News for Prairie Star, October 14
Old Codgers Birthday Party
Six members of theGrenola High School class of 1958 along with their spouses gathered on the eve of Octoberfest, to celebrate their collective birthdays . Each brought good food, funny stories and happy memories to share.
Three of those present had started first grade together on September 3, in 1946. There first teacher was Miss Laura Acker. There was no kindergarten in those days. All six classes of the elementary school were in the four rooms on the bottom floor of the old brick school building built in 1912. The class was so large beginning with 24 students that it never shared a room and teacher with another grade, except for one year when the class was divided to be with other classes.
There were many changes in the world, community, and school in their twelve years in the Grenola Schools.
The big white cement shop building had been built that summer before school started. The outdoor restrooms were beyond the shop building. In 1947 an old army barracks was moved in for a lunch room ending lunch boxes. Opal Jones and Wilma McClure were the cooks in the cafeteria. An L shape on the building served as the music room. Homer Hudson was the music instructor. And two cloak rooms were converted into modern bathrooms.
The upstairs portion of the hold brick building was used by the Junior High and High School. The Superintendent’s office was on the front of the building next to the side stairs. Next to it were two small classrooms, one containing typewriters, the other for English, Math and Science classes. On the north east corner was a room for the seventh and eighth grade classes. Next to it was a small classroom that had been used as a band room before the music room was built. On the entire south side of the school was the study hall/library. There was a stage across the west end that also had the book shelves. The desks were the kind that could be used to dip girls pig tails in the inkwell. Some of the elementary music programs were held on the stage there, but most of the time they were held downtown in the Community Hall.
Basketball games were held in the community hall as well as the elementary school operettas and high school plays. Two to three weeks before each production, the teachers lined the students up with their spelling and other workbooks for a trek to the community hall to practice. The operettas were well rehearsed grand productions with the mothers making elaborate costumes. Our Eighth grade graduation was held in the community hall.
When we were freshman, in 1954-55 sometime near the second semester, we picked up our books and moved into the new school. We had a wonderful large state of the art gymnasium, often used for tournaments and other events. I remember a donkey ballgame there once and we even hosted the Harlem Globetrotters!
The high school occupied the north wing of the present building.(Now Kellly Manufacturing). There was a large study hall and library, and a classroom on the east side. On the west side of the hallway was the well equipped home economics room, the science/biology lab and the spacious commerce room for typing, book keeping, etc. Grades one through eight occupied the old school until the elementary wing and basement lunch room was added to the new school in 1957.
Grenola in the 40’s and 50’s had everything needed for a good life. We could attend movies at the Ace theatre, there were two or three grocery stores, a drug store and two or three restaurants. There was a locker plant, at least four gas stations, a hardware and lumber yard, a dry goods store, post office, library, and a produce station. Also an Insurance agency, a barbershop, a recreation or pool hall, and a busy train depot. The Grenola Mill and Elevator was the center of commerce in Grenola. And there was a passenger train traveling back and forth from Independence to Winfield each day. In 1958 there were four churches in Grenola. When the television store was added in the late 50’s, the town was on the wane. People started staying home to watch t.v., they no longer came to town on Saturday nights to buy groceries, and the movie theatre had closed before we graduated from High school. Families moved to other places for employment.
Our class size had decreased so that only twelve of us graduated. As we reminisced we named thosed who have passed on, Charles Richards passed away in seventh grade, James Ollenborger, Louise Foster, were two who graduated with us. Others who were once in our class, but are now deceased were Gail Schul, Geletta Hardy, Merwyn Wilson and most recently Carl Mack Arndt.
Those present on Friday night were Eleanor Elsheimer Mercer and her husband Bill of Amarillo, Texas. Betty Lucille Foster Oliver of Cedar Vale, Delbert Lampson and his wife Janet, Howard Voightlander and his wife Rose Ann, Pansy Dorsey Franks and husband, Larry and Shirley Fisher Sweet. There will be another birthday party next year in October and if you were ever a member of this class, you are invited to come. You may contact the museum for the exact date and place.
. Grenola Now and Then
October 10 is the date set this year for the Octoberfest in Grenola. The Grenola Community Club has many events scheduled for that day.
For the Grenola Historical Society this year marks many important dates in the history of Grenola and the museum. Grenola itself has existed for 130 years. It was in October in 1879 that the first train came through and made Grenola one of its stops. Soon cowboys were bringing cattle from Texas and Oklahoma to send to market in Kansas City. Grenola prospered as a cattle shipping center for the first five years or so. The first weekly newspaper was published in July of that year.
In 1909, the community was prospering with many businesses in wood frame buildings. Fires destroyed the old mill late in 1908 and a group of businessmen met and decided to construct a mill and elevator along the railroad track. Three of them were E.L. Downs, Thomas P.Hawkins, and a young man named Ralph Demmit. The building was constructed by a company that built grain elevators throughout the region and was successfully operated by Mr. Demmit for a number of years.
For many years the elevator was the center of industry in Grenola, but things changed. Farms were turned into ranches and the Railroad raised their rates so that the elevator could no longer be operated at a profit. In 1989 the Grenola Historical Society purchased the building at a Sheriff’s tax sale in Howard. Just in time, as it was learned that the Burlinton Norther and Santa Fe Railroad Company had planned to demolish the building.
The building was soon full of interesting artifacts from many of the long time families of the area. In 1999 the Grenola Elevator was placed on the National Register of Historic places.
This year some repairs were made on the 100 year old building. The large front doors of the elevator were replaced with a recycled material that should last another one hundred years, as was the sliding door of the middle storage area, making the doors easier to open and close, but not damaging the historical authenticity. The work was contracted by Helten Contstruction Company of Wichita and Grenola. The contractors marveled at the old timbers used in the building, still as sturdy as ever.
The Grenola Elevator Musuem is open to visitors each week from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. on Fridays and 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Saturdays. It will be open all day on October 10. All are welcome to visit and learn about the heritage of our area.
Octoberfest
This year’s Octoberfest will be on October 10. The theme is “The Wizard of Oz.” At 8:00, breakfast will be served by the 4-H club in the Community Hall. The kiddie parade will be at 10:45 with the main parade at 11. From 11:30 to 12:30, the Central High School Music Depar
The Grenola Community Club has been hard at work the past few months planning Octoberfest to be held on Saturday, October 10. The officers of the Club are: Cristan Bahr, president; Amy Bliss, vice president; Crystal Smith, secretary; and Carol Tillapaugh, treasurer. They are asking for many other volunteers in the community to help. Many activities are planned to make a fun and interesting day, but many former residents appreciate having a day when they can return to their hometown, visit the museum where they can relive some memories and visit with old friends.
