Lawrence Business Magazine 2021 Q2 by Lawrence Business Magazine

2021 Q2

LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHERS

Map from the Library of Congress, Geography and Map Division./ Edwards, J. P. (1887) Edward’s map of Douglas Co., Kansas. Quincy, Ill.: John P. Edwards. [Map] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/2012593090/.

Since Lawrence is the largest city and the county seat, a lot of focus is on Lawrence. We frequently talk about businesses in other areas of the county, as they fit into different issue themes. But for this issue, we decided to shift the focus and take a closer look at the businesses and economy outside of Lawrence.

Publisher:

Lawrence Business Magazine, LLC Ann Frame Hertzog & Steven Hertzog Editor-in-Chief:

Ann Frame Hertzog

A few facts: •

There are three other cities in Douglas County Baldwin City, Eudora, and Lecompton.

•

17 unincorporated communities - Big Springs, Black Jack, Clearfield, Clinton, Globe, Grover, Hesper, Kanwaka, Lake View, Lone Star, Midland, Pleasant Grove, Sibleyville, Stull, Vinland, Weaver, Worden and approximately 16 ghost towns - Belvoir, Franklin, Lapeer, Louisiana, Media, Prairie City, Twin Mound, Townships, Clinton, Eudora, Grant, Kanwaka, Lecompton, Marion, Palmyra, Wakarusa, Willow Springs.

• •

There are 475 sq miles of land in Douglas County, 441 miles outside of the Lawrence city limits. Douglas Co’s (2019 estimate) population is 122,259 – 25,890 outside of the Lawrence city limits.

The number of communities that are spread across the county, no matter the size or even if it still exists, attest to its vibrant history and interesting past. But what is happening now in these communities, how are they taking on challenges, and how is Douglas County thriving? We take a look at the three Main Streets (downtown areas) in Eudora (pop 6602), Baldwin City (pop 4670), and Lecompton (pop 749) – what are the businesses, how are they growing, who are they attracting? We also look at a few of the unincorporated areas and the unique businesses that thrive there. Whenever we explore a topic, we are excited to learn of businesses or areas with which were unfamiliar. In this issue, we found several areas that we were excited to explore. As our communities continue to open up, take a day trip and explore some of the 441 miles outside of Lawrence. Visit these neighboring communities and, if possible, spend a little money. Protect and preserve our local businesses. Shop Local. Shop Baldwin, Eudora, Lecompton, and Lawrence. Shop Douglas County! Sincerely,

Ann Frame Hertzog Steven Hertzog Editor-in-Chief/Publisher Chief Photographer/ Publisher

www.LawrenceBusinessMagazine.com

Chief Photographer:

Steven Hertzog Featured Writers:

Anne Brockhoff David Frese Bob Luder Patricia A. Michaelis, Ph.D. Emily Mulligan Mathew Petillo Tara Trenary

Cover L to R: Robin Kofford, Jamin and Annette Nally; Barack Matite & Kathy Weld; Niki Manbeck, Jacob Walter; photos by Steven Hertzog

Copy Editor:

Tara Trenary Contributing Writers:

Autumn Bishop Janet Faust

Contributing Photographers:

Jeff Burkhead/ Back Story Photography Special thanks to The Watkins Museum, Lecompton Museum, Wakarusa River Valley Heritage Museum, Baker University-Old Castle Museum

INQUIRIES & ADVERTISING INFORMATION CONTACT: info@LawrenceBusinessMagazine.com

LawrenceBusinessMagazine.com Lawrence Business Magazine, LLC 3514 Clinton Parkway, Suite A-113 Lawrence, KS 66047 Lawrence Business Magazine, is published quarterly by Lawrence Business Magazine, LLC and is distributed by direct mail to businesses in the Lawrence & Douglas County Community. It is also distributed at key retail locations throughout the area and mailed to individual subscribers. All rights reserved. No part of this publication can be reprinted or reproduced without the publisher’s permission. Lawrence Business Magazine, LLC assumes no responsibility for unsolicited materials. Statements and opinions printed in the Lawrence Business Magazine are the those of the author or advertiser and are not necessarily the opinion of Lawrence Business Magazine.

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2021 Q2

Contents Features:

9 Douglas Co in Perspective: History Washed Away by Patricia Michaelis, Ph.D.

14 Remember - A Short Story by Janet Faust

20 Baldwin City - Main Street by Bob Luder 30 Eudora - Main Street by Anne Brockhoff

40 Lecompton - Main Street by Mathew Petillo

46 The Early Superhighways by Bob Luder 52 Manufacturing Baldwin by Bob Luder 58 Why Not Eudora? by Emily Mulligan 62 Invisible Borders, Essential Jobs by Anne Brockhoff 66 Douglas Co Unincorporated by David Frese

Departments:

5 Letter From the Publishers 16 Health Care in Douglas County 73 Local Scene 77 Newsmakers 78 Whose Desk?

Our Mission: We are dedicated to telling the

stories of people and businesses making a positive impact on Lawrence & Douglas County. /lawrencebusinessmagazine

@LawrenceBizMag

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LAWRENCE & DOUGLAS CO [IN PERSPECTIVE ]

HISTORY WASHED AWAY

Though enjoyed by Douglas County residents now, the original Clinton Lake Dam project displaced the residents of many early towns that ultimately disappeared. by Patricia A. Michaelis, Ph.D., Historical Research & Archival Consulting photos Douglas County Historical Society, Watkins Museum of History

Three Douglas County towns—Belvoir, Bloomington and Sigel, as well as Richland in Shawnee County—existed in the area that was flooded to form Clinton Lake. Thousands of acres of farmland were also covered by water as the lake filled behind the dam.

Photo by Dwayne Juedes (Left to Right) Karla Gerisch, Leita Moore, Ellen Gerisch, Edna Moore and Doug Gerisch shown here in front of the United Brethren Church, wade through 1965 Wakarusa River flood waters in Richland.

People growing up in Kansas today are familiar with numerous lakes created by damming rivers to aid with flood control. The first was Kanopolis Dam on the Smoky Hill River in Ellsworth County, completed in 1948. Since that time, more than 20 dams have been constructed in Kansas by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. The construction of Clinton Dam was completed in 1977. It was built to control spring flooding in the Wakarusa River Valley. What existed under the water before the dam was built?

Belvoir was located on the Santa Fe Trail route in 1855 and was approximately 13 miles southwest of Lawrence. A number of settlers established homes and farms in 1855 and 1856, including H. Heine, James Dun, M. Clayton, R. A. Dean, H. McKenzie, A. S. Baldwin, A. E. Northrop, J. Huize, D. Dack and a Mr. Smith. A post office was established in 1868, and L. D. Bailey was named postmaster. St. John’s Catholic Church was established in the area in 1856. The Carbondale branch of the Union Pacific Railroad was built 2½ miles from Belvoir’s first location, so the post office was moved to the railroad. A new schoolhouse and other improvements were completed, and the existing businesses in Belvoir moved to the new location. The post office was closed in 1903, and by 1910, the population of Belvoir was 30. Bloomington had the shortest life of the three towns and existed for only a few years beyond the Kansas territorial period. It was settled in June 1854 but was not called Bloomington until Harrison Burson applied for a post office. He was successful, and Bloomington had a post office from July 1855 to August 1858. Within a year of the first settlers arriving, the area had a population of over 500 residents. Settlers were Free State supporters, and a branch of the underground railroad operated in the community. Local legend has it that Bloomington was a black community that had been settled by Civil War veterans. This is not documented because it is difficult to check census records without knowing names and because Bloomington’s prime was reached in the territorial era. In 1857, the north half of the community moved to a new lo9

Top to bottom: Richland Main Street courtesy of Herb Orr [In the 1960s before being bought out by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Richland main street business district included Georgia Neese’s General Store (Richland Shopping Center), Fred Van Nice’s Hardware, Clara Morgan’s Richland Café, Wolf’s Gas Station and Tom Bame’s Barbershop.]; Scott Kirkham Store at Clinton; George Washington Family of Bloomington. photos courtesy of Wakarusa River Valley Heritage Museum

cation, and the remaining portion of the community was renamed Winchester. Bloomington became an incorporated city Feb. 16, 1857, and Winchester was incorporated a few days later as the town of Clinton. Bloomington and Clinton ultimately became fierce rivals. Bloomington had a brief chance for fame when the delegates to the Topeka Constitutional Convention were voting to determine the location of the capital of Kansas on Oct. 23, 1855. Bloomington received four votes on the first ballot that included nine other communities. The top two choices for the second ballot were Lawrence and Topeka. Sigel, or Sigel Station, was located on the St. Louis, Lawrence and Western Railroad. The life of the railroad (and Sigel Station) was short. It was established in 1874 and was defunct by 1877. Lynn Nelson, professor in the history department at the University of Kansas, wrote about a specific community event in Sigel: a community oyster stew supper. Given that many Douglas County settlers were from New England, they enjoyed having oysters as 11

Old Belvoir School Courtesy Wakarusa River Valley Heritage Museum

part of their diet. Nelson described the Sigel festivities as follows: A week or so before Christmas, the men and boys of the community would gather together just before dawn and would be divided into two teams, each with an assigned territory. The two groups would hunt rabbits from first light, with the children periodically bringing the kill to the Sigel store, where the wives and daughters of each team would skin and gut the rabbits, and stack them in a safe place outside so they could freeze. The hunt was over at sundown, and the last members of each team had brought in their last kills by that time. The women would have made hot coffee and donuts, and everyone would sit, warm themselves, and talk about the day’s adventures while two impartial judges counted up each team’s total. The team who had brought in the fewer rabbits were announced as the ones to arrange the oyster feed. The rabbits and their pelts were taken into Topeka by wagon and sold to the butchers, furriers, and shippers there. The money from the pelts was placed in a local bank to be used for charitable purposes in the community, and the men of Sigel received a note of credit for the rabbit carcasses they had brought in. They immediately used their note of credit to order as many hogsheads of oysters they could afford. There was an ample supply of oysters on the East Coast. When packed in brine, the oysters could survive long enough to be shipped to Kansas in an unheated rail car. The losers supplied milk, cream and butter. They brought washing “cauldrons” to the schoolhouse to prepare for the community gathering. The wives and daughters baked bread the day before so it would be fresh for the

dinner. Because the oysters were cooked outside, a long plank was placed on an incline in one of the schoolhouse windows. The losers slid the wash basins of stew down the plank, and they began to serve the stew to the winners and their families. For dessert, there was fresh coffee and mince pie made from meat, fruit, suet and brandy. All of these communities had rural school districts named for them. The first for Belvoir was School District No. 26. It was replaced by Belvoir District No. 84. When it was first established, classes were held in a house, and the first teacher was Alice Dension for the term ending in 1874. Bloomington was School District No. 31, and the Sigel district was No. 8. As the dam was built, the farmers in the area had to sell their land to the government. Martha Parker, a well-known historian of the Clinton area, recalled that her family farm in the Wakarusa Valley was one of many purchased by the federal government in the mid-1960s. They sold 80 acres and their home for $200 an acre, which was worth about $108,000. As the people being displaced began to realize the extent of the land being taken, they became upset and started referring to the project as the “damn dam.” As work on the dam project began, former residents watched houses that were close to a creek or ravine being pushed into them. In other places, the Corps dug holes big enough to be the final resting place for houses and outbuildings. Many felt bitter about the building of Clinton Dam and Lake for years. Martha Parker chose to accept the existence of the lake and to rely on her memories of the area. While their protests and petitions were unsuccessful, the Corps of Engineers offered a newly formed nonprofit history group a lease to 3 acres where the J. C. Steele home had stood. The size of the museum property grew to a total of 7 acres. The nonprofit group organized the Clinton Lake Museum on the site. It now operates as the Wakarusa River Valley Heritage Museum (www.kvha.org), with exhibits and archives documenting the history of the valley and its residents. The Clinton Lake project solved the recurrent flooding in the Wakarusa Valley. Clinton Lake is the source of water for more than 100,000 people in northeastern Kansas, making it the most relied on reservoir in the state. It also serves as a popular recreational area, with four parks managed by the Army Corps of Engineers and one park managed by the City of Lawrence. The lake offers opportunities for boating, fishing and other water sports. The surrounding land allows access to mountain biking trails, camping, hiking, horseback riding, geocaching, hunting, picnicking and wildlife viewing. These recreational activities have become an important part of the economy of both Lawrence and Douglas County. p 14

I REMEMBER - by Janet Faust

I REMEMBER

I remember the first day I walked into the Wakarusa River Valley Heritage Museum. It was March 13, 2018. By this time the museum had already been operating for over 30 years but I wasn't around during that time. I grew up in the Twin Mound farm community just a few miles outside of Richland. But while Richland and other Wakarusa River Valley communities met their fate from the construction of Clinton Dam and Reservoir, I was away at college and then I married and lived elsewhere.

