legacy spring 2011
DESCRIPTION
The Journal of the Reno County Historical SocietyTRANSCRIPT
I N S I D E
T H E J O U R N A L O F T H E R E N O C O U N T Y H I S T O R I C A L S O C I E T Y
23you’ll onlyfind out at thenew bisonteexhibit
12check outthis new
benefit ofmembership
in a bizarre turn of events a local editor is kidnapped…page 4
Legacyh
SPRING 2011
HISTORICAL SOCIETY STAFF (full-time)
Linda Schmitt, executive director, rchs [email protected]
Mike Allen, finance manager, rchs [email protected]
Jamin Landavazo, chief curator, rchs [email protected]
Gayle Ferrell, director of operations, kusm [email protected] Tonya Gehring, docent supervisor, kusm [email protected]
Tina Moore, administrative assistant, rcm [email protected]
Lynn Ledeboer, curatorial assistant, rcm [email protected]
Colleen McCallister, visitor services, kusm [email protected]
Dave Unruh, maintenance supervisor, kusm [email protected]
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
John Doswell, president • Shannon Holmberg, secretary
Charles Studt, treasurer • Michael Armour, president-elect
Patty Foss • LeAnn Cox • E. Francis Habiger • Nan Hawver
Todd Laffoon • Sherry Mundhenke • Tim Davies • Richard Shank
Barbara Withrow • Jerry Wray • Mike Carey, ex-officio • Myron
Marcotte, ex-officio • Lee Spence, ex-officio
4 a strange tale of kidnapping ...hutchinson editor nabbed at midnight
11 new directions...new benefits ...kusm now even more accessible
12 kusm celebrates its 4th birthday ...it’s come a long, long way
15 a look back at “legacy” ...issues chock full of history & events
18 museum hits the road ...exhibits open in county communities
20 busy calendar for kusm & museum ...ride the train and visit exhibits 22 a big thank you to our members ...and all our other supporters
Volume 23, No. 2Legacy is published quarterly by The Reno County Historical Society, Inc. 100 S. Walnut St., P.O. Box 664, Hutchinson, Kansas 67504-0664Distribution is free to RCHS members. For advertising or membership information, call 620-662-1184.
© 2011 The Reno County Historical Society, Inc. ISSN 1045-3423All rights reserved. The RCHS disclaims responsibility for statements of fact or opinion made
by contributors. Third class postage paid at Hutchinson, Kansas.
THE JOURNAL OF THE RENO COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
BBy William D. (Bill) Rexroad, Hutchinson Historian
4
KIDNAPPED ...editor nabbed in bizarre fiasco
ON THE COVER
turpen and his guardian deputy
sought refuge for a night
at the local reno house.
(1985.00.1046)
ack in the 1870s there was no radio or TV and, of course, no Internet. People got their news from a newspaper. It was not at all uncommon for a town to have more than one newspaper and for larger cit-ies to have several. Hutchin-son had three in the 1870s and even more in the 1880s and ’90s. By the 1890s nearly every little town in Reno County had a newspaper of its own. The newspaper editors of those days were a brazen bunch, to say the least. They took great pride in boldly exposing all manner of what they saw as wrong-doing, bringing down the high and mighty, and promoting their own political beliefs. One who was particularly outspo-ken and critical was J. Clarke Swayze, editor of the Topeka Blade.
INSULTING REPUTATION Swayze had a reputation for publishing insulting and defamatory remarks, espe-cially about politicians and other newspaper editors. Frequent targets of his ridi-cule were John W. Wilson,
former editor of a compet-ing newspaper, and Floyd P. Baker, editor of the Topeka Commonwealth. Hardly a day went by during the early months of 1877 that Swayze didn’t publish some deroga-tory article about one or the other or both of them. Then, on March 27, 1877, Swayze ran a piece calling Wilson a “gambler” and a “pimp.” Late that same after-noon Wilson shot and killed Swayze outside his office in
broad daylight and in front of witnesses. Wilson was employed by Baker at the time of the shooting. It was widely known that the two of them were at odds with Swayze, and there were rumors that they had conspired in a plot to kill him. Indeed, Swayze had said in a letter weeks before his death that Wilson was being urged to kill him. The editor of the Kansas City
turpen likely worked for some time in this hutchinson news building, ca. 1903. (1985.00.0300)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
when we stated above
that bill rexroad is a
hutchinson historian,
that isn’t quite the
whole story. he’s
also renowned as a
musician, singer and
storyteller! now,
read bill’s account of
this strange tale in
hutchinson’s history,
and you’ll find out how
a murder in topeka set
off this bizarre chain
of events.
(See page 5)
5(See WITH A....page 6)
turpenin andout of
jail
Times had said, “They are going to kill Swayze.” However, if there truly had been a conspiracy to murder Swayze, it didn’t come out in Wilson’s trial for the shoot-ing. He was acquitted after it was shown that Swayze himself may have instigated the shooting by brandishing his own gun against Wilson. Newspapers around the state carried the story of the shooting and trial. And, of course, they editorialized about it. Some condemned Wilson for the shooting and Baker for his suspected part in it. Others claimed that Swayze got what he de-served. A Hutchinson newspaper chimed in. W.J. Turpen, editor of the Hutchinson Herald, wrote the following:
“His murder was deliber-ately planned and cowardly executed by the rogues he had exposed. His principal enemy was one F. P. Baker, publisher of the Topeka Com-monwealth, who is a lottery swindler, an aboriginal knave, and whose very existence outside of the penitentiary is a sad com-mentary upon society. This Baker now descends hyena-like into his victim’s grave to pour the sacrilegious contents of a corrupt heart over his inanimate form.”
