hometown edge

Debut Issue

Hom

etown

Russell CountyOctober 2010Volume 1, Issue 1

Hot WHeels

Do you have a story to tell? Call or email us for details on how to get it published in The EDGE.

800-950-8742 • email [email protected]

U.S. POSTAGEPAID

RUSSELL, KSPERMIT NO. 2012ZIP CODE 67665

page 4

Coming soon . . .

page 6

InsideCommunity calendar, page 2

More community events, page 3

Recreation Commission news, page 5

Mother Bickerdyke & Russell, page 8

Russell's Original Art Reviewpage 7

Russell County folk, like most of us on the High Plains, are used to living life on the edge.

Our pioneering forefa-thers pushed westward into the frontier, stretching what Americans called the edge of their nation.

To this day, there are plenty of urban dwellers who look at us out here and say we still live on the edge of civilization.

Although far from true (sod houses and massive herds of roaming buffalo disappeared long ago), we take pride in be-ing out here, on the edge. We are a tad stubborn and fiercely independent, yet friendly and

open to the changes swirling around us.

It is fitting, then, that we have a news publication that fits all facets of our personality – deeply rooted in our heritage while embracing the future, and self reliant while greeting visitors with warmth and com-passion. In short, it’s a periodi-cal for those of us on the edge.

Enter Russell County Hometown Edge, a monthly newspaper to cover this di-versity. This is a community feature publication. Sure, it will have staff generated stories, but the beauty of this endeavor is that all of us are correspondents. The

Edge welcomes any and all submissions from readers – chili suppers to bake sales to new business openings or photos. Whatever is news to one of us is news to all of us.

This free-distribution publication will capitalize on this newness by incor-porating the contributions of its readers and packag-ing them in a format that is both easy to follow with a bold, fresh new look. An-other sign that we are not stuck in the 1800s.

It services Russell County communities, including: Dorrance, Gorham, Lucas, Luray, Russell, Paradise,

Waldo, Fairport, Balta, Bun-ker Hill and Milberger.

Not only does Hometown Edge content include com-munity photo and article submissions, features ar-ticles, community calendar and free classifieds, but it is also available free online.

Hometown Edge will be delivered monthly via postal and available to all house-holds in Russell County. Additional copies are avail-able at Klema Hometown Market in Russell or your local chamber of commerce. Approximately 4,200 copies are distributed.

- Dale Hogg

For more information please contact us.

Publisher: Mary Hoisington [email protected]

Editor: Dale Hogg [email protected] Advertising: Wendy Beck

[email protected]: Shonita Fox

[email protected]

Hometown Edge is a subsidiary of theGreat Bend Tribune

PO Box 228 Great Bend, KS 67530

620-792-1211

Welcome to the EDGE

Health Fairpage 3

Ag & Oil Expopage 3

OctOber

1 HomecomingParade—2:30 p.m. RussellHighSchool

HomecomingFBgame—vs. Beloit

HomecomingDance—9 p.m. - 11:30 p.m.

2 TriCityGarageSale—Lucas, Sylvan, and Wilson

3 BigCreek4-HMeeting—Gorham

WolfCreekValley4-HMeeting—Lucas

4 RussellCountyCommissionersMeeting—9 a.m.

LoneStar4-HMeeting—at 4-H building

5 Rotary—noon RussellCityCouncilWorkshop

—4:30 p.m. 2010HarvestingHealthFair — 2

- 6 p.m. at the County 4-H building

6 What'sUpinRussellCoffee—Klema's 8:05 a.m.

VFW&VFWAuxiliaryMeeting—8 p.m.

7 SunriseKiwanis—7 a.m. RibbonCutting—10 a.m. for

Blown Customs

NoonKiwanis—noonSunriseKiwanisFishFry—5:30 p.m.

8 Bricks,Broncs,&BBQ— Russell 4 categories of BBQ - pork ribs, pork shoulder or butt, beef brisket, chicken. 2 p.m. - 7 p.m.

