smile. Steven went to college for auto body in Salina, KS, left to travel the country, and came back to Jewell County.

Steven’s choice of sweet ride is a 1972 Chevy Blazer he restored himself.

Dakota, 22, is the perfect example of how the entrepreneurial apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Dakota opened his own business in Mankato, Walker Automotive, in January of 2015. Ken’s Body Works and Walker Automotive work hand-in-hand to fix any problems a vehicle may have after a collision.

You can usually find Dakota running to Mankato Auto Parts in his signature, yellow 1972 Volkswagen Beetle.

Although Travis isn’t biologically part of the Walker family, Travis is family.

Travis Koester has been with Ken’s Body Works for 20+ years and does unbelievable work. If you ever drive by at night and the light is on in the garage, you can bet Travis inside working on one of his many projects. His latest beauty, a 1969 Jeep Commando, won People’s Choice Award at the 1st Annual Friends of Mankato City Park Car Show.

The 1970’s seem like a time long, long time ago, but that time is still alive in Mankato. Next time you cruise down 36, past Ken’s Body Works, stop in to tell the guys hi!

Steaks on Fri. & Sat. Night Hunt Bros. Pizza

11 am – 9 pm Tues – Sat. 11 am – 8 pm Sunday Closed on Monday

119 East Jefferson Mankato, KS 66956 (785) 378 - 3201

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east to west

Smith

Photo provided by Smith Center EDC

Dr. Brewster Higley wrote the song “Home on the Range” in 1871 in a cabin 8 miles north of Athol. It later became the Kansas State song.

Center Of It All In 1918 a pin point and uniform weight cardboard was the method used by the coast and geodetic department to locate the center of the 48. Blue print copies in the collection ‘Lebanon Kansas, The Town In The Middle The Geographical Center of the Untied States’ by Mrs., R.R. Wilson indicated date of 1940 give the latitude 39 degrees 50’ and longitude 98 degrees 35’of the Center, signed by an engineer from Paulette and Wilson and the Smith County Engineer at the time. According to Mrs. Wilson “ No work had been done to develop the United States Center until the years 1937 to 1940” At that time in history Lebanon was beginning to grow, around 720 people resided in Lebanon and there were those that believed the Center could be made into a travel stop. These community members organized a club, headed by town officials and community club members. This forward thinking group was to be known as “The U.S. HUB Club”

by DENISE MARCUM the CENTER OF THE U.S. / the M&M SISTERS p. 46

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The

M & M Sisters: They

Really DO Exist!

T

The group’s marketing of The Center proved to be right in bringing inter-

ested parties to Lebanon, all in the name of being in the center of it all. In June of 1941 ceremonies were held in the dedication of two historical markers. This in of itself drew a crowd of about 2000 people per Mrs. R.R. Wilson’s account.

One marker was placed north of Lebanon and dubbed “Geographical Center of the United States” (at that time there were only 48 states). The second marker went on highway 36 southwest of town so all the motorists would be aware of their closeness to the center of the nation. That day Lebanon was honored to the Kansas Supreme Court Justice Hugo T Wedell as he spoke at the Highway 36 marker, ironically Justice Wedell was once a Smith Center baseball pitcher known as “Dutch” Wedell. His pitch was just as strong now

The rural farming community of Smith Center, Kansas, is “home” to these two out of the ordinary, quirky characters. Local residents know them as Merry (Kingsbury) VanderGiesen and Manda Lyn (Kingsbury) Wanner. However, anyone who has seen one of their comedy shows, knows them as Mini Pearl and her ever so bubbly, (and a bit dimwitted) cousin, Urlean Kept-a-heffer. Just like their favorite candy, this outrageous, off the cuff, funny comic/singing duo comes in two very different packages. Plain and Peanut.

by MDM ENTERTAINMENT STAFF

for the historical marker as it was years ago for his team.

A parade of cars then headed to the site of the other said marker two and one half miles Northwest of Lebanon. This marker was presented by Leslie Edmonds, public relations representative of the State Highway Department.

Mr. Edmonds noted that the monument at the center was the thirty-first historical marker to be dedicated that year. He felt that it had potential to attract thousands of tourists. Today it is estimated that travelers and tourists visit the Geographical Center of the 48 States.

Over the next few years the HUB club and community members held many events to draw people to the center. One of the main formations to draw attention to the center was the opening of the Exact U.S. Center Motel. Mr. Lee Johnson from North Carolina once wanted to stay at the center, but found no

We have all heard the phrase “Laughter is the best medicine” and after seeing these two sisters in action, you will understand why this is the motto they promote at each of their performances and throughout their everyday lives.

Merry and Manda Lyn have been performing together as the M & M Sisters since 2006. Tragedy struck their family in 2005 with the death of their only brother, David. He had told them just days before he was called home, they, the sisters, would embark on a great journey. Nothing could have prepared them for what was about to take place. Their performances have impacted thousands and the M & M Sisters have now become a household name.

place to put his head and thus purchased land and began the modern 1955 eight unit air conditioned motel, that also boosted a cafe lounge and television

Manda Lyn is no stranger to performing in front of audiences.

and souvenir shop.

Lebanon, town and monument have had a great many ebb and flow moments from that early pin point dedication. The town is still proud of the Center, and while maybe not as vivacious as in its Hay Day, the celebration of the monuments is on going. Most recently a nation wide event of #Rokerathon was held at the monument with Al Roker, weather man for the weather channel and Today Show forecasting the weather from the center. Many visitors from all over still stop to say hello and write a note in the Chapel which are published in the local newspaper. Often is held a picnic, a birthday celebration or even a wedding; after all who doesn’t want to be in the Center!

HOSS’S ANTIQUES Highway 281 & Grove Street (South of Cenex Station) Lebanon, Kansas Tel: (785) 389-1661

By Appointment - or - By Chance hossantiques@ruraltel.net

Hoss or Pat Davie 46

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She began her career in the family’s living room at the age of four. She would dress up in old clothes and perform snippets of songs from the Grand Ole Opry show.

Being the youngest of five children, she grew up with many genres of music. Merry was also no stranger to the stage. In high school, she joined the Drama team and her acting ability was remarkable. She could bring each character to life as if she plucked them from the page of the script and stepped into their body. It would be years later that the talents of these sisters would join together and form one of the most sought after comic/singing acts in North Central Kansas.

