SPRING/SUMMER 2018
D I S CO VER
A COMMUNITY GUIDE
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Discover Eudora D I S C O V E R
EUDORA A COMMUNITY GUIDE
SPRING/SUMMER 2018
DISCOVER
A COMMUNITY GUIDE
All material and photographs copyright Sunflower Publishing, 2018. For editorial queries: Nathan Pettengill (785) 832-7287 npettengill@sunflowerpub.com For advertising queries: Nathan Peterson (785) 832-7109 or (785) 823-7264 npeterson@sunflowerpub.com
The City’s Well-Water Godmother
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Powers Up
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Eudora’s History on German Television
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sunflowerpub.com Director: Robert Cucciniello Production Manager: Shelly Bryant
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cityofeudoraks.gov Mayor Tim Reazin City Manager Barack Matite School District Superintendent Steve Splichal School District Communications Director Kristin Magette Eudora CVB President Kelsey Scribner
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Leslie Herring Kristin Magette Kelsey Scribner Nathan Pettengill Jenni Leiste Amanda Nagengast Leslie Andres Fally Afani Jason Dailey Fally Afani Melinda Briscoe Cindy Higgins Seth Jones
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Discover Eudora is an official publication of the City of Eudora, the Eudora School District and Eudora CVB with editorial, design and advertising placement provided by Sunflower Publishing.
645 New Hampshire Street Lawrence, KS 66044
SPRING/SUMMER 2018
ON THE COVER
Dear Reader,
Students at Eudora School District’s Preschool Program play at the outside area of the West Resource Center. Photograph by Fally Afani
With all the talk about water in this issue and at City Hall, this is a great opportunity to share information about the updates to Eudora’s water system, the investments the City is making and the recognition we’ve received. We’ve come a long way since Lois Hamilton originally donated her wells for Eudora’s use. In the last 15 years, we have made great strides in updating our water plant and operations with capital investments and professional oversight of maintenance needs to optimize water quality. Even though the well water may not be ideal for brewing beer for the owners of Wakarusa Brewery, Eudora consistently receives positive feedback in the state’s Consumer Confidence Reports which are conducted annually, and also strives to find additional ways to improve water quality. With high-quality water, the City is now looking to bring muchneeded improvements to our water distribution network. In just the last few years, the City has prioritized identifying areas to improve our network of water mains and lines to provide our quality water to homes and businesses in the quantities needed for regular use and for fire protection. The City Manager’s Office and Public Works and Fire Departments have worked closely to test fire flows from hydrants and identify areas for improvement. The area in most need of additional water capacity at the present time is the east side of town, in the area of Winchester Rd. and 14th Street. With the help of a loan through the Kansas Department of Health & Environment, the City will be constructing a new water main this year in that area to benefit current residents in the area and new residents moving into the quickly developing Wakarusa Ridge Estates neighborhood. The City is also converting another one of Lois Hamilton’s wells from agricultural to municipal use this year, to ensure current and future Eudora residents have plenty of our great Kansas water. Water is and continues to be one of our community’s greatest assets, and we here at the City are proud of our progress and our bright future thanks to our culture of continuous improvement.
Barack Matite City Manager
With the Eudora mobile app, users can quickly search and get information about the city. Whether you are looking for services, places or events, all you need to do is search your mobile app installed on your cell phone. More importantly, the city will send out alerts on emergencies, traffic congestion, road maintenance, environmental issues, weather updates and other beneficial services. The City of Eudora mobile app is available for download on Apple and Android devices. Scan the QR code to the left to download the app and begin browsing its capabilities.
cityofeudoraks.gov
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Contents
Spring/Summer 2018
Departments 6
EVERYTHING EUDORA
The Fairy Portraits
9
PLACES TO VISIT
10 CALENDAR OF EVENTS 16 MAP OF EUDORA 30 QUICK GUIDE
Features 12 THE 5-YEAR BREW PLAN
Like a properly prepared IPA, the Wakarusa Brewery opens exactly when it’s good and ready
18 EUDORA, THEN BACK AGAIN
A German researcher tracks down his family’s Eudora interlude
22
22 A PRESCHOOL WITH A PLAN
Eudora’s school district rallies behind a growing community with a program to keep its youngest students engaged and excited
26 DRINKS ARE ON LOIS
Former resident Lois Hamilton reflects on her time in Eudora, and why she felt compelled to give the town its water for free
6 cityofeudoraks.gov
12
18
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6
Discover Eudora
Spring/Summer 2018
The
FAIRY
Portraits
LOCAL PHOTOGRAPHY PROJECT ALLOWS CHILDREN TO BECOME PART OF A MAGICAL WORLD story by MELINDA BRISCOE
photos courtesy JANENE ROTHWELL
cityofeudoraks.gov
Discover Eudora
Spring/Summer 2018
7
Fairies and sprites who have taken part in Janene Rothwell’s portrait series include: Zea and Paxton (opposite), Hope (left), Abigail (above) and Leonna (following page) with multiple appearances by Freddy the Fairy Forest Frog.
