Archive
Tom Smith: The Marshal Who Fought with his Fists
December 21, 2020
"Bear River" Thomas James Smith was born around 1830 in New York. We do not know his birth date for certain since records have not been found. This can be a fairly common problem when researching...
The Kirby House: Losing an Abilene Landmark
December 21, 2020
On Wednesday evening, February 20, 2013, Abilene lost a 128 year old landmark. The Kirby House had stood at 205 Northeast Third Street since 1885, and was a well-known Abilene staple. The Abilene...
A Brief Look at Abilene's Historic Buildings: the A.B. Seelye Medicine Company, Plaza Theater
December 21, 2020
This theater was known by several names over the years: the Seelye Opera House, Bonebrake Opera House, and Plaza Theater. In addition to being a theater, the building was also utilized as the...
A Brief Look at Abilene's Historic Buildings: the Lebold Mansion
December 21, 2020
This beautiful Victorian home was constructed on the original site of the home of Timothy and Elizabeth Hersey, founders of Abilene. Conrad H. Lebold had great success as an Abilene banker and land...
Joseph G. McCoy and the Chisholm Trail, 1867-1871
December 21, 2020
You cannot write anything about the history of Dickinson County, Kansas, without covering Joseph G. McCoy and his effect on cattle driving. Joseph G. McCoy left a prosperous farm in Illinois and...
C.L. Brown and his Affect on Abilene, Kansas
December 21, 2020
Someone who deserves more credit for the changes he brought to Abilene, Kansas is Cleyson LeRoy Brown. It seems like many people forget or do not even know about what Brown did for his community. A...
C.L. Brown, Kansas Independent Telephony, and a Spirit of Giving
December 21, 2020
In this post, the Dickinson County Historical Society shares about C.L. Brown and Kansas Independent Telephony, a look at notable Abilene patriarch Cleyson L. Brown and the spirit of giving that he...
C.L. Brown and Kansas Independent Telephony
December 21, 2020
In addition to owning 85 companies, C.L. Brown gave back to the Abilene, Kansas community in fantastic ways. This spirit of giving is still found in Kansas independent telecommunications companies...
T.C. Henry: The Wheat King of Kansas
December 21, 2020
Abilene is a city with an eclectic history. Whether it is the cattle trade, greyhound history, notable figures, or farming, the town has had many interesting stories and events over the years. ...
Top 7 Positive Stories in 2020
December 18, 2020
Like communities across the globe, Abilene's tourism industry faced unprecedented challenges in 2020, but that does not mean good things did not also still happen. Check out our list of the top 7...
The Amusement King
December 16, 2020
Charles Wallace Parker was born in Griggsville, Illinois in 1864. At the age of five, his family moved to Abilene, Kansas. As Parker grew into adulthood, he became interested in creating and...
Letters to Santa
December 16, 2020
Join us in reminiscing with Letters to Santa written by former Abilene residents and community leaders more than 100 years ago! 1. C.W. Parker Abilene Daily Reflector - December 24, 1906 The...
'Tis the Season at the Historic Seelye Mansion
December 15, 2020
Abilene's Historic Seelye Mansion is named one of the 8 Wonders of Kansas - Architecture winners by the Kansas Sampler Foundation and with good reason. "The Seelye Mansion was voted one of the 8...
