Chapman Center for Rural Studies

06/23/2026

06/23/2026

Coming up on 75 years since the 1951 flood, which peaked on July 13. Here's the old Mercury building on 4th Street, in what's now the parking lot for the Community Building. The Mercury has been covering news -- including the big floods -- since 1884. Some of our company record books still have marks from the water that soaked them in '51.

06/23/2026

"Let the rain kiss you, let the rain beat upon your head with silver drops, let the rain sing you a lullaby."
-Langston Hughes

We continue in a rainy period here in northeast Kansas. The country side is green and the corn is getting tall.

Happy Tuesday!

Brad

06/23/2026

This hand painted tile will be joining all the others on the new flag mural that is going up soon. We wanted the Koester House Museum & Gardens to be represented as a part of the community.

Gary Miller mentioned his grandchildren sitting on these lions by the front gate and having their photo taken. I think tons of people have done the same. It's a Marysville tradition and we want that to continue. We'd LOVE to see those photos. Please post photos in the comments of kids sitting on the lions.

06/21/2026

06/21/2026

With all the fanfare it's received, we wanted to make sure Vigilance also got the proper Manhattan greeting.

06/18/2026

"The Nicodemus colony almost unanimously make final proof on their claims next Wednesday the 25th Inst. For six long years they have held to their claims, and will secure a title to their land."

- The Hill City Reveille, March 20, 1885

Many early Nicodemus settlers eagerly claimed up to 160 acres of land through the Homestead Act of 1862. Locating in the countryside surrounding Nicodemus, these homesteaders set to work meeting the guidelines to eventually "prove up" and own their homestead claims.

The nearest land office to file for and prove up on these claims was in Kirwin, Kansas, about 33 miles northeast of Nicodemus. Today, the drive to Kirwin is about 45 minutes. Before cars, walking or riding on horse to Kirwin would be an almost two-day trip.

Many homesteaders travelled in groups to the land office. Proving up on a homestead required having two witnesses testify for the homestead claimant. By traveling in groups, claimants could all testify for each other and fill out the final proof for their own homesteads at the same time.

On May 27th, The Hill City Reveille reported that 35 Nicodemus residents successfully made final proof on their homestead claims on the 25th. Their homesteads became part of the over 18,000 acres of land owned by Black Americans in Graham County, Kansas.



Photo: Yellow and brown train depot in Kirwin, Kansas.

06/18/2026

WOW! Check out this beautiful photo from Gentry Ackerman near Spearville, Kansas, on Monday.

"Beautiful views from the wheat field! Barely missed the quarter size hail that was just a few miles away this night and we were able to finish cutting."

06/16/2026

We are so happy to be a part of these fun and exciting events! 🌳💜