Progress 2014

Tourism
February 2014

Library set to mark 70th anniversary of D-Day

By GREG DOERING
greg.doering@abilene-rc.com

Interest in Dwight Eisenhower, the general and president, surged in 2013 and Karl Weissenbach is hopeful that more than 150,000 who visited will be back this year to help commemorate the 70th anniversary of D-Day looming in June. The popularity of President Eisenhower, I believe hes being rediscovered, said Weissenbach, director of the Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum. That brings out more people to the museum or to do research. In addition to the swelling general attendance, Weissenbach believes the onsite research record set two years ago could also tumble in 2014. Weissenbach attributes the increase in attendance and on site research to the aggressive marketing the library has undertaken. That effort doesnt just translate to more patrons of the library and museum either. The more people who come to the library, the better off the taxpayer is, Weissenbach said. It results in visitors spending in local shops. It has a big impact on our local economy. Im constantly aware of that. Weissenbach is even taking steps to improve that impact by partnering with the Abilene Convention and Visitiors Bureau on a new concierge program to highlight other attractions in Abilene. While Weissenbach is conscious of the impact the library has in drawing visitors to Abilene, hes also aware that repeating 2013s attendance numbers

The Eisenhower Presenditial Library and Museum is set to commemorate the 70th anniversary of D-Day in June.

Courtesy photo

will be difficult because of the federal government shutdown in October. That really hurt, he said. We lost about 12,000 people. That was an indication of what it would be like if there was no presidential library here. In addition to the loss of attendance, the shutdown also delayed the opening of Be Ye Men of Valour, one of two World War II exhibits at the library through

2016. While World War II Remembered: Leaders, Battles and Heroes is currently running, Men of Valour, dedicated to telling the untold and forgotten stories of the many allies involved in the war effort, was just being finished in early February. The newest exhibit will officially open June 6 as one of several activities to commemorate the 70th anSee: Library, Page 2

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Progress 2014 Tourism

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A display at the Dickinson County Heritage Center shows period advertising. The center will celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2014.

Ron Preston Reflector-Chronicle

Historical society to mark 25 years

By RON PRESTON
Ron.preston@abilene-rc.com

The Dickinson County Historical Society will have plenty going on in 2014 as it celebrates at least two anniversaries and begins the planning of major events to occur in the next couple of years in Dickinson County. Jeff Sheets, director of the Dickinson County Historical Society, said that the Heritage Center would celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Pioneer Camp this summer. Our camp is currently full and we do have a waiting list that we are taking names for, Sheets said. We are hoping to do something a little bit special. We are discussing the ideas now to determine how we can make it a little bit more special this year because its the 25th year. The Pioneer Camp has been one

of our most successful programs especially for kids third through fifth grade. The Pioneer Camp started in 1989 and has continued to grow. This summer will also mark the 20th year of the Memories of the Prairie program. Sheets said this program started out with topics and speakers specifically about Dickinson County but has branched out to include Kansass historical stories. We have had programs on all different aspects of Kansas history, Sheets said. Weve had programs on Dr. Brinkley, the Harvey Girls, the history of railroads and railroad towns. So, a whole gambit of history. Memories of the Prairie begins June 14 and runs through July 19, every Saturday night beginning at 7 p.m. Sheets said that exhibits would

be changing at the Heritage Center soon. He is planning on a World War I exhibit to coincide with the 1916 U.S. involvement in the war. An exhibit on the Victorian Era of history, 1880s to 1920, will be added to the Heritage Center gallery. One of the main projects in the planning stage will be an exhibit on the 150th anniversary of the Chisholm Trail in 2016, commerating the first cattle drive to Abilene. I know I want to do that exhibit prior to 2016, Sheets said. This will be a major project. We are hoping the people of Abilene will get involved with it and also the different communities south of us that were along the Chisholm Trail. Sheets hopes that the states of Oklahoma and Texas will cooperate with Kansas in the celebration of this historic event.

