To help meet the Historic Preservation Association of Bourbon County’s goal to save historic buildings in Fort Scott, money has been raised since 1980 in their annual Homes for the Holidays tour. This year in addition to four homes showcased and a shopping event offered, a quilt show was added along with a Christmas tree contest.
This year, the Ed and Christine Lundberg home on Friday evening was the first part of the HPA’s tour, called Moonlight and Mistletoe. The home was built in 1970s contemporary style. Guests were limited to 100 and appetizers were served.
The doorman greets visitors at the Lundberg home on Lees Circle Drive Friday evening.Deb Martin takes a photo of Carl Repp, Dande Lyon Vredenburg, Christine and Ed Lundberg at the Moonlight and Mistletoe Event.Jeff and Vera Norris get a tour of the Ed and Christine Lundberg home.Crystal Mason, Elaine Kirby, and Bernita Hill share a conversation during Moonlight and Mistletoe evening Friday.Piles of food were provided by the Historic Preservation Association of Bourbon County at the Lundberg home.
The Stocking Stuffer shopping event was held Saturday and Sunday at Fort Scott Middle School also as part of Historic Preservation Association of Bourbon County’s fundraising.
Mercy Hospital Auxilary volunteers work a booth at the Stocking Stuffer.Shoppers pick out gifts at a booth during the Stocking Stuffer at Fort Scott Middle School Saturday morning.
Three Homes for the Holiday were decorated for the tour.
The Nate and Bailey Lyons home at 919 Burke was built nearly 100 years ago by Charles Gunn and completed renovated into a contemporary family home by the Lyons.
The completely remodeled kitchen of the Lyons home.The living room, which was completely renovated in the Lyons home.
The Bob and Terri Taylor home at 315 Holbrook was built in the 1880s in the Victorian style.
Visitors admire the front room of the Taylor home Saturday morning during the tour.A hostess tells of the home’s history during the tour.
The Shiney Studio, 2nd Street and National Avenue, is the former St. Andrews Episcopal Church.
DandeLyon Vredenburg greets visitors to the Shiney Studio in costume as Cindy Lou Who.Visitors were given tours of the Shiney Studio which included the private home of DandeLyon Vredenburg along with other businesses.
The Presbyterian Village Christmas Tree Contest was part of the Homes for the Holiday tour for the first time this year. The village is an assisted living facility.
Pictured are some of the trees that were stationed around the assisted living facility at 2401 S. Horton.
A quilt show was a feature of the Homes for the Holidays tour for 2017, which was located in the Beaux Arts Center, north of the Fort Scott Post Office.
Denise Duncan stands before a few of the quilts that were part of the quilt show. The Duncan’s own the Beaux Arts Center.Some of the quilts that were displayed as part of the Homes for the Holidays tour.
A visitor catches the full moon over the fort on his cell phone during the candlelight tour Saturday evening.
Fort Scott National Historic Site celebrated its 175th anniversary by presenting the 36th annual Candlelight Tour Friday and Saturday evenings.
The theme for this year’s candlelight tour: “Happiness Amid Hardship.”
The tour featured five scenes from the 1840s at Fort Scott, the years that it was an active frontier military fort.
Traditionally, the site’s candlelight tour has been “ghosted,” meaning that the reenactors in the scene do not interact with or even recognize the people on the tour.
This year, the staff encouraged some audience participation in most of the scenes, which made the scenes fun and engaging.
The full moon as a backdrop to the tour added to the ambiance of the evening. Temperatures in the 50s added to the enjoyment as well.
Visitors get information from Park Guide Tiffany on the scene that is about to be portrayed on the Fort Scott National Historic Site Candlelight Tour Saturday evening.Visitors are invited to join in dancing at the dragoon barracks in this scene.Enlisted men are treated gruffly in this scene.There is a discussion of reasons why soldiers are going to become Oregon pioneers in this scene at the sutler building.Men enjoy visiting during this scene at the fort’s store.Visitors participated in an evening social at the officers’ quarters, amidst gossiping and matchmaking activities in this scene.There was singing of Christmas carols led by Ralph Carlson and also refreshments offered in the Grand Hall at the end of the tour.
The Fort Scott High School Select Ensemble Presents “Classic Christmas” at 3 p.m. Sunday, December 17 at FSHS Auditorium.