A&WCruiseNight—5 p.m. at A & W Restuarant

9 Bricks,Broncs,&BBQ— Russell 4 categories of BBQ - pork ribs, pork shoulder or butt, beef brisket, chicken. Judging at noon

JamSession — noon outside Cecil Bricker Park across from the Deines Cultural Center in a tent. If bad weather, will be held inside the Cultural Center. There will be no potluck, participants encouraged to enjoy Bricks, Broncs, and BBQ for the dinner at 5 p.m. Jam will continue until 7 p.m. when Shades of Gray and Downfall will perform

11NoSchool — Teacher In-serviceVFWBingo — 7 p.m.

12Rotary—noon BusinessAfterHoursDiamondSVineyard&Winery — 5 to 7 p.m.

Alzheimer'sSupportGroup — Senior Center, 6:30 p.m.

14SunriseKiwanis—7 a.m.NoonKiwanis—noon

15ROAR — Russell's Original Art Review Show

16NationalBoss'DayROAR — Russell's Original Art Review Show

17NewHorizons4-Hmeeting—4-H building

Sunflower4-Hmeeting — Milberger

ROAR — Russell's Original Art Review Show

18RussellCountyCommissionersMeeting—9 a.m.

USD407BoardMeeting—5:30 p.m.

FossillCreek4-HMeeting—4-H building

VFWBingo — 7 p.m.

19Rotary—noon RussellCityCouncilMeeting — 4:30 p.m.

RussellCommunityTheater's"SocialSecurity" — 8 p.m. October 19-23


25VFWBingo — 7 p.m.

26Rotary—noon

27RussellAreaChamberofCommerceBoardMeeting — 7:45 a.m.


RRHAuxiliarySoupSupper— 4:30 - 7 p.m. at the 4-H building

29NoSchool

31HappyHalloween

NOvember

ChristmasParade — Russell. Contact Russell Main St. for more information at 785-483-2897

December

1 Ag&OilExpo — Russell, 9 a.m. - 4 a.m. at AmercInn. For more information, contact Chamber of Commerce at 785-483-6960

2 Hometown EDGEOctober 2010

Nothing Runs Like A Deere

www.sternberg.fhsu.edu877-332-1165

Hays, KS

Upcoming Events~Oct 1st-Homecoming, Come meet up with all of your friends!

Oct 3rd-Opening Sunday’s at NOON throughout the NFL Season; $12 buckets of beer & wing specials!

Oct 6th-Jackson Taylor plays at 8:00. $2.00 cover charge, and $2.00 domestic beer!

Oct 14th-KU vs KSU game with beer & wing specials!Oct 16th-Mr. Biggs Comedy Show at 10pm.

$5 domestic pitchers!Oct 29th-Pete Gile takes the stage at 9pm.

$4 Jager Bombs & $2 Well drinks!Oct 31st-Halloween Costume contest party w/ special

guest “Powergroove ” Spooky specials all nite. No cover charge w/costume (otherwise $5).

Nov 13th-Pheasant Season opening weekend. Special Guest; “Sister Whiskey”.

Nov 24th-Falt Spin Band starts off Thanksgiving Break. $2 domestic bottles!

Nov 26th-Pete Gile w/ $2 Well drinks & $4 Jager Bombs!

719 N. Main 785-483-2532

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Hometown Edge-Russell County Edition is published monthly at The Great Bend Tribune, 2012 Forest Ave., Great Bend, KS 67530-0228. Bulk class postage paid at Russell, KS 67665 permit number 2012. Please send address changes to Hometown Edge, PO Box 228, Great Bend, KS 67530.

Phone number: 800-950-8742website: hometownedge.com

email: [email protected]

MaryHoisington,[email protected],[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

Send us your photos of community events!

Have you been to a community event lately? If you have, and you've got pic-

tures, e-mail them to [email protected]

to get them published in The EDGE.

If you have community events, for your club,

team, or group, let us know!

Submit events to

editor@hometownedge.

com

to have them published in The EDGE.

Remember, we publish once a month, so

please get them to us in advance!

3Hometown EDGEOctober 2010

Missing your copy of the Edge?