I REMEMBER THAT

While growing up, I always heard talk that someday a dam would be built to prevent the occasional floods caused from swelling Wakarusa River banks in rainy seasons. I just didn't pay much heed to it. As young kids, we kind of looked forward to the Richland floods. The family would pile into Dad's pickup and he drove us to the edge of town. We would survey how deep and how far the water was out of its banks. Dad would comment on what it might mean to the crops in the low areas and we (the kids) would wade and play in the muddy waters. Building the dam was just something to talk about. Surely it wouldn't happen in my lifetime. But, then it did. On occasional visits home, my Mother talked about Martha Parker, about attending meetings, sharing updates and ultimately Martha's passion to save and preserve local history as generational farms were purchased by the government then demolished.

I REMEMBER WHEN

Nothing could prepare me for how I felt emotionally when I drove through Richland the last time. This little town had been an economic and social hub for rural families in the Wakarusa Valley. Now vacant buildings sat, boarded up. There were no vehicles, no people, no dogs. Just a shell of a ghost town. Then almost as quickly it became nothing; nothing at all. It was as if the town never existed. As fate happens, life brought me back "home" a few years ago. Just as quickly, fate brought me to the museum. I was energized to ensure history, especially my community's history, is saved and shared. What surprised me though, when I walked through the museum doors for the first time, was how much local history was already packed into such a small space. The museum is a well-kept gem on the banks of Clinton Lake but the walls are bursting to tell more stories. Over the past two years, the museum's board has worked on meeting, interviewing and gathering more local memories from those who felt the impact of Clinton Dam the most. As time marches on way too quickly, the window to capture first person recollections has narrowed. And those interviews have uncovered many more photos and artifacts that brought us to the realization that we must grow the museum's physical space to do justice to the memories.

I REMEMBER WHY

That is why a building expansion capital project is being launched. I'm honored to be a part of a museum board that has the vision to "honor our past and build our future." In the meantime, we are clearing the main exhibit hall of other displays to make way for one of the largest community exhibits the museum has ever tackled. When we open the "Remember Richland" feature exhibit this summer, visitors will be able to step back in time to the earliest days when Richland was established to the town that many will remember through the 60s. p

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Health Care in by Autumn Bishop, LMH Health Marketing Communications Manager, visuals provided by LMH Health

The importance of health care is not lost on the residents of smaller communities, which is why local clinics are so important in those areas. More than 46 million Americans—about 15% of the population—live in rural areas. Many of these areas face health-care shortages with few options for residents to receive routine and emergency care. Douglas County is fortunate to have primary-care clinics not just in Lawrence but also in the surrounding communities of Baldwin City and Eudora.

Importance of Primary Care Routine medical care is important for people at all stages of life. Visits to a primary-care physician help keep children healthy by allowing the provider to follow their growth and development, and provide routine vaccinations. Adults benefit from regular health checks through opportunities to manage chronic conditions and provide early detection of new ones. “When you’re building a house, you start with a foundation. That’s what a primary-care provider is, the foundation for your overall health and well-being,” explains Dr. Maribeth Orr, a physician at Eudora Family Care. “The world of medicine is huge, and your primary-care provider can be your go-to person to help you get started.” 16

Having a primary-care provider also allows patients to talk with an expert about preventative measures to keep them from getting sick in the future. “You can’t always feel when your blood pressure is high or predict when it will happen. We make sure you’ve got it under control, that you’re exercising and eating right to help keep you healthy and well,” says Dr. Bonnie Cramer, physician at Family Medicine of Baldwin City (FMBC). Patients have the option of same-day appointments with the providers in Baldwin. Telecare visits are also available to help accommodate patients. In Eudora, patients benefit from walk-in care from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at the clinic. “Life is unpredictable, and you never know from day to day what your needs will be, especially from a health-care perspective. When the school nurse calls and says you need to come get your child because they’re sick, it’s important to have the convenience to get them seen and their needs met right away,” Orr says. Eudora Family Care treats a number of conditions during walk-in hours, including cough, congestion and cold symptoms; earache; eye irritation or redness; minor strains and sprains; sore throats and more. Visit lmh.org/eudora for a full list of conditions for which walk-in patients can be seen.

Douglas County Caring for Their Communities Family Medicine of Baldwin City and Eudora Family Care are blessed to have clinicians who live and work in the community. Cramer lives and works in Baldwin City. “I grew up on a farm. I went to school in a small town, and I’m a small-town person,” Cramer says. “Our goal was always to live in a small town and raise our kids there. I really enjoy the small-town feel and the people.” Orr grew up in Eudora and now lives just north of town in the Eudora School District. She stayed in her hometown to raise a family. “I’ve got four children—one who’s graduated and three who are in the Eudora School District now,” she explains. “My family is here, and my husband’s family is, too. It’s super comfortable and a great place to live.”

Advantages of Rural Care “Having a primary-care clinic locally benefits our patients because they don’t have to leave town for their care,” Cramer says. “When someone is very sick and doesn’t feel like they can drive a great distance, we’re here to take care of them.” Even when they aren’t sick, having to travel to get health-care needs met can add a barrier for some patients. Having care available in the community instead of having to drive 25 or 30 miles helps remove that barrier. “It’s easy to put off care when you have to drive a greater distance,” she continues. “If you remove the hassle, it makes you more likely to see a doctor. In turn, this helps to improve the overall health of the county.” Local care doesn’t just benefit the community members the clinics serve. The benefits carry over to other communities in the county, as well.

top to bottom: Dr. Bonnie Cramer Dr. Maribeth Orr

“Think of the county as one big baseball field. Someone has to cover left field, and we take care of that need,” Orr says. “We have to be a strong team member and take care of these needs so the whole county can be covered and supported with good health services and availability.” Healthy communities aren’t just a result of having primary care available nearby. The providers at these rural clinics are integral to the fabric of their towns. “People ask me all the time for recommendations,” Orr says. “They want to know if there’s a local dentist or eye doctor in Eudora. They talk to me about car care and ask about a local vet. We help other local businesses through these relationships.”

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Local Connections The clinicians at Family Medicine of Baldwin City also partner with the public schools and Baker University to provide care to students. “We provide care for a lot of Baker students. FMBC is the local clinic they come to when they need care,” Cramer says. “The physicians at Baldwin and Eudora also team up with OrthoKansas to help with sports physicals each year for local middle and high school students.” Orr previously worked with Eudora Middle School through a program called Cardinal LinkUP, where she was paired up to mentor students once a month. Conversations range from life and day-to-day activities, to stress and more. “What I found from this experience is the lessons learned helped me,” she explains. “We talk about issues with confidence, feelings, fear—just human interacti on. I’ve learned a lot. There’s a lesson in everyone.”

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“In a small town, we really take the time to get to know our patients as people so we can provide better, more intuitive care,” Cramer says. “When you understand someone as a person and have that connection, it’s easier to provide good care. We’re here and truly care for our patients on that personal, small-town level.” The benefits of a small-town feel and getting care close to home is a theme that also resonates for Orr. “Dr. (Joseph) Hawkins and I both live in Eudora, and we have a vested interest in the community’s health and happiness,” she says. “We’re here to provide the care you need when you need it, and we’re just in your backyard.”p

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High Street in Baldwin City

MAIN STREET The resurgence of the city’s downtown has been in the making for years and is now augmented by its inclusion in the Kansas Main Street project. by Bob Luder, photos by Steven Hertzog

Assessing the evolution of downtown Baldwin City brings to mind the proverbial question about the chicken and the egg. Is the resurgence of “main street” business the result of being one of three towns in the state to be designated for the Kansas Main Street project? Or was Baldwin City awarded the designation because of its downtown rebirth? Which came first? All indications point to the latter. While it was announced just in March that Baldwin City had joined Atchison and Junction City as Kansas Main Street communities, which entitle those communities to state-funded grants and consulting services, the renaissance of the downtown area has been years in the making. Venerable businesses like Baldwin State Bank, founded in 1892, and 32-year-old Quilters’ Paradise anchor the square, but look around. What once was a line of vacant, hollowed-out buildings now is a collection of burgeoning businesses. Across the street from the bank is the Lumberyard Arts Center, a multipurpose space that houses an art gallery as well as a boutique and performance and class spaces. Down the street are buzzing businesses like JAW Bats, a one-man shop that creates custom-made baseball bats for customers worldwide, and Antiques on the Prairie, which rents space to antique dealers and much more. On the other side of the street are established businesses like Gregg Bruce Auto 20

Corner of 8th and high Street 1908-1912 | 8th and High Street Photos courtesy of Baker University Old Castle Museum

been since the 1980s,” says Bryan Butell, president of Baldwin State Bank since 2014. “There are no vacancies. Honestly, I’d say we’re kind of thriving.” The downtown area, which the Kansas Main Street program designated as High Street from Sixth Street to Ninth Street, the 800 block of Seventh Street and the 700 and 800 blocks of Eighth Street, promises to continue thriving and even boom more with the financial and consulting help of the state program. Director Jeannette Black inside the Lumberyard Arts Center

& Performance, Pitts Photography and Baldwin Academy of Dance and Voice, and new ventures like Nutrition Uncorked, which specializes in protein shakes, herbal teas and other nutritious beverages. There are trendy restaurants and gathering places, like Homestead Kitchen & Bakery, 8th Street Burger Shop, El Patron and The Nook, fitness centers and the usual dotting of law offices, insurance firms and hair salons. It’s the kind of brimming metropolis that would garner attention as far away as state government, which it did when Baldwin City applied for the Kansas Main Street designation last year. “Downtown is probably as active during the day now as it’s 22

Lynn Hughes, Baldwin City communications director, says the Chamber of Commerce is organizing committees to work on four areas of emphasis in the Main Street program: organization, promotion, design and economic restructuring. “We’re starting the restructuring process now,” she explains. “The committees should be up and running no later than fall, hopefully by summer.”

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mask program where volunteers were provided materials to manufacture face masks for citizens of Baldwin City. With the help of funding from the CARES Act, more than 80 volunteers made 14,000-plus face masks for the community. “It enabled us to generate donations and remain visible in the community,” Blackmar says. “It became a source of pride.” The Arts Center has resumed public hours while maintaining social distancing and masking, and plans to conduct normal summer classes with reduced capacity.

