Exploring the backroads of Woodson County, Kansas ||| Part 1
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- Опубликовано: 9 июн 2024
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Woodson County, Kansas, is located in the southeastern part of the state and was created 6 years before Kansas became an official state. It has lost almost 70% of it's population from it's peak over 100 years ago and we explore around the county to find out why. Part 1 is focused mainly on the eastern half of Woodson County and we find some really interesting places! I counted about 10 ghost towns and a bunch of unique cemeteries.
Part 107 certified drone operator
0:00 Intro
1:46 Neosho Falls
6:22 Vernon
9:46 Durand
12:15 Piqua
17:20 Defiance
19:41 Cookville
22:51 Ridge
24:55 Rose
27:15 Outtakes
Music
Pickup Truck - Silent Partner
Casey Don't You Fret - Dan Lebowitz
To Weather a Storm - Dan Lebowitz
Good evening,
My name is Kevin Dawson. As a child, I lived two summers 1974 and 1975 in Neosho Falls in the camp ground. It was wonderful like a Tom Sawyer story. I fished at the dam, and ran amuck all over Neosho Falls. Nobody ever cared that I would go into the abandoned buildings to find treasures, or spiders, or snakes. I found an entire roll of Wheat Pennies that all had the same date in one of the old abandoned buildings. I snuck out of there with the Pennies like I stole a billion dollars. I fished under the falls for dinner almost every day. I never got tired of eating white bass.
Your video of the falls and the abandoned buildings is pretty much the same it was in the mid 70’s and all this childhood memories come flooding back.
My father was a locomotive engineer for the Missouri Pacific Railroad, which is the east-west railroad that ran from Wichita to Yates Center originally was built by the St. Louis, Ft. Scott and Wichita Railway. I believe that the railroad was a shell company financed by New York financier Jay Gould because the construction was in the 1880’s and early 1890’s. He also owned the Missouri Pacific Railroad until he died in 1892.
OK, I’m not a history expert like yourself. But I do enjoy railroad history. For transparency, I also worked as a locomotive engineer and manager with the Missouri Pacific Railroad and Union Pacific Railroad for 43 years. I also worked on this same railroad from Wichita to Moran, KS. East of Moran was abandoned I think I recall was due to Mill Creek or Hickory Creek washing away the railroad bridge sometime I’m guessing in the 1960’s. But it may have been earlier. This line was a major route for passenger trains from St Louis to Wichita. The train was called the Sunflower Eagle. It operated from St Louis to Pleasant Hill to Nevada to Fort Scott to Wichita where it terminated. It had a connecting Sunflower Eagle that ran from Wichita to Hutchinson to Geneseo where it connected with the Colorado Eagle, and then it returned to Wichita. I think when the bridge washed out, all passenger trains stopped running from St Louis to Wichita and Wichita to Geneseo were permanently suspended.
My mother was born in Fort Scott and then moved to Yates Center where she lived for a few years before moving to Wichita. Her father, my Grandfather was also a locomotive engineer for the Missouri Pacific Railroad.
Back to Woodson County, Pique (I always pronounced it as Pick way) had a connection with the line that ran southeast to Humboldt. This was the original Missouri Kansas and Texas railway. When the MKT abandoned the line, the Missouri Pacific Railroad took over servicing the Monarch Concrete Plant in Humboldt sometime between 1967 and 1971.
Durand is not abandoned. It’s a place where the Union Pacific Railroad uses to store unneeded cars or for block swapping of cars from one train that is needed on another train.
The cemetery in Neosho Falls was named the Cedarvale Cemetery, which I thought was odd. I’m guessing many of the graves were marked with wooden markers and no longer there.
I don’t know how I came across your videos, but I know they make my heart ache because so much I remember that you discuss is gone. It’s like Kansas and even us who are so fond of it, feel the state and our lives are disposable. The things we did with such care and effort and sacrifice we put into them didn’t matter. But it’s nice knowing you care enough to tell the story.
