Old Leoti

You've waited long enough! I was very sick Thursday evening and Friday with seizure activity. Glad that that appears to be over for now! Thank You, Lord!!!

Back to the beginning... I was asked to do some major research work for a local entity on Wednesday. I was very happy to do it! So I was given 15 properties that are located from just north of the Sheriff's office as far north to the railroad tracks and from the former Junior High to just about Hi Plains Motel. I required a lot of help from County Register of Deeds, Connie Wilson, and Junior Register of Deeds, Heather (Harkness) Leimkuhler. Thank you Ladies!!! I've never gotten this project completed without your help and guidance!!!

Throughout the work, we went through deeds, the Plat Map and microfilm. You may be wondering why the courthouse uses microfilm. I'll tell you. Many records go back to the mid 1800s-- a very long time ago. Because of that, those papers have become very brittle and are easy to "crack and break". So in order to preserve the much-needed information on them, the ladies have processed them onto microfilm. Pretty interesting, don't ya' think?

The paperwork that was recorded onto film as well as many other papers recorded since then, were completely put on paper in simple handwriting. We need to remember that the common typewriter came along many years after Wichita County was founded. Part of my responsibilites as a reporter for the credit bureau is to go through HUGE books in the Register of Deeds Office that sometimes have this old handwritten information. Awesome! I've also been impressed with most of the handwriting, too. Of course it needed to be clear and concise. Some of the writing is all but a work of beautiful art. I have been very impressed through the years...

The deedwork for the personal properties was pretty normal but once we began working on the railroad information is when it really got interesting. First of all, I learned that our county's founders mainly came here from Garden City, Kansas. It was their desire that Leoti would be located from the railroad tracks and go further north. At one time, Leoti was expected to be the new "Chigago". It was assumed that business, etc would enable Leoti to become as large and diverse as Chicago, Illinois. Hmmm...so far those expectations have not come to light. I do recall in the 1970s and 1980s that Leoti was known several times as "Little Chicago" because of murders and major drug activity. Fortunately, I have not heard it called that for a long time!

If you are like me, you think that our majestic Wichita County Courthouse has always been located right where it is today. Right? Wrong!!! Come to find out, the original plat shows that it was once located on the 3rd block of West "E" Street. This is located 2 blocks north of the railroad tracks. Today, a small trailer park and another house exist. During a rainstorm, lightening struck it and burned it to the ground. I do not know why the mess was not simply cleaned up and a new building built in its place. Sadly, to my knowledge, no living person knows that answer. Instead, the Wichita County Board of Commissioners back then, declared a Right of Condemnation on the current block where our courthouse and the Wichita County Library are now erected. Probably not even one cent was transferred to the former owner(s) of that property. After that, building began on the beautiful building that we now have that people from all over come to see. Many photos have been taken on this outstanding work of architecture, not only by locals but by many passersby who are awed by the presence of it. I only wish that my blog was capable of showing pictures. If it was, you can bet that I would post a picture of the courthouse right here!

I was also impressed with the fact that the Wichita County Jail was built just across the street from the courthouse so that prisoners could be simply walked across the street to the courthouse for court. It was located where the Justin and Tammy Mason family now lives. Formerly, it belonged to Walter and Francis (Clara) Norton. Once the new courthouse was built, the jailhouse was also relocated there. Later, a new jail was built directly west of the courthouse. It was attached to the courthouse. If needed, the prisoners were transferred from the jail through a tunnel into the courthouse. In the 1980s, the State deemed the jail was not up to their current standards. Instead of putting out tax dollars to do the necessary changes to the jail, it was determined that Wichita County prisoners would be lodged in area jails. Most stay in the Scott County Jail. Others are taken to Tribune, Lakin, Johnson and Garden City. Of course, Wichita County is responsible for paying for each inmate's daily meals, etc. The last that I knew, that amount is $30.00 per day.

So, now we will return to the area north of the railroad tracks. The 3rd block of West "E" was the original site of the courthouse. The second block may have just been an area of homesteaders' homes. The block to the east which is the first block of West "E" where Smades Manufacturing, etc is now located, was the block where Leoti's original city park was located. Daddy was born in 1932. He told me stories of him and his brothers and friends playing in that park.

Now, skip over Highway 25 to the east, the first block of East "E" Street. I don't know of anything public ever existing on that block. For as long as I am aware of, it has also been a residential area.

Cross over the eastern street, East 5th Street. That block was the site of the original Leoti School. It looks like once the courthouse was built on the south side of the tracks, other public offices and businesses also took the hike and moved south.

Anyway, I really enjoy local history. When I learned this information, I was anxious to share it with you. I aplogize for not being able to write this here yesterday...

VLE-B