newsletter of the Cloud County Historical Society Museum

January 2015 e-mail: [email protected] 785-243-2866 w ww.cloudcountyks.org

——————————————————————————————————————————————————————

55th Annual Dinner Meeting & Program

Highlights with Secretary Aline Luecke

————————————————————————————————————————————————————— The 55th Annual Dinner Meeting of the Cloud County Historical So- ciety was held at the Catholic Parish Hall on Thursday evening, October 16, 2014 at 6:00 p.m. There were 104 reservations for a wonderful meal catered by Donna Brummett. Guests were served by athletes of the CCCC baseball team and Donna’s husband Greg. Vice-President Dana Brewer welcomed everyone to the dinner meet- ing and asked Dr. Warren Freeborn to give the Invocation. Dana then gave a tribute for the late Robert “Bobby” Keiser who was a long time volunteer at the Cloud County Museum. Board member Dan Harris spent many hours at the Museum doing research of the Cloud County Historical Society’s Constitution, its amend- ments and revisions. Copies were placed on each table for members to read. A short business meeting commenced with Treasurer Betty Losh providing copies of the Society’s Annual Financial report at each table and giving an explanation regarding receipts and disbursements. Joan Freeborn made a motion to accept the report, seconded by Verna Hamel. It passed. Membership Chair Alice Walker gave an updated report for a total of 35 Courtesy members, 135 members that pay yearly dues and 176 Life time members for a combined total of 346 members. Our Curator Cindy Reimann gave a report on some of the things were happening at the Museum this year. She acknowledged Marilyn Johnston for the discovery of the letter and appreciation for contacting our guest speaker Susan Schoelwer, the Robert H. Smith Senior Curator at George Washington’s Mount Vernon. Cindy mentioned the interviews of Ed & Marion Pick and Lorene Fraser, conducted by Chris Stiles of Cat Scratch Productions that will be available soon. The book “Images of America: Concordia” by authors Dena Bisnette and Joe Gilliam will be available this spring. When Cindy passed the ham radio test, Joe Gilliam gave her a short wave radio. The Kansas-Nebraska Ham Radio Club will install an antenna, power supply, and radio donated by Joe Gilliam in the Museum. Other things mentioned were: Quilt of the Month More Highlights with Aline Luecke 2 displays; the Dwight D. Eisenhower Museum’s Three year Commemorative Anniversary Exhibit “World War II Remembered” displaying artifacts from the Cloud County Museum’s POW collection; vehicles have been moved to the Museum Annex with Norris & Lois Anderson’s 1949 Studebaker, Bonneville Land Speed Record Holder, in the front window; volunteers built a replica of Lester’s Sweet Shop store front and a mural 12’x6’ of children in the Sweet Shop (1950s) will be placed on the back wall of the display when funds are raised; and a mural of Concordia’s Main Street will be placed on the wall adjacent to the front window at the Museum Annex once funds are raised. Cindy Reimann and Dana Brewer acknowledged the Volunteers for their outstanding contribution to the Cloud County Museum. The election of Directors and Officers were held. The names presented for direc- tors were: Tom Gennette, James Bell, Bev Taddiken, Daniel Harris, and Alice Boschek. Mark Morgan moved to accept the nominees, seconded by Nading. It passed. Proposed officers for next year were: President-Tom Gennette, Vice-President-Dana Brewer, Recording Secretary-Aline Luecke, Treasurer - Betty Losh, and Membership Secretary-Alice Walker. Verna Hamel moved to elect these officers, sec- onded by Jim Buoy. It passed. Dana introduced our speaker, Susan Schoelwer who gave a presentation and discussion on “America’s first First Lady Martha Washington.” She gave a very interesting talk with pictures that helped to tell Martha Washington’s story. Schoelwer addressed the relationship between Martha (Patsy) and her niece Fanny Bassett Washington and Martha’s life during the war which included traveling to military en- campments during the winter to join her husband, George. Martha was a great hostess and one picture was of her five gallon punch bowl. Another picture shown was of Martha’s bathing gown, weights attached at the bottom of the gown, to keep it from rising up. A Martha Washington ten question quiz provided by Marilyn Johnston was placed at each table prior to the event. Betty Losh read the correct answers at the end of the program. We learned some cool stuff about the Washington’s. The original Martha Washington letter that was written January 27, 1793 to Fannie Bassett Washington was on display.

—————————————————————————————————————————————————————-

Ladies Auxiliary to the VFW Celebrates 100th Anniversary

The LAVFW was established September 17, 1914 to assist the VFW Posts and members of the posts, auxiliaries and their families, and to show allegiance, fidelity and patriot- ism to the United States. Its members are relatives of de- ceased or honorably discharged officers or enlisted military whose service entitles them to membership in the VFW.