Thank you
Kevin
Wow what a great story - thanks so much for sharing. I’m humbled you took the time to write such a thoughtful comment! 😊
I lived in Tulsa for many years until 11. I also lived in Wichita before that. A friend of mine is from Chanute, Ks. His son was killed in a motorcycle accident. His Chanute family used to have a charity motorcycle ride out of Chanute for many years benefitting a Chanute children's charity. One of the stops was Piqua. Yes, it's pronounced Pick Way. I think every rail siding has a name, usually a rail official. Also, there is a Cedarvale, Ks. in the Flint Hills, I think.
Hey Kevin... My father was a locomotive engineer for Union Pacific from North Platte to Cheyenne as was his father.
Driving through Kansas, there is a lot of history, it is finding a hidden treasure..
I played in bands several times in Pick way, that is how it pronounced. We played New Year’s Eve 1999-2000. Long drive home to the far SE corner of KS. Yes they still have dances.
Church was great. Really look forward to watching your channel in the morning with a cup of coffee and a medicinal 😮
Nice 😊 Thanks Ronald!
I'm also watching this in the morning ( Australia) with a coffee in my hand!
GW County girl here. We discovered a sad bit of Civil War history just East of Toronto Lake, a place called Fort Row. Worth a look.
Absolutely fantastic video, John. Neosho Falls was beautiful, Piqua totally interesting history, and the video ended perfectly with the old school. The drone shots ❤ Loved all of it!
Thank you Juanita 😊 Piqua was definitely more than I expected!
Had hoped to find something like that when I went looking for my Father's and Grandpa's old school. It was out northeast of Eskridge , Kansas and was named Sunflower School. But nothing was left of it, or the old family farm which was just east of the present school facility. I guess that is why I see such success in The Wiseguy 's finds. So great to see those parts of history that remain with us.
Hey coach. Good still shots I like the old utility poles and oil rigs. The Buster Keaton clips were good. This is one of the more quiet areas you have documented. Some good drone.Be well.
Buster was pretty incredible- even today his films hold up!
Good video, will watch out for Part 2. My mothers family is all from the Piqua area (we pronounce it Pick-Way) and I have lots of family in both the west of town cemetery as well as the cemetery behind St. Martin's. Silverado's in Piqua has good food and is a nice watering hole. Quite a few German folks came here in the late 1800's to make a life farming the Kansas prairie.
Thank you! Interesting way to pronounce it!
Pick-Way it was and still is to a few of us ancient clod kicking dinosaur chasers.
As one of your train buffs, thanks for another interesting installment. When I went through Neosho Falls over 30 years ago, I got this weird chill looking at the abandoned buildings but yet in wonder. Thanks for mentioning both the Katy and the Santa Fe lines in your history. In your visit to Vernon, your video caught a brief glimpse of the old depot moved to the middle of town, not in good shape. Durand I believe was created when the Missouri Pacific Railroad relocated their main line from the middle of Yates Center to the east bypassing the town in 1903, to ease the stiff grades. Hasty just happened to be the north spot where the new main track diverged east, but the MP called it Yates Center Jct. North. The east-west railroad crossing at Durand used to have a passenger depot and the railroad was basically abandoned in the mid-1990s and went through Athens and Piqua. The old Piqua depot was moved just north of the elevators for storage. The driveway you saw south of Piqua was definitely the old Katy RR grade that went to Humboldt's Monarch cement plant and lasted until 1993. Anxious for Part 2, sir!
Awesome - thanks so much for this info!
rob - you may be interested in the part about Toronto on both Missouri Pacific out of Wichita by way of Eldorado & Eureka and a spur of the ATSF that came down from Madison Ks split of the spur down from Emporia. That spur went thru toronto and intersected Missouri Pacific there and continued about 10 miles south of Toronto. It was abandoned around WWII time frame. The main spur which was known as Moline Spur out of Emporia was active until the 1970s. In 1961 I was probably one of the last non railroad people to travel on that spur when I went with my father who was accompanying a two car load of equipment down to Severy Ks for an oilfield company. I also was one of the last few who road in a "drovers" caboose. My family had pasture land east of Toronto near Neal on Missouri Pacific and a small stockyard pens on the line with loading ramp. When I was 4 or 5 in 1954/5 time frame I road with my father, his cousin and another man from that cattle stockyard loading dock up to Kansas City Livestock Yards with about 12 filled cattle cars with steers to sell. What a treat for a little kid to get to ride in the Caboose with the cattlemen and the Conductor and Brakeman. Yes, they still had a brakeman who was a "coloured man" as we termed them at the time on that run. I suspect he was there more to manage cattle with the cattlemen than anything else. It was of course in time before OSHA was known and regulations were somewhat lax about "passengers". On the run from Madison south thru Hamilton I had a friend who in same time frame would ride caboose as a little kid to see his aunt and uncle and stay with them as one of the conductors on the run was a family relative.