The Celebration continues a long standing tradition in the Grenola Community. Some time back in the 1930’s a group was formed called the Community Club and held an Armistice celebration each year. At first the event was held on November 11, continuing on into the 40’s. Sometime in the fifties or sixties the day was moved to the Saturday closest to November 11, and the name of the National Holiday was changed to Veteran’s Day. Many remember the forties and fifties when it was the custom for a “booster trip,” a caravan of cars, filled with business people and high school students to take the day making the rounds through the towns of Elk and Chautauqua, and eastern Cowley Counties, stopping in each town to promote the events of the day with a “loud speaker” fastened to the top of a car. The Grenola High School band performed a patriotic number in each town and people were encouraged to come on this special day to honor Veterans.
The day always started with a parade led by the Grenola Veterans of Foreign Wars followed by the Grenola High School Marching Band. Elaborate floats were constructed by local businesses, clubs, and schools, using crepe paper and chicken wire. The parade always ended with a proud display of horses and riders. My father-in-law, Floyd Sweet was the announcer for the parade for many years. After his death, his son, Floyd Sweet Jr. of Hutchinson took over; followed by his son, John Sweet,of Lyons, who presently owns a week end home in Grenola.After the parade, people lined up in the Community Hall for a dinner served by the Women of the Methodist Church to raise money for missions. Tables were set with real silverware, glass, and china on paper table cloths. The meal was turkey and dressing with mashed potatoes, green beans, jello salad, homemade rolls and pie for dessert. The dishes were barely done in the basement kitchen when it was time for the talent show upstairs. In the evening a free meal of ham and beans and cornbread were served in the park. The beans were and are still cleaned and sorted, put to soak the night before and cooked all day in three large old cast iron pots over a fire in a pit. The pots add to the flavor of the beans as does the wooden paddle used to stir them.For several years in the 40’s and early 50’s the community Hall would be filled with people for miles around to enjoy entertainers from the Grand Old Opry in Nashville. such well known Opry stars as String Bean, Minnie Pearl, Ernest Tubb and Little Jimmie Dickens filled the old stage. The day ended with a dance in the Community Hall lasting until the wee hours of the night.
Things have changed through the years, population and businesses have dwindled. Sometime in the 80’s the celebration was moved to the first or second week-end in October to take advantage of the pleasant weather.This year’s festivities will begin with breakfast served by the Greenfield Wildcat 4-H Club in the Community Hall. The parade will begin at 11:00 a.m. as always, preceded by a Kiddie Parade at 10:45. After the parade , people may enjoy a delicious chicken and noodle dinner served by the Central School High School Music Department in the Community Hall as a fund raiser for the band activities. Other activities planned for the day include a cake walk, a farm scramble, Bingo, carnival games in the park, scavenger hunt, and medallion hunt, and the traditional horse shoe tournament. The Old Car show will be held again this year, displaying cars that were driven in the old Armistice Day celebrations. The museum will be open to visitors all day. Local members who haven’t visited for a while might enjoy seeing some new exhibits. The free bean feed will begin at 5:00 p.m. in the park and the raffle prizes will be drawn at that time. The day will end with a dance, due to the age and condition of the Community Hall, the dance will be in the street. Even though we did not make the Booster trip this year, all are welcome to join the festivities in Grenola on October 10.
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May 12, 1010 Grenola Now and Then
One hundred forty three Grenola High School Alumnus and guests enjoyed meeting old friends at the Community Building on Saturday evening at the annual Grenola High School Alumni Banquet.
President of the Alumni Association and Master of Ceremonies, Delbert Lampson greeted the visitors and the group stood to recite the pledge of allegiance. Special guests introduced were faculty members from the 1950’s: school superintendent, Joe Munoz from Lawton OK., principal, Bill Davison and his wife, Pat, from Williamsburg, Ks. and Coach Les Davis. Leroy Terry invoked a blessing and a wonderful meal of barbecued chicken and brisket with potatoes, green beans and choice of dessert was provided by Paddlefoot Barbecue owned by James and Rachel Brown. After the meal entertainment was provided by the trio from the Grenola Volunteer Fire Department. Allen Moore was not able to attend, so Delbert joined Adam Arbuckle and Elmer Wolfe in singing some country tunes. Les Davis spoke fitting words of tribute to Mr. Munoz and Mr. Davison.
Other special guests recognized were, Paul White of Sedan, the oldest alumni present, Pete and Nola Havner, from Huntsville, Alabama, Eleanor and Bill Mercer, a part of the class of 1958 from Amarillo, Texas, the three Moore sisters from Oklahoma, Pete and Nola Havner of Huntsville, Alabama and Van McAnulty from Russellville, Arkansas and five members of the Terry family, here from various parts of Kansas Special class reunions were: the class of 1950 with four members present, the class of 1957, observing 55 years, with all living members present, and the class of 1970. Special mention was made of Fern Best from the class of 1937 who was not able to attend this year for the first time. A standing ovation was given for Joyce Hull, who was present just one week after spending the past four months in a Wichita Hospital. Her cheerful attitude is an inspiration to us all.
The Class of 1960 would have been celebrating their 50th reunion, there were only two members of the class, Boyd Sutton and Donald Coykendall. Neither were able to attend. Janet Lampson graduated from a high school in Kansas City in 1960, so her husband, Delbert presented her with an honorary diploma since she has worked arduously helping with the many details of the banquet for the past ten years.
Janet made an announcement that a total of $2,037.00 had been received from the alumni to go toward improvements on the Community Building. A sizable memorial gift was received from the family of Mary Katherine Snair Fox, Class of 1941.
The Senior Citizen Quilt was raffled and the winner by happy chance happened to be Donald Roe! The quilt had been pieced by his mother, Marjorie Roe, and the family had given it to the Senior Citizens, they had put the backing on it and Pansy Franks, Helen Sprague, Fern Best, Norma McNeely and Helen Hinkle had finished quilting it just a few weeks earlier.
The coveted Asparagus Award was presented to Shirley Sweet for community service; reporting the weekly news and putting the most miles on her car each week.
Door prizes of mementoes from the Museum were won by Kenny Magnus, Peggy Wolfe, Bertha Wolfe, Marge Eastman, Carolyn Eastman, Alan Bruner, Jan Jordan, and Joann Terry.
Alumni members present voted by ballot on whether to change the time of the dinner from evening to 1:00 p.m. The proposal failed, but might be considered again next year in deference for those who travel a long distance.
