2011 Report of Events & Business, Shawnee County Historical Society, Topeka and Shawnee County, Kansas

2011 Annual Meeting — Sunday, Dec. 4, 2011
This event occurred near the 157th anniversary of the founding of Topeka. Besides committee reports, approval of the 2010 Annual Meeing minutes and a financial report from our treasurer, new trustees were elected and the group had a demonstration of the new educational White Board first used for this summer's History Camp events.

Hale Ritchie House Tours, then business meeting

Annual Meeting 2011 collage A
Annual Meeting 2011 collage B

The 2011 SCHS Bulletin #85 was introduced: The Capital's Storied Capitols, 1856-1886. Editors were Douglass W. Wallace, Jeanne Christie Mithen, and Chris Meinhardt.

Demonstration of the new educational White Board
Annual Meeting 2011 collage C
Chatting, refreshing and sharing a passion for history
Annual Meeting 2011 collage D

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2011 Open House — Sunday, Nov. 13, 2011
Ritchie House to debut first permanent display
Open house shows Topeka, Shawnee Co. history through eyes of children
—See coverage: article by Jen Clark, Topeka Capital-Journal, 11/11/2011

Open House collage A
Open House 2011 collage B

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2011 History Camp for Kids, “Forging Freedom's Pathway” — Weekly camps in June, 2011

Mon. - Fri., 8:30 - 12:00 pm,
located at the Historic John and Mary Jane Ritchie House, 1116 S.E. Madison
Introducing use of the Cox Communications Heritage Education Center, newly restored Hale Ritchie House, 1118 S.E. Madison
"History Camp starts in Ritchie Homes," by Steve Fry, Topeka Capital-Journal, May 15, 2011.

6/6 “Home on the Range”
Experiencing Pioneer Life

6/20 “Forging Freedom”
The Underground Railroad and Civil Rights

6/27 “The Great Outdoors”
How Weather Effected Our Past

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2011 Savor Topeka Event, “Forging Freedom's Pathway”
— Saturday, June 11, 2011
This event was co-sponsored by Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site and SCHS Ritchie properties, Topeka, 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM
See coverage:
    "Living history walks scheduled," Topeka Capital-Journal, 5/30/2011.
   "Walks to celebrate civil rights history," Topeka Capital-Journal, 6/9/2011.
   "History comes alive at Brown v. Board Site," Topeka Capital-Journal, 6/11/2011

Buses moved participants from Monroe School to the Ritchie House, where National Park Service rangers walked them back to the school properties, stopping along the way for Lecompton Reenactor presentations representing David Rice Atchison, Clarina Nichols, Buffalo Soldier, Chester Woodward, and Julia Roundtree.

—Select a thumbnail photo to see the larger version—

Deb Goodrich-Bisel and Mary Jane Ritchie

Bill Wagnon welcomes visitors to the SCHS Ritchie properties

“From Civil War to civil rights, Topeka played a role” —Topeka Capital-Journal, Sunday, June 12, 2011
Spotted Gallery, candid shots of this event —CJonline, Sunday, June 12, 2011
Event photos by Carol Yoho, SCHS web site manager

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2011 Ritchie Renovation Donor Recognition Celebration
— Sunday, May 29, 2011
held at the Hale Ritchie House, newly-renovated at 1118 SE Madison, Topeka, 2 PM
See video coverage, KTKA, Channel 49, "Historic Ritchie House open to the public."

—Select a thumbnail photo to see the larger version—

Set-up for our celebration

Set-up and displays

Socializing indoors

Senator Anthony Hensley speaks

Speakers:

Chris Schultz, President, SCHS	Anthony Hensley, KS Senate, District 19	Pamela Hollie, Mistress of Ceremonies	Dale Anderson, Ritchie House Capital Campaign

Olivia Simmons, Visit Topeka	Judy Billings, Freedom's Frontier National Heritage Area	Justin Sochacki, National Park Service, Brown v. Board National Historic Site	Jenny Chinn, Kansas State Historical Society

Kevin Singer, Topeka Public Schools	Victor Miller, Shawnee County Commission	Larry Wolgast, Topeka City Council	Bill Wagnon, Ritchie House Capital Campaign manager

Special Recognition:

Bill Wagnon presents special recognition to Barbara Ritchie, Ritchie Family	Barbara Ritchie accepts recognition from Bill Wagnon	Larry Wolgast accept recognition on behalf of Topeka City Council

Coleen Jenson accepts recognition on behalf of Cox Communications	Daryl Nickel accepts recognition for his renovation work on both Ritchie houses.	Paul R. Schroer accepts recognition for donation of property by Gene and Anne Schroer.

