Pittsburg, KS – The Stilwell Heritage and Education Foundation invites the community to an evening with America’s most dynamic president, Theodore Roosevelt, brought vividly to life through a captivating living-history performance on Thursday, November 20, 2025, in the Timmons Ballroom at the Stilwell Hotel, 707 N. Broadway, Pittsburg, Kansas.
Category Archives: History
Roosevelt Living History Performance in Pittsburg on November 20
Step Back in Time with Teddy Roosevelt:
Stilwell Heritage and Education Foundation Presents Dinner with Teddy Roosevelt – November 20, 2025
Pittsburg, KS – The Stilwell Heritage and Education Foundation invites the community to an evening with America’s most dynamic president, Theodore Roosevelt, brought vividly to life through a captivating living-history performance on Wednesday, November 20, 2025, in the Timmons Ballroom at the Stilwell Hotel, 707 N. Broadway, Pittsburg, Kansas.
This engaging event features nationally recognized Teddy Roosevelt reenactor Joe Wiegand, who embodies the 26th president’s larger-than-life personality—his grit, humor, and vision that shaped a nation. Performing as Theodore Roosevelt, Wiegand will share stories from Roosevelt’s lifetime. From battling asthma and taking boxing lessons as a young boy to challenging special interests as President of the United States, Wiegand brings Theodore Roosevelt to life with energy, intelligence, and wit reminiscent of the original. Following a 45-minute presentation, he will take questions from the audience as Teddy Roosevelt.
“We’re thrilled to bring this kind of living history to Stilwell,” said Foundation President Lyndon Lawson. “It’s a chance for families, students, and history lovers to connect with the past in a way that feels alive and relevant today. It’s as if we are able to step back in time to when Teddy Roosevelt spoke at the Hotel Stilwell.”
Proceeds from the event will support the Stilwell Heritage and Education Foundation’s ongoing efforts to preserve the historic building, renovate the apartments for senior and low-income housing, and provide educational programming for the community.
Tickets are on sale now for $45.00 each (which includes dinner, drink, and dessert). Doors and the silent auction will open at 5:30 p.m. Meet-and-Greet tickets can be purchased for an additional $20.00; the VIP Meet-and-Greet will begin at 5:30 p.m. Dinner and the program will begin at 6:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at www.givebutter.com/
Join us for a night of inspiration, laughter, and history as President Roosevelt himself takes the stage and reminds us to “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.”
Event sponsored by Explore Crawford County, Pittsburg State University, and the Stilwell Heritage and Education Foundation.
CATO CELEBRATES ITS PIONEER HISTORY WITH CATO DAYS
The annual Cato Day will be presented by the Cato Historical Preservation Association on Saturday, November 8th, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is free.
Cato, Kansas – The annual Cato Day will be held on Saturday, November 8th, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Cato, Kansas. This free event, organized by the Cato Historical Preservation Association to celebrate Cato’s pioneer heritage, begins with sign-in at 9 a.m. Visitors are welcome to arrive any time, but we kindly ask that they sign our guest book. The day’s activities will start at 9:30 with music and history presented by Matt Wells and friends in the historic Cato Christian Church. At 10:30, a cavalry drill led by Matt Feild will be presented in the area behind the church, and at 10:45, in the “Old Stone School,” Anna Portwood Swank, Elizabeth Portwood Thompson, and Jamie Thompson will discuss the school’s history. This will be followed by a historical re-enactment of the 1860 Settler Removal in front of the Pioneer Cabin at 11:30. At 12 noon, we will take an outdoor lunch break with musical entertainment by Jim Harris and the Players Circle. Cowboy Stew, prepared by Shawn Pryer and the Mighty MO Chuck Wagon crew, will be available, with proceeds benefiting the preservation of Cato’s buildings and supporting educational events for local school children. Shawn will demonstrate Chuck Wagon and Dutch oven cooking. Throughout the day, presenters will show guests what life was like in the 1800s, and the Southeast Kansas Antique Tractor Club will display and demonstrate vintage tractors. At 12:30, there will be a raffle for a beautiful quilt donated by longtime member, Sue James of Texas. The highlight of the event begins at 1 p.m. with a hayrack wagon ride, led by Joe Bournonville, to various local historical sites. The hayrack ride and Cato Day will end at 3 p.m. All times are approximate.
