For 125 years, the Fort Scott Fire Department has served the city in emergency situations, and this Saturday will celebrate those years by inviting the community to an event at the fire station from noon to 3 p.m.

“Everybody’s pretty excited about it,” Fire Chief Paul Ballou said of the event and the anniversary it is recognizing, pointing out that it was the firefighters who planned the event after bringing the anniversary to his attention earlier this year. “I think it’s going to be good. I think people will be really excited to probably see the old stuff, to see where we started in that day.”

The event will give visitors an opportunity to commemorate the anniversary and view old equipment used by the fire department over the last 125 years, including old fire engines and other equipment used and worn by the firefighters. Old ledgers will also be on hand to provide detailed information on the department stretching back to the 1800s, though maybe not the very beginning.

“It’s hard to believe it’s been that long,” Ballou said, saying he has been a part of the department for the past 26 years, serving as chief since November of 2008, after a friend got him interested in becoming a firefighter.

In his time with the department, Ballou said he has witnessed several changes come to the department, such as moving out of the downtown station and into their current location in 1993, adding fire station two in 2009, as well as a variety of improvements and changes made to the technology and equipment they use, such as thermal imaging cameras and better breathing apparatus.

Another change in the 1990s included the types of calls the department responds to. Ballou said initially a fire department’s primary job was to control fires. But in the last few decades, they began responding to vehicle accidents and rescue calls with local Emergency Medical Service teams as well, increasing their call volumes.

Currently, the department averages about 100 calls a month, responding to almost 1,400 in 2015, which was a busy year. Ballou said their record came during a major storm when they answered about 100 tones in just one day.

Ballou said higher numbers of calls can bring mixed feelings for the firefighters, who joined the department in order to have that opportunity to help the community and appreciate having their long shifts kept busy by calls. But at the same time, Ballou said they recognize that when they have a busy day, others are having a bad day.

Despite the changes he himself has witnessed, Ballou said he cannot imagine other changes that occurred over the past 125 years for the Fort Scott Fire Department, which started off using a horse-drawn apparatus before transitioning to gas engines. Old ledgers even show when the department realized feeding and keeping the horses annually was more expensive than running the newer engines.

The department also transitioned from using just two shifts of firefighters to the current three, 24-hour shifts, giving the staff more time off and flexibility with sick days, training and holidays. A six-person reserve program also now provides extra manpower as well as a deputy chief position which was added just in the past couple years.

“It’s changed a lot,” Ballou said of the department.

But despite those changes, Ballou says some of the traditions remain the same, such as the firefighters’ eagerness to serve their community in times of emergency and the nature of the firefighter community that supports each other’s families while their loved ones are serving in sometimes dangerous situations.

A tradition the department has held to for possibly as long as 75 years includes honoring past firefighters who have died by placing grave markers and firefighters’ flags at their gravestones each Memorial Day. Ballou said in the history of the department, they believe they have three confirmed, line-of-duty deaths, including one firefighter who was killed on his very first shift as a firefighter while others died later of smoke inhalation.

“We lose them close to home sometimes,” Ballou said, mentioning other firefighters who died more recently in neighboring cities and departments, while more than 30 have already died in the line of duty in the nation this year.

Mutual aid plays a key role for the majority of fire departments, including Fort Scott, as they respond to some calls in the county while those rural departments or other city departments help Fort Scott in larger emergencies. Ballou said their department relies on those departments just as they depend on Fort Scott, recalling emergencies such as the downtown fire in 2005 that took more than 30 hours, about 25 different departments and 100 firefighters just to get it under control.

Ballou said the city itself has also been very supportive of the local fire department and its staff over the years.

“I think it says something for the city and the community to have that particular time in history come up,” Ballou said of the department’s longevity and upcoming anniversary. “We hope we’ve done the city proud over the years.”

Later this month, Ballou said they hope to hold a second event that may be just for current and past firefighters, some Ballou said served as firefighters for years and even decades.

Submitted by Shirley Palmer, June 19

Excitement is in the air in Fort Scott, Kan., as the First Baptist Church, 123 Scott, Fort Scott, Kan., will soon be celebrating their 150th anniversary.

On Saturday evening, July 2, beginning at 6 p.m. in Fellowship Hall, will be an “Evening of Elegance Gala – Down Memory Lane” banquet complete with professional dinner music and program to follow. Many special memories will be shared. The banquet is free as it is being provided by anonymous members of the church. Reservations may be made by calling the church office, 620-223- 3080 by June 27th.

Sunday morning, July 3, beginning at 10:30 a.m. will be a special celebration worship service. Dr. John S. Williams, Executive Minister, American Baptist Churches of the Central Region, will bring the morning message. Following the worship service the time capsule will be opened and an old-fashioned carry-in (pot luck) lunch will be served in Fellowship Hall.