Call 800-950-8742 or email [email protected] get added to the mailing list.*free delivery available in Russell County only

additional copies available at your area chamber of commerce or at Klema’s

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Senior Center ACtivitieS

Senior Center Menu

The Ag & Oil Expo will be held from 9 a.m. to 4

p.m on Wednesday, Dec. 1, at the AmericInn. A full day of events are be-ing planned for all area ag and oil producers. Several vendors will be avail-able for the entire day to provide producers with the latest in equipment, services, and technology. The following five speak-ers will also give valuable information on the latest issues facing ag & oil producers:

9-l0 a.m. — OSHA (flame resistant clothing)

10:30-11:30 a.m. — Kenneth L. Cole (legal issues in the oil industry)

12:15-1 p.m. — Jennifer O’Hare (wind leases)

1:30-2:30 p.m. — Jeff Sutton (Farm Bureau Agriculture Challenges)

3-4 p.m. — Dana Pieper (Farm Bureau-Animal Rights)

A free lunch will be provided to all attendees from 12 to 1 p.m, compli-ments of AGCO, Inc.

Door prizes will also be given out at the end of the day.

The Ag and Oil Expo is free to all area produc-ers. If you would like to attend, please RSVP by calling 785-483-6960 or [email protected].

Health Fair to be held oct. 5The Russell County Health Department and Rus-

sell Regional Hospital are cooperating in sponsoring the 2010 Harvesting Health Fair. The event will be held from 2 to 6 p.m on Tuesday, Oct. 5, at the Russell County 4-H Building.

Seasonal flu shots will be provided for for a fee. However, a number of free programs will also be avail-able.

Free health screenings will be offered for hearing, blood pressure, and foot care.

Information will be available on topics, including nursing homes and assisted living programs, schedules for Alcoholics Anonymous and Al-Anon meetings, tips for cancer prevention and early detection.

Cameron Eickhoff and Amanda Rhone were selected as the 2010 Natoma Tiger Homecoming Social Secu-rity benefits, chiropractic treatments, acupuncture, dental health, Medicaid, Medicare, baby-sitter train-ing, Red Cross cardiopulmonary resuscitation, first aid, water safety, the Homestead Nutrition Program, mental health and stress management, and Russell Recreation Commission schedules.

Activities will include programs dealing with the medical power of attorney and living wills, a car safety-seat check lane, tours of a Russell Regional Hospital ambulance, a defibrillator demonstration, and some health activities which are designed to educate children.

Monthly Jam Session plannedDeines Cultural Center will hold a September/

October jam session Saturday, Oct. 9, in conjunction with the Russell Main Street Bricks, Broncs and BBQ celebration.

The September monthly jam session/potluck was not held due to many participants attending the Walnut Valley Bluegrass Festival being held the same weekend.

The jam will start at noon outside Cecil Bricker Park across from the center under a tent. If weather is bad, it will be held inside the Deines Center. Musicians are welcome to leave instrument cases at the center.

There will be no potluck and participants and listen-ers are encouraged to join Russell Main Street for their BBQ dinner at 8th and Main starting at 5 p.m. The “jam” will continue until 7 p.m. when Shades of Gray and Downfall will perform.

For more information contact Nancy at the Deines Cultural Center, 785-483-3742.

upCoMing CoMMunity ACtivitieS

END OF SUMMER SALE! END OF SUMMER SALE! END OF SUMMER SALE!

END OF SUMMER SALE! END OF SUMMER SALE! END OF SUMMER SALE!EN

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FREE DELIVERYFRIENDLY CREDIT

Russell‛s FinestFurniture Gallery

721 N. Main • Russell, KS(785) 483-2481

Toll Free 888-839-9339

Myers Furniture is closed Saturday, October 2 to mark down every piece of fi ne furniture in stock.

We’re clearing out a ton of inventory to make room for all the new furniture on its way! Then

Monday Myers Furniture will open their doors to the public for the 14 day Fantastic Fall Sale.

That’s on any furniture, or bedding throughout the entire store. Brand names like La-Z-Boy,

Sealy, Kincaid, ChromCraft, and Lacrosse will be sold at a fraction of their retail value.

Ag & oil expo coming to russell in December

Check out hometownedge.com

to see The EDGE

online!


©

Community CalendarGet your event listed FREE!

