The Sweet Up and Down

Audrey actually took me around Waterville and showed me some of the big houses, where her grandpa lived and the cemetery. The reunion was held in the community building and meeting all those people whose names I don't remember was very nice. After about an hour or so, it was time to eat and all the food that I had was very delicious--even the lasagna (and I am very particular about my lasagna). After we had all finished eating came a raffle-type thing where everyone was given a number and given a bag corresponding with that number. In that bag was something that belonged to Aunt Alice. Even I got something which made me a little uneasy but was happy that they accepted me into the family. I got a teacup.

It's a pretty simple cup. I want to say it's handmade because of the way it looks and that it doesn't have a copyright or company name anywhere on the cup. I'm proud of it but I was even more impressed with what Audrey got. She got an old-fashioned hair curler, a necklace that was given to her aunt by her husband back in 1954 and ceramic tiles from the Irving Bank. I think we got a pretty good score.

We stayed a while and looked at photos that were set up and looked at what everybody else got then headed back. We stopped in Blue Rapids to get gas and something to drink and I saw what I think was the only gay person in Blue Rapids. We seemed to get back to Wamego faster and stopped at Kreme Kup to get some ice cream because this girl at work used to work there and said it was really good. Which it was. I then directed Audrey to turned north on Onaga Road so we could see the Louis Vieux Family Cemetery and Elm Tree. The elm tree, once the largest in the state, has now been cut down to just the trunk and a protective shelter placed over it to protect it. While I hate to see the tree damaged, I'm glad the state is trying to preserve it. Also, the state put up signs for the Cholera Cemetery near the tree so you can actually find it and take a look at it.

The grave markers (such as the one above) are protected by a huge chain-link fence and only three markers remain despite over 50 people buried there. I wouldn't recommend viewing it during the summer--go in the winter, less bugs and things to attack you and attach themselves to you.

It was the best weekend I've had in a while and was very happy that Audrey's family literally welcomed me with open arms. Next weekend, it's Lecompton's Territorial Days and dinner with her parents. I shall have pictures of Territorial Days as well.

Until next time, I remain...
~Brian

Even though I don't think it was a busy weekend, when you actually lay it all out, it does. On Saturday, the whole family got together to finally clean my grandparent's (now uncle's) place in Baldwin. It was the city wide clean-up so we loaded up an air conditioner, a bed, a small desk/table thing, a huge wood paneled TV and a big screen--Oh, and let's not forget a washing machine and refridgerator--into a U-Haul and drove it down to the dump (which isn't really a dump anymore).

I had to leave early because I had made plans with Audrey about a month ago and I figured I had already missed the wedding and that if I missed the reception I would be fired from being her fiance. The wedding was for people I don't know, which are always fun, but I got free food and it was held at the Kansas History Museum so that was kind of cool. However, I sat diagonal from this girl whose voice literally drove itself into my skull. It was so annoying that I probably would've paid for someone to shut her up. At least the wine put me in a decent mood... The next morning, Audrey and I had to get up early so we could make our way to Waterville, Kansas for a family reunion.


First of all, the drive there is amazing with beautiful rolling mounds in the background and lots of trees and acres upon acres of lush green farmland. I should've taken some pictures of it but, well, I'm an idiot. And I didn't think of it until just now. While Google takes you west on I-70 and north through Manhatten, using the K-99/K9/U.S. 77 route is a lot more interesting as you pass some very interesting areas. After passing through the Topeka 'burbs of Silver Lake and Rossville, you come to St. Mary's which is essentially known for the massive Catholic school they have. Then you pass through Belvue and make your turn onto K-99 in Wamego. K-99 takes you through Louisville, Westmoreland, Blaine (with their beautiful church pictured above) to Frankfort where you turn onto K-9.

You take K-9 to U.S. 77 which doesn't really pass anything good except the landscape. At the intersection with U.S. 77 is a historical marker for the Oregon Trail campsite, Alcove Springs which is just north of Blue Rapids and features many rock carvings inscribed by people travelling the Oregon Trail. We were to meet Audrey's parents in Blue Rapids so we could go to a memorial service for her Aunt Alice who had recently (November '07) passed away. Her ashes were to be interred at the Greeenwood-Irving Cemetery a couple miles south of Blue Rapids. Not knowing much about her aunt, I do know quite a bit about Irving, Kansas.

