Gve History for Christmas!

 

 

Give a LOT of history for Christmas!!! We just happen to have some!

I joined my good friend, Ralph Hipp, on WIBW TV today to talk about givng the gift of history. As president of the Shawnee County Historical Society, I am so pleased to have the opportunity to talk about the excellent historic sites we have in the community. We talked about the Geat Overland Station, the Combat Air Museum, the Shawnee County Historical Society, and the two sites in Lecompton--Constitution Hall and Lane University.

These places have some excellent gift shops with books, ornaments, toys, figurines, t-shirts, notecards--all with an historc theme. This Christmas, take your family to these sites, buy gifts from their shops, and give a membership! Give more than one! In fact, the Great Overland Station is offering a Buy-One-Get-One-Free-Membership through December!! What a fantastic deal. The Great Overland Station is one of the most family-friendly, inspiring locations in the area. Tied to history in such an exciting way. . . what kid, whether 9 or 90, doesn't love trains? I have to tell you, I have had some wonderful times with my grandkids there! See below!

The Combat Air Museum is truly one of Topeka's treasures. The relationship between Kansas and the plane is long and storied and the Combat Air Museum is home to so many incredible stories and artifacts, and some fantastic programming and classes.

Our friends in Lecompton, Tim Rues and Paul Bahnemier, are in charge of the two historic sites in this historic small town. Constitution Hall was the seat of government duing the Territorial years and Lane University was going to be the state's capital until fortunes changed and it went to Topeka instead. It became Lane University which has an incredible link to American and world history in that Dwight Eisenhower's parents met there. Had the couple not attended university there, met and married in this quaint town, what would the impact have been on world history? I shudder to think!

The Shawnee County Historical Society has a home in the Cox Communication Heritage Education Center (the former home of Hale and Anna Ritchie). Educational programming and a variety of events from Reader's Theater to our fundraising Shawnee County Attic Sale have kept members busy throughout the year. Our proximity to the Brown V. Board National Historic Site gives us the opportunity to partner with them on so many different projects. Melinda Abitz, retired from teaching, is our education coordinator and she is constantly bringing great opportunities for students to become involved in history.

Visit our websites, join, take part, volunteer--make your gift last longer than December 25th. Give something that will spark a lifetime of learning and involvement.

http://skyways.lib.ks.us/orgs/schs/
http://combatairmuseum.org/
http://lecomptonkansas.com/
www.greatoverlandstation.com

Kansas Forts and Bases. . . Coming This Spring!

Another day, another book.

Michelle Martin and I got our manuscript delivered to the History Press this week thanks to Michelle's diligence. Kansas Forts and Bases: Sentinels on the Prairie is due out in the spring, thanks to the efforts of Becky Lejeune and the great staff there. Michelle and I can hardly wait for the booksignings to begin!

We are most grateful that Jerry Morelock, editor of Armchair General Magazine, woud take time to write the very generous foreword to this book. Armchair General is simply the best magazine on the market and its website is unbeatable.

With that, it's on to the next mission. Carry on, troops!

Lincoln

It has been a busy week for Abe and me.

Yesterday, Nick Vasos (below) of Fox 4 News in Kansas City had me on for an interview about Abe, the man. He is a great host, obviously familiar with his subject. A cut above the average, I must say.

 

 

On Thursday morning, Gary and I were again in Kansas City for an interview with Lisa, co-host of Better KC. She is a doll and a wonderful hostess as well. Here is a link to that interview:
http://www.kctv5.com/video?clipId=7963323&autostart=true

 

Spielberg's "Lincoln" opened in theaters last night. It is getting mostly rave reviews, as it should. My friend Monique Pittman-Liu has seen it three times now (including two screenings) and has taken many of her friends to see it. Like I said, it is as close as you will ever get to watching the man himself.

Champagne at the Cemetery

It's that time of year when a young man's thoughts turn to the long, dark nights ahead and cemeteries.

