A Century of Greenwood County, KS History - Eureka Herald, 1968

1965

Sylvia Neel, 17, of France had been chosen for a year's study in Eureka High School on an American Field Service scholarship. The student arrived the latter part of August and was Denyse Hill's foster sister while residing with the J.D. Hill family.

The courthouse building bond was retired and the Greenwood County Hospital bond paid off in January. Each county budget account had a cash balance and the county was in excellent financial status. Sacred Heart Church was razed in January, following a fire on November 25, 1964 when the structure was heavily damaged. The old building was to be replaced by a new modern church of native stone and glass. Three school districts in Greenwood County were approved for unification.

The oldest piece of fire-fighting equipment in the Eureka fire department was retired from service in February - not from choice, but from necessity - as a result of a long list of mechanical failures, coupled with old age. The old 29-year-old Ford truck had answered a call to a pasture fire between Rosalia and Sallyards and was returning home when it gave its last gasp at the Reece corner and had to be towed in. Reports were that it was suffering from "tired motor."

City officials held open house and Town Hall meeting in March, prepatory to submitting an industrial levy to the voters. America's first two-man space flight was completed successfully March 28. The industrial levy carried 4 to 1 in the city election. The Eureka waterworks improvement program was nearing completion. The county 4-H clubs were raising money for the new show barn at the fairgrounds.

An organizational meeting was held in May for Teen Town. The new water tower was completed and ready for use on May 17. Record rains caused heavy damage, with 12.83 inches of rain in nine days. Thomas Monninger resigned as superintendent of schools and Charles Campbell was elected to the position. announcement was made of the future erection of a new 48-bed nursing home. A twister damaged property at Eureka Lake on August 16. The 4-H livestock sale set a record high during the fair, totaling $31,000.

Hail the size of tennis balls, accompanied by severe wind and rain, caused nearly a million dollars damage in Eureka on September 3. Hardly a residence or business building in Eureka escaped damage. Hundreds of cars were damaged. Insurance claim offices were set up here to take care of loss reports. Brownie's Cafe was damaged by fire in September. The Eureka area received 9.64 inches of rain the first 22 days of September.

Parks Oil Company closed the service station at Seventh and Main streets after serving the public at that address for more than four decades. The Methodist Church observed its 100th anniversary in October. Two Japanese brothers visited Eureka on a good-will tour of the United States. Cook's Aluma-Fab was heavily damaged by fire on Nov. 16. The 38th annual Cattlemen's Day was celebrated on October 29.

Two American spacemen broke all space records when they traveled 5,129,400 miles in 330 hours, 35 minutes. During their flight, Gemini VII, manned by Borman and Lovell, rendezvoused with Gemini VI, manned by Shirra and Stafford, in space.

1966

The new Eureka Rest Home, 1406 North Elm, was opened in January. Greenwood County was celebrating a no-accident year, the first in 10 years. Medicare was coming into existence and was being explained to participants in the county. Clayton Bailey had moved his Western Auto Store to its new location, 121 W. Third, in the Souders building which he purchased and remodeled. The First Methodist Church held a dedication in February of its new educational building and a mortgage burning ceremony.

Local prisoners had been playing out-again and in-again in the county jail and had taken their second leave of absence within a month. Preliminary work had started on US-54, east of Eureka. Open house was held at the new Sacred Heart Church which was built to replace the 62-year old church that burned in 1964. The new edifice had walls of native stone from the Flint Hills and more than 1200 squares of colored glass in the windows. Floors of the church were of Vermont stone with native stone used in the alter.

The Kiwanis Club held its eighth annual Student Awards banquet in March. ruby Foster had been employed as city clerk and Herb Rockhill was re-elected mayor of Eureka. Kenneth Keely was appointed game protector to replace J.A. McNally, who had been promoted and moved to Salina. Kleo Daily, undersheriff, was severely burned while fighting a prairie fire northwest of Sallyards in April. Edward Mantzey was employed as Welfare Director of the county.

Phil Evans had joined the staff at the Citizens National Bank as agricultural, new business and public relations director. The tenth annual Babo Ball was held in May. Eleven French students in Eureka High School and other schools left in June with Mrs. Audre Basham to study in France. The three-day flight of Gemini 9 was completed with a two-hour walk in space included in the performance by astronauts Stafford and Cochran.

Carter's Jewelry celebrated its 50th year on Main street in July. Rural Route 4 was discontinued out of the Eureka Postoffice. Another of Eureka's older landmarks, the McCoy Livery Stable, was razed in July, located in the first block east of Main on river street. Built before the turn of the century by J.A. McCoy, who had been in the dray and hack business here sine the 1870s, the barn was well known. Roy McCoy has associated in the business since 1900. Progress in the form of the "gasoline buggy" soon eliminated the need for the old reliable horse for transportation. Many old timers recalled the elaborate scenery painted on the doors of the old barn.

"Hank" Hibbard had been named a Peace Corps volunteer and left for India in June. Seven young people from France, and their leader, arrive in Eureka in July to spend two weeks with local families. Heavy storm damage resulted when a thunderstorm swept across the county in August.

Eureka Cable TV opened its office in Eureka with Jim Cassin as local manager. The Jaycees operated their Labor Day Rest Stop, west of Eureka, for the second year. Thompson Motor Co. held a grand opening in September in their new location, Second and Oak streets. The senior college program for Midwest was underway with the "Opportunity 4" campaign headed by Elwood Marshall, with a goal of $150,000.

Plans were made for a new recreation center in Eureka, including bowling lanes, billiard tables and dining areas. The Red Letter Club of Eureka was organized in October with a membership of 300. Levi Oblander had erected a new business building at 202 East River. Mears Electric opened for business at Seventh and Main. Charles B. Williams was promoted to the rank of sergeant by the State Highway Patrol and the family moved to Topeka.

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1967 - 1968


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