Spring 2008

Riley County

Memoirs of John W Bartleson

Chapter Three, Part Three: Turn of a New Century

By Tweed Ross

The year 1894 was a very dry fall. Wheat that was sowed that fall did not come up during the winter. It did not rain in this county until May 30, 1895. It was then too late for a crop. I had my land all planted to corn and it did not come up until after the rain the 30th of May. I had very good corn on the new land. I sold the corn in Beloit for 14 cents per bushel. Land was very low in value at that time, good upland farms selling for $8.10 to 10.00 per acre. At this time, I bought three or four good improved farms from $1275 to $1450, these prices did not advance much until 1896 or 1897. The chance was good to make money.

Marshall County

The length of winter—paradise down a dirt road

By Tom Parker

The Alaskan Highway officially ends at Delta Junction, but from there the road continues in a loop northward to Fairbanks before snaking down past Talkeetna and Wasilla—a small town virtually unknown to the world at large before vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin was selected—and past the cutoff to Anchorage it stabs straight east to Glennallen, where it abruptly shoots north back to Delta Junction. Drivers on the loop are witness to stunning mountainscapes, zillions of trees and one lone farm.

“We were the only one visible on the entire road system,” Cecilia McNeal says with a laugh.

Coffeyville Flood: A Town Coming Back from Disaster

By Zack Smith

The night of June 30th was not a usual Saturday night in Coffeyville, Kansas. The police were driving around the East side of town with mega phones warning people to get out. Others were in the old Wal-Mart parking lot making sand bags. No one knew just how serious this flood was going to get.

Goverland Stage Stop: Public Horse Riding at Kanopolis Lake

By Lisa Quested

Doje Kosek and Walt Gove

Since 2002 Walt Gove, owner, horse trainer, guide and story teller has operated this public horse riding facility.

From the black Hills of Dakota, Walt rode south with his string of horses. He had word form some lost buffalo hunters that an opportunity was available for commercial horse back adventures on the east shore of the camping area. (Sounds like one of those infamous tall-tale stories coming on………)

The location was perfect. The route to the stables had been dedicated a “scenic by way,” suitably complementing the beauty of the riding trails. Kanopolis Lake drew thousands annually. With a pool surface of 3,400 acres, recreation and fun was sure to be found.

Old Fort? Stone Mystery Needs Answers

By Tom Parish

This Old Fort/Home/Barn is located on the intersection of Tri-Country Rd and Boulder Road about 10 miles north of Alta Vista and 5 miles west of Alma. While the identity of this is a mystery, it clearly pre-dates Fort Riley, and was probably one of the initial constructions on the frontier before Kansas became a territory. Clearly abandoned for a very long time, it offers only a vague reminder of years past and battles (maybe?) won and lost.

If anyone does have any information regarding the identity of this structure, we would happily add it to this post

Past Issues