W
hen Janene Rothwell was little, her super-heroes were fairies. “I inhaled every fairy tale book at our school library,” recalls Rothwell. The oldest of three girls, she would call on those fairy narratives at the close of each day. “I would create stories and tell them at bedtime. And many times the stories would include a dragon or two, so I’d end up scaring my sisters.” Now, as a Eudora-based photographer and owner of PBJ Studio, Rothwell is creating new fairy tales through a recent project she calls “Fairy Days.” In these portraits, Rothwell dresses small children as fairies or sprites and photographs them in her custom-created “fairy woodland pond” scene inside her studio. Rothwell says she got the idea for fairy photography from a colleague in Canada and was encouraged by a mentor during
Destination Bootcamp, a Colorado-based training for smalltown business professionals. Rothwell was able to attend through grants from Douglas County E-Community program in coordination with the City of Eudora. Since the end of 2016, Rothwell has had people come from other states just to get their children immortalized as pixies. “I even had an Australian family come by. They were traveling the Midwest and read about me online and wanted fairy pictures for their daughters,” says Rothwell. She has had several expectant mothers call her, inquiring about how old a child must be for her specialized images. “The youngest was two months. And the oldest was a grandmother with her six grandchildren.” And, yes, Grandma dressed as a fairy too. For parents, the pictures are often beloved memories of a child’s years. But for the children, the photos are often the first time they have put on formal costumes and have been asked
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Discover Eudora
Spring/Summer 2018
Inhabiting the Fairy World Janene Rothwell’s creation of a fairy woodland is even more magical considering her photo studio, PBJ Photography, sits inside a building that was once a diner and auto garage. Even the smallest elements of the building have been incorporated into the new world. For example, an old dog-door was ingeniously reimagined by Rothwell’s sister Tracy Waring as the home for “the fairies that live in the studio.” Now, the door is simply a landmark in the fairy world, leading to the abode of three small fairies. “I tell the children when we open the door the fairies hold still because they don’t want us to know that they are real,” says Rothwell.
to play a make-believe role outside of their home. “They are so filled with a sense of magic,” says Rothwell. “They are in awe when they put on their costumes and wings, even before they see the final product. They naturally have such a sense of adventure.” When she conducts her photo shoots, Rothwell enlists a corps of high school students (also dressed
to fit in with the theme) to help with the youngsters. The teens keep the photo shoot running smoothly and assist with everything from costumes to the occasional case of jitters. “The entire atmosphere is fairy-tale based,” explains Rothwell with a chuckle. “One time a little girl approached me and said ‘Fairy Godmother, where is the bathroom?’”
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Though she no longer scares anyone with a dragon or two, Rothwell is still very much the big sister weaving tales of fantasy and creating new worlds for youngsters. Now she does it in the form of photography, making sure children see themselves as magical. “When they look at the final product, I want them to know they are special. I just want them to feel so good about themselves before they go to sleep at night.”
Discover Eudora
Spring/Summer 2018
9
Places to Visit IN EUDORA
BLUEJACKET CROSSING VINEYARD AND WINERY
EUDORA COMMUNITY MUSEUM
Award-winning local wine 1969 N. 1250 Rd. 785.542.1764
CHARRITO’S PLAZA Authentic Mexican restaurant and bar 202 E 10th St. 785.615.5095
Our past told 720 Main St. 785.690.7900
EUDORA PARKS AND RECREATION Parks, pools and leagues 1630 Elm St. 785.542.1725
EUDORA TOWNSHIP PUBLIC LIBRARY
COUNTRY SPA AND GARDENS
Books, DVDs and public space 14 E. 9 St. 785.542.2496
Rural rejuvenation 2152 N. 700 Rd. 785.883.4944
EUDORA YOGA CENTER
D-DUBS
HIS HANDS CLOTHING CLOSET Nonprofit clothing and goods store 736 B Main St 785.690.7220
JASMIN RESTAURANT Chinese and Mexican 719 Main St. 785.542.1111
KAW RIVER ACCESS POINT Entry for canoes/kayaks 500 Main St. kansasriver.org
LULU’S BAKERY
Bar and grill 10 W. 9 St. 785.690.7212
Beginners and advanced 706 Main St. 785.550.5928
Pastries and baked goods 1004 Locust St. 785.393.1907
DAVENPORT ORCHARDS AND WINERY
GAMBINO’S PIZZA
QUILTING BITS AND PIECES
Award-winning local wine 1394 E. 1900 Rd. 785.542.2278
DAIRY QUEEN Frosty treats 1502 Church St. 785.542.5050
Original pies 1402 Church St. Suite D 785.542.2727
GENE’S HEARTLAND FOODS Local grocer 1402 Church St. 785.542.2727
Quilting supplies from experts 736 Main St. 785.542.2080
SONIC DRIVE-IN Nostalgic car-hop food 1420 Church St. 785.542.1799
Full Service Urgent Care in Lawrence, KS See a physician 7 days a week without an appointment URGENT CARE
X-RAY & LABS
SUNFLOWER STATE DANCE Dance lessons 104 E. 20 St. #4 785.690.7200
SWEET ACRES INN Bed and breakfast 103 E. 7 St. 785.542.2466
TWILL TRADE BOUTIQUE Women’s clothing store 704 Main St 785.363.0008
TWIN OAKS GOLF COMPLEX Tee time 1326 E. 1900 Rd. 785.542.2844
WAKARUSA BREWERY Beer, mead and eats 710 Main St 913.256.5119
Always physician staffed for over 20 years. Locally owned and operated.