Local members of Martin LeSage Ladies Auxiliary to Post #588 celebrated its 80th anniversary in January 2014. They share many good memories of helping all veterans, especially local veterans and their families, working with youth programs, assisting members with cancer grants, and donating to and participating in community groups and projects. Cloud County Historical Society members Gertrude Breault serves as President, Ruth Bombardier as Sr. Vice-President & Trustee, and Cheryl Sulkosky as Secretary of the LAVFW to

Post #588. A Special Visitor to the Museum September’s VFW Auxiliary display prompted a visitor, Ethan Elwood of Belleville, to inquire into further related articles of the VFW in the Museum. Ethan was shown the VFW section and after going through many scrap books, was pleased to find several newspaper articles about his grandfather, the late Leonard Wiltse, who was an active VFW member and an employee of the Blade-Empire, as well as his great-aunt, the late Dorothy Lawyer, Leonard’s sister, who served the Auxiliary in many capacities. 3

CLOUD COUNTY MUSEUM ANNEX

Home of The Whole Wall MURAL

We are pleased to announce brick masons Shawn Cyphers and Dell Lee have completed the final installation of the Recognition Pathway Bricks located on the south side of the entrance to the Museum Annex. If you would like to locate your brick, there is a reference map available at the Barons Hotel desk. Susie Haver of Cloud County Tourism would be happy to assist you, or if you require further assistance, feel free to call on Aline Luecke at the Museum.

From the Editor—Cindy Reimann

NOW OPEN FOR BUSINESS!

In 1971, an article appeared in the Blade-Empire that regaled the many business enterprises of Charles and Isabell Blosser as having helped Concordia grow. It was 1927 when Charles H. Blosser started his first business, the Blosser Motor Company (a Chevrolet car dealership), in the building we now embrace as the Museum Annex, and in later days as Everitt Hardware. It’s been said the engine that drove American Industrial production was always close at hand, under the hoods of our cars. We are compelled to dedicate this space once again to remember and enjoy the love affair we have experienced with our automobiles and trucks. With help from Harley Adams of Concordia Tractor Inc., and Charles Bowers of Concordia Chevrolet & Buick, we were able to move Isabell Blosser—photo courtesy of James Bell several vehicles between the Annex and the main Museum building. Wes Freeman of CTI and Charles Bowers of Concordia Auto Mart collaborated and successfully managed to move the 1928 International truck to the Annex. This project took some thought and strategic planning since the tires on the truck had all but disintegrated. It took a tow dolly under the rear wheels and a tow truck lift at the front end to maneuver the vehicle into the rear entrance of the building. With several sets of wheel dollies provided by David Hansen and Paul Moon, and with the help of Wes Freeman and Justin Snyder of CTI, Alan Jackson, Dan Morrissette and Charlie Bowers of Concordia Auto Mart, David Hansen, Museum volunteers Tom Istus, John Luecke and (left side) Alan Jackson, David Hansen, Wes your Museum Director, we were able to physically move the truck into place. Freeman, and Justin Snyder (right side) The next truck to be moved to the Annex was the 1950 International. More Blosser Motor Company 4

with Aline Luecke at the wheel, Wes Freeman supervising, and Justin Sny- der driving the John Deere Gator, this was a fairly smooth operation. Jean Franey stopped by just in time to help us push the truck into the An- nex . Once inside, we had surmised that this endeavor would be a piece of cake, and it was, until we tried to slide the truck into its final resting place. The guys put wheel dollies under each wheel, but the truck was so heavy, the ball bearing rollers began to collapse to the outside. It was down home country ingenuity and the floor jack that saved the day. To our delight, Jean brought home made ice cream —a perfect ending to our day!