In 2006, the sisters were performing with a local group, The 6 Pack. After the show one evening, the ladies were asked if they would like to travel to Garden City, Kansas and represent Smith County at the Kansas Sampler Festival. Neither of them had ever heard of this festival, let alone performed as just a duo. Yet, they love to promote their home town of Smith Center and graciously accepted the challenge. As the event grew closer, nerves took over. They made the decision to dress in costumes and maybe by becoming someone else, the nervousness would subside. Just days before the festival, they decided to give the costume idea a trial run. Merry burst

through Manda Lyn’s front door and greeted her with a “Howdy”! “The real Mini Pearl would have been proud”, Manda exclaimed while trying to hold back the laughter. Merry stated, “Manda Lyn flung her bedroom door open and emerged wearing what appeared to be an outfit from her junk trunk with the most hideous wig you have ever seen. In a southern accent, she proudly announced herself as Urlean Kept-a-heffer. We laughed and cried at the same time.” They gave four fantastic performances at the festival and handed out over 50 business cards. The great journey had begun!

events, youth group rallies, high school activities, ESGR banquet, State County Appraisers banquet and charity benefits.

There are many more events not listed. Four years ago, they were asked to join forces with the All American Beef Battalion from Ashland, Kansas. This group of volunteers feeds steaks to our troops and their families all across the USA. The M & M Sisters have performed on several of our Nation’s military bases and have shook hands with 1000’s of our active and retired service men and women. They also had the privilege of helping the AABB at the George W. Bush Wounded Warrior Golf tournament.

It has been almost ten years since the M & M Sisters were brought to life. After the first year, they found it difficult, while doing a performance, to run all their equipment and keep the flow of the show going. It was in 2007, they brought another family member into their group.

Nancy DeWester, the oldest of the 5 siblings, joined the ranks and operates all of the technical equipment. They have entertained audiences of all ages across our great state of Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri, Texas, Colorado and Nevada. To date, these funny ladies have performed over 500 shows for various events such as Chamber of Commerce banquets, Christmas parties, family reunions, church

One would think this is their full time job.

That is not the case. For the last 33 years, Merry has owned and operated the famous Jiffy Burger in Smith Center and Manda Lyn works in the Customer Service Department at Osborne Industries. Neither of them knows how long this great journey will last.

As they humbly stated in a recent radio interview, “We believe the purpose of our journey is to bring a little laughter and happiness to as many people as possible in the short time we are here on this earth. If we can make just one person laugh during a performance, we have accomplished our mission. After all, Laughter is the best medicine!”

47 UShwy36.com

NEARLY 50 WI-FI HOTSPOTS ALONG HWY 36!

Visit www.nex-tech.com to find a listing.

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east to west

Phillips

Photo by Terri Holbrook

Following amendment to the Kansas Constitution in 1986, the county remained a prohibition, or “dry”, county until 1996, when voters approved the sale of alcoholic liquor.

Fibers ranging from alpaca, llama, angora, cashmere and yak are processed to create remarkable yarns from the most exceptional of natural fibers.

The Shepherd’s Mill The discovery of dreams and passions intricately interwoven with their rich family heritage served to inspire Phillips County natives and entrepreneurs, Jay and Sally Brandon. The Brandons own and operate the nation’s most versatile fiber processing facility and retail shop, The Shepherd’s Mill.

A treasure nestled in Phillipsburg’s downtown area, The Shepherd’s Mill has operated, for over a decade; processing an estimated ten thousand yards of yarn per year for customers across the United States. Fibers ranging from alpaca, llama, angora, cashmere and yak are processed to create remarkable yarns from the most exceptional of natural fibers.

by TERRI HOLBROOK SHEPHERD’S MILL / A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE p. 46

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I

In 1988, the opportunity arose for a young Sally Hopson to participate in an International Foreign Youth Exchange (IFYE) through the 4-H program. Yet, God had a greater design in store other than the plan Sally had envisioned. She was placed in Finland where she would learn the Scandinavian handcrafts such as weaving and bobbin lace at the community weaving houses.

Weaving became her passion and ultimately her life’s work. Then, Sally made an uncanny discovery. She learned of the existence of a cloth woven by her ancestors in the mid 1800’s. This cloth, the representational tie between her family’s history, the present and future, was an exquisite reminder of the faith on which Sally’s dream, The Shepherd’s Mill began and the design God had for her life.

Photos by Terri Holbrook

PHILLIPS county

This cloth exists as the representational tie between her family’s history, the present and future. Spun and woven by Sally Brandon’s great, great grandmothers, the cloth is a symbolic foreshadowing of what was to come.

felting and retail packaging and labeling. Classes are offered, either scheduled or on demand, with instruction in bobbin lace, silk painting, nuno felting, weaving and fabric creation.

Yet again, the Brandons have recently taken another step out on faith launching UDesignItYarns.com. Contemplating their future in the fiber market, UDesignItYarns.com offers the opportunity for individuals to obtain services only previously available to animal fiber producers.

Individuals can now select their preference in fibers, colors, spinning options and design their own yarn.

As a result of the dreams and aspirations of a young woman, decades past, and the plan the Lord had for her life, Phillipsburg, Kansas has indeed become the fiber mecca of the Kansas High Plains.

The cloth was woven as a wedding gift for her Great-Great Grandparents Cornelius Drake Hopson and Active Norton Avery.

The mother of Active, Flora Byington Avery, and the mother of Cornelius Drake Hopson, Lucy Tuttle Hopson, spun and wove the cloth as a symbolic interweaving of the families’ heritage. “The cloth became a very tangible thing for me to understand that who I am now is tied to my past and this business was woven into my future long before I had any option,” stated Brandon.

Faith, heritage and family are the foundation for Sally’s life. And, those that work with her and her husband are much like a family as well.

Unique and strongly in individualistic, these artists come together to create some of the most extraordinary natural fiber creations available in today’s market.

The Shepherd’s Mill offers processing and services including washing, blending, fiber separating, carding services, drafted rovings, spinning, 50

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HISTORICAL VALUE Unique and strongly individualistic, these artists come together to create some of the most extraordinary natural fiber creations available in today’s market. From Left to Right are: Sarah Ross, Karen Runnion, Sally and Jay Brandon, Mindi Lamont, Valerie Marshall.

The Shepherd’s Mill offers classes, either scheduled or on demand, with instruction in bobbin lace, silk painting, nuno felting, weaving and fabric creation.

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THE SHEPHERD’S MILL HAS OPERATED FOR OVER A DECADE; PROCESSING AN ESTIMATED TEN THOUSAND YARDS OF YARN PER YEAR FOR CUSTOMERS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.

UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE HANNAH PEAK, PHILLIPSBURG HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT

Tiny Town Perks & Considerable City Advantages Laughter rings through the building and creates a warm, welcoming atmosphere. Not one person is left out as the community event unfolds throughout the lazy Saturday. Friendly smiles and familiar faces come to mind when small towns are spoken about. Despite the limited resources that come hand in hand with living in a rural area, the benefits of a close-knit community outweigh the inconveniences of a small town. Being familiar in a small community is important because it provides a supportive framework, security, community involvement, familiarity, and, most importantly, the opportunity of family and friends. However, an urban area provides more resources, career-orientated availabilities, and larger-scale opportunities.

