Topeka, Kansas

We arrived in Topeka on Tuesday of this week and camped in one of the nicest (and most reasonably priced) RV parks we have ever been in.

Of course for me, one of the main attractions in this park, was a storm shelter built to withstand an E-5 tornado. Having been through one of those nasty events in Topeka, June 8, 1966, (Do you notice I still remember the exact date??) I am not anxious to repeat the experience…storm shelter or not. However, having such a shelter close by was a definite comfort.

Gay and Cheri Sharp from our 2008 Alaska trip, all around good friends and full-time RVers were in Kansas getting repairs done on their 5th Wheel rig. When it was put back together, they stopped  by Topeka for a visit. We shared some fun reminiscing over plates of BBQ ribs before they continued on their trip to the Ozarks. RV’ers tend to make friends all across the country and we love reconnecting now and then.

For you who don’t know, Don’s dad, (who is turning 99 years old on August 1st) was born and lived in Topeka from 1912 to 1924. He actually went to school and church with several of MY mother’s cousins.

Don loves to tell a funny (and true) story about when he and I were dating.  His Dad and I would be telling each other Kansas stories that involved not just mutual friends, but my relatives, which was disconcerting to Don. Finally he told us to stop talking to each other because we would find out that we were related and couldn’t get married.

After we did get married, (no, we are NOT related!) Dad went back to Kansas with me a time or two, to my family reunions where he visited with all his old friends (my relatives) from grade school. What a small world it is!

Dad gave me a list of places he wanted me to photograph for him while we were here. Of course after nearly 100 years, some of them don’t exist anymore.

However, the house he was born in still stands and is still being lived in.

His best friend, Edna, lived next door to Dad when they were kids. There was an old log cabin (way more than 100 years old!) behind the house that she lived in way back then. Either her mother or grandmother (we are not sure about that particular detail of the story) had always wanted a log cabin, and finally her husband had one brought in and put it behind the house.

We were amazed to find that the cabin was still there and in pretty fair shape at that. The owner of the main house and cabin saw us out front with the camera and came out, talked to us and took us into the old cabin. What a treat that was!

The fireplace in the cabin has dozens of arrowheads inserted into it’s face as well as several large pieces of petrified wood. This fireplace is not only really unique, but it still works.

Then came the biggest surprise!

Suddenly I saw an old photograph on an end table. I immediately recognized it at “Grandma Jerman,” Edna’s grandmother, a lady Dad has talked about for years. He had kept pictures of her and I had seen them many times. I was amazed to see it there again after all these years.

After taking the pictures that Dad wanted and a few for my son, Colin, we visited some old friends who still live in Topeka.

Linda, who saw to it that I made it all the way to California when I left Topeka,

Becky and her mom, Beth. Beth worked at the portrait studio I owned in Topeka for many years.

Bev, a dear friend and former neighbor.

And Ron and Nancy, good friends of mine from my church here in Topeka.

Then we did a little sight-seeing. Now that may sound a bit strange to be sight-seeing in a city where I had lived for more than 20 years, but sometimes you don’t appreciate or even see what is around you.

Don and I did a tour of the state capital building in Topeka. It is currently undergoing a lengthy restoration and remodeling that has been in process for quite a number of years and is not yet finished.

I had been through the Capital building years before, but really didn’t remember much about it except the mural of John Brown in the rotunda.

The artist that painted John Brown and a few other murals there, was quite controversial and the politicians who had hired him didn’t much like his finished work. Thankfully they kept it on the walls as it makes for great and interesting stories, all too long to tell here.

The Senate which has been completely restored is amazingly beautiful, lots of Italian marble, carvings and such everywhere.

 

In case you are wondering, the taxpayers are paying a lot for this restoration work, but it is truly beautiful.

Then yesterday, we stopped in the old historic post office down town. Again, I have been here years before, but never really paid attention.

Besides being a huge, cavernous old building, it also contained lots of marble on the floors as well as on all the doorways which are trimmed with black marble. There is also a marble oval at the top of each doorway. Also notice the 1950’s “Fallout Shelter” sign above the doorway…just in case…

The elevator entrances that led to upper floors were even more ornate with lots of brass on the marble.

One of the things I did remember from a long time ago was still there. The bulletin board with the pictures of the 15 Most Wanted. I didn’t see anyone I knew, at least not this time.

Don performed his Nicodemus Monologue at one of the Sunday School classes at Topeka Bible Church, the church where I attended for many years prior to moving to California. It was very well received and was followed by a question and answer time afterward. He had never done that before and thoroughly enjoyed it.

The 400 member church that I left in 1985 is now a 1500 member church so there are many, many people I don’t know. However, I did see a number of familiar faces and was able to say hello to some old friends. And that was good.

Next stop is Mt. Rushmore and Crazy Horse in South Dakota.