Onion Domes in NE Kansas

What are onion domes?
First they are not a new kind of onion rings. In fact they are not food at all. According to Wikipedia,

An onion dome is a dome whose shape resembles an onion. Such domes are often larger in diameter than the drum upon which they sit, and their height usually exceeds their width. These bulbous structures taper smoothly to a point.

It is the predominant form for church domes in Russia (mostly on Russian Orthodox churches) and in Bavaria, Germany (German: Zwiebelturm (= "onion tower"), plural: Zwiebeltürme, mostly on Catholic churches), but can also be found regularly across Austria, northeastern Italy, Eastern Europe, Mughal India, the Middle East and Central Asia.

Other types of Eastern Orthodox cupolas include helmet domes (for example, those of the Saint Sophia Cathedral in Novgorod and of the Assumption Cathedral in Vladimir), Ukrainian pear domes (Saint Sophia Cathedral in Kiev), and Baroque bud domes (St. Andrew's Church in Kiev).

photographer Kevin Surbaugh

Here in Topeka and northeast Kansas there are a number of onion domes. Most notably is the Charles Curtis House (museum), the house that served as the home to the Topekan, who would one day become Vice President of the United States.   The onion domes additions to the Charles Curtis House were added in 1888 by architect Seymour Davis (1869 - 1923).

In addition, there are two that have long been removed from their original buildings and now sit in a yard in central Topeka.  The history of which, I have long wondered about.  They, in fact what got me to thinking about doing this article.

photographer Kevin Surbaugh

Other onion domes that we have learned of exist in Kansas City, KS. A former Russian Orthodox Church that is now home to the Thieves Of Flight Dance Studios, features these architectural designs.

 Location:
The domes pictured can be seen as you drive in the area of 13th and Buchanan in Topeka, KS

Christmas Lighting Ceremonies in NE Kansas

Each year, communities gather to light the communities Christmas lights. This year is no different. Here is a brief snapshot of the events happening this year around northeast Kansas.

Baldwin City 
The Festival of Lights Parade and Tree Lighting held the first Saturday of December each year. This year that is
Dec. 5th.
Parade begins at 6pm
Lighting ceremony follows the parade Downtown at Eighth and High Street

Leavenworth
Holiday Lighted Parade & Mayor's Tree Lighting
Nov 20th
5.00pm - 7.00pm
Haymarket Square, Cherokee Street and S 7th Street

Gardner

Christmas in the Park- 25th Annual
Nov 30, 2015
7pm
at Cornerstone Park
215 N. Center St.

Ottawa
Mayor Tree Lighting
Nov 28
5-7pm
on Main Street

Overland Park
Mayor’s Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony
Nov. 20
5:30-7:30 p.m

5:30–7:30 p.m.: Free hayrides and pictures with Santa (you supply the camera)
5:40 p.m.: Beller Dance Studio
6:10 p.m.: Check Presentation and Tree Lighting
6:25 p.m.: At Kansas School of Classical Ballet: Selections from The Nutcracker, pictures with the Sugar Plum Fairy (you supply the camera) and Studio Open House. At the Clock Tower Patio: Dickens Carolers
7 p.m.: Heartland Ringers
at the Clock Tower patio in Downtown Overland Park

Prairie Village
Mayor’s Holiday Tree Lighting
Corinth Square Shops 8262 Mission Rd
December 3
6-7pm

Topeka
Miracle on Kansas Avenue
Nov 28
5:30pm – Tree Lighting Ceremony
6pm – Parade

New Hotel in Downtown Topeka Makes use of Historic Buildings

Unlike others that have torn down older and even historic buildings to make room for new developments. The people behind the new hotel; recently announced, they would renovate four historic buildings to open a new 79 room hotel.
On their Twitter account, they describe themselves as,

A 79-room boutique hotel and restaurant concept with 10,000+ sq ft of event space that will occupy four historic buildings in downtown Topeka, KS.

According to WIBW, a developer unveiled plans for perhaps the biggest addition yet, going five stories up.

Plans to transform four historic buildings on South Kansas Avenue into a boutique hotel and restaurant are underway. Cody Foster, a co-founder of Topeka's Advisor's Excel, is expanding his view from the financial world to downtown Topeka.

