Kansas Historical Society

TOPEKA–The Kansas Historical Society announced that a segment of the Smoky Hill Trail and Butterfield Overland Despatch and four historic districts are among the newest Kansas listings added to the National Register of Historic Places. The Keeper of the National Register of Historic Places entered eight Kansas listings into the Register on July 7. The Keeper also removed three demolished properties from the register. This action brings the total number of Kansas listings in the National Register to 1,400.

The National Register of Historic Places is the country’s official list of historically significant properties. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.

Eligible properties must be significant for one or more of the four criteria for evaluation. Properties can be eligible if they are associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of our history. They can be eligible if they are associated with the lives of persons significant in our past. Distinctive construction can qualify properties for the National Register if they embody the characteristic of a type, period, or method of construction, or represent the work of a master, or possess high artistic values, or represent a significant and distinguishable entity whose components may lack individual distinction. Lastly, properties may be eligible for the National Register if they have yielded or may be likely to yield information important in prehistory or history. The National Register recognizes properties of local, statewide, and national significance.

Below is a summary of the listings and removals:

Smoky Hill Trail and Butterfield Overland Despatch Segment – 522 Golf Course Road, Chapman, Dickinson County

This nominated segment of the Smoky Hill Trail and Butterfield Overland Despatch is located adjacent to Indian Hill Cemetery on the west side of Chapman in Dickinson County. This portion of the road began as a military route connecting Fort Riley with the Santa Fe Trail south of Ellsworth. By the late 1850s, the Smoky Hill Trail developed through Kansas between Leavenworth and Pike’s Peak, Colorado, and functioned briefly as the Butterfield Overland Despatch in the 1860s. The six-acre property is nominated as part of the Historic Resources of the Santa Fe Trail multiple property nomination, as a tertiary route, meaning it was not created solely for Santa Fe trade but was occasionally used as a supporting road. The period of significance encompasses the duration of use for long-distance travel, beginning in 1853 with its use as a military road and ending with the last stage coach service over this segment in 1870.

Grant School – 520 W. 12th Street, Goodland, Sherman County

Grant School was built in 1926 to relieve overcrowding at other public schools in Goodland. It served the community as an elementary school from 1926 to 1969 and then as a junior high school until 2015.

The opening of Grant School coincided with the addition of Kindergarten to the district’s curriculum, resulting in the district’s first purpose-built Kindergarten classroom.

The school, which exhibits the Late Gothic Revival style, was designed by Hutchinson-based architects Mann and Company, a firm known for its designs of schools. The school reflects traditional elements of the Gothic Revival style with its variegated red brick exterior, stone detailing, multiple gable roofs and dormers, stone quoining, and central tower. The building reflects Progressive-era tenets of school design with a combined auditorium and gymnasium space and specialized classrooms. It is nominated as part of the Historic Public Schools of Kansas multiple property nomination for its local significance in the areas of education and architecture.

Baldwin City School and Gymnasium/Auditorium – 704 Chapel Street, Baldwin City, Douglas County

Kansas City-based architect Charles A. Smith designed the Baldwin City School, which opened in January 1923. The building embodies Progressive-era tenets particularly involving specialized classrooms. It hosted both elementary and high school classes until a new high school was built in 1969. Topeka-based architect Thomas W. Williamson designed a detached auditorium and gymnasium that was completed in 1942 as part of the Work Projects Administration program. Both buildings functioned as a part of the local public school system until 2011. The property is nominated as part of the Historic Public Schools of Kansas and New Deal-era Resources of Kansas multiple property nominations.

South Kansas Avenue Commercial Historic District – Topeka, Shawnee County

Topeka’s South Kansas Avenue Commercial Historic District includes ten city blocks between 6th Avenue on the north and 10th Avenue on the south. The blocks flanking South Kansas Avenue form the primary historic commercial thoroughfare in the central business district of Topeka. The district incorporates all of the commercial, social, and civic functions necessary for the development of a successful urban center, with evidence of specific building booms and the influence of policy changes, such as urban renewal, present in the variety of building types and styles. The patterns of growth and density of the commercial core paralleled the development of the city as it grew mainly south and west from the original town site. Revitalization efforts in the 1960s and 1970s encouraged larger-scale development, and many businesses relocated away from the traditional commercial center. South Kansas Avenue was left with a concentration of banks, restaurants, and offices for government, utilities, and private companies. The nominated area represents the plethora of architectural styles popular during the course of Topeka’s history. Buildings vary in scale from one to sixteen stories high and from a narrow city lot to an entire city block in width. It is nominated for its local significance in the areas of commerce and architecture.

