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 […]
Number Please: The History of the Telephone in Wabaunsee County
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 […]
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 […]
All Indian Trails Lead to Lawrence Photos
In 1926 Kansas photographer Louis Palenske was living and working in Burlington, Kansas when it was announced that Native Americans from across the country would be attending a four-day dedication of a new […]
Rock Island Railway at Volland, Kansas
Kansas’ most prominent ghost town, Volland, Kansas, had its roots in the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway, which platted the town located along Mill Creek in Washington Township of Wabaunsee County, […]
Barn Dancing
An long-standing tradition in the Kansas Flint Hills is the holding of dances inside barns scattered across the rural Kansas prairie. The barns offered an ideal setting when the large hay lofts were empty, providing […]
Photo Friday: Kansas Territorial Bond
Hi, Here’s an interesting item for Photo Friday. It’s not actually a photo, but a scan of a Kansas Territorial Bond, dated May 1, 1859, for $100 to secure repayment of debts incurred […]
Rodeo Memories
Ranching has deep roots in Wabaunsee County, and the sport of rodeo has deep roots in ranching. After the workday was done, men and women would compete in various ranching skills from […]