Eighth and High streets, was preparing to celebrate its 10th anniversary in 2020. Much of 2019 was spent planning a big masquerade ball and soiree. But as the Center’s executive director, Jeannette Blackmar, says, “Art galleries were typically first to close, last to reopen (because of the pandemic).” Not only did the Center’s art shows, classes and performances come to a halt, there also were no facility rentals. “2020 was a story of adaptability,” she continues. “We had to assess how to remain relevant. What do we do?” What Lumberyard Arts Center did was create a face 24

A few doors down from Lumberyard—and around through an alley backdoor—JAW Bats experienced no drop-off in work because of COVID. Now beginning the ninth year of his company, owner and bat maker Jacob Walters custom-produced more than 2,000 baseball bats, starting at $190 per unit, last year. What began as a natural extension of his love of woodworking and sports (Walters played collegiate baseball at Neosho County Community College) today is a business that sells bats from youth all the way up to the professional ranks across the United States and 30 other countries. Walters says he thrives by concentrating on the youth baseball market, which gets neglected by larger bat makers, and also with a large social media campaign. “I was just young and dumb, and enjoyed doing it,” he says of starting the company back in 2012. “There’s a growing demand for the product. This year, I want to do two to three times what we’ve been doing.” Early on in the 21st century, around the time of the 9/11 attacks, Stan Vickers, an ex-farmer from eastern Kansas,

Niki Manbeck, owner of The Nook

town food-service industry. The offerings for Eighth Street foodies doubled last November when Homestead gained a figurative sibling in 8th Street Burger Shop. had an idea of making informational DVDs on small towns in the state. He chose Baldwin City to shoot his first demo, and that’s how he discovered, and eventually bought, the building that today houses Antiques on the Prairie. “Baldwin City was the only city I ever shot,” Vickers says. “I found this building shooting a demo of the city; less than eight months later, I was buying the building.” On the east side of the building, Vickers installed industrial kitchen equipment. That space serves as an incubator for aspiring new businesses and also as a space for special events like barbeques and pie cook-offs. The rest of the building he rents to antique dealers. “When I got into the business, (antique selling) was on a downhill trend,” he says. “It was a battle. But I started learning more about antique malls and was able to set up the format I wanted.” Vickers has since sold half the business to a local couple, Bill and Nancy Lytle. “It’s been a fun, fun thing to do,” says Vickers, 70. “But I’m getting ready to retire.”

Eats and Drinks Since its opening nearly five years ago, Homestead Kitchen & Bakery, which serves breakfast, lunch and light take-home dinners, has become a stalwart of the down26

It seems Homestead was doing such good business that owners Lori and Kelly Gardner decided they needed to expand. That decision was made easier when the space next door became available. It also gave the Gardners two storefronts, so 8th Street Burger Shop was created. It offers a variety of burgers, hot dogs, chili and an ice cream counter that serves shakes and cones. “We typically see 15 to 20 (customers) at a time,” Kelly Gardner says. “Thus far, probably 75 percent of our business is takeout.” A few doors to the north, in a house that used to house a pharmacy, sits The Nook, a combination bookshop/bar/ coffee shop owned by local entrepreneur Niki Manbeck. Not only is it a welcoming place for folks to grab a beer or mixed drink, or cup of coffee and a muffin (the coffee shop is actually run by Jitters, which has another location in town), but it’s also where Manbeck runs her publishing company, Imperium Publishing, the only publisher of books in Kansas. “When I moved here three years ago, I found there was no bookstore,” she explains. “I was working out of my home, but I wanted a place downtown. “With this space, there’s so much room to grow. We can only get better.” Manbeck says small, independent bookstores have

Brenna Riley, owner of Nutrition Uncorked

thrived recently as the pandemic has brought people together. She also isn’t stopping at The Nook. This summer, she hopes to open a sports bar she plans on naming The Bullpen in the old police station on Eighth. “I wanted to make downtown a destination,” she says. “We’re headed in the right direction.” Downtown Baldwin City also appears to be getting healthy. Back in August, Brenna Riley opened Nutrition Uncorked, a healthy nutrition bar that offers protein shakes, herbal teas and iced coffees. Riley previously worked for a similar establishment in Lawrence and decided she wanted her own like business in her hometown. “Everything here is low in calories, low in sugar, low in carbs,” she says. “Nutrition clubs are very popular now, even in small towns. Everyone wants healthier options. “We have a great market with Baker students. Business has been really good. We’ve formed a lot of great partnerships with fraternities and sororities, helping with fund-raisers.” Even more recently, another healthy option has surfaced in Sunflower Juice & Fitness, near Baldwin City Fitness on High Street.

Witnessing Change Firsthand As owner of Quilters’ Paradise the past 32 years, Sharon Vesecky has seen up close all the ups and downs of Baldwin City’s downtown evolution. What she sees today is a rural core on the upswing. 28

“There were a few years we had a lot of vacant buildings up and down the street,” she says, “but they seem to be filling up.” The increased traffic has been good for her business, Vesecky says. While she doesn’t sell too many completed quilts, she does sell a lot of the material used to make quilts. “Most people who shop for quilts don’t understand that they don’t cost $29.95,” she quips. She also offers machine-quilting services to assist customers in making their own quilts. It’s enough business to keep Vesecky coming in each weekday morning with the can-do and community attitude shared by all of her fellow business owners on “Main Street” Baldwin City. “I’ll keep going till I can’t,” she says. “If I didn’t come here, what else would I do with my day?” p

UDOR MAIN STREET

Energizing history and a growing business base drive Eudora’s downtown merchants to invest in the city’s future. by Anne Brockhoff, photos by Steven Hertzog

It was cool and drizzly outside Zeb’s Coffeehouse one morning last May, but the inside was warm and welcoming. Eudora Chamber of Commerce members listened to a speaker, friends chatted, students studied and grab-and-go customers did just that. Even with masks and social distancing, Zeb’s was again what owner Kathy Weld always wanted it to be: a gathering spot in Eudora’s historic downtown. “I really want to see Eudora thriving, and especially for the downtown quadrant to be revitalized,” she explains. “There’s so much potential here.” Entrepreneurs such as Kathy Weld have made much of that in recent years, joining established banks, restaurants and businesses, and bringing new energy to the 30

area. The growth is fueled partly by Eudora’s own—the city’s population grew more than 4 percent between 2010 and 2019, according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates. Merchants also credit the city’s efforts to spur developments like the mixed-use Nottingham Center while keeping an eye on Main Street. “Without a strong downtown, you really put yourself in danger of disappearing,” says Karen Boyer, executive director of the Eudora Chamber of Commerce. Eudora was founded in 1857. Its earliest businesses clustered on the north end of Main Street, and that’s where many of the newest are locating now. Kathy Weld’s building was built in 1915, and upon opening as Zeb’s on New Year’s Eve in 2018, it served as a meeting point for clubs, bible study groups and business owners. Then COVID hit.

Historic downtown Main Street in bustling Eudora

Downtown Eudora, circa 1920 Eudora Flour Mills, circa 1860 Downtown Eudora, circa 1915 Courtesy Eudora Community Museum

AND THE BEAT GOES ON...

Here for our customers,

here for our staff,

here for our community.

Kathy Weld, owner of Zeb’s Coffeehouse

Zeb’s was curbside-only from March to July 2020. Sales fell, and expenses rose. Kathy Weld reduced operating hours, discounted merchandise to boost cash flow, applied for various grants and sold a half-gallon take-home version of her popular iced vanilla latte in an effort to cover costs and keep part-time staff employed. “I had nine people counting on me for their paycheck,” she says. “That was sobering.” When conditions in Douglas County improved, Zeb’s gradually reopened. It’s on more stable footing now, allowing Kathy Weld to again pursue one of her priorities: to build a sustainable business that helps others.

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With a background is in nonprofits, Kathy Weld uses Messenger Coffee and Hugo Tea in part because of those companies’ dedication to purchasing directly from farmers. Sales of Zeb’s apparel support The Bird’s Nest, a clothing closet sponsored by the Eudora School District. She donates a portion of Ruff House Print Shop stationery sales to the Lawrence Humane Society, where she and her husband, GW Weld, adopted Zeb’s namesake. She also showcases altruistic merchandise, such as MudLOVE mugs, and strives to foster a sense of connectivity within Eudora.

A busy Saturday afternoon inside Zeb’s Coffeehouse

“I really see the coffee shop as a hub for the community,” Kathy Weld says. “My customers aren’t customers. They’re friends.”

DEEP TIES HELP REVITALIZE PROPERTIES GW Weld’s ties run even deeper. He grew up in Eudora then returned from college determined to take part in the town’s revitalization. He and his partner and father, Glenn Weld, began buying and improving rental properties. They cut their teeth on small renovations, gradually expanding to take on projects such as one that includes 50 former Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant housing units. “I love investing and renovating to provide homes for people,” GW Weld says. He also owns Cornerstone Property Management, which oversees mostly residential properties in DeSoto, Eudora, Lawrence and Tonganoxie. GW Weld wanted a Main Street address for Cornerstone, so he bought and

Elizabeth Knispel, owner of Twill Trade boutique poses by her font door on Main Street and works with a customer inside

restored another historic building. He did the same with a third building and sold it. A fourth building purchased more than two years ago is proving to be a bigger challenge, however. Part of his 714 Main St. acquisition was constructed in 1860, making it downtown’s oldest surviving commercial building, according to the Eudora Area Historical Society. That means lots of character—and lots of problems, including structural decay and water damage. “It’s in bad shape,” GW Weld acknowledges. “It can’t be saved if you’re trying to do it to make money. It’s really a labor of love.” The project’s closer to fruition after receiving a $250,000 Kansas Department of Commerce Small Cities Community Development Block Grant. GW Weld hopes work on the 5,000-square-foot building will start this summer, is applying for a National Register of Historic Places designation and plans to eventually lease it as commercial space. “(This building) is important for downtown,” he says. “Downtown can’t have any missing teeth.” 34

INVESTING IN EUDORA’S POTENTIAL That’s an especially extreme case, but other downtown entrepreneurs are likewise investing in their properties. Among them is Elizabeth Knispel, who earlier this year purchased the 1880s-era building housing her Twill Trade boutique and gave it a “mini-makeover” that raised ceilings, partially exposed the original brick walls and added new lighting. She and her family also sold their house and moved into the upstairs apartment about the same time. It was good timing: The store was operating online-only because of the pandemic. Since reopening to in-person shopping, Twill has seen a steady return of customers from Baldwin City, Eudora, Kansas City, Lawrence and Topeka who are eager to check out the mix of clothing, jewelry, accessories and gift items. “We get everyone in, from little 3-year-old girls to their great-grandmas, and they come in all shapes and sizes,” says Knispel, who has five part-time employees. “We want them to come to a place that’s beautiful and shop with their friends.” Knispel launched Twill in 2015 while living in Colorado then moved it to Eudora two years later when her husband began teaching at the University of Kansas. He divides his time between KU’s Edwards and Lawrence campuses, and Eudora proved the perfect location. “Even when we were having down times, (the community was) buy-

Courtney Gebauer poses by the large garage style front door to her eclectic Main Street shop, Eudorable.

ing online gift cards, placing online orders and doing curbside,” says Knispel, who also supports The Bird’s Nest. “Eudora is really supportive of small businesses.”

A SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY That was evident in Eudora’s reception of Eudorable Home, opened by Courtney Gebauer in late April. Gebauer says people stopped by her 100-year-old downtown building throughout its renovation offering to help. A crowd turned out for her Chamber of Commerce ribboncutting ceremony, and someone even left an anonymous May Day basket at her door. “The support here is phenomenal,” says Gebauer, who sells furniture, vintage décor, candles, signs and gift items. A self-described deal-finder, Gebauer enjoyed scoring new but discounted furnishings for herself then turning her procurement skills into a business. Despite holding regular driveway sales, she had accumulated enough inventory to fill the extra room in her DeSoto home, her parents’ rural Eudora barn and a storage unit. That’s when Gebauer knew she had the makings of a brick-and-mortar store.