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH
(785) 838-1500 3511 Clinton Pl, Lawrence, KS 66047 promptcareks.com HOURS: Mon - Fri 8am - 8pm
SUBWAY Customized sandwiches 318 E. 15 St. 785.542.2626
•
Sat & Sun 11am - 4pm
Dr. Michael Geist
Dr. Darin Elo
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Discover Eudora
Spring/Summer 2018
Calendar of
EVENTS MAY
12
Eudora High School Graduation www.eudoraschools.org
15
A group of kayaks rests along the shore of the Kaw River during an outing by the Friends of the Kaw. Photograph: Jason Dailey
21-23
Eudora CPA Picnic 116th annual community gathering and fair facebook.com/eudoracpa
28
Last day of classes for Eudora Public Schools www.eudoraschools.org
Free classical music concert Eudora Senior Center | 6 pm hammertbuilding.org/eudoraseniorcenter
19
JULY
Mai Fest Traditional German celebration of spring with Maypole and music | Clearfield Farmhaus | 11 am-4 pm clearfieldfarmhaus.com
25
Registration Deadline Registration deadline for Eudora Parks and Recreation after-school and no-school supervised playdays eudoraparksandrec.org JUNE
15-17
Citywide Garage Sale Residents across city open garages for bargains eudoraevents.com
4
Fourth of July Fundraiser with raffles and music for Eudora Area Historical Society, followed by community fireworks | Eudora Middle School parking lot | early evening to nightfall eudoraparksandrec.org
19
New Research on Eudora and the Oregon Trail Eudora Community Museum | 7 pm cityofeudoraks.gov/100/Eudora-CommunityMuseum
29
Eudora Community Kaw River Paddle Trip Friends of the Kaw host excursion from Eudora to DeSoto, kayaks and canoes provided | 9 am – 3 pm kansasriver.org
AUGUST
7
Kansas state primary elections douglascountyks.org/depts/voting-and-elections
14
First half-day of school for Eudora Public Schools grades 1-9 www.eudoraschools.org
15
First full day of school for all Eudora Public Schools grades 1-12 www.eudoraschools.org
16
First half-day of school for Eudora Public Schools kindergarten students www.eudoraschools.org
20
First day of classes for Eudora Public Schools preschool students www.eudoraschools.org
22
First full day for Eudora Public Schools kindergarten students www.eudoraschools.org
For a full and updated calendar of events, go online at eudoraevents.com, www.eudoraschools.org, eudorapubliclibrary.org and eudoraparksandrec.org
cityofeudoraks.gov
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• Before and after school care • Transportation provided to and from Eudora Elementary School • Stretch-n-Grow early childhood physical education program • Music classes by a board-certified music therapist
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CAREN ROWLAND Eudora Realtor for over 25 years 785-979-1243 caren@askmcgrew.com 1402 Church St. Suite E, Eudora, KS 66025
1904 Elm St., Eudora, KS 66025
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12
Discover Eudora
Spring/Summer 2018
The
5-YEAR
Brew Plan
LIKE A PROPERLY PREPARED IPA, THE WAKARUSA BREWERY OPENS EXACTLY WHEN IT’S GOOD AND READY story by SETH JONES
cityofeudoraks.gov
photography by JASON DAILEY
Discover Eudora
W
hen John Randtke, co-owner of Wakarusa Brewery, needs the brewmaster, he doesn’t call or text. He steps outside and shouts, “James!” Within a few minutes, James Hightree, brewer and the other coowner of Wakarusa Brewery, walks through the door at 710 Main Street. Randtke and Hightree define the phrase “locally owned and operated”—the two both live within shouting distance of the brewery, as do three of the four bartenders. (The fourth, a Eudora native, now lives in Lawrence.) This dream of a hyper-local brewery was some five years in the making. Discover Eudora magazine sat down with Hightree and Randtke back in July of 2013 when they were hopeful for a winter 2013 grand opening. But just like brewing beer, some recipes take longer than others, and the brewery was able to open in November 2017. “There was a curveball every month or two,” says Randtke about the process of converting the old antique shop into a brewery. “The water quality was the first one—we had to buy a reverse osmosis system. That was an extra $6,000.” Hightree