@@michaelpaske4327 Thanks for the stories. I followed the Howard Branch and enjoyed visiting the remaining depots at Madison and Hamilton. I was amazed how Neal KS used to be such a big railroad town on the MP.
That bar and restaurant is a great place to eat
Played the Knights of Columbus building in Piqua with different bands years ago. Nice big dance floor. People would come from all over the area. Not sure if they still have dances there.
I’d be interested in knowing as well!
@@TravelwithaWiseguy Not as frequently as they once were, but are still dances there occasionally.
Yes there are still dance. Only during Fall to Spring now.
Not as popular as it used to be. My parents spent a lot of weekends dancing there in the mid to late 80’s.
Love your videos sir. I have been to Neosho before about 10 years ago. I used to do a lot more exploring of towns like that before my child was born. Your videos make me want to get back into it! Thanks 🙏🏻
Thank you very much! Hope you are able to get back out there!
BEAUTIFUL CHURCH
.THANKS MR WISEGUY 😊
Yes it is!!
The Catholic church in Piqua is very similar to the Catholic church in Pilsen in Marion County. Home of Father Emil Kapaun.
Hello from Tennessee I have been under the weather so I am going to catch up on your awesome videos your really appreciated for sharing these places with us ✌️
Sorry to hear you’ve been under the weather. Thanks for the support!!
Love these videos. So many cemeteries! Thanks for sharing. Looking forward to part 2
Thank you!!
I was hoping I'd see I video about this, A lot of my family lives in woodson and my mother grew up their, We Still visit often, me and my mother got pulled over in woodson last week too.
Great video, following dusty roads looking for hidden treasures of the history kind. You found some great places. Love the old cemeteries and of course your great drone work. Stay safe and GOD bless
Absolutely! Love finding hidden gems that I haven’t seen anywhere else! Some really interesting cemeteries in this one 😊
So glad you have the philosophy of stopping at every dot on the map!!!! I really enjoy this!
Thank you!
well it finally happened john.........im on youtube and subscribed officially. could you tell us alittle about that map you use?
Welcome to RUclips (officially haha)! I use Delorme Atlas and Gazetteer!
My grandfather was born and raised in Piqua (pronounced Pic-Way) on a farm close by. He then raised his family in Iola where a large number of my relatives still live.
We always pronounced it picway so I thought maybe we were pronouncing it wrong. But I guess not lol.
Another fascinating video, thanks John
Glad you enjoyed it - thank you!!
Kids still walk to school. Every military school I went to we had to walk a mile or more. We had some unofficial dangerous short cuts for when we were late. Drove people crazy.
They do, but would they walk 6 miles? 😂
No Sir.
Thank you! Home of my ancestors. Can't wait for part 2. I will share with the YC and Woodson FB pages.
Thanks for sharing!!
This is what I know about Durand, KS railroad wise. Two roads crossed there, both owned by the Missouri Pacific. Union Pacific bought MP in the 1980's and ran both lines until it abandoned the east-west line in the mid 1990's. The north-south line is used for directional operation and is for northbound traffic. Southbound traffic uses to old MKT through Parsons.
Thanks for the info!!
Keep them coming KS born and raised
🌾 😊
Loved the country road trip throughout Woodson County, Kansas. What an adventure. Kevin's history was unique addition. Another interesting part of Kansas.
Great video of Woodson County, Kansas!!! 😊
Thank you very much!
Great video! My wife's grandma was born in Piqua. And her Grandpa was from up in Geneva, but that's in Allen county. The Rose train depot was moved up to Yates Center. Thanks!