Work continues on the schoolhouse on the Heritage Center grounds. Hopefully we can get it restored this year, Sheets said. It has been a long process with the school house starting back in 2001. It has been a difficult challenge for us, funding for it and different things. We have made progress. Weve added a new roof, stabilized the floor and have been working on the interior. The Center has also added a new roof to the barn so that new exhibits can be added. Oct. 4 will be the 36th annual Chisholm Trail Day Festival. This is one of most popular programs that we do during the year, Sheets said. We are looking at doing some extra programs this year, maybe an adult education program similar to Memories of the Prairie.

Library

Continued from Page 1

niversary of D-Day. In addition to the official opening, new supplements will be opened to the World War II Remembered exhibit and weekend activities include a presentation on POW camps in Kansas, a panel on Homefront during the war and the Symphony at Sunset by the Salina Symphony. Weisenbach is hopeful that the milestone, yearning for the past and the rediscovering of Eisenhower will combine to make 2014 one of the strongest attendance years yet at the library. A lot of people are from the World War II generation. Theyre from the fabulous 50s. Thats their era, he said. You see people who grew up in the 1950s.

I think its nostalgia in part. Thats also where the librarys marketing campaign comes in. From school research to day trippers from surrounding communities, Weissenbach said the library has been relentless in trying to attract new visitors. If you go in the parking lot and look at where the cars come from, he said. You see more and more people coming from Wichita and Kansas City. While those visitors are coveted by the library, Weissenbach also smiles at the opportunity they represent for the city. Theres more to Abilene that just the library, Weissenbach said. If we all were to promote each othGreg Doering Reflector-Chronicle er, youll see more people The Be Ye Men of Honor exhibit at the Eisenhower Presidential Library will officially open on June 6 as part of the commemoracoming from other areas of tion of the 70th anniversary of the D-Day invasion. The exhibit was originally set to open to the public last fall but was delayed by the federal government shutdown. The shutdown also cost the library about 12,000 visitors at the beginning of October. Kansas and the nation.

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Progress 2014 Tourism

All aboard: Railroad chugging into 2014

By RON PRESTON
ron.preston@abilene-rc.com

More than 11,000 tourists, school groups and local residents enjoy riding the Abilene and Smoky Valley Railroad each spring and summer. The railroad located in Old Abilene Town is a non-profit organization managed by Mary Jane Oard and a host of volunteers. The Abilene and Smoky Valley Railroad Association was formed in 1993 primarily by Fred Schmidt and Joe Minick. The association is dedicated to restoring and operating historic railroad equipment and educating the public on the history of railroads. The volunteers operate the railroad as engineers, conductors, brakemen, car attendants that narrate every trip, and depot workers. The big project this year for the volunteers has been the repair of the bridge the train must cross on its 10 1/2 mile round trip ride through the Smoky Hill River valley from Abilene to Enterprise and back. We were progressing really well, Oard said. Until the recent snow storms and zero degree weather hit. That kind of slowed us down. But our goal is to have that repaired by the time the first train runs this spring. Most of the excursion trains operate using a 1945 ALCO S-1 (former Hutchinson & Northern Railroad), with its 660hp
See: Railroad, Page 5

The recently restored ATSF 4-6-2 Pacific No. 3415 steam locomotive is part of the Abilene and Smoky Valley Railroads fleet.

Tim Horan Reflector-Chronicle

Carousel is pride and joy of Heritage Center

By RON PRESTON
Ron.preston@abilene-rc.com

An amusement ride that was built in 1901 and is still operable is the pride and joy of the Dickinson County Heritage Center. Abilene is home to one of 12 known National Historic Carousels in the United States. The carousel at the Heritage Center was built by C.W. Parker in Abilene while he and his family lived here. Parker, born in Griggsville, Ill., in 1864 moved to Abilene when he was 5 Photos by Tiffany Roney years old. Above: Jeff Sheets sits on a His first interest in amusecarousel built by C.W. Parker and used by the New Parker ment activities began with Amusement Company. The shooting galleries, before carousel was built in 1901 and he became interested in is still in operation today. manufacturing bigger attractions.