clarifies that while Eudora water is good to drink, it is not ideal for brewing certain kinds of beers, hence the need for the system. A tour of Wakarusa Brewery’s back of house reveals there is nothing old in this former antique mall, aside from the vintage beer taps from Teller’s Restaurant that they hope to install someday. The stainless steel pipes, the fermenter and the thermal recovery tank—something that saves costs and reduces carbon emission—all look shiny and expensive. Hightree and Randtke have learned that brewing is not an inexpensive business venture. In dollars there’s the equivalent of a nice sports utility vehicle in brewing equipment hidden away in the back of the building. But that’s what it takes to make good beer and mead—and to win over a public that has become increasingly knowledgeable about what it likes and wants in a micro-brewery beer. Business has been “great,” Randtke says, noting the local community has been supportive of the new business. “The community support has been better than I expected,” Randtke says. “Those first few weeks, we’d count up the till and get pretty excited.” Open every Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Wakarusa Brewery was filled to capacity regularly those first few months. Now that the newness has worn off a little, the crowds aren’t quite as large, but they are steady and allow the brewery to continue its growth.
Business partners John Randtke (above right) and James Hightree (right) opened the Wakarusa Brewery in November 2017.
cityofeudoraks.gov
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Discover Eudora
Spring/Summer 2018
A recent shipment of 16 additional kegs will increase the brewery’s total to 60 and counting, allowing Hightree to age some beers longer and have more inventory available. He’s also excited to unveil some new beers, such as an Irish red and a lager. At the same time, he wants there to be four staple beers always available, something the extra kegs will help with. “It’s just an amazing feeling to be open, after so many years of working on it,” Randtke says while sipping a freshly brewed cup of … coffee (because, being brewers and bar owners, the owners particularly know the value of moderation). Hightree’s favorite thing about being open is mingling and talking to new customers. That might surprise some who know him for his quiet demeanor. “I’m honestly not a people person; normally I’m the person in the corner not talking to anyone,” Hightree says. “It’s more that I want my beer to be better, the drive of that is what makes me a people person. Every time I come in here and talk to a new customer, which happens often, I like it when they’re honest and tell me when it’s good. And I can tell when they say it’s good but they don’t really mean that. But most people are genuine, and I like that.” Randtke calls Wakarusa Brewery “his second home,” and is happy to share that home with friends and family. “When all my future in-laws came in and enjoyed themselves, that was amazing. This is my second home, we pretty much lived in here for five years. To have friends and family and the community come in and enjoy themselves is a great feeling.”
cityofeudoraks.gov
Discover Eudora
The right growler to go A big part of Wakarusa Brewery’s business is in growlers—32-ounce jugs that can be purchased to take home. Brewmaster James Hightree offers his favorite beer choices when filling a growler for special occasions. When you’re planning: A steak dinner Then fill the growler with: Oatmeal Stout Because: “It’s smooth, with a little chocolate to it. It’s roasty … like a normal stout, but smoother.” When you’re planning: To watch the Royals game Then fill the growler with: Raspberry Mead Because: “It’s perfect for a warm, sunny day. It’s not too syrupy; it’s crisp and light and it’s carbonated. Carbonation is great on a sunny day.” When you’re planning: A house party Then fill the growler with: Northeast IPA Because: “It’s extremely hoppy but not extremely bitter. I try to pull out the flavors of the hop. It’s citrusy, floral, all those good things about the hop. It’s unique … it’s a style of beer that is becoming more popular by the day.”
