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RCNews July 22
Memorials have been given to the McCracken Alumni from Sally Buster Buster in memory of Don & Joan Buster & Glenn Ryan; Leonard & Flora Gilbert, ‘Shack’ & Anna Stephens from Babe & Arlene Gilbert; Glenn Ryan & Vic Higgins from Jerry Higgins; Vernie & Anise Temple Irvin from Wayne Irvin; George Myers, Albert North, & Mac & Helen Barnes Showalter from Craig Stull.
If anyone has pictures they would like posted on the Alumni web page, please email them to shirleyh@gbta.net or yawgerr@gbta.net.
Della Miller will have knee surgery in the Salina hospital this week.
The Hutch Hawks, a 15-and-under baseball team, recently won the USSSA AAA State championship in Kansas City. The Hawks won the State tournament for the second year in a row. Team members were Logan Ahrens, Dakota Brower, Tyler Cox, Cole Cruz, Tanner Higgins, Travis Hirt, Cody Miller, Trevor Turner, Braydon Wells and Seaver Williams. The coaches were Steve Williams, Bob Brower and Jerry Higgins.
Martin & Cathie Ryan Shapiro, Lauren and Jessica arrived from San Diego this week for a visit with Lorraine Ryan. Cathie stayed for an extended visit.
The class of 1950 held their 60th class reunion at Boondocks Saturday. Those present were Bob Thompson, Julius Unrein, Wendell Hinman, Pat Walker Derr & Velma Rogers Legleiter. Unable to attend were Wayne Irvin and Tony Schlitter.
The 1970 class had a get-to –gather with Pat Moran Lohrey, Floyd Norlin, Jerry Schutte, Donna Rogers Hansen, Jim Rein, Carolyn Stremel Davenport & Marilyn Wierman Sommers present.
The class of 1980 was participants in the McCracken parade Saturday afternoon. Riding the parade float were Craig Stull, Mitchell Jacobs, Dale Elias, Kellye Irvin and Tammy Higgins Irvin. Those unable to be there were Laura Unrein Beck, Kathleen Moran, Norma Elmore Kober and Phil Swindler.
Nita Caviness, Prattville, Alabama, was a rodeo week guest of her sister, Patricia Derr.
Jamie and the 3 boys Mason, Hunter, and Maverick Dewitt joined Roger and Norma McNair for rodeo week, Dallas came on Saturday. Cory Molloy had a friend Andy, from Topeka come for the Rodeo. It was her first it time in McCracken.
Jim and Kathy Huddleston Coen found themselves locked in the McCracken Community Center after the dinner on Saturday. Patty Swartz Johnson and Lanette Stremel Mathews heard their “cries for help”, retrieved a key and unlocked the door. Kathy said she panicked for a moment but she knew someone would eventually come by and there was food in the fridge so no worries!!!
Wendell Conrad, 89, Galt, California died Wednesday, July 7, 2010 at Golden Living Center. He was born April 19, 1921 in Topeka. He was a 1941 graduate of McCracken High School. He served in the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers in World War 11. Wendell lived in Galt for 33 years after moving to Walnut Grove in 1958 from Hays, Kansas. He worked for Sacramento County as a drawbridge engineer, retiring March 31, 1986. He enjoyed collecting coins and antique clocks, and gardening. He is survived by his wife, Viola, a son, Anthony and daughter Linda Haase; two brothers, Sylvester, McCracken and Adam, Coos Bay, Oregon and six grandchildren. Preceding him in death was his sister, Genevieve Schuckman and a son John. The services were held Tuesday July 13, at St. Christopher Catholic Church with burial in St. Joseph Cemetery, Rio Vista, California.
Clemens “Clem” Gaschler, 89, died July 12, 2010. Funeral services were held from St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Ellis with burial in St. Mary’s Cemetery. Clem was a member of a band that played in the McCracken area that included Freddie Foster, Doyle Barber, Bud Foster and Gene Johnson.
Stephanie Combs and Brian Bott exchanged wedding vows Saturday evening at the United Methodist Church in LaCrosse. Rev. David Bolz officiated at the ceremony. Ashley Keller was maid of honor; Clayton Commons was the best man. Stephanie, Ashley and Addie Mills were co-workers at RCMH. Addie attended the wedding and reception.
A train whistle was heard Friday night around 11:00 p.m. It sounded wonderful!
Don & Dena Irvin’s house is now located in LaCrosse. It was seen traveling down the road last Friday. We hate to see them leave.
The pool slide in memory of Laura Casey Linsey is now installed at the McCracken swimming pool. Sandra Jacobs had the honor of sliding down first. It was installed by the Morgan brothers, Michael and Allen. John Zeller and Bill Greenway were also in attendance.
Rodeo weekend guests of Wilfrid and Twila Higgins were Doug and Mary Higgins and Dez from Lyons and Mike and Nancy Wiebe from Blue Springs Missouri. Drop in guests were Vance and Marge Carlson, Hays; and Melvin and Joan Rohr, Ness City.
