National Park Service Park News U.S. Department of the Interior

Flowering of Nicodemus

From The Superintendent:

THE HOLIDAYS APPROACH ONCE Building Common Ground Through the everywhere) the School is high on the list at AGAIN!! Quilts of Many Hands. This group project our regional office. Cross your fingers. The weather sure is changing lately, for the with the other 4 national parks in Kansas Township Hall. We are working with the worse, or for the better….I don’t know. But brought together elementary school students Township and GSA (General Services one thing IS for sure, it’s going to get colder with local quilters to create quilts that tell Administration) to prepare a lease and colder as the days wear on. We wish the stories of Kansas’ National Parks. The agreement to allow the park to continue you a warm home, ice-free sidewalks and a completed quilts went on tour to the five using the Hall as the Park Visitor Center. wind that always blows the snow AWAY parks this past summer. (Of course, This may offer us a great opportunity to from where you have to shovel. Nicodemus’ quilt was the best, but we may make improvements to the Hall in a short be biased). Plans now call for display of all period of time. Stay tuned. Since our last newsletter a lot has been the quilts at the National Interpreters’ going on: Association national meeting this month. New Visitor Center. The ultimate goal is We hope to inspire other parks in other to establish a new Visitor Center somewhere Homecoming. As is done every year, the states to join the bandwagon and make their near the town and return the Township Hall park ensured that additional “facilities” own quilts, eventually having at least one to the Township- as it should be. The Park were available- portapotties, trash cans, etc, quilt for each of our almost 400 National is continually grateful that the Township has as well as keeping the Township Hall open Park units! been so gracious to lend us the Hall for later in the evening for access. these fourteen years. This year we will be Additionally, the Park sponsored two This coming year we have ambitious plans. performing an Environmental Analysis / nationally recognized speakers- Quintard While not everything will get accomplished Value Analysis- government-ese for Taylor and James Loewen speaking on the (the wheels of government turn comparing properties from environmental links between Nicodemus and Kansas microscopically slowly), our hopes are to and functional perspectives to identify the History. We are grateful that they were able do as much as our small staff can possibly property best suited as a future Visitor to fit us in their schedules. do: Center. About 6 properties have been identified. Participation in this process is Roadside Park. The Park purchased 5 new AME Church. Have working drawings completely up to the property owners, and picnic tables, a hand washing station and prepared for the rehabilitation of the they can decline at any time. We thank sports equipment (for check-out at the Church. These drawings are necessary in them all for their interest in helping the Park Township Hall) to complement the two new order to ensure that all the work needed to in this process. recycling/trash containers purchased about a be done is well thought through, prioritized year ago. We welcome your suggestions for and approved by cultural resource Oral Histories. The success of last year’s future purchases to support visitor services specialists before construction work starts. oral history program, coordinated by the in the Park. Then we will work on finding the funds to Historical Society, was rewarded with support the work in the drawings. additional funding to support more oral Visioning for the Future. We held a short histories this coming year! Congratulations! brainstorming session on the Friday of Schoolhouse. We are working with the Homecoming, but did not get much of a American to finalize a Cooperative Collections Accessibility. The Park turnout. Our intent was to engage the Agreement that will allow the National Park supported efforts of the Historical Society to community to identify what the future may Service to fund and coordinate the continue organizing the collection so that hold for Nicodemus- not what they expect stabilization of some serious structural information can be more readily accessed. to happen based on current trends, but issues at the School. Once this agreement The work by Angela Bates and her staff is to rather, if they could control the future, what is signed we will have working drawings be commended. You must stop by the would they WANT Nicodemus to become. prepared for the School’s stabilization. Society to see the incredible progress that Anyone with thoughts, ideas or suggestions Construction work is planned for next year, has been made. are welcome to give us a call to discuss! and while there is no guarantee that funds will be available (money is tight (continued on page 2)

