|
Bell & Plaque |
More |
| This bell, probably the oldest in Lyon County, was hauled in a freighter-wagon from Fort Leavenworth to ring in the belfry of The Little Baptist Church. The church (1859-1948) was located on this site and dedicated in 1861. Built of the finest local lumber, The Little Baptist Church served as a cultural and spiritual center of the community. The bell was an object of pride for the village and was used to sound alarms, to call mass meetings, and to toll the ages of persons who had died in the community. "Uncle Sherm" Andrews (1869-1953), a native of Neosho Rapids, in 1947 restored The Little Baptist Church as an historical landmark to be used as a community center and as a place of worship. Fire tragically destroyed the building on Easter Sunday, April 3, 1948. The Bell, its tones undimmed, commemorates the site of The Little Baptist Church. The Memorial Park is dedicated to the pre-Civil War pioneers of this prairie village and to "Uncle Sherm" Andrews, who wished to leave a legacy to the community he loved. |
|
|
Bell & Plaque |
More |
Visit the Home Page for Kansas
A service of the Kansas State Library