She looked to Eudora because her parents had recently moved to the area. Her husband and father finished the interior walls, updated the bathroom, installed windows and a street-facing garage door, and stripped and sealed the original concrete floors. “With the improvements, we’ve already made our money back,” says Gebauer, who formerly worked for the Olathe Chamber of Commerce. “I just have a really good feeling about Eudora.” Cara Austin, owner of LuLu’s Bakery, echoes that sentiment. “Eudora is so supportive. If wasn’t for them, I’d have closed a long while ago,” says Austin, whose family calls her LuLu. She established the bakery several years after graduating from Johnson County Community College’s culinary program; it has since grown thanks to word of mouth and social media. LuLu’s is open from 8 a.m. until 11 a.m. on Saturdays only (or until she runs out of cinnamon rolls, turnovers, croissants, cookies, brownies and other goodies). Experienced customers call ahead to reserve their favorites. Austin also takes special orders for parties and events. Limiting hours allows her to keep labor costs low, and she’s helped only by her husband and sisters-in-law. Most customers take their orders to go, but only after they’ve visited a moment with Austin. “I don’t think of it as a business. I know it’s weird to say that, but my customers are more a part of the family,” she says. “That’s why they keep coming back.”

Jill Ireland sells straight from her food truck. Main Street Eudora is home but she is seen throughout Douglas County and beyond

K-10 CONNECTION FUELS SALES While LuLu’s relies on local clientele, Torched Goodness makes good use of Eudora’s on-ramp to K-10 to reach customers in Kansas City, Lawrence and beyond. “Eudora is a darn good location when you have mobile business,” says owner Julia Ireland, whose food truck specializes in more than 30 flavors of crème brulee. Ireland opened in 2009 while living in Arizona then moved to Lawrence in 2014. Her first location on 23rd Street worked well, but she had her eye on Eudora. “When I first drove through Eudora’s Main Street, I thought, ‘This is like out of a movie or postcard. This is so stinkin’ cute!’” says Ireland, who also offers full catering. Eudora proved more affordable, too. Ireland secured a stand-alone building for less than a third of her Lawrence rent, and that low overhead proved essential when COVID canceled the wedding, corporate and other events on her books. Ireland did have to pare her usual roster of 12 part-time employees; she and a partner now produce orders for Wednesday carry-out dinners, parties and the Lawrence Farmers’ Market. Ireland has already seen the return of some smaller events and expects conditions to improve in 2022. For now, she’s focusing on helping with efforts including Eudora’s recent pet food drive and supporting local businesses. “I’d much rather give (Twill) my 20 bucks than Amazon,” Ireland says.

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LONGEVITY SUPPORTS GROWTH For every new business appearing on Eudora’s Main Street, there are mainstays that have weathered decades of economic cycles. Among them is Quilting Bits & Pieces, which Christina DeArmond and her sister, Amy Deay, opened in 1997 and now co-own with Kaye Spitzli, Eula Lang and Faith Gorden. “(Quilting) was a growing trend at the time, and there was a lot of excitement about it,” DeArmond says. Times were harder during the recession of 2008, but they survived. And 2020? It proved to be one of their best years. The store closed to in-person shopping early in the pandemic, but curbside and mail orders increased. DeArmond asked her 15 part-time employees to stay home for about six weeks; when she reopened, they were busier than ever. “People like getting ideas for things to make and touching the fabric,” DeArmond says. Almost all of DeArmond’s customers come from elsewhere, drawn by the novelty of visiting a different store or attending one of her quilt camps or events. One thing they always want to know? Where else to go. She happily directs them to nearby restaurants, shops and services.

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“Eudora is just a cute little town to come into, and it’s growing,” DeArmond says. “We love our out-of-town customers. It’s important to help them enjoy their time here.” Downtown Eudora’s growth both ups its destination appeal and offers residents more reasons to shop local. A vibrant Main Street is proof that small businesses can be sustainable here, Cornerstone Property’s GW Weld says. “It’s a tremendous sign that this is a place you can invest,” he continues. “You can be successful in Eudora if you’re good at what you do and if you support Eudora.” p 39

Lecompton’s history, businesses, community and family are at the heart of what makes this small town continue to thrive. Lecompton is a city drenched in history. Despite being a town of only 650, Lecompton was the center of action back when Kansas was becoming Kansas. The city hosted governments, fights, government fights and plenty of historical figures. Today, it is home to a small but bustling set of businesses, establishments that continue to keep the past alive while plotting a new course for the future. Perhaps the most obvious window into the past is Bald Eagle Mercantile. This shop is a mixture of fabrics, sassy signs, puzzles, artifacts from times past and odds and ends that serve to create a full-fledged stuff store. Greeting everyone who comes in is owner Kathy Paslay, a connection to the past in her own right, as her ancestors helped start the town. “My sixth great-grandfather is Daniel Boone, and Albert Boone is the one who founded the spot. He originally named [the town] Bald Eagle, because there were so many bald eagles out here,” she explains. Paslay started the Mercantile 12 years ago, operating it 40

as an antique store before expanding into other items. No clear organization to the store is apparent save the loosely connected rooms of stuff. Around the store sit random gnomes, which Paslay says were born from Christmas. “I tried to come up with a theme at Christmas, and I don’t like trolls, and gnomes are just fun. They’re not gonna change the world, but they do put smiles on everybody’s faces.” So Paslay started to make gnomes. She made 400 or 500 of them, and sold most at Christmastime. “Then I had people asking for Valentine’s Day gnomes, and then it was St. Patrick’s Day gnomes. And I’ve had a few come back wanting Easter gnomes,” she continues. It became a fun thing for Paslay, something she could do in the evenings when home by herself.

IT TAKES A VILLAGE

Keeping the history of Lecompton alive requires the cooperation of many people, shops and organizations. Vickie and Troy Clark opened Empty Nester’s Winery in January 2021 after a trip to Yellowstone National Park inspired

ECOMPTO MAIN STREET

by Matthew Petillo, photos by Steven Hertzog

Elmore Street is the heart of downtown Lecompton. Main Street Lecompton circa 1916 Courtesy Lecompton (Lane University & Territorial Capital Museum

them to open up the tasting room with untraditional fruit wines. They have since added local events, wine tastings and, recently, their outdoor Grand Opening Celebration, which took place in March. The Clarks chose to name the different wines after historical people and events of Lecompton. “For instance, Strawberry Lane,” Troy says. Strawberry Lane is named after the former Kansas U.S. Senator James Henry Lane, the namesake of the former Lane University. The university building in Lecompton now houses the Territorial Capital Museum. The Clarks also run a podcast called Empty Nester’s Un-

corked. With the help of local producer Robert Parker, a recent college graduate from Perry, they tell stories of the hardships of starting a winery in the middle of a pandemic. “Vickie’s a behind-the-scenes person, and I’m more of a talking head,” Troy explains. “She said, ‘I don’t know if I want to do this,’ and clearly, if you listen to the podcast, she’s the star of the show. It’s a lot of fun though.” In the winery, part of a building shared by other businesses, exposed old cobblestone from the 1800s can be found on the fermentation space wall—the building is as old as the town. In the building’s smallest space, Cindy Daniels 41

Jamin and Annette Nally in front of their Aunt Netter’s Café

and Sheris Messerly operate Claymama’s Art Workshop, an art store and workshop. Visitors can either sign up for one of many ceramics classes or buy jewelry, clothing and art pieces in the front of the shop. “It used to be an apartment, this portion of the building. And before that, we think it was part of a grocery store,” Daniels says. “When I first moved here 1000 years ago, the grocery store was still open.” Daniels became interested in art early on. “In high school, I started in a basic art class. I had walked by the art room for a whole year before I was brave enough to go in and take a class. When I did, it was over for me. It’s my favorite subject,” she explains. 42

Messerly had a completely different path. “I had originally started at [Johnson County Community College] in fashion design. I had done that for a year, and I didn’t see myself going the places I wanted to go,” Messerly says. “And at KU, I was doing business, and I wasn’t passionate about it. I didn’t like it.” So, 30 hours of business classes later, she switched her major to early childhood education and intervention. The two women opened the shop together, which, they agree, was a dream. “When we went to Taos, New Mexico, we went to a boutique … and we were like, ‘We really want to do this,’ ” Messerly says. “We’ve always really been passionate about clothing and all things like that.”

above left: Gary and Linda Kroeger and Robin Kofford with her son Dylan above: Robin and her son work the meat counter while her parents work the cashier counter

come from cities like Lawrence and Topeka are essential to keeping traffic and money flowing.

THE TOWN GATHERING PLACE

Annette started baking pies at a young age. “I have always made pies. I was in 4-H since I was 7, so I have been baking since I was little,” she says. Her first memory was with her grandma. “She showed me how to make piecrust and shared her recipe … so, whenever we would get together, I would just bake stuff.”

Aunt Netter’s Cafe, owned and operated by Lecompton natives Jamin and Annette Nally, opened in 2017 and serves baked goods and regular café fare. It is open for breakfast and lunch, and always has several varieties of fresh pies. Jamin explains that traffic flow is a problem for businesses in Lecompton. “You have to come here on purpose. Every once in a while, we get random people that are like, ‘I just happened to find you.’ But you don’t accidentally drive to Lecompton.” Out-of-town groups that

Aunt Netter’s Cafe is based in Lecompton’s family-friendly community. “Everyone knows each other. Everybody looks out for each other. The community has just been so incredibly supportive of our business,” Annette explains. “I have a huge family, and they all live really close. My parents have helped us here; my daughter works here now. Everyone just knows each other. … People will just sit down with each other and have a meal. It’s pretty awesome.” 43

Inside Bald Eagle Mercantile with Kathy Paslay tending to a customer

HEATING & COOLING

Sales

Sevice

Installation

A FAMILY AFFAIR Preserving history is a community effort that takes the work of businesses and community members alike. Kroeger’s Country Meats is the first shop one encounters upon entering Lecompton from Lawrence. It is known for a small collection box set out asking for donations to local charities. “[The Lecompton Historical Society] is part of the history. They’re really not heavily government-funded,” says Robin Kofford, the main butcher at Kroeger’s. “And a lot of people do come here after they’ve visited the museum and so they can contribute. Over the times, we have changed [the box]. Last year, we had that delegated for the Lecompton Pride [Society]. That helps them buy new windows and contributes to the floors that they had redone.” Gary Kroeger started the shop in 1984 and still mans the register at the front, striking up a conversation with anyone who passes. Robin Kofford, his daughter, now runs the business and does most of the butchering and sausage-making. The store is open every day except Sunday and serves sausages, hamburgers, steaks and hot sandwiches at the counter. “My dad opened up the shop … going on 37 years ago. … He worked all the way up through high school [and] through college in a meat 44

(left) Claymama’s (above and right) Empty Nester’s Winery, and Winery Celebration

store,” she explains. “It was kind of his dream come true after he retired from the school district.” Kofford’s own path was quite different than her father’s. “When my parents got the store in ’84, I was basically, on the weekends, grounded by choice. After I got out of high school, I [went] into day care, and I became a nanny in Missouri and moved away,” she says. “When I wanted to go back to school and came back to Lawrence, I thought, ‘Ok, I’ll work for them in the Lawrence operation and get my HDFL [human development and family studies] degree.’ Well, shortly after that, my dad took sick. … Little did I know I would be at this place. It wasn’t a thought-out plan. It happened, and I guess for the right reasons.”

