Albert

The Albert Post Office I was looking through photos I took the weekend before last out in Barton County and found that they are all so depressing. OK, sure, the small rural towns are decomposing and will, in the not-so-distant future, be dug up by archaeologists, but that’s not what made them seem so depressing. …

Olmitz

Olmitz, pop. 138, is in northwest Barton County. A dozen cars and pickups were parked in front of St. Ann’s Church last Saturday afternoon. And the Knights of Columbus Hall. This was a sand street. A damp sand street – and my feet sank gleefully with each step. I miss sand. Eastern Kansas towns use …

1915 Flood

Dave laughs at this photo. “That’s not a flood, it’s a mud puddle.” Well, whatever. It’s my hometown of Pawnee Rock, during the so-called Flood of July 12, 1915. Everyone (apparently only males occupy the town, or are allowed to view flood damage) is wearing a hat and there appear to be a lot of …