Growing up in the tiny town of Kirwin, Kansas, I learned the names of all the folks around and the places in which they lived. As I grew to know and love the citizens of my small town, they began to love me back. Whether it was earning a part in the community theatre or asking for prayer about an upcoming challenge, I learned to trust who became known as my people. The never-ending support that stood behind me not only encouraged me to take risks, but they were there whether I succeeded or failed. A small community such as this creates a sense of security to those who live there by constantly proving its trust.

Because of the limited amount of people available for town events, I have received my fair share of opportunities to involve myself with the youth and elderly combined in Kirwin. In a larger city, I would not have had as many of these opportunities because of the number of other viable people available for them. The ability to become involved in a community is important because it helps develop a personâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leadership and social skills and gives him or her a wider range of experiences under his or her belt. Becoming involved and creating a positive image of oneself in a small town is much easier to do because of the familiarity of the area.

While trust and involvement are important factors to a small town, I believe that the best part of a rural area like Kirwin comes in the least expected form: it ranges from the familiar, over-bearing scent of my favorite elderly woman while she pulls me in for another hug to the midafternoon sprints to my neighbors house for that one last cup of sugar my cookie batter is missing.

The tie that keeps the place from the brink of insanity is love. In a small town, everyone becomes part of the family or a close friend; forging reliable relation-

ships like this are harder to come by in a big city.

Despite the benefits of a small town, it does have its downfalls for which larger places have the chances to make up. A big town provides a multitude of more resources for activities like grocery, birthday or Christmas shopping, wide-ranges of extracurricular activities, restaurant dinners, and hobbies. Having access to larger stores comes in handy for 4-H and school projects, family dinners, home renovations or even the occasional shopping splurge. Because I grew up in an isolated area, I see a trip to Wal-mart as an opportunity to stock up on good food and household items unavailable in my town. The easy access to a variety of resources is a huge benefit to larger towns.

To go along with the draw of resources, urban areas also have the availability to offer a larger span of career-orientated opportunities for teenagers and adults alike. Because of their wide range of jobs, big cities have more ways for people to further their education or interest in a specific career.

This benefits the community with strong leaders and more workers in that specific area of expertise, a chance that small towns rarely receive.

The population of a big town comes in handy for large-scale opportunities as well. With more people comes more talent, which results in more community events like elaborate arts-related performances. As somebody whose heart belongs to the beat, I love attending the occasional concert, theatrical show or orchestra performance. In a small community, it is harder to come by all the necessary talent it takes to perform a noteworthy masterpiece. Large towns can easily find all the participants to put on jaw-dropping performance and introduce members of the community to larger opportunities in the arts.

Even though dirt roads and fish fries might not be everybodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s idea of rustic charm, the comfort that a small town provides outweighs any downfall with which it comes. A rural area provides a supportive framework, security, community involvement, familiarity, and, most importantly, the opportunity of family and friends. The benefits of a big town, such as access to more resources, career-orientated availabilities, and larger-scale opportunities, might be tempting once in awhile, but as for me, I would not change any aspect of my Kirwin, Kansas, for any other option.

UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE JILIAN GIBSON, PHILLIPSBURG HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT

Big City vs. Small Town Although I was born while my family lived in a small town, we moved to a large city when I was three. I spent most of my life living in a large city. I feel this has given me a unique point of view on the subject of big city vs. small town.

Honestly, when my parents told me we were moving to such a small town, I did not want to move. I didn’t want to leave my friends, but I also didn’t want to leave my home and the familiar surroundings. When I visited this area, I was so frustrated and upset to think that I would be living in such a small town. My big city had many stores. I could get anything I needed at any time of the day or night. There were a lot of activities for teenagers, everything from bowling to miniature golf. When I wanted to relax I could go to a Starbucks or see a movie most any day or time.

Although I knew this move was something that I needed to choose to have a good attitude about, I was mourning the loss of my friends, my home, and my big city. It took time to get over my prejudice against small towns and mourning the loss of all that I had left behind. However, during this journey I began to see the charms and benefits of living in a small town.

Because of the size of my new, small town, everywhere I go I see familiar faces. In a big city I could go many places in one day and never see anyone I knew. While that can be nice on a day that I want to have some alone time, I thoroughly enjoy going to a local restaurant or store and seeing people that I know. As a result of people being so familiar with each other, it seems that people in small towns are generally friendlier. I really enjoy this aspect of a small town. When someone has a tragedy hit their family, like when my good friend passed away last year, the whole community rallies around them and

Logan

supports them. That was amazing for me to see. In a big city, I am sure some neighbors or other friends would bring a meal or two and try to reach out, but in a small town, an entire community reaches out and tries to help take care of you and your family.

One thing I noticed on my visits back to my previous large city was that the traffic can be horrible. However, in a small town there is very little, if any, traffic. It was great to learn to drive in a small town. I could take my time and not have to instantly battle traffic jams or highways. I love being able to get to my destination without so many other cars on the road. It saves me so much time.

The school I would have attended in my big city had 650 students in my class alone. While it is nice to have more class offerings and a wider variety of people to get to know in a big city, I am so glad that I live in a small town.

The student to teacher ratio is much better in a small town. Teachers know their students better and can help more individually as well as develop more personal relationships with their students. This has been one of my favorite advantages to living in a small town.

While students in big cities accomplish a lot of great things, they don’t get near the recognition in the community that students in a small town do.

Here, students’ accomplishments are regularly posted in the local paper as well as on the local cable channel. When a student or group of students accomplishes something, one again, the whole community rallies around them and supports them. I do miss the convenience that living in a big city affords.

However, I feel that the advantages of living in a small town outweigh the advantages of living in a big city. I am very glad that I have been able to experience the many joys of living in a small town.

Phillipsburg

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.net

First State Bank Home of the “They Also Ran” Gallery

Presidential Candidates Who Were Defeated...But Not Forgotten

— theyalsoran.com

east to west

Norton

Photos courtesy of First State Bank, Norton

The county was established in 1867 and named for Orloff Norton, captain of Company L, 15th Kansas Militia Infantry Regiment.

