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.

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.

Softbeat Portable Light Box Great XMAS Gift

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.