The official newsletter of Nicodemus National Historic Site

November, 2010

The 1879 Graham County, Kansas Census (continued from page 1) Bradford, Clifford & Melvina & 7 children In late 1879, Governor John St. John of Bradford, Maria Photos. Calling all photographs!!! The film Kansas ordered a census of Graham County Booker, Rankin & Sallie & 2 children about Nicodemus that the Park currently for the purpose of organizing the county. Brooks, Mason & Lubena & 2 children shows visitors is in sad shape. Ultimately, we Brown, Hugh & Addie & 2 children On November 10, 1879, Nicodemus resident Buckner, Henry & Sallie & 2 children hope to get a grant to cover the costs for a and land agent Abram T. Hall, Jr. was Burns, Mary professionally produced Park film to rival appointed by Governor St. John to conduct Carr, Nellie films at other National Parks across the the census. Hall not only counted all of the Coleman, Peter & Marian nation. In the interim, we need to replace Coombs, Eldredge & Ellen & 4 children residents of Graham County, (3,570), but Davenport, Benjamin & Melvina & 4 children what we have now. We are working with also the number of households, (1,084), Davenport, Isaac National Park Service specialists to edit down eligible voters, (1,026), and the number of Davis, Julia the one hour documentary “Nicodemus” by cultivated acres, (17,709). His Dawson, Benjamin & Nancy Deprad, John John Mann to about 15 minutes. The film completed census and report were submitted th Dorsey, George & Tabitha includes a great number of historic and more- to Governor St. John on March 6 , 1880 and Easton, George & Anna & 1 child or-less contemporary photographs of as a result, a proclamation officially Edmonds, William & Mary Nicodemus residents, descendants and events, organizing Graham County, Kansas was Foster, Samuel & Olive but we want to be sure it represents all family Fox, Henry & Georgie & 3 children issued by the Governor. Fulbright, groups. If you have photos of individuals or Griffen, Amanda & 2 children groups that you would like to be considered The 1879 census documented the Gurley, Oliver & 3 children for inclusion in the film, please give me a call colonization of the town of Nicodemus, Harris, Vincent & Ellen & 4 children by December 6. We’ll coordinate how to Hawkins, Ruth Nicodemus Township and other parts of Horn, Beverly & Francis borrow the photos. Once we have all the Graham County by former slaves and their Irving, Willis photos, we will have a special Coffee Hour, families escaping the oppression of the post- Isaacs, Nancy (inviting all local descendants and residents), civil war south. Census results indicated Johnson, David & Sallie when we will review the photos and make the Johnson, Eldridge that heavy settlement of eastern Graham Johnson, Ella selection. If you have any questions, or if you County from 1877 through 1879 by black Johnson, George & Amanda & 4 children have photos, please give me a call by and white homesteaders limited the Johnson, Henry & Mary & 1 child December 6. Many thanks. availability of homestead land close to the Johnson, Joseph & 3 children Johnson, Mary town of Nicodemus and throughout the Johnson, Nettie We will continue to provide updates to all the larger Township of Nicodemus for those Johnson, Thomas & Theresa work noted here at our monthly coffees, (the black settlers arriving after early 1878. The King, Charles & Martha & 4 children second Friday of every month), and in each result was that other eastern Graham Kirtley, Albert & Hallie newsletter. If you live near Nicodemus and Kirtley, Erasmus & 4 children County township populations also benefitted Kirtley, William & Lizzie & 3 children would like to receive reminder notices about from black settlement. Lee, & Louise & 7 children the Coffees, give us a call at 785-839-4321. Lee, Willis & Anna We’d love to have you join us. The following are lists of names of black Lewis, J.A. Lewis, J. Austin settlers in eastern Graham County that Lewis, J.C.B. & Leonora & 1 child Wishing you well during the holidays. arrived by the end of 1879 and totaled 486. Lewis, Granville & Amanda & 4 children Lewis, Minor & Maria Town of Nicodemus: Lilly, Stephen & Amanda Mark Weaver, Superintendent Boles, Anderson & Caroline & 2 children Lindsay, Jeff & Amanda & 3 children Lored, John & 5 children Burley, Josephine & 4 children Downing, James Miles, Charity …and the staff of Nicodemus National Fletcher, Z.T. & Francis & 2 children Miles, Dudley Historic Site. Forsythe, Berry & Susie Miles, Lizzie Hall, Abram T. Moore, Jonas & Clara & 6 children Harris, Albert & Bertie & 4 children Neal, John & Chloe Henry, Handy Neal, Willis & Eliza & 1 child Keeney, Frank & Lizzie & 1 child Neill, William Lee, John & Emma & 1 child Page, Charles & Georgie & 1 child McCabe, E.P. Posture(sp.?), Susan Reynolds, Charles & Mary Moore, Katie Myers, Jerry M. & Maria & 1 child Richardson, Lizzie Napue, Margaret & 1 child Richartson, Frank Niles, J.W. Robinson, Albert & Lizzie & 5 children Petty, Aaron Roundtree, S.P. & Martha Scott, John & Caroline Sadler, Harriet & 2 children Samuels, Leona Scruggs, Jackson Sanford, George Scruggs, Jerry & Catherine & 8 children Smith, W.H & Martha & 7 children Scruggs, Maria Scruggs, Victor Smith, Dianna Nicodemus Township: Alsop, Jeremiah & Serilda (sp.?0 & 3 children Smith, Edmund & 5 children Atkinson, J.E. & Sarah & 5 children Smith, Garrett & Susan & 6 children Barbour, Scott & sister Maggie Smith, Henry & Mary Bradford, Clay Spencer, Lucy (continued on page 4)