Booklets about the history of Cato and the Cherokee Neutral Land (present-day Crawford and Cherokee Counties) will be available for sale. The Cato Store will also be selling other Cato-related merchandise, including t-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, and more. Cash or check only. Proceeds from the quilt raffle, “Cowboy Stew,” books, and merchandise support the preservation of Cato’s historic buildings and Cato Kids’ Day, which is held every year for local fourth and fifth-graders.
Cato is located in the northern part of Crawford County, off Hwy 69. From Hwy 69, turn west on 720th Avenue, and follow the signs to Cato. Directions can be found at http://catoschool.com/. The Cato Historical Preservation Association is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the buildings and history of Cato and the surrounding area. These buildings include the “Old Stone School,” built in 1869; the Cato Christian Church, built in 1915; and a full-sized replica of a cabin the early settlers would have used in the 1860s. The “Old Stone School” is on the National Register of Historic Places. A stone bridge, part of the “Old Wagon Road,” can also be seen on the property. Cato is an open-air museum, and its buildings are only open to the public a few times a year, so don’t miss this unique opportunity to spend an afternoon of entertainment and enlightenment in historic Cato.
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Wayman Chapel AME Church Commemorative Park Grand Opening and Dedication Ceremony
The Gordon Parks Museum will host a grand opening event and dedication
ceremony for the Wayman Chapel African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church Commemorative Park on
Thursday, October 2, at 4:30 p.m. as part of the Gordon Parks Celebration events.
The commemorative park is located at 301 S. Lowman Street in Fort Scott, on the historic site that was once
home to the oldest Black church in Fort Scott. The land, formerly the property of Wayman Chapel AME
Church, was generously donated to the Gordon Parks Museum by Fort Scott resident Josh Jones, through the
Fort Scott Community College Foundation.
Photo Courtesy of and Copyright by The Gordon Parks Foundation
(left to right) Josh Jones, Kirk Sharp, Gordon Parks Museum, and Sarah Smith, Fort Scott Community College Foundation. Submitted photo.
The church was regularly attended by Gordon Parks and his family, and was even featured in a scene from
Parks’ acclaimed film, The Learning Tree.
Originally established in 1866, the church moved to its final location at Third and Lowman in 1885, where it
stood for more than 115 years as a spiritual and cultural cornerstone of Fort Scott’s Black community.
Declining membership and unsafe building conditions eventually led to its condemnation and demolition in the
early 2000s.
While the building is gone, its legacy endures: two original stained-glass windows, two pews, and
other archival objects from the church are now preserved in the Gordon Parks Museum’s permanent collection.
The property has since been transformed into a commemorative, low-maintenance park honoring the legacy of
the church.
AME Church
Gordon Parks, 1950.
Photo Courtesy of and Copyright by The Gordon Parks Foundation. Submitted photo.
The new display signage includes four large storyboard panels (76” x 27”) featuring photos,
graphics, and text that highlight the church’s rich history and its vital role in the local Black community. These
panels are installed on a concrete slab beneath a pergola structure (12’ x 20’). In addition, a large 4’ x 3’
welcome sign will greet visitors at the park entrance.
The commemorative park is funded in part by Kansas Tourism and made possible with generous support from:
Armstrong Pressure Washing, LLC, Bourbon County Historical Association, City of Fort Scott, Fort Scott Area
Community Foundation, Fort Scott Community College Foundation, The Healthy Bourbon County Action
Team’s Local Health Equity Action Team (LHEAT), Josh Jones, Rick Mayhew, My One Stop, Marbery
Concrete, Inc. and McKenney Masonry, LLC.
