-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 […]
A Tale of Two Photographers
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 […]
Photo Friday, Railroad Trestle Construction
Hi, Everyone, It’s Photo Friday again! I have two photos taken of the construction of a railroad trestle. The location is unidentified beyond the assumption that it is in Kansas. These are […]
Photo Friday, Wabaunsee Tavern, Lake Wabaunsee
Welcome to Photo Friday. We have two photos today from lifelong Eskridge resident, Dean Dunn, both taken at Lake Wabaunsee in the early 1940s. These views are both of the Wabaunsee Tavern, […]
Gasoline Gallery
Before the development of the convenience store and the concept of self-service gasoline pumps, there were thousands of small gas stations across Kansas that pumped fuel, washed the customer’s windows, checked the […]
Party Time-1,000th Visitor
Exactly one month ago we placed our first item on the Wabaunsee County Historical Society’s new website, and tonight we are pleased to announce that we’ve had our 1,000th visitor to the […]
Dover, Kansas
Dover, Kansas is located on Kansas Highway 4 in the southwest corner of Shawnee County, just a half-mile east of the Wabaunsee County line. Dover has long been a trading center for residents of […]
The Barns of Wabaunsee County
Wabaunsee County enjoys a rich ranching heritage which is reflected in the many expansive barns which adorned the landscape. All of late 19th century and early 20th century barns had large hay […]
Wabaunsee County Historical Society and Museum 