The Blosser Stan- dard Service Station

302 West Sixth Street Concordia, Kansas

Among the many accomplishments of Charles Blosser, he served in the in France during World War I, earned a degree in Mechani- cal & Electrical Engineering from Kansas State University, and a degree in Business from Central Business College. Taken from the Museum’s DVD col- lection, “Interview: Isabell Blosser by Donna Berner” from the Video Li- brary of James Bell, Isabell recalls when Charlie was a co-owner in a Chevro- let dealership and that upon proposing marriage to her, he suggested Isabell marry him and be his bookkeeper. They wed. Together Charlie and Isabell borrowed ten thousand dollars and bought out Charlie’s partner. They would eventually own five Chevrolet dealerships located in Concordia, Belleville, and Sutton, Kansas, and one in Clay Center and Superior, Nebraska. The Blossers would fly to each business to see how they were getting along. The rest is his- tory! (More on Blosser Motor Company and Babe Houser Chevrolet in the next newsletter.) Around 1933, the Blosser For Mayor Committee proclaimed that Charlie had proven by past performance that he was unselfish in his promotion of civic enterprise. Like most locals, he was anxious to have Concordia expand and prosper allowing local business enterprises to flourish, as well as his own. Charles came out of the military with “his little old $60, even as you and I, and has managed his affairs with such business acumen that he is now one of the big taxpayers of Concordia. And he has made his money himself. It wasn’t given to him….We are confident he has the means, the ability and the desire to bring attractions and business enterprises to Concordia, without the expenditure of taxpayer’s money. He has proven this in the past by bringing vast crowds to our city who spent money with our merchants, thereby giving profits with which to pay their taxes….He was one of us during the World War. He is for all of us now.” Charlie & Isabell’s many enterprises included: Blosser Motor Co., Blosser Motor & Boat Company, the Blosser Airport (1930), the Skyliner Steakhouse and the Skyliner Motel (1948) and the purchase of the Shady Lake Court. All of these businesses have been of considerable benefit to the progress of Concordia. The Blossers have given us such a gift!—it continues still. 5 BOMB AT B-VILLE Com es to Blosser Mot or Com pany

In Isabell’s interview with Donna, she stated that “Charlie had a daredevil atti- tude and a life full of adventure.” Charlie started racing in 1919, a decade when racing was risky business. Charlie came very close to closing the book on his racing career and his life in the 1920s. We are certain this risk-taker would be pleased to know that the front window display at the Annex now captures the attention of those passing by with Norris & Lois Anderson’s 1949 Stude- baker, Bonneville Land Speed Record Holder, that dare to run 200 mph. Norris picked this truck out of a salvage yard in Nebraska in 2004, and with the help of friends Jon Thurston completing the TIG welding, and Chad McDaniel doing wonders with the 60-year-old metal and applying the pearl paint, Norris rebuilt the truck into its current configuration. Wife Lois and crew chief Alan Snyder are the team’s pit crew, and in past years, Chuck and Martha Salman helped out too. Sadly, Jon died of a heart attack in 2008, and Chad in an accident in 2009, and Lois passed away in 2011. Norris continues to race with them in mind. (Hot Rod, February 2010, by David Fetherston) Prior to housing the Studebaker in the Annex, Norris and Jim fired up the engine, much to the satis- faction of everyone present. I for one could hardly contain my excite- ment—it was music to my ears. It took me back to some of the best times lived in my life. With the help from pit crew member, Jim Reiter, retired Kaneb Pipeline employee and Greg Wiesner, owner of Wiesner Construction, Norris methodically moved the truck into the Annex. Museum volunteers Tom Istus, John Luecke, and Denny Taylor (former vintage early modified auto racer, ‘32 Chevy) were at the team’s beck and call. Cindy Reimann (Lane) 1980s Norris runs two engines in the Stude- Auto Machinist baker, both big-block chevys, one at 565 cubic Al Cerny Racing inch and the other a 477ci. Both were built with the help of friend Dan Topliff at Per- formance Machine in Manhattan, Kansas. Since 2006 Norris continues to set records either in AA/MP @ 219.331 mph or A/MP @ 191.966 mph. The very challenge of building a crea- tive race car, having the right players working with you, and then break- ing records and doing it quietly is paramount to this team. Keep an eye out for more speed and more broken records from Norris Anderson. You’re invited to come see this beauty, the many books, trophies, gear and more. Imagine you’re in the driver’s seat! (More to come.) more Museum Annex 6

With the revamped displays at the Museum Annex, I believed that from an historical prospective a picture of downtown Concordia and early transporta- tion would make a great mural for the space on the wall adjacent to the front window. It will generate much interest and retrospect and would tie together Cloud County Tourism, transportation, and local busi- nesses. Cloud County Convention & Tourism agreed and gave us a grant for $600 to cover the cost of the mural to be reproduced by Picture This. Prior to this, we set up a display of four photos and a donation box at the Annex and advertised via the Blade-Empire and KNCK Radio that the public was invited to come vote for their favorite photo. This was the photo chosen most popular by the visitors to the Annex. Authors Dena Bisnette and Joe Gilliam received this vintage photo of Concordia’s Main Street from Rich- ard Larson/Dallas Nading that was scanned for their new book “Images of America: Concordia.” The book is scheduled to be released in February of 2015 and is part of the Arcadia Publishing’s “Images of Amer- ica” series. Dena and Joe will launch their Book Tour March 21, 2015 at 1:30 p.m. here at the Museum.

