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Some small towns in Kansas just wrap their arms around you.
Woodbine in Dickinson County is one of those towns.
It was Eleanor Browning, Woodbine native, who suggested that Dave and I pay a visit to her hometown. So we did. We met ele’s dad, Verland Middleton, a delightful man and veteran of WWI, who has sold and repaired TVs in Woodbine since 1948.
And on that first visit, we stopped at Brigitte’s Country Cafe. Brigitte and Max Wendell fed us good food and made us laugh. After a meal and a bit of history about German castles (photos on the wall were from Brigitte’s native country), the Wendells sent us on our way with a sack of homegrown tomatoes.
Brigitte and Max retired.
But then they reopened their cafe.
Yesterday, Max sent me a couple of photos about their cafe sign along with an audio narration. I asked Max for permission to post it.
The photos are about an ordinary thing – retrieving and repainting the cafe sign. It’s just a moment in life. But I wanted share it because I think these people and this town so well represent what is good and what is real about Kansas.
After living in small towns, and now in a large city, I’ll take small towns hands down. God bless the people living in small towns in Kansas…and everywhere.
Thank you, Cheryl! Woodbine, like a lot of other small towns, is a great place to grow up. I can go back today and is still seems a little like stepping back to 50 years ago, except my Uncle Lowell is no longer at the elevator, there’s no grocery store or drugstore anymore, or even a blacksmith shop or a barbershop. Woodbine used to have 2 gas stations but both of them burned down. I was still home when the one up by the ballfield burned on Halloween! My son sometimes says there’s “nothing to do in Emporia,” and I tell him, “Honey, you should have grown up in Woodbine!” I feel very fortunate that I grew up in a small town. There’s just something about knowing everybody in town–like an extended family, although I may be related in some way to almost everyone! My own children missed out on that and it’s not easy to describe being able to go anywhere in town and never even think about fearing “strangers,” –riding my bike downtown to get the mail, or go to my dad’s store, or the grocery store or getting a ice cream soda at the drugstore. It was a happy, carefree, and “old-fashioned” childhood. It’s so nice to go back home!
I forgot to say that Dave & Cheryl take the BEST photographs! The one of the “abandoned business” the red brick building that we put a lot of $$ into the roof and other repairs used to belong to us when my DH had a horsetrailer & stockrack business there. He built them himself, but we were only there for 6 years.
The photographs are great! And, Brigitte makes great bierox!!
I believe that building is completely gone now. I took a turn through Woodbine in the Fall and found an empty lot in its place.
Started my early life at the old brick school in 1935, 1st grade with Grace Erickson, teacher. Will never forget in my life time, only allowed one pupil to the bathroom at a time. To late for me, stream down the isle and I headed home. My father, Wesley operated the gas station on the Northwest corner from Herington.
Moved to Arizona in 1967, but will never ever forget (and be grateful for) my early childhood in a Kansas small town of WOODBINE!!!!!!!
Still able to get back every 4 years for a Koepke family reunion at Rock Springs.
Love your website
Thank you, devolkman! I’m glad that you found Flyover People and joined us. I wouldn’t mind being in Arizona. It’s cold here now – and an even colder front is on the way.
Small towns are a great place to grow up, that’s for sure. … Although some memories are better than others. 🙂
P.S. Happy Arizona Day on Feb. 14.