•Fundraisers•Bazaars•Soup Suppers•Quilt Raffl es•Sporting Events•Pageants•Class Reunions

•Parades•Cookoffs•Expos•Car Shows•Bake Sales•Spaghetti Feeds•Community Events

Deadline to get in your event is the third Friday of the month prior to publication month (i.e. January event is due December 17).

Hometown Edge Attn: Community Calendar PO Box 228 Great Bend, KS 67530

Submit your event to [email protected] or mail to:

Stick your message where it will get n ticed.

To advertise in the Edge call 800-950-8742 or email

[email protected] for more information

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Hot WHeelsRussell business creates vehicular masterpieces

By DALE [email protected]

As a kid in Ellis, Mike Schoech painted bicycles in the family ga-rage and sold them.

While a student at Russell High School, he painted his car.

Today, from his modest-looking shop on Fossil Street in Russell, he operates a body shop serving local patrons and street-rod business serv-

ing custom car enthusiasts nation-wide.

“I’ve always tinkered in my garage, fixing up old cars,” Schoech said while

sitting in his office at Auto Artistry, the shelves and walls of which were filled

with trophies, plaques and framed ar-ticles from national hot rod magazines.

He’s parlayed that passion into a success-ful career.

Schoech opened his first shop in Russell in 1989. That year, a massive hail storm pounded

its way through the area, and the business (then called Auto Body Specialists) stayed busy repair-

ing hail-dinged vehicles. “We didn’t stick with our

original plan to fix up old cars,” he said, recalling the early days.

Then, they built a car and started to show it. “We got back to our roots of building hot rods.” Now, that is their core business, especially custom trucks.

But, he stressed, even though the glossy, shiny, cool-looking machines are their primary focus, they con-tinue to do traditional collision repair and other auto body work. “We will still work on your late-model car.”

As for their fancy rides, Auto Artistry attends national car shows in all the surrounding states. This year, they brought back four trophies from the Mid-way All-Truck Classic in Riverside, Mo. Last year, they

We got back to our roots of

building hot rods.- Mike Schoech ” ”

Do you have an idea for a story?Call or email us for details on how to get it published in The EDGE.

800-950-8742 • email [email protected]

DALE HOGG Hometown EdgeAn employee of Auto Artistry sands a door at the shop. Auto Artistry is owned by Mike Schoech, who opened the doors in 1989.

DALE HOGG Hometown EdgeMike Schoech stands beside a customized 1941 Chevy pickup created by Auto Artistry of Russell. The show truck is used as a parts vehicle.


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year, they brought back four tro-phies from the Midway All-Truck Classic in Riverside, Mo. Last year, they came home with six.

He’s even had a visit from Larry Wood, the chief designer for the Hotwheels toy cars.

“When we do an old car, we develop a relationship with the car and its owner,” Schoech said. Smaller projects can take only a month or two. Upper end rebuilds can take as long as two years.

“We do everything in-house,” he said. “We can build a car from scratch.” This includes forming the metal parts

(they don’t use fiberglass), and doing the painting and airbrushing.

However, they don’t do the en-gine work. They have the expertise, but not the facilities.

Times have changed some in the hot rod world. Modern com-puterized engines are being used and advances in technology have improved craftsmanship. “Overall, there are better quality products today,” Schoech said.

There are also catalogs of parts that care ready to use. “We don’t have to fabricate them.”

But, even though he still has

a client waiting list, that list has grown leaner with the downturn in the economy. “I don’t think there is a recession proof business,” he said.

However, with the custom side slowing some, Schoech is able to make up for it through other body work.

Schoech said he could probably get more business if he relocated to a bigger city. But, “Russell is a nice town.” He and his wife Mary Jo have three children and it is a good place for them to grow up.

The business’ address is 435 S. Fos-sil, its website is autoartistry.com and it can be reached at 785-483-3771.

Open Weights

RHS weight room will be open for community use every Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. unless there is an RHS event. The fee will be $15 a month per person. You must be 18

or older and there will be a Russell Rec. employee there to assist you if needed.

Women’s 4 on 4 Volleyball

This league will be on Sunday nights in November and December.

Co-Ed VolleyballThis league will be on

Sunday nights in January and February.