The legend of the carousel begins when Parker came across one while on a walk with his young daughter. His daughter begged him for a ride and after multiple rides, he decided the amusement business might be a good venture for him. Parker saved enough money to purchase a portable carousel and used it alongside the traveling shooting galleries he started his company with. Parker bought his first carousel and later he tried to improve the design by building his own. The C.W Parker Amusement Company was founded. The C.W. Parker Amusement Company lasted in Abilene until 1911 when he moved to Leavenworth. While there, noticeable changes were made to

his carousels as not only horses but other animals appeared for people to ride. The C.W. Parker Carousel Museum in Leavenworth has a number of Parkers carousels two of which can be ridden. The Dickinson County Heritage Centers 1901 carousel is known to be the oldest Parker carousel that is still in operation. We have children and adults from all over come to Abilene to ride the carousel, Jeff Sheets, director of the Dickinson County Historical Society said. Its one of the most popular attractions in the state as well as the county.
The Dickinson County Historical Society and Heritage Center contributed to this story.

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Progress 2014 Tourism

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Greyhound dogs or Greyhound bus?

Since 1973 when the Greyhound Hall of Fame opened its doors to visitors there has often been confusion between the racing greyhounds that the museum honors and Greyhound Bus lines. We get a lot of calls for Greyhound bus schedules because we are so close to Fort Riley, said Kathy Lounsbury, director of the Hall of Fame. On some of the smart phones when they plug in greyhound it automatically brings up the Hall of Fame. Because our phone number is 3000 they figure that has to be the one. Since Greyhound Bus Lines ended service to Abilene, the number of people showing up at the front door wanting a ride has died down. I havent seen that for a while, Lounsbury said. They had an incorrect listing for us at one time. When Greyhound used to come into Burger King, which used to be a pick up for Greyhound between Junction (City) and Salina, a lot of times people would come here because it said greyhound. Who would think Burger King when you want a bus ride? When Greyhound stopped picking up down there, that dropped off but we still get periodic phone calls, which is interesting sometimes, she said. A unique call came from a gentleman that worked his entire life for Greyhound Bus Lines as a driver. He wanted to donate all of his uniforms back from Day 1, Lounsbury said. He thought we would like to have a display of all the uniforms that the bus drivers wore. He was a nice old gentleman but he was a little surprised when I told him it was dogs not busses.

Tail waggers greet museum visitors

By TIM HORAN
tim.horan@abilene-rc.com

Surprise! That is the look on the faces of most of the firsttime visitors to the Greyhound Hall of Fame after they see the two official four-legged tail-wagging greeters, Jade and Gary. The greyhound-racing museum located on South Tim Horan Reflector-Chronicle Buckeye in Abilene is the Jade is always eager to greet guests at the Greyhound Hall of Fame home of two retired racing The dogs have their own Chig and Sharon were on book that plays in the greyhounds, whose job it is stage to lounge on at the en- board when she arrived. background on a TV in the to entertain guests. trance to the Hall of Fame. Followed by Abby, Doug- lobby. And it does get entertainThats one of the most Jade is the kid grey- las, and Ripley. Four of the ing, said Director Kathy hound while Gary hides retired racing greyhounds interesting things for the Lounsbury. from the kids but likes to that were former greeters adults, is they stand there Visitors are usually re- lean on the legs of adults, are buried behind the gold and watch him run, she ally impressed with the live Lounsbury said. greyhound statue just west said of the video of Talentdogs, she said. The most Jade has to do the heavy of the Hall of Fame park- edmrripley. A lot of his often comment I hear is that races are on there and they lifting when it comes to the ing lot. they are bigger then they We lost Sharon shortly just cant believe how far kids, she said during an thought would be. after I got here, she said. out in front he was just all interview while Gary was Most visitors want to pet Chig and Sharon were the time. To watch him run leaning on her wanting atand to have their pictures littermates. I went out to is really amazing. tention. taken with the dogs and the Kountry Kennels and I said But, Ripley had a unique Dont look at me in that live animals often prove I wanted the best kid dog personality, she said. He tone of voice, she said to some unique situations. on the place and they gave was a terror. the greyhound. A kid will be standing me Abby. She turned out to The funniest thing I have Both greyhounds, even there holding the door open be the best kid dog on the ever seen a greyhound do in for somebody coming up. I Gary, like strollers. place. She turned out to be the years I have been here is Babies always have good very good with the kids. say Please shut the door. steal a ladys purse, LounThe kid is standing there stuff in the bottom of strollWhile most of the retired sbury said. JC Penny sold torn between being polite ers: cookies, treats, she greyhounds that became those purses that looked and a dog getting out, and said. Hall of Fame mainstays like little stuffed animals I was a little worried were not champions, two with a zipper in the back. they never know which way to jump. Im thinking, about Gary, Lounsbury were All-Americans and This lady knelt down here Im either going to have said about him joining the Flashy Sir and Rural Rube to pet Chig. She put her to chase a dog or this kid is Hall of Fame staff. I didnt Award winners. EJs Doug- purse on the floor. The mingoing to have to close the want a black dog because las and Talentedmrripley ute she laid it down he (Rimost people are afraid of are also both inductees pley) came down off (the door. Gary Gityourown, called black dogs, especially big to the Greyhound Hall of porch), grabbed that purse Gary at the Hall of Fame, black dogs. The adoption Fame that honors both and he was in the office raced at VictoryLand and groups also have trouble champion greyhounds and in the heartbeat. She was returned to Abilene where placing black dogs. I dont the men and women that screaming That dog stole he was raised to recuperate know why. People seem to shaped the industry since my purse. He was just lyfrom an injury. He ended up associate black dogs with the 1920s. ing in there with the purse finding a permanent home mean dogs. But they are alTalentedmrripley, called in his mouth just as proud ways surprised that Gary is Ripley, has a video scrap- as can be. at the Hall of Fame. San Tan Goforit, or Jade, such a love bug. The first greyhound greetwas one of the last greyhounds to race at The er was Texas back in the Woodlands in Kansas City late 1970s. In her 13 years before that track closed in at the Hall of Fame, Kathy 2007. has seven different greeters. Santa Fe Chicken Salad