Yes, friends, time once again for Champagne at the Cemetery, October 26, 4-6 p.m., Topeka Cemetery, 10th & California. Cost is $25 if you pay in advance, $30 at the door and proceeds will go to Topeka Cemetery's programs and upkeep. Beth Cooper Meyer (below, right) and I did this last year with a great response was wonderful! I will also be doing tours on Saturday and Sunday, October 27 & 28 at 2 p.m., and the cost is $10 per person for a 2-hour walking tour. Wear comfortable shoes and come prepared to be blown away by the incredible history!!!

I will have copies of my book, Stories in Stone, for sale then or you may order one for $10 plus $4 s&h, from right here on this site.

 

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First Friday Artwalk in Topeka is coming up on October 5. We will be celebrating at Constitution Hall in Topeka, 4th & Kansas, where the Woner/Glenn law office is celebrating their anniversary as well as the preservation of this important building in Topeka, Kansas, and national history. Take this opportunity to see where history was made!!!

 

 

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The 33rd annual Apple Festival will be held at Old Prairie Town on Sunday, October 7. This is one of the best events all year long. Gary and his buds in Borderline will be performing, as is our friend and neighbor, Kyler Carpenter. Tickets are $5 in advance and $6 at the door, and, of course, Dixie Lee Jackson is the emcee!!

Today is the birthday of one Jesse Woodson James.

Poor Jesse. The son of a Baptist preacher who comes of age in the midst of war and terrorism. He is shaped by both. A boy who does not swear but whose blood runs cold with thoughts of those who have wronged his family. He is one of the most famous people of the 19th century and beyond. So much has been written of Jesse's short life; he is the subject of books, films, numerous television plots. His fame is so enduring that we forget what a sad life he had.

When a young boy, Jesse's dad went off to California...perhaps to seek fortune and more probably to escape Jesse's mother, Zerelda. (She had more balls than Frank & Jesse put together.) As war came closer and closer to the Missouri border, the Jameses were drawn in. Frank joined the army leaving Jesse to help run the farm with his step-dad and a younger disabled brother. In one of those pivotal moments where the decisions of a few men may have altered history forever, Yankees visited the farm and horsewhipped Jesse and hanged his step-father over and over until he was senseless. As the irregular warfare escalated, Jesse became a guerrilla. He rode with Bill, as in Bloody Bill, Anderson. He learned terrorism from the expert.

When the Civil War ended, it did not end for the Jameses or a lot of other families. Frank James, in an 1894, explained why they kept fighting:

They wouldn't let us quit! It was after the war was over that the Pinkertons threw a hand grenade in my mother's house one night, killing my 7-year-old brother and tearing my mother's right arm from her shoulder. There is two sides to this quitting question.

Indeed, Jesse had planned to surrender and as he was riding into town to do so, he was shot.

Jesse's life was one chain of violent events after another, some his doing, some not. He was not able to live the life of the simple farmer he was raised to be, and probably would have been, at any other time in history. He had no normal time with his wife or children, no time, no place where he was safe. The war had warped his time and it had warped him.

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Action Before Westport

John Monnett reports that his father's excellent book,  Action Before Westport 1864 was re-published with a new foreword by the University of Colorado Press. Howard Monnett's book is still considered the definitive discussion of this battle for control of Missouri.

Wynkoop's Wolf

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wynkoop's Wolf

My good friend, Louis Kraft, has written Ned Wynkoop (below) and the Lonely Road From Sand Creek (University of Oklahoma: 2011). I will have a review soon. Louis has the habit of finding people worth knowing and sharing them compassionately and eloquently. Ned Wynkoop is one such individual. This article appeared in the Osage Chronicle (Burlingame, KS) on August, 15, 1868:

(Special correspondent of the Times)
EXCITING FROM THE WEST
Fort Larned, Kan., Aug. 5, 1868

