The Street Advisory Board will meet on Thursday, October 14th, 2021 at 4:00 p.m. at the City Commission Meeting Room at 123 S. Main Street. This meeting is open to the public.
This meeting will be made available via the City’s you tube channel at City of Fort Scott.
Brian Allen, a local historian in his spare time, likes to collect old items and if he can, reunite them with family members.
At a recent garage sale, Allen found some antique glass photo negatives circa, he believes, the 1890s to the 1910s.
“I found the negatives and the photos at a local garage sale two weeks ago,” Allen said. “I have always collected vintage Fort Scott items.”
Along with many items in a box, there were 13 glass negatives, he said.
“I have a scanner that can make negatives into photos,” Allen said. “They were very dark, and without the scanner, it would have been almost impossible to make them out even with a bright light.”
Allen has been sharing photos online for several months now.
“The photos do depict some local scenes,” he said. “One is clearly the old (Fort Scott)High School, and one is taken from the side of a house across the street from the school.”
The photo finds are posted in the Historical Fort Scott and Surrounding Areas group on Facebook, as well as the Bourbon County Historical Preservation Association page, he said.
“The ones on the HPA page belong to the organization,” Allen said. “I have posted well over well over 100 photos. I have been able to reunite about 30 photos with family members during this time, as well as a family Bible to a family in Texas.”
“I love to be able to return these old items to a family,” he said. “If someone wants to contact me about any of the photos, please just send me a message on Facebook.”
The Market Street Pavilion Project kicked off Wednesday evening at Skubitz Plaza, with the presentation of a $50,000 check to the City of Fort Scott from T-Mobile.
T-Mobile, a company that provides wireless voice and messaging services along with data services, will be opening a retail store in late November in the strip mall at the 2400 block of South Main Street. Scott Hunsaker will be the manager of that store.
Local officials and company officials gave brief speeches in recognition of the grant, Fort Scott Community College Cheerleaders were there along with the public. T-Mobile provided one Luther’s BBQ dinner to the first 50 people who attended the event.
The company has been granting and will continue to grant other small towns in the nation, to help with revitalization projects, according to Matt Lane, T-Mobile Market Manager.
Fort Scott was selected this year to receive one of those T-Mobile Hometown Grants.
The Market Street Pavilion will be located west of the wooden square structure, north of downtown Fort Scott, in front of the Fort Scott National Historic Site on Skubitz Plaza.
To view the grant proposal from the city:
FortScott Hometown Grant Phase 1(1)
From the grant proposal:
“This project would return Market Street as a community place which was previously removed by Urban Renewal. It will improve underutilized green space and extend the use of the area for residents, and visitors including numerous events.
The initial phase of this project is an addition of an entrance pavilion and walkway to the Lunette Blair Block House.
The former Market Street was a central connection to the City from the original Fort grounds. Fort Scott’s downtown has
been the heart of the City since its discovery in 1842. Anchored by the Fort Scott National Historic Site, the purpose of this critical ground has changed over the years yet has maintained its extraordinary significance in history.“Named one of the 8 Wonders of Kansas History, the Fort is a legacy of the city’s involvement combined with congressional support overcoming a multitude of obstacles led by an impressive group of visionary citizens.”
Those who need food assistance for 2022, may sign-up at Beacon Food Pantry, 525 East Sixth, Fort Scott from October 25 through October 29.
“Sign-ups must be done by October 29th ,” Dave Gillen with The Beacon, a helping agency, said. “No exceptions. You will need to call in advance for appointment for one of these days.”
The Beacon staff started taking appointments on October 4.
Gillen said the participants will need to bring the following to qualify for a food card:
“If you are also getting food that day, you will need to call in advance and your order will be put on the back porch for pick-up,” he said.
“We’ll also be doing sign-ups for the Adopt-A-Child program and additionally the Elk’s Club food basket, at this time,” Gillen said.
“Adopt-A-Child pick up and food baskets will be at Community Christian Church on December the 17th from 9 am to 1 pm,” he said. “Pick-up will be a drive-through like last year.”
“Elk’s baskets will be delivered the Sunday before Christmas.”
There will be COVID-19 Protocols when one comes to sign-up.
“You will be required to have temperature checked and wear a mask before entering the Beacon,” he said. “If you do not have a mask, one will be provided for you. Please enter through the front door. We are asking only one person per family in the building at this time.”