In the autumn of 1856, Irving, named for 19th Century author Washington Irving, was settled by a small group of residents from Lyons, Iowa. Almost immediately, the town was plagued with disasters. A drought then huge storms in 1860, grasshopper plague in 1866, another in 1875, two tornadoes in 1879, flooding in 1903 and several fires between 1907 and 1916, the latter destorying the north side of Main Street. Finally in 1955 plans to build the Tuttle Creek Dam did what fire, storms and insects couldn't do: brought an end to the town. Oddly enough, the site of Irving is not underwater so demolition of the town may not have been needed. It was a nice memorial for a woman obviously loved by everyone who knew her and we all lucked out that it was a beautiful clear day for once. After the service, we all left and began the relatively short excurison to Waterville to start the reunion which mean that this is...

...To be continued.
~Brian

I thought the night was eventful.

After listening to various songs (Outside by Staind from the Family Values Tour, Drive by Incubus and various Bloodhound Gang) I got an urge to go to 87, an old abandoned house just outside of Baldwin. Randy, too, wanted to go so after I got off work and called Audrey, Randy and I headed out to Baldwin. We knew we'd have to park a ways away and ended up parking about a quarter mile away and walked down the dark gravel road to the driveway to the house. We hopped over the fence and trudged up the driveway which is also quite a walk. The house still stood at the top of the hill, decaying, like it has since the 1850s.

We followed the driveway along the southern part of the house and checked the graves to make sure they were still unbothered. Although the small rock wall that surrounded the headstone was a bit more ransacked, the stone was still there--in six pieces--but still there. Randy hadn't been up to the house in over five years and I haven't been since the summer of 2006 but time is started to show on that property. Only a couple barns remain, and two have collasped. All the windows to the house have been broken which could be a sign of vandals or just time itself. A brief storm came through, getting me and Randy rained on but it soon passed and we decided to up to the house and see if we could get in.

With all the rain that has passed through the area, the grass around the house was up to my hips and may have been crawling with God only knows. We got to the porch and noticed the northeast side of the house has settled more and is noticably detached from the rest of the house. While the house was wide open, Randy and I were unsure about the safety of the house so we just glanced inside then went back to the car. We were talking about why we seem drawn to the house and while neither of us really believe in it, we began wondering if somehow, in a past life, we were someone in the family that used to live there. While we know we're trespassing, we don't cause any damage and when we actually get there, we feel really comfortable there. It's almost like a home away from home.

For more information on 87, you can read the entry on it in Watch This Space to get a better idea of the history, house layout and what I would do with the property.

Until next time, I remain...
~Brian

The Devil House was once located at the intersection of 93rd and Paulen Roads in Shawnee County. Rumor had it, a family used to live there who practiced Satanism. One night, their daughter snuck out and rode to Topeka on a white horse and was beaten and raped. She was able to make it back home but discovered she was pregnant. When the baby was born, the mother, ashamed of the bastard child, took the baby and drowned it in a nearby pond. The girl snapped, murdered her parents and then rode away on the white horse never to be seen again.

While that's a good story I do find some flaws in it. 1)Why would Satanists really care about a "bastard child?" That's more of a God-fearing, Christian thing. 2)But when this story would've happened (1890-1927), Topeka would've been a good distance away and would've taken most of the night to ride there and back. 3)A murder like this would've made the Topeka paper and even the Richland paper, a small town near the House but no verification has been found. While I do believe this all could happen, I think it's pieced together from different legends.

When I first saw the Devil House (part of the Kansas Devil's Triangle of Rochester Cemetery, the Devil House and Stull Cemetery), it was very imposing. The house was all boarded up and one small NO TRESPASSING sign was nailed to boards on the second floor. When me and a group of friends went to the house in the daytime, we explored more of the grounds. We saw the foundation of what we figured was a barn or stable and several watersheds. As we walked down a trail through the woods, we actually came across a pond which tied in with the story. Unfortunately, Randy got scared and ran away so we didn't explore any further but came back at night and explored the house.