Throughout the year, displays are arranged from the donations given to the museum for the various holidays. Volunteer Mardell Snavely artfully gives this scarecrow (donated by Robert Thomas) a new look with a coat of paint. Cheyenne Sorell, Aline Luecke and Denny Taylor decorate for the Christmas season. Lyle Mor- gan, Harvey Olson and Harold Severance hung the antique lighted star at the front entrance to the museum. ______OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS AT OUR DOOR MARCH 10, 2015

On March 10, 2015, the Cloud County Historical Society Museum is participat- ing in Match Madness. Every donation will be stretched further if you donate to our organization online at www.communityfoundationforcloudcounty.org from 12:00 a.m. to 11:59:59 p.m. or in person at the CFCC office at 201 W. 6th Ste. A (Century 21 Meeting Room), Concordia, KS from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. The Community Foundation for Cloud County is hosting this event as a way to give back to the Cloud County community. Our organization will benefit from a local match pool of $20,000 available for participating organizations. We hope you will consider supporting us on March 10th! Your donation will go a long way in helping us build our endowment ensuring future prosperity in con- tinuing our mission. Match Madness is a marvelous opportunity that we don’t want to miss. Any amount of match will increase your gift resulting in a greater benefit for the museum. Please contact the museum if you have any questions regarding this opportunity. COMING This MARCH 2015... 7 ______

OPEN HOUSE

with Phil S. Dixon

March 28 @ 1:30 p.m.

______

KC MONARCHS

For more than thirty years author Phil S. Dixon has recorded African- American sports topics with a vast array of in-depth skill and historical accu- racy. He is widely regarded for his expertise on baseball history. He has au- thored nine prior baseball books and won the prestigious Casey Award for the Best Baseball Book of 1992. He received a SABR MacMillan Award for his excellence in historical research. Dixon is co-founder of the Negro League Baseball Museum in Kansas City and formerly worked in the Public relations office of the American League Kansas City Royals. He is completing his tenth book, Tommy Campbell, A Boxing Bout with the Mobsters which is his first on boxing; his first inside look into the unethical relationship of boxing and organ- ized crime in the lightweight division during the 1940s and 1950s. He is also an expert speaker on the topic of Jack Johnson, the first African-American heavyweight boxing champion. The Kansas City Monarchs were the longest running franchise in the history of baseball’s Negro Leagues. Operating in Kansas City, Missouri and owned by J.L. Wilkinson, they were charter members of the Negro National League from 1920 to 1930. The Monarchs won ten league cham- pionships before integration, and triumphed in the first negro League World series in 1924. The Monarchs had only one season in which they did not have a winning season. After sending more players to the major leagues than any other Negro League franchise, the team was finally disbanded in 1965. (Wikipedia) On July 23, 1926 the Blade-Empire had written that the “Travelers Set Hitting Stride But Lose, 3- 6...Monarchs gain Two-Run Lead in First Inning; Never To Be Overtaken.” The Travelers Baseball Club was formed in the spring of 1925 in Concordia, Kansas. It was what we know today as a “farm team” for the St. Louis Cardinals. It was a semi-pro club and was financed by the city fathers and aided by the Cardi- nals. The St. Louis club financed a number of teams around the country. Branch Rickey (vice president and business manager for the Cardi- nals) explained it to the New York Post, “In all of our minor league clubs we divide the country into districts and advise players in those districts to come to us for tryouts. In that way we stimulate interest in baseball and give any boy or man who possesses talent a chance to embark on a baseball career.” The men of the Travel- ers were in their mid twenties and were a salaried ball club. 8 More — PLAY BALL!

From August 26 to September 5, 1927 the 12th Annual Denver Post Tournament was held at Mer- chants Park in Denver, Colorado. The Travelers were invited to participate along with 22 other teams coming from Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Wyoming, Colorado and Texas. Concordia Travelers played ’heads-up’ baseball. The team won the tournament and brought home the trophy. Patricia Titus Fraser, the daughter of Travelers team member Chet Titus, donated the trophy and various photos to the Museum. Chet Titus played second base and was given credit for the winning runs that helped them win the game. The following season Chet Titus was promoted to the Cardinals team at Danville, Illinois. The 1929 season was the last played in Concordia by the Travelers. Chet Titus developed TB in 1931 and died in Concordia in 1932. The Travelers had a reunion in Concordia in 1935. At that time, their trophy was given to Chet’s wife, Pauline Titus. Thanks to Patricia’s donation, the Travelers and their trophy will be remembered for a great time in Concordia’s 1920’s history.

