St. Peter’s Church – Aurora, KS
Built in 1892 and then re-erected in 1909
The only time we were in this beautiful church was for the burial of our dear priest and friend Fr. Steve Letourneau, who was killed in a car wreck on Palm Sunday April 4, 1993. We would go to early Mass at the Chapel and Fr. Steve would drive to another small town to offer Mass, then he would come over for Sunday dinner, followed by a nap.
A beautiful day to be on the backroads of Kansas. It was a busy day, as farmers are harvesting their fall crops. Please drive carefully and be sure to give the combines, grain carts and trucks plenty of room.
Corn
Sorghum also called Milo is a feed grain for cattle. There are twenty-five species of sorghum. Some species are grown for its grain other species are grown for fodder.
Sweet Sorghum/Cane grows 10′ tall and is harvested and chopped up or baled for feed.
Cane is made into ensilage and was stored in a silo. Most silos are abandoned, now the ensilage is stored in a trench silo.
Milo is harvested for its grain.
Last cutting of alfalfa.
We’re in NORWAY!!
Norway, Kansas
Kackley, KS
When the railroad was built thru Kackley in 1887, it was a trade center, home to 200 people, now it has a population of 13.
Remains of the General Store
White Rock, KS
Settled in 1871 along the west bank of the Republican river. The town at one time had 3 general stores, saw mill, corn mill and a hotel. Only a couple of houses remain.
Pawnee Indian Village in the late 1700’s this was a site of a village. There is a museum located on this land. Here is a link to that information Pawnee Indian Museum
Sutphen Mill Christian Church – Chapman, KS
Cemetery in North Central, KS
St. Mary’s Catholic Church built in 1909 it is now First United Methodist Church – N. Central KS
Vicksburg Baptist Church – Vicksburg Township, KS
St. Luke’s Evangelical Lutheran Church – North Central, KS
Traveling the backroads to find an old barn, my adventure took me across this old steel truss bridge. It’s one of my favorite design of bridges along with the stone arch bridges. This bridge is across the Whitewater River in Butler County, KS.
Tree lined backroad on the way to Whitewater Falls Stock Farm
In 1879 James Robinson, came to Kansas from Illinois where he was known as “Apple” Robinson because of his success with fruit orchards, he purchased 3,840 acres of land along the Whitewater River near Towanda, KS. Locals called him “Wheat” Robinson, as he farmed large amounts of wheat and was the first to grow alfalfa in Kansas. With his sons he purchased an additional 13,000 acres and in 1884 he began to breed Percheron horses. By 1911 Whitewater Falls Stock Farm was the largest Percheron farm in the nation.
The young family that lives on the Farm is in the process of restoring this amazing beautiful barn. Here is the link to their Facebook page. Whitewater Falls Stock Farm
Donate Here to help restore Whitewater Falls Stock Farm Barn
This church is no longer commissioned as a Catholic Church, but is now being preserved by The Guardians of The St. Joseph Church Foundation. Please follow them on Facebook, they would appreciate any tax-deductible donations to preserve this historic church building.
Guardians of The St. Joseph Church Foundation – St. Joseph, KS
August on the prairie is known for its sweltering heat and little to no rain. The grasslands are brown and dry, with the threat of large grass fires…….this year August has been cooler and with plentiful rain, the grassland is green and lush.
We have a dry creek in our back yard that handles the run off from the pasture, know by the locals (me) as Farmer Creek. This past week it has rained daily. One twenty-four hour period we received over 5″ of rain.
Farmer Creek was out of its banks.
Finally the sun came out and Wylie and I took off on an adventure.
Wells is a small unincorporated town in Ottawa County.
Main Street 
Along the blacktop road between Wells and Miltonvale.
Silo Art
Since farmers are no longer using the silos you will see a lot of them with trees inside.
Windmills are becoming a thing of the past. I’ve seen the blades of the windmills re-purposed as ceiling fans and wall decor.
Miltonvale, a city in Cloud County, KS, was founded in 1881. Home to Miltonvale Wesleyan College 1909 – 1972. Current population around 500.
Goats are keeping the grounds of the old college clear of weeds.
Aurora is located in Cloud County, KS with a population of around 60. The post office was established in 1886, it was called St. Peter for a couple of year.
Depot
Old Jail
Wild sunflowers along the ditch and a beautiful Kansas sky
I love finding Churches of the Prairie. Wished I could attend a service in each and every one!
Immanuel Lutheran Church – Shady Brook, KS
Monument, KS
Ash Grove, KS
Methodist Episcopal Church – Talmage, KS
Minneapolis, KS
Alida Upland Parish Church
Butler County, KS is the largest county in the State. It sits on the western edge of the Flint Hills. Here is a link to different tours for the area. Please call ahead, as some of the restaurants have closed.
These bridges are best photographed from down below. I always have jeans and boots on, but there were a few places I didn’t want to go thru as there was a lot of poison ivy! Thankfully I didn’t see any snakes! Wylie was in his “pouch” for most of these photos!
Bridge #1
Double Arch Built in 1912 Arches 20′ and 30′
Bridge #2
Built 1897 25′ Arch
This one is my favorite! I could have stayed here all day, beautiful rock ledge.
Bridge #3
Built in 1900 37′ Arch
Nice reflection of clouds in the water
Bridge #4
Built in 1899 36′ Arch
Bridge #5
Built 1899 36′ Arch (I don’t think this one is going to last much longer)
Just down the road from Bridge #5 was this old school.
Lily Lake School 1885-1966 (strange place for a cow!)
Looking forward to continuing this tour of Bridges of Butler County!
Woodbine, KS a small town in Dickinson County, KS Population 170 The town was founded in 1871 originally named Lyons, after a nearby creek. In 1887 renamed Woodbine, after a town in Illinois. The railroad also came thru in 1887, ceasing operation in 1980.
Beautiful zinnia garden
Resurrection Lily
School was built 1909 – last graduating class 1962
Rock fence
Farmer Days 