KANSAS

FLINT HILLS AND PRAIRIES

THROUGH BROOKLANDS SCREENS

I grew up in El Dorado, Kansas. As a young child my family and I would travel this road on the way to Olathe, Kansas to visit my Grandma Silvers. I remember the gas stations in these pictures as places where we could stop and get a drink, sometimes fill the car with gas and visit with the old men who were sitting in wooden chairs outside. It was a good time in the early 1950's when this road was considered a main road. I distinctly remember several sets of Burma Shave signs along this road. It was fun to watch for them and read the silly poems. Today the Kansas Turnpike makes the same trip much shorter and honestly has it's own beauty. The biggest difference is that you pass it by, much faster.

On Sunday morning June 24, 2007 we left El Dorado and traveled east on Highway 54 about 5 miles to the beginning of Highway 177. The first few miles of this road are new and in a different location than when I was a child. A few years ago the first 10 miles or so of Highway 177 was covered by a new lake, thus the road was moved.

This road travels through an area of Kansas called the Flint Hills. Named for the abundance of flint rock found in the area. The Flint Hills are well known among cattle ranchers as some of the best grass land in the world! There are huge pastures. I have flown over this area in a small airplane and can testify that there are remote places where one can travel across the prairies for 20 or more miles and not see a power line or a fence. You would cross many small streams and meet more cows that you might care to.

It was in one of these remote places where Knute Rockne, the Notre Dame Football Coach was killed. More on that later.

The first set of pictures was taken heading North on the first stretch of Highway 177. You will notice that there are crops on one side of the road and a Rail Road on the other side. The first town is Cassoday, Kansas. Cassoday proudly proclaims itself as the "Prairie Chicken Capitol of the World!"

Leaving Cassoday the road runs straight for a ways. You can't see in the pictures, but across one of these very large pastures is a Service Area on the Kansas Turnpike.

Next the road drops off the prairie and into the bottom land. From here on the road winds and twist and runs over small hills.

The second town this road passes through is Matfield Green, Kansas. Matfield Green is almost a 'Ghost' Town these days, but a few people do still live here. I would suspect that many are third and forth generation residents.

It was along the next stretch of road and just a few miles west where a great tragedy took place on March 31, 1931. Knute Rockne, the great Notre Dame football coach was killed in the crash of a Folker Tri-Motor airplane operated by TWA Airlines.

Click on the crash picture to go to the Official Knute Rockne web site:

This is my favorite stretch of this Highway. The stone fence has been there since long before I was born. Enjoy the pictures, I enjoyed the drive.

Here we are at Bazaar, Kansas. It's not much of a town, but it is Bazaar! Check out the bathing woman, only in Kansas! Note that the last picture in this group is the Bazaar Cemetery. How would you like to be buried there?

Does anyone remember the TV commercials "Where's the Beef?" Well it is right here in Kansas. Some of it along Highway 177.

And now for Cottonwood Falls, home of the most beautiful Courthouse In the USA. At least it is in My Humble Opinion! See what you think:

The town of Cottonwood Falls is on the south side of the Cottonwood River and the town of Strong City, Kansas is on the north side of the river. Kind of like the twin cities in Minnesota, but not quite as big.

From Strong City, Kansas the final stretch of this little jaunt goes to Council Grove, Kansas. This is a very historic town. In it's earliest days it was a meeting place for the Calvary from Fort Riley, Kansas and some of the plains Indians. If you are ever here, plan to spend a very interesting day.

Well, that's the end of my tour. The last two pictures are of the TC loaded back on its trailer and the speedometer showing 75.5 miles. The trip was actually about 10 miles longer than that since I forgot to reset the trip meter till I had drive about 10 miles. I do hope you enjoyed the drive. If there is anyone out there who wants to drive it with me in a TC, or other vintage sports car, just let me know. I will do this drive again.

To my friend Mark Hineline, who is building a TC:

I REALLY HOPE THIS MOTIVATES YOU!