They Also Ran Gallery Located at 105 West Main Street in the First State Bank of Norton, They Also Ran Gallery consists of portraits of unsuccessful contenders for the office of President of the United States of America. Most candidates are from the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top two parties, Republican and Democrat. The gallery displays a portrait of each candidate with an accompanying record of statistics for that person. Also included is a short biography, a listing of which Presidential candidate they ran against and the year of the campaign and election.

by LEANN SHEARER THEY ALSO RAN GALLERY/ COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION p. 57

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W

illiam “Bill” Walter Rouse, a former owner and president of the bank, started the gallery in 1965. Mr. Rouse was an avid history buff and had just finished reading Irving Stone’s book, They Also Ran, about presidential candidates who lost. Stone’s book was especially appealing to Mr. Rouse because considerable attention was paid to Horace Greeley, the publisher of the New York Tribune. Greeley reportedly stopped in the Norton area in 1859 on his way to Denver, and spent the night at Station 15 of the Leavenworth Pike’s Peak Express Company Stagecoach Line.

Greeley, a Norton favorite, lost his bid for the presidency in 1872.

The walls of the gallery display many distinguished gentlemen. Some minor party candidates are present while others are missing but there is an entry for every election year. You will also see winners among the losers. For instance, Grover Cleveland is portrayed while he won an election, then lost, and then was re-elected again as President. John C. Fremont is another favorite candidate in the Norton gallery. He was the first person of European descent reported to have set foot in what is now Norton County, back in May of 1843. It was on one of his numerous expeditions with companion Kit Carson that he named our creek the “Prairie Dog”. In 1856, he was the first person to run on the GOP ticket, before Lincoln was elected as the first Republican President.

Curator of the museum is Lee Ann Shearer and she welcomes gallery visitors Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm or by appointment. Lee Ann shares vivid historical information on the tours.

In 2010, the Kansas Sampler Foundation, a prestigious tourism organization, selected the gallery as one of the top 216 places to visit in Kansas. In their guide book, “8 Wonders of Kansas” by Marci Penner, They Also Ran Gallery is listed on page 185.

Thanks to William Rouse, hundreds of visitors stop in Norton each year to view the gallery that features a one-of-a-kind view of history. His idea has been a treasure for Norton and First State Bank is proud to show the exhibit whenever possible. As the election approaches in November, Lee Ann will be anticipating the next inductee. Mark your calendars for Friday, January 20th, 2017 at 10:30 am as all are invited for the inaugural open house event to include the newest “Also Ran.”

205 S State St - Norton, KS 67654 - (785) 877-2501 56

Information/reservations:: 785-877-3341 theyalsoran@firstatebank.com DONATE AT USHWY36.COM www.theyalsoran.com 105 W. Main, Norton, Kansas

Top: Recent history remembers this space as the “K&S Center Café” but thorough transformation of this space is a thing of pure beauty. Now home to “Java,” Norton can boast proudly an upscale coffee shop that makes one feel as though they have stepped into a different zip code.

This historic atrium at the top of two of the three staircases, boasts three large skylights, six refurbished historic light fixtures that were discovered buried between four layers of dropped ceilings, and fully renovated windows, trim, baseboards and now-functioning transom windows. Adding modern amenities such as an energyefficient climate control system, LED lighting accents and an elevator have made this space viable and now six businesses have hung their shingle in these halls.

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Reviving The Heartbeat Of A Community

by MARY KAY WOODYARD

The late John Wooden, former UCLA basketball coach, once said, “It’s the little details that are vital. Little things make big things happen.” Coach Wooden might well have been describing the downtown preservation project of the Norton County Community Foundation (NCCF). Following the 2007 donation of a downtown building by Warren and Wanda Heaton, the Foundation hired renovation specialists to bring the building to life. Sandwiched between two other turn-of-the-century treasures, donated by Norman and Gloria Nelson, the three buildings are now lovingly known as the Heaton Building. Located in the Norton Downtown Historic District, which is on the National Historic Register, the Heaton Building is now structurally sound and in accordance with current code, yet remains true to its 1906 architecture.

The renovation of the Heaton Building and its cache resulted in salvaging many unique architectural gems. This included a nearly floor-to-ceiling wood detail; complete with scales of justice, pillars and an intricate wood screen, all which had been hidden behind a wall. With shared second floor space, each building still claims its own street level and basement areas. The basement is a history lesson of its own with a “rubble foundation, limestone, rock, all different sizes and shapes,” piled on top of one another. On the roof, 12’ x 8’ skylights were removed. Unable to be restored, new skylights were installed thus maintaining the feel of the second floor atrium. The original windows and doors were salvaged whenever possible and reinstalled close to their original location.

In its time, the building was home to doctors, lawyers and a variety of other offices. Evidence of some of these inhabitants may be found inscribed in the frosted glass of the doors. Kansas weather and time took a toll on the exterior of the historic building, requiring attention to the brick and decorative features. Three of the original metal cornices and one well-constructed replica were repositioned atop the front exterior joining the mixture of old and newly replicated corbels.

The Heaton Building is a historic asset to the community and also provides much needed office and retail space. Currently, over 90% of the available space is rented. In addition, areas are available for special events and a coffee shop will be open Monday through Friday from 7am -11am. The building is handicapped accessible with a large elevator and entrances on both sides.

Visitors are welcome to browse the Heaton Building during normal working hours. For special tours, contact NCCF Director Tara Vance at 785-874-5106 or tara@nortonccf.org.

True to Coach Wooden’s words, big things have resulted. Since 2007, fifteen downtown buildings have been renovated or undergone a facelift. The Heaton building filled 57 dump truck loads and took hours of dedicated work by faithful volunteers to sculpt this rich chapter of Norton history. The Norton County Community Foundation continues to be a driving force in the renovation of its Historic District. With this renovation, the group has displayed their dedication to the future while preserving Norton’s past.

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BERLIN O “Where friends meet on brick streets.”

Oberlin-Decatur EDC and Chamber of Commerce invite you to come play for a day or stay for a lifetime. Call today for more information.

58 www.oberlinks.com | 1.785.475.2901

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Photo courtesy of Anita Hirsch

east to west

Decatur

Photos provided by Warren Street

Oberlin was the site of the last Native American (specifically the Northern Cheyenne) Raid in Kansas

Eyewitness History Of A Settler’s Life William Daniel “Bill” Street spent his teenage and early adult years as a teamster, cavalryman, town developer, storekeeper, trapper, buffalo hunter, scout, and cowboy in the nine westernmost Kansas counties now joined by Highway 36. These counties were just being created and homesteaded when Bill Street first rode “out west” to explore them.

by WARREN STREET, GREAT GRANDSON OF W.D. STREET A SETTLER’S LIFE / FOLK ART REVIVAL p. 61 / MAIN STREET USA p. 63 / LAST INDIAN RAID MUSEUM p. 66

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DECATUR county

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On a Friday evening in mid-October, 1911, Bill Street collapsed at his home just southwest of Oberlin, Kansas. By Sunday afternoon, October 15, Bill died at age 60, the victim of a severe stroke. On Tuesday, his obituary appeared in the New York Times. It captured in a few lines his remarkable, but now largely forgotten, life on the Great Plains.