All registration forms and a drop-box are locat-ed outside RRC office door in the basement of the city building. The hours are 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. To contact RRC,

visit www.russellrec.com or call 785-483-7712.

russell recreation commission news


By DALE [email protected]

Barbecue is coming to Russell as Russell Main Street Inc. hosts its first Kansas City Barbeque Society-sanctioned event “Bricks, Broncs & BBQ” on Friday and Saturday, Oct 8 and Oct 9.

The event will take place on Main Street.

According to Main Street Executive Director Stepha-nie Cross, a sanctioned contest offers experience, a built in base of cookers and judges and also a support system of other members across the country. “As a first year contest holder we are expecting around 20 to 25 teams (and their spouses) from out of area which will bring many out-side people to the commu-nity for two or more days spending time and money.”

In addition to the teams there will 30 or so judges (and their spouses) and two KCSB Representatives from out of area.

“Russell Main Street Inc. will be holding this event annually and look forward to it being yet another great attraction to Russell Coun-ty and a revenue stream for our community,” Cross said. Many other commu-nities have had these events which have really boosted their local economy during the event.

The event will not only bring outside people to Russell but will also provide a fun event for the local community members. “It takes a great deal of plan-ning and funding to put on an event of this magnitude and we need your help. Business sponsorships are a huge part of the success of the event year after year.”

There is a lot at stake for the teams competing, some coming from a long ways away, Cross said. The payout schedule awards the Grand Champion $1,500 and the Reserve Champion $700. In the individual KCBS catagories (chicken, ribs, pork and brisket) the prizes include: First place, $200; second place, $150; third, $100; fourth, $75; and fifth, $50.

After Bricks, Broncs & BBQ, Russell Main Street will finalize the 2010 Christmas Fest. This year the event will be held on Saturday, Nov. 27, along with the Christmas Light Parade.

“The event’s purpose being held on the Saturday after Thanksgiving is to provide the community and its many visitors the opportunity to enjoy a complete afternoon and evening of holiday events,” Cross said. Combining two events into one day will hopefully entice surround-ing communities to want to come and spend the af-ternoon before the parade. “We are hoping it makes the drive to our community much more worthwhile.”

In addition, families visiting will have more to do downtown before the

parade as well. “The parade has always been a great crowd pleaser and this hopefully will just add to the event.” Organizers are in the process of planning the event and are look-ing at many of the past activities such as button contest, vendors on Main Street, pictures with Santa, Santa’s Workshop, ginger

bread house making, free trolley rides, story tellers, and other holiday events. Schedule for this event is not yet available as we are still working on details. Sponsorships are a major part of this event as well to ensure success.

“We are working to continually improve the image of the downtown through community events like Bricks, Broncs & BBQ, Christmas Fest and Light Parade,” Cross said. “Rus-sell has a lot to be proud of and these types of events are the way to showcase the heart of our community. Sponsorships from the community are how we can

make these events possible and we very much appreci-ate your contribution to such great events.

The barbecue schedule is as follows:Friday, Oct. 8

8 a.m. to 7 p.m. - Team Arrival & Check-in (815 N Main)

8 a.m. to 7 p.m. - Meat Inspections available

12:30 to 5:30 p.m. - Deines Cultural Center’s “Chrome Smoke and Flames” exhibit open (820 N Main)

5 p.m. - Cruise Night at A&W (304 S Fossil)

Where there’s smoke there’s barbecue

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Freshman gathered to cheer for their classmates at this year’s soap scrimmage in September.

Share your photos and stories with the Edge Community.

We accept contributions from readers! Just send your photos with descriptions,

news releases or stories to editor @hometownedge.com.

No professional writing skills required. Publication is based on availability and the editor reserves the right to reject or edit content based on reader interest, style, clarity or appropriateness.

Don’t write but have a story idea? Just let us know [email protected].

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New Arrivals Daily

Bright yellow entry forms announcing this year’s Russell Original Art Review have begun to flood the Kansas art world. Since 1969, the R.O.A.R. Show (Russell’s Original Art Review) has given Kansas artists the opportunity to show and sell their work as well as compete for prize money. Last year’s visitors viewed over 300 works of art by professional and amateur Kansas artists in categories of oil, watercolor, other two-dimension, sculpture, ceramics, pastels, pho-tography and computer generated or manipulated original composition. This year’s show dates are Oct. 15 - 17, at the 4-H Build-ing in Russell.