Foster announced his intentions for the Cyrus Hotel and Holiday Public House. The new venue featuring 10,000 sq. ft. of event and meeting space is named after the founder of Topeka, Cyrus K. Holliday.l

The new hotel that will fill the historic buildings at 912, 916, 918, and 920 Kansas Avenue, will also include a five story tower that will be constructed. According to the Topeka Capital Journal, 

For Foster, his work to renovate the historic buildings in the 900 block of S. Kansas Avenue is a project that builds on his belief in the capital city and what it can become. He gets a little frustrated with people — some who live here — who don’t see what it already is.
“Nothing drives me crazier than when people say something like, ‘Why have you stayed in Topeka?’ ” he said. “Can we just stop asking that question? Why don’t you just rephrase it and say, ‘Tell us all the great things about Topeka.’ It’s almost like saying, ‘My God, I can’t believe you stay here.’ ”
His vision of a “great, vibrant destination spot downtown” fits in with his positive feelings about Topeka, and, of course, with being a businessman here. A cool, hip destination spot at the city’s core will make it easier to recruit people to work for Advisors Excel, which currently has 350 employees.

Most all the media reports indicated Foster quoted part of  a Holiday quote, in which the founder of Topeka said,

 "I am now thirty miles above Lawrence on the Kansas River assisting in starting a new town. We are just about in the central portion of the "settled" Territory and with perhaps the best landing and the most eligible site for a city in the entire country. ... So I think it must be, and in a few years when civilization by its magic influence shall have transformed this glorious country from what it is now to the brilliant destiny awaiting it, the Sun in all his course will visit no land more truly lovely and desirable than this. Here, Mary, with God's kind permission, we will make our home; and I have every reason to believe a home it will truly be." - Cyrus K Holliday

Foster expects the hotel to open in the fall of 2017.

Wicked Pony

When driving into Baldwin City, it’s hard to miss the rearing horse and cowboy bronze statue on the front lawn of the Mid-America Bank. So what is the history of this statue? Who sculpted it. Those were the questions we sought to find out. After searching the internet and asking around town, we finally went to Mid-America Bank and talked with Jeff Hill, Vice-President of the bank. According to Hill, it is a replica of Frederic Remington's "Wicked Pony."

photographer Kevin Surbaugh

About the "Wicked Pony" statue:
According to the article by Shannon  J. Hatfield, on the Remington Art website “The Wicked Pony” (1898) was inspired a past event that Remington witnessed. Where a cowboy attempted to wrestle the horse, after being thrown from the animal. An event, which proved dangerous to the cowboy, after being fatally kicked.
Due to a fire only ten of the made, making this piece is one of Remington's rarer pieces.

photographer Kevin Surbaugh

About Frederic Remington:
Frederic Remington (1861–1909) was an American painter, illustrator, sculptor, and writer who specialized in depictions of the Old American West. Depicting the life of the cowboy during the 1880's and 1890's, in the opinion of many, better then any other artist of his time.
Growing up in Canton, New York, he left college at the age of 19, looking for adventure in the wild west. He operated his own ranch in Peabody, KS (north central Kansas) until failure became a reality in 1886. At which time he returned to the east coast. That same year he was commissioned by Harper's Weekly to cover the governments war against Geronimo, in Arizona as an illustrator.
He didn't actually start sculpting until 14 years before his death in 1909. His first clay sculpture, was “Bronco Buster” in 1895.

Quayle Rare Bible Collection

The collection of rare Bibles at Baker University started when Bishop William Alfred Quayle, left his collection of 250 volumes, to Baker University, at the time of his death in 1925. The collection contains rare Bibles as well as other items such as handwritten scrolls, and bible translations that range in age from 2000 BC to the present. Not to mention, Bibles signed by every president since Harry S. Truman. The collection now includes 900 pieces.
However, not every piece in the collection is displayed at any one time.  Each year, the curator carefully selects the pieces that will be displayed with that years theme (Sept 5, 2015-July 31, 2016 is King David: Poet, Warrior, Seducer & Murderer).

photographer Kevin Surbaugh

photographer Kevin Surbaugh

In the lobby, just before entering the collection are a few of the Bibles that were sent to each President since Harry Truman. 