Mill Block Historic District – 101-129 N. Kansas Avenue, Topeka, Shawnee County

The Mill Block Historic District is a five-building, light industrial district along Topeka’s main commercial street, Kansas Avenue, just north of the central business district, between 1st Avenue and NW Crane Street. The buildings reflect the light industrial and commercial warehouse development that occurred along the river at the north end of the downtown commercial core once the presence of railroads was firmly established in Topeka. Constructed between 1904 and 1930 as wholesale warehouse and distribution facilities, the buildings communicate the evolution of this industry from rail to road transportation. The resources continue to function as warehouses. The district is nominated for its local commercial significance.

Church of the Assumption Historic District – 204 and 212 SW 8th Avenue / 735 SW Jackson Street, Topeka, Shawnee County

The Church of the Assumption (1924) and Assumption Rectory (1929) were listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 2008. The buildings, along with an associated garage, were nominated for their architectural significance as examples of the Mission Revival and Renaissance Revival styles. This new nomination expands the boundaries to include the two associated schools, the former Hayden High School (1939) and Assumption School (1954), and adds an argument for the property’s educational significance. The Church of the Assumption established the first Catholic elementary school and high school in Topeka. For much of the period of significance, Hayden High School served all of the city’s Catholic parishes. The construction of Assumption School in 1954 during the baby boom illustrates the rapid expansion of growth of Catholic education after World War II.

Westheight Apartments Historic District – 1601-1637 Washington Boulevard, Kansas City, Wyandotte County

The Westheight Apartments Historic District on the 1600 block of Washington Boulevard in Kansas City, Wyandotte County, includes four multi‐family apartment buildings constructed between 1947 and 1952. It is a locally rare collection of simple, yet distinctly Modern Movement apartment buildings. In their design, the Westheight Apartments embraced basic tenets of the Modern Movement aesthetic, which were more commonly applied to commercial buildings or later, large apartment buildings. By contrast, nearly all contemporary Wyandotte County apartment projects featured buildings that enlarged and adapted the single‐family dwelling form and traditional historically‐derived architectural idioms to fit a multi‐family purpose. The buildings have flat roofs, rectangular massing emphasized by projecting entrance and stair towers, and wide expanses of windows. The district distinctly embodies national design trends from the mid‐20th century when the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) heavily influenced the design of multi‐family housing that was constructed using agency‐backed mortgages. It is nominated for its local significance in the area of architecture.

Barnes, Oscar D. & Ida, House – 901 N. Broadway Avenue, Wichita, Sedgwick County

The Oscar and Ida Barnes House is located in Wichita’s Midtown neighborhood and was completed in 1911. It is an excellent example of the Italian Renaissance style exhibited on a foursquare, a common house form of the early 20th century that allowed for considerable variation and experimentation in style. The Italian Renaissance style was most popular in Wichita between 1900 and 1920. In residential architecture, it is typically characterized by a low, hipped roof with ceramic tiles, wide eaves with brackets, a symmetrical facade, stucco or masonry walls, and Classical columns and details. The Barnes House also exhibits the Craftsman style in its built-in cabinetry, geometric window designs, and interior floorplan. The architect is unknown, although it may have been Charles Terry, who worked with Oscar Barnes on the design of several commercial buildings. It is nominated to the National Register as part of the Residential Resources of Wichita multiple property nomination for its local significance in the area of architecture.

Smoky Hill Trail and Butterfield Overland Despatch Segment – 522 Golf Course Road, Chapman, Dickinson County

This nominated segment of the Smoky Hill Trail and Butterfield Overland Despatch is located adjacent to Indian Hill Cemetery on the west side of Chapman in Dickinson County. This portion of the road began as a military route connecting Fort Riley with the Santa Fe Trail south of Ellsworth. By the late 1850s, the Smoky Hill Trail developed through Kansas between Leavenworth and Pike’s Peak, Colorado, and functioned briefly as the Butterfield Overland Despatch in the 1860s. The six-acre property is nominated as part of the Historic Resources of the Santa Fe Trail multiple property nomination, as a tertiary route, meaning it was not created solely for Santa Fe trade but was occasionally used as a supporting road. The period of significance encompasses the duration of use for long-distance travel, beginning in 1853 with its use as a military road and ending with the last stage coach service over this segment in 1870.