All professional and amateur artists 16 years of age and older living in the State of Kansas are eligible. All work must be original and not previous-ly exhibited in a R.O.A.R. show. Entries will be judged only in their own category.

Entries may be brought to the 4-H Building from 1 to 7 p.m. on Oct. 10, 11,

and 12. No entries will be accepted after 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 12. There will be no limit on the number of entries.

Artists exhibiting four or more entries will be eligible to enter free of charge, up to two works of art in the Sales Gallery. The only charge for this service will be a commis-sion of 20 percent on all sales.

The show will be open to the public from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 15 and Saturday, Oct. 16; and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 17. Admis-sion is free.

Approximately $3,200 in non-purchase cash prizes will be awarded at the discretion of the judge.

Inquiries may be ad-dressed to: R.O.A.R., P.O. Box 94, Russell, Kansas 67665, by calling Patty Driscoll, 785-483-4039, in the Wichita area call Lewis Clancy at 316-722-2916, in Topeka contact Tori Tomlinson at 785-483-1883, in Lindsborg contact Aimee Gfeller, or by visiting our web site at www.R.O.A.R.ART.org.

7 p.m. - Cooks Meeting (815 N Main)

11 p.m. - Quiet time begins

Saturday, Oct. 99 a.m. to 12 p.m. -

Flatland Car Show regis-tration (Main Street)

10 a.m. - Judges Meeting (815 N Main)

10 a.m. - Kids Carnival at 8th and Main (RHS Music Boosters)

10 a.m. - Various ven-dors on Main Street open

11 a.m. - “People’s Choice Chili” judging begins

11:55 a.m. - Judging of chicken begins

12 p.m. - Deines Cultural Center “Jam Session” at Cecil Bricker Park (8th & Main)

12:25 p.m. - Judging of pork ribs begins

12:55 p.m. - Judging of pork begins

1:25 p.m. - Judging of brisket begins

1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. - Deines Cultural Center’s “Chrome Smoke and Flames” exhibit open (820 N Main)

3 p.m. - Awards cere-mony

5 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. - Beer Garden in Cecil

Bricker Park (sponsored by Coors)

5 p.m. - Russell Main Street Inc. BBQ dinner at 8th and Main

7 p.m. to 11 p.m. - Bands Shades of Gray & Downfall perform (spon-sored by Russell Arts Council)

For more information, contact Cross at 785-483-2897.

The Kansas City Barbeque Society is a nonprofit organiza-tion dedicated to promoting and enjoying barbeque, is the world’s largest organization of barbeque and grilling enthusiasts with over 13,000 members worldwide.

KCBS sanctions almost 300 barbeque contests coast-to-coast throughout America. From volunteering to actual event pro-duction, our members also offer assistance to civic and charitable organizations who organize events.

KCBS serves as a clearing-house of barbeque information which provides:

• Networking with related trade associations and other contest-

sanctioning organizations• Tracking trends in barbeque

related products, and equipment• Teaming up with other food

organizations and the media to promote barbeque

• A monthly newsletter/publica-tion entitled The Bullsheet

With our library, and extensive archive of barbeque related arti-cles, KCBS offers educational programs, consultation services, and civic organization presenta-tions to help promote barbeque as America’s Favorite Cuisine.

The KCBS home office is locat-ed at 11514 Hickman Mills Drive, Kansas City, MO 64134. For more information or to join, call 1-800-963-5227 or 1-816-765-5891.

Artists will show off their artwork this year at R.O.A.R.

Check out

hometownedge.com to see

The EDGE online!


call 800-950-8742 or email [email protected] for more information

EDITOR’S NOTE – Mary Ann “Mother” Bickerdyke’s heroic efforts as a nurse on the Civil War battlefield earned her great affection. Later, Bickerdyke (1817-1901) was a veterans’ pensioner and advocate and helped many veterans settle in Kansas. She is one of the Kansas Sampler Foundation’s 24 finalists for the 8 Wonders of Kansas People. The public will have until Oct. 22 to vote to determine the top eight. On the web-site (8wonders.org), Marci Penner has more information and list places where a person can go to learn more about these people. Voting rules and ballots are also available at the site.