BOOK TOUR — March 29, 2015 @ 1:00 p.m. —

Coincides with the 150 Year Anniversary of a Historical Event with Local Concordia Ties

Presentation by Scott Martelle

Scott Martelle— One of the joys and occasional frustrations of researching a book of history comes with settling into an archive to see what material is in the collection. The joy comes in touching the history, and in finding either rich veins to mine, or unknown tidbits to add to the growing stack of details that will make a narrative come to life. The frustrations grow out of finding nothing new, or finding a collection of irrelevant material. So I was very happy to find at the Cloud County Historical Museum a fairly rich vein of details and context for the last years of Corbett’s life. Corbett, as most of you know, was the former Union cavalryman who killed , the assassin of Lincoln, 150 years ago this April. Corbett eventually settled on an 80-acre homestead in Center Township in 1878, and eked out a living there until shortly before he famously shut down the state capitol building then disappeared from the Topeka State Hospital. In fact, the Cloud County collection was invaluable in helping me frame that por- tion of Corbett’s life, from hard-to-find details on some local skirmishes he was involved in, to details on his daily existence. Not to mention the guns he carried and the fate of his beloved pony, Billy. Those elements, mixed in with material from the state library in Topeka, federal records at the National Archives in Washington D.C., and other sources, let me flesh out Corbett’s life in my new book, The Madman and the Assassin: The Strange Life of Boston Corbett, the Man Who Killed John Wilkes Booth, which will be published April 1. It’s my fifth book of history, and includes some of my favorite historical figures, as well as aspects of the darkest days of U.S. history-the Civil War (Corbett survived some five months in the notorious stockade in Georgia). I’m looking forward to returning to Concordia in March to discuss the book, and Corbett, and hoping to explore a bit the nexus between national history and local legend, and ancestry. One of my favorite parts of talking about books in the environments in which the stories took place is encountering descendants of people involved in the events I wrote about. So bring your own family lore to share. More—BOOK TOUR 9 ————————————————————————————————————————————————————— The Madman and the Assassin The Strange Life of Boston Corbett, the Man Who Killed John Wilkes Booth

As thoroughly examined as the Civil War and the assassination of by John Wilkes Booth have been, virtually no attention has been paid to the life of the Union cavalryman who killed Booth, an odd character named Boston Cor- bett. The killing of Booth made Corbett an instant celebrity whose peculiarities made him the object of fascination and derision. Corbett was an English immigrant, a hatter by trade, who was likely poisoned by the mercury then used in the manufac- turing process. A devout Christian, he castrated himself so that his sexual urges would not distract him from serving God. He was one of the first volunteers to join the US Army in the first days of the Civil War, a path that would in time land him in the notorious Andersonville prison camp, and eventually in the squadron that cor- nered Booth in a barn. The Madman and the Assassin is the first full-length biography of Boston Corbett, a man who was something of a prototypical modern American, thrust into the spotlight during a national news event—an unwelcome transformation from anonymity to celebrity. Scott Martelle is a professional journalist and the author of The Admiral and the Ambassador, Blood Passion, Detroit: A Biography, and The Fear Within. He is an editorial writer for the Los Angeles Times. He lives in Irvine, California. Note: In the Acknowledgements section of The Madman and the Assassin, Scott Martelle writes that “Marilyn Johnston, a volunteer at the Cloud County His- torical Society Museum, provided knowledge and, as needed, legwork to run down elusive facts about Corbett’s life in Concordia.” The Museum is acknowledged once again under Archives of the Source section. Thank you, Scott! The Cloud County Museum staff invites you to reserve your copy of this book today! The sale price is $24.95 plus tax and may be purchased at Scott Martelle’s presentation/discussion being held on March 29 with the author available to sign your book. If you are not able to attend, we would be happy to mail the book to you for the additional postal fee. To reserve a book, call 785-243-2866 or at [email protected]. The Museum’s order for these books will be placed with the publisher soon.

Having Fun Building a “Sweet” New Display

“Another chapter in the history of a Concordia institu- tion, the Sweet Shop, will close Thursday.” (Blade- Empire, Tuesday, January 26, 1993) Lester’s Sweet Shop has been the subject of many stories and Concor- dians of all ages have peered through the glass candy counters to make difficult decisions. Concordia High School alumni from the 1950s can remember Lester’s as The place to go after school, the movies, or athletic events. In 1960, Lester installed a mechanical horse for his children and youngsters who visited the shop. Children could hop in the saddle, insert a dime, and enjoy a ride. Volunteers/donors to the museum are attempting to keep the nostalgia of the Sweet Shop alive and available for reunions and those who would like to bring their kids and grandkids in to see their More—Lester’s Sweet Shop 10