2 Flowering of Nicodemus

Building Common Ground Through the Quilts of Many Hands Project

Our sincere thanks go out to Mrs. assembled the quilt. In May, the students Richmeier and Mrs. Diana Parker’s 4th were given a pizza party and each student grade classes at the Hill City Grade School, received a t-shirt with their picture on it Mrs. Rosa Stokes and Ms. Esther Clark for holding their block. Awards for participating in the Building Common participation and appreciation were Ground Through the Quilts of Many Hands presented to the school and the quilters. project, which was a great success. The project was a collaboration between the The project was a great success. The five National Park Service units in Kansas, students had the opportunity to learn, hear local elementary schools and quilting stories and share experiences from their guilds within each park community. The elders in the community and vice versa. project was funded by a grant from the Across Kansas, over 200 students were National Park Foundation with additional Mrs. Rosa Stokes, Ms. Esther Clark, Mrs. Lois involved with the project. The completed Richmeier, Mrs. Diana Parker and the Hill City support from the Walt Disney Corporation Elementary School 4th grade class. quilts were displayed at each of the five and Western National Park Association. Kansas National Parks from June through Six very diverse and unique quilts that August. The quilts will be on display in depict the untold stories of the five Kansas The Nicodemus NHS project began with November in Las Vegas, Nevada at the National Parks were produced by the students visiting the site on a field trip in National Association of Interpretation th students from participating 4 grade classes February to learn about how the park was Conference. and local quilting guilds. The students created, visit with the oldest living designed their individual quilt blocks and descendant in Nicodemus to learn about Our sincere thanks and congratulations go wrote essays in association with each her childhood and quilting and to learn how out to the students, volunteers and park block. Park Rangers from each of the parks the park is signifiicant to the community. staff that worked to make the project a worked with each of the local schools and After the quilt blocks and essays were great success. quilting guilds throughout the project. completed, Mrs. Stokes and Ms. Clark Phyllis Howard,Park Ranger