Born into Slavery & Forged in the Fires of War
Untold Stories of African American History
Fort Scott, Kan. – Fort Scott National Historic Site is hosting author, historical researcher, and Civil War reenactor Calvin L. Osborne on Saturday, September 20, 2025, at 2 p.m. in the Grand Hall of the East Infantry Barracks, where he will share an epic story of a once-enslaved man who fought for freedom, helped shape a nation, and unknowingly laid a foundation for generations to come.
The pre–Civil War South story follows Osborne’s great-great-grandfather’s journey from bondage to the battlefield, through the Battle of Westport, the 1st Kansas Colored Infantry, into his new life in Kansas.
Mr. Osborne explores the world of African Americans labeled as “contraband,” freed slaves who were neither fully free nor protected. Osburne brings to light the triumphs and tragedies of a people caught between bondage and liberation, family and fate, heartbreak and hope.
By day, Osborne is a practicing real estate attorney and has more than two decades of experience in law and real estate development. He is a student of African American military history and heritage, participating in reenactments to honor the courage and sacrifice of black soldiers. His research into genealogy and primary documents unearthed the real-life love story between his great-great-grandparents, William and Lucinda Lacy.
Fort Scott National Historic Site’s exhibit areas and visitor center are open Friday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. The park grounds are open daily from a half hour before sunrise until a half hour after sunset. Fort Scott National Historic Site is a free park that offers a glimpse into the growth of our nation. A walk through the fort reveals the significant role it played in the opening of the West, as well as the Civil War and the strife in the State of Kansas that preceded it. To find out more or become involved in activities at the Fort, please contact the park at 620-223-0310 or visit our website at www.nps.gov/fosc, on Facebook www.facebook.com/FortScottNPS and Instagram www.instagram.com/fortscottnps
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The Pioneer Harvest Fiesta Offers New Fiber Arts Show
The Pioneer Harvest Fiesta (PHF) is an annual Bourbon County event that takes place this year from October 3-5 at the Bourbon County Fairgrounds on South Horton Street in Fort Scott.
The event showcases rural American culture in an earlier time period.
To learn more: https://pioneerharvestfiesta.com/
The event kicks off with a parade of antique and classic farm implements and more, through Fort Scott’s historic downtown on Thursday, October 2, at 6 p.m., according to the PHF website.
One can experience educational and historic exhibits, refreshments, and live musical entertainment all weekend.
All three days showcase steam engines, blacksmiths, food and Flea Market vendors, drag saw demonstrations, Tractors and Gas Engines on display, Baker Fan demonstrations, arts and crafts, straw baling, wheat threshing, corn husking and shelling, sorghum making, rock crushing, saw mill operation, Car Show, Tractor Pull (Antique & Classic), Garden Tractor Pull, and many more.
This year’s full weekend admission is only $5 per person and includes a collector button and the Friday Bean Feed at 5 PM. Children under age 12 are free.
Free admission does not include a collector button. Prior year’s collector buttons are available for purchase for $1.
One of the new additions to the event is a fiber arts show in conjunction with the annual quilt show.
New Craft Added
The PHF quilt show has a new name this year and a new direction. The Quilt and Fiber Arts Show will feature beautiful quilts as usual, and will also showcase examples of various fiber arts, according to a press release from Linda Rogers, a local quilter.
Fiber art is work done with thread, yarn, fiber, or fabric, according to Rogers. Examples of fiber art include weaving, rug hooking, spinning, knitting, crocheting, embroidery, needlepoint, cross-stitching, tatting, needle felting, macramé, and more.
Area quilters and fiber artists are invited to enter items for the show to be held October 3-5 at the Myers Building at the Bourbon County Fairground during the annual Pioneer Harvest Fiesta. This event is free to the public.
