29th Annual Apple Festival

One of the least publicized places in Topeka was buzzing on Sunday. It's hard to get to, the signs are vague and it's pretty well hidden. Even though it boards I-70,thanks to foloage ,you can't see it from the highway. I can't think of any signs on the Highway for the place. If your from Topeka and talk about Old Prairie Town you might blank looks or the question "Isn't that in Abilene ?" Topekans might now it better as Ward Meade.



Old Priarie town has a one room school house, an old church, a train depot, a log cabin,a botantical garden ,a drug store with an actual soda fountain,an old doctors office and the Ward-Meade Mansion.

The story is the Wards are one of the first settlers of Topeka,built a cabin on the River and fairied people across the river. A Candle was lit in the windown which was a sign to traveled the house was open to travelers on the Oregon, yes we are back on that trail. Oregon trail on the Kansas River, 20 miles South ,yesterday the Santa Fe Trail. Again all came through here, and some stayed.