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TOPEKA – Humanities Kansas recently awarded a SHARP Recovery Grant in the amount of $2,750 to the Gordon Parks Museum in Fort Scott, KS. Kirk Sharp serves as project director.
The mission of the Gordon Parks Museum is to celebrate the life and work of Gordon Parks, internationally known photographer, filmmaker, writer and musician; and to use his remarkable life story to teach about artistic creativity, cultural awareness and the role of diversity in our lives.
The museum’s valuable collection includes many of Gordon’s famous photographs, awards, medals and honorary degrees, as well as replica furnishings from his apartment in New York.
The SHARP Recovery Grants support Kansas cultural organizations that provide humanities programming and are facing financial hardship due to the coronavirus.
Grants are for general operating support, staff retention, and needed digital and/or operational transitions for cultural work in the post-pandemic era. Humanities Kansas awarded 121 SHARP grants statewide.
“Humanities Kansas is honored to be able to support Kansas cultural organizations as we recover from the impact of Covid,” said Julie Mulvihill, Humanities Kansas Executive Director. “This past year has demonstrated that Kansans lean into the humanities during challenging times. Kansas cultural organizations that do work in the humanities provide important social connections and contribute to the economic well-being and strength of our communities.”
Funds have been made available through the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) to assist cultural institutions affected by the coronavirus as part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP) approved by the U.S. Congress and signed into law by President Joseph R. Biden.
About Humanities Kansas
Humanities Kansas is an independent nonprofit spearheading a movement of ideas to empower the people of Kansas to strengthen their communities and our democracy. Since 1972, HK’s pioneering programming, grants, and partnerships have documented and shared stories to spark conversations and generate insights. Together with statewide partners and supporters, HK inspires all Kansans to draw on diverse histories, literatures, and cultures to enrich their lives and to serve the communities and state we all proudly call home. Visit humanitieskansas.org.
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The annual Gordon Parks Celebration in Fort Scott did not happen last year.
“We were not able to have 17th annual celebration last year due to COVID, so we wanted to make up for that misfortune and combine them both for this year and make it the 17th and 18th annual celebration,” Kirk Sharp, director of the Gordon Parks Museum on the campus of Fort Scott Community College, said.
This year there are three full days to look at the past and encourage creativity and activism in the future.
The activities are listed by day:
Thursday, October 7
A photo exhibit in the Lunt Lobby of the Ellis Fine Arts Center on the campus of Fort Scott Community College, 2401 S. Horton will feature a photo contest, whose theme was “Fashion and Diversity.” Winners of the contest will be announced at the Fort Scott Chamber Coffee. The contest is sponsored by Merl Humphrey Photography, Fort Scott.
“Also part of the photo exhibit will be some of The Gordon Parks Mercy Foundation Collection with Gordon’s photos and poems, and behind the scenes photographs of the film Shaft and The Learning Tree,” Sharp said. “We will also have a promotional display of the Gordon Park: Homeward to the Prairie I Come Exhibition that is taking place now until May 2022 at the Beach Museum of Art at Kansas State University.”
There will be a sign and mural display featuring Gordon Parks at the Lowell Milken Center For Unsung Heroes, 1 S. Main, and also at the Riverfront Park, 400 N. National.
From 8-9 a.m., the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce Coffee will be a Gunn Park, Shelter House 1, hosted by the Gordon Parks Museum. This weekly coffee will announce the grand opening and ribbon-cutting event of The Learning Tree Film Scene Sign Trail.
In case of inclement weather, the event will be in the FSCC Ellis Fine Arts Center/Auditorium.
9:30 a.m. – 11 a.m., The film The Learning Tree will be shown at the Gordon Parks Museum, FREE – Introduced by Kyle Johnson.
10 a.m. – 3: p.m., Registration for the celebration opens (Outside of Museum)
10 a.m. – 3 p.m., “Mayhew Cemetery” and “Homeward to the Prairie, I Come Exhibition” table displays will be available at the museum.
11:50 a.m. – 1 p.m., “Gordon Parks: Fort Scott and The Learning Tree Revisited” is a free lunch and learn at the Ellis Center. Local historian Arnold Schofield will open with a short presentation on the history of Gordon Parks and his return visit to his hometown of Fort Scott, Kansas, in 1950, as documented in the book Back to Fort Scott. Schofield will then introduce keynote speaker, John Edgar Tidwell, Professor Emeritus of English at the University of Kansas for a presentation on The Learning Tree legacy, comparing and contrasting the book and film. The presentation will also cover the importance of the cultural and historical impact of them both, along with the story and subject matter compared to today.