favorite high school hangout. The store front of Lester’s Sweet Shop has been built by volunteers John Luecke, Lyle Morgan, Harvey Olson and Harold Severance is located in the main museum building, and now gives new life to display items moved from the Museum Annex. Paul Moon donated the original neon Sweet Shop sign to the museum. Tom Gennette, David Hansen, Dan Harris, museum volunteers and I assisted Paul in removing the twelve foot sign that hung in his garage and carefully brought it to the museum to be installed. The original MALTS and LUNCH neon signs donated by Brad Deal have been hung in the windows, and the wedding cake created by Rosalee Olson, sits under plexi- glass (compliments of Joe Gilliam) in the front window, as before. Harold designed and built the bench for the cake/displays conserving much needed space. Tom Gennette and Harold Severance both donated Concordia parking meters, all display items authenticating the look of the Sweet Shop photo- graphed in 1971. (refer to page 9) Store Manager Jack Widen and Assistant Manager Angela Lancaster of Sherwin-Williams contributed their expertise to this project by providing preferred paint colors from the Paint & Color 1950s Style Guide. Mellow Coral, # 6324 was chosen for the time when the sweet shop sported a black and rose marble soda fountain with red booths and table tops to match. Jack has been very generous in donating paint for little or no cost to the museum for this display and several others. Since 1959, Sherwin-Williams has provided service for all of your wallpaper and painting supplies. Angela says that “if you have any questions, we’ll be happy to answer them.” Dennis Wright, a yearly visitor to the museum, let us scan a copy of this 1950s photo of children at Lester’s Sweet Shop that he had purchased at the Trading Post. I had this on display in the sweet shop requesting visitors to identify folks in the picture. So far we know of two, Susie Meador and Max Minard. We could use your help in identifying these folks. Jean Franey paid us a visit one day to see the new display and commented that if the photo were large enough to cover the back wall, it surely would bring life to the Sweet Shop and what a tribute to Concordians. I was vexed by the idea and compelled to inquire of Picture This as to possibilities. After speaking with Chad Lowell, he recommended that I look at the 12’ x 9’ mural at Heavy’s that Fran Trost created and in- stalled with the help of Robin Isaacson, proprietor. John Isaacson did show me this work of art and it was impressive. With the help of Fran, a 12’ x 6’ mural could be made with the original photo provided by Brad Deal of the Trading Post. I was given Board approval providing the money could be raised. We received $500 from a grant given by the Advisory Board of the Leva & Frank Duclos Foundation at the Citizens National Bank. Mr. & Mrs. Mike Davis, the son of Lester & Wanetta Davis, are equally excited about this project and have donated $500 covering the expense of the mural. We are so grateful for their support. Thank you! So far, we’ve invested $447 for lumber/hardware and $1400 for the installation of addi- tional lighting in the display (to include the electrical hook-up for the neon sign) contracted with Roger’s Electric & Plumbing. We’ve just ordered red and white floor tiles from Square One Flooring/Hood Heating Air Plumbing & Electric. A fundraiser is being planned with help from guest speaker, Cindy Higgins of the KHC Speakers Bureau who more—Sweet Shop 11 will help us relive the glory days of the soda fountain. We are accepting monetary donations still and invite an experienced volunteer with good knees to help us install the floor tiles soon. We would appreciate the help!

————————————————————————————————————————————————————— What’s Goin’ On Now? — from Cindy’s desk with photos by AlineLuecke

Last August I took the test, passed and was granted the Technician’s Amateur Radio License. My call sign is KEOBOM. Electrician Roger Demanette and Doyle Scott of the KS-NE Ham Radio Club and club mem- bers are waiting for agreeable weather to install the ham radio and associated equipment donated by Joe Gilliam. Volunteers are busy building the Don Kerr– Shade Tree Mechanic display. Rosalee Olson reorganized the Beauty Shop display that was moved over from the Annex. The Blosser Fire Wagon display has been relocated next to the fire pole for better ease of viewing. Larry Bownell and Kevin Watson of Reliable Heating & Air Conditioning have installed radi- ant heating in the north section of the museum. It’s nice and toasty now! Prof. Tom Nelson of Elon University, NC with Director/videographer Jason McMerty of Elon in Los Angeles, CA completed their latest project, “The Story of Marion Ellet.” Prof. Nelson attended the Kansas City International Film Festival on October 16 where the Marion Ellet documentary was well received. Next day, members of the Alpha Sigma Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma at CCCC hosted the screening with a reception following. The DVD is now available for sale at the Museum courtesy of Prof. Nelson. Ellet was a long time columnist for the Blade-Empire and also served as the paper’s society editor for many years. Her column Mugwump Musings was widely syndicated and created a unique voice in Kansas for the greater part of the twentieth century. Thank you, Tom! In Loving Memory

