I am hoping that my fellow forum members can help me out. You see my knowledge of Howard is stuck in a time warp from the 60's & 70's. I have very fond memories of all the summers and holidays that I spent there. But getting to listen to the insiders info here I get the impression of a declining rural town like many in America . So if all of you that live there now or have visited recently could update me; paint me a picture of Howard today.
David
I think Howard is like the rest of Elk county and the rest of rural America, the towns are suffering decline for lack of people. There is no industry other than cattle and a little farming, and Howard survives because it is the county seat. The courthouse and school are the heart of the town with a few service industrys supplying needed grocerys, medical care, restraunts etc. There seems to be a large population of older folks, and low income people because of the low cost of living. But even that may change with the cost of transportation. I don't know that it can change and become anything like the past. The area has declined even in the 15 years I have lived here. I have heard descriptions of the towns as they were in the 1950s, and it really seems impossible.
Thanks SDM for your comments. I also, spent time in Moline at my Aunt Charlene Winn Jacot's house. I have good memories there too. If memory serves me that is where you live. If I can interest you all enough to help me, let me tell you some of my memories and questions about Howard\Elk County today.
I remember going to Moline to my Aunt Charlene Jacot's house and teasing a bull at a Vet clinic and being chased out of the pen. Also I played on a small hand driven Ferris wheel on someones property near by.
Running the trot lines on the Elk River for flatheads. Hunting coyotes, coons, ducks and quail.
A sip of blackberry brandy in a camper at the fair ground before a horse race.
Watching my cousin Gail Winn as rodeo queen and barrel racer.
Winn's Café, Babe(?) at the Howard theater letting me into an R movie under age, Waldo's Barber shop, Cobb's Western Wear, Sweet Lacy Feed. The pool hall. Toot's Drive In.
Cruising in my cousin Rick's Impala down Main St in circles at night. Elk High School football.
Thanks,
David
Jacot's house sold. The vet clinic is owned by a Black. :laugh: Ferris wheel was scrapped by looters in 84. Flatheads out number the quail 1000 to one. Coyotes and coons out number the ducks and geese.
Blackberry brandy has been replaced by Everclear and Red Bull. There are no horse races at Howard.
We have a few queens but not at the rodeo. Barrel racer is sorting mail.
Winn's cafe has Halmark greeting cards on top of it, Cobb's western wear was replaced by Allen's then shut down in the eighties. It now houses the Soil Conservation district office. The ASCS was dissolved into Greenwood, Montgomery, and Wilson counties.
Impala's always did pull to the right. West Elk Football started to win some games...........
Pepelect thanks for the comments. You are always funny. Since I dont know you combined with the inability to judge a persons tone on the internet I never know how serious your comments are. That is just the long way around to saying are you pulling my leg?
David
I only speak the truth.
:angel:
The light from your halo is blinding me from that fact. I think your sense of humor lets you bend and manipulate the truth. I always look forward to what you have to say. Keep up the good work on the grade school issue.
David
David,
The Ferris Wheel was on Frank & Mae Patteson's property. The Elk River holds many memories for me including running trot lines with my dad and brothers. I, also, have fond memories of Marion and Charlene. Toot's is about all that is still in Howard that you mentioned and they do not have the Minute Buns. You may be too young to remember them. It is not the same but is still home.
Old Granny thanks for the information. I don't know if I ever had minute buns or not. I have had loose meat, sloppy joes, and maid-rites all in the same vein. I also never remember the water tasting bad or the dirt roads being overgrown. Thank god for nostalgia it has a way of erasing the bad and letting us appreciate the good. One of the good parts about getting older.
David
I remember the water tasting bad and the roads overgrown. I use to run through the Johnson grass the same way I did the corn rows. Also, during the hot summer days swimming in the stale water and picking the leaches off and enjoying every minute of it. Our expectations increase as we age. I wouldn't change a minute of my childhood memories and wish everyone could have such pleasant memories. Sounds like you have the minute bun
I have always said that all kids should grow up in the midwest and then spend their young adulthood in California. After that I think you have a good indication where you belong. My dad was an engineer and we always were moving around all over the country. I hated it at the time but the things I learned in the variety of places I lived has given me an appreciation for many things that I would never have experienced otherwise. I remember corn cob fights in the hay loft with only a little blood being drawn. Ah those were the days.
David
Quote from: pepelect on August 03, 2008, 06:15:13 PM
Blackberry brandy has been replaced by Everclear and Red Bull. There are no horse races at Howard.
Well if i could ever find some blackberries i would make some :P Everclear?? ewwwwww give me good ole goldengrain or kentucky 200 proof :P
I do however have my eye on a ton of elderberries. Mmmmm
Quote from: pepelect on August 03, 2008, 06:15:13 PM
There are no horse races at Howard.
Pepelect if I remember correctly these horse races were at the fair grounds on a track ( not a conventional horse racing track like the Kentucky Derby) and the betting was cash on the table. Too bad you don't have any rodeo queens any more that is one of the things that make America; America. I am going to our county fair\rode next week here in California and I think we could probably spare a few rodeo queens for my favorite town in Kansas. (oh and I don't mean the kind of queens we have in San Francisco, excuse my political incorrectness). I love a California girl in a cowboy hat.
David
I think Tobina and Teresa would make great rodeo queens. Tobina representing now, and Teresa the 1800s...the clothes!...not the age! Be nice!!!
David, I can tell you from experience that all towns in rural America have suffered greatly since the 1960s and 70s.
I personally live in Caney where almost every downtown store has closed. It's really sad.
I've often said the greatest calamity in America is the demise of really small towns. Howard, Moline, Sedan, Longton --- all are feeling the pangs of economic squeezing. Infrastructure is failing everywhere such as bridges, roads, downtown buildings.
A personal observation here: There is an overall lack of pride in many of these small towns, and I'm certainly not picking on Howard here. It's the same with my hometown and every other small berg in rural Kansas. And, of course, the greatest asset we've lost has been our young people. We do a good job of raising them, instilling a good values system in their hearts, providing them with a good education at the local level, but we must wave good-bye to them when then want to find good jobs with benefits.
I have chosen to live and work in these small towns because I love them. I see such value in them --- and in the people who live in them. But if you haven't visited Elk County since the 70's, you'd be well advised to take a good, deep breath before you hit the city limits.
We're still here --- but it's waaaaaay different from what you remember.
And, believe it not, some of it is actually better.
My advice is head straight to Batson's Drug. Then have lunch at Poplar's Pizza. Those two places have made a positive impact upon Howard over the past few years. If you look around with a good attitude, as many in our midst have done, you'll find a wonderful community awaiting you.
Then have a fudge monkey at Toots. ;)
RUDY RULZ!
I take great exception to the fact that there is not pride left if rural America. I think any body who thinks differently should continue shopping at Walmart and order their drugs from internet. Canada drugs are just as good. But can Bentonville hold your check till payday? Doen't Dillions charge for you organizations fund raiser goods?
I think all small towns are the victum of small town people. We want every thing every body else has except the things that big city life brings. The highway that takes you out of town should bring two or three back with you when you return. If while you are shopping out of town just ask the saleperson how much over the product price you can write the check for and please send any extra money to me in care of "Just trying to get small town press"
PEP
I agree wholeheartedly with Rudy's observation about community pride. Refer to my original posts on the Elk Konnected thread in Coffee Shop. The survey that was handed out to all the communties in Elk County and Severy show the amount of pride in each community and how much pride they have for their county. The lack of pride is staggering! Even Moline, who was the only town who ranked above 50% positive answers for city pride, only had 58%. And overall pride for the county was a whopping 27%!! It's no wonder we can't attract any new people or have enough pride to encourage our young people to come back and live.
Yes, PEP, there are those of us who are proud of where we came from and where we live now. And there are those of us who support locally just to support locally. But we need to figure out a way to encourage that in others. Some people need to be led by example. Having community supporting groups out there being active and getting results done and being spotlighted in the newspaper are helping that example. And we just need to keep up the momentum!
I appreciate all the comments even the gloomier ones I find it very interesting yet very sad. If you notice the title I was hoping for maybe some of the positive things and pictures. I know there must be some many of you live there now. Feel free to post anything good or bad it helps me paint my mental picture, but I was hoping for the good things.
