Lecompton Territorial Days

Today we took a drive about 21 miles east on 6th in Topeka which turned into US-40 into Douglas County and then at the Historical Marker turned North 3 miles on E 600 Rd into Lecompton,Kansas. As so much in this part of the State, It has Bleeding Kansas ties and one of the reasons I wanted to go on this day.

The town population is 608 (2000 census), actually I know the population is at least 609, a co worker gave birth to a baby in December and lives in Lecompton, so I will record that one addition even if the Census Bureau doesn't pick it up until 2010.Probably more, but I can verify the 1 addition. The significant to Bleeding Kansas is a white building that sits on 3rd and Elmore Street. It is I believe the 3rd Territorial Capital of Kansas.

The story goes that in 1854,as a result of the Kansas-Nebraska Act,the fate of whether Kansas would be Free or Slave was left to the Voters, thousands pured in on both sides of the issue.The elections were rifewith fraud and intimidation and eventually the Pro Slave forced won the day.The issue was hardly settled ,violence followed as 1858 brought a Slave Constitution which was never approved, the building later hosted a Free Convention and eventual Statehood in 1861. The actions of the Pro Slave Government led to National Debate particularly in a Senate Election in Illinois between Stephen Douglas and Abraham Lincoln.

We arrived in the quiet town and found parking and followed the crowd. A city park seemed to be the focus of most people so we claimed our spot and watched the parade.It had almost everything 4H,old cars, those tiny Shriner cars,politicians with volunteers handing out flyers, kids got candy.

The main of the town was the site of the midway with Rides,Toss a ball and win a prize, several food vendors and people selling jewelry and baseball cards. I was drawn to pictures painted on saws, these included landscapes and pictures of cows and windmills. I got to a Bision Burger, It's a little dry but good and since Buffalos aren't bred with steroids ,are a lot better than Hamburgers.

Another Museums advertises itself as the Territorial Museum and part of one room does deal with Bleeding Kansas, an exhibit has a desk from Constitution Hall that was used in the 1850's. One of things I am finding so charming about these small Museums is how people just donation things like spoon collections and plates from the Bicentinental. The Museum is in one of the 2 building left from Lane University which existed from 1865 to 1902.

Upstairs in the Chapel is a little bit of Dwight Eisenhower history as his parents were married there. We got to see History Re enactors present "Bleeding Kansas" which recreated a Town Hall meeting,Harriet Beecher Stowe, author of 'Uncle Tom's Cabin', a seminal event in the end of slavery was represented, as was James H Lane. The Slave cause was represented by Rev. Thomas Johnson,Mahala Doyle, a Tennessee settler who was made a widower at the hands of John Brown and the Sheriff of Douglas County at the time Samuel Jones. The last speaker was John Brown , the actor walked out of the auditorium in the pose of the John Stuart Curry Mural that is in the Capitol Building in Topeka. It was brilliant, well acted and very moving.

Before the start of the program the auditorium was divided in two, this side Pro Slavery, that side Free State, we were encouraged to Boo ,Heckel and really involve ourselves in the presentation. I think it was hard for the Pro Slave side of the room to get involved, but we Free Staters got very involved in Booing, as the same went on a number of people heckled and cheering.

The events will go on into the night, a band, ice cream social,softball tournament, 3 legged race and on and on.

As always ,next up is some pictures