cityofeudoraks.gov
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Kansas River I-70 6.5 miles
karusa River Wa
K-32 3.5 miles
6
5
W 7th St
18 19
W 9th St
Lawrence 10 minutes
Old K-10
District
24
Tallgrass Dr
E 13th St
E 14th St
Elm St
W 15th St
Locust St
Fir St
r St Ceda
MAP
29
28 30
10
Church Street Commercial District
W 20th St
32
23rd St
33
34 35
E 2200 Rd
S Fir St
Stratton Dr
26 10
E 15th St
W 26th St
Intech Business Park
Cardinal Dr
Maple St
Oak St
Walnut St
27
25
W 16th St
31
E 10th St
21
W 11th St
4
1
22
Peach St
Pine St
Spruce St
2
20
10th Street
W 10th St Commercial Cherry St
3
Church St
Main St
Acorn St
W 8th St
N 1400 Rd
23
Ash St
6th St 9 10 11 12 13 14 16 15 17
Birch St
7 8
N 1300 Rd
Downtown District
Community Necessities 6 7 8 11 12 13
Old K-10
Kansas City 35 minutes
14 15 16 17 19 20
Wakarusa River Boat Ramp
W 6th St
Schools
AD
1 24 32 33
Eudora Schools District Office Eudora Elementary School MAP Eudora High School Eudora Middle School
E 8th St
Downtown Commercial District
W 9th St
Eudora Public Library E 9th St
CPA Park
Eudora Public Safety Building
1,000 ft W 10th St
Map created for City of Eudora by Leslie Flowers, Print Media Ink
Church St
W 8th St
Locust St
Railroad
Locust St
9 Charles Pilla House 31 Beni Israel Cemetery
Eudora Community Museum
Maple St
Historical Places
Eudora Chamber of Commerce
U.S. Post Office
Elm St
West Sports Complex Disc Golf Course (9 Hole) Wakarusa River Boat Ramp Kerr Field East Sports Complex Eudora Parks & Recreation Department, Community Center, and Aquatic Center 30 Babe Ruth Field
Building Inspector & Codes Admin. E 7th St Sweet Acres Inn
W 7th St
Recreational Areas 2 3 5 21 25 28
City Manager’s Office City Hall
Main St
Bluejacket Park Pilla Park CPA Park East Side Park Paschal Fish Park Lucy Kaegi Park South Park
Charles Pilla House
Pilla Park
Parks 4 10 18 26 27 29 35
E 6th St
Main Street Terrace
22 23 34
City of Eudora Public Brush Dump Eudora Public Works Department Public Recycling Drop City Hall (City Commission, City Clerk, & Billing) City Manager’s Office Building Inspector & Codes Administration Eudora Chamber of Commerce US Post Office Sweet Acres Inn Eudora Community Museum Eudora Public Library Eudora Public Safety Building (Police Station, Municipal Court, and Fire Station) Holy Family Catholic Cemetery Eudora City Cemetery Public Recycling Drop
E 10th St
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Discover Eudora
Spring/Summer 2018
EUDORA then back again
A GERMAN RESEARCHER TRACKS DOWN HIS FAMILY’S EUDORA INTERLUDE story by CINDY HIGGINS
E
udora’s history is filled with many waves of EuroAmerican migration groups from places such as eastern American states, Ireland, England, France and Germany, for example, and then settling in the region. But not all migrations were permanent. The ancestors of one German genealogist emigrated to Eudora in the late nineteenth century and then returned to the German home they had left
behind. Their unconventional reverse migration led to the featuring of Eudora’s downtown, homes, historic areas, and other sites in a recent televised German documentary. This story began with a question perplexing Reinhard Hofer, a professional genealogist based in Ruhstorf, Germany. Why wasn’t the birth record for his ancestor Franziska Stadler preserved with the rest of the family’s church records
cityofeudoraks.gov
in their small German village by the borders of modern Czech Republic and Austria? Hofer’s research led him to Kansas where he studied Douglas County records and solved his puzzle by finding documents confirming that Franziska as well as her brother, Johann, were born and baptized in Eudora when their parents briefly migrated to Kansas in the late nineteenth century.
Discover Eudora
Spring/Summer 2018
Hofer detailed his search in an article that came to the attention of German television producers. They incorporated Hofer’s family’s emigration to Eudora in a televised program released by state television ARD about his research of another immigrant family story. Local filming for the television show took place last June when a German documentary crew followed Hofer and his son, Andreas, across Eudora. First-time visitor to Eudora Andreas Hofer said, “It’s beautiful,” about his initial impression of the city. “It looks like a typical Western town from the movies,” referring to Eudora’s downtown. “Overall, Eudora being a smaller town, it is also quite widespread,” he noted. “Thus, it seems very big and not like a small, concentrated town we are used to. The great farmland, too, is impressive.”
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The German film crew, the Hofers, and several family historians distantly related to the Hofer family met at The Lodge before filming Eudora sites. From there, they toured Eudora landmarks relating to the family’s history. The first stop was the Holy Family Catholic Cemetery between Ninth and Eighth streets. Often commenting on spelling and the way a name is pronounced in English as compared to German, Hofer pointed out several graves of his long-ago German relatives. “The names on that grave list look like the local telephone directory of the Freyung area [Wolfstein County] in Bavaria where I am from,” Hofer said, when reading surnames Nigl, Madl, Hodl, Blochl, Kellerman, Neustifter on grave markers. Seeing the grave of Anita Stadler, Hofer recalled an earlier conversation.
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Spring/Summer 2018
The Documentary At time of publication, the ARD documentary of Reinhard Hofer’s exploration of German heritage in the United States is still available online. Search “Passau-USA: Eine Suche nach den Vorfahren” online and look for the link to the 43:30 German-language video. The Eudora portion begins at the 29:34 mark and concludes at 32:50.