Box lunches with sandwich wraps, desserts, and drinks are available in the lobby for $8 – to purchase that day – or bring your lunch and grab available desserts and join the lunch and learn.
1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m., There will be a guided trolley tour of Gordon Parks’ Fort Scott & The Learning Tree film scene locations. Meet at the entrance of the FSCC Ellis Fine Arts Center to see the places in Fort Scott that are part of Gordon Parks’ history. (Fee: $7)
2:45 p.m. – 3:45 p.m., Showing of the film Moments Without Proper Names (Gordon Parks Museum, FREE).
“Moments without Proper Names is a film directed by Gordon Parks in 1986,” Sharp said. “This film has a wonderful mixture of Gordon’s iconic photos that he has taken during his career and his most updated photographic work during that time along with some of his musical compositions. It is narrated by actors Avery Brooks, Roscoe Lee Browne, and Joe Seneca.”
6:45 p.m. – 7 p.m., “Gordon Parks: Homeward to the Prairie I Come” Exhibition (FSCC Ellis Fine Arts Center/Auditorium, FREE).
Aileen Wang, curator at Kansas State University’s Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art will discuss the current exhibition that features photographs that were donated by Parks to K.S.U., in 1973 and work by the photographer, Doug Barrett.
The social hour starts at 6 p.m. with wine and light refreshments available.
7 p.m., “All things Kansas” (FSCC Ellis Fine Arts Center/Auditorium, FREE) – Doug Barrett, photographer and videographer based in Manhattan, Kansas, will share some of his work and show how Gordon Parks continues to inspire contemporary artists. Barrett covers all things in the American Midwest. Some of his recognized work includes his project started in 2018 documenting homeless veterans living on the streets across America. He is currently documenting the black community on Yuma Street in Manhattan, Kansas, and covered the civil unrest last year within black America. This performance was supported in part by the Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission, which receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.
Friday, October 8
9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Registration open (outside of Gordon Parks Museum)
9 a.m. – 9:50 a.m., “All things Kansas, Part 2” (FSCC Ellis Fine Arts Center, FREE) – Doug Barrett, photographer, and videographer will continue the presentation of his work and show how Gordon Parks continues to inspire contemporary artists.
10 a.m. – 3 p.m., “Mayhew Cemetery” and “Homeward to the Prairie I Come Exhibition” (Gordon Parks Museum/FSCC Ellis Fine Arts Center).
10:05 a.m. – 11:00 a.m., “A Conversation with Choice of Weapon Honorees.” (FSCC Ellis Fine Arts Center/Auditorium, FREE) – The 2021 “Choice of Weapons Award” honorees, Kyle Johnson and Eli Reed.
11:30 a.m. – noon, “I Needed Paris”(FSCC Ellis Fine Arts Center/Auditorium, FREE) – With Michael Cheers, Associate Professor of Photojournalism, School of Journalism and Mass Communications, San Jose State University.
This will be the launch event for the immersive educational experience that will take a group of diverse American and Parisian student photographers through Paris, traversing the same streets and neighborhoods as Gordon Parks. These students will reimagine Gordon’s spirit as a fashion photographer while using the same type of camera Gordon used – twin lens reflex film cameras. Student participants will style and photograph their models at some of the same locations chosen by Parks.
12:15 p.m. – 1:15 p.m., “Children of the Promised Land” (FSCC Ellis Fine Arts Center/Auditorium, FREE), Lunch and Learn.
Angela Bates, executive director of the Nicodemus Historical Society, will explore the lives of free-born children after the Civil War. Nicodemus, Kansas, a small unincorporated town in Graham County, is the only remaining western town established by African Americans during the Reconstruction Period following the Civil War.
“Children of the Promised Land” is part of Humanities Kansas’ Movement of Ideas Speakers Bureau, featuring presentations and workshops designed to share stories that inspire, spark conversations that inform, and generate insights that strengthen civic engagement. The program is brought to the community by Humanities Kansas.
Sack lunches are available in the lobby for $8 – to purchase that day, or bring your lunch.
1:30 p.m. – 2:15 p.m., “Book Club Presentation, A Choice of Weapons” (FSCC Ellis Fine Arts Center, FREE) – With John Mason, Associate Professor, Associate Chair, University of Virginia Department of History and Eli Reed, Choice of Weapon Honoree.