Bibles signed by President Obama (center), Ronald Reagan (top left),
John Kennedy (top right) and Dwight Eisenhower) bottom right)
photographer Kevin Surbaugh

Bible signed by President Obama. Photographer Kevin Surbaugh

In addition is a room from the Urishay Castle, in England near the border with Wales.  The original castle that this room was once part of, was inhabited by the Delehay Family in the late 19th century.

photographer Kevin Surbaugh

Hours:         Saturday & Sunday 
                    1-4PM
                    or by appointment
                    CLOSED: All Holidays; July 4 & 5; August 1 - 31

Admission:  Free

Website:       http://www.bakeru.edu/quayle  

Phone:         (785) 594-8414

photographer Kevin Surbaugh

Location:    Collins Library at Baker University
                    518 Eighth Street
                    Baldwin City, Kansas 66006

photographer Kevin Surbaugh

Handicapped Accessibility: The building is accessible, however it is street parking, which may make it harder to get to the sidewalk and/or curb cut. 

Lawrence Looking at Plastic Bag Restrictions

If three environmental groups get their way Lawrence could become the first city in northeast Kansas to ban plastic bags.  In a recent article in the Lawrence Journal World,

Members of the Sustainability Action Network, the Sierra Wakarusa Group and the Lawrence Environmental Teams United for Sustainability (LETUS) decided it was time to “stop talking and explore some actions,” said Thad Holcombe, a member of the Sierra group.

image from Nation of Change

The city’s Sustainability Advisory Board will meet Wednesday November 11, 2015 to hear the groups proposals. At which time they will decide whether or not to explore the matter further. If they do continue looking at the the issue, it will multiple months before a final decision.
Previous attempts in the state of Kansas has failed.

Prairie Village started studying a possible ban or fine late last year. Earlier attempts to ban plastic bags in Garden City and Roeland Park failed. - Lawrence Journal World

Baldwin City Quilts of Valor

Recently I learned of a group of ladies in Baldwin City who are busily working to make quilts to give to thirteen (13) Baldwin City area World War II veterans this Veterans Day (November 11, 2015). The effort is part of the nationwide, known as Quilts of Valor. Which according to their website,

The mission of the Quilts of Valor Foundation is to cover service members and veterans touched by war with comforting and healing Quilts of Valor.

The ladies plan to present the thirteen quilts on Nov.11 at noon at the Baldwin City Elementary School, Intermediate Center, 100 Bullpup Drive and at 2pm at Vintage Park, 321 Crimson Ave both in the city of Baldwin City.
After the presentation, the ladies will pickup their needles and thread once again, to start making quits for those who served in the Korean War, according to Jo Cornelius. Whom I first learned about the group from.
The local group can be found on Facebook as well.

Bad News to Social Security and Medicare recepients

Here at Northeast Kansas Magazine, we don't usually report the news. However, there is one news tidbit, that affects every single Social Security recipient in Northeast Kansas.
According to the New York Times,

The 60 million people on Social Security will not receive any cost-of-living increase in their benefits in 2016, the government said Thursday, but because of a quirk in federal law, nearly one-third of Medicare beneficiaries could have record increases in their premiums unless Congress intervenes.

Even though most media reports the the news is only the third time in 40 years, that it has ever happened. The Real facts, that the same media bury within their stories, is that it is the the third time in six years (since 2010). The Washington Post, gets to it in the second paragraph, which is pretty early compared to most other news publications;

It is only the third time in 40 years — all of them during the Obama administration — that the Social Security Administration has not increased its payments. The raises are tied to the consumer price index (CPI).

Apparently, the Federal government blames it on lower gasoline prices. That's right, something that is a good thing for most American's pocketbooks, is being blamed for why the consumer price index is flat. Not trying to to take sides here, but only the government can turn a positive into a negative.
The report gets worse. Medicare premiums could raise by $54 to $159 per month.

White House press secretary Josh Earnest, was quoted in the Washington Post,

the administration “is aware of this, frankly, unintended policy consequence resulting from the formula for calculating cost of living adjustments. And so we’re aware of this problem and it is something that we’re concerned about.”

Earnest said the White House has had “discussions” with members of Congress about the issue “and our interest in trying to resolve it” but declined to elaborate.

However, nothing thus far has been done, since the story first broke in mid-October.