“I talked in English to Anita 18 years ago when she was over a hundred years old. At the very end of conversation, they said, ‘She can speak German.’” After filming the cemetery, the group walked to the original Holy Family Church at Ninth Street and Church Street. Built by its 32 founding members and completed in 1865, the trip to the sandstone church was a highlight. “That’s very special to us,” Andreas Hofer said, “to visit the church where our greatgrandmother was baptized in 1872.” Next on the list was 719 Birch, the residence of Franziska’s cousin George John Stadler, who came to the United States from Germany when he was 13. Stadler married Louise Basemann, a daughter of one of the original town settlers, and they had 10 children. Finishing up the town landmark tour was an extended stop at land once held by a member of the Schopper family, Hofer’s relatives who originally farmed in the Clearfield area south of Eudora. The televised segment focuses on the family’s later farmstead, 2124 N. 1400 Road at the northeast corner of Tenth Street and Cedar Street, once the site of the Eudora Mineral Springs. Though little remains to mark this resort, its advertising once promoted “games of all kinds,” including nine-pins, swings, and shooting targets as well as “fine meals served at all times.” Also ballyhooed for its health-restoring water “warranted to cure all diseases arising from bad blood, rheumatism, gout, liver complaints, disease of the kidneys, dyspepsia, indigestion, general debility, nervous and female diseases and all other chronic diseases,” the short-lived resort sold at a sheriff’s sale for tax default in 1890. Eventually, the resort land was bought by Joseph Schopper and Mary Theresa (Seiwald), the parents of 10 children who took possession sometime between 1900 and 1903. Hofer and the television crew searched through the land, which the program describes as once hosting a “biergarten.” Trekking through a woody trail on a search for the cold storage cavern, Hofer and the accompanying off-camera group found with delight what they dub a “beer cellar” marked by discarded antique bottles that support their theory. From there, the program transitions to other German family connections in other parts of America, placing the Hofer experience as one family’s tale amid a vast migration of people, cultures and heritages into (and sometimes out of) the American heartland.
A member of a German-language documentary film team tapes Andreas and Reinhard Hofer as they visit Eudora.
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21 Patrick Jankowski, DDS
The Historical Context Reinhard Hofer has described his ancestors’ relocation to the United States as part of a larger migration among small farmers in what is now southern Germany who were “burdened with poor soil and hard winters.” These “landless peasants from the forests of the Bohemian border” (die landlosen Bauern aus den Wäldern an der böhmischen Grenze) were lured, Hofer wrote, with the promise of free land, citizen rights, and democracy. Just married in 1872 before leaving what is now Germany, Franziska Stadler’s parents returned to their family home in Grainet five years later. Their reverse migration was not unheard of, but uncommon in a period that would soon see a fresh wave of some 1.5 million German immigrants arrive into the United States. John, the father, died shortly after his return to their homeland.
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A Preschool
WITH A PLAN EUDORA’S SCHOOL DISTRICT RALLIES BEHIND A GROWING COMMUNITY WITH A PROGRAM TO KEEP ITS YOUNGEST STUDENTS ENGAGED AND EXCITED story and photography by FALLY AFANI
E
very corner in the Eudora preschool program is filled with important activity—children are tucking themselves into comfortable nooks with books, working on word exercises in the hall and even holding a bean-bag dance party. With this much action, it’s hard to imagine what the day was like before the preschool made its big move
into expanded space at the West Resource Center on Winchester Road last year. That move attests to the program’s success—and the city’s growth. “Eudora is continually growing,” says Amy DeLaRosa, who serves as principal for Eudora Elementary School and the West Resource Center. That population boom in Eudora means class sizes are getting bigger
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every year. “We are pushing almost 900 students, preschool through 5th grade here. In order to keep class sizes small, we need to have a long range plan for adding staff as enrollment continues to increase.” One of the steps the school took during the 2017–2018 academic year was to add one class of an optional “extended-day” preschool program. Additionally, the school
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Meeting State and Student Goals One of the priority education needs identified by the State of Kansas has been to prepare students for kindergarten. Much of that preparation falls on parents, so the Eudora School District has been working to provide families with resources to set up their children for success. “Parents don’t always have the tools or confidence to teach at home, so one of the goals is to start tailoring the parent end of things,” says DeLaRosa. She also notes that the new space for the Early Education Center on Winchester Road allows the district to facilitate meetings with a parent advisory group. “That’s what we’re working on: How do we get that system up and running? Is that something based on the website or monthly parent meetings where anybody from the community could attend? How do we help the community as a whole, and not just the families that attend preschool here?”
Students in Eudora’s all-day preschool program enjoy a mix of planned lessons and free time activities such as reading with friends.