The roll call of classes was answered by the following:
1935 - Paul White
1938- Helen Sprague
1939 - Helen Freed Ellard
1947 - Van McAnulty, Dean Keplinger
1948 - Sally Logsdon Lambert, Jimmie Ann Thompson Madden, Charles Miller
1950 - Louise Terry Howell, Marvin Buchele, Chester Metcalf, Bertha Wolfe Reeves, David E. McGlasson
1951- Carlton Hopper, Lowell French, Darrel Burdett, Mary Lou Demoss Cochran, Allen Burdett, Merlyn Logsdon, and Pete Havner
1953 – Bety Mann Linder, Wayne Eaglin, Leroy Terry
1954 - Lela Wolfe Bright, Wanda Laurie Gould, John Sweet, Charles E. Neubecker, Mary Alice Burdett Allison, Carolyn Mattocks Hill, Nola Havner Holloway
1956 – Jean Moore Jean Thornton
1956 Bill Hull, Berdina Terry
1957 – Carolyn Harrington Chrisman, Iris Steward Magnus, Jeannine Lampson Neubecker, Betty Paasch Nehring, Joan Sutton Hawley, Bob Eastman, Donald Roe, Duane Kessinger, and Carol Moore Neeley.
1958 – Pansy Dorsey Franks, Shirley Fisher Sweet, Delbert Lampson, Mary Paasch Davis, Eleanor Elsheimer Mercer
1959 – Renee Welborn Wells, David Wolfe, Dwain Terry, Dick Eastman
1961 – Delbert Metcalf, Jim Eastman, Richard Hopper,
1962 - Carolyn Kessinger Eastman, Peggy Logsdon Wolfe, Bill Hull
1963 – Bob Roe, Jess Wolfe, Joyce Davis Hull
1965 - Elaine Lampson Jackson, Carrol Underwood
1966 - Linda Terry Stevenson, Kaye Miller Spooner, Darrel Moore
1967 - Beth Harrington Moore, Shirley Hull Ferrell, Rockne Welborn,
1969 – Loretta Rae Humphries McCready,
1970 – Tom Kessinger, Bill Barnard, Fred Reeves
1971- Elmer Wolfe, Jan Jordan, Kenny Liebau
1972 – Vickie Liebau Shore
1973 – Curtis Keplinger, Alan Brunner,
1976 – Cheri Howell,
1981- David Burdette
1982 -Wes Ollenborger
1985 – Jimmie Wolfe
1988 - Joe Hill
1989 – Scott Moore
1992 – Donnie McCready
The Grenola High School Alumnus who passed away this year included, Mary Katherine Snair Fox, 1941; Ellis Hunt, 1952,and Joe Paasch, 1956.
May 12, 1010 Grenola Now and Then
One hundred forty three Grenola High School Alumnus and guests enjoyed meeting old friends at the Community Building on Saturday evening at the annual Grenola High School Alumni Banquet.
President of the Alumni Association and Master of Ceremonies, Delbert Lampson greeted the visitors and the group stood to recite the pledge of allegiance. Special guests introduced were faculty members from the 1950’s: school superintendent, Joe Munoz from Lawton OK., principal, Bill Davison and his wife, Pat, from Williamsburg, Ks. and Coach Les Davis. Leroy Terry invoked a blessing and a wonderful meal of barbecued chicken and brisket with potatoes, green beans and choice of dessert was provided by Paddlefoot Barbecue owned by James and Rachel Brown. After the meal entertainment was provided by the trio from the Grenola Volunteer Fire Department. Allen Moore was not able to attend, so Delbert joined Adam Arbuckle and Elmer Wolfe in singing some country tunes. Les Davis spoke fitting words of tribute to Mr. Munoz and Mr. Davison.
Other special guests recognized were, Paul White of Sedan, the oldest alumni present, Pete and Nola Havner, from Huntsville, Alabama, Eleanor and Bill Mercer, a part of the class of 1958 from Amarillo, Texas, the three Moore sisters from Oklahoma, Pete and Nola Havner of Huntsville, Alabama and Van McAnulty from Russellville, Arkansas and five members of the Terry family, here from various parts of Kansas Special class reunions were: the class of 1950 with four members present, the class of 1957, observing 55 years, with all living members present, and the class of 1970. Special mention was made of Fern Best from the class of 1937 who was not able to attend this year for the first time. A standing ovation was given for Joyce Hull, who was present just one week after spending the past four months in a Wichita Hospital. Her cheerful attitude is an inspiration to us all.
The Class of 1960 would have been celebrating their 50th reunion, there were only two members of the class, Boyd Sutton and Donald Coykendall. Neither were able to attend. Janet Lampson graduated from a high school in Kansas City in 1960, so her husband, Delbert presented her with an honorary diploma since she has worked arduously helping with the many details of the banquet for the past ten years.
Janet made an announcement that a total of $2,037.00 had been received from the alumni to go toward improvements on the Community Building. A sizable memorial gift was received from the family of Mary Katherine Snair Fox, Class of 1941.
The Senior Citizen Quilt was raffled and the winner by happy chance happened to be Donald Roe! The quilt had been pieced by his mother, Marjorie Roe, and the family had given it to the Senior Citizens, they had put the backing on it and Pansy Franks, Helen Sprague, Fern Best, Norma McNeely and Helen Hinkle had finished quilting it just a few weeks earlier.
The coveted Asparagus Award was presented to Shirley Sweet for community service; reporting the weekly news and putting the most miles on her car each week.
Door prizes of mementoes from the Museum were won by Kenny Magnus, Peggy Wolfe, Bertha Wolfe, Marge Eastman, Carolyn Eastman, Alan Bruner, Jan Jordan, and Joann Terry.
Alumni members present voted by ballot on whether to change the time of the dinner from evening to 1:00 p.m. The proposal failed, but might be considered again next year in deference for those who travel a long distance.
The roll call of classes was answered by the following:
1935 - Paul White
1938- Helen Sprague
1939 - Helen Freed Ellard
1947 - Van McAnulty, Dean Keplinger
1948 - Sally Logsdon Lambert, Jimmie Ann Thompson Madden, Charles Miller
1950 - Louise Terry Howell, Marvin Buchele, Chester Metcalf, Bertha Wolfe Reeves, David E. McGlasson
1951- Carlton Hopper, Lowell French, Darrel Burdett, Mary Lou Demoss Cochran, Allen Burdett, Merlyn Logsdon, and Pete Havner
1953 – Bety Mann Linder, Wayne Eaglin, Leroy Terry
1954 - Lela Wolfe Bright, Wanda Laurie Gould, John Sweet, Charles E. Neubecker, Mary Alice Burdett Allison, Carolyn Mattocks Hill, Nola Havner Holloway
1956 – Jean Moore Jean Thornton
1956 Bill Hull, Berdina Terry
1957 – Carolyn Harrington Chrisman, Iris Steward Magnus, Jeannine Lampson Neubecker, Betty Paasch Nehring, Joan Sutton Hawley, Bob Eastman, Donald Roe, Duane Kessinger, and Carol Moore Neeley.
