Buffalo and Smithalo

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On a hot summer day I can’t think of a better place to be than on the back roads of Kansas, (well maybe out on a lake or high on a cool mountain top) but here we were temperature 105, heat index 112, on the back roads.

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Off the beaten path in a remote pasture in north Ottawa County, KS stands a sentinel over looking the vast prairie.  Known as the Smithalo, it is a 60 ton monument to the American Bison, built by Ray Smith with the help of his brother Chester in 1977-1978.

The monument can be seen from miles away.  It is on the right side of the hilltop.

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Bull and Cow

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Cow and calf

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The monument is constructed out of steel, stone, and concrete.  There are lightning rods attached to the monument since it is the highest point for miles.

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Mr. Smith started breeding buffalo in the 1960.  He also was know for at one time having lions, bears and camel.  He passed away in 1999.  He is buried by his beautiful monument to the American Bison.

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All photos were taken with my Sony camera and zoom lens from the road.  I can only imagine how awesome it would be to stand by the monument and see the world from there!!  Hopefully I will get the chance to see it up close someday.

 

 

 

 

Neosho Falls, KS

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Neosho Falls, Woodson County, KS is located along the Neosho River in the southeast part of the State.  Settlers arrived in the early 1850’s settling on land that was part of the New York Indian Reserve.  It was never occupied by the Indians and in 1860 the US Government put it up for homesteading.

Neosho Falls was a transportation center being located at the junction of 2 railroads and the Neosho River.  Retail business at one time were banks, motels, flour mill, saw mill and sorghum mill.  The city suffered numerous set backs as electricity replaced water power, disastrous flooding, and the Depression.

 

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Prosperity returned when oil was discovered in 1937.  Anticipating new growth a large elementary and high school was built.  But another flood destroyed much of the town in 1957.

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This looks like a quiet street, but I was amazed at the traffic that was in town.  They were mostly headed to the river, where they would drive out to the gravel bars, park and then float around or fish.  I saw a fisherman out standing in the river in water up to his neck, only his head and arms holding his pole were visible, one way to keep cool!  The residents do not need a big pool or spray parks, they have the beautiful river!

Current population is 141.  One resident is quoted as saying “Neosho Falls may not be the boom town that is once was, but, we like it just the way it is”.  I can understand why they like their town!

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Churches of the Prairie 3

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Continuing with the series of Churches of the Prairie we are in Piqua, KS. Located in Woodson County, Piqua had it’s start in 1882 with the building of the railroad.  Population now is 107.

St. Martin’s Church 1920 – Piqua, KS  1920

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Located west of Lindsborg, KS is the Freemount Lutheran Church.  Built in 1927 to replace the 1880 church that was destroyed by a fire caused by lightning.

Freemount Lutheran Church – Lindsborg, KS  1927

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Excelsior Lutheran Church – Wilson, KS

In the middle of a wind farm along I-70

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The unique design of the cross, no matter where you view it from, it’s a cross!  When I first photographed this, I though they were having services, but I couldn’t find any information on if they are still worshiping here.

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St. Michael’s – Chapman, KS

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Rolling In

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After a LOT of days of hot humid weather, this morning was a welcoming break.  I was outside working in my butterfly garden at 6:30!!  No mosquitoes, a nice cool east breeze and this cloud to the north rolling in.  It looked like it could be packing heavy rain and wind, but thankfully we received just less than 1/2″ of rain, no wind.  The day stayed cool until around 3 and I was able to spend that time outdoors.  I’m so much “nicer” when it’s not hot!  I know, summer has just started, but I’m the spring/fall type.

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Churches of the Prairie 2

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This is a series of post about abandoned, rural, and small town churches through out Kansas.  Sadly some are beyond repair, some are struggling to continue offering services and others are a vibrant part of the community.

 

St. Ann’s Catholic Church – Olmitz, KS  1889

On the day that I visited the church a company was removing some the stain glass and windows to reburbish the windows.  That has to be quite an expense, it speaks highly of the parishioners who are willing to commit to such a financial obligation to preserve their beautiful house of worship.

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Stain glass and Stations of the Cross

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The company restoring the windows is doing a great job.