Wrap-up:

Anthony Hensley, Bill Wagnon and Kevin Singer, armed

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2011 Preservation Awards — Sunday, May 1, 2011
held at the Hale Ritchie House, newly-renovated at 1118 SE Madison, Topeka, 2 PM

The fifth annual joint awards for preservation of sites reflecting the history of Shawnee County were presented by the Shawnee County Historical Society and the Topeka Landmarks Commission.

Guest speakers were John Hunter and Anita Wolgast of the NOTO Fine Arts District project, an effort to revitalize North Topeka with an community of the arts.


SCHS President Chris Schultz	Speakers Anita Wolgast and John Hunter	NOTO slide presentation visual
Chris Schultz, Shawnee County Historical Society President, honored these 2011 SCHS Preservation Award Recipients:


Jeff Carson and Gizmo Pictures, "Adaptive Reuse of Historic Property," The Thacher Building, 112 SE 8th Av, Topeka.	Maura and Bud Dingman, "Historic Preservation and Neighborhood Revitalization," properties at 1100 and 1124 SW Taylor St., Topeka.	Barb Quaney and Doug Jones, "Historic Preservation and Neighborhood Revitalization," JQ Historic Properites, Inc., 821 & 825 SW Western Av., Topeka.


North Topeka (NOTO) Arts District, Board of Directors, "North Topeka Revitalization Initiative."	Mike Fox, Mike Wilson and Daryl Craft, "Adaptive Reuse of Historic Property," the Gordon Building, 900 SW Kansas Av., Topeka.

In addition, the SCHS Preservation Committee also recognized ex-trustee Jack Wisman for his preservation work, particularly in regard to preservation of Topeka Cemetery, Topeka's oldest cemetery. Jack was not able to attend this event.

Robert Banks of the Topeka Landmark Commission recognized Central Congregational Church, on making living history of their ties with Charles Sheldon, Congregational pastor and author of In His Steps, and Deborah Edwards, owner and resident of the John Nelson House, boyhood home of Langston Hughes. Deborah recently suceeded in having the home recognized as a Topeka Historic Landmark.


Betty Bomar, right, honors Central Congregational Church for preservation.	Robert Banks with honoree Deborah Edwards	Robert Banks, of Topeka Landmarks Commission

Deb Goodrich-Bisel honors Dr. Bill Wagnon

Bill Wagnon, project coordinator for renovation of both Ritchie Houses

Trustees Jill Wolters and Carlton Scroggins

Trustees Doug Wallace, Hal Gardner and Deb Goodrich-Bisel

Photos for the Preservation Award Event
were provided primarily by Trustee Dave Heinemann and supplimented by Carol Yoho, web site manager.
Building preservation photos (below) are by Trustee Carlton Scroggins.

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2011 building preservation projects honored:


Gordon Building, 900 S. Kansas Av.	Thacher Building, 112 SE 8th St.


JQ Properties: 821 SW Western Av, 825 SW Western Av., 812 SW Fillmore St., 821 SW Fillmore St., 1011 SW 8th St.

.Dingman,1100 SW Taylor St..
	Dingman, 1125 SW Taylor St.

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Our Preservation Event was our First Public Event held in the newly renovated Hale Ritchie Home, 1118 SW Madison St., Topeka, new home of SCHS.

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First Use, newly restored Hale Ritchie House Trustee Meeting, April 19, 2011

Bill Wagnon discusses educational display plans

special basement entrance, handicap accessible

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above: Kansas State students tour Ritchie properties, Nov. 5, 2011

History camp starts in Ritchie homes —by Steve Fry, Topeka Capital-Journal, 5/15/2011
Hale Ritchie House comes alive —by Steve Fry, Topeka Capital-Journal, 11.25/2010

Spring 2011 Open Houses @ John Ritchie House April, 2011

Apr. 9 - Egg Hunt & Games
Apr. 16 - Open House
Apr. 23 -"Terrible Homicide"
Apr. 30 - Mary Jane Ritchie

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