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Learning how to work with other students and share resources, such as this water-discovery table, is one of the goals of the Eudora preschool program.
started offering breakfast for students who arrived in the morning, a first of its kind for the district. DeLaRosa says the experience with this breakfast program allows students to be more prepared for school lunches for those in afternoon class and for all students when they enter elementary school. “To watch them now being able to carry their tray through the lunch line, they’re just confident,” says DeLaRosa. “They can sit with their peers now and have social interactions.” Social interactions were key for five-year-old Kolson W. He was adopted from China, and arrived in Eudora last year not knowing any English. But thanks to his time at the preschool, he is now able to communicate just as well as any of his classmates. His mother, Cherri, says the program was an important part of her son’s ability to overcome the language barrier. “He was already learning English when we put him in there, but I would say within just a couple of weeks, we noticed a significant improvement with that kind of constant immersion. It was pretty quick,” she says. “He was fully immersed with the other kids, so he would constantly hear them and be able to talk back to them.”
As a daycare provider herself, Cherri knows it is important to engage children with positive activities. “If they’re kept engaged, there’s much fewer behavior problems. It’s when they get bored, that’s when we start seeing problems. I could tell Kolson was craving something to do. He was craving social interactions, more learning than what I could do for him. It took everything I could to stay ahead of him, and that’s what helped to make the decision to enroll him in the preschool program. He needed something to do.” Her goals for Kolson matched the district’s objectives for its students. “If there are kids that need extra help, then we can provide it at the earliest time possible,” says DeLaRosa. “So that way, those gaps can be filled when they’re little so they can be more successful as they move into elementary school.” For Cherri, this extra level of support from the district has played a crucial role in her son’s life. “We know as parents that if those first few years of the education system are positive ones, that sets the tone for the rest of the time,” she says. “Kolson is very intelligent, and he just seems to know he’s having a very positive experience. He loves getting up and going to school. He looks forward to it every day.”
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208 W. 20th Street | Eudora, KS 66025 785-542-5152 www.wolffauto.com
The Crucial Roles Success for Eudora School District’s preschool education program relies on parents, students, administrators and— crucially—educators such as Melissa McCauley. One of the longest-serving educators in Eudora, McCauley is in her twenty-first year of preschool teaching, and her classroom at West Resource Center is one of the busiest rooms in the building. This is where the preschoolers get their wiggles out and are constantly on the move. “We do music and movement every day. We do a lot of learning through movement when we’re doing the alphabet or any activity,” McCauley says. “It seems like the day starts really early in the morning, and we’re learning the whole time.” After more than two decades on the job, McCauley says she can’t imagine herself anywhere else. “It’s such a dynamic field, I’m never bored. I don’t even have time to look at the clock. It’s a challenge, and it’s entertaining, and it’s fulfilling.”
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DRINKS are on Lois
FORMER RESIDENT LOIS HAMILTON REFLECTS ON HER TIME IN EUDORA, AND WHY SHE FELT COMPELLED TO GIVE THE TOWN ITS WATER FOR FREE story by SETH JONES
R
aise a glass—preferably of water—to Lois Hamilton. Hamilton has given the city of Eudora access to her land and her water wells free of charge, making water in town much easier and much more cost-efficient to share. Consider her Eudora’s guardian angel ... of water. “If it wasn’t for Lois we’d be struggling to get enough water in Eudora,” says
Barack Matite, Eudora city manager. “Cities in Western Kansas struggle, cities on the west coast struggle. But not here, because of her generosity.” For Hamilton, who was born in Eudora in 1939, the daughter of Fred and Marie Neis, it’s just the right thing to do. “God gave me that water,” Hamilton says. “The land is next to the river and it’s very sandy, but I can still make an income from the crops. I’m happy to give the water
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to Eudora. I live in Arkansas, but Eudora will always be my home.” FARMER AT HEART Hamilton graduated from Eudora High School in 1957. Throughout her childhood and into adulthood her father farmed about 3,000 acres southeast of Eudora. He didn’t own all the land but loved farming cattle and hogs and shared that life with Lois. “I always worked on the farm; I still miss it,” she says. “Today they have all this
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modern machinery. We used to do everything by hand! But my dad was a very intelligent man, a very successful man. And he did it all with a fourth-grade education. He was the light of my life.” Hamilton worked at the Eudora grain elevator and bought some land from her father’s estate, as well as in Baldwin City, before moving away in 1967, shortly after the death of her father. Armed with her Eudora High School education plus business school and a whole lot of moxie, she lived in various locations and discovered that she had a knack for buying and refurbishing hotels. At one time she owned 17 hotels. Now 79 and mostly retired (she still is an active land owner and stockholder in
businesses like Lowe’s and Home Depot), she makes her base in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and lists London, Okinawa and Israel as her favorite places to visit. But she continues to follow local events. She was distraught by the way the Jayhawks exited the NCAA tournament this year (“It’s like they didn’t know they had a game that day,” she says) but has the perspective of a successful world traveler. She still reads the local papers online daily. And that is exactly how Hamilton learned about Eudora’s search for water in 2003. “I was reading the JournalWorld online and saw a news story that John [Harrenstein, the former city manager] said that Eudora was having water
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With the recent installation of automatic electric water meters at homes and businesses, City staff are now able to quickly identify when there may be a water leak or a faucet left on and shut off and turn on water with the click of a button, rather than having to send employees out. This efficiency has allowed the City to reassign the meter readers to focus on other community needs. Also, thanks to the automatic water meters, the City was recognized by the State and the EPA for improving water conservation efforts and reducing water loss through the use of technology.