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St. Catherine’s – Dubuque  KS  1901-1907

Even thou I just posted this one last week, I could never go past St. Catherine’s at Dubuque without stopping!  Services are no longer held here.

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Lutheran Church and Sunday School Building

I had been looking for this church for sometime, I was so happy to find it.

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Cemetery across the road from the church

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Exploring Barton County, KS

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This week in Kansas has been so hot!  The 100 degree temperatures are great for the wheat harvest.  I had a decision to make, stay home and enjoy the climate controlled comfort of home thinking of places to go OR load up and enjoy a day exploring.  Load up Wylie!!

We headed west to Barton County, an area known as Post Rock County.  This area is approximately 200 miles from the Nebraska border to Dodge City.

Boyd, KS was a station and shipping point for the railroad.  All that is left is a  grain elevator, a farm and this abandoned station.  Was so surprised to see the two gas pumps!

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Scales at Boyd Station

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On our way to Olmitz we saw this jackrabbit.  Our rabbit population is mostly cottontail, but the jack is making a comeback.

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Olmitz was established in 1885 mainly by Austrians.  It is quiet little town, population 114, the catholic school has closed, kids are bused to Otis, about 6 miles away.  This little bar The New Place, was a great stop on a hot day.  I will post photos of the beautiful catholic church in the series of Churches of the Prairie, I can’t wait for you to see it, it was SO beautiful!

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From Olmitz, we traveled north on the backroad to find ruins of Barton County.  The temperature was 103 and we had a few people stop to see if we were okay.  Thank you Barton County for checking on “an old grandma and her pup”.

I see so many of these abandoned places and there are some that I would love to refurbish.

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Someday I would love to go into one of the cellars!  There is a group in the Flint Hills that gives tour of the Kansas stone cellars.  Sign me up!

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What a beautiful home.

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The entrance at one time was quite impressive

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This homestead out grew its original stone home and later built on the wood frame addition

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This was where the Lutheran church held their Sunday school classes.

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Just up the road is this homestead

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A little farther north driving along the river bottom and I was thinking “what a great place for a home”, someone else thought that too!  The stories these homes could tell.

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Cellar at the river bottom home

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Churches of the Prairie

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As I travel around the backroads of Kansas, I’m amazed and sometimes saddened by all the churches.  Some are closed and in ruins, others are still holding services.   This will be a multiple collection of all denominations and will include rural, ghost town churches and small town churches.

 

St. Catherine’s Catholic Church – Dubuque, KS

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United Methodist Church – Huscher, KS

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Sisters of St. Joseph Motherhouse – Concordia, KS

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Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church – Concordia, KS

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United Methodist Church – Carneiro, KS

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First Baptist Church – Carlton, KS

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Sunday Morning

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The day started early, well not really as I’m always up by 5:15, I love mornings.  At that time of day, all I hear are birds, occasionally coyotes, I certainly miss my rooster crowing.  A friend from town brought out a young rooster that someone couldn’t keep, but he turned out to be a she.  She’s a nice young hen, makes a great addition to the flock, Max is now Maxine, still looking for a rooster.  I was happy when I heard the bobwhite quail this morning, I was worried that they were in the brome that was cut.

Mr. Farmer is going to spray the horse corral and needed the round exercise pen taken down.  All he has to do is ask Wylie if he wants to get in the tractor, it’s Wylie’s favorite.  Mr. Farmer designed a seat for him that wraps around my seat, so he has a space all the way around the back of the tractor.  I’m always ready to help out as the tractor has a climate controlled cab☺  Please don’t let me drop all of the panels!

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Even with his designer seat, my lap is still his favorite place!

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I just put a pot roast in, lunch is at 12:30 if you can make it!  I see leftovers in our future.  Hash, bbq beef sandwiches, enchiladas……….makes for quick meals.

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Hay’s Down

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Finally a week without rain, they were able to cut the brome today.  Unlike alfalfa (and the yard!), which you can get multiple cuttings, brome is only cut one time.

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I’m going to miss the tallgrass, it provided a shelter for my butterfly garden.

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The hay is left to dry for a few days, then it will be baled into large round bales, with the Kansas winds it will dry quickly.

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