David
I grew up in Howard, and had a great childhood. Riding bicycles around town, going into Batson's for an ice cream cone, summers at the swimming pool, couldn't wait for the fair and carnival, running up the hill to see Grandma Lillian and ride horses, playing kick ball with the neighbor boys, and of course times of being absolutely bored.
I now live in Howard as an adult and watch my children go for bike rides, go to Batson's for ice cream, spend their days at the pool, they don't have any interest in the fair as there is no carnival, instead of running up the hill to see their Grandma Kay they run down the hill, there are no horses for them to ride either, summer evenings for them consist of whiffle ball games with the neighbor boys.
Oh yeah, they are absolutely bored at times also.
So it would seem that although many things change, a lot still stays the same.
I've been readin this for a few days and it interests me. I grew up in Severy instead of Howard, so did my husband. When we were kids there were two grocery stores, a hardware store, a lumber yard, drug store, newspaper, two gas stations IN town and a couple more out at the junction, a cafe IN town, Sams, Irvins, Mary and Genes drive in out at the junction, Charlies out where the Osage used to be, two feed stores, a barber shop, domino parlor, beer joint, and a few others I've probly forgot. Oh yeah, a laundry. Labor Day used to be the biggest thing there was around besides the greenwood county fair! We had ball teams, remember when they made the movie there? It started goin down and just never stopped, now it's a ghost town pretty much. We left 7 or 8 years ago for various reasons, and it makes me sad to see it now. I wouldn't trade my childhood there for anything. We are still exremely small town where we are now but it ain't "home". Unfortunately home ain't home anymore either.
David;
You must have missed the thread about the woman who was thinking about moving to Elk County earlier in the summer! Wow, there were a lot of good, positive things posted about Elk County during that time! I think everyone was just hesitant to repeat themselves. We do have a lot of things to be proud of in this area. Heck, I've only lived in the area 4 years and I'm a huge proponent of the county and revitalization efforts going on! This little place gets under your skin and really makes you love it!
If you want to come back and visit, I would suggest doing so during a time when there's something going on (and it's COOLER!). Maybe during the weekend of the Elk River Festival? It sounds like the committee is really working hard to make lots of fun events and changes to this festival, and I'm looking forward to it! I think Chuck and I will have our craft booth again this year, too. I can't remember if this was the thread where you asked about him making boots, but he started working with leather in a boot shop. He doesn't do boots now, but he does do a lot of tack and is starting his 3rd saddle!
Just setting here thinking about Howard when I was growing up really brings back memories. I had to write down all of the businesses I could think of and probably missed some. Two Banks, PCA Production Credit Association, FHA Loan office for Farmers, Theater, 3 Automoblie Dealers, 4 Implement Dealers, Western Auto, 3 Appliance Stores,2 Furniture stores, 4 Restaurants/Cafes, 2 Clothing Stores, shoe Repair Shop, 4 Barbers, 2 Dentists, 4 Doctors, Variety Store, Printing company, Newspaper , 4 Beauty shops, Perrin Photography Studio, 2 Lumber Yards, 1 was a combination Hardware/Lumber, 2 Feedstores, 7 Service stations, including the car dealers there were 5 mechanic car repair shops, Drugstore, 2 Bakeries, Blacksmith Shop, Veternarian, Funeral Home, Jewelery Store, 2 dry cleaners, Hotel,Motor Court/Motel, 2 pool halls, Hatchery/feedstore, 2 plumbers, 2 title/abstract offices, 2 insurance offices, 2 liquor stores, 2 Law Offices, and probably somethings I have missed. On Saturdays, Howard Main Street was packed and people were on Main Street until Midnite visiting. In the grocery store we had to wait until as late as Midnite for people to pickup their Groceries and go home. But then again there was a family on every 80 to 160 acres, and there were a lot of people employed in all of the businesses. Those were the days, the hardest thing I ever had to do was when I left Howard. I have always planned on going back but my wife's health issues are more important to me at the moment. I have thought about building some Duplexes , rental houses or even a small apartment complex, but every person in Howard I have brought it up to has said you are crazy if you do.
Frank Winn
Howard had another famous saddlemaker at one time, Harry Shepler, founder of Shepler Western Wear Stores. Harry lived closer to Piedmont on a Ranch.