Those were strong words – not just the name calling but also the implication that
Baker was involved in a plan to kill Swayze. Baker was a reputable citi-zen of Topeka, although not so well liked by some other newspaper editors because of his politics. Consequently, he was at times the victim of slanderous accusa-tions like this one by Turpen. To protect his reputation, Baker brought libel suits against those who wrote such things. And thus it came to pass that he sued Turpen for what he had written. In early January, 1878, Sheriff Wade of Shawnee County came to Hutchinson with a warrant for Turpen’s arrest. But Turpen was afraid he could not get a fair trial in Topeka, a belief rein-forced by the knowledge that Swayze’s killer had been acquitted. Turpen’s lawyers went immediately to Reno County court and had a warrant
issued for his arrest on the basis that the alleged offense – publication of the news-paper article – occurred in Reno County, not Shawnee. This prevented the Shaw-nee County sheriff from
taking Turpen back to Topeka, and ensured
that any action against Turpen would have to be tried in Reno County.
Turpen was ar-rested and bail was set at
$2,000. Citizens of Hutchin-son quickly offered to pay his bail but he declined and went to jail. He wasn’t there long, however, soon appear-ing on the streets of the city in the company of a sheriff’s deputy. Reno County Sheriff John M. Hedrick had re-leased him from the confines of a cell, declaring that the jail extended to the city lim-its. A deputy was assigned to escort him while at large. But then a few days later
jason clarke
swayze, editor of
the “topeka blade,”
was only 47 when he
was gunned down in
1877. his murder led
to the kidnapping
of w.j. turpen of
hutchinson.
(image from kansas
state historical
society)
u
(Continued from page 5)another attempt was made to take Turpen to Topeka for trial. This time it became more physical. Deputy Sheriff McCall of Shawnee County came to Hutchinson and caught up with Turpen and his deputy walking along the street. McCall confronted them and attempted to seize Turpen from his deputy. As the two deputies scuffled, Turpen ran back to the jail, had himself locked into a cell and the key hidden. He stayed there for several days until he felt it was safe to go out again.
By now it was appar-ent that Turpen was in real danger of being taken back to Topeka against his will to suffer whatever fate might await him there.
EVIL-DOERS, IMPOSTERS But Turpen was not in any way subdued by these events. He wrote in his newspaper’s next edition that the Herald would “get after evil-doers and impos-ters with a sharper stick than ever. Stand from under!” Another attempt to whisk Turpen off to Topeka soon
followed. Word was spread around Hutchinson that once again a deputy sheriff from Topeka was on his way with a warrant for Turpen’s arrest. This was on Monday, Janu-ary 21. 1878, and the deputy was to arrive on the train that evening. Turpen thought it would be safer not to spend the night at home where he could be easily found, so he and his guardian deputy took a room at the Reno House. The Topeka deputy did arrive by train that evening
6
Yet another attempt made to seize Turpen
this gentleman had
the luxury of a lap
robe to keep him warm
in his buggy, unlike
turpen whom the
kidnappers smuggled
out of town on a
cold winter’s night.
(1988.91.117)
turpen wrote in his newspaper
that the herald would “get after
evil-doers and imposters with a
sharper stick than ever.”
(See page 7)
7
turpen
is tricked
into being
abducted.
(See IN HOT...page 8)
We’re proud to share our hometown with you.How fortunate we are to live in a community with such diverse and high quality amenities -- including the Reno County Museum and Kansas Underground Salt Museum!
4 Hutchinson locations to serve you
and checked into a different hotel. On Tuesday morning Turpen was in his newspa-per office when the deputy walked in, read his warrant, and told Turpen he was his prisoner. The Reno County deputy quickly pointed out that Turpen was already his prisoner. The three of them hurried off to the courthouse and were advised that Turpen should be immediately locked up in the Reno County jail. And so he was. The Topeka deputy left town the next morning and Turpen was again released from the confines of a cell. And then on the night of Friday, February 1, 1878, Turpen was kidnapped – snatched up and carried away by two men claiming to be officials of the law. One was H.X. Devendorf, supposedly a traveling corre-spondent of Baker’s news-paper in Topeka. He said he had been deputized to serve an arrest warrant on Turpen. The other was one Thomas Jefferson Grant, a constable from Harvey County. Grant had no jurisdic-tion in Reno County but apparently accompanied
Devendorf so as to lend an appearance of legality to the situation, perhaps hoping his badge would help them lure Turpen into the trap of their
planned abduction. Devendorf and Grant went to Tur-pen’s residence, told him he was under arrest, and that he should go
immediately with them to the court-
house. Believing he would be safe going there, Turpen went along with them. And thinking he would not be gone long, he went out into the cold night without his
overcoat. As the three walked toward the courthouse, Devendorf and Grant sud-denly grabbed Turpen and handcuffed him. They put him into a waiting buggy and took off headed east out of Hutchinson. (A news dispatch about the kidnap-ping said that Turpen was also gagged. The editor of The Hutchinson News responded facetiously saying, “There must be a mistake about that, for every attempt to gag Turpen has proved a failure.”) Mrs. Turpen became suspi-cious when her husband did
the kidnappers – and turpen
himself – spent several nights
in the reno county jail. (photo
courtesy of nation meyer)
6J9525-1 Hutch Legacy Mag -Spring11-7.5 x 5 2c ad .indd 1 3/30/2011 10:24:39 AM
not return, and she could see no lights in any of the courthouse windows. She immediately ran to find Sheriff Hedrick. Hearing her story, Hedrick knew that Turpen must have been kidnapped. They awoke a judge and quickly obtained an arrest warrant for the two abduc-tors. The town was astir by now, with people gathering in alarm that one of their own had been taken in this
way. Some of them were armed, ready to serve on a posse should one be organized.