Robert “Bobby” R. Keiser

Robert was born February 8, 1927 and at 14 months of age was adopted by Arnie & Tilly (Hanson) Keiser. Robert attended country school through the eighth grade and then began working on the family’s dairy farm. He was an athlete in the Kansas Special Olympics and enjoyed bowling with the RCW Club. Robert was heavily involved with ARC, a local organization for people with special challenges. Robert was a volunteer and greeter at the Museum for almost 20 years. No one got past him without signing our Robert Keiser w/Annie Chapin, wife of guest book! He also had a green thumb and the plants flourished under his Museum Curator, Brad Chapin from 1990-1999 ‘Clowning Around’ care. Robert passed away October 9, 2014 and will be sorrily missed. 12 Taking A Walk Down Memory Lane...

Ben Rivers, WWII U.S. Navy veteran and J.C. Penney store manager, poses for a picture with family in the J.C. Penney display where most items have been donated by Ben. Doug and Christine Rivers are watching the Prisoners of Plenty DVD while sitting on a bench made by German POWs of . Ben Rivers’ WWII scrap book is on display here also. From one of Ben’s many pages he writes on WWII as he lived it and reflects on that time a half century later. He notes that life in America changed fundamentally after Dec. 7, 1941 in the way “we work, play, build families and conduct our daily lives.” Soldiers returning home were heard singing the tune, “don’t fence me in.” The war did just that, knocked down many fences, some not for the better. The US was swept up into boom times in demand of autos, radios, houses, appliances and goods of all kinds. Separation and the flux of times brought on a high divorce rate prevalent still. Because of the tre- mendous industrial production of war years, women went to work, entered politics and thus formed the headwaters of contemporary feminism. So changed America! I believe Mr. Rivers’ analysis deserves consideration yet today. Mary Alice Gunter Brent w/Alice Walker—The player piano was donated in the memory of Mary Magdlena Gunter (1869-1936) of Colfax Township in Cloud County who originally purchased this piano in 1916 for $400. Raymond Brent attended CCCC from 1968-1969 and was a member of The Great Soci- ety Singers. Raymond points to his signature on the Great Society banner where he had written, “It was a wonderful time.” Director Everett Miller donated the banner and more. Janet Cailteux Caron Weber is one of four sisters who were all married wearing this wedding dress. Bill Loucks of Manhattan is a relative of the Blosser family who paid us a special visit just to see one of our major attractions, the 1928 Lincoln Page owned by Charles & Isabell Blosser. Ralph & Shirley Lewis—They were impressed with Annie Chapin w/daughter-in- Lester’s Sweet Shop display. Memories they shared law and grand- with me were of kids shootin’ gum through straws children—Dec resulting in straws hanging down from the ceiling. It 21, 2014 was was a test of Lester’s patience! When dating as Annie’s 91st sophomores, while sitting in the booth, they would birthday. They love to communicate using Morse Code for privacy. Cool! play school .

May 2015 will mark 72 years since Camp Concordia opened and November 2015 will mark the 70th anniver- sary of the Camp’s closing. Brothers Marlin and Rodney Hruza— Jerry Wiesner visited the Ameri- (l. to r.): Rosalie Williamson The POW Camp Concor- their Mother, Juanita Hruza, painted can Historical Museum twice in the (Michigan), Verna and Ron Rob- dia Preservation Society the VFW Mural. Rodney donated more month of Sept. and stated, “I find inson, Manhattan, KS—Verna plan to have their grand WWII items from the collection of their this museum more fascinating and stated, “You are a Hidden Treas- opening of the museum on Great Uncle Lloyd R. Bergman, veteran complete.” John Paul Chaput, ure...totally impressed.” They will the 72nd Anniversary in U.S. Air Force Photographer. seated, donated more items for the be our best advertisement! They May. It was 20 years ago Chaput Funeral Home display. didn’t know we were here . they had “Celebration 95.” 13 GENEALOGY INTRIGUE With Marilyn Johnston