“Anyone may enter items not previously shown at this show, no limit on the number of items, and the public is invited to view the entries at NO COST! (There is an entry fee for the machinery show.)” said Linda Rogers, this year’s quilt and fiber arts organizer at the annual event.
In addition to the exhibits, fiber artists will be present at various times during the show, working on their current projects. The public is invited to drop in, view the exhibits, talk to the artists, and bring their needlework projects to work on, according to Rogers.
“Generations ago, quilting and needlework were necessary skills,” she said. “These traditional crafts continued to be kept alive by many of our grandmothers and mothers who, although they no longer needed to make things, nevertheless enjoyed filling their spare time with creative pursuits.”
Recently, quilting and traditional crafts have been “rediscovered” by new generations of enthusiastic fans and are sometimes referred to as “granny crafts” or “Grandma Core”, she said.
“In our hyper-connected, technology-driven world, both adults and youth are finding the simple joy and calm that comes from working with colors and textures to create something tangible with their own hands, according to the press release.”
“A quilt and fiber arts show is a wonderful place to come be inspired, encouraged, and tempted,” said Rogers.“You will see some fantastic quilts, some showcasing new techniques and contemporary colors, as well as more traditional quilts. And if you are thinking about taking up a new craft, or if you are in the middle of a needlework project and have hit a roadblock, maybe one of our quilters or artisans can make suggestions to help you.”
The “take-in” time to enter quilts and items for exhibit is Thursday, October 2, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. There is no fee to exhibit items. The only award that will take place is a “People’s Choice Award”. Items can be picked up on Sunday, October 5, from 2:30 to 3:00.
The Quilt and Fiber Arts Show will be open for public viewing from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, October 3, and Saturday, October 4, and on Sunday, October 5, from noon to 2:00. Admittance to the quilt show is free. For more information, contact Rogers at 620-215-4905.
Rogers is entering a quilt that was pieced by an ancestor of hers, and gives the details:
History of Linda Ramsey Roger’s Family Vintage Quilt
Quilts often become heirlooms, taken care of and handed down to generations after their creation. Such is the case with Linda Ramsey Roger’s quilt, which was created in 1864.
“Information below is taken from a handwritten note, written by my great-grandmother, Alice Ann (Hinton) Konantz, concerning the quilt, other death dates of my family, and an email sent to me from my 1st cousin, who gifted the quilt to me.
*1864 – Charlotte (Hinton) Hinton (great-great-grandmother), age 23, pieced and appliqued the quilt while living in Iowa. Her daughter, Alice Ann, recalls in a note remembering her mother working on it when she was 7 years old. Charlotte died later that year, and shortly after, she and her dad moved to Bourbon County, Kansas.
*1923 – Alice Ann (Hinton) Konantz (great-grandmother), age 66, had it hand quilted by the Methodist Episcopal Ladies Aid, which Rogers reckons is the United Methodist Church of Uniontown.
1933 – Alice Konantz wrote the *note telling the above information.
1940 – Alice Konantz died at 83 years old. “Most likely the quilt passed to my grandmother, Grace Miriam (Konantz) Griffith.”
1982 – Grace Miriam Griffith died at age 84. “Most likely the quilt passed to her oldest living daughter, my aunt, Betty Jane (Griffith) Perry, while living in Montana.”
1999 -Her Aunt Betty gifted the quilt to her oldest daughter, Kathleen (Perry) Martinell, Roger’s first cousin, who still resides in Montana.
2024 – Kathleen gifted the quilt to Rogers, who lives in Bourbon County, Kansas.
Old Settler’s Picnic Parade 2025: Remembering the Past, Planning the Future
The 120th Old Settlers’ Picnic festivities in Uniontown culminated with the parade on September 1.
Rain threatened, but did not happen for this annual picnic, which was much appreciated by participants.
Vendors lined the sidewalk in the town’s square, and children and their loved ones lined the streets waiting for the anticipated candy that is traditionally thrown to viewers of the parade.