At night, the house seemed much more imposing. Since the exterior wall were a yellow color, the house really stood out in the dark. All the doors and windows had been boarded up so we walked around to the back where the cellar door had been busted down. You could see remnants of previous visitors littering the small staircase to the door. The basement was completely made of dirt and dirt basements are creepy. We could see a couple of mice roaming around and two good-sized holes were made in the above ceiling for access into the actual house.

We were able to climb into the first floor fairly easily and could see the damage inflicted by vandals and time--mainly vandals. We calmly walked around looking in vain for some evidence of what supposedly transpired at this location but found nothing and were unable to gain access to the fabled third floor where the Satanic rituals and killings took place. Sadly, the house was torn down and replaced with a newer house. So any mystery associated with the Devil House will remain a mystery, only a memory to those who know the truth.

Until next time, I remain...
~Brian

I got interested in ghost towns when Randy and I checked out some books from the library. The first towns we went to were Franklin and Bismarck Grove in Douglas County. We found nothing because the Bismarck Grove site is inaccessible and most of Franklin has now been built upon. I later learned there's a small cemetery at the top of a hill near the East Hills Business Park that was once the Franklin Cemetery.

While I haven't been to a lot of ghost towns, I've been to a few around Eastern Kansas and while I may not be able to find them, I at least attempt the journey. The following is a list of my three favorite ghost towns. I have plenty more if you're interested.

UNIONTOWN
(Take I-70 west out of Topeka to Carlson Road exit. Turn right toward Willard/Rossville. Follow signs to the Green Wildlife Refuge which is where Uniontown used to be.)

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Uniontown was an Oregon Trail stop near the Kansas River. It was also a trading post where Indians could cash their government annuities and also spend it. Uniontown, before settlement in Kansas began in 1854, was the largest town and stayed that way for awhile until traffic on the trail dwindled and people moved to Topeka. Today, Uniontown is mainly located in the Green Wildlife Refuge. A couple of cemeteries are in the immediate area and one has a mass Indian burial after a cholera epidemic. The wildlife preserve has old farm equipment and two hiking trails that take you into the woods surrounding Post Creek.

Went I first went to find Uniontown, I followed the directions in the ghost town traveller's guide where you exit at West Union Road. You're supposed to follow the road until it curves wide at the site of a cemetery. While the road did curve, it curved onto someone's driveway. I followed West Union Road up and down and found no cemetery. It wasn't until I spent a day in Rossville that I saw signs for the Green Wildlife Refuge along Carlson Road. I followed the signs through Willard and topping a hill saw an old stone house and cemetery. I walked both hiking trails that day although I don't really recommend going there by yourself. Even though most, if not all, of the town is gone it's nice to know that the site is being well-preserved.

WHITE CLOUD/IOWA POINT
(Take K-7 north from Troy and follow the road along the Missouri River until you come to both towns. Both are clearly marked.)

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White Cloud was once a major steamboat port. Iowa Point was once the largest city in Doniphan County with over 2,000 inhabitants. White Cloud hoped to become a sister city to Atchison which sadly didn't happen but White Cloud continued to be a strong city based on the steamboat industry. When the railroad came through and steamboat traffic dwindled the population moved, mainly to Atchison or St Joseph. A small population still lives in White Cloud which has the distinction of being the place where the piggy bank was invented, a couple of buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places and White Cloud also has an observation point where people can see Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri and Iowa.

Iowa Point was once the second-largest city along the Missouri River, after Leavenworth. The reason for Iowa Point's decline was an economic recession in 1859, the Iowa and Sac & Fox Agencies were moved miles away and the town was evenly divided on the slavery issue and fires broke out on Main Street. After the Civil War, soldiers returned to find a town depleted of businesses and homes. In 1870, the population was estimated at around 500 and in 1933 the post office was closed. Today, only a few houses remain along Denmark Road just off of K-7.