STILL GOING STRONG Lecompton, despite its quiet look, is a town that is vibrant and full of activities. Its businesses continue to make history. Kroeger’s Kofford says when the butchery decided to sell alcohol, the vote had the biggest per capita turnout in the country—they voted yes. The Bald Eagle Mercantile organizes community events, such as a flea market last October, where businesses like Claymama’s and Empty Nester’s Winery can sell their wares, and Aunt Netter’s and the local scout troop can feed everyone with pie and Indian Tacos. These thriving businesses show that the town has never stopped and will continue to make history. p 45

by Bob Luder, photos by Steven Hertzog

DOUGLAS COUNTY’S FAMED SANTA FE & OREGON TRAILS WERE ONCE DOTTED WITH TOWNS THAT WERE SIGNIFICANT YET FLEETING DURING HISTORIC TIMES IN THE UNITED STATES. If St. Louis, with its iconic arch, is forever known in folklore as “The Gateway to the West,” then Kansas, specifically northeast Kansas and more specifically Douglas County, certainly can lay claim to being a “Roadway to the West” for settlers, traders and gold-seekers crossing the everexpanding country in the 19th century. Two of the great migratory pathways west of that time—the Santa Fe Trail and Oregon Trail—cross Douglas County from side to side, east to west, west to east. These two “national highways,” before highways existed, actually met just to the south and east of the county near what is today Gardner before splitting westward. The Oregon Trail, first traveled by a party of settlers led by William Sublette in 1830, veered diagonally northwest, crossing just east of Eudora and heading up near Lecompton. The Santa Fe Trail, first traversed by Coronado and Spanish explorers in the 1500s but first traveled on by American explorers in 1821 and surveyed in 1825 by the federal 46

government, meandered slightly northwest toward Baldwin City before turning southwest toward its ultimate destination in New Mexico. The topography of the Kansas plains was open, flatter and more conducive for wagon train travel, and the climate was wet enough, the foliage lush enough, to provide needed water and food for cattle, mules and oxen that drove the wagons. The trails differed in that the Santa Fe Trail eventually became more a transportation route of commerce and exchanging goods. Traders of all things— crops, furs, pelts and leather goods—moved both westward and eastward throughout most of the year, while the Oregon Trail served mainly as a migratory route for settlers looking to stake claims to free land in Oregon, or explorers searching for gold during the California Gold Rush. Movement on the Oregon Trail was nearly completely westward. The trails became increasingly busy with travelers in the mid-1800s, and as a result, communities began popping up, either as a result of migrants choosing to settle there

top The Old Santa Fe Trail Courtesy of Baker University-Old Castle Museum Wagon Ruts Santa Fe Trail Courtesy of Roger Boyd

or as weigh stops to support the restocking of wagons on their long journeys and resting/watering of stock. Some communities grew more than others. Some became officially platted townships and sought-after respites from the trails. Others grew to be no more than mere specks on a map. Eventually most, if not all, of these communities disappeared or were absorbed into other cities. The trails shifted slightly for various reasons, or the establishment of railroad lines led traffic elsewhere. All that remains today of communities like Big Springs, Hesper, Kanwaka, Palmyra, Stull and Willow Springs are stories and history. And a closer look reveals there is a rich and fascinating history in many of these towns. It’s a history, according to some, that should never be forgotten. “One thing a lot of people don’t realize is that (these trails) helped the United States win the MexicanAmerican War,” Roger Boyd, president of the Santa Fe Trail Historical Society of Douglas County, says of the armed conflict between the U.S. and Mexico

from 1846 to 1848, which came after the U.S. annexed Texas. “Soldiers from Leavenworth, along with Fort Riley and Fort Scott, could travel south to help fight. “It’s often said that we should learn from history so as not to repeat it,” he continues. “I’m not sure that’s always the case. But I think it’s important for people to know how Kansas came about.” Much of that story is told through the communities that came and went through the mid-19th to early 20th centuries along the early “superhighways” that were the Oregon and Santa Fe trails.

FREE-STATE STRONGHOLDS One of the most prominent townships to spring up along the Oregon Trail in the county was Big Springs, which was a few miles west of where Lecompton sits today, equally 12 miles from Lawrence and Topeka. An article in a Lecompton newsletter from 1993 states: “Land of buried treasure, of never frozen springs, of boundless breathtaking landscapes, womb of prohibition and free-state politics—weird as it sounds, that description fits Big Springs.” 47

Big Springs was three days travel from Westport, Missouri, a major trading post in the mid-1800s, and was an important watering stop before crossing the Kansas River heading west. Kansas became a territory in 1854, and in the fall of that year, William Harper and John Chamberlain took up roots and started Big Springs. What the town is most famous for is on Sept. 5, 1855, in a barn, part of which still stands today and is believed to be the oldest building in the state, the first-ever convention of the Free-State Party commenced. Attendees drew up articles and bylaws, and the whole free-state movement, which eventually sparked the Civil War, was born. It’s said that the Free State Convention was the beginning of the free-state movement. In addition to making the territory free of slavery, the people of Big Springs and the surrounding areas also were big promotors of prohibition. There also were some legends surrounding the town that never materialized. “It was rumored that someone stashed a bunch of gold around there,” says Paul Bahnmaier, president of the Lecompton Historical Society. “But none was ever found.” Big Springs continued as a vibrant township through the first half of the 20th century. In 1932, it had the largest enrollment for a one-room schoolhouse (53) in the state. But the Santa Fe railroad bypassed the town in the 1890s and located close to the Kansas River. After 1915, when cars and trucks became available, town trade was lost. Then the installation of the Kansas Turnpike destroyed the spring that gave Big Springs its name. Bahnmaier explains that today, only one business remains: The Tool Barn. There are about six houses, and of the three churches that used to congregate there, only the United Methodist church remains.

BRIEF BOROUGHS The town of Stull, originally named Deer Creek, was founded by six families of German immigrants in 1857. But the town’s post office closed in 1903, and today, only a couple churches and homes remain. The Battle of Fort Titus, in which three were killed and 14 wounded, occurred about 1½ miles south of Lecompton and north of the Oregon Trail. Kanwaka was nine square miles between the Kansas and Wakarusa rivers and originally settled by John Wakefield of Iowa in 1854. Wakefield went on to become a preeminent judge in the area, and Wakefield Tavern, built in 1857, served as a gathering place for travelers from

top to bottom Ben Terwilliger Executive Director, Eudora Community Museum Paul Bahnmaier, Executive Director, Lecompton (Lane University & Territorial Capital Museum) Roger Boyd, Professor Emeritus of Biology, Baker University

throughout the country. A spring on the property still serves as a water source for cattle today. The Oregon Trail entered Douglas County one mile east of Hesper, a community founded in 1858 by Quakers. Unlike the Free State party, which wanted to keep slavery out of the area, the Quakers were abolitionists. “They were passionate about making Kansas a free state,” says Ben Terwilliger, executive director of the Eudora Area Historical Society. The Quakers established the Hesper Academy, the first high school in the area, in the 1800s. A Quaker church still operates in the area to this day, and there are still a few houses, but not much else. Hesper was home to some prominent Kansans, including Walter Stubbs, who was governor of the state from 1909 to 1913; John Outland, a college football Hall of Famer who has a trophy in his name given annually to college football’s best interior lineman; and James Davis, who established Friends University, in Wichita. 50

Clockwise from top left: Louk Store in Stull Courtesy Wakarusa River Valley Heritage Museum Stonehurst Farm, Hesper Courtesy Eudora Community Museum Palmyra Post Office Courtesy of Baker University Old Castle Museum Hesper Academy Courtesy Eudora Community Museum

SPARKS OF CIVIL WAR If Big Springs and surrounding towns off the Oregon Trail can be considered the birth of the free-state movement, then the areas off the Santa Fe Trail to the south can be considered the birth of the Civil War. It was on June 2, 1856, in an area three miles east of Baldwin City that the Battle of Black Jack took place between small forces of men led by free-state protagonist John Brown and proslavery militiaman Henry Pate. No one was killed during the daylong battle, probably more accurately a skirmish. But many historical accounts refer to the Battle of Black Jack as the beginning of armed conflict that led to the Civil War, which didn’t officially begin for nearly five more years (April 12, 1861). Today, there is a state park near the Black Jack battleground, off U.S. Highway 56, and visitors are welcome to walk out into a field where they can see large wagon ruts created by 60 years of heavy travel on the Santa Fe Trail.

Also near that area, the township of Palmyra was founded in 1855 at the north edge of what today is Baldwin City. Palmyra offered services including a harness shop, wagon repair shop, three blacksmiths, drug, grocery and dry goods stores, a hotel, a lawyer, two doctors and a tavern.

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Palmyra merged with Baldwin City in 1863, but today, the Palmyra Well, a main source of water for the area in the 19th century, still sits just to the east of what is now Baldwin High School. Also visible from Black Jack State Park is what was known as The Narrows, a ridge forming the divide between the Kansas and Marais des Cygnes rivers, which offered wagons smoother, dryer passage than the creeks to either side. It ran 12 miles between Black Jack and Willow Springs. Willow Springs was established in 1855, although it was called Davis until 1861, and was a welcomed watering hole, especially for military marching south. The Fort Leavenworth military road joined the Santa Fe Trail just to the east. Brooklyn also was settled in 1855 and incorporated in 1858, but all but the town’s saloon and general store were destroyed by William Quantrill’s raiders as they retreated from burning down Lawrence in August 1863.

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Blue Jacket Crossing was a stop where crossing ramps were cut into the juncture of the Wakarusa and Little Wakarusa rivers, but it became obsolete in 1854 when Blanton’s Bridge was built five miles farther up the Wakarusa. The Hickory Point Community was a loosely defined area from Signal Hill to the east and to almost Brooklyn to the west, stretching along The Narrows. A property dispute ended in proslavery advocate Franklin Coleman murdering free-stater Charles Dow and leaving his body on the Santa Fe Trail. Finally, Simmons House, built in 1870, was the last stagecoach stop on the Santa Fe Trail until Council Grove, more than 50 miles away. After Council Grove, settlers were forced to fend for themselves the rest of the way west. “All of this is an extremely important part of history,” Santa Fe Trail Historical Society president Boyd says. “We don’t use the term ‘celebrate’ but ‘commemorate.’ We have to remember that the Indians were pushed out. It marked the demise of many Native American tribes in this area. “But we should celebrate for all the international commerce that moved along these trails,” he continues. “It was a very important part of the development of this country.” p

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Manufacturing

Baldwin by Bob Luder, photos by Steven Hertzog

Baldwin businesses involving machinery continue to thrive even through the COVID pandemic because the need has remained steady. Baldwin City’s handful of industrial-based businesses share a commonality that would make Archie Bunker smile. When it comes to owning and operating companies that make, sell and/or service large machinery— mostly used for agricultural purposes in this part of the country—it appears to be all in the family. Hey Machinery Co. Inc. was founded by William Hey in 1929 and today is owned and run by his greatgrandson and fourth-generation proprietor Brian Hey. While Bryan Rice might be the first-gen owner of Rice Precision Manufacturing over the 22 years of the company’s existence, just about every member of his immediate family has played a hand in its operation and successes. Same can be said for Custom Mobile Equipment Inc., which was started 28 years ago by Gary Dick and today includes several family members among his 30 employees. And while Heritage Tractor has exploded into its own conglomerate, expanding to 21 locations in three states, the company started near the turn of the century as the family-owned business of Ken Wagner. 52

“I started working summers here when I was 14 or 15 years old,” Brian Hey says. “I’ve always been interested in the business. If you grew up in our family, that’s just the way it was.” The four Baldwin City industrial businesses have something else in common. They all appear to have come through the COVID-19 pandemic just fine, if not better than ever. Though the pandemic interrupted great swathes of the U.S. and world economies, the world moved on and needed machinery, both heavy and small, to do so. “Our business is as good as ever,” Bryan Rice says. “The sky’s the limit. It’s just up to what we want to do as a group. We want to be the very best. We have to believe and execute that we can make the best quality parts at the best price when the customer needs it. “That’s what we’ve done, and it just keeps going, going and going.” Hey Machinery, Custom Mobile Equipment and Heritage Tractor also strive to be the best in their fields and regions, and as the country begins its recovery from COVID, each seems poised to be as good as ever.