Ripley would also push the door open to the gift shop and steal stuff. We had to move the beanie dogs, she said. Despite the seven dogs in 13 years, Lounsbury said there has never been a major incident involving the dogs and a visitor. She said a key is knowing the dogs. Especially when you are working by yourself, she said. You could be selling somebody something in the gift shop and there a kid who runs up there to check to see if the dogs eyes are real. It takes a special kind of person to be able to keep all that contained. I think part of is the personality of the dogs, she added. These guys seem to know if the kids are afraid of them. They go away. If a kid screams or something Jade will just stop dead in her tracks and stand still. But its also the person working here, knowing when enoughs enough and when to draw the line, she added. A lot of times we get large groups and sometime you have to gauge how the dogs will react to them. Sometimes she will lock them in the office with a gate. When we get a large group of kids I let them pet over the gate. All the while Gary and Jade keep their tails wagging.

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Progress 2014 Tourism

CVB to unveil new tourist assistance program

By RON PRESTON
ron.preston@abilene-rc.com

In addition to providing historical pictures of Abilene, the Jeffcoat Studio Museum has a wide variety of antique cameras on display.

Ron Preston Reflector-Chronicle

Museum provides pictorial history of Abilene

By RON PRESTON
ron.preston@abilene-rc.com

Want to see old time cameras? Interested in a pictorial history of Abilene? Then take a tour of the Jeffcoat Studio Museum at 321 N. Broadway. Paul Jeffcoat started the business in 1925 and his son, Bill, eventually bought the studio from him and operated it until the early 2000s. The Jeffcoats were avid professional photographers that not only did portraits but they were instrumental in capturing the history of Abilene in photos. When Bill passed away in 2007, a foundation headed by Hank Royer and Wayne Berkland was set up to continue to share the photographic memories of the Jeffcoats. Currently Amy Feigley, education coordinator and curator of the museum, is showing a pictorial tribute to the Ralph H. Viola family. The Viola family has provided delightful memories for Abilene in the last 110 years. Ralph came to Abilene in 1904 and began several businesses in town including RHV, todays downtown hardware store. We had the shoe store, the Viola Corner, the Camp Cabin, RHV, a grocery store, Viola Oil, Feigley said. Now of course we have RHV. The Viola exhibit will run until the end of May. Bills dream was to see and show what he had accomplished and what his dad achieved, Feigley said. The Studio Museum is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday and Tuesday or by appointment. The admission is free and we really try to work with people and their schedule, Feigley said. Abilene is a great place to drop off the Interstate and take in the many tourist attractions in town, shop the antique malls or get a feel for

the history of Abilene through pictures. The museum receives calls and inquiries frequently about pictures, portraits, weddings, school teams, etc. that the Jeffcoats shot over the years and they are willing to help the public obtain copies if possible.