ARMED TO THE TEETH Sheriff Hedrick deputized five men and put them un-der the charge of Deputy T.J. Reynolds. The six of them, armed to the teeth with pistols, rifles and a grenade, rushed to the train station and commandeered a hand car. It was half past midnight
when they headed off down the track, pumping as hard and fast as they could in pursuit of the buggy that car-ried Turpen and his captors. Devendorf and Grant were apparently unaware they were being chased so they stopped at Burrton and went into a building there, possibly the railroad depot, and built a fire in the stove to warm up and rest. Turpen was shivering from the cold by then.
In hot pursuit(Continued from page 7)
8
u
a hutchinson posse commandeered
a hand car and headed off down the
track, pumping as hard and fast as
they could in pursuit of the buggy
that carried turpen and his captors.
f
(See page 9)
Minutes later the hand car arrived. The posse rushed in with guns at the ready and quickly subdued the kidnap-pers. It was still dark when they headed back toward Hutchinson. Devendorf was afraid a lynch mob would be wait-ing there for him. Deputy Reynolds told him that was unlikely but assured him that he would be protected if such were the case. Nevertheless, they left the hand car at the edge of town upon reaching Hutchinson and walked to the court-house by a back way as dawn was breaking.
KIDNAPPERS JAILED No mob or anyone else was out on the streets. Devendorf begged not to be put in jail and Grant pro-tested confinement because he was an officer of the law. But their pleadings were of no avail. They were both put into a jail cell to await their court appearance. Their first appearance in court took place that after-noon. The courtroom was filled to overflowing with specta-tors whose high anticipation was dashed when the only thing that happened was that
(See IT IS...page 10)
these original illustrations
by larry lambert, hutchinson
artist, were commissioned by
bill rexroad for this article.
(thank you, bill!)
h.x. devendorf and
thomas jefferson grant
kidnap “hutchinson
herald” editor,
w.j. turpen.
the hutchinson
posse boards
a hand car to
chase down the
kidnappers.
devendorf and
grant flee in the
get-away buggy
with turpen.
9
h10
both men were bound over
in the amount of $300 for
their appearance to be tried.
Devendorf was tried on
Tuesday, February 5, 1878.
Grant never showed up.
The charge of kidnapping
against Devendorf was
dismissed when the judge
determined that the warrant
he brought for the arrest of
Turpen had been properly
issued (although jurisdiction
over Turpen was to remain
with the Reno County court).
Devendorf was released and
immediately departed, not
to be seen again in Reno
County.
Turpen was never brought
to trial in Reno County or
anywhere else for the libel
charge.
The whole bizarre affair
was aptly summed up by
the editor of The Hutchinson
News who wrote, “It is an
intensely thrilling story that
has adorned tales in nearly
every press of the west.”
WHAT A MOVIETHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN...
Just imagine what a great
old silent movie it would
have made – a shooting on
the street, a villainous kid-
napping in the dark of night,
the get-away buggy being
chased by a posse pump-
ing away on a hand car, all
climaxing with the capture
of the evil-doers and the glo-
rious release of their victim.
How exciting that would
be! But, alas, movies hadn’t
yet been invented when all
this happened.
(Continued from page 9)
“It is anintensely,thrillingstory...”
kidnappers devendorf and grant were ordered to appear
in court on february 5, 1878. grant never showed in this
reno county courthouse, ca. 1874. (courtesy kansas
state historical society)
u
h11
you can access legacy issues at:
www.renocomuseum.org
www.undergroundmuseum.org
his is the 94th fully- bound edition of the Legacy magazine, and with it comes the transition to a new era. Regardless of how nostal-gic we might feel, the world of the printed page is chang-ing drastically. This is the day of the paperless office, the Kindle, and drinking a cup of coffee with your iPad. Many of us are being drawn into this high tech world, kicking and scream-ing, but we also embrace the idea of instant news, interactive capabilities and instant communication with friends and family all over the world.
REACHING THE WORLD While we at RCHS have eagerly looked forward to and are quite proud of our beautiful magazine, we also see the possibilities that will be provided by making the Legacy freely available to readers all over the world via our museum websites and our social networking sites. This may require an ad-justment from some longtime members of the Reno Coun-ty Historical Society who are used to receiving the coffee table version of the Legacy with the knowledge that it is a benefit of society member-ship.
We promise you, how-ever, that enabling everyone to enjoy the Legacy online won’t diminish either the quality of the writing, the fascinating content or the appreciation that we feel for our members. In fact, starting immediate-
ly, we’re offering an exciting new benefit of membership: Now, with your member-ship (regardless of the split between museums) you are able to bring guests who live outside Reno County to the Kansas Underground Salt Museum at the discounted rate that you enjoy. For each $100 member-ship donation, you receive a card with 10 punches. If you give $200, you receive 20 punches, etc. Each punch admits one at the discounted rate. If you’re a member from Reno County, you will not need to use the card for yourself, allowing you to
give more to others. Mem-bers living outside Reno County, however, will have to use a punch for the dis-counted rate. It is our hope that this new benefit will not only make it easier to visit the salt museum multiple times but also add to the membership of the Reno County Histori-cal Society. Your other membership benefits will continue as before: You have the op-portunity to contribute to one or both museums with your membership of $40 or more, and you are invited to opening events at one or both museums, depend-ing on your designation. If you donate $100 or more to either or both museums, you receive a 10 percent discount in the Reno County Museum gift shop, Jesse’s Corner.
ECONOMIC REALITIES The Reno County Museum is free to the public and we hope that it can remain so. Economic realities have made it necessary to change the Legacy but we are choosing to embrace these changes as an opportunity. We hope that you will understand and continue to support our fine museums and the Reno County Histori-cal Society, now celebrating its 50th year.
not a member?
join now and get the
discounted admission
rate to the kansas
underground salt
museum for those
living outside reno
county – plus all the
other benefits of
membership.
to join, contact
tina moore.
620-662-1184 [email protected]
new membership
benefit allows you
to share the
underground
salt museum
with more friends
than ever before.