Hey Machinery Hey Machinery, which often goes by the more accurately descriptive name of Hey Wheel, has been manufacturing and reselling wheels, rims, centers, tires and other off-highway products since 1929, when the company was started by William Hey. Hey was soon joined in the business by his sons, Bill and Lester, and the company has remained in the family through four generations. In its early years, Hey Machinery did many different things, but William quickly found that producing wheels that worked with used or rejected aircraft tires was profitable when sold for farm use. Specifically, the company manufactures what’s known as a “bolt-together” wheel, a two-piece wheel fastened together by anywhere from 20 to 32 bolts. These sturdy rims can be used to anchor disregarded-yet-heavy-duty airplane tires and used for feed wagons, grain carts, manure spreaders, tractor fronts, brush mowers, scrapers, skid loaders and other uses. The company sells its bolt-together wheels to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and distributors, and directly to customers in need of sturdy tire solutions for harsh environments and heavy-duty applications. Business is steady, Hey says. “Everything we do is for farming, agriculture vehicles,” he continues. “Probably 80 percent of what we do gets shipped out the door. “Thirty years ago, we started selling tractor and implement wheels,” Hey adds. “But we don’t make them, we just sell them.” Baldwin City has undergone many changes and much growth over the years, and Hey says nothing speaks more loudly to that fact than when he gets approached by someone who has no idea what or where Hey Machinery is. “Baldwin has grown,” he says. “It used to be everyone knew who and where we were. But now, so many people have moved in who didn’t grow up here, there are a lot who don’t know us.” That’s OK, he says, as long as farmers keep needing wheels and tires. Hey Machinery

Brian Rice, owner/operator pf Rice Precision Manufacturing

Rice Precision Manufacturing Rice Precision Manufacturing was established by Bryan Rice as sole proprietor in 1999. Today, the company employs 23 full time inside a 14,000-square-foot facility that specializes in precision machining of various materials as well as welding and fabrication of assemblies large and small. In simpler terms, it creates parts for large machinery. Rice Precision engages in a wide variety of services that include new part and assembly design, welding and fabrication, and reverse engineering, which allows it to quickly and efficiently produce replacement parts at pricing that is more competitive than typical OEM suppliers. “We work with clients that need to outsource their manufacturing needs,” Rice says. “We deal mostly in single parts but some assembly, as well.” Rice says his clientele is very diverse, but much of the parts the company manufactures and sells goes to the food industry. “Schwan’s has a facility in Oklahoma that makes pies,” he says. “The machinery used to make those pies have parts made by Precision.” Rice says the company also deals heavily in the oil and gas industry, and is looking at getting into the medical field. Being headquartered in the Baldwin City area has had its advantages and disadvantages, he explains. The city welcomed the company with open arms 22 years ago and has remained a good partner since. However, finding employees can be challenging. “A disadvantage definitely is a limited labor pool,” Rice says. “There are no classes in high school that teach this anymore. We try to recruit from our area. A lot of kids around here work on their own cars. “If I can just get them through the door, I can show them what we do, show them there’s an avenue here for them where they can make $30 an hour.” And Rice Precision is very much a family-run business. Bryan’s wife, Cheryl, is the company’s chief financial officer. Brother Duane is its head of procurement. And daughter Bailey also is a full-time employee.

Custom Mobile Equipment Inc.

Custom Mobile Equipment Inc. Back in 1993, Gary Dick had an acquaintance who lived in Coffeyville, Kansas, who was unhappy with the bulky forklifts he was using and wanted a more smoothly operating specialty fork lift for his business. Dick designed and produced that fork lift for his friend, Jim Taylor, and soon after, started fielding requests to custom-build more forklifts, especially for machinery-moving contractors. Dick trademarked his creation, the Versa-Lift, and Custom Mobile Equipment Inc. was born. The Versa-Lift is a unique forklift in which the frame extends to achieve greater capacities and is equipped with a removable hydraulic boom. It is designed specifically for moving heavy machinery smoothly and safely on solid surfaces. What started in ’94 in a small, rented space in east Lawrence today is a 60- x 100-foot, 40,000-square-foot building on 4 acres in a Baldwin City industrial park.

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“We outgrew our space (in Lawrence) and moved to Baldwin City in ’97,” Dick says. Today, Custom Mobile employs 30, an increase from just Dick and two part-time helpers when the business started. Over the years, Dick and his team have upgraded and built larger Versa-Lifts so that now, the company sells seven models, including two electric-powered, in five sizes, with the largest having a 140,000-pound load capacity.

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“Demand has stayed steady through COVID,” Dick says. “The future looks good. I don’t see any problems on the horizon.” And yes, Custom Mobile sources some of its parts for its Versa-Lifts through Rice Precision. “It’s good to have a machine shop nearby,” he says. Like his peers at Rice, Dick’s business also is a family affair. Gary’s son, Nathan, has been working with his dad since getting out of college and handles sales. Brother Greg runs the shop. Another brother, Keith, has been the company’s longest-running employee. And a nephew, McKinley, handles purchasing.

Heritage Tractor Heritage Tractor isn’t recognizable today from its humble beginnings near the end of the 20th century. An uptick in agricultural equipment sales in the late 1990s led tractor-producing titan John Deere to seek to add a new dealership somewhere in the fertile rural ag market of northeast Kansas, close enough to also tap into the Kansas City marketplace. Baldwin City was selected as the location, and Ken Wagner was approached for advice and leadership on the project. He jumped in with both feet as owner of the original facility, which sits on a 17-acre property just outside town. Leap forward to today, and Heritage Tractor has 21 locations in Arkansas, Kansas and Missouri. But Baldwin City is still the company’s hub.

Heritage Tractor

“It was decided there was a need for a dealership with agricultural ties for Baldwin City and surrounding cities,” says Jessi Ganoung, marketing manager. “From there, Heritage either bought or acquired other dealerships.” Ganoung says there are three major components to Heritage’s business: sales, parts and service, with the bulk of business going to the latter two. “We’re very appreciative of farmers who keep food on our tables,” she says. In addition to tractors, combines and other large implements, Heritage sells small mowers, both residential and turf lines, walk-behinds and stand-ons. Also, small, commercial construction equipment like skid steers and mini excavators, as well as Stihl chainsaws, trimmers and blowers, and Honda push mowers and generators. It also sells all-terrain vehicles most commonly known as “Gators” for farmers and municipalities. Include Heritage Tractor as a Baldwin City-based industrial business that was not affected by the global COVID pandemic. “This time last year, we were holding our breath,” Ganoung says. “But (an economic downturn) never happened. New homes are going up every day, breaking new ground. When customers move into those homes, they need to buy mowers to mow their yards. “It never slowed down. We’ve been proactive in keeping our inventory up.” Though Heritage Tractor dealerships now can be found throughout a three-state area, the company never forgets where it all started. “Baldwin is a leader of the pack,” Ganoung says. “We do a lot of parts business, and the service is close behind.” p 57

Commissioner Tim Bruce, Commissioner Roberta Lehmann, Mayor Tim Reazin, Vice-Mayor Ruth Hughs, Commissioner Jolene Born and City Manager, Barack Matite at the site of the future Nottingham Center

Why not Eudora? by Emily Mulligan, photos by Steven Hertzog

Though 2020 may not have been a good year for much of the world because of the pandemic, Eudora city leaders pushed forward with development plans that will bring more businesses, people and money to their town. For more than 10 years, Eudora’s city leaders have been strategizing how best to develop and grow the town. During the pandemic, as other cities and towns struggled to cope, much of that planning came to fruition, as Eudora inked agreements and even broke ground on what are sure to be the town’s biggest-ever economic developments. “We are lucky, because last year was probably one of our best years. You would think everything would be at a standstill, but we keep moving forward. We don’t want to slow down,” says Eudora City Manager Barack Matite. Developing a large parcel of long-vacant land to vary the town’s tax base and attracting a successful Canadian company, Modern Manufacturing, to the Intech Business Park as its United States outpost are things that any town the size of Eudora (population 6,400) would celebrate. Landing those deals while the country was basically shut down from the COVID-19 pandemic makes it all the more remarkable. 58

Nottingham Center Exiting Kansas Highway 10 (K-10) at Church Street and driving north of the highway these days, drivers are greeted by construction fencing to the west and a vast dirt field with some strips of stark black asphalt, dotted with just about every type of construction vehicle imaginable. That 15 acres of land, the former site of Nottingham Elementary school, is transforming into the future “gateway” of Eudora: Nottingham Center. High 5, a unique family entertainment center that includes bowling, miniature golf, an arcade and a full-service restaurant and bar, is the anchor tenant for Nottingham Center. With two locations that are both in Texas, Eudora is the first place that High 5 has chosen to locate and expand its reach. Also for the first time, Eudora will have something Kansas City does not, which means it will be an attraction from around the metro area. Wendy’s restaurant and

Casey’s store and gas station also will be part of the development, which will have additional retail space, restaurant space and a green space called the “village green.” The entire development will connect with the Eudora Community Center to the south and existing park space, and there will be walking paths for exercise and access that reach Main Street and Eudora’s downtown. When the final school bell tolled at Nottingham Elementary in 2008, the city did not have a plan of what to do with the school building and the land it occupied near the unofficial entrance to Eudora from K-10. Ideas and proposals came and went over the years as the building and grounds were used by the community for various purposes. The city council became the city commission, when Eudora’s form of governance changed to a commission-manager model. City commissioners entertained proposals from developers, but longtime city commissioners Tim Reazin, now the mayor, and Ruth Hughs, now vice mayor, agree none of the proposals embodied long-term benefits nor the right tax revenue for the town. “Our ability as a commission to look at a 20-year and 30-year plan is fantastic. The commissioners that came through here have understood that we have a bigger vision,” Reazin explains. The commissioners wanted more for the site and the town, and they had a vision they knew would take time. When Matite was hired as city manager in 2016, he took on the vision, as well. “The city did a marketing study to find out what made us unique. Our location close to Kansas City, Lawrence and Topeka is an asset. We also have a road network with K-10 and I-70, access to railroads and small-town charm for families. We could tell developers to not just look at Eudora but look at the whole area and attract people from there,” he says. The city commission five years ago, which included Reazin and Hughs, decided to purchase the site from the school district so it could have more involvement in what happened at the Nottingham site, which became a TIF (tax increment financing) district in 2017. Commissioners wanted the developments to be cohesive and have a good chance of success over the long term.

“The city could make sure that the gateway was adequately preserved as a gateway. It should represent Eudora and growth and possibility,” Hughs says. “It has gone slow, but I think by taking our time, it has given the public the chance to really catch the vision.” So the city is the developer and can sell sites and parcels of land, while also overseeing the appearance and purpose. Casey’s, which will build a larger store and gas station to replace its current location closer to downtown Eudora, was the first to join the development. Wendy’s and High 5 have followed suit, and Matite says conversations are ongoing for other potential businesses at the site, including serious negotiations for a regional fast-casual restaurant. High 5’s attraction as a regional destination is what makes this development unique to the K-10 corridor. “I’m really excited about High 5 because we are bringing something to our state and area that is nowhere else. You know people will come here, and that is a thrill,” Hughs says. Reazin, who has four school-age sons, already can envision how locals will enjoy High 5, as well. “It’s somewhere you can go to spend the day. And teams can get together after a game or at the end of the season and celebrate,” he says. High 5 likely will be open for business in 2022; Wendy’s and Casey’s could be in operation by the end of this year. Infrastructure, including grading, sewer lines, water lines and curbed roadways, began this spring. The site pads were sold to Wendy’s and Casey’s in May, so they can pursue their building construction. Other areas of Nottingham Center will be built as agreements are reached. Once the development is complete, it will be the site for the weekly Eudora Farmers’ Market. The village green will allow for food-truck parking and other community events. A long-term ideal is for a brewery/restaurant to take the location adjacent to and overlooking the village green. Eudora won a KDOT grant of $1.1 million for the trail that will connect Nottingham Center to downtown, which could break ground later this year.

