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-