T
Legacy goes digital; new member benefit
Linda SchmittExecutive Director,
Reno County Historical
Society
12
AWow! We’ve a come long way s I was riding as con- ductor on the back of the train a few weeks ago, there was a moment when we rounded a curve, I looked over toward the Dark Ride, and thought, “Wow! We have come a LONG way in just four years!” In our first year of busi-ness, we were named one of the “8 Wonders of Kansas.” Visitors from every state and many foreign countries have passed through our doors, including new friends from the salt mine in Loulé, Portugal, who said they
By Gayle Ferrell, Director of Operations, KUSM
liked our museum more than those in Europe as we had kept it more natural and concentrated on salt mining.
Other memorable visitors have included “President Bush” (aka impersonator John Morgan); Salty the Saltasaurus; Jerry Lisenby from The Biggest Loser; Catwoman; Miss Salt Queen; and the Oscar Mayer Weiner-mobile. From May 2007 through March 2011, we shared our passion with 222,959 visi-tors! This does not include attendance at special or after-hours events! The most visitors in one day was 647! The most on a Sunday (shorter hours) was 326! For a brand new, nonprofit, underground museum, that’s not too shabby! We’ve hosted many suc-cessful, fun and immensely entertaining Murder in the Mine interactive dinner the-aters. Themes have included “We’re Off to Kill the Wiz-ard,” “Murder on the Dis-
oriented Express,” “A Very Brady Murder,” and “The Spy Who Killed Me.” Remember the one when it snowed about 18” while everyone was underground? Speaking of successful, fun and immensely enter-taining, how about all those scout overnights? What we hoped would be additional income once or twice a year has turned into six or more full-to-capacity nights each winter. Our “track crew” ripped out, hauled back, cut, shaped and laid about 4,000 feet of rail that was used to carry salt underground as early as 1923. Opening in March 2011 was the Salt Mine Express, an under-ground train ride that was our largest and most difficult project since opening to the public on May 1, 2007. In both cases, we stepped out in faith that “...if we build it, they will come.” I remember standing in the Dark Ride with a flash-light, directing trams where to turn during the first week we were open to the public. The Visitor Center that opened in July 2008 now includes a red accent wall, colored strata layers from
new salt strata
wallpaper provides
color and dash to
welcome guests into
the lobby of the kusm
visitor center.
rchs members enjoyed this
amazing cake to celebrate the
opening of the salt mine
express underground train.
(See page 13)
13
h
800-760-5315 620-662-5315
our logo, panels listing the current Board of Directors and full-time staff members, and Salt Circle recognition of major donors to our train project. The Ready Room now has the new and improved comfy, cushy chairs for a mere 32 persons. For more than a year, it housed office space for four employees, a copy machine, group check-in counter, ticket kiosk and waiting area for busloads of students and other visitors. I remember our excite-ment the day the under-ground toilets flushed!
SURVIVED TORNADO We survived a tornado cloud that came straight at the building and then passed over the top, hail storms that make it impossible to hear anything under a metal roof, wind storms that sandblast our vehicles, and torrential rain that flooded the park-ing lot over the top of car wheels. And then there are the snow drifts – sometimes inside the building! Wiley corner, step aside! THIS is the windiest corner in town! We happily sponsored a movie premiere underground, “The Happy Movie,” that was free to the public and included theater popcorn. The Great Room was transformed from emergency lighting and tram/trailer parking to soft jar lights, information boards, touch-able salt rocks and Salt Secrets to explore. Red Rock Hunt!!! Someone
even brought a wheeled suit-case. Need I say more? It seems a lot more than four years ago that I watched seemingly miles of saltcrete being poured, acres of salt surfaces being wired for lights, emergency communi-cation, fire protection, secu-rity cameras, phone outlets and networking. It seems eons ago that the fiber optic cable was finally run down the shaft so that the gift shop registers no longer had to use dial-up credit card processing. There are so many mile-stones KUSM has reached, so many obstacles that have been hurdled, so many ac-complishments too numer-ous to list. I am truly blessed that there are a handful of staff members who have been here with me for the entire four years. That, too, causes me to say, “WOW.” Now it’s time to welcome the beginning of Year #5. There are rare times when it
just can’t be said any better than it already has been. Therefore, I’d like to quote myself from a previous article because, honestly, I can’t express my feelings any better: “I still consider it a privi-lege to be able to descend 650 feet underground every day and stand among salt walls and pillars that refresh my soul and refill my tank. No matter what challenges I face, that underground world remains my inspiration, my refuge, and my passion.”
jerry lisenby, top, who
was on the tv show,
“the biggest loser,”
and his wife, lynne,
rest on their bikes
underground at kusm.
jerry was making good
on his promise while on
the show to bike across
america.
the salt mine express
train, above, is ready
to take visitors into a
more rustic area of the
mine. all aboard!
even salty, the saltasaurus,
enjoys learning about salt
and the underground mine
while resting on a bench 650
feet below ground.
15
A Legacy Retrospective ne hundred fifty years. That’s quite a long time. As Kansas celebrates its Sesquicentennial birthday this year, the Reno County Historical Society celebrates its 50th year. It is also the 25th year of the Reno County Museum (RCM) being in its current location at 100 S. Walnut. It’s a year of incredible milestones. And reaching another milestone is our quarterly Legacy magazine. Starting with this issue, Legacy can be accessed in digital form by all visitors to the RCM and Kansas Underground Salt Museum websites. As a result, the stories of our
By Lynn Ledeboer, RCM Curatorial Assistant
museums and Reno County’s proud history will have a far wider audience. Just go to www.renoco-museum.org or to www.undergroundmuseum.org for the new, exciting digi-tal version that will contain up-to-date exhibit, event and membership informa-tion, plus articles about past events and historical topics.
In looking back at the printed Legacy issues, Vol-ume 1, Number 1 was pub-lished in the Fall of 1989. A line drawing of Major Gen-eral Jesse Lee Reno, courtesy of Pat Mitchell, graced the blue-bordered front cover.