A most fearful and appaling curcumstance transpired at the Fort last evening, the very recolection of which chills my blood with horror.
While a party of ladies and gentlemen were sitting in front of the beautiful quarters of Col. Ed. Wynkoop, as brave, gallant and courteous a gentleman as the West can boast, and who is now Indian Superintendent or Agent of several war like tribes, the entire party almost involuntarily commenced a beautiful song.
While the melody was ringing in the night air, a monstrous' shaggy and rabid wolf dashed madly into the midst of the party, first attacking Lieut. Thompson, 3rd U. S. Infantry, tearing and lacerating his limbs in a most frightful manner.
The monster then broke away, pursued by Col. Wynkoop and his chief scout, James Morrison, who had lost no time in procuring proper arms. Before either of these fearless gentlemen, however, could overtake him, the wolf had attacked the sentry at the guard0house, whom he also bit savagely, the sentinel having fired, but most unfortunately, missed his aim.
From the guard house the wolf next dashed over to the hospital and made an assault upon one of the men there stationed, almost tearing his right arm from his body, after first taking of a finger entire. He then attacked and mutilated a colored soldier of the Tenth Cavalry and subsequently entered the quarters of a laundress, while she was in bed; but owing to the thickness of the bed clothes, fortunately failed to inflict any serious injury on the poor woman.
The maddened creature next caughe sight of the sentinel at the haystacks, who almost providentially, shot him dead.
Besides Lieutenant Thompson there are three persons badly bitten and mutilated by this ferocious monster. What the result will be, God only knows!

I left the errors in tact. I think they reflect the excitement of the writer more than his ability. I was reminded of this incident because of a Facebook post from Fort Hays (KS) historic site:

In the fall of 1872, a soldier at Fort Hays died as a result of being bitten by a rabid wolf and so pet dogs were required to be kept penned up lest they get bitten by a rabid animal too. The fort still had a problem with the disease the following year and after a rabid dog played a visit to the fort on September 2, 1873, further restrictions were instituted. Officers dogs were to be kept tied up but enlisted men, civilian employees and laundresses were not even permitted to own a pet. The obvious implication here was that officers could responsibly control the actions of their dogs while enlisted men, civilians and laundresses were incapable of doing so. Such was the military prejudice at the time.


The actual wolf pictured is not at Fort Larned or Fort Hays, but at Chernobyl. I figure if you've seen one rabid wolf, you've seen them all.

 

Cody, Custer, Hickok: Legendary Kansans

. . . . is now up at the Great Overland Station, North Topeka, Kansas. The highlight of this exhibit is the life-size (6'2') James Butler Hickok by artist Melissa Rau. This is worth the price of admission!

The Westerners

Gary and I had the great fun of being guests at the Corral meeting at the Golden Ox, legendary steakhouse, a couple of weeks ago. Lots of old friends present and made a few new ones. This was my first trip to this eatery -- the decor suited me well! Below, with painting of Buffalo Bill Cody, and toasting the cattle drive! Thanks, Honey, for driving and taking pictures!

 

 

Oregon/California Trail Association

Too much fun! (top photo) At their annual meeting in Lawrence, I was invited to sell books. Again, lots of old friends showed up like Joe Houts and Bryce Benedict and Terry Hobbs. Made lots of new friends, too, like the undertaker in Lincoln, KS. Some days are just too good to be true. Wine and undertakers.

A Face Like America

Has there ever been a face like Ward Bond's?  A face big as the West itself. Open. Strong. Optimistic.

 The Western Channel is my refuge from the insanity of the world.  Grandson Bubba (two and a half years old) calls it the "Horsey" channel. He walks up to the TV, turns to his grandpa, and says, "Horsey, Papa, Horsey!" I have never seen a child so obviously born to be a cowboy. He was born was this (though I have fostered it, I admit). He loves his stick horse, has named his rocking horse, "Pete," and constantly gallops little plastic horses over the sofa, coffee table, footstools, and Papa's sleeping body.

Which leads us back to Ward Bond. This amazing man enjoyed a career which paralleled that of his friend, John Wayne. Though they were "discovered" at the same time, the Duke is a household name and Ward Bond is known mostly to fanatics like me and Bob Boze Bell. Every time I see his face, though, I am encouraged and inspired. Watch those old Wagon Train reruns and tell me it doesn't make you proud to be an American! Beautiful life lessons!!

A toast to Ward Bond, and to the "Horsey Channel" that brings him into our living rooms each day. And while you're at it, watch The Searchers one more time. Or, my personal favorite Ward Bond role, Sergeant Major Michael O'Rourke in Fort Apache. I love that movie.