Magic Hill Homeowner Alliance

03/02/2026

The Battle of Wichita - March, 1st, 1944

"The Battle of Kansas," also known as the "Battle of Wichita," was not a conventional military engagement but rather a massive industrial effort during World War II to accelerate the production, modification, and delivery of Boeing B-29 Superfortress bombers.

The USAAF, under Commanding General Henry "Hap" Arnold, prioritized the B-29 as essential for strategic bombing campaigns, leading to the formation of dedicated bombardment groups within the 58th Bombardment Wing. He demanded 175 combat-ready B-29s by March 1st (1944).

This project took place primarily at the Boeing aircraft plant in Wichita, Kansas, starting in March, 1944, amid urgent demands from the U.S. Army Air Forces (USAAF) to deploy these advanced long-range bombers against Japan in the Pacific theater.

The effort unfolded under extreme conditions, including sub-zero temperatures, blizzards, and high winds, forcing workers into short 20-minute shifts for exposed tasks.

The B-29 Superfortress represented a leap in aviation technology, featuring innovations like pressurized crew compartments, remote-controlled gun turrets, and powerful Wright R-3350 engines. Development began before U.S. entry into the war, with the first prototype flying in September 1942. However, the program faced significant delays due to the complexity of the design and the need to compress years of testing into months.

By April 15, 1944, the project succeeded in delivering approximately 150 modified B-29s to the CBI Theater, with the rest following shortly. These aircraft played a crucial role in the Pacific campaign.

The "Battle of Kansas" exemplified American industrial mobilization, training unskilled workers from the Midwest into a skilled workforce and compressing aviation development timelines dramatically. It highlighted the B-29's strategic importance as the era's most advanced bomber, paving the way for future long-range aircraft designs.

Today, it stands as a testament to wartime ingenuity and determination, often commemorated in aviation history as a pivotal "battle" fought on the home front.

03/02/2026

Post World War II. Smoking was cool. Smoking was glamorous. Actors and actresses smoked. It was common in movies and television (Dr. Kildare smoked in an operating room). Athletes smoked. Ads by cigarette companies were everywhere.

80 years later (2026), the heath detriments have come to the fore. Smoking is way down. Adverts have been banned.

But, at the time the Consolver Bros. had their Sports Center and Kiddieland, an ashtray would have been a good means of advertising their business. This is a rare, surviving example.

03/01/2026

Kiddieland's Old Woman's Shoe
Further research seems to indicate the color photo of the Shoe is from when Kiddieland had closed, and various attractions disbursed. The Shoe went to Joyland, where the color photo indicate, by background elements.

This is a photo of when The Old Woman's Shoe was in Kiddieland. It seems no color photographs are available, unless someone has one stashed.

"Kiddieland was a THEME PARK ... based on Nursery Rhymes. The Old Lady in the Shoe was what this was about.,, in 1968, I was told that Joyland bought some of the stuff at Kiddieland prior to DEFILEMENT by the Wichita Mall" - Densel Myers

"There was a "character that would move and peek out of the upstairs window. For some reason, it always frightened me when I was very young..." - Erik Roush

There was an old woman who lived in a shoe.
She had so many children, she didn't know what to do.
She gave them some broth without any bread;
She whipp'd all their bums, and sent them to bed.
― Joseph Ritson's "Gammer Gurton's Garland" from 1784

KIDDIELAND AMUSEMENT PARK - 3833 E. HARRY ST. - WICHITA, KANSAS, UNITED STATES

02/27/2026

Little Dipper Rollercoaster With Cathy Consolver
"I can remember it going really fast ..... we giggled non stop. We had decided to go on this kiddie ride just for fun . It seemed to get faster and faster, nervous laughter going on." - Linda Dionne Gatton

"This was my favorite roller coaster ever! The jolts and turns were perfect. Born in the late 1950’s, it was just right for a thrill seeking toddler with enough speed and jolting us around without the overwhelming hugeness of the Joyland coaster. We lived in El Dorado and I was always begging my parents to go over to Kiddieland." - Judy Magnuson

Comet Jr. Little Dipper Roller Coaster
Made by Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters, Inc
Located in Hatfield, Pennsylvania, United States Army Drill TeamIn Business since 1/20/1904
PTC was created by Henry Auchey and Chester E. Albright
Roller Coasters Built: 127
Roller Coaster Locations: 139

Comet Jr. Little Dipper was a family-friendly roller coaster designed for younger riders and those new to thrill rides. The ride features a figure-eight track layout, which includes gentle hills and smooth turns. Passengers can expect a moderate pace, allowing for an enjoyable experience without excessive thrills. The height requirement is relatively low, making it accessible to many children. As the train navigates the swervy descents and turns, riders are likely to experience a mix of excitement and laughter throughout the ride. It's an ideal attraction for families looking to introduce younger guests to the world of coasters.