Feature articles in that issue were “Who Was Jesse Reno?” by Mary Lynn Baker; “The Fox Theater: Ready to Make More Memories” by Martha Slater; “Reno County’s Museum” by Cherie Cook; and “Remember the Bisonte” by Pat Mitchell. Upcoming calendar events included not only local items but also those from through-out Kansas, including Wichi-ta, Shawnee, Newton, Salina, Manhattan and Dodge City. According to Director Mi-chael Knecht, the quarterly Legacy was an ambitious “first” for both RCHS and for any Kansas historical society
focus on collections
...fall 2004
(See THANKS...page 16)
O
fall 1989 winter 1998
16
u
f it is our sincere hope that
legacy has entertained,
enticed and enlightened you.
in general. In his words, “Legacy is quite an under-taking for the Reno County Historical Society.” It is our sincere hope that this “undertaking” – the Legacy – has entertained, enticed and enlightened you. I have personally enjoyed the opportunity to serve in the role as in-house editor, content provider and orga-nizer since 2007. I look for-ward to providing you with similar content on the World Wide Web. RCHS would like to thank all the contributors, sponsors
and members throughout the years who helped make the Legacy a much admired and award-winning journal. And thanks to our adver-tisers for their generosity and support. Without them Legacy would not be pos-sible. They include First National Bank of Hutchinson; Martindell Swearer Shaffer Ridenour, Attorneys at Law; Morton Salt; Underground Vaults & Storage; Fee Insur-ance Group; Sturgeon Plumb-ing & Air Conditioning; Elliott Mortuary; The Commerce Trust Company; Central Bank & Trust Co.; and Hutchinson Credit Union.
We would also like to thank the staff of Mennonite Press for their dedication in getting the Legacy printed before deadlines! And last, but certainly not least, we would like to thank Jane Lee, our editor-in-chief for the last six years, without whom many of us would have had to haul out the thesaurus, Webster’s and our high school grammar books. So to all, thanks for creat-ing a wonderful and lasting Reno County Legacy. Let’s look forward to seeing what RCHS can do in the future!
(See more Legacy pages on page 17.)
(Continued from page 15)
fall 2004
Thanks to our supportersthe legacy maga-
zine won first place
awards on both state
and national levels
recently. awards
were presented by
nfpw, an organization
of communication
professionals. the
judge in the national
contest commented:
“strong writing,
lively design. i would
look forward to see-
ing this magazine
every quarter.”
the magazine is
designed and pro-
duced by jane lee
communications, a
kansas city pr firm.
legacy wins
17
h
insight, innovation, integrity. . .every day
At Martindell Swearer Shaffer Ridenour LLP some things never change…such as our founders’ commitment in 1886 to superb client service, integrity and the highest ethical standards.
That legacy has made us who we are today – trusted legal advisors to local, national and international businesses, governmental entities and people in our own community.
Historyrepeats itself
Richard H
unterHar
ry D
unn
service & expertiseservice & expertise
service & expertiseservice & expertise
service & expertiseservice & expertise
service & expertiseservice & expertise
service & expertiseservice & expertiseservice & expertiseservice & expertiseservice & expertiseservice & expertiseservice & expertise
www.martindell.comHutchinson 20 Compound Drive | 620-662-3331
Kingman 120 East A Avenue | 620-532-5158Greensburg 15477 US 54 Hwy | 620-723-3478
Cimarron 107 South Main | 620-855-7051
WINTER 1994
We wanted to remind you that this is your museum, too, and that your history is alive and well, whether you live in Hutchinson or Turon. With that in mind, RCM on
the Road... was born. Every other month in 2011 and into 2012, two commu-nities in Reno County will receive small exhibits put together by the RCM curato-rial staff, featuring artifacts and photos associated with
18
By Jamin Landavazo, RCHS Chief Curator
u
A handsome silver pitcher awarded to George Schlickau, Champion Wheat Grower of Kansas in 1926, sits in a small ex-hibit case tucked away in the Haven Public Library. Before being placed on display, it had been sitting on a storage shelf
along with other artifacts at the Reno County Museum in Hutchinson for the better part of 25 years. Now it is displayed just miles from the Schlickau homestead, where it likely held a place of honor in George’s home before being donated to the museum. Returning an item such as this to its roots – to the community to which it once belonged – is the focus of a new series of Reno County Museum exhibits: RCM on the Road....
REACHING OUT Of the more than 30,000 items in the museum’s col-lection, the vast majority are in some way associated with Hutchinson. This isn’t surprising as the museum has been located in Hutchin-son, the largest city in the county, for more than half its lifetime. Yet as we prepared to cel-ebrate the 50th anniversary of the Reno County Histori-cal Society this year, the staff wanted to reach out to ALL communities in the county.
RCM ON THE ROAD
those towns. The exhibits will be in-stalled in high-traffic areas – such as banks and libraries – and will be available for six months to ensure that people have an opportunity to see them.
A CHANCE TO SHARE A small exhibit-opening event will also be held in each town to give com-munity members a chance to come and talk to the museum staff, share stories and history, hear about the events and exhibits that the Reno County Museum has to offer, and provide feedback about what they would like to see from the museum. Items exhibited in each community will vary widely. The first exhibits, installed in February in Haven and Yo-der, feature everything from a dustpan from a time when
this unique
horseshoe
is featured
in the
yoder display.
(See next page)
a montage of images and
a display case highlight
yoder’s rich history on
display at people’s bank
in yoder.
a haven resident
and rchs executive
director linda
schmitt, right,
discuss the images
on display in rcm’s
“on the road...”
exhibit in haven.
rchs friend, lois
schicklau, seated,
treats visitors to
her wonderful
homemade cookies.