McClinton Market – 1205 E. 12th Street, Wichita, Sedgwick County

The McClinton Grocery was listed in the National Register of Historic Places on June 28, 2011 for its local significance in the area of commerce and its association with community leader and state representative Curtis McClinton, Sr. It was nominated as part of the African American Resources of Wichita multiple property nomination. The building was demolished in early January 2015.

Hitschmann Double Arch Bridge – Barton County
Hitschmann Cattle Underpass – Barton County

Two 1930s-era bridges near Hitschman were listed in the National Register of Historic Places on April 16, 2008 for their local significance in the areas of social history, government, and architecture. They were nominated as part of the New Deal-era Resources of Kansas and Masonry Arch Bridges of Kansas multiple property nominations. The bridges were demolished in October 2014, and the Kansas State Historic Preservation Office requested they be removed from the National Register.

The director of Junction City-  Geary County United Way, Aileen Cray, had a good day with the Stuff the Bus school supply collection on Saturday.  The bus where school supplies for children in USD 475 were deposited was parked outside of Walmart.

“It’s gone really really well. In fact I’m running out of boxes so that’s a good sign. That means I’ve just about stuffed the bus.” During the last hour of the collection Cray noted between 24 and 28 boxes were full of school supplies.

During the public collection day members of the public could purchase school supplies and drop them off for later distribution to children for the upcoming school year. “People have just been so kind. They really really have.”

Some of the supplies that could be donated in larger quantities include such things as Clorox wipes, big stacks of kleenex’s, ziploc bags, large bottles of hand sanitizers.

Donors can make financial contributions to Stuff the Bus.

There will be another public collection day next Saturday, Aug. 8 outside of Walmart on East Chestnut Street.  Donors can also drop off supplies during the week at other locations during the week including Central National Bank locations, Community Corrections, Exchange Bank sites, Geary Community Hospital, Intrust Bank, KS State Bank, Landmark National Bank, Meritrust Credit Union, Millennium Bank, Sunflower Bank and the United Way office.  You can drop off school supplies at those sites during regular business hours.

 

 

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Kansas has reached the final phase of a competition for a large federal grant that would be used to ease flooding in the Manhattan area.

The state Agriculture Department says the state’s grant application to remodel the Wildcat Creek Watershed to address flooding reached the final phase of a Department of Housing and Urban Development competition. The grant could bring up to $40 million of emergency and long-range improvement money into the Manhattan area.

The Manhattan Mercury reports the money comes from a $1 billion surplus from the federal government’s efforts to rebuild portions of the East Coast after Hurricane Sandy in 2012.

Manhattan and Riley County qualified because of the Wildcat Creek flood in 2011.

HUD’s expected to announce the awards in January.

Faith Tabernacle Church introduced its 2015-16 academic school year with an orientation July 29. The Academy offers kindergarten through 12th grade instruction.

Changes made in the school during the last academic year ranged from the installation of a security system through the school and adjacent gymnasium, to automating classrooms enabling teachers to supplement classroom instruction with content delivered by Master teachers from A Beka Academy in Florida. The school also deployed a web based database software for school related information. The software provides a Parent Portal with access to student academic information.

The school uses a traditional styled comprehensive curriculum offering a Christian world view, and employs a unique classroom environment which combines two grade levels in a single classroom.

The incoming high school freshman class of 2015 is initiating an accredited high school curriculum accepted by all Kansas Regents universities. ‘American School was founded in Boston in 1897 and is one of the oldest and largest distance education institutions in the world. It has helped more than three million students earn their high school diplomas.

Apostolic Academy runs entirely on tuition and church charitable constributions.

 

The Junction City Police Department report for the period on Friday July 31 through early Sunday morning included arrests:

–Shakima N. Robinson, 31, Junction City, suspicion of Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, arrested at 311 South Jefferson, Apt. 7.

–Calven C. Mullins, 22, Junction City, suspicion of Possession of Stolen Property, arrested at 826 North Franklin Street (  Geary County Detention Center ).

–Sheondra L. Crowder, 24, Junction City, suspicion of Theft, arrested at 521 East Chestnut ( Walmart ).

