THE SUNFLOWER STATE: Hutchinson, Kansas

In my lifetime I have seen some significant celebrations of our nations history. The Bi-centennial celebration of our country was in 1976. The state of Missouri celebrated its sesqui-centennial (150 years) in 1971, and the state of Kansas celebrated its centennial in 1960. This year Kansas will be celebrating its sesqui-centennial. Our family lived in Hutchinson, Kansas from 1959 until 1961. We were right in the middle of that centennial celebration.

In the fall of 1959, probably October, Public Finance transfered Dad, and us, to Hutchinson, Kansas. We lived at 1315 North Monroe, the street being paved with brick which made for a unique sound when cars when by. I had started first grade in Joplin, Mo and transfered to Roosevelt Elementary School. Gregg was about 1 1/2 and Gary would be born in December of that year. Dad's office was located downtown on Main street/Commercial (?) It was on the ground floor of a multi-floor office building. On the ground floor corner there was a drugstore where I would go to get coffee for Dad and a choclate coke for me. It was always a treat to go to work with Dad. Most of the time it would be on Saturday mornings when Dad would spend a little time in the office before going "chasing".
In the summer of 1960 Dad was involved with the Chamber of Commerce, which was active in the centennial celebration of Kansas. It seemed there were activities every weekend. On friday nights there was a Kangaroo Court held near the County Court House. Chamber of Commerce members were required to wear special centennial buttons during the summer. Members found not wearing their buttons would be taken by a special police force to Kangaroo Court. I remember Dad calling home one friday afternoon telling Mom to bring him a change of clothes, he thought he was going to get hauled in to Kangaroo Court. And of course, he was. According to Dad the special police came into his office, tore of his special button and hauled him off to court. Our family went and of course there was a lot of good times and laughs. One of the local judges held court on the back of a flat-bed truck handing out sentences of a pie in the face or dunking in the water tank. Dad got the water tank. On Saturday afternoons there was usually a parade somewhere in the area. Sometimes Dad would travel with other members of the C of C to other towns to ride in the parade and hand out special centennial trinkets such as small bags of wheat, telephone keychains or wooden nickels, good for 5 cents of merchandise in Hutchinson stores.
Remember meeting Jack and Donna Watkins and their family in Joplin? They too ended up in the state of Kansas during this time as well: Wichita, an hours drive from Hutchinson. There were many weekends we would travel to Wichita or the Watkins would come to Hutchinson. I remember Jack and Donna lived close to McDonnell-Douglas or the local Air Force Base. In any event, B-52's were constantly flying over their house as they would land, drag-chutes open, 24 hours a day. When Scott was born in September of 1961 Dad drove early in the morning with Gregg, Gary and I so the Watkins could take care of Gregg and Gary while Mom was in the hospital. Me, I was in 3rd grade and stayed home with Dad.
Hutchinson was also the home of the Kansas State Fair. It was held in September and our family would always go. Dad and I even went while Mom was in the hospital with Scott. For some reason I remember Dad being intriqued by the Salt water taffy machine. We would always go by their booth and watch the taffy being pulled but I don't remember buying any.

I guess it's funny what one remembers. These are some of my memories of Dad and our family in Hutchinson, Kansas. It's through memories like this you remember others and part of who you are. Celebrations like centennials and sesqui-centennials do the same thing, it reminds us of who we are and where we came from. Happy Birthday Kansas. -30-

Christmas Traditions

They say the first time you do something special, it is an event. If you repeat the event a second time it becomes a tradition. In our family we have several christmas traditions that continue to this day.

Growing up as a young child I can remember going to Grandpa & Grandma Campbells for christmas eve. At one time, Aunt Bobbie gave all of us grandkids, her nieces & nephews, a book of lifesavers. Brandy, my favorite daughter in law, shared with us a few years ago that this had been a tradition in her family as well. Many years later when the original "Campbell" clan gathered for christmas, everyone brought a "generic" gift and numbers were drawn.. Seems like a spice rack showed up as a gift more than once, so I guess that makes it a tradition.

One of the earliest Christmas traditions in the family that LaDonna and I have is white miniature marshmallows. When Jennifer was about 7 months old LaDonna and I had a tin pail and two tin cups we ate popcorn out of. Jennifer would want some popcorn also, but had no teeth. Besides, popcorn is not good for 7 month old children. Instead, we gave her white miniature marshmallows. In her first christmas stocking she received some marshmallows. Since then ourkids have always received marshmallows in their stocking. Sometimes they come with instant cocoa packets, placed inside of sandwich bags, small vials, coffee mugs, etc. But, they have to be the white ones, colored marshmallows are frowned upon. Part of the fun nowdays is finding new and creative ways to present the marshmallows. The kids still enjoy marshmallows in their stockings, even Jeff, Andrew and Brandy. From what I understand Julia, J.C. and Jetta get marshmallows in their stocking as well.
Another family tradition is our Christmas Eve monopoly game. It began after we moved to Kansas City when Jennifer, Susan and Matthew were all able to understand the game. It has gone through some changes but basically we play a normal game for one hour, except no hotels are used. At the beginning of the game you get your money, game piece and any food and drink you want. Anyone leaving the table for any reason during the time of play must put $50 in "free parking". After one half hour an intermission is taken for potty breaks, and refills. The game continues for another half hour. At the end of the game all properties and cash are counted and the one with the most money wins. Matthew has finished last more than once, so I guess that is a tradition.



A more recent tradition is the wearing of christmas hats or antlers during the opening of presents. The tradition began when I got my Santa baseball cap. During later years I acquired the santa hats, antlers and other festive hats for family members to wear. The "show" has even gone on the road as we've taken them to Lebanon for family christmases with my mom, Dale and my brothers. It's been fun to see everyone wear them and especially watch grandchildren try to keep them on their head.

By the way, I do have a spice rack in the basement. You never know when that tradition may reappear. -30-