1958 – Pansy Dorsey Franks, Shirley Fisher Sweet, Delbert Lampson, Mary Paasch Davis, Eleanor Elsheimer Mercer
1959 – Renee Welborn Wells, David Wolfe, Dwain Terry, Dick Eastman
1961 – Delbert Metcalf, Jim Eastman, Richard Hopper,
1962 - Carolyn Kessinger Eastman, Peggy Logsdon Wolfe, Bill Hull
1963 – Bob Roe, Jess Wolfe, Joyce Davis Hull
1965 - Elaine Lampson Jackson, Carrol Underwood
1966 - Linda Terry Stevenson, Kaye Miller Spooner, Darrel Moore
1967 - Beth Harrington Moore, Shirley Hull Ferrell, Rockne Welborn,
1969 – Loretta Rae Humphries McCready,
1970 – Tom Kessinger, Bill Barnard, Fred Reeves
1971- Elmer Wolfe, Jan Jordan, Kenny Liebau
1972 – Vickie Liebau Shore
1973 – Curtis Keplinger, Alan Brunner,
1976 – Cheri Howell,
1981- David Burdette
1982 -Wes Ollenborger
1985 – Jimmie Wolfe
1988 - Joe Hill
1989 – Scott Moore
1992 – Donnie McCready
The Grenola High School Alumnus who passed away this year included, Mary Katherine Snair Fox, 1941; Ellis Hunt, 1952,and Joe Paasch, 1956.
More news for April 28 While in Wichita last week, I opened the Wichita Eagle to find the obituary of Albert L. Abercrombie. Albert Abercrombie passed away on April 10 this year at the age of 95. Albert was in the oil production business. He owned pasture in the Flint Hills south west of Grenola.
Born in Garden City, Kansas, he started to work in his early teens. His first job was keeping house at the bunkhouse where single men who drove the teams in the oil field lived. He received 25 cents per day. He also earned 15 cents per day running the hand operated washing machines and wringers for one of the teamster’s wives. He also earned money during the Great Depression working as a dishwasher, mechanic, and working on wheat harvest crews. While attending High School in Marshall, Oklahoma, he borrowed money from his father to purchase a snooker parlor, named “Chief’s Recreation Parlor.” Soon he was making $350 per month. Five years later he sold the snooker parlor and moved to Russell, Ks. where he joined his childhood friend, Pierce Musgrove working for SOHIO as a sub-foreman. Pierce soon formed Musgrove Petroleum and in 1948, Albert became a partner paying for his share by completing wells. In 1949 he was out in the oil fields 225 twenty-four hour days. He said he slept in his “Chevrolet Hotel.” Between 1948 and 1953 he worked on and completed more wells than anyone in Kansas. Pierce died in 1961 and Albert founded and built A.L. Abercrombie Inc. and Abercrombie Drilling, owning and operating ten rigs and over 400 wells. Through the years he designed many things now used in the oil fields. He was inducted into the Oil and Gas Museum in Great Bend and was a member of the Kansas Oilmen’s Hall of Fame. He and his wife contributed anonymously to many causes, including two scholarships at WSU. Memorials in his name were to go to some of his favorite causes, The Lord’s Diner, The Children’s home of the Police, Sheriff or Fire Departments of Wichita and Sedwick County. Mr. Abercrombie owned farmland in northwest Kansas and in the 1940’s he purchased a large track of land in Chautauqua county just north of the MK&O ranch, known as the T.W. Hylton pasture. (Hylton, a businessman in Grenola, was my great uncle through the Moore family. His wife, Mattie, was my grandfather, Robert Moore’s sister.) He first leased the pasture of 560 acres to Oscar Keplinger, then Oscar’s son, Dean and now to the third generation of the Keplinger family, Curtis. Many in Grenola knew Mr. Abercrombie, as he and his family and employees visited here often. He was kind, generous and friendly and always had time chat. He supported the businesses in Grenola and continued to be CEO of his own business until just shortly before his death.
Born in Garden City, Kansas, he started to work in his early teens. His first job was keeping house at the bunkhouse where single men who drove the teams in the oil field lived. He received 25 cents per day. He also earned 15 cents per day running the hand operated washing machines and wringers for one of the teamster’s wives. He also earned money during the Great Depression working as a dishwasher, mechanic, and working on wheat harvest crews. While attending High School in Marshall, Oklahoma, he borrowed money from his father to purchase a snooker parlor, named “Chief’s Recreation Parlor.” Soon he was making $350 per month. Five years later he sold the snooker parlor and moved to Russell, Ks. where he joined his childhood friend, Pierce Musgrove working for SOHIO as a sub-foreman. Pierce soon formed Musgrove Petroleum and in 1948, Albert became a partner paying for his share by completing wells. In 1949 he was out in the oil fields 225 twenty-four hour days. He said he slept in his “Chevrolet Hotel.” Between 1948 and 1953 he worked on and completed more wells than anyone in Kansas. Pierce died in 1961 and Albert founded and built A.L. Abercrombie Inc. and Abercrombie Drilling, owning and operating ten rigs and over 400 wells. Through the years he designed many things now used in the oil fields. He was inducted into the Oil and Gas Museum in Great Bend and was a member of the Kansas Oilmen’s Hall of Fame. He and his wife contributed anonymously to many causes, including two scholarships at WSU. Memorials in his name were to go to some of his favorite causes, The Lord’s Diner, The Children’s home of the Police, Sheriff or Fire Departments of Wichita and Sedwick County. Mr. Abercrombie owned farmland in northwest Kansas and in the 1940’s he purchased a large track of land in Chautauqua county just north of the MK&O ranch, known as the T.W. Hylton pasture. (Hylton, a businessman in Grenola, was my great uncle through the Moore family. His wife, Mattie, was my grandfather, Robert Moore’s sister.) He first leased the pasture of 560 acres to Oscar Keplinger, then Oscar’s son, Dean and now to the third generation of the Keplinger family, Curtis. Many in Grenola knew Mr. Abercrombie, as he and his family and employees visited here often. He was kind, generous and friendly and always had time chat. He supported the businesses in Grenola and continued to be CEO of his own business until just shortly before his death.