–Luis Garcia-Reves, 19, Junction City, suspicion of Driving Without License, arrested at 1200 North Jefferson Street.

–Raesa F. Herbert, 23, Junction City, suspicion of Criminal Threat, arrested at Geary Community Hospital, 1102 Saint Marys Road.

–Kevin L. Blount, 24, Junction City, suspicion of Domestic Battery, 1815 Elmdale Ave.

 

If you’ll soon be getting Medicare or want to know more about it, you can learn about it Thursday, Aug. 5 from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. at the Abilene Senior Center to learn the basics and get answers to your questions from experts who know about Medicare.

The workshop is geared to those nearing the age of 65, those who will qualify soon because of a disability and people who are helping family members with insurance and financial matters.

Marsha Rogers with the Area Agency’s Senior Health Insurance Counseling for Kansas program will cover Medicare eligibility, how and when to apply, what is covered in Medicare’s various parts and how to fill coverage gaps. Programs available to assist low-income Kansans and Medicare fraud will also be reviewed.

There is no cost to attend the workshop, however advance registration is advised. Call the Area Agency on Aging at toll-free 800-432-2703.

According to information on the Fort Riley Facebook page, school zones will be in effect beginning Monday ( Aug. 3 ) ahead of the beginning of school on Aug. 17. Tickets will not be issued during that time leading up to the beginning of classes.

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The 1st Infantry Division’s National Night Out Against Crime is Tuesday ( Aug. 4 ) at 5 p.m. at Jefferson Elementary School.  It will be hosted by the Directorate of Emergency Services.

Activities will range from range from music and a K-9 demonstration to static displays showing the equipment and capability of the Fort Riley Emergency Services.

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The Fort Riley Marina is open.

The hours of operation are:

Friday — 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Saturday — 7 a.m. – 8p.m.

Sunday — 7 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Monday — 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.

 

According to the National Weather Service of Topeka, temperatures climb back into the 90s for the next several days. There are slight chances for thunderstorms today, with the best chance for an isolated storm up near the Nebraska border. Wind and hail would be the primary concerns if storms can form.

Today: Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 90s. South winds up to 10 mph.

Tonight: Partly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows around 70. South winds 5 to 10 mph.

Sunday: Sunny. Highs in the mid 90s. Southwest winds 5 to 10 mph.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 60s. South winds 5 to 10 mph.

Monday: Sunny. Highs in the mid 90s. South winds 5 to 10 mph.

Monday Night: Partly cloudy with slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the lower 70s.

Tuesday: Partly sunny with a 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 80s.

Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy with a 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 60s.

Wednesday: Partly sunny with slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the upper 80s.

Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy with slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 60s.

Thursday: Mostly sunny with a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the upper 80s.

Thursday Night: Partly cloudy in the evening then becoming mostly cloudy. A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 60s.

Friday: Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 80s.

 

U. S. Senator Jerry Moran has co-sponsored legislation which passed the Senate this week that is designed to improve the lives of veterans who are wounded as a result of their service to our nation.

The Wounded Warriors Federal Leasve Act helps ensure disabled veterans can receive the medical care they need by providing first-year federal government employees who have service related disabilities with 104 hours of sick leave.

“Wounded veterans should have the opportunity to take time off from work and seek medical care without penalty to their paycheck and livelihood, ” Sen. Moran said.

Currently, first-year government workers accrue four hours of sick leave each pay period, forcing many veterans with disabilities who have not built up the necessary leave time to take unpaid leave for medical appointments. The Wounded Warriors Federal Leave Act gives these veteran employees 104 hours of leave up front, freeing them from having to make the difficult decision between receiving care and taking unpaid leave after they start their new job.

The measure now goes to the U.S. House of Representatives for consideration.

A Riley County District Court jury has returned a guilty verdict for Anthony Nichols, Kansas City, Kansas,  on a charge of Attempted 1st Degree Murder.  The verdict was reached Friday afternoon in Manhattan, bringing an end to a trial that began on Tuesday.

Sentencing in the case is scheduled on Sept. 14.

Nichols was one of the defendants accused in the case that involved the death of John Burroughs, 68, Manhattan,  in September of 2013.

Nichols had initially been charged with 1st Degree Murder in the case, but prosecutors amended that charge to the Attempted 1st Degree Murder allegation on Friday morning.