WE’RE COMING TO YOUR TOWN
april: south hutchinson
pretty prairie
june: sylvia, plevna
august: turon, langdon
october: arlington, abbyville
december: buhler, medora
february 2012: nickerson, partridge
for details:620-662-1184
www.renocomuseum.org
19
h
telephone numbers only had two digits to a horseshoe that’s far from average. It is embedded with carbide steel nuggets to increase its longevity. While space and environ-mental conditions dictate much of what we can show-case, the quantity and quality of items play a role as well. While the primary purpose is to return artifacts to their communities and bring the museum to the people, we also want to highlight the fact that the museum has very few items that represent the culture and history of
many of the towns in our county. We continue to rely on the generosity of community members to donate items they believe might be of historical significance. You can be a part of ensuring that your town’s history remains vibrant for years to come. Whether you have photos of your town’s main street 100 years ago or promotional items from a store that went out of busi-ness four years ago, please feel free to contact the museum and talk with our curatorial staff about items
you are willing to donate. With the commitment of staff and county residents, we can ensure that the Reno County Museum can preserve and share the rich history of the entire county for generations to come.
The Reno County Museum wants you to follow us as we set out across the county, visiting towns large and small! And to make it even more fun, you can participate in our CONTEST – and win PRIZES! You’ll see other artifacts that repre-sent your county, meet friendly faces near and far, and be entered to win a fabulous prize.
Just follow these simple rules:• Visit the “RCM on the Road...” exhibit in each of the 14 communities in Reno County over the next year and a half. Two exhibits will open every other month, and each exhibit will be open
for six months.• Pick up one of the tri-fold flyers, “RCM on the Road... [town name]” at each of the exhibits.• Have your flyers validated at the Reno County Museum any time during our normal business hours, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.• Once you have collected all of the flyers and had them validated, you will receive a prize AND be eligible to win our GRAND PRIZE!!• All flyers must be validated by September 16, 2012. The Grand Prize – to be announced – will be awarded on September 30, 2012.
CONTEST!
this haven wheat
champion silver trophy
still gleams in its
display case at the
haven public library.
a dustpan, a silver
pitcher trophy, a
wooden puzzle, a
woman’s pocket
watch and a sales
mug contrast
nicely to represent
just a little slice
of haven’s history
in this exhibit.
h20
KANSAS UNDERGROUNDSALT MUSEUM
9 am–6 pm Tues–Sat1–6 pm Sunday
closed Mondays
open Monday, May 319 am–6 pm
open Monday, July 410 am–6 pm
last tour departstwo hours
before closing
reservations strongly recommended
call us or check our website for holiday
hours.
NEW SALT BLAST PASSour best deal
includes gallery tour,dark ride (both handi-
capped-accessible) and new train ride.
adults: $18seniors (60+), aaa &
active military: $16.50children (4-12) & reno county residents: $12
children under 4 not admitted
due to mine safetyregulations.
pricing availableto add only dark ride
or train ride togallery admission.
all prices include sales tax.
special pricing forgroups over 28 and school groups witharrangements made
one week in advance.
3504 e. avenue g (at airport road)
hutchinson, ks 67501
620-662-1425toll-free 866-755-3450
EXHIBITS & EVENTS
A
Salt Mine expreSS
– now Departing!Hurry aboard to ride the thrill-ing new underground train.Experience the rustic side of the mine, right, while traveling on original rails and ties used underground. Don’t miss it!
now open!perMian playgrounD Admit it. You’ve always wanted to sink your hands into salt! Now you’ll have your chance. This new interactive display allows you to explore the incredible varieties of salt. First hand!
Salt SecretS (ongoing)Salt secrets finally exposed!
MyronMobile (ongoing)Come see the “Myronmobile,” from TV’s “Dirty Jobs” filmed in the Hutchinson Salt mine.
KANSAS UNDERGROUND SALT MUSEUM EVENTS
the Story of unDer-grounD VaultS & Storage (ongoing)View costumes and props from your favorite movies.
the ioDine Deficiency DiSorDer Story (ongoing)Explore the efforts of Kiwanis International and UNICEF in using salt to combat IDD.
KUSM EXHIBITS
MurDer in the Mine
“CLUE-less”
Saturday, August 27Doors open at 5:11 p.m.For details and reservations:620-662-1425 • 866-755-3450
Will it be Colonel Mustard in the Dark Ride...or Mr. Green on the train? Put your detective skills to the test – underground – in our popular interactive Murder in the Mine series. You must be 18 years of age or older to attend.
oVernight Scouting
$30 per personTry an Overnight Scouting event for an exciting underground adventure. Scouts must be 10-18 years of age. Minimum one adult chaperone for each five scouts.
Available dates:2011: October 8, November 12
2012: January 14 and 21; February 4 and 25 For reservations or information,
call Tonya Gehring or Gayle Ferrell.
620-662-1425 • 866-755-3450
A
take it with a grain of Salt (ongoing)Discover how live bacteria were extracted from ancient Permian salt.
Mine corriDor (ongoing)Explore the general history of salt mining in Hutchinson, including mining equipment.
guests enjoy thrills and hilarious
comedy with the actors during
an earlier “murder in the mine”
mystery dinner theatre 650 feet
underground. make your reservations
now for “clue-less” on august 27.
21
RCM On The ROad…See page 18 for datesin your community.The Reno County Museum hits the road in 2011! We will be visiting our smaller communities in Reno County and establishing small, tem-porary exhibits highlighting items unique to those towns. Our newest openings are in South Hutchinson and Pretty Prairie. More details to come.
BisOnTe hOTel:The BesT in The WesT Opening June 16Visitors will have the oppor-tunity to take a long-awaited look at one of Hutchinson’s most beloved memories – the Bisonte Hotel. This exhibit will bring the bustle and sparkle of the Bisonte to life. If you currently own an item from the Bisonte that
you would consider loaning to us for the exhibit, please contact Curator Jamin Lan-
davazo at 620-662-1184.
