6/14/08 Stop 2: Cottonwood Falls

One of the most amazing things to this city boy about these small towns is the serenity.When we got out of the car the only noise was the wind blowing and the sound of an auctioneer about a block away. The serenity was repeated in Cottonwood Falls only with someone playing Rock and Roll.

Cottonwood Falls is the county seat of Chase County, known for a Limestone Court house built in the 1870's.Were it not be restored it would be oldest courthouse still in use west of Mississippi.The back of the post card I bought says "It was built in 1871-73 in the renaissance style of the Louis XIII period. The 113 foot tall,three story structure is of native limestone, with mansard roof and native walnut spiral staircase and balustrade."It sits on the town square with a brick road leading up to it past another downtown ,this one filled with restaurants,antique stores,art galleries and the Chase County Museum. We were able to peek in the window and see the staircase, I put the camera to the door but the picture didn't work out, unlike the train depot. The Museum wasn't open until 1 and we had places to be so we missed it.

On the court house square was a cannon, a memorial to those who had died in World War 1,World War 2 and Vietnam.On the right corner was an abandoned gas station, we'd see these old gas stations a lot on our journey.

We ate at a restaurant/souvenir store. The menu was written on a dry chalk board it read ham and croissant, Turkey and croissant or Roast beef and croissant with salad bar $7.95.Water was served in a Mason jar. a couple of tourist came in as did a local who only wanted Coffee and a Cinnamon roll.The roll was huge,defiantly a meal in and of itself.