William Daniel “Bill” Street spent his teenage and early adult years as a teamster, cavalryman, town developer, storekeeper, trapper, buffalo hunter, scout, and cowboy in the nine westernmost Kansas counties now joined by Highway 36. These counties were just being created and homesteaded when Bill Street first rode “out west” to explore them.

Born in Ohio in 1851, Bill Street came to Kansas with his father and stepmother in 1861. He enlisted at age 17 in the Nineteenth Kansas Volunteer Cavalry and served in its 1868-1869 winter campaign under General Sheridan and General Custer. He returned home to Washington County but soon homesteaded near Jewell, Kansas, about 10 miles south of today’s Highway 36.

He was elected captain of Jewell’s “Buffalo Militia,” a citizen militia formed in May 1870. In 1871, he became the first settler in Gaylord, in Smith County, and he filed a homestead claim in 1872 in Decatur County near the present town of Oberlin. Highway 36 now runs less than two miles south of his claim.

For a few years, he ranged farther west as a trapper and buffalo hunter, his group of hunters mingling with Lakota bands in the westernmost Highway 36 counties. He was a cowboy in the last couple of years leading up to September 1878, when Rawlins and Decatur County homesteaders were killed in skirmishes during the Northern Cheyenne Exodus. He was a messenger and scout for the U.S. Army in its pursuit of the Cheyenne bands in 1878.

In later life, Bill Street was a newspaper publisher, farmer-rancher, and state legislator, serving twice as speaker of the Kansas House of Representatives.

He and his wife Louisa were the parents of seven children. For many years, he gave slideshow lectures in northwestern Kansas about pioneer life.

The sod house near Oberlin, where Street lived and raised all of his children

Oberlin Gateway Civic Center An Upscale, Contemporary Style that will be the perfect backdrop for your Wedding!

When he collapsed and died in 1911, Bill Street had been writing and editing a 500-page memoir about his life during the tumultuous decade of the 1870s, the last flourishing years of buffalo hunting, American Indian life on the open plains, and great cattle drives to Kansas railheads and the northern plains.

After his death, someone slipped a note reading “Here Will’s work ended” into his opened manuscript, closed it, and set it aside. Early efforts to publish the manuscript were unsuccessful and it became a family heirloom.

Recently, the manuscript has been revived, edited, faithful to the original wording, by Bill Street’s great-grandson, and published in 2015 by the University Press of Kansas under Bill’s original title, Twenty-Five Years among the Indians and Buffalo. This 580-page first-person account of free-ranging life on the plains is available from online bookstores and in Oberlin at the Decatur County Last Indian Raid Museum and the LandMark Inn.

Accommodating 1,000 Guests in the Arena!

We will work with you to meet your needs on that Special Day!

Serve your wedding group easily with a professional kitchen!

1 Morgan Drive, Oberlin, Kansas 60 Call 785-475-2400

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aN ARTISTIC eye KEM & ROD BRYAN

Folk Art Revival: Barn Quilts

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ack in the day, Barns generally were not painted, but were decorated with favorite folk art patterns. Painted on solid materials to be weatherproof, they were then displayed on Barn fronts, or sides, whichever offered greater visibility to people passing by. After virtually disappearing over time, these “Barn Quilts” started showing up again in the early 2000’s, becoming instantly beloved, and now organized into “Barn Quilt Trails”, with maps for the viewer to enjoy large Regional Collections.

In mid-2015, four Decatur County cultural enthusiasts launched a nonprofit creative effort, which after only nine months, has produced 150 pieces, distributed throughout the Community. Sizes range from 2 to 8-feet square, painted in vibrant colors, to effect a true Art Show for the viewer. Many of these rural art “Barn Quilts” are visible from the road; Some pieces are on barns, some on other buildings, some on posts and mail boxes, and others are being enjoyed inside homes. A local Veteran commissioned an American Flag with the slogan “Honor Our Troops” under the flag.

All Barn Art pieces featured on our self-driving tour are positioned to be viewed on public roads, or on public land. Please be mindful and respectful of your hosts’ private property they are sharing with you. More information and a list of Barn Art locations can be found on our Facebook page- Decatur County Barn Art Quilt Trail. For a map of barn quilt locations, call the Chamber of Commerce in Oberlin at (785) 475-2901.

Our County depicts a more settled, slower-paced life style, where people still smile, wave; Eager to stop and visit. A more genuine place, where women still get together, quilt, and create patterns with their fabrics, as the community of volunteers congregate to create pieces of Barn Art in a special space in our Business Entrepreneurial Building at 104 South Penn in Oberlin. Stop by and experience the process first hand! We are proud of our talents and accomplishments, and would be honored to share our results. Bring your cameras, and happy adventuring!

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Oberlin and Decatur County offer a world of great places for photographers, professionals and amateurs alike. There are old homesteads, windmills, historical buildings, wildlife, and those wonderful Kansas sunrises and sunsets.

Great memories wait with off the road adventures.

Oberlin is home to the region’s first Home-Owned Carnival during the first full week of August. Another of Oberlin’s annual events is the Up In Smoke BBQ Cook-off in conjunction with Red Rode Car Show held on the second Saturday of each September at Sappa Park. The Antique Engine and Thresher Show held at the fairgrounds is on the first Saturday of June.

Check in at one of the several motels to rest as you will need to stay overnight to have time to enjoy all that Oberlin and Decatur County has to offer.

Before

After

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Before

After

Established 1998 Vintage Restoration - Custom Builds & Performance Motorcycle Parts & Accessories Freedom of the Frontier (785) – 475 – 2275

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MAINSTREETU.S.A DECATUR COUNTY

DECATUR COUNTY

The nostalgic atmosphere and warmth is alive and well in Decatur County; come see for yourself!

by HALLEY ROBERSON

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ecatur County is a place where the idea of home isn’t just theoretical. It is a reality, where being a neighbor means something, and the definition of community is simply lived out every day. We hear a lot about Main Street USA in speeches, and we all have our own nostalgic image whenever we hear the phrase Main Street USA, but in Oberlin, the county seat of Decatur County, it is alive and well. The streets are still made of bricks from President Warren D. Harding’s initiatives in 1922. And these streets host the high school promenade, 4th of July, Memorial Day, and of course Veteran’s Day celebrations. If you are every looking for a picturesque patriotic location to spend one of these holidays you are welcome to join us.

Whatever your interests are, you will find in Decatur County. From great running and walking trails at Sappa Park, swimming in the new pool, golfing, antiquing, gourmet meals at the Landmark, touring the Last Indian Raid in Kansas Museum or attending events at the Bohemian Hall; an originally restored dance hall from the 1900s.