Get ready for your visit to the Bisonte exhibit with an RCM fund-raising dinner June 9 when authentic Harvey House recipes will be served.See EVENTS below.
“86.121” (Ongoing)Meet past Reno County resi-dent Mildred Hobbs (donor #86.121) through the vast collection of artifacts she and her family generously donated to RCM. Follow the process as an artifact is do-nated to RCM and is finally
featured in an exhibit.
a FeW OF OuR FavORiTe
Things
(Ongoing)The Reno County Histori-cal Society staff chose their favorite artifacts for this display. Most of these items have never before been on exhibit.
TRanspORTaTiOn galleRy (Ongoing)Come enjoy the Schuttler wagon, an Amish buggy, the Indian motorcycle, sidecar and much more in this fasci-nating look at the past.
Don’t forget, admissionto the Reno County
Museum is free!
RENO COUNTY MUSEUM EXHIBITS
RCM EVENTSSeSquicentennial eVentS
Throughout 2011
Look for more details on
events and activities hap-
pening throughout the year
to celebrate Kansas’ 150th
birthday in 2011!
FundRaising dinneR
June 9, Town Club
Join us for fabulous dishes
from actual Harvey House
CURIOUSER AND CURIOSER...these curiously dressed fellows, below, standing outside the old bisonte hotel, seem to be enjoying themselves. find out what it’s all about in the upcoming bisonte hotel exhibit opening june 16. (1993.137.13)
RENO COUNTYMUSEUM HOURS
9 am–5 pm tues-sat
closed sunday
and monday
free admission
unless
otherwise
noted
100 S. Walnut
620-662-1184
recipes prepared by the
Town Club on June 9. Then
step back in time at the
Bisonte Hotel exhibit open-
ing on June 16. Watch for
details.
iCe CReaM sOCial
July 21
Cool off with some ice
cream in the RCM courtyard.
What a nice way to enjoy
the summer!
f
22
Our 2011 members…keeping us strong for the future Salt Circle Donations of $1,000 or more for the creation of the Salt Mine Express trainCharles E. Carey Memorial FundAmy, Brooks and Mike CareyCollins Bus CorporationData Center, Inc. Kroger/Dillon Stores First National Bank Hutchinson Clinic Hutchinson Salt Co., Inc. Hutchinson Credit Union Kansas Gas ServiceLinda Rostine Schmitt Strawn Contracting, Inc.The Hutchinson NewsUnderground Vaults & Storage, Inc.Jerry and Joan Wray
Underground Train Donors Donations of $100 – $750 for the creation of the Salt Mine Express trainBridgman Oil Company, Inc.Fee Insurance GroupFinancial Planning & Consulting Services, LLCMidwest Iron & Metal Co., Inc. President’s Circle ($1,000 – $2,499 corporate)Barkley Plumbing Corp.First National Bank
Visionary ($1,000 and up) Mae BoggsJames A. & Juliet L. Davis Foundation, Inc.Roger A. Fick & Shirley A. Fick
Director’s Circle ($500 – $999 corporate)Bank of KansasCatalyst Creative ServicesFee Insurance GroupGreater Hutchinson Convention and Visitor’s Bureau
Preserver ($500 – $999)Bob & Ruth Barker Ace & Betty DillonKerr Charitable FoundationJeffrey & Maureen McAnarneyTucker & Nation MeyerBob & Lou PeelLeo A. & Helen Weeks Rogers Donor-Advised Fund of the Hutchinson Community FoundationMerl Sellers
Sustainer ($350 -–$499)Mary F. & Albert Baker Memorial TrustBethe & John Rimmer
Donor’s Circle ($100 – $499 corporate)Advertising Specialties & DesignCargill IncorporatedCommerce BankGravel & Concrete, Inc.KKB Properties, LLCSimpson Capital, LLCPromise Regional Medical Center
Backer ($200 – $349)Stan & Lisa BarkerDr. Bill & Kris DavisDan & Sharon DemingFrank & Sally DepenbuschButch & Tremenda Dillon Donor-Advised Fund of the Hutchinson Community FoundationRay E. (Butch) Dillon IIIMartha FeeDr. Dan & Patty FossRoger & Judy HawkEarl & Molly McVickerDr. Stephen Mills & Denny VickMollie A. Mitchell & John R. Wilson Kim & Cindy MooreGary & Sherry MundhenkeGary & Sue PolteraGail & Mark RassetteVirginia RaylMr. & Mrs. Robert C. SummersJim & MaryLou Sunderland
Supporter ($100 – $199)Faye AbildgaardDon & Ann AdamsFrank & Ardy AlexanderMichael & Bonnie ArmourEd & Carol BergerDennis & Jennalee BoggsLarry & Marilyn BoltonNorman & Gladys BosUriah & Diane BuellerDick & Marie Buzbee Elwin & Margaret CabbageDianne & James CannonBarbara CoatsMabel CollinsFred & Barbara ConnerJohn & Marcia CoreyHerchel & K.T. CrainerBob D. & Sharon R. DeVault