I decided to visit these towns while driving on U.S. 36 when I was leaving Sabetha. I knew I could follow U.S. 36 to K-7 to the Nebraska border. K-7 has been designated scenic route and for good reason. Leaving 36 and getting onto 7 takes you through a winding Kansas highway past small towns such as Fanning and Sparks. K-7 brushes against the Missouri River as it leads into Nebraska. I nearly ran out of gas travelling on this road as there are no gas stations between U.S. 36 and Nebraska. Luckily, the Iowa Indians have a reservation outside of White Cloud where I was able to get gas (really cheap, too!) and started making my way back home.

I did a bit more exploring in Iowa Point because I like the name and the history really intrigued me. Iowa Point is surrounded by high mounds created by natives long before Europeans came to the area. I was also able to find the cemetery which was kind of off the beaten path. I actually thought Iowa Point was a nice community despite having only a few houses.

SILKVILLE
(Take I-35 south from Ottawa to the Williamsburg exit. Follow Dane Avenue to Old Highway 50/William Street. Turn right and follow Old Highway 50 for about three miles. A sign should welcome you to the Silkville Ranch near the intersections with Arkansas Road and Douglas Road.)

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Silkville was founded by Frenchman Ernest de Boissere who created the town to center on the growing silk industry. While de Boissere was successful with both silk and later, cheese, the industry started to collapse and de Boissere grew homesick for France and sold the ranch to the Odd Fellows Lodge for use as an orphanage. Later, the ranch burned down. Today, all that remains is a few outbuildings, the Silkville Ranch sign and an old schoolhouse.

I originally didn't plan to go to Silkville. I originally followed John Brown Road from U.S. 59 until I got to Old Highway 50 which is something I wouldn't recommend unless you like huge, smelly farm. It also took forever to get there because Silkville is a lot further south than I thought. The drive was interesting but I soon just wanted to get there and thought about turning around a couple times. When actually arriving in Silkville, there's really nothing that says you are there except for the sign. I even explored a little more and went to the town of Agricola and all the way down to BETO Junction before I turned around. If you're ever in the area, take a trip around Melvern Lake. It's a gorgeous lake and kind of creepy at the same time.

Until next time, I remain...
~Brian

I'm not at all political but I care who runs my country. I've been disappointed by George W. Bush at every turn for the way he has turned our economy upside down, turned our government offices into pools of nepotism, waged war on a country that didn't do anything and essentially forced everyone in the world, including Americans, to choose a side: With us or against us. I didn't listen to the State of the Union but I read articles immediately after it was done so I could get the layman's view of it but I did listen to the Democratic Response. Instead of forcing it on you, if you want you can watch them here:
Analysts react to Bush's last State of the Union
Democratic Response from Gov. Kathleen Sebelius.

I'm not gonna go into what is good for the country. We all know but everyone has a different idea on what is good. What I'm looking at is Governor Sebelius' response. For the first time in a long time, Kansas is relevant. She is a Democratic governor in a highly Republican state, I've read in Time and Newsweek that she is a good candidate for vice-president. Governor Sebelius hasn't done really anything that I oppose. Since her tenure, she has turned this state around. It's still not perfect but it takes time--the next governor will either continue with what she started or completely tear it down.

My Great State of Kansas turned 147 on Tuesday. I am slightly disappointed by what was chosen for the 8 Wonders of Kansas but since when has anyone really listened to me? Anyway, take a look at them, most of them are very disappointing. I can only remember a few of the ones I voted for but only three are on the list. I just find it very disappointed that Kansans chose mainly man-made/generic "wonders" instead of capitalizing on the natural wonders of the state. But I guess I am a little biased toward that.

Also, I read that the FCC is suing ABC Network for an NYPD Blue episode where a woman's naked butt was shown. The episode aired back in 2003. Apparently with the Writer's Strike, the FCC has little to nothing to do. They are suing for $1.4 million. ABC says they will appeal.

On a side note, this is my 100th posting under the POB headline. I originated it on MySpace (now deleted) but I'm enjoying LJ a lot more. And as always, I remain...
~Brian