Please come enjoy an afternoon of classic Christmas music performed by the FSHS Select Ensemble with guest appearance by Dan Duling and the Stone Country Band. The program will feature songs like “Baby It’s Cold Outside,” “Frosty the Snowman,” “We Three Kings,” and many more!
Cookies and coffee to be served following the concert.
Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students K-12. All proceeds go to the Select Ensemble.
Tickets can be purchased from the FSHS office or from Select Ensemble students.
A sneak preview of Gunn Park before the first viewing Friday evening showed some of the hard work that had been put into Christmas in the Park, a community holiday event.
Diana Mitchell and Tom Robertson work on last minute details Friday evening before the first showing of Christmas in the Park in Gunn Park.The big rock shelter house at Gunn Park is lit by Christmas lights Friday evening as part of Christmas in the Park.The small rock pavilion on a hill in Gunn Park is decorated with lights for Christmas in the Park.The nativity scene is lit in preparation for the Bethel Community Church Live Nativity.Fort Scott Recreation Department decorated a shelter house in Gunn Park for Christmas in the Park.The big rock shelter house was decorated for Christmas in the Park by Niece Products of Kansas.
The Beacon is a helping agency that during the Christmas season is the go-through agency for Adopt-A-Child.
This program helps provide Christmas presents to families with children up to fifth-grade age.
Currently, all families have been adopted, but “I have a few families that have older children that need presents,” Sue Emmons, executive director of the Beacon said. “Several grandparents on fixed incomes are raising grandchildren.”
For the Christmas Adopt-A-Child, sponsors are asked to choose only one clothing item and/or one gift item for each child, with a $30 per child limit.
Stated needs are asked to be purchased before toys.
The gifts are asked to be gift wrapped and tagged with the child’s first name and family member and delivered to Community Christian Church, 1919 Horton, not later than December 18, between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.
“We also handle the Elks Christmas Food Basket,” Emmons said. “It’s a generous Christmas basket they deliver.”
For more information contact Emmons at 620-223-6869 during office hours 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday.
As a helping agency, the Beacon follows these guidelines:
My dear friend Frank responded to my Thanksgiving article in which I listed several things for which I am thankful. “Don’t forget good weather…and bad weather.” Simple message with a poignant prompt. I need to be thankful for everything because God many times uses the bad more powerfully than He does the good.
Then, this morning, my husband’s daily Baseball Chapel devotional, submitted by Arnie Knecht, titled “Thanksliving,” reminded me that this holiday wasn’t about a day of thanks; it was about a life of thanks. In Knecht’s words, “Thanksgiving is good. Thanksliving is better.” It is a lifestyle involving how we respond, knowing God “has saved us from a hopeless end and given us an endless hope.”
No matter what He uses to get us there.
Twelve of us were to share a Thanksgiving meal this year. We all are condominium owners in the same complex here in Mazatlan, Mexico, and over the years have become close friends. Deb and Jim offered their unit, and Deb led the charge in organizing things—including writing hysterical minutes when the women met to discuss the details. After all, it mattered whose oven had two shelves and whose had one, who owned a gravy boat and whose stuffing recipe was best. Jim purchased an additional table, and both were set a day ahead with linen cloths, fine china and crystal. Since Dave and I were the last two to arrive and were driving, we were given a list of grocery items the girls could not find in Mazatlan. Captain Deb was prepared for everything.
Except an emergency trip to the E.R. Thanksgiving morning. Deb had awakened her doctor-husband with severe abdominal pain. Because she was recovering from a recent car accident, Jim was concerned it was related. As they left for the hospital, we five wives met in Deb’s condo to create a Plan B for our late afternoon dinner.
Mary asked me to lead us in prayer for Deb and Jim. It was a precious moment of calming reassurance that we were sharing a special experience and gave us the teamwork attitude we needed. Sharon shifted recipe responsibilities as we assumed the duties originally assigned to Deb. Joyce offered her condo for the dinner, but Deb’s would still be the gathering place for much of the food preparation. Their units were ten floors apart but in the same wing, so the elevator became our best friend.