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22ND ST
28
N 1500 RD
wells currently in use wells converting to municipal use
22ND ST
N 1500 RD
final well being donated
problems,” she recalls. “It was around Christmastime. I called him and said, ‘I read that you’re in need of water,’ and he said, ‘Yes, and I don’t know who you are.’ I said, ‘My name is Lois and So what role does the water Lois in use wellsfrom currently I have land there and if you want Hamilton’s wells play in the supply that water you can have it.’” wells Here converting to municipal use of Eudora’s municipal water? It is Hamilton’s wish that is a breakdown of our water sources final well being donated Eudora have this water forever. according to city officials. Her foster son and foster granddaughter understand her • 100% of Eudora’s municipal water wishes, and the paperwork is all supply comes from wells in order for future city officials • 95% of this water comes from 5 wells donated by Lois Hamilton to access the wells and provide • A 6th well has been donated by water to homes across the city. Hamilton and is currently being “I told Barack, we have to prepared for municipal use get these titles together because • Hamilton’s 5 working wells produce if something happens to me you some 940 gallons of water per minute have no water,” she says. “They • Hamilton’s 6th well is expected to have to monitor the rules and produce some 600 gallons of water regulations of this paperwork— per minute and they do—but there is a lot of paperwork. The deed on each well is registered ... when I die, those wells will belong to Eudora.”
Eudora Water Supply
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CAN-DO ATTITUDE Hamilton says that Eudora can thank her in return by flourishing and getting bigger. Bonus points if that someday involves a Lowe’s or a Home Depot, she laughs. “It’s my home, even though I’m living in Arkansas,” she says. “God gave [the water] to us, it’s in the ground, I want to give it to [Eudora]. ...Well, De Soto did ask for some of the water—they were always our rival, so I won’t give it to them.” A recent hip surgery (her fourth) has kept Hamilton sidelined recently, but she hopes to return to Eudora this summer to meet with the city and provide advise for any young business people in achieving their goals. “I was a loner, no one helped me. You just have to make up your mind that you can do it,” she says. “That’s one thing about the U.S.—if you want to do it, you can do it.”
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QUICK GUIDE Resource
Website
Telephone
Emergency & Medical
911
Kansas Poison Control
(800) 222-1222
Lawrence Memorial Hospital
lmh.org
(785) 505-5000
kcsdv.org
(888) 363-2287
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Kansas Crisis Hotline Tip Hotline (Kansas Bureau of Investigation) Child Abuse Hotline
City Services City Offices Fire & Medical Department Police Department
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cityofeudoraks.gov/67/Fire
(785) 542-2153 (785) 542-3653
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Utility Services
cityofeudoraks.gov/78/Public-Works
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Municipal Court
cityofeudoraks.gov/75/Municipal-Court
(785) 542-4113
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cityofeudoraks.gov/65/Building-Planning-Zoning
(785) 542-3124
atmosenergy.com
(888) 286-6700
eudoraparksandrec.org
(785) 542-1725
Building, Planning & Zoning Atmos (Gas) Parks and Recreation Department
Douglas County Services Douglas County Douglas County Sheriff
douglas-county.com dgso.org/web/index.php
(785) 841-0007
lawrenceks.org/fire-medical
(785) 832-5259
ldchealth.org
(785) 843-3060
douglascountyks.org/depts/youth-services
(785) 331-1300
Douglas County CASA
dccasa.org
(785) 832-5172
Cottonwood Inc.
cwood.org
(785) 842-0550
bertnash.org
(785) 843-9192
Eudora Chamber of Commerce
eudorakschamber.com
(785) 542-1212
Eudora Public Library
eudorapubliclibrary.org
(785) 542-2496
cityofeudoraks.gov/100/Eudora-Community-Museum
(785) 690-7900
eudoraevents.com
(785) 542-2153
www.eudoraschools.org
(785) 542-4910
Douglas County Fire & Medical Douglas County Health Department Douglas County Youth Services
Bert Nash Community Health Center
Living in Eudora
Eudora Area Historical Society Eudora CVB
Public Schools Eudora School District
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