Transported Cloud Countians

Meet in Los Angeles

In the late 1920’s, Cloud County along with much of the Midwest was engulfed with drought accompanied with serious fi- nancial downturn. Quite a few Cloud Countians enticed by word of the great weather and good crops began moving out to southern California. Some very prominent residents of this area were a part of this group. Beginning in July of 1928, and continuing in 1930-1931- 1932, letters were written to the editor of the Kansan newspaper, Gomer Davies, telling of a Fourth of July picnic held for the recent emigrants to California in Sycamore Grove Park in Los Angeles. Henry R. Honey, former Cloud Countian was the correspondent that told their story. He reported that picnic reunions were a regular annual affair for southern Californians as the weather and roads and general conditions were conducive to outdoor functions. He claimed that millions of southern Californians met in all the area parks for reunions on the Fourth, swarming to the beaches from Santa Barbara to San Diego. Others drove to Tijuana, Mexico for races and beer. Honey described a long table spread with the bounties of a land of fruit and flowers with the knowl- edge that the pies and cakes are not going to be attacked by flies and the silk-stockinged legs of the ladies are not going to be devoured by mosquitoes. Mr. Honey tells Gomer that many of his old friends wanted the Concordia editor to hear of this west coast party! And if he throws this letter away he is going to offend some of his old good friends! Mr. Honey mentioned a 117 mile drive his family took to San Diego to visit with Mrs. C.F. Hostetler (a former Kansan) recently and then listed many names who were present at the picnic. Some of the names listed were: Atkinson, Farmer, DeWaide, Kenyon, Desilet, Odette, Moore, Stackhouse, Macy, Beasley, Moore, Dildine, Budreau and Henry Honey’s wife, Dr. Sarah Honey. The later letters mentioned the Sawhills and C.J. Lempe who once had a greenhouse in Concordia. Honey mentions that C. Hinman got rich back in Cloud County but prefers to enjoy the climate in the west and chooses to let others till his soil back home. All present at the picnics enjoyed reading the hometown news and memories were stirred. One participant saw the first train pull into Concordia, another saw the daily mail roll in in a cloud of dust with O. Ladd in the driver’s seat, one saw Louie Lord play in the LaRocque theatre by kerosene lamplight. Another remembered Sam Pratt’s Livery Stable, Bennett’s brew- ery on the river bank, the Nelson grocery and A. Gay’s barber shop. Though there are glowing reports about California, we noted that Honey felt if people in the east and middle west had the money to buy the or- anges and lemons, and if the Hoover administration hadn’t closed nearly all the oil wells in California and put many out of work, times would be more prosper- ous in California. Photo taken of the park by Bruce Johnston, To read much more of this group who left Cloud County, have the gals Marilyn’s son, while in L.A. where the at the museum show you the copies of the articles from the Kansan. Cloud County group met. 14

CLOUD COUNTY HISTORICAL Yearly Membership Dues

SOCIETY MUSEUM $5 Per Individual

OFFICERS 2014 Lifetime Membership Dues Thanks to all of you who have re- President: TOM GENNETTE newed your membership. Please check Vice-President: DANA BREWER $100 (Under 50 Years Old) Lifetime Secretary: ALINE LUECKE your label. The year listed on it will Treasurer: BETTY LOSH $75 (50-60 Years Old) Lifetime identify the year your membership is Membership: ALICE WALKER paid for. We want to thank each of you $50 (60-70 Years Old) Lifetime for your support. Nothing can be ac- DIRECTORS complished without all the things each $30 (70-80 Years Old) Lifetime JIM BELL of you bring to make this a great place ALICE BOSCHEK $15 (80-90 Years Old) Lifetime to visit, to volunteer, and to belong. CARMAN DAVIS DANIEL HARRIS FIRST TIME READER: If you would like to receive our quarterly News- BEV TADDIKEN

letter on a regular basis, a $5.00 membership fee will guarantee delivery.

Please consider becoming a member today! Director/Curator: CINDY REIMANN

——————————————————————————————————————————————————-——-—-

New Life Members—Susie Haver, Mary Jane Hurley, Bob McCollom, Anita Nelson, Gladys Peter- son, and Sister Jean Rosemarynoski (Nazareth Convent). New Members—The Steve Elstrom Family, Gerold & Vicki Hall, Martha Pearson, Wendy Reimann, Vicki Roberts, Brandon Sanderson, Rick Simpson, and Denny Taylor. Welcome! Cheyenne Sorell, CCCC work/study student. Denny Taylor, maintenance contractor. Histori- cal Society member Alice Boschek—newly elected 2015 Director to the Museum Board. Cheyenne’s major is in interior design. She is looking forward to owning her own business in the future. She will graduate from CCCC in 2016 and then transfer to Wichita State University. She enjoys learning more about the his- tory of Cloud County in daily projects and we hope to have her again next year. Aline, John, and I recently had the pleasure of attending “A Midsummer Nights Dream” at CCCC with Cheyenne playing the part of Mustardseed. Congrats to the cast—well done!

—————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Cloud County Historical Society NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION 635 Broadway U.S. POSTAGE PAID Concordia, KS 66901 CONCORIA, KS PERMIT NO. 6 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED