Monday, January 30, 2012

The Barnard United Methodist Church Looking for Photos or Other Memorabilia

The Barnard United Methodist Church is in the planning
stages for their upcoming 130th Celebration on September
9th. The committee is currently looking for any pictures,
history, etc. of the church that people may have. If you
have something to share please contact Pastor Kaye
(785-524-4000, jkmetzler@sbcglobal.net) or Jessie Harlow
(785-792-6308, jharlow@twinvalley.net). Anything &
everything regarding the church would be greatly
appreciated.
(Any pictures and/or history that is shared will be
scanned into a computer and/or copied and given back in a
timely fashion)

Monday, January 23, 2012

A Memory of the Water Tower Being Built

I remember when the original standpipe was built by the WPA in the late 30's or early 40's when the water system was put in.  We lived just east of the standpipe in a little house just north of the Methodist Church which has been torn down.  There was a tornado while the standpipe was being built and there was a scaffold built on the south side to help w/pouring the concrete as it went up.  This scaffold blew down during the tornado and went NE.  If it had gone straight east, it would have hit our house!!
Pat Tatum Simpson

Sunday, January 22, 2012

The Hickman Family

Don Hickman has recently declined in health.  Please keep Amaryllis and Don in your thoughts and prayers.

Photo from:  Barnard History 1885-2010  Memories, Reflections and Accounts.

Click on image to enlarge.

Barnard Receives Grant for New Standpipe...Plans to Demolish Current Historic Tower

Just under $8,000,000 will be split by 19 Kansas communities and two counties.  Barnard is one of them.  The Community Development Block Grant program is providing Barnard with $162,060 to build a new standpipe for water storage.  The current historic WPA water tower is planned to be demolished to make way for the new standpipe.  The city is providing matching funds of $108,040 through the sale of bonds.

Do we need a new water tower?  Yes, we do.  Do we need to tear down the existing historical landmark that Barnard residents and visitors know so well?  No, I don't believe we do.  A local organization is working to get an engineer independent of the city to evaluate the structural integrity of the historic tower.

Many Barnard residents, former residents, and people that live in rural Barnard have expressed their desire to keep the old water tower.  The council claims that the tower is structurally unsound.  However, it is still in use and is not barricaded.  Many others have said that the city deliberately neglected the water tower so it would deteriorate and they would have no choice but to replace it.  I can't say whether the city did or did not do this. 

However, it is clearly time to act.  You have encouraged those of us fighting to keep it but now is the time for you to act.  We could very well lose the battle if you are not willing to stand up for your community.  The city council is NOT the enemy but many have said that the council has limited vision.  If you are not willing to tell them what you want, then you are guilty of the neglect of which you have accused the council.  The only people (other than a select few) that the city has heard from are the ones that support demolition of our landmark. 

It is by no means a lost cause.  There is still time to act.  Before any demolition can be done, there is an environmental study that must be conducted and the federal historical agencies must sign off on the project.

No one has told me that they don't think that we need a new tower.  I believe we need a new tower.  But a great many of you said that the old one should be preserved.  Now is the time to tell those that you elected that you support the preservation of the old tower.  As I have said before, you are the only ones that can keep Barnard from becoming a memory.  If you don't act, who will?

Contact the Barnard Banter at barnardbanter.@aol.com

Friday, January 13, 2012

Can Barnard Be Revitalized?

            When I tell people I moved to Barnard, Kansas, many of them respond “Where? Why?” or give me a look of disbelief.  People don’t understand why I would leave all the conveniences of the city behind.  I tell them why I chose to move here and they begin to understand.  Actually, the trend of younger people moving into the more rural areas is on the rise.  It is a phenomenon that over the last decade, I’ve been calling Green Acres Syndrome.  Many are moving to the rural areas for peace, safety, and a wholesome environment to raise their families.  Others are ready to move back to their hometowns.  Courtland, which is two counties away in Republic County, has seen this trend.

            Courtland, with a population of 285, in a county with a population of 4980, has begun seeing an influx of people moving into the community.  It has a benefit of being close to larger towns such as Concordia and Belleville where people can find jobs.  However, Courtland has seen a growth in employment opportunities.  A strong farm economy and technological connectivity has facilitated this growth.  With the technology in place, many people telecommute to work and work from home.  That allowed one business man to move to Courtland and still maintain his share of the business with his partners in Westcliffe, Colorado.  A business woman runs an internet advertising agency.  The key to this was that Courtland has that technology in place that facilitated these moves.

            Barnard could maneuver itself into a similar position.  The small town of 70 is within commuting distance of Salina, Concordia, and Beloit.  Barnard also has the ability to pursue technology.  Sam Switzer, the son of Barnard resident, Marilyn Switzer, is part owner in a wireless network company, CyWi, out of Salina.  They have developed a wireless system of internet access that covers a portion of downtown Salina and have plans of covering a wider range.  A system such as that could readily connect Barnard to the wired world.  Barnard already has grounded services.

            An issue that Barnard shares with Courtland is the lack of housing.  Courtland says that people want to move there but there are not any places for them to live.  Some commercial and residential building is starting to take place though financing has been difficult.  The city of Courtland has reasonably priced lots for sale as does Barnard.  Courtland says it could do like Marquette and Minneapolis and give lots away but they make a policy of not owning lots.  The younger demographic has absorbed available housing.  Barnard has lots but has not visibly marketed them.  Repairable housing has fallen to beautification instead of marketing.  However, with the right exposure and marketing, pre-fabricated housing could be a viable option for new residents.

            Commericial opportunity is also an issue for Barnard.  However, a community to the northeast, Glasco, has provided an example of how to overcome some of the disadvantages in that sector.  Glasco has used a grant made possible by the local windfarms to build a gas station, which Barnard also lacks.  The gas station is a card purchasing center and will not have an attendant.  Bennington Oil will be the fuel provider.  Currently, Glasco residents must travel to Minneapolis, Delphos, Beloit, or Concordia for fuel.  Their shopping dollars tend to go with it.  With the installation of a card gas station, this can fuel the growth of Glasco’s own commercial district.  Barnard could have a similar opportunity if it can obtain the use of some funds given to Lincoln County by the windfarms.

            Marci Penner, of the Kansas Sampler, has a new venture called PowerUps (ruralbychoice.com).  The goal of this organization is to educate the younger generations about the advantages of living in rural communities and how communities can make themselves more attractive to people looking to relocate into a rural setting. PowerUps focuses on people up to 39 and PowerOns focuses on those 40+.  PowerUps has had an impact in Courtland.

            Could Barnard be a place in which people want to relocate?  It most definitely has the potential.  All Barnard needs to have is the vision, the dreamers, and the motivation it takes to survive in a changing society and launch itself into the future.

Barnard City Council Agenda and Financial Reports January 9,2012




Barnard City Council Minutes for the December 5, 2011 Meeting


Click on images to enlarge.


Monday, January 9, 2012

A Look Into the Barnard Beautification Program

In response to a question from a Barnard Banter reader...


413 Smith in August of 2008



413 Smith in October of 2011






The city purchased the property at auction for $1300.  The cost to demolish the house was approximately $1200.  The city sold the empty lot for $1500.


Water Tower Report

Travis Zirkle gave a report on the water tower preservation project to the city at the council meeting tonight.  The progress reported was that the Kansas Preservation Alliance, the Kansas State Historical Society, and its federal counter part were interested in the project and cooperating with local citizens.  Travis reported that the local tasks given were to document local support and to form a non-profit organization to manage and own the water tower.

Mayor David Abell voiced his opposition to the project based on concerns of the lasting strength of the structure and asked if engineers had looked at it.  Travis replied that not yet but that it would be part of the process.  The Mayor also stated that at the town meeting, the people in attendance made it clear that the old water tower should be torn down.  Mr. Zirkle recalled how there were only about ten people in attendance, including those that wanted to save the tower.  He stated that 26 people had signed a document of support and that number was far greater than that of the people at the town meeting.  Discussion was cordial.  At the end of the meeting, council members Ken Srna and Nancy Houghton (jokingly?) suggested solving the issue with a stick of dynamite.   All in all, the report went well.

Sunday, January 8, 2012

Reminder! Barnard City Council Meeting January 9th

The January Barnard city council meeting will be January 9th at 5 pm in the Barnard Community Building.  I will be giving a report on progress with the water tower preservation project.  This is the time when people who support the tower can show their support.  Please come to the meeting.

Farmhouse Ramblings by Charlene Watson

Farmhouse Ramblings
By Charlene Watson



Have you ever noticed that sometimes when things start going wrong they cascade into a landslide of ongoing unfortunate happenings that upset your whole equilibrium and send you into a state of major upset and irrational responses? Well, I am here to tell you that yesterday turned into that kind of day for me. Everything I tried to do ended in disaster.

I think my first mistake was getting out of bed. This progressed into the oatmeal boiling over on the stove while I was putting in the toast. From there I upset the Christmas tree while trying to move it to its place of honor by the dining room window. Next, I dropped a Christmas ornament and broke it while trying to put it on the tree after I set it up and put it back together. No, much to my embarrassment we now use an artificial tree. Something I swore I would never do. Moving on to the closet I tipped a box of ornaments upside down because I didn’t want to take time to go get the step stool. I am always in too much of a hurry to get things done.

I would like to blame it on “The Grinch Who Stole Christmas” or say my friend Murphy was back again to upset my life but in all truthfulness, it was just my stupidity that caused all the trouble.

Then, I decided to wash some of my husband’s jeans and shirts. Big mistake! I remembered to check the jeans pockets and zip up the zippers and I even removed his pen from his shirt pocket. What I evidently did not do was check the pocket close enough to find his pocket diary for this year even though I would have sworn I did.

This little book has all of his addresses, phone numbers, when he did what, what he plans to do, cattle data, plus rainfall amounts and when they occurred listed in it for the whole year. My husband has every pocket diary from every year dating back to sometime in the 1980’s and probably before that if I looked hard enough.

Folks! I have to confess to you now that I committed one of the most unforgivable sins a farm wife can perpetrate against her farmer husband. I WASHED HIS SACRED POCKET DIARY. There was nothing left but the water soaked cover and even the year was soaked off.

To make it worse, he was sitting at the computer in the same room with me when I opened the washing machine and let out a shrieking “OH, NO!” loud enough to wake the dead. He jumped up and said with concern for my safety in his voice, “What Happened?” as I slammed the lid and put my hands over my head on the washer lid too upset to speak. I couldn't believe this had happened!

Then came the moment of truth when I had to confess my flagrant sin. This is something I have dreaded would happen all the years since I did it once after we were first married. All those years of abstinence and now I had once again committed this terrible sin. I couldn’t believe it.

All the pages were soaked into little chunks of white dotting the entire surface of everything in the washer. Nothing was left to salvage, not even an address or phone number. In short, there was not a single note or date left in one piece. NADAH! NIL! NOTHING! ZILCH!

I took a deep breath and said a short prayer before I raised my head to face the music. By then hubby had guessed what had happened and I saw my him sitting at the desk with his head in his hands trying to deal with my latest screw up. I put my arms around him and asked for forgiveness while I stood there feeling lower than the low woman on a totem pole (if there is such a thing)

While I know he would have liked to throttle me, he just shook his head and said, “It’s O.K.” Even though I knew it wasn’t O.K. I was glad to know I wasn’t going to have to sleep in the garage with the dog and cat that night.

As the days go by I will learn to live with this and I guess he will too. There will just always be a missing year in his drawer full of pocket diaries to remind me of this fateful day. In my self-defense, this is only twice in over 50 years I have done this.

I guess being able to forgive each other -- even when it hurts -- is one of the things that have kept us together all these years.

So ladies, take my advice and remember to check all the pockets of before you wash your husband’s clothes. Put this on your list and check it twice because it might just save a life and it may just be your own. -- Charlene. (Charlene’s Freelance Publications, Barnard, Ks.)

Barnard Music Jam and Card Party

The Barnard music jam and card game party was held on January 7th.  The music started at 1pm after soup was served at noon.  Several musicians, including our Methodist minister, joined Kenny Wallace in playing many old and newer tunes.  There was lots of fun, music, conversation. 

The bi-weekly card party started about 7 pm and wrapped up with Wayne and Al Joe Wallace losing miserably to Kay Jackson and Helen Meyers.  The game was pitch and the score was 58-0.  The score could have been worse because Wayne and Al Joe were actually in the negative until towards the end.

Music Jams are on the first Saturday of the month at noon and the card game parties are the first and third Saturdays at 7 pm.

Kenny Wallace's self titled album is available on iTunes for $9.99.

http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/kenny-wallace/id479765013




Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Former Barnard Resident, Virginia C. Knauer Kobett, Passes

Virginia C. Knauer Kobett

MANHATTAN- Virginia Carolyn Knauer Kobett, 91, of Manhattan, died, Saturday, Dec. 24, at home surrounded by her loving family.  Virginia was born in Barnard, on Feb. 14, 1920, the daughter of the late Bill and Leitha (Eddy) Knauer.  She graduated in 1939 from the Barnard High School, Barnard, and then erolled at Kansas State Agriculture College, now known as Kansas State University, where she earned her degree in business administration.  Virginia was active in the Order of Eastern Star, business and Professional Women, where she was a past president and later chosen as Woman of the Year, and the First Presbyterian Church in Manhattan.  For 25 years, she was an accountant with Manhattan Motors where she won several awards from the National Buick Dealers as top accountant.

In January of 1969, she and Harry Kobett were united in marriage.  She is survived by her two sisters, Darlene Mackintosh and husband David, Omaha, Neb., and Mary Lu Haas and husband Harvey, Hilltop Lakes, Texas, and a brother, Del Knauer, Hutchinson.  She is also survived by five nephews, two nieces, as well as close friends and neighbors.

Virginia was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Harry and her nephew Mike Mackintosh.

A private committal service will occur at a later date.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Manhattan Public Library, 629 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, KS 66502.

From the Hutchinson News

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

A Find During Renovations

Jeff Wallace and I have been renovating/restoring the old Saunders place in Barnard.  You've seen many postcards that I've posted, however, those have been ones that I have found for sale elsewhere.  This one I actually found behind some woodwork being removed so that sheetrock could replace some damaged plaster in the dining room.  I was rather excited about this find.  It is dated and postmarked by the Barnard Post Office in 1915.




If you have any information about this card...I would like to know.  As always, click on the image to enlarge.