Hosted by Susie Arvidson, Fort Scott Community College Librarian. Snacks and drinks will be provided.
2:30 p.m. – 3 p.m., “Eli Reed, Photography Collection of Works” – Photographer, author, and Choice of Weapons Honoree Reed, will provide a short presentation of some of his photography.
3:30 p.m. – 4 p.m., African-American Suffragists Exhibit Reveal (Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes, 1 S. Main St., FREE). Come to the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes for the unveiling of a new panel exhibit featuring Kansas suffragists Mamie Dillard and Carrie Langston Hughes. Also, visit the Unsung Heroes Park, where Gordon Parks is one of the featured signs. (Refreshments available).
4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Guided trolley tour of Gordon Parks’ Fort Scott & The Learning Tree film scene locations.
Meet at the entrance of the Ellis Center and see the places in Fort Scott that are part of Gordon Parks’ history. (Fee: $7)
7:30 p.m., “A Night of Hot Jazz and R&B” (The River Room, 3 W. Oak St.) – Featuring, Dominique Hammons, multi-talented contemporary jazz, and R&B violinist.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m., with a cash bar available. All seats are reserved (fee: $30.00 each or $35 at the door). Supported in part by Peerless Products, Inc. in Fort Scott.
Saturday, October 9th
9: a.m. to 3 p.m., Registration open (outside of Gordon Parks Museum)
9 a.m. – 3 p.m., “Mayhew Cemetery” and “Homeward to the Prairie I Come Exhibition” Table Display (Gordon Parks Museum/FSCC Ellis Fine Arts Center)
9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m., “Just Talking about Shaft” (FSCC Ellis Fine Arts Center/Gordon Parks Museum, FREE).
Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the film Shaft. University of Kansas film professor and Oscar-winning filmmaker Kevin Willmott will host a conversation with David Parks about the film. David will share his insight and experience during the filming and Kevin will talk about the impact of the iconic film along with some behind-the-scenes clips of Gordon Parks directing and producing the film. (Coffee, water, juice, and light refreshments will be available.)
11 a.m. – noon., Panel Discussion, “Racism, Discrimination and Poverty” (FSCC Ellis Fine Arts Center/Gordon Parks Museum, FREE) – Join us for a panel discussion on racism, discrimination, and poverty. Gordon Parks used his camera and writings to fight against bigotry and poverty. People are using the same weapons as Gordon used to fight this same battle. Moderated by John Mason, Associate Professor, University of Virginia Department of History with featured panelists; Michael Cheers, Associate Professor, San Jose State University, Eli Reed, Choice of Weapons Honoree, Kyle Johnson, Choice of Weapons Honoree, Doug Barrett, photographer, and Robin Hickman-Winfield, CEO and Executive Producer of SoulTouch Productions and great-niece of Gordon Parks.
Noon – 1 p.m., “Picnic on the Patio” (FSCC Ellis Fine Arts Center) – Join us for some great E3 hamburgers, along with chips, drinks, etc. Sponsored by E3 Meat Co.
1 – 1:30 p.m., “Reflections on the Commemoration and Celebration of Greenwood 2021” (FSCC Ellis Fine Arts Center/Gordon Parks Museum, FREE) – The presentation will cover the seven important events as seen by photographer Don Thompson as the historic Tulsa, Oklahoma, Greenwood District move forward from the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre to the future.
2:00 p.m. – 3:45 p.m., Showing of the film Shaft (Gordon Parks Museum, FREE) – Introduced by David Parks.
7 p.m., social hour starts at 6 p.m.), “Celebration Tribute Dinner” at the Liberty Theater, 113 S. Main St. This is an evening of celebration, dinner, and tribute; a 50th anniversary retrospective of the release of the film Shaft, and presentation of the 2021 “Gordon Parks Choice of Weapons Award” to Kyle Johnson and Eli Reed. All seats reserved (fee: $30.00 – reserve by Wednesday, October 6th).
Sunday, October 10
10 a.m., Breakfast at Crooner’s Lounge, at one of Fort Scott’s finest, 117 S. Main Street. Check out the menu at: fscrooners.com. Everyone pays for their food.
Schedule subject to change. Please check at www.gordonparkscenter.org for any updates.