Very cool!
@@TravelwithaWiseguy I know you don't have time to track down train depots, but the Rose depot is in a park just off Highway 75 south of the 54 junction across from the Pizza Hut and it appears to be a little neglected
Good to see you back again!
Hey, thanks!
Durand did have a post office and the railroad isn't abandoned. It is still a main hub. It had a school that was right across the road from the railroad.
You may be right about the post office, but it’s not in the historical listings on the Kansas Historical Society website - it lists 37 current and former PO’s in Woodson County.
I lived in the old school house for a couple years.
thankyou well done again
Thanks again!
Another great video John. Looking forward to part 2!
Glad you enjoyed it
Thanks for doing this series of videos. I absolutely loved this one. 😎👍
Much appreciated!
Really love all the cemeteries you shared in this! I'm struck again by these old buildings..
it's a testament to how much pride people took in building things that these abandoned structures are able to survive as well as they do. The church at 22:12 looks as though someone was living in it at some point (?). Thank you for the sweet puppies, lovely drone shots (the one moving up the river was my fave), and inspiration / education! 🎉
Thanks so much! I agree. Some of these buildings are pretty incredible to see up close. I try to do them justice on film.
I agree the church looks as though someone was or has lived there. That's probably why there was no signage, and it had been remodeled in the way it was.
Per usual, your commitment to exploring is immensely appreciated John! There were so many bonus locations shown in this video, to your credit! For the finale to be an incredible old stone schoolhouse was perfect! Wood structures simply can't compete in terms of charm and character. Great thanks for the journey!
Many thanks! It was a lot of fun to explore around Woodson County!
My grandparents were Catholic Kress family members from Piqua. They then lived most of their lives in Yates Center.
What, no playground equipment? So disappointing....... 😆 Seriously, another great video. I love it when you try and find the "dots on the map." Sometimes you just never know what you're gonna find. Thanks John, see you next time!
Haha I know right?!?! Maybe next time 😂
I love watching your videos and content. I'm from Fredonia, in Wilson County Kansas, and I would love to see you do a video for Wilson County.
Hopefully someday I will! Thank you for watching!
My Mother-in-law's family moved to Neosho Falls in the early 1900s.
Lots of nice stonework on that abandoned homestead right before the church at 22:00. That church reminded me of Alice's Restaurant (the movie) except the garbage has already been taken to the dump. Luckily, the current owners weren't at home, OR ARMED! This is a great video! Thanks for sharing, John!!
😊 thank you!
Great video! Found me a few more towns to hit thanks to your video. Keep up the great work!
Awesome! Thank you!
I’m amazed at the condition people left these communities when they departed. Other than the natural decomposition of wood, metal, and rock structures, everything is in pristine condition. This says a lot about the character of the people that settled this region of the nation. If you’re not convinced, take a drive through the decaying towns and cities of the southern, western, and eastern parts of our nation and see for yourself (trash, filth, and decay almost everywhere).
I agree. The “ghost towns” in the Midwest and west are very different from the East/south.
Very interesting video. I really enjoyed walking down some old roads and dilapidated buildings..❤❤
Thank you 😊
Born & raised in Greenwood County. I'm very familiar with Woodson County. Thanks for sharing your story.
Thanks for watching!
A very well done/very interesting video of Woodson county Kansas.
Thank you very much!
You do such a great job. I love your Kanas videos.
Thank you so much!☺️
I love it when you go to these dots!!! ❤❤
😊
Interesting video, the Catholic church as well as the amazing dilapidated stone structures really struck me for how beautiful one still is, and what craftsmanship was involved with each. The difference being one is still well cared for, and one long abandoned. Oh, and as a WSU alum, happy to see the Wu- shock logo.😊
Thanks! And it’ll make another appearance in part 2 🌾 😊
Locally, Piqua is pronounced Pik-way. Grew up in Iola/Gas/LaHarpe, been to funerals at the big Piqua church.
Behind where you were standing by the river at Neosho Falls, there's a clearing that people used to use for camping in the 70s and 80s. We would walk down to the river and fish from that very bank you were standing on.