Minimum Height: 36 inches
Maximum Height: No Restriction
Additional Info: Must be 42" to Ride Alone
Length: 700.0 ft
Height: 28.0 ft
Duration: 0:50
Elements: Chain Lift Hill
Capacity: 250 riders per hour
Designer: Herbert Paul Schmeck

Six Flags Great America was the high bidder at $33,000 for the Little Dipper at the Kiddieland auction after the Kiddieland Park closed. This figure would not have included a 10% "Buyers Premium" or any of the costs involved in it's relocation.

02/27/2026

Lucid perspective from Sedgwick County Government Commissioner Bryan Frye for Wichita, not our guy, Jim Howell - Sedgwick County Commissioner.

02/27/2026

Kiddieland's Old Woman's Shoe
"Kiddieland was a THEME PARK ... based on Nursery Rhymes. The Old Lady in the Shoe was what this was about.,, in 1968, I was told that Joyland bought some of the stuff at Kiddieland prior to DEFILEMENT by the Wichita Mall" - Densel Myers

"There was a "character that would move and peek out of the upstairs window. For some reason, it always frightened me when I was very young..." - Erik Roush

There was an old woman who lived in a shoe.
She had so many children, she didn't know what to do.
She gave them some broth without any bread;
She whipp'd all their bums, and sent them to bed.
― Joseph Ritson's "Gammer Gurton's Garland" from 1784

KIDDIELAND AMUSEMENT PARK - 3833 E. HARRY ST. - WICHITA, KANSAS, UNITED STATES

02/27/2026

Food Help

02/27/2026

Voting has begun for a very important issue.
Informal polling in our area indicates the majority is decidedly in opposition to any increase in taxation, whatsoever.

Satellite locations for advance in-person voting will open on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026. You can stop in at any location and vote for the 2026 Special Election between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Thursday through Friday, and from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on Saturday.
To see all voting places visit https://www.sedgwickcounty.org/elections/voting-options/early-voting/

02/27/2026

We like Mike...

02/27/2026

David Fairchild was a late 19th-century botanist who traveled the world to introduce diverse crops like avocados, mangoes, and seedless grapes - along with improved varieties of other crops - to the American diet. His work significantly transformed what Americans eat and drink.

David Fairchild was a boy in the Manhattan area with ties to the college in its early days. He is one of the most important figures in American history as to what we eat today. Fairchild visited more than fifty countries, all by boat, in search of foods that would enrich the American farmer and enhance the American diet. Fairchild was the first American foodie and the father of globalized agriculture. He transformed a bleak subsistence agricultural canvas to the most diverse food system ever created.

He transformed a bleak subsistence agricultural canvas to the most diverse food system ever created. Fairchild helped bring kale from Croatia, mangoes from India, cotton from Egypt, hops from Bavaria (transforming the brewing industry in America), peaches from China, avocados from Chile, and many more wonders.

Fairchild was responsible for the introduction of more than 200,000 exotic plants and varieties of established crops into the United States, including soybeans, pistachios, nectarines, dates, bamboos. Certain varieties of wheat and rice became especially economically important.

David Fairchild was also married to the daughter of Alexander Graham Bell. For the wedding, he used Japanese cherry blossoms for his boutonniere and for his wife’s corsage. In their new home, they imported beautiful Japanese cherry trees to ornament their place. With Fairchild's help, Japan agreed to donate cherry trees in 1912 to Washington, D.C., resulting in the city's famously glorious annual botanical display.

His father had been appointed the third president of what is now Kansas State University, and is the namesake of K-State’s Fairchild Hall.

07/26/2025

$888,800.00 divided by $1,000.00 mean 888 homes had to see a $1,000.00 increase in appraised value to make up for the discounts on these two homes.
This is from 2022. Little has changed.
Top market value homes are still getting major reductions in appraisals.
Thank you Jim Howell, our county commissioner, and the rest of the Sedgwick county commission.

07/02/2025

Cut Visit Wichita CEO's $350,000 salary down to $200,000 is not a questionable decision - should have been done years ago. She will still be one of 5 top Wichita employees earning that salary, including City Manager and WPD Chief. Moving their offices into a public building another common sense decision. And with a $4 million cash and investment balance it seems they can afford a 10% cut in what they are paid every year for tourism. Really, it should be bid competitively to see who else can do tourism and convention publicity.