Thursday, September 6, 2012 Saint Francis Herald 3* Beecher Island reunion upcoming The annual Beecher Island Following John’s presentation reunion is set for Saturday and will be the raffle drawing for the Sunday, Sept. 15 and 16, at the Helping Hand Club baskets and Beecher Island campgrounds on the quilt. Beecher Island road. Check the ad in this week’s Many people come for the entire Herald for more information on weekend. as there is lots of room the times of the events. for campers. Food will be available History throughout the weekend from The The reunion has long and deep Idalia FCE Club,The Wray Lions roots in the tri-state region. In and The Idalia Lions. Among the September of 1868 after weeks of many things to enjoy on Saturday pursuing a band of Dog Soldiers, will be a black powder shoot, a pedal a company of scouts led by Major tractor pull, music by the Swinging George Forsythe and Lt. Fred Seniors, the Beecher Helping Hand Beecher made camp on the banks Club quilt show, horseshoes, games of the Arickaree River. and races for all ages. , On the morning of the 17th At this years reunion local amatuer they were attacked by the Indians. radio enthusiast Ron Peterson will Making their way to a sandbar be hosting a special event radio island in the creek bed, they were broadcast. A broadcasting station able to hold off their attackers. will be set up on the grounds With all of their horses killed and radio operators from around the and many wounded men, they world will be able to take part in the had to remain on the island for reunion. nine days until the 10th Calvary Visitors are encouraged to stop Buffalo Soldiers came to their in at the broadcast trailer. They rescue. This became known as the may have the opportunity to visit battle of Beecher Island in honor with people around the world. The of Lt. Beecher who was killed in EDA MAE HOWARD sliced into her 88th birthday cake at her childhood home, now The Spencer House Bed and Breakfast, this special event broadcast call letters the fight. past weekend. Herald staff photo by Karen Krien are NOB. In September of 1898, several of The Saturday evening the scouts came to the area to find entertainment will be Loose Cannon the location of the battle. After Bluegrass. A Denver-based band erecting a primitive marker they will be playing traditional bluegrass began making plans for a reunion Woman celebrates 88th birthday original songs, soft ballads, sweet of the remaining scouts. harmonies and instrumental barn The first reunion took place in burners. 1899. The reunion has taken place Sunday morning gets under every year since. in St. Francis childhood home way with the Idalia Lions pancake These men felt the need to By Karen Krien granddaughters, were sometimes from St. Francis high school with fun they were. It was so different breakfast. Area Boy Scouts will preserve the battlle ground and [email protected] invited to tea served on her best the class of 1942, she headed to from the fairs in the city,, she lead the ceremonial flag raising. their memories of these events. A former St. Francis resident china. Eda Mae remarked that she Kansas State University. World said. Sunday service will feature They created The Beecher Island was pleasantly surprised when was glad that Mrs. Jenkins also War II was still going on and Trent, the youngest of the four, speaker Phil Mitchell with music by Battle Memorial Association in her children brought her back to had teas for young girls, carrying nurses were in short supply. remembered being able to drive Mike and Lorraine McCullough. 1905. her childhood home as her 88th on a “house tradition.” She started training as a nurse, to the Dairy King. It took me an The afternoon show will feature birthday present. Through the years, the thinking she would see what it hour, he said, to which Cindy said, Rex Rideout. Rex is a long-time Helpful hints Eda Mae Hancock Howard Hancocks were friends with Dr. was like. She worked over 2 years “and I pedaled the bike!” student of music and songs of the received a card from her daughter, Ed and Rachael Keller. After Mrs. at Bell Memorial, now known as They remembered dragging 19th century American West. He Common baking soda found in Cindy, telling her to save the Keller died several years ago, the University of Kansas Medical Main – something they didn’t do has performed at many historic most