Haunted Lawrence

I'm not a believer in ghosts, but as Halloween approached I thought it would be of interest to readers to see some of the areas ghost stories and haunted attractions. That said, lets take a look at the reportedly "haunted places," in Lawrence.

The Eldridge Hotel

According to the website, Haunted Places to Go, the Eldridge is one of the most popular haunted places in the state of Kansas.  Located at 706 Massachusetts in downtown Lawrence, the hotel is reportedly haunted, but not for the current building there. Rather, it is the previous "Free State Hotel," that was attacked on May 21, 1856 by cannon that started a fire in the hotel. It was rebuilt, only to again be set on fire during William Quantrill's raid on Lawrence on August 21, 1863.

In the year of 1865, the hotel – which had been destroyed not once, but twice – was officially rebuilt and opened to the public. This time, it was blessed with a new name – the Eldridge Hotel. It was constructed using what remained from the previous hotel – a simple cornerstone. As time progressed, this hotel was considered to be the finest hotel that stood west of the Mississippi River. Unfortunately, by the time that the year 1925 arrived, the structure was in disarray and needed to be reconstructed. It had played such an intense role in the history of the city that many felt it was only appropriate to bring it back to its original splendor. However, the years took its toll on the building once more by the era of the 60s. As a result, its doors were closed on the 1st day of July in the year of 1970.

The hotel stood, barren and in disarray, for a decade and a half. In the year of 1985, many locals of the region decided that it would be appropriate to fix up the hotel and make use of it. It was at this time that renovations on the building started. Investors, along with a two million dollar donation from the City of Lawrence, started rebuilding the structure. The top four individual floors of the building were completely stripped and renovated and created an amazing forty eight suites that consisted of two rooms each. Additionally, the lobby of the building was also renovated and created in such a manner that it displayed the original elegance that it displayed in its earliest days.

As with any building with a previous life, the renovations seemed to spark ghostly tales. When these renovations started, rumor quickly got around that the hotel was one of the most haunted places in Kansas. Many that worked on the building and several that worked for the hotel have shared numerous ghost stories – especially about the fifth floor. It is believed that the heightened emotions and tragic turmoil of the structure has created a spiritual based portal in the fifth floor. The specific room associated with this portal is identified as the number “506”. In and around this room, strange experiences such as doors opening and closing on their own, electrical complications, and cold spots have been encountered.
- Haunted Places to Go

The Eldridge Hotel
photographer Kevin Surbaugh

Reportedly the cornerstone, mentioned above is in that room and that is why Room 506 is the portal to the spirit world.

Haskel Indian Nations University

According to those who believe,there are a number of locations at Haskell Indian Nations University, an 1800s institution built to help Native Americans assimilate with the mainstream population, that are rumored to be haunted. At the Bell Tower, students have reported a mysterious sealed-off wall in the basement and a feeling of being watched from above as they pass by. At Hiawatha Hall, the oldest building on the campus, a ghost supposedly opens and closes doors, even those propped open with a doorstop. At Haskell Auditorium, a ghost reportedly sits in the auditorium seats during shows, and a little girl has been heard crying backstage. In Pocahontas Hall’s basement, the ghost of a girl who once hanged herself here may appear hanging from the ceiling. And just south of Taminend Hall, ghostly crying has been heard at a small cemetery containing the remains of approximately 70 children who died during a smallpox epidemic.

Sigma Nu Fraternity - Kansas University

According to Lawrence.com, the house that now houses the Fraternity, used to be the home of former Governor Walter Stubbs (who served 1909-1913) and his wife. Reportedly, after spending time in Topeka, Governor Stubbs came home (on April 22, 1911) to find the maid, "Virginia," hung in the third floor ball room.  He later found his wife rocking back and forth, traumatized by the death.  Reportedly, she hung herself, and her ghost has been seen throughout the house since.  Although, there is some question if she really did kill herself or if she was murdered.

According to the legend, Stubbs' wife suspected her husband of having an affair with Virginia, so she killed the girl and trussed her up in the closet to make it look like suicide.

The governor's wife was later committed to an asylum, according to one account of the tale.

The story doesn't end there.

As an added twist, the legend states that the governor had Virginia's cremated remains buried behind the large stone fireplace.

