In between Kansas City and Lawrence, Kansas is the small town of Eudora. It lies on the plains, underneath languid blue skies. Is there much to do here? Not a ton. If you are looking for a gentler place in a world that madly rushes on, then come to Eudora. It is reminiscent of Andy Griffith’s hometown of Mayberry.
The featured photo is from the Eudora Museum. It spotlights the many lakes in the area. They are places to unwind, savor nature, hike, enjoy an old fashioned picnic, and fish. Noodling was a poplular fishing sport in a bygone era (it is now illegal in many states, including Kansas). It is hand-fishing. In the most painful way. The fisherman thrusts his hand into the fish’s mouth and yanks the catfish up and out of the water. Many a hand has been broken attempting to noodle. Thankfully the man in this photo did not catch his fish by noodling, but by the traditional hook and line method.
In lieu of fishing, I decided to stroll up the main street of the town, stopping first at the coffee shop.
I expected to find a simple, old fashioned cafe-style diner. But Zeb’s Coffeehouse is a modish and comfy gathering place, with an ample menu of creative choices. Their business motto is “to cultivate community through coffee”. I like that. I also like that their coffeehouse is named after the owner’s dog, Zeb, who is the darling of the family.
Moving up the road, I entered Fuse Candle Bar.
Some of these small towns have the best boutiques. And Eudora has several. Fuse Candle Bar not only has a plethora of gift items, but they also have a full bar in which to custom make your own candles. Sounds like a relaxing and fun way to spend an afternoon.
Nearby is Twill Trade.
I met Chloe who was working that day. She is perfect for her job. She is a sweet, gentle extrovert. I enjoyed chatting with her while I browsed. I always ask the locals about their town, and Chloe had some interesting stories. Then Elizabeth arrived. She is the owner. She invited me next door to the former opera house, which is now her home. Elizabeth’s decorating style is just as elegantly beautiful as she is. I was astonished by what she had done with the historic structure. It was the Charles Lothholtz Opera House from 1897 – 1930. It could accomodate 250 people. The stage and wings are still intact, and are the showpiece of Elizabeth’s home. Can you imagine what stories from the past that building holds?! Most of us get to visit historic properties, but Elizabeth gets to live in one. Lucky girl. And she has restored it to its orgininal magnificence.
With this glimpse into Eudora’s past, I anticipated a stop at the town’s history museum. Always a favorite place for me anywhere. You can’t get the full feel of a town or the culture of the people unless you understand their back story.
A few days before I went to Eudora, I crossed paths with a gentleman who was traveling from the East Coast to the West. He told me his ancestors had lived in Eudora, and he gave me their names. I told Johnny I would try and find out some information on them. As soon as I stepped in the door of the Eudora Area Historical Society museum – I noticed these photos on the wall. And sure enough, they are his ancestors: Charles and Henrietta Durr. So there is a high probability of finding your ancestors in these small town museums. It helped that Johnny’s ancestors founded Eudora, but even so, the poplulation was so small back in those days, it would be fairly easy to find just about anyone. I met Ben Terwilliger, the Executive Director. I told him exactly what I was looking for and he immediately began pulling files. I sat at the designated research table, and found plenty of information on Johnny’s ancestors! Making these discoveries is exciting, especially when it is your family. Ancestral vacations are really big now. I asked Ben unending questions about the history of Eudora. He had the answers. This is what he does. He loves it, and he is good at it. So pay him a visit, and bring all your questions.
Go to these small towns. Don’t overlook them in favor of the big splashy cities. These places hold the secret of a simpler life. And who doesn’t need more of that?!