Questions? Please call (620) 223-2700 ext. 5850 or email: [email protected]
The Gordon Parks Museum Board is comprised of Janice Fewins, Elouise Young, Jane Campbell, Latisha Kelley-Cook, Marion Stepps, Angel Wilson, Debra Wood, and ShayLynn Clements.
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Chamber Coffee will feature a Grand Opening & Ribbon Cutting celebration for the The Learning Tree Film and Sign Trail
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce invites members and guests to a Chamber Coffee event this Thursday, October 7th at 8 a.m. hosted by the Gordon Parks Museum at Gunn Park Shelter 1, 1010 Park Ave. The event will conclude with a ribbon cutting to celebrate the grand opening of The Learning Tree Film and Sign Trail with one of the trail signs in that location.
The Learning Tree motion picture was directed by Fort Scott’s native son Gordon Parks and Gunn Park was a primary scene location during the 1968 filming. The film was based on a semi-autobiographical novel that Gordon Parks wrote in 1963. Brochures and maps will be available at the Gordon Parks Museum and the Chamber of Commerce to identify all fourteen of the sign and scene locations included on the trail.
The Chamber Coffee will be the kick-off event of the combined 17th and 18th Annual Gordon Parks Celebration to be held this weekend and the full schedule of events may be found on gordonparkscenter.org.
Coffee, juice, and light refreshments will be served in addition to a door prize drawing. Contact the Chamber of Commerce at (620) 223-3566 for more information.
The Fort Scott Fire Department is opening its’ building to showcase new equipment.
The open house is October 16 at the Hawkins Public Safety Facility at 1604 S. National, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“The Fort Scott Fire Department is hosting the event as part of Fire prevention month,” Mike Miles, FSFD Deputy Chief said. “During the event, we will be showcasing the new trucks the fire department was able to purchase this year.”
Personnel will be answering questions and giving demonstrations.
” We will have a live demonstration of setting up the aerial (truck) and discuss with the public, the benefits the new truck provides,” Miles said. “As well as answering any questions or concerns some may have. The trucks and station will be on display for the public to tour and look at.”
Aerial demonstrations at 10:30 and 11:30 a.m., 12:30 and 1:30 p.m.
“One of the stations will be a live kitchen fire safety demonstration,” Miles said. “This will showcase the dangers of a kitchen grease fire and what not to do.”
Live fire demonstrations will be at 11:00 a.m., 12:00, 1:00 and 1:45 p.m.
“We will have our newly renovated fire prevention trailer set up for kids to walk through as well as the parents to see how it operates,” he said. “We take this trailer to every school during the month of October. So the parents can get a good visual of what we do for the kids as well.”
“Sparky ( a mascot) will be present for the kids to take photos with, we are hoping to join up with the police department to have them do some car seat checks or pass any public safety information along on their part as well,” Miles said.
“We will also have fire prevention material to pass out as well,” he said. “We will have several stations set up on the premises for the public to obtain information and do a tour of the facility.”
“We will have drawings for prizes to give to the public and kids,” he said. “Some items were provided by local hardware stores.”
A hot dog lunch will be provided by The Butcher Block.
About the FSFD:
The Fort Scott Fire Department has 12 full-time firefighters and two chiefs, with four reserve firefighter positions.
They are set up with three shifts who work a 24-hour on, 48-hr off rotation. Four full-time members plus the two chiefs are on duty daily.
The fire department has three engines, one aerial truck, one rescue truck, and one ambulance.
The Prairie Sunflower Strings will be the featured entertainment at this week’s Friday Night Concert. The musical group, consisting of six ladies, play traditional folk music on dulcimers, guitar, violin, and autoharp. A few newer songs will also be added into the mix.
“These talented musicians and vocalists have been playing together for about three years,“ concert-series organizer Ralph Carlson said. “Members of The Prairie Sunflower Strings are Cherry Nelson, Joyce Love, and Jean Strader on mountain dulcimers, Charlena Burns on bowed dulcimer, Sandy Hemphill on guitar, violin, and vocals, and Marilyn Adcock on autoharp and vocals. We are very pleased to welcome these gifted ladies back to the park pavilion. Come out and join us for a fun opportunity to see friends and enjoy some unique music.“
The concert begins at 7 p.m. at the Heritage Park Pavilion at First and Main streets. The shows, sponsored by the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce, are free and open to the public. Dave Oas of Parsons serves as sound technician each week. Due to limited seating, attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs.
In the event of inclement weather, the concert will be moved to the Common Ground Coffee Co., 12 E. Wall Street.