By LU ADAMSEllsworth

Special to the EDGE

Mary Mother Bickerdyke, one of the 24 nominees for the 8 Wonders of People in Kansas, lived in Russell from 1889 to 1894 with her eldest son James. Together they rented a house on the northwest corner of the intersection of Seventh and Lincoln streets. Regretfully this house no longer is standing.

A telling book entitled “Mother Bick-erdyke as I knew Her” was written by a Florence Shaw Kellogg and published in 1907, six years after her death. The author met Mother and son, James in 1891 while they lived in Russell. Kellogg described the home as a plainly furnished, cozy home, with a sitting room where the author made many visits to talk about “my boys” as Mother always referred to the soldiers.

Living in the home with them was “our Flora,” a “feeble-minded daughter of an old soldier” who was very fond of music.

Perhaps this is how Mother Bickerdyke happened to own a piano displayed today in the Bunker Hill Museum.

Mother made a habit of making morn-ing rounds either walking or riding in her buggy with her basket of “care for the boys.” She was prepared with soups, home-made breads, along with medicinal items to tend to the sick and the poor. She was a modern day Home Health nurse, clearly ahead of her time.

On one visit while in Washington on pension business she ran into Mr. Bost-wick who had been in her hospital during the war. She learned his pension case had been dropped due to a discrepancy in evi-dence between the right and left foot. She sought out, General Logan, under whose command Bostwick had served when he was wounded. The Commissioner of Pen-sions, Mr. Black, said “I see you brought your nurse along to prove your point.” “ I have,” was the reply. “the man’s right foot was split by a crowbar; Mother Bickerdyke had him in the hospital and knows the cir-cumstances”.. The case was reopened. That night Mother called Mr. Bostwick and told him , “Wash your feet and come with me tomorrow”.. He received $17 a month and $2,000 in back pay. As a legal pensioner for veterans, at times, the pension business was one of “SHOW AND TELL.”

A Dr. Tom Bolton, who had spent six months as a prisoner of war in Anderson-ville Prison in Georgia, came to stay at her Russell home.

Bolton had met up with Mother when she helped to muster out all the prisoners after Sherman’s March to the Sea at the close of the war. He had lived in California and kept in contact with Mother through

the years. When he faced death from cancer, he wanted to come and stay with Mother having her face be the last face he saw before he died. She cared for him as if he was her own. In death she was hold-ing his hand. When he passed on he was buried with soldiers honors in the Russell cemetery. Every Decoration Day Mother took flowers sent from San Francisco to his grave.

In 1952 the Bickerdyke Elementary School, located at 4th and Maple, was built and named in honor of her son James. James had served nine years as the Super-intendent of Schools in Russell County.

He was known as a strong disciplinarian. He initiated the first grading system, first through eighth grade, setting the require-ments for each grade. He also started many social events, i.e. box suppers, spelling bees, musical programs, the custom of the last day school dinners and athletic events. His mother was so very proud of all his accomplishments. He never married and had no children of his own. He simply cared for others children, and assisted his Mother in her caring for the old veterans.

Bill Bricker, an Ellsworth resident tells of his grandfather, William Robert Bricker, who lived in Fairport, north of Gorham, being one of the stonemasons who dressed the limestone blocks for the Bickerdyke Elementary School. Bricker at-tended elementary school there in 1939.

As recorded in a news article a western Kansas sculptor, Reginald Wentworth carved a photographic likeness of Mary Bickerdyke in fencepost stone. This sculpture was carved after Wentworth had studied photographs and talked with many who remembered her in life. This stone carving of Mother Bickerdyke can be seen at Fossil Station Museum in Rus-sell.

In 1894 James and Mother returned to Salina where he taught Rhetoric at Kansas Wesleyan University for a single year.

The citizens of Russell mourned her departure from their town as a public loss, and spoke of her as a “historic character”, whose name and deeds would be remem-bered and rehearsed when the present generation was sleeping in forgotten graves. How right they were in their as-sessment of this nominee for the 8Won-ders People of Kansas.

Mother Bickerdyke holds a place in the hearts of Russell residents

Bickerdyke

hometown edge

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