Category: Uncategorized
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1939 Phone Book, Alma, Eskridge, Maple Hill, Kansas
This American Telephone Company phone book from 1939 includes listings from Alma, Eskridge, and Maple Hill, Kansas. The covers provide a listing of local businesses, and virtually every business in the three towns is listed in the directory.
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Great-Grandfather’s Civil War Rifle
-by Dean Gladow- In retrospect, it was perhaps too much to expect. Great-grandfather “Fred” Heidemann, whose christened name– from the church record of his birth on January 13, 1834, at Petersdorf (near Templin, in the province of Brandenburg, Germany)– was actually Johann Friedrich Heidemann, had already grown to be somewhat of a family legend. His…
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Matchbook Memories
One of the great inventions of the 19th century which greatly improved the quality of life for virtually all Americans was the creation of the match in the early 1800s. The first modern self-igniting match was invented by a Frenchman, Jean Chancel, in Paris in 1805. These early “matches” were chemical devices which ignited when…
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1963 Wabaunsee County Farm Directory
For more than a half-century, rural directory companies in Kansas have produced county plat maps in a booklet form that feature all of the Townships of a particular county, while identifying all of the rural residences. The directories have proved useful to historians who are researching ownership of particular properties, as well as individuals who are researching…
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The History of the Alma National Bank
-by Greg Hoots- The Alma National Bank enjoyed a prominent place in the history of the business community of Alma, Kansas, boasting a rich history in the very roots of the town. The Alma National Bank, founded in 1898, had its origins in the Alma State Bank, established by Alma businessman and photographer, Louis Palenske. Palenske,…
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The Sweeney Bridge
-by Greg Hoots- This is a photograph of the Sweeney Bridge, an iron bridge under construction over the Kaw River in early 1911. The bridge was located in Kaw Township in Wabaunsee County and crossed the river into Pottawatomie County about three miles south of St. Marys, Kansas. There was an interesting history leading to…
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Eskridge Alumni Association Digitizes Eskridge High School Class Photos
The Eskridge High School Alumni Association recently contracted with Flint Hills photo historian, Greg Hoots to digitize forty-six graduating class pictures that once adorned the walls of Eskridge High School in Eskridge, Kansas. The photos were lost for a period of time when USD 330 disposed of their elementary and old high school buildings. The Alumni Association recovered forty-six…
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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 opened an office at 224 Missouri Street where an operator managed the switchboard which connected the callers on various lines. The lines began…