• Jan Leuenberger
• Walt Hillmer
• Jack Wisman
• Kathryn Hosfelt
• Doug Wallace
• Janet Loebel
• Jeanne Mithen

• Susan Marchant
• Kim Morse
• Joe Pennington
• Carlton Scroggins
• Michael Bradley
• Shaun Powers
• Anne Spiess

     William Beteta of Heartland Visioning discussed the Topeka visioning process and summary plans, including neighborhood preservation and valuing local history.
     Chris Meinhart discussed plans for the preservation and promotion of Constitution Hall in the 400 block of Kansas Ave. In July, 2008, this property was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
    Members passed c hanges to the SCHS By-laws and new officers were elected.
    A reception followed the meeting.

IN MEMORIAM:
Mary Ritchie Jarboe died February 9, 2008.
    There was a memorial service for Mary at the Ritchie House on April 26, with Mary's family attending from Texas.
    See archived photos of the service here.

Our 2008 SCHS Bulletin, Vol. 83, Dec. 2008, Bungalow Homes for the Nation: The L.F. Garlinghouse Co. of Topeka, was edited by Max Movosvitz (formerly of Topeka, now of Jacksonville, FL), with trustee Jeanne Mithen as assistant editor. The work covers home designed and built by the Garlinghouse Company of Topeka and mail order catalogs of bungalow home floorplans and detailing as published by the Topeka company 1916-1986.
    Additional copies of this Bulletin are available, $20. each + tax, in Topeka at the Kansas State Historical Society Gift Shop, Lloyd Zimmer's Books and Maps, and the TSCPL Booktique ($20 library price includes tax). In Jacksonville, FL, the book may be purchased at The Book Nook. Or...prepay by mail @ $25. including shipping from SCHS.

IN MEMORIAM: Hale Dean Ritchie Died August 31, 2008. Links to his Obituary, Wichita Eagle column: "Friends recall Ritchie for his charity, integrity," —Mortuary Guest Book. On the Path to Freedom commemorative event wrap-up Published here are 10 cases of litigation John Ritchie was involved in from 1871-1888 and from 1895. Link includes 63 pages of research by Bryce Benedict, provided here as a PDF file. [Adobe Reader is a free download from Adobe.] The City Council approved including the Hale Ritchie House on the list of Topeka Landmarks at its early January 2008 meeting.

Links to Topeka Capital-Journal articles:
Underground Railroad trip recalled 7-24-2008

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Christy Davis, Chair of the City of Topeka Landmarks Commission presented Landmark designations, which include Senate Suites Luxury Hotel, the Commonwealth Building, St. John's A.M.E. Church, The Gem Building, the Veale-Freeburg Building, the Hale Ritchie House, and the J. Fred & Cora Gaylord House.

Julie Weisgerber, State Historic Preservation Office Federal Tax Credit Reviewer acknowledges the most recent National and State Historic Register additions, including: The Bowker House, the College Avenue Historic District, the Hard Chief Village Archeological Site near Silver Lake and St. John's AME Church.

Carlton Scroggins, Shawnee County Historical Society President, honored Warren Taylor for his contribution to

local preservation through his work in the Topeka Room of the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library. Scroggins also honored the Friends of Bethany Place for their preservation advocacy. Additionally, the Society honored the owners of five properties for their preservation efforts: Jill Wolters and Michael Turner for their home on Western, Greg Fox for the Row House Restaurant, the Kansas Association for Justice for Fire Station #2, Boyd England and Alice and Jeff Landers for the England Farmstead, and Kanza Construction for The Palace Building. The Society also honored the Shawnee County Commission— Parks and Recreation Department for preservation of the WPA stone shelters at Lake Shawnee.

The Shawnee County Historical Society is a combination of the previous history focused Shawnee County Historical Society and the preservation focused ‘Historic Topeka' organizations which merged membership and missions. Historic Topeka previously awarded preservation efforts and the Shawnee County Historic Society has awarded historic preservation efforts since the organizations merged.

The City of Topeka Landmarks Commission is a volunteer citizen commission appointed by the City of Topeka to identify and acknowledge important historic landmarks in the City.