Saturday, December 30, 2017

Bois D’arc Bridge Butler County Ks. Bois D’arc Settlement

                                 Good afternoon Butler County! Many of you have noticed that the
                                                                         Bois D’arc Bridge






which spans the Little Walnut River on SW 157th St. has recently been closed due to concerns about structural safety. We thought it would be fun to share with you some information and history about the bridge. The bridge is located approximately 10 miles driving distance south and east of Augusta and was built in 1885, currently 132 years old. The main span of the bridge is a 100 foot long Pratt type high steel/wrought iron truss structure that is 14 feet wide. The bridge structure itself, as well as the importance of the bridge at the time it was constructed, has brought about the bridge being placed on the State Register of Historical Places. This bridge was built the same year that the first production gasoline powered automobile was built by Benz in Germany. The first gasoline powered production automobile built in the United States occurred 8 years later in 1893. The first mass produced gasoline powered automobile was the Ford Model A which was first built in 1903. Stay tuned for more interesting facts and details about the Bois D’arc Bridge.The above text was borrowed from the official Butler County Facebook page.

Wednesday, December 27, 2017

Elgin Ks, the Ghost town

Elgin Ks. Chautauqua County Ks.

the ghost that refuses to die/

Once a thriving community that was
a rail head for the cattle drives coming up
from Texas and Oklahoma, is now the small south east Kansas
town located on the Kansas, Oklahoma border
and boosts a population of some 87 people.

Driving 8 miles west of Highway 99 South 
on cr11.

Grandson was here to visit for Xmas 
and wanted to see some local sites,
So we headed to Elgin.

First Stop was the Old Bank building 
that has long been abandoned 


The building is pretty much intact with the exception
of the roof, which has collapsed from years of neglect  



The front door is gone 
so we helped ourselves and went inside.

There we found Nothing.
The old Safe is still there 





  

There is not much left of Downtown Elgin

once the gem of South East Kansas
is now just a bunch of old building that have been neglected 
to the point of no return


Elgin Kansas

These photo's were taken a couple of years ago
the only thing that has changed?
they have fallen into worst repair.




Elgin Kansas 
The roof has completely collapsed on this building
Looks like it  was once some kind of second hand store
as there are pieces of clothing laying about.


this one was a lodge building for the Masons


Don't know the story on this




Bee Creek Bridge Elgin Ks. xmas 2017


Christmas Eve Day 

Exploring Some local Sites
in Chautuaqua County, Kansas

First Stop was the old Railroad Bridge
located North and West of Elgin Ks.

Stone Railroad Bridge located West on Dalton Rd.
then North on rd.11

Bee Creek Bridge
Elgin Kansas, Chautauqua County


Bee Creek Bridge
Elgin Kansas, Chautauqua County



Bee Creek Bridge
Elgin Kansas, Chautauqua County


 Bee Creek Bridge
Elgin Kansas, Chautauqua County


  
What's interesting about this old Stone bridge?

this was the crossing for CWK in 1886
rail abandon between 1936 and 1955
The official name of the bridge is Bee Creek Bridge


The area surrounding this bridge
is solid rock, the Bee creek runs over the county road
during heavy rains making the road impassable,

The bridge is surrounded by high cliffs and rugged rocks,
some bigger than a house.



We took our grandson and his fiancee to this
location as they wanted to see some local sites.











Thursday, December 21, 2017

House on Fire Sedan Kansas 12-20-2017




Yesterday afternoon I was standing on
our back deck when I looked over at the house on the corner

And noticed Smoke coming from the  
Gable end Vents.
Plus smoke was coming from the east side of the house

I immediately called 911 

                                          



Thick Heavy Smoke at point 
Looked like the whole place was going to go.





The Sedan volunteer Fire Depart arrived on scene
to quickly take care of the fire.