One of Decatur County’s proudest tourism attractions is the Decatur County fair the first full week of August. The carnival is 100% locally owned and operated by volunteers. There are open class events for all types of arts, crafts, photography, painting, woodworking, welding, vegetables, baked and canned goods and anything else one can make. We hope to see you there! A free fair tip, while we do have the best pork burgers in the state (it is official we voted), it is highly recommended to ride the swings BEFORE eating a pork burger! If rides are not your style then make sure to check out the demolition derby, you can enter this as well; if you are feeling brave and adventurous.

Family, fun, faith, fair and flags are all integral parts of Oberlin and Decatur County, come check us out!

“Big City Quality ..Small Town Values”

• Hot Breakfast Buffet • Wireless Internet • Onsite Convenience Store

Lisa Votapka, G. Mngr.

507 West Elm Oberlin, KS 67749 785-475-1100 www.staycobblestone.com 63 UShwy36.com

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THE DECATUR COUNTY LAST INDIAN RAID MUSEUM is located in beautiful downtown Oberlin, Kansas off Highways

36 & 83. The museum grounds feature 15 buildings and more than 100,000 pieces of Americana history. Experience History Up Close and Personal in our Authentic Original Historic Buildings. Each of the buildings is outfitted in period-appropriate furnishings and other items. Elsewhere on the grounds, you'll find a large collection of guns dating back to 1861 and tons of interesting historical items.

Plan to spend at least 2 hours or more exploring it all.

In the Indian Room learn of the Last Indian Raid in Kansas of 1878 as the video takes you out into the area southwest of Oberlin and the dismiss of 17 Decatur County settlers. Enjoy hundreds of Indian artifacts and arrowheads. If you have more interest in the raid maps and books are available for you to take a driving tour of the sites. In our Western Parlor learn of the Great Western Cattle Trail which is less well known than the Chisholm Trail but was longer in length and carried cattle for two years longer. The Great Western Cattle Trail saw over seven million cattle and horses pass over it.

On the grounds of the Museum you will step back in history to a sod house built on site in 1958, the Oberlin Depot built in 1888, a 1930’s Gas Station, a one room rural school, doctors office, land office, 1888 Church, a 1906 Bohemian Hall and many more. These restored historic structures were taken from nearby locations to be preserved and displayed at the museum.

The Alumni Room is one of our most popular and interesting sections. It contains pictures and memorabilia from the first graduation class of 1899 to the present. If for no other reason it established a timeline from hair styles to clothing and to show just how times have changed.

You will be taking a self-guided walking tour of the grounds so that you can spend as much time in sections that interests you the most.

At the front desk you will be given a map of the grounds with a short description of each building and section. There is a $5/person admission fee and you are given as much time as you like to look around, ask questions, and spend time back in history.

The museum houses the historical records for the county and for the city of Oberlin. We are the central location for history and genealogy and have a vast amount of information which we are in the process of digitizing.

Follow us on Facebook for updates, special activities, announcements, and our favorite part old time photos of Oberlin and Decatur County. We can be found there at Decatur County Last Indian Raid Museum.

Museum Hours for 2016: 10 a.m. – Noon & 1 – 4 p.m.

Tuesday – Friday … April 26th thru Oct 28th Saturday hours: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

May 27th thru Sept 3rd Museum Closes … Nov. 1st Contact Information: Sharleen Wurm: Director Phone: 785-475-2712 | Email: lirm@ruraltel.net

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OBERLIN… Kansas Where The Frontier Still Lives!           

Lodging and Camping Brick Streets l New Movie Theater Unique Shopping and Dining Historic Downtown and Homes Old West History and Cattle Trails Last Indian Raid Museum Gateway Convention Center Home Owned Carnival 300 acre Sappa Park New Swimming Pool l Bowling Alley Hunting l Barn Art Tours Oberlin Convention and Visitor Bureau 104 S. Penn Street 785-475-2901

Gateway Convention Center 785-475-2400

Last Indian Raid Museum 785-475-2712

THE STRONGEST NAME IN

POST & STEEL FRAME BUILDINGS. AGRICULTURAL COMMERCIAL RESIDENTIAL EQUESTRIAN

605 North 10th Atwood, KS 67730 | tf: 866.492.1978 | p: 785.626.9400

vapconstruction.com

205 Grant St. (aka: Atwood, KS

US 36)

(785) 626 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 9615

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east to west

Rawlins

Photos provided by Darci Shields

The county is part of the highly Republican Kansasâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 1st congressional district. In the last five Presidential elections the Democratic candidate has never received more than 21% of the countyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vote.

4th Of July Celebration Two communities join together for one common purpose- to celebrate the United States of America. In the northwest corner of the state, the towns of Bird City and McDonald come together in a two day family event.

by BRAD PORUBSKY CELEBRATING AMERICA / LOCAL FESTIVITIES p. 71

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Sunday, July 3rd - McDonald 3-8 pm Carnival games, Fire Truck and Train Rides, Full Concessions - McDonald Ball Field 4-8 pm All American Baseball Games 6-8 pm Karaoke and Local Talent 8:30 pm Daytime Fireworks Display - McDonald Ball Field 9 pm

Harvest Dance - McDonald Fire Barn

Monday, July 4th - Bird City 11 am

‘Dreams Come True Under Red White & Blue’ Parade - Downtown Bird City

11:30 am-1 pm Hot Dog Meal - Bird City Van Doren Park

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This year’s festivities begin on Sunday, July 3rd at the McDonald Ball Field. Carnival games, Karoke, free ice cream and pies, a full concession stand and baseball games will be followed by a day time fireworks display and a harvest dance.

On Monday, July 4th the activities will move 8 miles west to the town of Bird City.

A ‘Dreams Come True Under the Red White and Blue’ parade will travel through the streets of Bird City and conclude at the town’s beautiful Van Doran Park. An All- American hot dog meal, watermelon eating contest and free swimming will add to the family fun. All spectators and participants are invited to travel back downtown for a patriotic sing along in the American Legion Hall. The two day festivities will conclude in Bird City at the Thresher Grounds with a spectacular firework display set to music.

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12 pm

Watermelon Eating Contest: Youth and Adult Divisions - Bird City VanDoren Park

1-5 pm

Free Swimming - Bird City Swimming Pool

2-3 pm

Patriotic Sing-A-Long - Bird City American Legion Hall

3-7 pm

Free Time to Gather With Family and Friends

7-9:30 pm Evening Celebration - Bird City Thresher Grounds 9:50-10:30 pm Spectacular Fireworks Display set to Patriotic Music - Bird City Thresher Grounds DONATE AT USHWY36.COM

Atwood, Kansas is home to the annual Smokin’ on the Beaver—the Tri-State’s Original BBQ Festival. Held each year on the last weekend of September, Smokin’ on the Beaver brings together excellent food and entertainment, along with Atwood’s love for a great party.