Grenola Now and Then, April 21
Kenny Teague’s mother, Erma Belleville, passed away in Wichita on April 15. Erma lived in Grenola in the 1980’s. Kenny and his brother, Carl, were in Boy Scouts and attended school at Central of Burden. Her husband, Bob Belleville, was a trucker.
Andy Teague, son of Kenny and Susie Teague and grandson of Erma, is serving in the United States Navy. A few months ago, he was on the U.S.S. Theodore Roosevelt when the Navy Seal Snipers captured a ship of Somalian pirates off the coast of North Africa. This carrier also launches fighter planes to Afghanistan. Andy serves as a flag man on the ship’s air strip.
Keep the following people in your prayers as they continue to struggle with health issues; Joyce Hull in Rehab in Wichita, Virginia Huntington in Cherryvale Nursing and Rehab Center, Jim Carmichael, Dean Steward in Topeka, and Lela Bright in Winfield.
The Royal Neighbors will meet one week early, on Friday, April 30, at the Grenola Senior Center. A representative from the Insurance Company will be present to speak about benefits. All are welcome. The meeting begins at 1:00 a.m.
Fern Best celebrated her 91st birthday on April 13, her friends, Helen Sprague, Helen Hinkle, Pansy Franks and Joann Terry took ice cream and cake to the Rehab Center in Wichita and helped her celebrate that afternoon. Fern looked great, as usual, with her hair and nails done and dressed in a stylish outfit, to enjoy the afternoon with her friends.
Some Grenola students performed well at the West Elk Invitational Track Meet in Howard last week. Cale Ellis broke the Central Burden School record in the 110M hurdles with a time of 15.51, but tied for first place with a student from Caney. He won the 300M hurdles with a time of 43.40. He finished third in the triple jump and fifth in the high jump. Kate Kill was a member of the West Elk 4 X 100 M relay team that won first place. She finished third in the 200M dash and sixth in the 100M dash. Brad Linder placed fourth in the 800M. My great niece, Uriah Donnely, a freshman at Dexter, finished second in the 300M hurdles and was fourth in the 100 M hurdles.
This Saturday you may see a passenger train going through Grenola. The South Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad and the Heart of the Heartlands Corporation will be hosting the Flint Hills Express on Saturday, April 24, on a scenic tour through the Flint Hills. The train ride will begin at 1:00 p.m. in Winfield and run east through New Salem, Burden, Cambridge, Grand Summit, and Grenola. It will turn around near Moline and then return to Winfield, taking approximately four hours. Tickets are $25.00 per person with children under 4 years and under riding free. Tickets can be purchased at the Winfield Area Chamber of Commerce.
This week the museum received a check from a member of the Grenola Historical Society, Richard Davis. Richard is the son of R.T. and Mina Davis and a cousin to Richard Miller. He now resides in a retirement home in Walnut Creek, California. The check was to help with the expense of maintaining the Museum Website, grenolaks.com. The website was constructed a few years ago by Tony Sweet in California. Tony has turned the operation and upkeep over to the museum. Besides the current news that is posted on the website once or twice a month, there are a number of family genealogies, the Greenlawn cemetery index, the history of the town, photographs, some entertaining stories about the good old days, and other facts about Grenola. If you haven’t done so lately, check out grenolaks.com.
Kenny Teague’s mother, Erma Belleville, passed away in Wichita on April 15. Erma lived in Grenola in the 1980’s. Kenny and his brother, Carl, were in Boy Scouts and attended school at Central of Burden. Her husband, Bob Belleville, was a trucker.
Andy Teague, son of Kenny and Susie Teague and grandson of Erma, is serving in the United States Navy. A few months ago, he was on the U.S.S. Theodore Roosevelt when the Navy Seal Snipers captured a ship of Somalian pirates off the coast of North Africa. This carrier also launches fighter planes to Afghanistan. Andy serves as a flag man on the ship’s air strip.
Keep the following people in your prayers as they continue to struggle with health issues; Joyce Hull in Rehab in Wichita, Virginia Huntington in Cherryvale Nursing and Rehab Center, Jim Carmichael, Dean Steward in Topeka, and Lela Bright in Winfield.
The Royal Neighbors will meet one week early, on Friday, April 30, at the Grenola Senior Center. A representative from the Insurance Company will be present to speak about benefits. All are welcome. The meeting begins at 1:00 a.m.
Fern Best celebrated her 91st birthday on April 13, her friends, Helen Sprague, Helen Hinkle, Pansy Franks and Joann Terry took ice cream and cake to the Rehab Center in Wichita and helped her celebrate that afternoon. Fern looked great, as usual, with her hair and nails done and dressed in a stylish outfit, to enjoy the afternoon with her friends.
Some Grenola students performed well at the West Elk Invitational Track Meet in Howard last week. Cale Ellis broke the Central Burden School record in the 110M hurdles with a time of 15.51, but tied for first place with a student from Caney. He won the 300M hurdles with a time of 43.40. He finished third in the triple jump and fifth in the high jump. Kate Kill was a member of the West Elk 4 X 100 M relay team that won first place. She finished third in the 200M dash and sixth in the 100M dash. Brad Linder placed fourth in the 800M. My great niece, Uriah Donnely, a freshman at Dexter, finished second in the 300M hurdles and was fourth in the 100 M hurdles.
This Saturday you may see a passenger train going through Grenola. The South Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad and the Heart of the Heartlands Corporation will be hosting the Flint Hills Express on Saturday, April 24, on a scenic tour through the Flint Hills. The train ride will begin at 1:00 p.m. in Winfield and run east through New Salem, Burden, Cambridge, Grand Summit, and Grenola. It will turn around near Moline and then return to Winfield, taking approximately four hours. Tickets are $25.00 per person with children under 4 years and under riding free. Tickets can be purchased at the Winfield Area Chamber of Commerce.
This week the museum received a check from a member of the Grenola Historical Society, Richard Davis. Richard is the son of R.T. and Mina Davis and a cousin to Richard Miller. He now resides in a retirement home in Walnut Creek, California. The check was to help with the expense of maintaining the Museum Website, grenolaks.com. The website was constructed a few years ago by Tony Sweet in California. Tony has turned the operation and upkeep over to the museum. Besides the current news that is posted on the website once or twice a month, there are a number of family genealogies, the Greenlawn cemetery index, the history of the town, photographs, some entertaining stories about the good old days, and other facts about Grenola. If you haven’t done so lately, check out grenolaks.com.