The museum just completed an exhibit on Children of Dickinson County and had previously done the Bands of Dickinson County and the Flood of 1951. Feigley said that other exhibits are planned and she encourages everyone to stop by for Abilene memories.

The Abilene Convention and Visitors Bureau is busy formulating a plan to help stimulate the tourism traffic throughout all the attractions in Abilene. Glenda Purkis, CVB director, indicated recently that a new Concierge Program is being developed to assist travelers who come to Abilene to visit the Eisenhower Museum to also learn about the other 5-Star museums and attractions while spending their time in Abilene. We plan to place someone at the Eisenhower grounds on the campus in the visitors center to greet people that come into the visitor center and offer assistance in planning their day, Purkis said. We have so many people that come into town to go through the Museum and Library and then leave town. Our goal is to inform them of the other attractions and even help them with meal reservations, lodging reservations if needed and to just educate them on the other historical elements of Abilene. Purkis indicated that 175,941 people visited the Eisenhower Museum in 2013 and the second most attended attraction drew was 26,000. We want to work with Kansas State Hospitality and Fort Hays Hospitality to establish an intern program where we will have a couple of interns who will work from Memorial Day weekend until school starts in the fall, Purkis said. The idea is to get a student who is going into the hospitality field, equip them with an iPad and the information about Abilene and be able to assist travelers with their needs. The student will receive college credit hours for the work plus a stipend to help with expenses, Purkis said. The number of riders on the trolley increased in 2013. The city-owned trolley used by the CVB for tours throughout historic Abilene had a substantial increase in usage in 2013 with 1,257 riders compared to 441 in 2012. Purkis indicated that the Twighlight Tours on Friday and Saturday night were very popular and the there was an increase in riders during the holiday season. Tour groups also take advantage of the expertise of Linda Duncan and Eleanor Haas in telling the riders about the various sites they see while on an Abilene tour. The trolley currently has three drivers who have the required license to operate the vehicle. Purkis indicated that plans were in the early stages of developing other themed tours including a Chisholm Trail Tour and possibly one on famous people of Abilene.

Railroad

Continued from Page 3

diesel-electric engine that was originally designed for World War II submarines. This locomotive pulls the train, which includes a 1902 wooden KATY passenger car that has been converted to a dinning car, two open-air gondola cars with canopy tops and a caboose. The organization also uses a recently restored ATSF 4-6-2 Pacific No. 3415 steam locomotive, which will operate once

again this season on a limited schedule. The engine sat in Eisenhower Park for more than 40 years, having been retired by the Santa Fe Railroad. The City of Abilene donated the engine to the association. It took more than four years to restore to operating condition with about 12,000 volunteer hours and the help of two grants. The railroad operates from late May until early October with selected runs being scheduled for the steam engine.

People will want to check out our schedule for the spring dinning car rides, Oard said. Call the depot office at 785-2631077 to make reservations. Also we will work with people for special occasions such as weddings, reunions, etc.

The schedule dinning excursions have meals provided by local caterers and restaurants and there are also four fall dates in September. and October. The association also works with Abilene Parks and Recreation to schedule

a Bunny Train and a Santa Train ride. We are also in the process of creating the Fred Schmidt Railroad Museum, Oard said. Freds

dream was always to have a museum and we are going to put that in the Depot freight room. Plans are to have that open this summer.

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Progress 2014 Tourism

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Great Plains focusing on programming

By TIFFANY RONEY
tiffany.roney@gmail.com

The Merchants Hotel is scheduled to open this spring at Old Abilene Town.

