Check It Out
2019 4th Quarter Newsletter photos
Early Pioneer of Elk City, Kansas Reed, Joel W.
2019 Christmas in Elk City
Its hard to beat Christmas in Elk City, Kansas. Volunteers are plentiful and the citizens are supportive. A Christmas Tree, a giant Cedar, is decorated and displayed in the center of town. The corner of Montgomery and Hickory Street. A toy for kids supper is served to the community for donations or donations of toys. This year they served the popular Monterrey to a large group of Elk Citians. Santa made a visit during the supper to the delight of the children. An addition this year was someone singing Christmas Music during dinner. During the time of the supper up until the Parade, there was a Vendor Fair, woodwork, cheeses, embroidery, jewelry, scrubbers, books etc.
At 7 O'clock the lighted parade started. Lots of cars lined the street. Quite a few floats, vehicles and the Caney Band entertained the watchers. The weather was decent, no snow and no wind and temperatures not too low. It was a special eventful evening.
The next week Santa returned and hooked his sleigh to a fire truck and made his rounds around town to all the boys and girls that lived in town. Each child got a special gift just for them and Santa also gave them all a new warm hat and gloves. Christmas in Elk City is memorable.
Around Town
Elk City Senior Library is doing a great job, have lots of books, videos, have a children's story time and a few crafts here and there. They have computers and internet. They show a movie once in a while.
There was a vendor fair at the Community Center the night of the parade. Lots of items available for sale for Christmas
Exercises are held at the First Christian Church every Tuesday Morning
Pride sponsored the Christmas Lighting contest in December. PRIDE also ended it's year of the PRIDE yard award.
Rex Davidson celebrated 94 years of age and he and wife Bobbi celebrated 75 years of marriage
The alumni pictures were taken down during remodeling of building. They are scheduled to be put up again in the Community Building.
FCE news
FCE stands for Family, Community and Education. The Gingham Aprons FCE of Elk City made an educational trip to the FAB
LAB at Independence, Kansas. We toured the Lab with Joanne Smith with Fab Creations as our tour guide. Joanne is also the new owner of Southeast Kansas Living Magazine. The tour was very interesting and informative for those who hadn’t been to the lab or even
heard of the lab. There are many exciting opportunities at the fab lab for young and old alike. They have the equipment to create about anything you want from wooden item, cups, newsletter, sewing, car detailing, making guitar and a ton of other items too numerous to name. You create your own design and use the equipment you need to finish the project.
The Extension agent came to the November meeting and gave a very good lesson on the relationship of diet and health.
Church News
Southern Gospel Music at its best. The Abundance Quartet was jointly sponsored by our Elk City Community of Churches. The First Christian Church held their annual Fall Turkey Supper. A great success for dine in and carry out customers enjoying the Turkey with all the trimmings.
The Nazarene Church, Methodist Church, First Christian Church all held special Thanksgiving and Christmas Candle Light Services.
First Christian Church sponsored a Free Christmas store, for Christmas gifts.
The Nazarene Church sponsored Kids Korner Christmas Program.
A Benefit for Children Home Held
A Chili_Cook-off and Silent Auction was held for the Tumaini Childrens Home. 12 cooks donated a pot of chili and a large group of people tasted and voted for their favorite chili. There was at least 50 items donated for the Silent Auction. It was an interesting and eventful evening, and successful.
Tid Bits by Jane
October
Fall is upon us, even though the end of September and first part of October was hard to tell. Almost 90 deg. some days. The rain and cooler temps were nice for a while. One farmer stated, “August was 117 days” and then it was winter! I got my cart before the horse last month stating the corn was all done! Due to rain showers, we had a few acres left to harvest.
It’s about time to start trapping and hunting again and Davy Crockett & Daniel Boone will be busy. There is a lot of info about those two that history didn’t record and I can’t print it either. Just as long as they don’t try to bring their coyote cookies to morning coffee, we’ll be fine!
The soybean plants shut down early due to dry weather, they could have used a rain mid-Sept. but as usual it rained the first part of October, leaving the farmers to wonder if the whole month was going to be wet and wondering if there will be any wheat planted. Farmers in the northern states are having snow to hamper their harvest. As I finish this letter up, we are harvesting and have some wheat planted! Some years we’ve harvested at Thanksgiving and maybe even Christmas. Hope this isn’t a wet winter. How many of you planted a fall garden? I always think I will and don’t get it done. I do have many volunteer cucumber and okra plants, but I doubt they have time to make.
