I put together some maps of Cottonwood and the area with some of the key points of interest. They're pretty small on the site here, but I'll have prints of them with me for anyone who wants one.
I'M PACKING MY BAG...
See you all soon. Bruce
Friday, June 29, 2007
Monday, June 25, 2007
Cottonwood Falls Here We Come!
The reunion is just around the corner and the plans are firming up. Thanks to all of you for your patience.
Here's a rough schedule of events (condensed schedule at end of this entry):
Joani, Grant, Caitlin, and I plan to roll into Cottonwood about midday, with Aunt Ruthanne with us. We'll probably head for the Emma Chase Cafe on Broadway (that's the main drag in CWF) for lunch. Then we're going to check into our rooms at the Millstream Motel, which is at the opposite end of Broadway from the Courthouse, down near the river.
Please plan to come by and we can all meet and greet--and have a cold drink or two--anytime after lunch (1-2p.m.) We'll plan to hang out there until suppertime (remember, it's Kansas, where dinner is in the middle of the day and supper is in the evening.) I'm thinking we'll send our kids over to Strong City for hamburgers and we'll adjourn to the Grand Central Hotel for supper about 6 or 6:30.
Sharon and Steve Griffin are the current owners of the old Finley house (324 Cherry Street) and have graciously agreed to host a tour of their house. We've tentatively set that up for 8 p.m. Tuesday evening, so those who have memories of that house and would like to see it again should plan to come take a tour. All family members are welcome and we can go over there after we've had our supper.
Wednesday is the Fourth of July, so we might as well get an early start. Early is likely to be the only tolerable temperature of the day, so all you Finleys, golfers or not, are on for golfing at the Cottonwood Falls Country Club. Experience is not necessary. We'll whack a few balls around the pasture and try our hands at putting on the "sand greens" they have there. I have it on good authority that Edgar and Harold spent the better part of their youth on this golf course, and Monnie and Ruthanne logged a good many rounds there, too. It's truly a unique experience and not to be missed. For those family members who are traveling locally, please bring a set of clubs if you have one to share with the travelers from afar.
As a bonus, the property that the course in on is part of the original Alexander D. Findley homestead--the land Lucinda and A.D. settled on when they first arrived in Chase County in 1858! I suspect the land itself doesn't look a lot different from what it looked like to them, so we can all experience the setting and imagine what it was like to be there 150 years ago.
When we finish with golf--and that may be determined by the heat rather than the number of holes completed--we'll adjorn and head back to town. Get cooled off, cleaned up, whatever's necessary...
Next, around noon, we can all head over to Swope Park, where we'll rendezvous in the Community Building there. We'll plan to have the air conditioner blasting. Also, keep in mind the swimming pool is right there, so anyone who feels like a swim should bring their suit. The caterers will arrive sometime between noon and 1 p.m. and will be serving a traditional summer meal of barbecue with all the fixings (vegetarians, beware).
We can all visit and get to know each other a bit better. Reminisce about "the good old days". Plan to spend the afternoon.
I encourage all of you to think a moment if you have some FAMILY MEMENTO that is small enough to bring along and share with the others--it would be fun to see what might show up. OLD PHOTOS would be a kick, too.
I've placed an announcement in this week's Chase County Leader News that we are holding this event, so no telling who among the local crowd might show up to say hello. That is, if we haven't all been forgotten by now.
If we haven't had enough to eat and drink by the end of the afternoon, we'll plan to put out some more food, since we know a true Finley would hate to miss a meal and we're not sure any restaurants will necessarily be open on the holiday.
Next, as the sun begins to sink and hopefully the day cools into evening, our Lacey cousin, Karla Tuley Edmiston and her husband, Dean, have invited us to their house nearby in Cottonwood for fireworks and homemade ice cream. There will be plenty of fireworks, but if you want to buy some of your own and set them off, you're welcome to join in. We'll keep the party going as long as all us old folks can hold on.
Thursday morning, Karla (who works as a coach and teacher in the school system) has offered to take any of us who would like to the Grade School to see the old regulator clock that came from the G.E. Finley and Son jewelry store. The clock was donated to the school when the jewelry business was sold at auction after Hugh Finley's untimely death in 1931. The clock is technically still owned by our family, and if the school district ever decides it doesn't want or need the clock any longer, it will revert to our family. But don't count on it. It is a magnificent piece and worth taking a little time to go see it. And, of course, it's in the school house where Edgar, Harold, Monnie, and Ruthanne were all "schooled." I think we'll do that about 9:30 a.m.
We ( the Bruce Laceys) plan to hang around Cottonwood the rest of the day on Thursday. We'll probably make a trip to the cemetary and anyone that would like to join that excursion is welcome. Then, in the late afternoon, it will be time for us to head on to McPherson and begin the events culminating in Alexia Lacey's wedding on Saturday.
As I write all this out, it's clear that the time together will pass very quickly. But I hope that it will be enough time for each of us to connect with one another and get to know each other just a little bit. I'm so excited that that so many are planning to come, and wish you all safe journeys.
CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU ALL!!!
Love,
Bruce
I'm hoping my cell works in Cottonwood. Here's my #: 415.713.0748 Don't be afraid--call me!
TUESDAY - July 3
Lunch at Emma Chase Cafe
Meet and greet at Millstream Motel
Supper - Grand Central Hotel (on Broadway in CWF)
or Flint Hills Restaurant (on Hwy. 50 in Strong City)
8 p.m. - Tour Finley house (324 Cherry St)
WEDNESDAY - July 4
7 am & on - Golf - CWF Country Club (S. of town on Hwy. 177)
Noon-6 Reunion - Community Building, Swope Park (swimming available)
7:30 p.m. - Homemade ice cream & fireworks (Karla & Dean Edmiston, 1st house S of new 177 bridge, east side)
THURSDAY - July 5
9:30 a.m. - School house clock tour
10:30 a.m. - Prairie Grove Cemetary visit
Noon - Lunch (Emma Chase Cafe?) and farewells
I'll plan to have some maps I can hand out to anyone who wants or needs one.
BEYOND... Unfortunately, the courthouse is closed for a major rennovation. I believe the Ronniger museum behind it will be open, for you history buffs, and there are a few items from our family there. We can point out the building where the old jewelry store was. The Bells were longtime family friends of the Finleys. They no longer own the store, but any of you who want any westernwear, Jim Bell and Son is the place people come to from miles around. Souvenirs, anyone?
Here's a rough schedule of events (condensed schedule at end of this entry):
Joani, Grant, Caitlin, and I plan to roll into Cottonwood about midday, with Aunt Ruthanne with us. We'll probably head for the Emma Chase Cafe on Broadway (that's the main drag in CWF) for lunch. Then we're going to check into our rooms at the Millstream Motel, which is at the opposite end of Broadway from the Courthouse, down near the river.
Please plan to come by and we can all meet and greet--and have a cold drink or two--anytime after lunch (1-2p.m.) We'll plan to hang out there until suppertime (remember, it's Kansas, where dinner is in the middle of the day and supper is in the evening.) I'm thinking we'll send our kids over to Strong City for hamburgers and we'll adjourn to the Grand Central Hotel for supper about 6 or 6:30.
Sharon and Steve Griffin are the current owners of the old Finley house (324 Cherry Street) and have graciously agreed to host a tour of their house. We've tentatively set that up for 8 p.m. Tuesday evening, so those who have memories of that house and would like to see it again should plan to come take a tour. All family members are welcome and we can go over there after we've had our supper.
Wednesday is the Fourth of July, so we might as well get an early start. Early is likely to be the only tolerable temperature of the day, so all you Finleys, golfers or not, are on for golfing at the Cottonwood Falls Country Club. Experience is not necessary. We'll whack a few balls around the pasture and try our hands at putting on the "sand greens" they have there. I have it on good authority that Edgar and Harold spent the better part of their youth on this golf course, and Monnie and Ruthanne logged a good many rounds there, too. It's truly a unique experience and not to be missed. For those family members who are traveling locally, please bring a set of clubs if you have one to share with the travelers from afar.
As a bonus, the property that the course in on is part of the original Alexander D. Findley homestead--the land Lucinda and A.D. settled on when they first arrived in Chase County in 1858! I suspect the land itself doesn't look a lot different from what it looked like to them, so we can all experience the setting and imagine what it was like to be there 150 years ago.
When we finish with golf--and that may be determined by the heat rather than the number of holes completed--we'll adjorn and head back to town. Get cooled off, cleaned up, whatever's necessary...
Next, around noon, we can all head over to Swope Park, where we'll rendezvous in the Community Building there. We'll plan to have the air conditioner blasting. Also, keep in mind the swimming pool is right there, so anyone who feels like a swim should bring their suit. The caterers will arrive sometime between noon and 1 p.m. and will be serving a traditional summer meal of barbecue with all the fixings (vegetarians, beware).
We can all visit and get to know each other a bit better. Reminisce about "the good old days". Plan to spend the afternoon.
I encourage all of you to think a moment if you have some FAMILY MEMENTO that is small enough to bring along and share with the others--it would be fun to see what might show up. OLD PHOTOS would be a kick, too.
I've placed an announcement in this week's Chase County Leader News that we are holding this event, so no telling who among the local crowd might show up to say hello. That is, if we haven't all been forgotten by now.
If we haven't had enough to eat and drink by the end of the afternoon, we'll plan to put out some more food, since we know a true Finley would hate to miss a meal and we're not sure any restaurants will necessarily be open on the holiday.
Next, as the sun begins to sink and hopefully the day cools into evening, our Lacey cousin, Karla Tuley Edmiston and her husband, Dean, have invited us to their house nearby in Cottonwood for fireworks and homemade ice cream. There will be plenty of fireworks, but if you want to buy some of your own and set them off, you're welcome to join in. We'll keep the party going as long as all us old folks can hold on.
Thursday morning, Karla (who works as a coach and teacher in the school system) has offered to take any of us who would like to the Grade School to see the old regulator clock that came from the G.E. Finley and Son jewelry store. The clock was donated to the school when the jewelry business was sold at auction after Hugh Finley's untimely death in 1931. The clock is technically still owned by our family, and if the school district ever decides it doesn't want or need the clock any longer, it will revert to our family. But don't count on it. It is a magnificent piece and worth taking a little time to go see it. And, of course, it's in the school house where Edgar, Harold, Monnie, and Ruthanne were all "schooled." I think we'll do that about 9:30 a.m.
We ( the Bruce Laceys) plan to hang around Cottonwood the rest of the day on Thursday. We'll probably make a trip to the cemetary and anyone that would like to join that excursion is welcome. Then, in the late afternoon, it will be time for us to head on to McPherson and begin the events culminating in Alexia Lacey's wedding on Saturday.
As I write all this out, it's clear that the time together will pass very quickly. But I hope that it will be enough time for each of us to connect with one another and get to know each other just a little bit. I'm so excited that that so many are planning to come, and wish you all safe journeys.
CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU ALL!!!
Love,
Bruce
I'm hoping my cell works in Cottonwood. Here's my #: 415.713.0748 Don't be afraid--call me!
TUESDAY - July 3
Lunch at Emma Chase Cafe
Meet and greet at Millstream Motel
Supper - Grand Central Hotel (on Broadway in CWF)
or Flint Hills Restaurant (on Hwy. 50 in Strong City)
8 p.m. - Tour Finley house (324 Cherry St)
WEDNESDAY - July 4
7 am & on - Golf - CWF Country Club (S. of town on Hwy. 177)
Noon-6 Reunion - Community Building, Swope Park (swimming available)
7:30 p.m. - Homemade ice cream & fireworks (Karla & Dean Edmiston, 1st house S of new 177 bridge, east side)
THURSDAY - July 5
9:30 a.m. - School house clock tour
10:30 a.m. - Prairie Grove Cemetary visit
Noon - Lunch (Emma Chase Cafe?) and farewells
I'll plan to have some maps I can hand out to anyone who wants or needs one.
BEYOND... Unfortunately, the courthouse is closed for a major rennovation. I believe the Ronniger museum behind it will be open, for you history buffs, and there are a few items from our family there. We can point out the building where the old jewelry store was. The Bells were longtime family friends of the Finleys. They no longer own the store, but any of you who want any westernwear, Jim Bell and Son is the place people come to from miles around. Souvenirs, anyone?
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