Modern Manufacturing Modern Manufacturing is a division of Stacy and Witbeck, a Canadian collection of companies that specialize in construction and management of complex rail and transportation projects. As its name implies, Modern Manufacturing is the construction arm of the company, fabricating steel structures that hoist signals and span railroad tracks, as well as steel buildings to house trackside equipment and electronics. The company bought an existing building in Eudora’s Intech Business Park, which it has retrofitted for its factory, as well as acreage to the north and east of the building for future expansion. Some of its specialized equipment has been delayed in arriving, likely because of the pandemic, City Manager Matite says, but Modern Manufacturing already is hiring for what will initially be 40 to 50 positions and eventually should top 70 jobs. Most of the positions available will be for welders and computer-assisted construction jobs for its specialized equipment. The company hopes to draw from homegrown local talent to outfit its workforce. “They want to bring in kids from the high schools and Peaslee Tech to be part of learning and growing. Kids could grow up and work in their hometown at a goodpaying job,” Mayor Reazin says. Matite believes the reasonable price of land in Eudora plus having room to grow was part of the appeal to Modern Manufacturing. Vice Mayor Hughs says the small-town attributes of Eudora also helped lure the company to town.

Renderings for the development of Nottingham Center

“They have jumped right in and are just all about being part of our community,” Hughs says. “They want to lock arms and say, ‘Let’s make this the best place to live.’ ”

Modern Manufacturing choosing to locate in Eudora also will put Eudora on the map as a potential location for other companies, and there is more space available at the Intech site. “We’re excited to have them there. Because of their clout and network and connections, we’re hoping they can help recruit more businesses,” Matite says. The city does not own the land in Intech but rather serves as a promoter of sorts in the interest of economic development. The business park is home to several long-term locations for businesses, including Air Filter Plus, which recently completed a 3,000-square-foot expansion to its building, Matite says.

Diversifying the Tax Base Developing the Nottingham site with restaurants and retail businesses, and attracting large companies like Modern Manufacturing will greatly diversify the tax base in Eudora. There also is the potential for sports tourism as the city develops athletic fields and facilities at the middle school and high school, south of K-10. Those facilities are within 25 miles of Garmin Park, in Olathe, Reazin says, and could be used as alternate venues for tournaments. Matite and Reazin agree Eudora needs that expanded tax base in order to repair and upgrade the town’s basic infrastructure, including water service and installing curbs and sidewalks in neighborhoods. The city has a ¾-cent sales tax for parks and recreation, so with retail and restaurant growth, parks facilities and green spaces can be maintained and upgraded, as well. 2020 always will be known as the year that Eudora came into its own, with Nottingham Center and Modern Manufacturing. Somehow, Eudora rose above the COVID-19 pandemic year and set the tone for establishing its unique identity and presence in Douglas County and around the Kansas City metro area. “I never want to be called East Lawrence. I want to make sure Eudora stands on its own and is well planned out,” Reazin says.p

The back gravel roads of Douglas County

Invisible Borders, Essential Jobs by Anne Brockhoff, photos by Steven Hertzog

Townships and fire districts are indispensable to county residents, who depend on them not only for maintenance issues but also emergency situations.

Some Douglas County boundaries are obvious, like the city limits when you drive into Lawrence. Township borders, on the other hand, are invisible yet determine who provides two rural essentials: road maintenance and fire protection.

All Kansas townships are structured similarly, and state statutes empower them to do everything from maintaining roads and fire operations, to establishing water districts, caring for cemeteries and controlling prairie dogs.

It might surprise even those who live in the county that its nine townships oversee the maintenance of some 900 miles of roads, while mostly volunteer personnel in four fire districts respond to fire, medical and other emergency calls. Understanding the scope, funding and delivery of those services is increasingly important as Douglas County’s rural population grows.

Douglas County townships have historically focused on the first two, although township-controlled fire departments have in recent years transformed into autonomous fire districts. But township boards still have plenty to do. Most meet monthly (Wakarusa’s meets twice a month) in a townshipowned meeting hall to prioritize road maintenance, projects and repairs. Each also owns a shop and equipment, such as graders and dump trucks, and employs between one and three staff. Some also have part-time or seasonal employees.

“That is one thing, I think, over the next decade or so that will be challenging—all those people moving out there with an increased expectation of services,” says Jamie Shew, county clerk. The Clinton, Eudora, Grant, Kanwaka, Lecompton, Marion, Palmyra, Wakarusa and Willow Springs townships are independent governing bodies, each with a three-person elected board that levies taxes and files an annual budget. Baldwin City and Lecompton are included within the townships surrounding them; Lawrence and Eudora are not. 62

“Our whole goal is to do the best job that we can and be prudent with taxpayer dollars,” says Clint Hornberger, a farmer and rancher who is Willow Springs Township’s clerk.

Willow Springs budgets carefully for its 74 miles of gravel roads, but weather often creates unexpected problems. Tornado and flood damage cost the township an additional $30,000 to $40,000 during 2019 and 2020, and it has yet to be reimbursed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for any of those funds. As clerk, Hornberger is responsible for maintaining township records necessary for regular business and special instances such as interfacing with FEMA. Township treasurers oversee finances and bill payment. Trustees chair meetings and are the primary contact for entrance permits, which the county requires before issuing a building permit. That said, residents can contact any board member with concerns. Once of the most frequent questions? When their road will be paved. Residents are usually disappointed to learn it’s too cost prohibitive for Willow Springs, Hornberger says. “We would have to have a massive property tax increase to pave a handful of roads,” he continues. “We’d have to raise taxes by -- I don’t even know what the math is.”

Budgets Make Paving Possible —or Not Most other townships are in a similar position. The exception is Wakarusa Township, which abuts Lawrence’s northern, western and southern edges. Residential development in those areas adds to the township’s budget, as does Evergy’s Lawrence Energy Center. Wakarusa Township has in recent decades upgraded almost all of its more than 85 miles of roads using the chip-and-seal process to create a hard surface. That’s a boon for township residents, who drive mostly light-duty vehicles. A 5-ton weight limit restricts heavier traffic, Wakarusa Township Clerk Gerald Dwyer explains. “That lets farmers go ahead and use the roads if they’re not running with commercial tags, but it stops delivery trucks from going through to cut off a few miles,” says the retired farmer and lifelong Douglas County resident. Hard-surfaced roads are also cheaper to maintain. A 2016 Kansas State University Transportation Center study of roads managed by Douglas County showed gravel roads are almost three times more expensive to maintain per mile than paved roads. “It takes money to get where we’re at, but once you get there, it’s better,” Dwyer says. That’s not an option for other townships, however. Each township sets its own mill levy, ranging from 9.376 mills

in Willow Springs Township to 22.256 mills in Grant Township in 2020. But the total assessed property value for that year also varies widely, from a high of $108.8 million in Wakarusa Township to $10.9 million in Clinton Township. Townships with a smaller tax base simply can’t raise the funds for hard-surfacing roads, so they instead focus on maintenance. But even that has become more challenging as both gravel prices and the number of homes built along rural roads increase, Clinton Township trustee Matthew Fishburn says. “More traffic means more maintenance, which means more rock, which means more money,” says Fishburn, who drives the township’s 25 miles of gravel roads each week to assess their condition. Township board members praise the county’s public works department for helping with projects, including townships on bulk sign orders, surveying dangerous intersections and providing other assistance. Still, the responsibility rests with board members. They receive minimal compensation for their time, but that’s not why Fishburn and others do it. “I’ve lived in this area my whole life,” says the contractor for Douglas County Rural Water District No. 5. “It’s a way to give back to the community.”

Locals Give Back Township lines sometimes shift when municipalities annex rural properties, but Eudora Township saw a significant change in 2011. That’s when Eudora was classified as a “second class” city, a category that isn’t included in townships. That forced the Eudora Public Library to also evolve. It had been jointly administered by the city and township; a new Eudora Community Library District was established by the Kansas Legislature to give it an independent board and taxing authority. Eudora Township still manages 70-plus miles of gravel roads, a process that, as elsewhere, has become more complex as development escalates. But the work is still rewarding, says Keith Knabe, Eudora Township clerk. “We grew up here and have always lived around Eudora,” says Knabe, who raises corn, soybeans and other crops. “We’re just happy to help out our community a little bit.” Township board members are a dedicated bunch, and Kanwaka Township trustee David Wulfkuhle is no different. He routinely drives the township’s 49 miles of gravel road looking for downed signs, fallen tree branches, areas in need of grading or gravel, plugged drainage tubes and other issues. And in the winter? 63

“I go drive the roads at 2 a.m. or 3 a.m.,” Wulfkuhle says. “Somebody’s got to check them and see if we need to call the guys out.” Palmyra Township trustee Donald Towns sometimes pitches in himself when work needs to be done on the township’s almost 130 miles of road. He accumulated 30-plus years of experience on road maintenance equipment as a Douglas County employee. Now retired, he still has a commercial driver’s license and volunteers his time running the road grader or anything else, when needed. “Our main thing is safety,” Towns says. “I’ve got to keep people moving.”

Districts Deliver Fire Protection Safety is also a priority for Douglas County’s fire districts. Fire protection was once the province of townships, but those departments have now transitioned into fire districts with their own governing boards and taxing authority. Fire District No. 2 serves Palmyra Township. Fire District No. 3 is responsible for Willow Springs Township. The southwest corner of Marion Township relies on Osage County’s Fire District No. 4, while Grant Township contracts fire services through LawrenceDouglas County Fire Medical, which also provides medical response in the entire county. Eudora and Baldwin City maintain their own volunteer fire departments. All fire districts also have interlocal agreements to assist neighboring townships, cities and counties, when needed. The bulk of rural Douglas County, though, is covered by Consolidated Fire District (CFD) No. 1, which in January 2021 unified the Clinton, Eudora, Kanwaka, Lecompton and Wakarusa fire districts with Clarion Springs EMS. CFD No. 1 now includes 10 stations with 104 personnel, all but four of whom are volunteers. It provides an all-hazards response for 228 square miles of Douglas County, including everything from fires to car accidents, medical emergencies and providing lift assistance for individuals. Unifying helped districts pool resources, eliminate duplicate equipment and re-evaluate the system to meet two goals: better firefighter safety while maintaining and enhancing services. So far, it’s paying off, says CFD No. 1 Fire Chief Mike Baxter. Data collected from the unified district’s runs shows response times have improved 40 percent in areas previously served by a limited number of volunteers. The benefit is self-evident: Faster response means less damage. But response times (a function of having more and better volunteers available) also help determine the Insurance Services Office (ISO) fire scores that insurance companies use when setting rates. Top: Jamie Shrew, County Clerk of Douglas County; Second from top: Paving the gravel roads of Rural Douglas County; Above and right: some Consolidated Fire District participants: Kanwaka Fire, Eudora Township, Wakarusa Township.

Maintaining a volunteer fire force keeps taxes lower, too, because communities pay only for facilities, equipment and training. That’s a significant savings for taxpayers—volunteer firefighters’ time alone is worth an estimated $46.9 billion a year in the U.S., says the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC).

“People take that for granted because they don’t realize these are volunteers who do it because they love it,” says Fire District No. 2 Fire Chief Mike Hirschmann.