Ron Preston Reflector-Chronicle

New things happening at Old Abilene Town

By RON PRESTON
ron.preston@abilene-rc.com

The volunteers and the board of directors of Historic Abilene, Inc., have been busy preparing Old Abilene Town for the tourism season. Larry Coulson, president of the Board of Directors, is excited about the many things happening around the Old Abilene Town grounds. We are hoping to get the Merchant Hotel open this spring, Coulson said. We have the first two rooms pretty much done. The back two rooms, one will be a kitchen and one will be a bathroom, are being worked on now. So hopefully by spring we will be ready. Frequent visitors will also notice improvements to the outhouse. We got a grant from the Rotary International Foundation to put new ceilings in the bathroom and new siding on the outside. That building also got new shingles last year. That building will be fixed up pretty decent. Coulson indicated that several other activities are planned to enhance the tourist experience while visiting Old Town. This summer, we want to add to the brick sidewalk in front of the school and connect it to the boardwalk, Coulson said. We want to put in some handicap ramps so that wheelchairs can get up on the boardwalk and get access to all the buildings. Coulson and Jeff Sheets, board member and director of the Dickinson County Historical Society, said that plans are in

Historic storefronts are a staple of Old Abilene Town.

the works for other building improvements in Old Abilene Town. The next thing, hopefully this year, is the Dry Goods Store, which is next to the Viola Clock Shop, Coulson said. We have a tenant, Jo Schwartz, an artist that does wood burning, and we hope to fix up that building next to her and do two things. First, we have some museum displays and we hope to get another vendor in there also. This

is going to take a lot of work and cost a lot of money. Both men stated that the Dry Goods building needs a new roof and needs a lot of work inside. It was originally a restaurant and they had a fire and nobody ever took care of it and the roof leaked. There is damage inside to the flooring, but nothing structural. The Hotel, the bath-

room and the Dry Goods Store are being worked on now and hopefully we can get that done this year, Coulson said. Long-range plans include the restoration of the Weigh Station, the Print Shop and the Blacksmith Shop. Visitors will have the opportunity to see the Can Can dancers at the Alamo Saloon, watch the gunfighters or take a ride on the stagecoach through Old Abilene Town. While visiting the many attractions in Abilene, visitors are encouraged to have a cup of coffee or lunch at the Hitchin Post Restaurant and shop at the consignment store.

While people who live in Abilene might view an evening at the Great Plains Theatre as a simple there-and-back excursion, for out-of-town guests, it can turn into a whole day or even a weekend. People come from out of town and go out to dinner beforehand and then potentially stay the night, interim artistic director Doug Nuttleman said. A couple times one of our actresses parents came and stayed the night. In 2013, the attendees at GPT movies and live productions totaled 25,910. Glenda Purkis, director of the Convention and Visitors Bureau, said this number is slightly less than the attendee totals from the past two years. However, it is still higher than the number from 2010. Purkis said numbers began to grow considerably in 2011. Michael Hernandez, interim executive director of GPT, said some of that growth arc could be attributed to the addition of the in-house cinema and a rise in concerts from 2011 to 2012, as well as a two-year initiative in which the theatre showed football games on its big screen. Starting in 2013, the theatre backed off from both of those ventures. Those were things that past administration thought would bring people in, and they did, except we made no money off of it, and we lost money on most of it, Hernandez said. For numbers, it was good. For the bottom line, no. A highlight of 2013 was Hillbilly Hotspot, written and produced by a local man of many hats, Doug Thompson. Hernandez

said the show brought plenty of new visitors into the theatre. One change implemented in the summer of 2013: Hernandez shortened the summer shows from three weeks to nine days to make each shows run more cost-effective. Were not actually looking at numbers (of patrons), he said. Were looking at profitability and good service. Going forward into 2014, Nuttleman said he hopes to keep putting on excellent shows that use both local actors and traveling talent, and to continue bringing tourists to Abilene. Additionally, Nuttleman said the theatre plans to celebrate an anniversary this year because it is their 20th season. We dont have any specific (anniversary) events planned, other than to just have a really good and well-attended season, he said. Nuttleman said he wanted to remind people that the theatre not only puts on live productions, but it also regularly shows movies. Were just very thankful for all of our patrons, he said. We plan to keep putting on great shows and continuing to bring people into our town.

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