Restaurant • Bar & More!

Your Hosts: Mike & Sandy Mulligan mulligansonmainks@gmail.com

503 Main • Atwood, KS • (785) 626 - 9470 Thursday – Saturday 3 – 10 pm

ATWOOD

Gearing Up For Local Fun Don’t miss these celebrations and good times with local friends and neighbors!

by WENDY HOLMDAHL In Atwood, the heart of Northwest Kansas, you’ll find a thriving community, which is home to several fun events, including the Annual Early Rod Run & Drag Races in May, and Off the BEATen Path—which delivers the best of Texas music to the Kansas Plains.

The event that brings Atwood to life each fall is the Smokin’ on the Beaver BBQ Festival, always the last weekend of September. The festival has quickly grown to be a favorite event in the Tri-State area! Highlights include live music on Friday night and throughout the day on Saturday, a fun Kid Zone with games and inflatables, and the chance for attendees to mingle with the barbecue teams. Taste-testing is highly encouraged!

The most popular part of the festival is the barbecue meal, prepared by the competitors. Categories include traditional meat entries – pork butt, beef brisket, and ribs – along with salsa, homebrew & wine, and barbecue sides. After the meal, teams receive awards, including the coveted Wood-Fired Grand Champion banner.

The event, which began in 2003, was the brainchild of Atwood entrepreneur Gary Worthy, owner of Sunflower Aero, who wanted to provide a fun, non-sanctioned contest for his friends who liked to barbecue. Since then, several Rawlins County businesses, including Vap Construction, SureFire Ag, and Herndon Insurance, have dedicated their resources to expand the event.

Attendance at the festival has numbered nearly 2000 attendees in recent years. People come from all over Kansas, Colorado & Nebraska, with approximately 50 barbecue teams coming from neighboring states. For more information about entering a barbecue team or simply attending the festival for an enjoyable weekend, check out our website at www.smokinonthebeaver.com. And of course, “Like” us on Facebook for frequent updates!

Atwood and its residents welcome everyone to our annual Smokin’ on the Beaver.

Hang out, meet new friends, and find out how much fun this small town can be!

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Steak Night Live National Music Wine Tasting Murder Mystery Dinners Special Events ••••  Women's Boutique     

•••• Crafts & Painting Classes Call for Schedule

Welcome To Rawlins County From rodeos to car shows, beautiful sunsets to stormy skies; take in the abundant beauty of northwestern Kansas.

Store Hours Mon-Fri 8 am-6 pm • Sat 9 am-4 pm All major Cards accepted

Best stocked gun shop from Denver to Kansas City 1000 firearms in stock Class 3 dealer Full-time gunsmith

Brands include: Glock, Springfield Armory, Ruger, Remington Savage, Browning, Bushmaster, Marlin, & Henry

Dealer for:       

Benelli Liberty Safes CRKT Knives Rock River Arms Hodgdon Powder Starline Brass

Jim Engel, Manager The Great Outdoors Gun Shop 102 Grant St Atwood, KS 67730 785-626-9100 Phone 785-626-9101 Fax

www.greatoutdoorsgunshop.com Follow us on Facebook!

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403 Grant St. • Atwood, Kansas • (785) 626 – 9656 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM – Monday > Saturday Drive-up window &

Convenience Shop Next Door!

Large Craft Beer Collection • Kansas Wines Import Beers • Cordials • Rums & Tequilas Best Scotch Selection in the Area

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FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK!

A community with some great history within...

Cheylin JH/High School 2016

Bird City Rural High School 1920

Business Incubator Building 2016

City Hall 2016

City Hall 1936 - WPA Building

Security State Bank Building 1929

July 28, 29 & 30, 2016

The Tri-State Antique Engine and Thresher Show grounds are located on the “Oldest Show Around!” east edge of Bird City on US Hwy 36 & Road 29. The annual three-day show always starts the last Thursday in July. Many operating steam tractors, steam 1954 engines, gas tractors and combines from the teens and twenties are paraded each day. An early day cook shack (on wheels), blacksmith shop, creamery, quilt shop, sod house, county school house and country church, all authentically equipped and furnished, are open to visitors during the show, as well as 18 additional buildings on the show grounds. One of the large buildings houses the Avenue of Lost Arts; well-furnished models of early day rooms and many collections of antiques and displays. Corn shelling, antique shingle mill, sawmill and buzz saw are demonstrated at scheduled times.

This project was started in 1953 by a group of farmers who gathered at their farmstead to “play with their restored steam engines.” It has steadily grown at the present site since 1974. There are currently 10 working steam engines, 200+ antique tractors, 150+ pedal toys and 800+ toy tractors.

Join us for three full days filled with activities and events; steam engine races, steam engine and tractor pulls, and more.

Find us online at www.threshershow.org or www.birdcity.com/upcoming-events.

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In 2011, Demonstrating threshing with a 1930 Binder.

east to west

Cheyenne

Photo by Allison Grice

Following amendment to the Kansas Constitution in 1986, the county remained a prohibition, or “dry”, county until 2000, when voters approved the sale of alcoholic liquor.

Cowgirl Creations Everyone, from Town Councils, to Economic Development Boards, to the Coffee Clubs that meet and discuss what’s needed in each Town and Village, agrees that one of the most desirable engines of growth and renewal is the young entrepreneur returning home and starting a business. St. Francis native Allison Grice has actually accomplished this, in her founding of “Cowgirl Creations”!

by ALLISON GRICE & DOC FRANKLIN COWGIRL CREATIONS / TOBE ZWEIGARDT p. 78 / MOTORCYCLE MUSEUM p. 79

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enovating a small Church building, whose congregation has moved on, has provided not only an inspiring, but a charming storefront as well, to display Allison’s original art and her professional photography. Looking around the store gives the immediate impression you have discovered a truly creative collection of offerings, chosen with the artist’s eye for style.

Original Barn Quilt Art, in portable sizes, and vibrant colors and patterns, captures your attention toward the west wall, which also holds beautiful displays of soaps and lotions to brighten the home, and pamper the owner. Entering the shop around Easter, you are greeted by an adorable large Bunny, seated in front of a very attractive seasonal gift tower, and surrounded left and right with Gift Baskets of colored eggs, and treats. Framed original photography beckons your eye toward the West Wall, while well-chosen Jewelry and wearables grace the East. Gift packaging and wrapping available at the counter.

Visitors, fortunate enough to see this artistic expression, will start to think in terms of having their Weddings, Anniversaries, and other Special Occasions captured by Allison’s camera eye. Happily, she does provide her photographic services to clients, as well as Graphic Design, which she will be happy to discuss.