Grenola Now and Then, April 7, 2010
The Kirby Chapter of the Royal Neighbors met on Friday with Dorothy Keplinger, Marge Lampson, Peggy Wolfe, Rae McCready, Carolyn Hill and Liz Featherston present. Future service projects were discussed. The next meeting date has been changed to April 30 instead of May 7, so that a representative from the Insurance Company can meet with the group to explain different insurance benefits that are offered to members. All are welcome to attend this informative meeting. It will begin at 1:00 p.m. at the Senior Center.
An enthusiastic group of children gathered at the Grenola City Park to hunt for Easter Eggs on Saturday afternoon. The weather was perfect and there were plenty of candy filled eggs for everyone. It is a joy to watch the smallest children and their parents as they hunt Easter eggs for the first time.
The Grenola Quilting Club, Pansy Franks, Helen Hinkle, and Helen Sprague went to visit Fern Best on Friday. They stopped in Derby to buy lunch to share with Fern at the Family Health Center. They spread the food on the table in the dining room of the facility and were provided coffee and tea so that they could enjoy an afternoon of visiting with their friend.
Helen Sprague spent the rest of the week-end with her son, Rockne and wife Joan in Wichita. On Saturday, Pansy enjoyed a visit from her daughter, Nina Dow, as well as her sister, Virginia, husband Harold, their son, Mike.
A good crowd of worshipers made their way up the hill early Sunday morning for the Annual Easter Sunrise Service. Later they enjoyed a delicious breakfast at the fellowship hall prepared by Don and Susie Roe and Dan and Elaine Colon.
Many family members returned to their home churches to worship together on Easter.
At the Methodist Church, Doug and Therese Jones came with their children to attend church and eat lunch with her father, Max Allison. Dick and Marge Eastman were happy to have their daughter, Julie and family to join them. Kenny and Susie Teague were pleased to have their son Davin and Holly to attend church with them. Martha and Brianna joined Mark and Ann Arbuckle to Church. Shannon Valles and her son Erasmito my guests for the week-end.
At the Christian Church, Carla and Perry Fulsom’s children, Micah and Alex were back to church with their parents. Robbie and Jamie Custer and children joined the Kessinger family. Ron and Mary Allison brought their daughter, Sarah and husband, Jim Leftwich. Lynn and Kay Kelley enjoyed having their son, Daniel and wife, Rachel and their daughter, Anne home for Easter.
They along with Curtis, Sharon and Tressie were dinner guests of Dean and Dorothy Keplinger and were joined by Morris and Karla Bateson and their little son. The Batesons are missionaries in Honduras and have been residing in the Christian Church parsonage since December when they were called back because of the death of Morris’s father in Severy. They have been visiting various churches to tell about their missionary work and are making preparations to return to Honduras at the end of April.
Janet and Delbert Lampson spent the Easter week-end with their family in the Kansas City Area. On Sunday they spent the day with their daughter, Carla and husband Andy who live near Cameron, Missouri. Other members of the family who gathered there were their children. Michael and wife, Brett; daughter Sheila and her husband, Jim, and children, Sarah and John; and son Jeff. Jeannine and C.E. Neubecker along with their sons, Mark and David and grandchildren, Alex and Anna-Maria also joined the group for a gathering that had been postponed since Christmas day, due to the snowstorm then.
Part of my adventure for the week happened on Friday on the way to visit my son and family in Chapman. At a stop at Braums in El Dorado, I ran into some old friends, Kenny and Bertie Mills and we spent some time catching up on news of our families. The Mills along with their son, Brian and family which includes four daughters, live in Eureka. They operate a heating and air conditioning business and Brian works in Wichita. Their daughter, Nancy, is married and lives in Wichita. The family lived in Grenola in the late sixties and seventies. They operated a service station and their children were born while living here.
The other part of my adventure was the Annual Easter Picnic. For at least sixty years and we don’t know how many more, it has been the tradition for the two cousins, Marjorie Lampson and Shirley Sweet to celebrate Easter with a picnic on the Caney River. Our mothers were sisters, Dorothy Archer and Madge Fisher. The first years we packed up everything needed to spend the day on the river at the Archer place. We cooked hamburgers in an iron skillet over an open fire, boiled coffee in a metal can over the fire, and washed the dishes in the riffle. Since the picnic was always held on Easter, no matter what, it had to be held inside one of our homes In case of rain, snow, or severe cold. Needless to say, we have many interesting stories we could tell. This year we made a radical departure from tradition and bought fried chicken from Dillons instead of cooking hamburgers. We were joined by twenty-three relatives and friends. Marge’s family included her daughters, Sandra Lane and Cheryl Wright and their families. Three of my nieces, Shannon Valles, Sunny Young, and Susie Teague and their families; my friends, Duane Bohm with his son, Clayton and family and his neighbors, Bill and Donna Finley all brought dishes of food to enjoy feasting and being outdoors in the beautiful spring weather.
The Kirby Chapter of the Royal Neighbors met on Friday with Dorothy Keplinger, Marge Lampson, Peggy Wolfe, Rae McCready, Carolyn Hill and Liz Featherston present. Future service projects were discussed. The next meeting date has been changed to April 30 instead of May 7, so that a representative from the Insurance Company can meet with the group to explain different insurance benefits that are offered to members. All are welcome to attend this informative meeting. It will begin at 1:00 p.m. at the Senior Center.
An enthusiastic group of children gathered at the Grenola City Park to hunt for Easter Eggs on Saturday afternoon. The weather was perfect and there were plenty of candy filled eggs for everyone. It is a joy to watch the smallest children and their parents as they hunt Easter eggs for the first time.
The Grenola Quilting Club, Pansy Franks, Helen Hinkle, and Helen Sprague went to visit Fern Best on Friday. They stopped in Derby to buy lunch to share with Fern at the Family Health Center. They spread the food on the table in the dining room of the facility and were provided coffee and tea so that they could enjoy an afternoon of visiting with their friend.
Helen Sprague spent the rest of the week-end with her son, Rockne and wife Joan in Wichita. On Saturday, Pansy enjoyed a visit from her daughter, Nina Dow, as well as her sister, Virginia, husband Harold, their son, Mike.
A good crowd of worshipers made their way up the hill early Sunday morning for the Annual Easter Sunrise Service. Later they enjoyed a delicious breakfast at the fellowship hall prepared by Don and Susie Roe and Dan and Elaine Colon.
Many family members returned to their home churches to worship together on Easter.