Adding to the mystery is an engraved plate on the fireplace with a cryptic message that says in Gothic typeface, "The World of Strife Shut Out, the World of Love Shut In.".
- Lawrence.com

So there you have it.  Reported ghosts in Lawrence, and not to far away (about 11 miles) in nearby Stull, is the "Gateway to Hell," as we told you about last Halloween Season.

Wooden Spoke

We are on the search for the best burger in Topeka. Here is how we rate the burger joints that we will review. First we put heavy emphasis on where the joint is headquartered, Local (NE Kansas) will garner an automatic 10 bonus points. Kansas owned chains (headquartered in Wichita, Hutchinson, Pitsburg, etc) an automatic 5 bonus points and National chains (those headquartered outside the state) will garner an automatic 0 bonus points. The ten categories that we will use in our search for the best burger in Topeka will be 1.Burger Patties Quality, 2. Bun Quality, 3. Customer Service, 4. Garnish Quality, 5. Fries Quality, 6. Atmosphere, 7. Order Accuracy, 8. Cleanliness (Restrooms, Dinning area, Entrance, etc), 9. Building Accessibility and 10. Price. All categories will earn a score between 1 and 10, with 10 being the highest and 1 being the poorest.

 Bonus Points: 10
The Wooden Spoke is a Baldwin City icon, that we decided to visit during the Maple Leaf  Festival. The busiest weekend in this small Northeastern Kansas community. 

photographer by Kevin Surbaugh

1. Burger Patties Quality: 10
 We ordered the "Spoke Burger," a half pound burger served to your request.  There is no standard garnishment on this burger, except for what the customer requests. My wife and I ordered our burgers well done.  Mine had leaf lettuce and ketchup.  My wife ordered hers with lettuce, tomato, mayonnaise and ketchup.
Both burgers were thick, thoroughly cooked (as ordered), seasoned with what the waitress described the owners secret blend of seasonings.  

photographer Kevin Surbaugh

2. Bun Quality: 10
 The bun looked and tasted very fresh.

3. Customer Service: 7
 Perhaps, we chose the wrong day to visit this restaurant.  Even though, we were seated by our greeter as soon as we walked into the restaurant, we were given our burgers, but were not given silverware or napkins, that others were given as soon as they were seated.  We were given menus and quickly decided on what we wanted.  However, it was 20 minutes after we were seated, before seeing our waitress.  It then took another 35 minutes to get our food.  Despite all this, the waitress seemed very friendly and courteous. 

4. Garnish Quality: 10
 Fresh cold vegetables. 

5. Fries Quality: 10
The fries were hot, fresh and very delicious.  No complaints here.

6. Atmosphere: 9
Even though they have a full bar (yes you can even order a Margarita or Daiquiri), there is a strong family friendly atmosphere.

7. Order Accuracy: 10
Our order was delivered to us exactly as we had requested,  we can't say anything but praise in this category.

8. Cleanliness (Restrooms, Dining area, Entrance, etc): 6
 The restroom was a mess, water was all over the floor.  While I was in there, it seemed someone was messing with the door.  When I came out, someone had taped an out of order sign on both the men's and women's restrooms.  Seems they were having issues, another reason this may have been a bad day to visit.
The dining area was clean and well kept as well as the entrance area. 

9. Building Accessibility: 4

 The first blaring problem was no handicapped parking spaces.  Since every space near the fairly accessible sidewalk was taken by cars without handicapped placards, it would be nearly impossible for someone in a wheelchair to enter the restaurant.  Even though the Americans with Disabilities Act requires such accessibility this restaurant has none.   For 1-25 parking spaces, there must be at least one signed location. For 26-50 spaces, there must be at least 2 parking spaces.  On the day we visited the parking lot was full, with at least 25 cars if not more in the parking lot when we entered. That being said, we would estimate there should be at least two spots designated handicapped parking.  Which means, they are in violation of the law signed into law by President Reagan.

photographer Kevin Surbaugh

10. Price: 9
Considering the quality and amount of meat served the price was fairly reasonable.  Each burger was $7.79 and included the side of fries.  

photographer Kevin Surbaugh

Before the tip we paid a total of $23 and some change, for two burgers/fries, 1 Coca-Cola™, 1 class of water and then a slice of turtle cheese cake that we shared for desert.

photographer Kevin Surbaugh

 That cheese cake was as good as it looks.  Unfortunately, it isn't a category that we review.

Total: 10.1