The men transported the second table, the extra chairs and all the place settings to Joyce’s condo, and we were in culinary business. What one couldn’t do, the other could. Sharon rolled out the pie crusts; Carolyn perfected the fluting before making a quick trip to the herb garden to pick fresh rosemary for the turkey. Three worked to skewer the turkey skin over the stuffing while another video’d the surgery. (Three chiefs, no Indians.) In between our assignment at Deb’s, we all returned to our own units to prepare our assigned dishes and then regrouped at Deb’s to make sure everything was covered. We spent the day laughing, cleaning up each other’s spills, comparing recipes and communing in sweet Thanksliving.
Deb’s trip to the hospital was not on our agenda, and when she returned home later that day, we all agreed that God had given us a treasured Thanksgiving memory. Had Deb not become ill, we all would have spent the day in our own condos preparing our dishes, our husbands would have watched football, and later we would have joined together for our meal.
Two days before Thanksgiving, Jim had asked my husband to say the prayer before our meal. Dave’s words were full of thanks, especially that Deb and Jim were home, and that God had done more than we ever expected.
He’s good at that, you know.
“Good weather…bad weather.” Thanksliving at its finest.
Story idea submitted by Jana Walker, who provided the photos.
Bob Lemons leads neighborhood children in painting candy canes that he created to display in yards. From left: Ella Walker, Olivia Walker, Grace Walker, Annabelle Gorman, Johnny Kerr, Owen Smith, Bob Lemons, Gianna Gorman, Audrey Walker.
Candy canes, bows, bells… these are all symbols that bring to mind the Christmas season.
The Burke Street neighborhood in Fort Scott created candy canes as yard decorations this month using these symbols of Christmas.
“We started talking about it at the annual 4th of July picnic,” Jana Walker, said. The Burke Street residents have an annual 4th of July parade, and with a picnic following.
It was at the picnic that the neighborhood decided to do Christmas decorations. Burke Street resident Sara Ellis recommended a candy cane lane, said Jana Walker.
“We are trying to build a community with each other,” Jana Walker said. “We wanted to include the children.”
Walker said she would like to encourage other neighborhoods do projects together because it helps people get to know each other.
“It’s fun getting to know the neighborhood,” Bob Lemons said of the project.
Lemons was the carpenter on the project and spearheaded the children painting the candy canes.
“Shane (Jana’s husband) knew that Bob had done carpentry work,” Jana said.
In October, the Walkers then went door-to-door in the neighborhood seeking input about the Christmas candy cane yard decorating project.
“They supplied the materials,” Lemons said. “I cut them out.”
“They needed a place to paint, so I offered my garage,” he said.
Just before Thanksgiving, when the neighborhood children were out of school, the painting portion of the candy cane project got started in the Lemons garage.
From left: Ella Walker, Olivia Walker, Grace Walker and Annabelle Gorman paint candy canes in Bob Lemons garage.From left: Owen Smith, Gianna Gorman and Audrey Walker paint candy canes during Thanksgiving break.
“He volunteered to cut them out and directed the children in painting them white,” Jana Walker noted. “He then finished painting the red stripes.”
Then bows and bells were attached along with the hardware to allow them to stay in the ground.
One of the candy canes that were a community project on Burke Street.
On Monday, Betty and Bob Lemons, went down the neighborhood street, putting the candy canes on display in the yards, after getting permission from each family.
Candy canes are posted in yards of residents on Burke Street. The decorations are a community project of the people who live on the street.
About 12-14 children off-and-on helped with the project, Lemons said.
“We’ve just lived here three years, it’s a great way to get to know the neighbors,” Lemons said.
Allen Schellack, Fort Scott Compassionate Ministries Outreach Center, shows the bell and bucket needed to volunteer for the Salvation Army fundraising campaign.
It’s that time of year again!
The Salvation Army needs volunteers to ring bells in their annual fundraising campaign.
Allen Schellack, Fort Scott Compassionate Ministries(FSCM), is seeking bell ringers in partnership with the Salvation Army.
The hours and days are flexible, he said.
Individuals, families, churches, and community service organizations are encouraged to call 620-223-2212 to set up a time to serve.
All donations stay in Bourbon County, he said.
This year $4,134.47 is assistance was provided to local families.
FSCM is the designated Salvation Army Disaster Relief and Services Extension Unit for Bourbon County. Through the partnership the following services are provided:
disaster relief,
rental and utility assistance,
prescriptions (no narcotics),
temporary lodging,
gasoline for work or doctor,
vision help(eyeglasses),
Salvation Army Kids Camp,
and other unspecified needs are on a case by case basis.