At the Methodist Church, Doug and Therese Jones came with their children to attend church and eat lunch with her father, Max Allison. Dick and Marge Eastman were happy to have their daughter, Julie and family to join them. Kenny and Susie Teague were pleased to have their son Davin and Holly to attend church with them. Martha and Brianna joined Mark and Ann Arbuckle to Church. Shannon Valles and her son Erasmito my guests for the week-end.
At the Christian Church, Carla and Perry Fulsom’s children, Micah and Alex were back to church with their parents. Robbie and Jamie Custer and children joined the Kessinger family. Ron and Mary Allison brought their daughter, Sarah and husband, Jim Leftwich. Lynn and Kay Kelley enjoyed having their son, Daniel and wife, Rachel and their daughter, Anne home for Easter.
They along with Curtis, Sharon and Tressie were dinner guests of Dean and Dorothy Keplinger and were joined by Morris and Karla Bateson and their little son. The Batesons are missionaries in Honduras and have been residing in the Christian Church parsonage since December when they were called back because of the death of Morris’s father in Severy. They have been visiting various churches to tell about their missionary work and are making preparations to return to Honduras at the end of April.
Janet and Delbert Lampson spent the Easter week-end with their family in the Kansas City Area. On Sunday they spent the day with their daughter, Carla and husband Andy who live near Cameron, Missouri. Other members of the family who gathered there were their children. Michael and wife, Brett; daughter Sheila and her husband, Jim, and children, Sarah and John; and son Jeff. Jeannine and C.E. Neubecker along with their sons, Mark and David and grandchildren, Alex and Anna-Maria also joined the group for a gathering that had been postponed since Christmas day, due to the snowstorm then.
Part of my adventure for the week happened on Friday on the way to visit my son and family in Chapman. At a stop at Braums in El Dorado, I ran into some old friends, Kenny and Bertie Mills and we spent some time catching up on news of our families. The Mills along with their son, Brian and family which includes four daughters, live in Eureka. They operate a heating and air conditioning business and Brian works in Wichita. Their daughter, Nancy, is married and lives in Wichita. The family lived in Grenola in the late sixties and seventies. They operated a service station and their children were born while living here.
The other part of my adventure was the Annual Easter Picnic. For at least sixty years and we don’t know how many more, it has been the tradition for the two cousins, Marjorie Lampson and Shirley Sweet to celebrate Easter with a picnic on the Caney River. Our mothers were sisters, Dorothy Archer and Madge Fisher. The first years we packed up everything needed to spend the day on the river at the Archer place. We cooked hamburgers in an iron skillet over an open fire, boiled coffee in a metal can over the fire, and washed the dishes in the riffle. Since the picnic was always held on Easter, no matter what, it had to be held inside one of our homes In case of rain, snow, or severe cold. Needless to say, we have many interesting stories we could tell. This year we made a radical departure from tradition and bought fried chicken from Dillons instead of cooking hamburgers. We were joined by twenty-three relatives and friends. Marge’s family included her daughters, Sandra Lane and Cheryl Wright and their families. Three of my nieces, Shannon Valles, Sunny Young, and Susie Teague and their families; my friends, Duane Bohm with his son, Clayton and family and his neighbors, Bill and Donna Finley all brought dishes of food to enjoy feasting and being outdoors in the beautiful spring weather.
April 14, 2010
Great News! Beth Moore went to visit Joyce Hull and was so encouraged to find Joyce in good spirits and feeling much better. Joyce feels that she is now “on the mend”. She is at Our Lady of the Lourdes Rehabilitation Center on North Rock Road in Wichita.
It is good to see Gary Kinnaman back for lunch at the Senior Center, much improved after his heart surgery.
Charlene Todd is back playing cards at the Pitch Club after her back surgery the first of February. It was good that Charlene and Jim Carmichael were able to be present and provide refreshments for the club on Tuesday evening.
Dale Steward is back to work and at Church after Heart Surgery and will be performing with the County Liners at a concert at the Methodist Church in Moline on April 26 at 7:00 p.m.
Dean Steward of Topeka is making good progress as he continues to receive treatment for lymphoma.
Carl Linder is breathing better and able to do his work after having surgery on his sinus cavities a couple of weeks ago.
The API board met on Tuesday morning at the Grenola Senior Center with the district director, Rosie O’Brien. The API stands for Aging Projects Incorporated. It is partially funded with tax dollars, so a board of citizens who are directly involved is required. The group is responsible for Friendship Meals and Meals on Wheels. The Officers are Marjorie Lampson, President; Robin Rivers, Vice President; Dorothy Keplinger, Secretary; and Jim Carmichael, Treasurer. Other members of the board are Joann and Leroy Terry, Sue Roe, and Helen Sprague. The employees who keep things going at the Grenola Center are Pansy Franks, cook; Judy French, site manager; and Elizabeth Featherson, driver for meals on wheels. Each week day meals are prepared and delivered to the homebound in Grenola, as well as Cambridge and Burden. Rosie O’Brien is responsible for overseeing the operations in this area from her office in Hutchinson. Rosie is a direct descendant of John Hall, one of Grenola’s first settlers.
The invitations have been sent out to the Alumni Banquet to be held on Saturday, May 8, at 6:30 p.m. at the Grenola Community Building. Following long standing tradition, the banquet is held the day before Mother’s Day. If you did not receive an invitation or know of a person who attended school in Grenola and would like to come, please contact Delbert and Janet Lampson, 885 Trail Road, Grenola, Ks. 67346 or call 620-358-3811. Lodging facilities are available nearby at the Crooked Creek in Moline. Their phone number is 620-647-4055. Reservations for the banquet need to be made by May 1.
My adventures for the week included the Redbud tour in Chautauqua, visiting the old towns of Hewins, Elgin and Chautauqua, the Hollow in Sedan and the Quivira Scout Ranch. Edwin Hewins and Eli Titus were the cattle buyers from Kansas City who bought the longhorn cattle that were driven from Texas to be shipped out on the train in Grenola in the early 1880’s. The town of Hewins was named after the cattle buyer, he owned a large ranch extending from Hewins to near Cedar Vale.
When Elgin was built on the border of Oklahoma, the prosperity of the cattle drives that had been in Grenola then went to that town. The Santa Fe railroad built a large freight house in 1886 to handle large shipments of freight taken from Elgin on strings of freighter wagons to Pawhuska, Hominy, Skiatook, Gray Horse and other places in Oklahoma. It was during this time that the brick streets with cement gutters were laid out and there is even a divided avenue. My favorite sight on the entire route is the Elgin United Methodist Church with the beautiful large stained glass windows.