Beginning at 5 p.m. July 3, at Shelter House Number 6, Gunn Park, a special evening church service will be held in memory of one of our former early pastors, Pastor Elihu Gunn. (Gunn Park was named after this special preacher.) An old-fashioned, home-made ice cream and watermelon social will be enjoyed, with special testimonies and the singing together of many “old time” hymns.

The Church history goes back to an earlier date of 1862. It was not officially organized until 1866, when a group of people met with a membership of 52 people starting the church.

Following the Civil War, times were difficult. Previous settlers in Fort Scott had endured much hardship. People came from all directions to Fort Scott. They came by covered wagons, horseback, trains and some even came on foot.

Israel Harris was called on February 18, 1866, to be the first pastor. Meetings were held in the upper story of the Bourbon County Courthouse at the corner of 2nd and National, which is the present site of the public library. On October 10, 1866, lots were conveyed to the Church as a building site.

In 1876, Elihu Gunn was called as an early pastor of the church. Pastor Gunn played a significant part in the history of not only the church, but the community of Fort Scott as well as the state of Kansas.

Through the past 150 years, the church has welcomed 39 different pastors. Currently, the church is in search of a new pastor and has an interim pastor, Rev. Dr. Howard Cassidy-Moffatt, from Topeka, Kan.

A lot has changed over the years. During the struggles, hardships, financial weakness and problems, the central theme of the church – evangelism – runs like a bright golden thread—never broken, never dimmed. From the past to the present, the church has always supported missions and has been a nice place where people worship God.

The 150th celebration committee includes Shirley Palmer, chairperson; Edith Peterson, Connie Conroy, Elsie Fly and Rhonda Allen.

With just a few weeks of the season behind them, the Fort Scott Hurricanes have already found success in the Southeast Kansas Swim League, winning their first three swim meets of the year so far.

“I think things are going pretty well,” first-year head coach David Sachau said, adding the league provides a great opportunity for students to exercise and rise early during the summer. “The kids seem to be improving and having fun.”

Wednesday, June 22, Fort Scott hosted the weekly meet for the league, which includes eight teams including those from Iola, Chanute, Coffeyville, Independence and others. The most recent meet ended with Fort Scott being awarded the victory over the Independence swimmers, who were only able to bring about 12 of their normal 70 swimmers.

The Hurricanes have about 80 swimmers this year, ranging from five to 18 years old. The season runs from June through the fourth weekend in July.

Sachau said Fort Scott will host four of the regular season swim meets this year, as well as the league meet held the weekend of July 22 and 23. Hosting that event only comes about once every five years for each city, Sachau said, and it will likely bring about 300 people to the city of Fort Scott.

As the local team, Fort Scott will provide programs to hand out to visitors during that league swim meet, and Sachau said local businesses and organizations are encouraged to purchase advertising to be included in those programs.

Tonight, the Fort Scott team will compete once more, this time in a swim meet against the Humboldt team.

Submitted June 27

Fort Scott Community College Endowment Association will host the second annual Black & White Gala on Saturday, August 13. The gala will take place at the Liberty Theatre, located at 113 South Main in Fort Scott, Kan.

“We are thrilled to be hosting the gala again this year,” said Bailey Lyons, FSCC Director of Development & Alumni Relations. “Last year was a great success, and we hope the community can join us again for a fun and entertaining evening.”

The event will begin with cocktails at 6:30 p.m. and delicious, heavy hors d’oeuvres at 7:00 p.m. The cocktail hour will be followed by an evening of dancing and live musical entertainment with dueling pianos. There will also be a photo booth available for attendees.

Proceeds from the gala will benefit FSCC students through merit- and need-based scholarships. “The money raised by this event helps ensure future Greyhounds have the resources necessary to fund their education and reach their goals,” said Lyons.

Tickets are selling quickly for this popular event. Prices are $50 for one person, $190 for a table of four, and $375 for a table of eight. A cash bar will also be available. To reserve seats or for questions about sponsorship opportunities, please call Bailey Lyons at 620.223.2700, ext. 5830.

 

Independence Day

Submitted June 16

John Adams, one of our nation’s founders, said of the 4th of July: “I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival…it ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward for evermore.”

Fort Scott National Historic Site proudly continues this tradition and invites you to come and join us in celebrating our nation’s independence with an Old Fashioned Military Holiday. Cannon and musket firings, children’s games and ice cream are just a few of the free activities offered Saturday, July 2, Sunday, July 3, and Monday, July 4.

On Saturday, living history will be featured, so come and mingle with soldiers, laundresses and officers’ wives as they present garrison life in the 1840s. The bark of cannon and crack of gunfire will be heard throughout the day as artillery programs pay honor to our freedom. At 2 p.m., enjoy a cup of homemade ice cream provided by the Friends of Fort Scott NHS, Inc., as Ranger Robert Thomas provides a rousing patriotic speech followed by a 30-gun salute honoring the 30 states in the Union in 1848. Join our Grice family volunteers on July 2nd and 3rd for candle making and children’s games. The Grices make hand-rolled beeswax candles and dipped tallow candles made from beef fat, just like they were made at home in the mid-19^th century.   They will also demonstrate traditional toys and games of the era, like the whip top, peg top, flipper, marbles, graces, jacks, nine pins and more.