In addition, FSCM is a volunteer organization that provided these services in 2016-17:
fire disaster packs,
homeless/transition assist packs,
Christmas presents for teens,
school supplies for middle and high school students.
Fort Scott Compassionate Care Ministries is located on the second floor at 26 N. Main. Pass through the Senior Citizens Center to get there.
Anicia Robinson, activities director at Presbyterian Village shows one her favorite trees in the contest Thursday morning while waiting for the judges to arrive.
New to the Historic Preservation Association of Bourbon County’s Homes for the Holidays Tour, December 2 and 3, is Presbyterian Village, an assisted living facility at 2401 S. Horton.
“At this location, we are showcasing the Christmas tree decorating contest in Fort Scott where over 15 trees were entered and are all uniquely decorated using creativity and class,” Ginger Nance, executive director of Presbyterian Village, said.
Christmas trees are displayed throughout the facility.
Dr. Grant Hartman, daughter, Zoey, and wife, Dr. Heather Davis, decorate a tree Thursday morning for the Presbyterian Village Christmas Tree Contest. They own Hartman Spine and Joint.
Businesses, organizations, and individuals could enter the tree decorating contest.
Since Presbyterian Village is in the Homes for the Holidays tour the Christmas trees will be on display the same hours on Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, noon to 4 p.m.
For more information contact the village at 620-644-4362.
Quilts are a new addition to the Homes for the Holidays Tour this weekend. They will be featured at the Beaux Arts Center at First Street and National Avenue.Grace Kramer looks at the quilts on display at the Beaux Art Center Thursday during the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce Coffee.
Quilts are an American form of art, Rhonda Dunn told attendees at the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce Coffee Thursday morning.
Dunn said in her family a previous generation of sisters exchanged cloth handkerchiefs as presents. A few of the “hanky’s” are in quilts on display at the first-ever quilt show during the Homes for the Holiday Tour.
The quilts are part of an exhibit at the Beaux Arts Center, owned by Denise and Bobby Duncan, who live on the third floor of the center.
The center is just north of the Fort Scott Post Office on National Avenue.
People who purchase $15 Homes for the Holidays Tour tickets can view the quilts from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday.
Tickets will allow entry to three featured homes, the quilt show and Presbyterian Village’s Christmas Tree Contest, 2401 S. Horton.
Deb Martin stands near a “hanky” quilt she made with her Grandmother Carrie Carpenter in the late 1980s.Rhonda Dunn speaks during the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce Coffee amid the quilts that will be on display in the Homes for the Holidays Tour.
The theme of this year’s Fort Scott Christmas Parade is Christmas Vacation. The event starts at 6 p.m. at Third and Main Streets, heading north on Main to Skubitz Plaza.
“People can have fun with that,” Lindsay Madison, executive director of Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce said. “They can play off the movie by the same name or what they do on Christmas vacation.”
Prizes will be awarded for first place, $75; second place, $50 and third place, $25. Briggs Automall of Fort Scott is providing the prize money.
New this year is a theme decorated golf cart category, with a $25 prize for the winning entry.
Fort Scott Recreation Department will offer free hot chocolate before and during the parade.
The parade entries will exit the parade at Skubitz Plaza, past the Mayor’s Christmas Tree. The tree will be lit following the parade by Mayor JoLynne Mitchell.
Pre-register for children lucky-draw prizes at Papa Don’s Restaurant, 10. N. Main prior to the parade. Pre-registration is from Friday, Dec. 1 until Tuesday, Dec. 5 at 6 p.m. when the parade starts.
Names for lucky-draw prizes will be drawn following the parade for children. Categories are as follows: ages 3-8, both boys and girls; 9-14, both boys and girls and one prize for children 14-18 years old. The drawing will take place after the Christmas tree lighting.
Mayor Mitchell will give some brief comments, then Santa will go to Papa Don’s Restaurant Celebration Room for children to visit with him.
Each child that comes to visit Santa at Papa Don’s will receive a book, compliments of USD 234.
Fort Scott High School Pride Club students will have Christmas crafts for children to do while waiting in line for Santa in the big room of the restaurant.
Walgreen Drug Store will take a free 4 X6 inch photograph of children with Santa. The photo may be picked at the store, later.