The pepper plants are finally producing. Allison has tomato and zucchini plants growing right now. I can’t even imagine. As I was bringing plants in and lamenting, I didn’t want my flowers to die, she says, “Move to Florida Mom, you’d love the plants growing all year long”. The change of seasons is nice, but sometimes my plants look the best right before a freeze. Alas, we had a heavy frost that did some freeze damage to flowers, gardens and soybeans. I guess it’s time.
The weather was cool but beautiful and wind died down to make it a great evening with family & friends for the Annual Hog Roast. Thanks to Bryan Knowles for the fantastic entertainment. The décor was beautiful thanks to pumpkins grown by the family. We missed all the
big pumpkins Norman raised each year. Thanks to everyone that came out for a fun night. What a great surprise to have the flaming pumpkins display again.
A trunk or treat was planned for Oct. 31st by the Nazarene Church from 5-7 p.m. Games and hotdogs were also available. . Hope you decorated your trunk and participated. I did, it’s always fun to see the costumes. Check the new library at the newly remodeled
community building. The librarians have put in many hours sorting, boxing, shelving and arranging books. They are now part of the traveling
library system. Hours are Wed. 10-2:45 and Sat. 10-2. Check out a book, sit in the library & read, bring your child to story hour… “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” – Dr. Seuss.
What I learned this month: God ties our life together with other people’s lives & if we don’t take time to see the knots, we’ll never realize how much he has done for us.
November
Some area farmers were harvesting beans and planting wheat while fighting the rain, cloudy days, muddy fields & getting dark sooner. We’ve had some nice sunny days for those like us that are still harvesting. Farmers don’t have very good dispositions when the crops are in the field & needing to be harvested. Last year we were fighting snow. 2-4” of it fell on Nov. 12th. This year we had our first snow Oct 30th! Does that mean 30 snows this year? From the looks of cutting open the seeds of the Persimmon Trees, it would mean 30 heavy snows! We’ve had plenty of cold mornings already and one morning a wind chill of 6. Did we really have fall? Ch 7 Pittsburg reported on the 15th that we had 6 weeks. of colder than average weather ahead and at least 5 chances for snow.
The holiday seasons has started, hopefully you had a bountiful Thanksgiving with family and friends. Now to tackle Christmas! Shopping, caroling, decorating and eating! Calorie counting is no way to celebrate. I really enjoy the fall décor and all the beautiful colors. But now
it’s time for the Christmas decorating to begin! I went to Elk Falls Pottery Open house and the Outhouse Tour on the 22nd. It’s Always fun time, although it was cold again this year. The 1st Christian Church held the Annual Turkey Supper on the 16th. Good weather & a good crowd gathered for fellowship.
Trapping season has started & we don’t see as much of Daniel Boone. He has some good wildlife stories to share when he stops in. We do miss his political commentary, but when he stops in, we get straightened out. This month outhouse stories were our interesting topic of conversation! What stories. What I learned this month: Be thankful for the life you’ve been given, the family & friends that have
crossed your path and the God that has given you both.
December
What a lot of activities for Elk Citians to participate in and support for the holiday season. Thanks to all those responsible Toys for Kids dinner on the 14th. The Monterrey dinner fixed by the crew was yummy and generous. Parade crew did a good job on the parade. A Vendor craft fair was organized at the Community center. There were some interesting vendors and plenty of Christmas shopping to be had. The weather was more compatible for the parade with the ice & snow holding off until Sunday. On the 19th Santa and his elves delivered a gift, mittens and hat to each child in Elk City, as well as the country kids that came to town. You know who the elves are and they are
very much appreciated for all the hours and hard work. This is a wonderful community project. The ministerial alliance, consisting of the churches in town, assembled food baskets & delivered them.
The Old Farmer’s Almanac says: The hours of sunshine on Christmas Day determines the number of frosts in May? And a warm Christmas is a cold Easter! Does anyone remember last Christmas and then Easter this year. Easter was nice, but I don’t’ remember Christmas Day weather. The Community Christmas Candlelight program was at the Nazarene Church on the 22nd. It’s a wonderful service with plenty of cookies.
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas at Joe’s house, he put his Christmas tree up and other kitchen décor, so it feels so festive for coffee. I’ve been watching the old Christmas movies, “White Christmas”, Miracle on 34th St., Frosty & Rudolph. The Sound of Music and Gone with the Wind were also favorites.
Year 2020, doesn’t that seem like a science fiction movie. Remember the song, “In the Year 2525”… I guess that is still in the future!
What I learned this month: Treasure family Christmas gatherings (all gatherings) because at some point, someone will be missing from the celebration.