Frank
I remember Sheplers when it was a small store in Wichita. I loved to go in there and just smell the leather; that store was on north Main in Wichita I think.
Uncle Frank I never knew that about Shepler's. My Great Aunt Virgie used to take us there before we went to Henri's and on to see Aunt Anita for clothes. I still order things from Shepler's.
David
Quote from: Tobina on August 05, 2008, 12:57:20 PM
David;
You must have missed the thread about the woman who was thinking about moving to Elk County earlier in the summer! Wow, there were a lot of good, positive things posted about Elk County during that time! I think everyone was just hesitant to repeat themselves.
I did miss it. I am going to look for it right now. Did she ever decide to move there? Hesitant to repeat themselves?? I never found that to be the case. ;D I love the fact that everyone here has an opinion and is not hesitant to speak out.
David
David, Harry Shepler's Ranch was 2 1/2 miles West of where my wife was raised. Harry used to have a Rodeo on the 4th of July every year at the Ranch. Your Uncle Wes used to Rodeo there. After Harry left the Ranch he started his Saddle making and repair shop and travelled to horse and pony sales selling tack. I have a handmade Harry Shepler Saddle now that was my Father-in-Laws, a great saddle to ride. Harry finally had a stroke but still tavelled selling tack for sometime after. I used to see him at sales and shows. What a great guy he was.
Frank
frank, there were two creameries in Howard also -- unless you included them in the feed stores that you mentioned.
Coming to town on Saturday night was what you lived for ALL WEEK LONG. We lived east of Howard and also west of Howard.
We had a wonderful childhood - growing up on a farm.
Great memories.
Just wanted to thank everyone for posting to this thread. It let's me satisfy the Kansas Boy in me even though California is definitely where I belong and is "home". I like to say that I have cowboy genes and yuppie genes. I wouldn't trade that combination for anything. I am proud to be a COWPIE!
David
Quote from: dnalexander on August 05, 2008, 04:11:56 PMI am proud to be a COWPIE!
Oh Please! Oh Please! Oh Please!
There are SO many people I'd like to call that, and since you done went'n made it a good thing, you've ruined it for me :D :angel: :laugh:
Jo, you are right I did forget the creameries. Thanks
Every body waves.....the longer you are away from this area the weirder it gets but every body waves. You can be driving down the road at almost dusk and the arm or hand will come up from the steering wheel or off the mirror on the door. Don't wave back and you will be call out for it at some time. If you see a EK tag in Johnson county you pull up beside them just to see who it is. And what comes next you wave real big like you have just seen the Beetles.
How far you live from town can be determined by the height on the truck door that the mud stays after a rain.
The tennis court, yes there is only one, has better aphalt than any street in town. Yes the surface of the tennis court is ASPHALT. holds water like a jug.
The water still tastes like 1930's vintage fish of the WPA built Polk Danials lake perch that got stuck in the intake tube three weeks ago.
We used to also have an Ice Plant/Locker/Butcher
Yippie ki ya COWPATTIE!
Quote from: pepelect on August 05, 2008, 11:05:38 PM
Every body waves.....the longer you are away from this area the weirder it gets but every body waves.
When the Miller's first moved to Elk County, someone would wave and Marvin's mother would ask "who was that" - Marvin would say he didn't know and she'd ask why they waved. He told her everyone over here waves whether they know you or not. I say "that's friendly, small town America". When I lived in Severy and tried to walk for exercise, I had trouble cause everyone always stopped to "give me a ride". Another "small town America" courtesy.
I am replying to David Alexander.
I assume you are Myrna's son.
I am Marion Jacot's sister so it really hit home when you were talking about Marion & Charlene. I now live in Wichita but liived around the Moline area until 1981. We were at Marion & Charlene's house alot and were very close to them. (I grew up around Moline and graduated from Moline High School (GO HORNETS!)
Please let me know how your mom is doing if in fact I have the right kid (you).
Mkjacot
Yes I am one of Mary Myrna Winn's sons. I have very fond memories of spending time with "Jacot" and my Aunt Char in Moline as a kid. I will send you a private message regarding my mom in the next day or so.
David