Old churches and old cemeteries are peaceful places.
Thanks! Very interesting county John. Thanks for sharing your travels with us.🙂
Thank you so much Pamela! I agree it’s very interesting. More to come on Thursday on the western half! Appreciate your support!
Love all your videos, thanks for the memories. Used to live in Woodson Co. years ago. Just wanted to let you know that the correct way to say Piqua is "Pikway". I know I made the same mistake first time I met someone from there. I was born and raised in Wichita and went to WSU freshman year.
Thank you! They should put the pronunciation on a sign in town 😂
That dog was winning. lol
Haha yes!!
This was really informative. Great videos and I really like your delivery. It was interesting to watch.
Thanks so much!
Another interesting and Cool😎 video!👍
Thanks! It was a fun area to wander around for a while 😊
Well done! Carry on and best of luck!
Thank you 😊
Church in pique
Great vid -you really captured the poetry of the landscape. Someone in a FB group told me about it. Loved the dog running at the end.
Awesome, thank you!
One summer I worked the old scale house. When Cantrell Hay was using the barns there. To store Hay.
Great video coach. My family settled in woodson County coming from Ohio many years ago
Very cool!
Dying young ... they didn't have medical like we do to day.
Awesome. Fascinating. Thank u.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you for all your hard work and investigations. I grew up in Woodson county, in Vernon actually. Piqua is pronounced Pick-way btw.
Thank you!
Coach, the dots are the reason to visit! We may be kindered spirits!
I too like railroad history, I've seen the term "siding" for a tiny, almost settlement, next to the platform (siding) for freight transfer.
As always...
I agree! Fun to find those hidden gems!
My parents are buried behind St. Martin,s Church.Lucille,and Anthony Herman. We live in Piqua for a long time. I went to school there.
Neosho Falls is having its town fair September 14 this year. We’d be happy to see you.
Sounds fun!
I lived in Durand in the early 90s and the railroad tracks were still used at that time.
Just found your channel, it was suggested by RUclips.👍
Relevant suggestion for a few reasons, this is the kind of content I do watch, and I moved to the Kansas City area in 2010, so I am close.👍
I look forward to checking out some of the places you have videos on in person.
I like weird and quirky things I find as I travel, looks like you do as well.👍
If you ever get a chance, go to Uranus, MO. They embrace every pun you could come up with for that place.🤣🤣🤣
Awesome thank you for watching! I’ve been to Uranus as I did Route 66 a few years ago. Definitely would like to go back again!
So interesting! I've lived in Yates Center for over 40 years and my better half has lived his life here. I told Bob we should follow your path and he said hmmm (which means no). Durand is still active as a train fuel stop and crew change location. At least twice in my memory, big steam engines have cruised through Durand. I took my kids when they were young to see one. I was tickled to see you got to go in St. Martin's in Piqua. I've been there twice. My daughter was confirmed there and later I went to a wedding there. There used to be an old school on the north side. My daughter and her dad practiced her pitching there in the winter. Looking forward to the rest of the WoCo series!
Thank you for the info! Definitely an interesting area to explore - hope you get to follow the path! 😊
Really good video 👍👍👍
Thank you! 👍
Thanks!
Thank you so much Sharon! Your support is greatly appreciated!
i enjoy your videos i moved last month from nj to a small town in kansas
Awesome! Hope you’re enjoying it!
The 'Brisco & Bradshaw' theme music is throwing me off. I feel like I'm watching the wrong YT channel...😂
And 'That Chapter' music too...😂
Born in Independence. Family in Iola and UnionTown and Witchita. Dad lived in Fredonia for some time with his girlfriend. Lived in Burrton growing up around the time of Heston tornado. I can't tell you how many times I've been fishing near that low water dam in Neosho Falls growing up😂. Probably stood right where you were standing at the beginning. I like going exploring every time I go back to Kansas to visit family, or take farm roads there and back. A lot of cool stuff. I remember in Independence, there was an abandoned barn and hay field across the street from our house. It's all suburbia now. Check out east side of Iola. Cities a lot bigger now than it was in the 80s and 90s, but some nice older houses on that side of town. Uniontown is still pretty small. A lot of dads family buried North of there. I think oldest gave is late 1700s? Check out Independence park/zoo. Thar place was massive compared to the size of the town growing up. They trained chimps for NASA there. Used to have a stripped jet and steam engine you could climb all over, but I haven't been back there in years. I've walked those railroads near Durand a few times.