The theme this year was Remembering the Past-Planning the Future.
The parade grand marshals were the Bill and Doris George family, with four generations on the haywagon, representing the legacy of this local farm family.
Other activities from August 29 to September 1 included a street dance, a 5K run/walk, a kids’ fishing derby, rodeos, a community church service, a car show, a baby contest, and numerous games and prizes, along with the annual recognitions.
Labors and Leisure on the Frontier: Labor Day Weekend at Fort Scott
Saturday, August 30, Fort Scott National Historic Site will take you on an exploration of the labors and leisure on an 1840s frontier post. Throughout Saturday, enjoy historic yard games, a variety of living history demonstrations, and interpretive programs as you explore the labors and leisure on the fort.
Visit with an officer’s wife doing needlepoint, a laundress making soap and doing laundry, a cooking demonstration, a contracted teamster discussing the best way to assemble his freight wagon and learn about caring for your horse from a Dragoon soldier. Guided Fort Tours will be offered daily at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. All programs are free and open to the public.
Fort Scott National Historic Site’s, a unit of the National Park Service, exhibit areas and visitor center are open Friday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. The park grounds are open daily from a half hour before sunrise until a half hour after sunset. To find out more or become involved in activities at the Fort, please contact the park at 620-223-0310 or visit our website at www.nps.gov/fosc.
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NPS Photos
Bourbon County Community Theatre Announces Auditions for Voices from the Grave
Bourbon County Community Theatre is holding auditions for 2nd Annual Voices from the Grave, an original production based on stories from Bourbon County’s history.
Auditions are 6-8 p.m. on Sept. 11 or 12 at the Ellis Fine Arts Center at Fort Scott Community College. Those who audition must be age 14 or over and only need to attend one evening of auditions. Rehearsal times will be scheduled in small groups with the Director, Regen Wells.
Voices from the Grave takes place from 7-9 p.m. on Oct. 25 in downtown Fort Scott, KS. Guests will enjoy a guided walking tour of short-acting vignettes centering around ghostly incidents in Fort Scott. Scenes were written by members of the BCCT Board and many are based on stories from local author Brian Allen’s books about Fort Scott.
Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for students and are available from bcct.ludus.com in Fort Scott. Tour times must be pre-scheduled and run every 20 minutes. Parents must accompany children under the age of 14.
More information can be found on the Bourbon County Community Theatre Facebook page or by contacting Wells at 620-215-3510.
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Unsung Heroes Semi-Finalists To Be Revealed
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Staff Spotlight: Norm Conard
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Just a reminder! If you’re looking for a meaningful and engaging experience for your students or organization? Plan a field trip to the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes in Fort Scott! Explore inspiring exhibits like the Irena Sendler story, try hands-on activities and our new digital art board, stroll through the Lowell Milken Park, and enjoy a kid-friendly scavenger hunt.
1 S. Main St., Fort Scott, KS
Call (620) 223-1312 or Email: 
2025 Discovery Award Finalists Coming Soon!
Celebrate the National Park Service’s Anniversary at Fort Scott NHS
Fort Scott, Kan. – Fort Scott National Historic Site celebrates the anniversary of the National Park Service, Monday, August 25, 2025, with a series of family-friendly games, trivia, a scavenger hunt throughout the day, fort tours at 10 am and 1 pm, and a musical and a performance by the 1st Infantry Division Band from Fort Riley. Activities are appropriate for visitors of all ages and abilities.
Fort Scott National Historic Site will host the 1st Infantry Division Band from Fort Riley beginning at 6 pm. The performance will be on the bricks in front of the Post Hospital/Visitor Center. Bring your lawn chair to ensure seating.
In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson signed the “Organic Act” which stated that the purpose of the newly formed National Park Service was “to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and wildlife therein, and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations.” What better way to celebrate the Park Service’s anniversary than with a fun-filled day in your national park with the family!