Activities will continue on Sunday and Monday with additional artillery demonstrations and programs focused on various historical events associated with Fort Scott.

Would you like to attend the Centennial Grand Ball in September but think you have nothing to wear? Does your spouse/mate/date use the excuse: “I don’t have anything to wear!” Join volunteer Dee Young on Sunday, July 3, at 1 p.m. for “Ball Attire 101: Creative, Affordable Clothing for the NPS Centennial Grand Ball!” Dee will share some simple ideas of how to prepare for the upcoming Grand Ball to be held on Labor Day weekend. Bring items you may currently have (prom dresses, evening gowns, wedding gowns, etc.) and she will discuss how they might be modified to make you the “Belle of the Ball.” If you have lace, lace curtains/tablecloths, ribbons and the like, bring them with you. Even if you feel clueless, come get ideas of what to look for as well as ideas for tweaking items you might find in your closet. This is your chance to make the Grand Ball experience stress free and purely an enjoyable and memorable occasion!

On Monday, July 4, at 11 a.m., Dr. Jeremy Tewell will present “A Self-evident Lie,” a program examining the extent to which Civil War-era Northerners and Southerners agreed with the proposition that “all men are created equal.” While some pro-slavery supporters denounced the Declaration of Independence as a “self-evident lie,” some Northerners, most notably Abraham

Lincoln, held that the only effective safeguard to individual liberty was universal liberty. Lincoln and others argued that as long as Americans believed that all men, at least in principle, were endowed with such inalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, everyone’s liberty would be self-evident, regardless of social standing or circumstance.

The schedule of activities is listed below:

SATURDAY, JULY 2

10:00 a.m. – “Load, Ready, Fire” – Artillery Firing Demonstration

11:00 a.m. – Guided Tour

1:00 p.m. – “Let the Games Begin” – Historic Children’s Games

2:00 p.m. – “The Union Forever” – Patriotic Speech and 30 Gun Salute

3:00 p.m. – “Bleeding and Purging” – 1840s Medicine

4:00 p.m. – Flag Retreat

SUNDAY, JULY 3

11:00 a.m. – Guided Tour

12:05 p.m. – “Load, Ready, Fire” – Artillery Firing Demonstration

1:00 p.m. – “Ball Attire 101” – Creative, Affordable Clothing for the Centennial Ball

2:00 p.m. – “Let the Games Begin” – Historic Children’s Games

3:00 p.m. – “Load, Ready, Fire” – Artillery Firing Demonstration

MONDAY, JULY 4

10:00 a.m. – “Load, Ready, Fire” – Artillery Firing Demonstration

11:00 a.m. – “A Self-evident Lie” – Civil War Interpretive Program

12:05 p.m. – “Load, Ready, Fire” – Artillery Firing Demonstration

1:00 p.m. – Guided Tour

2:00 p.m. – “It’s a Grand Old Flag: History and Traditions of the Stars and Stripes”

3:00 p.m. – “Load, Ready, Fire” – Artillery Firing Demonstration

 

Fort Scott Offers Two Sessions of Trailblazer Program this Summer

Submitted June 20

In this centennial year of the National Park Service, area youth are invited to join in this 100th birthday celebration by participating in Fort Scott NHS’s annual Trailblazer workshop.

Now in its seventeenth year, Fort Scott National Historic Site will offer its Trailblazer program to youth from 9-12 years, twice this year, from July 18-22, and from August 1-5, with programs running from 8:30 a.m. to noon each of these days.

This workshop will expose young people to the mission that the National Park Service has of caring for the nation’s natural and cultural heritage. Participants will take part in an archaeological dig, work in the prairie and gain knowledge of methods used to preserve the buildings and artifacts of the fort. They will learn about living history and interpretation and will work on a play that they will present at the end of the week. Also, there will be green activities that will teach children how to use our resources wisely.

Registration for the workshop begins this week. To register, contact Fort Scott National Historic Site at (620) 223-0310. Participants must be aged 9-12 as of the beginning day of the camp. They will be sent an informational packet after registration is complete. There is no charge for the workshop. Space is limited to 12 people each week; since space is limited, those who are new to the workshop will be given preference over those returning.

 

The 20^th annual Echoes of the Trail event provided a number of festivities in Fort Scott over the weekend as country musicians performed, young poetry winners read their works and cowboy stories were recited by local and visiting participants.

The event kicked off with a dance Friday evening with music provided by the band Crossfire and featuring singer Kinley Taylor Rice. A pie contest was also held on Saturday while western gear vendors sold goods at the Fort Scott Community College location. A silent auction Saturday evening gave its proceeds to Heroes Among Us, as did the chuck wagons available Saturday.