kitchens can be used in other weekend of Sept. 1 – to have family brought the Jenkins a set Center. When the war was over, in the city. They remarked how sites and museums across the ways besides baking. her bags packed (with one nice of goblets that Mrs. Hancock had she was told they didn’t need everyone waved then and, they west. • Scrub pans. Sprinkle soda on outfit) and be ready by 7 a.m. given the family and they thought nurses anymore. still wave today. Rex plays mandolin, fiddle, crusted casseroles and roasting on Saturday – that she would be the goblets should stay with the The folks told me, she said, just Trent also remembered going guitar and banjo, as well as other pans and let sit for five minutes. going on a trip with the destination house. get your degree. She graduated with Dr. Keller to pull a calf. It instruments. He will also be Lightly scrub and rinse. to be a surprise. That surprise was The house, while large for that with a degree in home economics was quite an experience, he said. performing the traditional song • Brush teeth. Use a paste of a weekend at the Spencer House time, had three bedrooms and one but, while she as at K-State, she Steve, the oldest son, said he “Arickaree.” baking soda and water. Bed and Breakfast – the home bath. There was a small room that met her future husband, Claude was always impressed by the way The guest history speaker this • Fight class-B fires (flammable which she and her brothers and was used for a nursery. Eda Mae Howard, who had been a fighter the local news spread. One time year is John H Monnett. John is a liquids, such as gasoline, oil, and sister grew up in. said the girls slept in the east pilot in the war. on the way to visit, there was a professor of history at Metropolitan grease). Baking soda can be used The Spencer House, owned room. They were married in front of radio program where they heard State College in Denver. He has to smother only a small flame. by Carl and Kate Jenkins, has St. Francis was a small town, the fireplace at the Hancock home. that they were coming to visit the written several books including • Deodorize. Dust baking soda a history of only a few owners. Eda Mae said, and people cared Eda Mae said she was wearing a Hancocks in St. Francis. The Battle Of Beecher Island and under your arms to absorb body It was built by Farmer Schields about others. One Christmas steal, blue dress as she walked People were always so friendly, The Indian War of 1867-1869. odor. somewhere around the late 1888 Eve, a couple and their teenage down the stairs to meet Claude. he said. or 1890. He then sold it to Willits daughter had a car wreck. Both When she walked into the Spencer Coming back to St. Francis this Smull. the parents were hospitalized in House on Saturday, she went time was really like a trip back In 1934, Albert and Frances St. Francis and the girl was alone straight to the fireplace, telling her in Mom’s world, Kay said. We Emergency Medical Services Director Hancock bought the house, at the hospital. kids that this was where she and have all learned so many things Sherman County is accepting applications for Emergency moving their family from the very We went to the hospital, Eda Mae their father were married. as Mom’s memory was jogged Medical Services Director. Prefer more than 3 years emergency small house at 300 W. Webster. said, and visited with her, inviting The couple moved to Mission by her surroundings – things that medical administration. Requirements: EMT Certification; CPR After Al died, Mrs. Hancock her back to stay at our home. That where Claude got a job with the we had never heard and probably Instructor; Kansas Certified Training Officer or Instruction Co- continued to live in the big was one of the evenings when we government and Eda Mae began would never have heard if we had ordinator. Applications can be picked up at the Sherman County house until she entered the Good rolled up the carpet and danced. teaching home economics. They not come back to her old home. Clerk’s Office, 813 Broadway, Goodland, KS 67735. Applications Samaritan Village in the mid 70s, The next morning, we had a bought a house and lived there for The Spencer House will be accepted up until September 10, 2012. Sherman County is then it eventually sold to Joe and Christmas present for her. She had the next 63 years. Howard died a Carl and Kate opened the an