Fort Scott and Fort Riley have a connection. Fort Scott closed operations in 1853, the same year Fort Riley was opened. The Fort Scott Dragoons and the Fort Riley Cavalry both shared portions of the same mission at different times, providing protection on the Oregon and Santa Fe Trails.
Historical Note of Interest about the band: One notable example of the use of bands in Vietnam was the “Thunder Road” incident, which received national publicity. Major General John Hay, Commanding General of the 1st Infantry Division, ordered his band to march down “Thunder Road” for a distance of one mile while playing the march Colonel Bogey. This road was critical to the division but was under the control of a North Vietnamese Army regiment located less than a mile away. The enemy confused by the action withdrew from the area. The 1st Infantry Division Band fulfilled a remarkable combat mission without firing a shot.
Fort Scott National Historic Site is one of 430+ nationally significant sites and is truly the story of America growing up.
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Credit Photo as: Image of NPS arrowhead, 1st Infantry Division Band’s logo, and A Company of the 1st Dragoons guidon.
Wayman Chapel AME Church Commemorative Park to Receive Display Signs Installation
The Gordon Parks Museum is pleased to announce the installation of
informational display signs and a welcome sign at the Wayman Chapel African Methodist Episcopal (AME)
Church Commemorative Park, located at 301 S. Lowman Street in Fort Scott.
Installation is scheduled for Tuesday, July 29, 2025.
“They are hoping to arrive mid-morning around 10:30 am or so,” said the museum director, Kirk Sharp. “The sign vendor is Lark Label, in Wichita, KS.”
AME Church
Gordon Parks, 1950.
Photo Courtesy of and Copyright by The Gordon Parks Foundation. Submitted photo.
This historic site, once home to the oldest Black church in Fort Scott. The property land of the Wayman Chapel
AME Church, was donated to the Gordon Parks Museum by Fort Scott resident Josh Jones, through the Fort
Scott Community College Foundation. The church was regularly attended by Gordon Parks and his family and
was even featured in a scene from Parks’ acclaimed film, The Learning Tree.
The property has since been transformed into a commemorative, low-maintenance park honoring the legacy of
the church.
The new display signage includes four large storyboard panels (76” x 27”) featuring photos,
graphics, and text that highlight the church’s rich history and its vital role in the local Black community. These
panels will be installed on a concrete slab beneath an already completed pergola structure (12’ x 20’). In
addition, a large 4’ x 3’ welcome sign will greet visitors at the park entrance.
“We are very excited about this park, which pays tribute to the historic Wayman Chapel AME Church,
established in 1866 by the grandparents of Professor E. J. Hawkins,” said Gordon Parks Museum Executive
Director Kirk Sharp. “We are incredibly grateful to all of the sponsors who helped make this commemorative
park a reality, especially Josh Jones and the Foundation. This Park ensures that this important chapter of Fort
Scott’s history continues to be honored and shared. It also sits along our Learning Tree Film Sign Trail, adding
even more depth to its significance
“The commemorative project has been made possible with generous support from: Bourbon County Historical
Association, City of Fort Scott, Fort Scott Area Community Foundation, Fort Scott Community College
Foundation, The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team’s Local Health Equity Action Team (LHEAT), Josh
Jones, Rick Mayhew, My One Stop, Marbery Concrete, Inc., and Kansas Tourism.
Wayman Chapel AME Church, originally established in 1866, moved to its final location at the corner of Third
and Lowman in 1885. For more than 115 years, it served as a spiritual and cultural hub for Fort Scott’s Black
community. Due to declining membership and unsafe building conditions, the church was eventually
condemned and razed in the early 2000s.
Today, its legacy lives on. A stained-glass window and two original
pews from the church are on permanent exhibit at the Gordon Parks Museum.
The AME church was Fort Scott’s first and oldest black church with Shiloh Baptist being the second.
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