The Sharps rifle was invented by Christian Sharps who obtained a patent for a new design of a breech-loading rifle. Sharps, born in Washington, New Jersey worked as an apprentice to a […]
At The Museum: The “Beecher Bible” Sharps Model 1852 Carbine
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Photo Friday: Mill Creek Valley & Council Grove Railway Bond, 1873
No single force was so important to the development of the American West than the railroad industry. By the middle of the 19th century, the nation’s lawmakers realized that the development of […]
At the Museum: 1923 Reo Fire Truck
Visitors to the Wabaunsee County Historical Society Museum in Alma, Kansas enjoy seeing this 1923 Reo Fire Truck on display in the museum annex building. The truck was built by the Reo […]
Photo Friday: Video, Halloween Parade, Eskridge, Kansas
This is a short 8-millimeter video of the Halloween parade in Eskridge, Kansas taken in the very early 1950s. It’s a great little video of an iconic parade in small town America. […]
A Tale of Two Photographers
-by Greg Hoots- Louis Palenske was born in Richardson County, Kansas Territory in 1858 (renamed Wabaunsee County in 1859) in a log cabin on the banks of Mill Creek, the son of […]
Patricia Rozema Taylor: A Friend to All
Patricia Ann Rozema was born in Birmingham, Alabama on July 29, 1939, the daughter of Nicholas and Philomena Ditman Rozema, but the family moved to Topeka when Pat was a young girl. […]
Photo Friday: Artist, August Ohst
Today’s featured photo includes two views, both taken in 1888 by Louis Palenske, of his good friend, artist, August Ohst. August Ohst was born in Ratzeburg, Germany in 1851 and came to America […]
Number Please: The History of the Telephone in Wabaunsee County
In the history of Wabaunsee County, June 25, 1898 is a date of historical significance when the McMahan Telephone Exchange opened for business in Alma, Kansas with twelve subscribers. The telephone company […]
Shave and a Haircut
One of the most iconic small town businesses which thrived in the first half of the 20th century was the local barber shop. Every town had one. Some towns had two […]
Eskridge, Kansas-Park Bandstand
After Wabaunsee County’s incorporated towns were established from the 1860s through the 1880s, the towns began to recognize the need for a park for the recreation and enjoyment of their citizenry. By […]