Call for Volunteers Volunteers are getting harder to come by, however. The number of volunteer firefighters in the U.S. reached a low in 2017, the NFVC says. In Kansas, 79 percent of fire departments are completely staffed by volunteers, and another 10 percent are mostly volunteer, according to the U.S. Fire Administration. Fire personnel typically carry pagers or radios. When a call comes in, they respond. “They’re giving up Christmas, birthdays and holidays,” says Hirschmann, who is also a battalion chief for Johnson County Fire District No. 1, near Gardner. “They drop what they’re doing and answer when you call 911.” Palmyra’s Fire District No. 2 has 23 volunteers, one station, two fire trucks, two fire engines, a water tender for transporting water and other equipment, and is responsible for 83 square miles. It typically responds to between 85 and 130 structural and grass fires a year; in 2020, it began responding to traffic accidents and soon plans to add emergency medical care. Not everyone who volunteers fights fires, though. Hirschmann says volunteer departments such as his also need administrative, inventory and other assistance. Volunteers’ dedication and spirit of service is a point of pride for CFD No. 1’s Baxter, and it offers peace of mind for rural residents. “It’s knowing that when you dial 911, somebody’s going to show up,” Baxter says. “We as a department take it as a personal matter to ensure your safety and well-being.” p 65

Douglas Co Unicorporated by David Frese, photos by Steven Hertzog

Throughout the county, unincorporated areas have thriving businesses. Kathy and Jack Wilson are facing a bit of a dilemma. The owners of Washington Creek Lavender, south of Lawrence in Lone Star Township, had a spectacular crop in 2020. Just spectacular. But COVID-19 kept everyone home in 2020, including workers. So Kathy had to weedwhack the fields twice by herself. This year, however, the 6,000 violet lavender plants lining the acres of the Wilson’s hilltop farm have turned the dark grey of an approaching thunderstorm. Remember that week in February when there was a 70-degree swing in temperatures? The lavender plants didn’t handle it well.

Several years ago the same thing happened, and the plants recovered. This year, Wilson says, “Who knows? “When we make a mistake, we don’t make the same mistake twice,” he continues, pausing for the punchline. “We make it seven or eight times.” Washington Creek Lavender is but one satellite business orbiting Lawrence in Douglas County. BlueJacket Crossing Vineyard and Winery, near Eudora, and McFarlane Aviation and Vinland Valley Nursery, near Baldwin City, are among many others. These sorts of mom-and-pop businesses are the lifeblood of many rural and exurban communities in Kansas, says Erik Sartorius, executive director at the League of Kansas Municipalities. “Whether in cities or counties, these businesses survive because they offer a service or product that is unique to Kansas,” he explains. “Small businesses support our communities through their efforts to provide employment, support the sales tax base and provide unique retail opportunities that showcase Kansasmade products.”

The town of Vinland

Entrance to Vinland Nursery A Lawrence customer enjoying her first visit to Vinland Nursery Owners Amy Albright and Doug Davison One of the many buildings that encompass the Nursery

Jack and Kathy Wilson in their Washington Creek gift shop

The ebb and flow of state and city government, depending on which party has the majority, also makes life complicated. “I’m 75,” Selvan says. “I’m not in the mood to deal with them sometimes.” This isn’t just some hobby farm. BlueJacket is trying to maintain a grape standard and create a wine that can compete alongside any other. “Some wineries just have some grapes but slap a label on wine they bring in, then they have live music and slushy trucks and what have you,” he says. “We’re a boutique winery, producing about 10,000 gallons of wine.”

It’s No Hobby Pep Selvan, owner of BlueJacket Crossing Winery, says about 75 percent of their customers each weekend say it’s their first visit. “We focus on products that continue to grow and do well for us,” he adds. “Our red is the best in the state. Our white, same thing.” Before he began winemaking, Selvan owned a design-build company out west. He moved back to care for a relative, but all that time spent out in wine country inspired him to try his hand at a bona fide Kansas winery. It hasn’t always been an easy go. “It’s hard to find labor,” he explains. “The work is tedious. It’s a repetitious job that isn’t exciting enough for young people. And we’ve lost employees because they had immigration concerns.” 68

Selvan says neighbors have been mostly supportive over the years, though it didn’t start out that way. “I think in the beginning, we were a pain in the neck to our neighbors,” he explains. “Grapes are very sensitive. And sometimes crop overspraying—nothing malicious or anything—can be a problem. And that’s true for tomatoes, grapes, a lot of things.” At the end of the day, they’re not only creating thousands of gallons of high-quality wine, they’re also running a registered agritourism spot in Kansas. “We have to feel good about the quality of the product,” Selvan says. “We’re doing all we can manage right now.”

Organic Practices a Draw Amy Albright, who co-owns Vinland Valley Nursery, south of Lawrence and north of Baldwin, says one of her biggest obstacles is the perception that the drive to Vinland is lengthy. (It’s barely 10 minutes, less time than it takes to drive from the Kansas River bridge to Target.) “Until someone drives out here, they think it’s out in the sticks,” Albright says. “It’s really not.” Once people make it to the farm and nursery, chances are they’ll return. Most customers are from Lawrence, but people come from everywhere. “We get a lot of people from Topeka and Kansas City,” she explains. “I don’t know if the folks from Iowa have been down here for a couple of years, but we had people who would drive trailers down in the spring to come here and shop, and drive the long distance home. So that was kind of cool.” The draw? Native plants and organic practices that are rare at many other greenhouses. “That’s kind of our thing,” Albright says. “I think the native plant-growing and the organic growing practices bring people back.” Right out of college, she was a wildlife rehabilitator, where she learned what damage pesticides can do to the native flora and fauna. When first starting the farm, they didn’t carry pesticides to resell in their shop, which was strange to some folks. People expected to pop in and get Malathion or whatever was popular at the time. Grass seed, Albright says, once had about 40 percent clover mixed in. Then the lawn-care industry convinced the whole country to spray something on everything. “It has not been easy,” she explains. “The interesting thing is how much that’s changed over time. Because now people’s expectations are just completely different, and their sensibilities about using (chemicals) have shifted monumentally.” Albright says she feels “creepy” saying so, but COVID actually has been good for them businesswise. “People wanted to be in their gardens,” she continues. “It was just a safe activity for them when they had nothing else to do.” Co-owner Doug Davison, who has built and rebuilt nearly every building on the farm, says as soon as the weather allowed last year, he, Albright and other staff pushed every plant they could outside so people could walk around and browse at safe distances. 69

McFarlane Aviation in Vinland

spond to everyone as quickly as we can. We make a better product that lasts longer and costs less. That’s it.” If it was that easy, though, everyone would be doing it. McFarlane’s leg up is his lifelong fascination with aviation. “It’s interesting to see things they did in the ’20s and ’30s that still work,” he says. “Some didn’t. It gives you a lot in the way of education.” McFarlane bought the airport north of Baldwin in 1978, where they repaired planes, made parts and provided aerial services. Part of the draw was that the nursery is an outdoor space. Staff enforced mask-wearing inside the greenhouse and the barn. All in all, though, an influx of people made for a fairly successful 2020. “Thank God we weren’t in the restaurant business,” Albright says. “Yikes.”

From Kansas to the World Just down the way from Vinland Valley Farms is McFarlane Aviation, an airplane parts manufacturer that serves people and planes all over the planet. They’ve worked on the Fujifilm blimp. They replace parts on aircraft from the 1920s and ’30s. They worked on the plane that reenacted the D-Day invasion in Normandy. All just north of little ol’ Baldwin City, Kansas. “About 30 percent of our customer base is overseas,” says CEO David McFarlane. “We pride ourselves on customer service. We re-

Upset with the quality of airplane parts in the late 1980s, the company decided to start making the parts. And they make it all, whether it’s for turbo props or business jets. “We build unique things for unique people,” he adds. It may sound unique to have a worldwide aviation manufacturer in the middle of the United States, but McFarlane believes it makes perfect sense. From Kansas, the company can ship to the East Coast or the West Coast quickly. And the rural environment has become a big draw for employees. “It used to be people were moving out of rural areas to the city,” he says. “Now they’re moving out of the city into rural areas.” 71

Choosing Rural The Wilsons at Washington Creek Lavender are a perfect example. They moved from Chicago to rural Douglas County, where they tried a couple of other ideas before they settled on Washington Creek Lavender. They tried tomatoes, but a hailstorm wiped them out. Next up was organic basil. The crop was great, the payout not so much. Then the couple considered a winery. “With wine, if you want to make a little money, you have to spend a lot of money,” Wilson says. The couple landed on lavender in 2006 because of its versatility. They started with about 10 plants just to see if it would work. Now they have acres. And they get by with a lot of help from their friends. “I’m from the Jersey shore, and people help, but nothing like around here,” he continues. “The way people help one another, it’s nothing I’ve experienced before.” Most years, Washington Creek Lavender makes more than 40 different products: dryer sheets, neck comforters, closet hangers, coasters, cup holders, bandannas for dogs and much more. Normally, the shop is filled with pesticide-free lavender varieties: Gros Bleu, French Fields, Royal Purple, Buena Vista—the list continues. It hangs and dries on racks until it is ready to be separated from the plant with a thresher that’s a little bigger than a typewriter. The lavender is then distilled into essential oil. The Wilsons sell it all over, as well as locally at Lawrence restaurants, which use it in drinks, syrups, muffins and various other consumables. On a recent visit to Washington Creek, the solarpowered drying barn and shop stood mostly empty as the lavender plants recovered in the fields. Workers cleared weeds and grass around the plants, and clipped away bad parts all while dodging snakes and other critters. Wilson estimates the crop is two or three weeks late, which he hears over and over from other people in the area who garden and farm. Hope sprouts eternal, however. Here and there, shoots of green pop up in the middle of the grey plants, sparking great joy in the Wilsons. “You have to have passion,” Wilson explains. “You have to have help, and we have great help. And you have to enjoy what you do. And we really do. We really do.” p 72

Pep Selvan and the grape vineyards and bottle wine of Blue Jacket Crossing Winery

THE CHAMBER Annual Meeting

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NEWS [MAKERS] & PEOPLE ON THE MOVE Peaslee Tech Names Mr. George Crump - Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Facilitatorl Peaslee Tech faculty member, Mr. George Crump, will now also serve as the school’s first Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Facilitator. In addition to an extensive background as an electrician and instructor, George worked in Human Resources for KCP&L (now Evergy) for 20 years in training and development, as well as recruitment of professional and entry-level employees. Additionally, George developed seminars on valuing diversity, as well as technical training for employees, vendors, and contractors. George is very passionate about a clean environment, energy conservation, learning something new each day and always being willing to share his knowledge, while valuing diversity in our world. In his role as DEI Facilitator, Mr. Crump will represent Peaslee Tech in external and internal roles. He will review Peaslee Tech’s Catalog, Policies & Procedures, and other guiding documents. Additionally, he will serve as an advisor to Dr. Kevin Kelley, Peaslee Tech’s Chief Executive Officer. “We are very fortunate to have George serving as our first DEI Facilitator. In addition to being an outstanding instructor and experienced administrator, he is a person of high ethical standards with a genuine love for helping others,” said Dr. Kelley. “I am looking forward to working with the students, staff and board of Peaslee Tech in my role as DEI Facilitator. I believe anything our minds can conceive, we can achieve,” said Mr. Crump.

CORRECTION NOTE: The owner of the Lawrence Municipal Airport was incorrectly stated in the Junior Achievement article in the last issue of Lawrence Business Magazine (LBM). The airport is owned by the City of Lawrence. LBM published biographical information about Doug Compton provided by Junior Achievement of Kansas for its upcoming 2021 Lawrence Business Hall of Fame event, information that was verified by Compton. The Lawrence Business Magazine regrets the error.

WH OS E DESK ?

Be the first to correctly guess which local business figure works behind this desk. Winner receives a $50 gift card to 23rd Street Brewery. facebook.com/lawrencebusinessmagazine

Lawrence Business Magazine 2021 Q2

Articles inside

Baldwin City - Main Street

The Early Superhighways

Lecompton - Main Street

Douglas Co Unincorporated

Invisible Borders, Essential Jobs

Why Not Eudora?