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