National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior News About Town

Kansas Black Farmers and Nicodemus Flour Co-op The KBFA meets each month and continues to keep the Teff project in focus. We are still working Former enslaved African Americans left with the RC&D personnel to keep progress moving ahead. Kentucky in organized colonies at the end of the post-Civil War Reconstruction period to We served breakfast to the hunters in our area for the Pheasant opener weekend. Although there experience freedom on the free soils of Kansas. were only a few hunters, they enjoyed their pancakes and sausage and stocked up on bags of pancake Nicodemus represents the involvement of African Americans in the westward expansion mix. and settlement of the Great Plains. It is the oldest and only remaining African American Nicodemus Township town west of the Mississippi River. The township was able to get some needed work done to the Priscilla Arts Building this summer. We added a nice porch and made the entrance wheelchair accessible. The walls in the basement Nicodemus National Historic Site were worked on as well as the foundation. We had new windows made and installed. 510 Washington Avenue, #1 304 Washington Avenue The addition of the gazebo has been received well and it is getting a lot of use. There are some Nicodemus, Kansas 67625 plants that will need replacing; but that is to be expected. We hope to have electricity and lights

785-839-4321 installed by spring. 785-839-4233 We plan to have a Christmas potluck sometime in December. We hope to coordinate with the Villa [email protected] for this event.

The National Park Service cares for the Homecoming special places saved by the American people Kim Thomas was voted into the coordinator position. I, Sharyn Dowdell, wish to to thank those of so that all may experience our heritage. you who have been instrumental in the preparations during the years I was the coordinator. Please continue to be involved with this event and remember how important you are to the success of YOUR homecoming. Sharyn Dowdell, Township Trustee

Flowering of Nicodemus 3 National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

Nicodemus National Historic Site 510 Washington Avenue, #1 Nicodemus, Kansas 67625

EXPERIENCE YOUR AMERICA™

(continued from page 2)

Stevens, Stephen & Harriet & 3 children Hill City Township Editor: Switzer, Maxwell, Rutz(sp.?) & William Allison, Thomas & 2 children

Michelle Huff, Park Ranger Taylor, Emmeline Atkinson, Lewis Taylor, Ernest Brown, Lyman & Laura & 2 children Contributors: Taylor, John & 5 children Glenn, John & Mary & 5 children Taylor, Mitchell & Millie & 7 children Grimes, Edward & Miranda Mark Weaver, Superintendent Thomas, Allen & Nora & 2 children Grimes, Edward, Jr. & Belle & 2 children Phyllis Howard, Park Ranger Thompson, Perry Hickman, Daniel & Willina & 7 children Michelle Huff, Park Ranger Vaughn, John & Laura & 3 children Hickman, Francis Sharyn Dowdell, Nicodemus Township Washington, George & Caroline & 9 children Hicks, Merrit & Elvina & 7 children Trustee Washington, Sarah Jackson, John & Amanda & 5 children Watts, Margaret & 2 children Jones, George & Francis & 5 children NPS Photographers Welton, Benjamin Knuckles, Bartlett & Lucy & 1 child Phyllis Howard, Park Ranger Welton, Benjamin, Jr. Roberts, Garrett & sallie & 2 children Welton, James Talbot, Oscar & Angelina & 3 children Comments? Write to: Welton, Lewis & Maria & 2 children Superintendent Mark Weaver Welton, Stephen Graham Township Welton, Willis Nevins, O.G. & Peasie(sp.?) Nicodemus National Historic Site Williams, Charles & Emma & 1 child Smith, Anna B. 510 Washington Avenue, #1 Williams, Thornton & Elvira Nicodemus, Kansas 67625 Wimms, & Keziah Millbrook Township Wyatt, Griffen Brown, George & Marie & 6 children Federal Job Announcements: Brown, Nathaniel (USAJOBS) Wildhorse Township Brown, William & Sally & 10 children www.usajobs.opm.gov Blue, Henry Taylor, Lizzie Craig, Franklin, Nettie & Sanford Trotter, George The Flowering of Nicodemus is a publication Garland, Samuel Williams, Blueford & fanny & 3 children of Nicodemus National Historic Site and is Hall, Henry Williams, Edward published three times per year. Jenkins,John & Carrie Williams, Willine Napue, Emmanuel Samuels, Clark Happy Township Samuels, John Jackson, Benjamin Stone, Tolbert Wilcox, Monroe & Mary & 5 children Turner, Taylor & Violet & 1 child Michelle Huff, Park Ranger

4 Flowering of Nicodemus