Alumni Minutes
Elk City High School Alumni Minutes for 1955
The Elk City Alumni Association held its annual banquet on May 28, 1955 at 7:30 p.m. There were 179 members and guest present.
The dinner was served by the W.S.C.S. Circle 1 of the Methodist Church. While the guests were being seated Marilyn White Inlow played several piano selections. Following the invocation by Mrs. L. W. Davis, Paul R. Hamilton lead in group singing with Marilyn Inlow, accompanist. Mrs. Willa Widick, president, called he meeting to order, extended greetings from E. C. H.S and recognized the various committees that helped with the banquet. Mrs. Widick introduced the narrator, Mrs. Bessie Hare for the program of the evening. The roll call of classes provided the main program of the evening. Everyonewas ask to stand, introduce themselves and their guests, then give a few comments on school life as it was when they were in school. Each member told his or her occupation. Letters were read from several alumni who couldn't attend. Mr. S. A. Davis of class of 1892 was called on for special comments. Remarks from all were enjoyed during the evening.
The nominating committee composed of Mrs. Mae Whistler, Mrs. Marie Hiatt, and Mrs. Nannie Mae Henderson presented the following officers for 1956. Mrs. Myrtle Flesher, president; Mrs. Helen James vice president; Mrs. Twila Godsey sec and trea.
A social hour followed adjournment.
Financial Report:
Balance forwarded 68.40
Tickets sold & collection 209.08
total 278.48 Expenses:
Stamps and Cards 19.95
W. S. C. S (Methodist Church) 136.50
Cases Book Store (Decorations) 8.89
Ned Davis (printing) 22.76
Total 191.10
Balance on hand 86.38
signed Phyllis Newkirk Sec. Trea
Pioneers of Elk City
The Good Old Days
Found this in the I remember when series dated July 4, 1987 in his address to Elk City Alumni Association Banquet given May 23, 1987 by Robert Krone, at the end it says continued but I have not found the rest of article.
This is the last banquet to be held in the old high school building due to it's deterioration. Therefore this is a landmark address, not only because of it's own merits, but because it may very well be the last address given in that dear old building so many of us finished school in when we lived in the Elk City area.
This is May 1987 and once again this is our night of memories, and this old building is it's heart. We were the moments of time that shaped and created it.
I can remember sitting in the class rooms of this building bewildered, and I can remember enrolling for the first time frightened, insignificant, worried that I'd ever pass.
>p>I can remember sports and plays and banquets, and tears and embarrassment, and laughter, and humiliation, and I remember the town and I remember the places, and I can remember.
I remember this town as a vibrant, exciting place. There were six grocery stores: Barnes, Imels, Q Store, NuWay, Clarks West, Clarks East, five filling stations: Loether's Floyd Vaughn, Clyde Renfro, Bill Hughes, Widick's. Four restaurants; James Cafe, Watt's Chili Place, Art Roubuh's City Cafe, Billy Nelson, and later Ruby Stong, East Side Blacksmith, Garage, Bakery, Ice Plant, Theater, Fort Agency later Feed store, furniture store, Mortuary, hospital, two doctors, veterinary, two barber shops, beauty shop, drug store, bank, gas company, electric company, newspaper, Big Hardware store, lumber yard, hotel, jeweler, water plant, telephone company, grain elevator - don't think it worked, full time Marshall, a night watchman, and several mail carriers, rail road depot - for awhile two railroads, Santa Fe and Missouri Pacific, sale pavilion that operated every week of the year between the two Imels and the blacksmith shop, later west of the business district toward the old Elk River Bridge that is now gone, a Welding shop, implement dealer, and talk about improved communications. It was pretty nice to ring the operator and say Ma Dean, I want to talk to Willie and pretty soon there he would be.
I can remember our old phone number was 118 and Delayne Denbo was 38. Besides this we could send a telegram from the rail road depot to someone out of town for just a few cents. It would get there right now by the dispatcher of the lines and someone off the other end would deliver it.
I can remember our old Post Office inside out , box number to 96, and if they haven't changed, I think I could sill open it. Dad ran one of the rural routes and was one of the few who had a new car every year - believe me he needed it too on those country roads. here it says to be continued,
Obituaries
Osburn , Norman Lee age 82 passed away on September 20, buried in Oak Hill Cemetery
Vestal, Pauline Daisy age 87 passed away November 9, graduated from Elk City High School
GlassJohn Royal (JR) age 85 died November 12, Attended Elk City Schools
Aemisegger, Sandra Moonyean age 81, passed away November 14, graduated from Elk City High School, buried in Oak Hill Cemetery
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