Another interesting and beautiful place on this route is the peaceful little Rose Dale Cemetery just two miles east of Hewins on Dalton Road. The first time I visited there, I found the grave stone of Earl and Margaret Hopper who owned the Drug Store in Grenola in the 1950’s. Mr. Hopper was the last pharmacist in Grenola.
Many people also remember a local historian at Hewins, Joe Leonard. Joe had left Hewins, studied at the Julliard School of Music and was a renowned Concert Pianist. He returned to Hewins in his retirement and spent his last years in the Cedar Vale Nursing Center. Each Sunday, for as long as he was able, some of the members of the Wauneta Methodist Church took Mr. Leonard to play the piano for the worship service there.
I love this route because of the history represented there. But the red bud trees are just gorgeous in the whole area and there probably isn’t a more beautiful display than just east of Grenola on Highway 160 where Corum creek flows south and branches off in two directions on the south side of the road. Both streams are lined with blazing red bud trees.
The second part of my week’s adventure was a visit from my son, Brian; grandson, Chandler and his friend Brett Lemon. They helped me with some necessary burning and work in the garden. They also had time to do some hunting and fishing and just enjoy being out in the wide open spaces. At any rate they did escape the slumber party held by Chandler’s twin sister at their home with five other twelve year old girls!
Brian enjoyed seeing many old friends at the Monterey Supper at the Grenola Community Building on Saturday evening. There was a good crowd, the food was delicious and there was plenty of it. The event was successful in raising funds for some much needed improvements to the Community Building. I noticed quite a few of the Volunteer Fireman helped in preparation and serving and we do appreciate the attendance and support of many from surrounding communities.
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Great News! Beth Moore went to visit Joyce Hull and was so encouraged to find Joyce in good spirits and feeling much better. Joyce feels that she is now “on the mend”. She is at Our Lady of the Lourdes Rehabilitation Center on North Rock Road in Wichita.
It is good to see Gary Kinnaman back for lunch at the Senior Center, much improved after his heart surgery.
Charlene Todd is back playing cards at the Pitch Club after her back surgery the first of February. It was good that Charlene and Jim Carmichael were able to be present and provide refreshments for the club on Tuesday evening.
Dale Steward is back to work and at Church after Heart Surgery and will be performing with the County Liners at a concert at the Methodist Church in Moline on April 26 at 7:00 p.m.
Dean Steward of Topeka is making good progress as he continues to receive treatment for lymphoma.
Carl Linder is breathing better and able to do his work after having surgery on his sinus cavities a couple of weeks ago.
The API board met on Tuesday morning at the Grenola Senior Center with the district director, Rosie O’Brien. The API stands for Aging Projects Incorporated. It is partially funded with tax dollars, so a board of citizens who are directly involved is required. The group is responsible for Friendship Meals and Meals on Wheels. The Officers are Marjorie Lampson, President; Robin Rivers, Vice President; Dorothy Keplinger, Secretary; and Jim Carmichael, Treasurer. Other members of the board are Joann and Leroy Terry, Sue Roe, and Helen Sprague. The employees who keep things going at the Grenola Center are Pansy Franks, cook; Judy French, site manager; and Elizabeth Featherson, driver for meals on wheels. Each week day meals are prepared and delivered to the homebound in Grenola, as well as Cambridge and Burden. Rosie O’Brien is responsible for overseeing the operations in this area from her office in Hutchinson. Rosie is a direct descendant of John Hall, one of Grenola’s first settlers.
The invitations have been sent out to the Alumni Banquet to be held on Saturday, May 8, at 6:30 p.m. at the Grenola Community Building. Following long standing tradition, the banquet is held the day before Mother’s Day. If you did not receive an invitation or know of a person who attended school in Grenola and would like to come, please contact Delbert and Janet Lampson, 885 Trail Road, Grenola, Ks. 67346 or call 620-358-3811. Lodging facilities are available nearby at the Crooked Creek in Moline. Their phone number is 620-647-4055. Reservations for the banquet need to be made by May 1.
My adventures for the week included the Redbud tour in Chautauqua, visiting the old towns of Hewins, Elgin and Chautauqua, the Hollow in Sedan and the Quivira Scout Ranch. Edwin Hewins and Eli Titus were the cattle buyers from Kansas City who bought the longhorn cattle that were driven from Texas to be shipped out on the train in Grenola in the early 1880’s. The town of Hewins was named after the cattle buyer, he owned a large ranch extending from Hewins to near Cedar Vale.
When Elgin was built on the border of Oklahoma, the prosperity of the cattle drives that had been in Grenola then went to that town. The Santa Fe railroad built a large freight house in 1886 to handle large shipments of freight taken from Elgin on strings of freighter wagons to Pawhuska, Hominy, Skiatook, Gray Horse and other places in Oklahoma. It was during this time that the brick streets with cement gutters were laid out and there is even a divided avenue. My favorite sight on the entire route is the Elgin United Methodist Church with the beautiful large stained glass windows.
Another interesting and beautiful place on this route is the peaceful little Rose Dale Cemetery just two miles east of Hewins on Dalton Road. The first time I visited there, I found the grave stone of Earl and Margaret Hopper who owned the Drug Store in Grenola in the 1950’s. Mr. Hopper was the last pharmacist in Grenola.
Many people also remember a local historian at Hewins, Joe Leonard. Joe had left Hewins, studied at the Julliard School of Music and was a renowned Concert Pianist. He returned to Hewins in his retirement and spent his last years in the Cedar Vale Nursing Center. Each Sunday, for as long as he was able, some of the members of the Wauneta Methodist Church took Mr. Leonard to play the piano for the worship service there.
I love this route because of the history represented there. But the red bud trees are just gorgeous in the whole area and there probably isn’t a more beautiful display than just east of Grenola on Highway 160 where Corum creek flows south and branches off in two directions on the south side of the road. Both streams are lined with blazing red bud trees.
The second part of my week’s adventure was a visit from my son, Brian; grandson, Chandler and his friend Brett Lemon. They helped me with some necessary burning and work in the garden. They also had time to do some hunting and fishing and just enjoy being out in the wide open spaces. At any rate they did escape the slumber party held by Chandler’s twin sister at their home with five other twelve year old girls!
Brian enjoyed seeing many old friends at the Monterey Supper at the Grenola Community Building on Saturday evening. There was a good crowd, the food was delicious and there was plenty of it. The event was successful in raising funds for some much needed improvements to the Community Building. I noticed quite a few of the Volunteer Fireman helped in preparation and serving and we do appreciate the attendance and support of many from surrounding communities.
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