Catch Allison at her Cowgirl Creations and Design shop at 220 East Webster St., St. Francis, Kansas 67756. Or telephone 785-332-2220. Business hours are Monday to Friday 10-6, Saturday 10-4.

 Angels  Bearington Baby Collection  Cards  Clothing & Accessories  Religious Gifts  Kansas Souvenirs  Melissa & Doug Toys Much…Much More!

• 212 West Washington • St. Francis, KS (785) 332 – 3300 Hours 10:00-5:30 Monday-Saturday

You've got to see it to believe it!

Friendliest Shopping Experience in the West!

Online Store @ www.donnasgiftpalace.com/store

FRONTIER ARMS COMPANY, LLC 116 E. Washington Street · St. Francis, KS 67756

frontierarmscompany.com · 785-332-3600 Open: Monday ~ Saturday 9:00a.m. To 6:00p.m. CST

Buy/Sell/Trade New & Used Firearms · Ammunition · Optics · Holsters · Targets Shooting/Hunting/Firearm Accessories · Reloading Products · Cleaning Supplies Gunsmithing Services · Internet Transfers · Consignment Sales · Hunting Licenses Tyler Howard

Brent C. Rogers

Owner

Manager

Facebook…. Santa Fe Labs says: …"Best damn steakhouse in NW Kansas….

Big Ed's Steakhouse – Bird City, KS….when you're in this area, you gotta stop in!

You won't be disappointed!!! I Promise!!

104 West Bressler Bird City, KS Monday - Saturday 5 – 10 PM (785) 734 – 2475 77 UShwy36.com

CHEYENNE county

Tobe Zweigardt

Meet the United States 36 Highway Association’s Oldest Member.

by HELEN DOBBS Tobe Zweygardt has spent his entire life in Cheyenne County where he has seen a lot of changes through the years, some of which he has been instrumental in making. One of the projects Tobe helped the community of St. Francis and Cheyenne County with was helping establish the fairgrounds where it is today. He served on the fair board from 1946 to 1956.

He was one of 10 men who signed a note to purchase the fairgrounds in 1946. That year, there was a fair held there and, he said, Jake Zweygardt had handdug a well so there was drinking water. They rented bleachers and a rough bunch of traveling carnival people came to town.

In 2007, Tobe was honored as the Cheyenne County Fair Marshal.Tobe helped build other projects, including the Cheyenne County Museum and the Peace Luthern Church.

Through the years, Tobe has been called the “county historian” because he knew the history, the creeks, Indian encampments, and farmsteads.

Most likely, he knows more about the Arikaree Breaks (Kansas Grand Canyon) than most people have forgotten.

Mr. Zweygardt has given people throughout the world the privilege of seeing his artistic talents.

He has built and established two historical sites along the highways in Cheyenne County and has helped locate other historical sites.

People have come from all over the United States and foreign countries to see his Cherry Creek Encampment site north of St. Francis on K-27. The Indian on the hillside can be seen for miles before people reach the site, where they can stop and get a feel for the rich history of the area.

In the 1864 Sand Creek Massacre, Colorado militiamen under Col. John M. Chivington held a surprise attack against a peaceful encampment of Indians. Hundreds of Cheyenne warriors, women, and children were killed, occurring after

their leader, Black Kettle, had agreed to an armistice with the U.S. Army. After the attack, the Indians fled to this site. His artistic talents have been recognized again and again in magazines and at art shows, such as the Kansas Folklife Festival in Topeka. Tobe’s artwork appeared in The Best of Kansas Arts and Crafts Book, and The Kansas Sampler Foundation presented Tobe with the We Kan! award for dedication to Historical Preservation. In 1945, World War II had ended, but there was a shortage of machines and equipment. Tobe wanted to buy a welder, but he could not find one. So, he made one himself. That was the beginning of his welding career. He welded for the oil fields and on the farm. He bought the old depot, tore it down, and reconstructed it into a display studio for his wire and metal sculptures. They were a hit, and sometimes he had trouble keeping up with the demand for windmills.

Through the years, Tobe has taken many individuals and groups of people, including several bus loads, to the Arikaree Breaks north of St. Francis. They then would make their way to Horse Thief Cave and to Devil’s Gap and Three Corners. Along the way, he would tell listeners about who once lived on the vacated farmstead and how the wild plums grew along the creeks.

Today, some of Tobe’s smaller pieces of artwork can be seen at the Cheyenne County Museum Complex located on U.S. Highway 36 in St. Francis.

On St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, 2016, Tobe Zweygardt, celebrated his 100th Birthday. “I’m German Irish”, he quips!

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Motorcycle Museum A dazzling display of vintage bikes is now on display in St. Francis, thanks to a special group of organizers, contributors and volunteers.

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by DOC FRANKLIN

Brand new, just opened this April 2nd, the Motorcycle Museum in St. Francis represents a rare, and very rewarding opportunity, to see and photograph an impressive stable of fine iron. Far larger, and more diverse than you would expect, good planning and excellent placement, throughout the 10,000 square feet, send a Visitor on a quest to view these rolling works of art on either an ascending, or descending time line, depending which direction you elect to travel. Underlying the pure adventure of the Motorcycles themselves is the inspiration conveyed by the American ingenuity and mechanical genius that invented, tested, and then produced them.

Enthusiastic responses from beginners to seasoned bike aficionados fill the air, as they survey the offerings of two major collections: [1] The Bahnmaier Collection consists of the American Bikes; Harleys, Indians, Ace, Yale, Flanders, Pope, Reading Standard, the Flying Merkel, and Excelsior, to name a few; [2] The Laing Collection features the “Metric” Classics, like the Triumph, Norton, BSA, and Honda. Check out the ultra-rare “Orient” in the Vault;

One of two in the world so worth probably into 7-figures, along with it’s interesting neighbors.

All in all, a dazzling display of vintage bikes; It is especially your chance to see the part of the collection showcasing the 1902 to 1930’s models, which you will not see in antique shops or garages anywhere, without extreme luck. This is an astounding achievement, which has already drawn visitors from as far away as Italy, and Australia! The St. Francis Motorcycle Museum shows what can be accomplished in the spirit of origination, and cooperation, and stands as encouragement to others willing to enhance our Home on the Range, along our “400 Mile Main Street”.

Special thanks to Scott Schultz, and the team of organizers, contributors, and volunteers who brought this magnificent concept to life, and share it with us. Find the St. Francis Motorcycle Museum at 110 E. Washington, St. Francis, Kansas. Phone: 785-332-2400 Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Daily On line: www.stfrancismotorcyclemuseum.org

79 UShwy36.com

September 18-20, 2015

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