EOE. Hilda Mlinek. The Jenkins bought a wonderful time, Eda Mae said, little over a year ago but Eda Mae elegantly decorated Spencer House the house 7 years ago. despite the trauma of the accident. still lives in the house. as a bed and breakfast this spring. Eda Mae was about 10 years And, we thought nothing of having They had four children, Steve, It offers three bedrooms and two In Loving Memory of old at the time they moved to the an extra person for Christmas. Kay, Cindy and Trey. And, all four baths. Delicious breakfasts are house. She remembered it was Christmas was a wonderful time of the children had fond memories served on china, either in the Norman Haack a “wonderful house” and they at the Hancock house. There was a of their grandparents’ home and dining room, on the porch or the December 8, 1920 - September 4, 2003 “lived” in it. huge Christmas tree which almost St. Francis. They spent time, upstairs deck. There were five children, John, touched the 11-foot ceiling. We mostly in the summers, visiting Eda Mae and Cindy came back Our Precious Loved One Betty Lou, Harriett, Eda Mae and decorated the house and the tree, St. Francis and their grandparents, for the St. Francis high school Nine years have passed since Lyman. Eda Mae said. Mom Honey and Hi Pop. alumni in June. Eda Mae had called We would roll up the carpets Their mother’s mother, Cindy loved the big trees and for reservations but the Spencer God called you Home. and we and our friends would “Muzzie” (whose real name was playing on the porch. For years, House was already booked. That We love and miss you so much. dance, she said. We were allowed Eda Mae), stayed with them in the she said, the railing was her was when Cindy had the idea of to have parties and play in the cold months. At Christmas, she “balance beam” and she spent having her mother, along with her Your Loving Wife & Family house. The baby grand piano sat baked cookies and made candy. hours walking on them. She said four children, spend a weekend. in the same corner that the Jenkins Eda Mae noted that Muzzie was she liked to ride the bike to the It was a wonderful birthday have one sitting. We loved to play also a painter and painted a mural Dairy King and bring back a treat present, Eda Mae said. Denver Brass presents a clinic the piano and sing, Eda Mae said. on one of the walls in the house for her and Mom Honey. For more information about the Her brothers built tree houses and which the Jenkins did cover in their Kay remembered the parade. Spencer House, call 785-332-2531 "Unlocking the Door to Performance Excellence" dug caves in the yard. renovation but did not destroy. Coming from Mission, she said, or e-mail thespencerhousebandb@ “It was our home,” she said. Eda Mae and her siblings went we didn’t have the opportunity to yahoo.com. Or, check out the bed Sunday, Sept. 9 at 1 p.m. CT and “And we enjoyed it.” off to college. Both Mr. and Mrs. be in a parade. Sometimes, we rode and breakfast’s facebook page Mrs. Hancock, also known Hancock were college graduates bikes and other times, because we at The Spencer House Bed and "Denver Brass 5: Fanfares & Flourishes" by many people, especially her and, Eda Mae said, it was not “if” were friends with the Kellers, we Breakfast. Concert 4 p.m. CT grandchildren, as “Mom Honey,” you were going to college, it was were able to ride horses. loved china and pretty dishes. “when” you go to college. There were also the county fairs St. Francis High School Auditorium. Her daughters, as well as her So after Eda Mae graduated and Kay remembered how much Tickets available at the door and St. Francis businesses. It Back to School Time! Wedding Have your oil changed at the St. Francis Registry Equity Station. Paige Leach We carry Conoco, & Mobil, Coop, Joey Snethen J. LOU’S Salon and Gift Shop Quaker State. 210 West Emerson, St. Francis All major brands Wedding available in quarts, Oct. 13, 2012 Open House, Sept. 17, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. 2.5 gallons and 30 gallon barrels. Appointments begin Sept. 18 Please call to schedule your appointments beginning Sept. 13 Station J.LOU’S Salon 785-332-2410 785-332-2421 Schultz’s Ltd. 114 W. Washington Cell 785-332-0231 stfrancisequity.com St. Francis Owned by the farmers and ranchers of this community since 1913 785-332-2833 Jill Bracelin, owner and stylist

SF 3-36.indd 1 9/5/12 5:38:35 PM