Carolyn & Dick Dillon Donor-Advised Fund of the Hutchinson Community FoundationAnita DrakeGene & Rhonda ElliottJohn & Jane EriksenDr. John FanRichard & Jane FalterBob & Annie FeeFrank & Bonnie FeeDel & Virginia FeslerCharlotte GallerJim & Karen GillilandFrancis & Nancy HabigerHelen HadleyJess & Mae HarderSandra & Jim HaskellJerry & Nan HawverElizabeth HayesKen & Jo HedrickLona HinshawGreg HoeferMr. & Mrs. Ed HoffmanKyle & Shannon HolmbergEd & Marjory JohnsonRandy & Pam JohnstonKenneth & Barbara KeeferLee & Joyce KellyRon & Raelene KiteJudy LangleyMr. & Mrs. Ron LeslieBrenda & Bill LeslieMarian LundquistDallas & Shirley MacklinDan & Georgia MaxwellDouglas McGovernWally & Joan McKinneyDr. & Mrs. Robert MorrisonDr. & Mrs. Jack MullRod & Bev NashJohn & Chris O’DaySam & Judy OntjesLiz & John OswaldDan & Brenda PaceJames & Sharon PetersonTom & Kyle PhilbeckGale & Georgia PremerVirginia RaylWilliam RexroadDr. David & Nancy RichmanHarold & Janet RyanDr. Martha SandersLois R. SchlickauWarren SchmittF.E. (Shep) SchoepfDr. Gerald & Judy SchraterJennifer ScofieldDick SiegristMr. & Mrs. Phil SimpsonJohn & Peg StephensCharles & Patsy StudtJohn & Dell SwearerMarilyn & Bill Swearer
Larry & Sue WagerleBarry & Gale WallDr. & Mrs. Michael WesleyBarbara WilliamsGary & Nancy WithamJohn & Barbara WithrowDr. Jack & Donna WortmanJerry & Joan WrayCynda WrightMary Anne Wright
Friend ($40 – $99)Allen County Public LibraryElaine ApplegateJuanita BaconCharles & Bonnie BenscheidtMike BenscheidtLarry & Bonnie BlackGerald & Marie BlocherTony & Connie BrauerAnn BrownStanley & Katherine BrownTerry & Sarah BruceAngeline Kiki CapponyJoann ColeGerald ColemanMr. & Mrs. Bill D. CollinsSteve ConardJane CooperMaurice & Melva CummingsGlenna DellenbachRuth & Paul Dillon Donor-Advised Fund of the Hutchinson Community FoundationMary Alice Hobbs-DitgenEd & Hazel DohertyWilliam & JoAnn DrewsMr. & Mrs. Roy E. DunnJennifer Dyck Lewis W. EdigerBob & Annie FeeMike & Gayle FerrellBarbara FrizellEsther GoheenJerry & Janice GreenJohn H. HartfordSteven HawkinsJames & Barbara HayesHeart of Kansas Quilt GuildGreg & Ande HenneGladys Heter-SargentGay HewittHiggins WaterStanley & Betty HoeferMartha HortonGary & Peggy HughesHutchinson Public LibraryCharles HyterDiane & Chuck LeeBob & Charlene LindRita A. Lingg
(More on next page)
23
Our 2011 members…keeping us strong for the future
The Reno County Muse-um shared birthday wishes and cake with the commu-nity on January 28, a day before Kansas celebrated its monumental 150th on January 29.
Thank you!
Mr. & Mrs. Wayne LoweRobert & Marian LundquistIrene MartindellLloyd & Ticky McAdamsWally & Joan McKinneySally McPhersonKenneth & Marjory McReynoldsJudith MielkePeggy MillerNorma MitchellNorman MorrayMax & Carol MurrayBert Newton
Robert NicklinRep. & Mrs. Mike O’NealKaren OrrBill & Linda PfenningerJames PotterDr. Vern & Aavon PowersDonna M. PyleMr. & Mrs. Russell ReinertDr. & Mrs. Richard RoblTrish RoseJack S. Rothwell Revocable Trust
Del RuffRowena SampierCliff ShankRichard ShankJay SmithPhyllis SnyderMr. & Mrs. Herb SoukupGeorge L. Stallman IIIRuth StigginsAllen & Ila StoneMr. & Mrs. J.B. StuckeyPat & Maxene Thurman
Merlan & Florence UnruhPaul & Deb WaggonerEarl & Julia WeidmanDr. Gene WellsMr. & Mrs. Clark WesleyMr. & Mrs. Victor WillemsMr. & Mrs. Robert WinslowKen & Glenda VogelJolene & Allan YoderRichard YoungCleyon & Laura Yowell
We would like to thank the following for their assistance and generosity: • Lloyd Armstrong, furniture loan, Bisonte exhibit• Berry Material Handling, engine expertise, train• Joel Busch, Track Team, train• CK’s Lock & Key, keys, Bisonte exhibit• Delos V. Smith Senior Center, cloth, RCM• Lew Ediger, consulting, Bisonte exhibit• Travis Haneke, Track Team, train• Hutchinson Salt Company, rails and ties, train• Leadership Reno County 2010 Class, laying track, train• Tina Moore, chalk, Chalk Fest 2011• Jim Siemens, woodworking expertise, Bisonte exhibit• Skateland Family Fun Center, passes, Chalk Fest 2011• Dave Unruh, Track Team Captain, train• Wendy’s, coupons, Chalk Fest 2011• Jerry Wray, Track Team, train; couch loan, Bisonte exhibit• Brad Thompson, Bridgman Oil, generator fuel and weed control• Hutch Transportation, snow removal• Southwest & Associates, metal gate fabrication, train• Alex Schmitt, Eagle Scout Project, Permian Playground
h
Various organizations were present and informed the guests of upcoming Kansas Sesquicentennial activities throughout the year. Thanks to the following partners who helped spon-sor the event: ArtisTree,
Cosmosphere, Bank of Kan-sas, Downtown Hutchinson, Fox Theater, Hutchinson Zoo, Mennonite Manor, Prairie Nutcracker, Quest Center, Y.M.C.A of Hutchinson and Kansas Underground Salt Museum.
RCH celebrates state’s 150th
h
reno county historical societyp.o. box 664hutchinson, kansas 67504-0664
if you’re not a member and wish to join, please call us at 620-662-1184.
and don’t forget to check out our web site at www.undergroundmuseum.org.
return service requested
THE STRANGE TALE
OF AN EDITOR’S KIDNAPPING
PAGE 4
If your address changes, please call us at 620-662-1184.
Pre-sort StdU.S. Postage
PAIDPermit No. 135Hutchinson, KS
67501