Wendell Conrad, 89, Galt, California died Wednesday, July 7, 2010. He was born April 19, 1921 in Topeka. He served in the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers in World War 11. He is survived by his wife, Viola, a son, Anthony and daughter Linda Haase; two brothers, Sylvester, McCracken and Adam, Coos Bay, Oregon and six grandchildren. The services were Tuesday July 13, at St. Christopher Catholic Church with burial in St. Joseph Cemetery, Rio Vista, California.
Nic Otero, McPherson, was here last week helping Mike Keith. Nic will be attending U. S. Army Cadet Camp in Millersburg, Kentucky from July 18-31. He is a Junior at McPherson High School. His mother, Louise and sister, Raquel came for the rodeo.
Wendell Conrad, 89, Galt, California died Wednesday, July 7, 2010. He was born April 19, 1921 in Topeka. He served in the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers in World War 11. He is survived by his wife, Viola, a son, Anthony and daughter Linda Haase; two brothers, Sylvester, McCracken and Adam, Coos Bay, Oregon and six grandchildren. The services were Tuesday July 13, at St. Christopher Catholic Church with burial in St. Joseph Cemetery, Rio Vista, California.
Carol Davis Brown has loaned several items about Eugene R. Davis who served and was killed in action in Germany on March 9, 1945 to the Jail/Museum. They include the Western Union telegram sent to Mrs. Bessie Davis on the death of PFC Eugene R. Davis, the clipping of the writeup entitled "Father of Six Killed in Action"; a picture of his marker in the U. S. Military Cemetery, Genri-Chapelle, Belgium, his picture in uniform. Eugene Davis was inducted into the army on July 6, 1944. He completed his basic infantry training at Camp Hood, Texas. In December he left for overseas duty and on February 25 received a combat infantry badge and was promoted to PFC. At the time of his death he was serving with Lt. General Courtney Hodges First Army, which was the first to establish a bridgehead across the Rhine. He was part of the General Patch's Seventh Army. In addition to his wife, Bessie, he was survived by his children, Donald, 16, Marjorie 15, Robert 13, Barbara 11, Betty 7 and baby Carole Ann, 1; his mother, Mrs. John Davis; five brothers and five sisters.
Shelly Oeklers has given a memorial for Erman Oelkers to the Jail/Museum. She is also a renewing member.
McCracken History Note
The Schwartzkopf “Soddie” by D. B. Schwartzkopf
The sod house was approximately five miles south of McCracken on the west side of the McCracken-Alexander road. The “soddie” was built for the Wilhelm Schwartzkopf family when they came to Kansas from Russian in 1902. It was about one half mile across the pasture from his oldest son’s home. Jacob came to America in 1887. He owned the land his house was on and Wilhelm bought the land adjoining Jacob’s. Photos help tell the story of the “soddie”. One photo dated 1902 was the year the sod house was built. The roof lines were uneven. This particular roof was covered with dirt and the underlay was wood and heavy tar paper. The roof was not successful and leaked when it rained. In 1904-05, the roof was replaced with the wooden roof overlaid with tin. There were three windows on the south, one window on both the east and west. There were no windows on the north. The size of this “soddie” was approximately 18 x 30 feet. There were three rooms. The bedrooms were on each end of the kitchen-dining room area. The kitchen-dining room had the only outside door. The one bedroom was about eight by eighteen. The “master ”bedroom was a little larger. The cook and heating stove was located on the north wall of the kitchen-dining room area. The fuel was mostly cow chips with a small amount of wood or coal. The cream separator shared the north wall. The kitchen table would be placed against the west wall of the kitchen when not in use to make more room. The sod used to make the sod house was cut with a sod buster to a depth of four inches. It was laid up about sixteen to twenty inches thick. Mixture of dirt, water and straw was mixed up as a form of mortar to fill voids and help strengthen the wall. The sod was placed upside down (roots up) to keep it from growing. As the sod weathered, the cracks were patched with a mix of horse manure, dirt, straw and water. The inside décor was limited as to finish or color. Oilcloth was used on the walls up from the floor for several feet. Some “soddies” used a form of whitewash to make it more cheerful and easier to clean. The rafters were left open at first. The floors were wooden. The partitions for the bedrooms were also made of sod. The beam which extended out beyond the outside wall was about six inches by ten inches and extended the length of the house. A pole under the main beam was used to help support the original dirt roof. It was removed when they used the lighter wood and tin roof. D. B.’s family lived in the “soddie” for a short time and then moved into a wood frame house. Many of the family lived in the “soddie” at different times. William and wife Bertha Schwartzkopf had the twins Doris and Dorothy born there. This was the last sod house in Rush county. The “soddie” was torn down in the early 1930’s. A picture of the “soddie” can be seen on page 203 in the 1976 “Rush County Kansas….a century in story and pictures”. D. B. had additional stories about the “soddie” which will be at the museum in our family history collection along with pictures of the “soddie” in different years.
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