You should check out the, “in the beginning” books.
Good job Mr Wise
Thanks!
Defiance, KS had a History I'm thinking, it was also used in a number of Western Movies. Although they are fiction, they routinely used real towns in their stories.
I will look this one up "?"
Really nice video, but I like them long. Do more malls. Doesn't have to be long, 1 trip around the inside and then tell us what is open/closed. Be good, be safe !!
Would like to do more malls if I can!
@@TravelwithaWiseguy Seriously, that was very good.
I know it doesn't have any connection to Neosho Falls, KS, but my mother's brother was killed in WWII when the ship he was on, the USS Neosho, was bombed in the Battle of the Coral Sea. I always thought it was an odd word. Interesting video. St. Martin's church is beautiful. Love the old buildings. Thanks again.
Thanks! I think Neosho is a native word for abundant water or something like that. Interesting word!
@@TravelwithaWiseguy Thanks! I always thought it sounded Japanese, but knew it wasn't.
If the walls could talk!!
Kinda sad that these communities have died. 😢
Agreed!
i turn 39 as of june 2nd this year and i have live my entire life in Kansas and i have never even hear of some of these counties you visit in this video
Do you find them interesting? I’m hoping to do more!
Those abandoned RR yards were probably used for cattle cars, or grain cars, maybe coal mining was in that area ? Regarding the country school, they were everywhere, I went to two of them myself in Missouri. Rural America is falling apart in many places. The homesteaders have all passed and the descendants have moved to the city in many places. Great story. Have a Great Day. 😊
Thank you! I imagine you are probably correct about the RR yards.
I live in neosho falls and I grew up in Vernon right next to the rr tracks and lived there till 10 years ago, the house is gone but many memories
I really enjoyed visiting your town!
@@TravelwithaWiseguy glad to hear that
Really interesting video of Kansas. It’s sad that the state representatives of Kansas aren’t trying to keep people from moving out of the small communities.
😊
The Old St Martin's Cemetery was located there as the Church was right down the road to the east. The Church burnt and a new was built in 1922. The children records burned so there are no records of burials. Children on oneside adults on the other.
Thanks for the info!
Locally we pronounce Piqua as Pick way.
Thanks!
Durand could leave you hungry like the wolf, but you could get satiated in Cookeville, you know what I mean Vernon? A Rose by any other name would still smell like Defiance. Alas If one had to Piqua between Ridge or Neosho Falls, I believe that river would float your boat right out of Woodson County.
😂😂😂
It is interesting and sad at the same time showing the decline of America .
I'm assuming the "sticks" are water.. towers? Are they just pumps or something? Never seen anything like that. :)
Lots of abandoned buildings in west Kansas
Most Counties had a increase in the 1920's because of the oil boom. Guess there always has to be an oddball. .
I was intrigued by that as well!
I wonder what’s happened with all those houses that had all those 8,000 people that are now gone
Yeah it’s kind of crazy to think about!
Do you like that GMC your driving?
Not too shabby
How do I get your newsletter? It was posted but just in a flash. NO time to get it copied
You can go to my website Travelwithawiseguy.com or there is a link in the description of this video - thanks!
We need to bring small towns back to life before foreign squatters come.
Your cornering the market cemetaries.
Stock loading ...grain dump...lay over spot.
That one church with the furniture in it, could someone be living there or could it be Amish?
I have no idea - I was confused 🤔
It didn't look like Amish to me
Oak Grove Methodist Church. It's now privately owned. The neighbors meet there and have coffee ect.
When I look at these old towns and dilapidated buildings, I think maybe a tornado took them out.
At least for the case of Neosho Falls, it was the Great Flood of 1951. The entire town was completely under water.
If it's on church grounds it a graveyard, not a cemetery.