Forest of Words

Written by Lynn Marie Allen

On a journey, as usual, to uncover a piece of all things history, and as usual, history never disappoints! On September 28, 1885, Newton Reynolds was born in Robinson, Kansas. He married Grace Peckinpaugh on June 20, 1907. The young couple traveled to Colorado and returned to Hiawatha two years later. In 1909, Newton, primarily self-taught in construction, opened and operated a successful business and built multiple houses. For some of these houses, I continue to look for historical references to the works of Newton Reynolds. Some homes referencing Newton Construction include the Presbyterian Church, an exemplary Gothic architectural example. 406 North 7th Street in Hiawatha, constructed in 1913, is an example of American Four Square. Newton also contributed to Camp Whiteside in Fort Riley. He built his own home at 513 Kansas Avenue, Hiawatha. Newton also built the Strunk House, which was north of town ( I have not found the address), The Tyler Warren House, the Smith Johnson House, the Clarence Van Buskirk House, and many more contributions to the structures within Brown County and surrounding communities. Newton Construction had 150 employees at least once, which would be a rather large company for the times located in Hiawatha. Newton will later serve as Mayor of Hiawatha from 1928 to 1938, continuing his legacy of contributions to the community. As always, this is only a tiny piece of the story; get out there and find the rest of the story! Be sure to stop by and share with me what you uncover! #HistoryMysteries

Brown County Historical Society is working hard to finish the Bruning Barn and make it an incredible venue location for many future generations to enjoy. Bruning Barn is the focal point of our Give Back to Move Forward Project for the 2023 Fund! The GBMF project includes tables and chairs for the venue location, a warmer for catering, gravel, and work for parking, a silo for future wedding backdrops, and much, much more. We hope you are as excited as we are to finish this incredible project.

Pictured 406 North 7^th Street Home image.

“History Mysteries” and “Chasing My Sparkle” are the intellectual property and creative inspiration of Lynn Marie Allen

Written by Lynn Marie Allen, Executive Director/Curator

On a journey, as usual, to uncover a few mysteries, and you may have already guessed there are a lot of history mystery gems that I am often on journies of history exploration. How many of you know that the Hiawatha Lake was also known as “Barnum Lake?” Now, if anyone has some gems in their family treasure chest, they might be willing to dig out and share more details about Barnum Lake. You certainly would not hear any complaints from me!

My second journey of the day was searching for a way to memorialize and pay tribute to an individual. Harlan “Nick” Newton Reynolds Jr. was born in Horton, Kansas, on May 28, 1937. Nick (the name he preferred to be called) was born in Horton because, at the time, Hiawatha did not have a hospital facility. Horton, as I have shared the story in the past, and as I grieve the passing of the facility in Horton now provided hospital care for the people of Brown County and Northeast Kansas as far back as the Rock Island Railroad where there was a makeshift first aid closet. To the second a house on the corner of 8^th Street, to the first hospital facility located on 1^st Avenue East to its final resting place on Euclid Avenue. The Horton Hospital facility now almost entirely destroyed but the history of the impact of early hospital care in Kansas is a story we can carry forward. Tearing down the facility that had so much of an impact on communities is a grieveous error from where I stand.

Many of these names are scattered among the history of Brown County. You may even discover they are a relative or distant relative of yours! The history of these families includes the family surnames of Reynolds, Peckinpaugh, Zavitz, and Lambertson. The Reynolds family were travelers and would explore other regions, namely Desert Hot Springs and Palm Springs, California. Still, they always loved their roots and family connections in Brown County, Kansas, and Nick will return to these roots and connections and work much of his adult career in the surrounding region.

Nick was a Lions Club Member and served two terms as President! Nick loved music, and upon discovering that his grandmother had written poetry, Nick began to pen his own poetry! Nick was also a member of the Brookdale Poetry Club. Nick’s career consisted of managing various grocery stores and supply chains for grocery stores. Nick was also a father, husband, grandfather, great-grandfather, and so much more to those lucky to know him. As always, this is only a tiny piece of the story that is Nick; get out there and find it! Be sure to stop by and share with me what you uncover! #HistoryMysteries

Pictured photograph of young Newton Reynolds, who will later serve as Mayor of Hiawatha for ten years. From left to right, Paul Veatch (Grace Peckinpaugh-Reynolds nephew), Grace Peckinpaugh-Reynolds, and Newt Reynolds

“History Mysteries” and “Chasing My Sparkle” are the intellectual property and creative inspiration of Lynn Marie Allen.

Forever is quite simply something we all hope to achieve. Forever isn’t nearly a big enough word to describe what you mean to me.

Simply, before you ever reached out across time I knew and loved your name and the levels in which you have connected to my soul blow my mind

Your voice is intoxicating; it warms me from within. 

How is it possibly something before I ever physically heard

might create an explosion

Deep from within are now suddenly alive

ignite my soul

You have set my soul on fire merely from your words

I linger and dawdle

For every eager chance to be a part 

Of your words

Of your soul

Longing for an opportunity to feel your touch

feel it ignite my skin the way you have branded my soul

Who would have imagined 

longing and passion 

now awakened from deep in a slumber

Wanton and troubled, 

mere words inspire such a storm

I linger

I long

I will wait for an eternity 

for the voice, my soul already feels to whisper gently to me

of all that I have been 

all that I will be 

for know without a doubt 

you complete me

The watercolor painting is the intellectual property of my Great Uncle Charles Franc, who painted this while stationed in the service in 1945. It remains a part of my heritage and is now in the personal collection of Lynn Marie. Uncle Charlie, who would often say when I would draw with him, well Lynn Marie you are no artist. Correct you are Uncle Charlie… my pen is my paintbrush!

“In memory of Kristopher Jimeson”

To envision the warmth of a child’s pure love, this gift
Is a reminder of God’s unconditional love,
We were blessed with the presence of a boy
For what appears only a moment in time,
Lasting memories of a cheerful chuckle, a gentle laugh,
for the pleasure of the sun’s warm, gentle rays,
beaming down on his face,
Rejoicing in each and every gift from God,
We were touched by the life of this boy,
who filled our hearts
and found pleasure in everything
Conquered, experienced, and learned,
In our loss, we must remember the joy he brought our hearts,
Surrender the pain and go on with time,
He left behind a chair,
Up in heaven, a strong healthy boy looks down
Smiling, running, leaping, and bounding,
So as we sit softly remembering,
maybe you will hear a chuckle when the suns rays warm your face,
As it softly whispers Kris

“Come with me where dreams are born- Peter Pan!”

Love is!
Love is LOVE!
Love is!

Love is!

Love is!
Love is a feeling, an expression
and, if genuine,
can simultaneously build and destroy worlds!
Love cannot be defined by the perimeters of something as silly as AGE! or a number! Because LOVE is infinite in every possibility!
The boundaries of skin color do not define love!
LOVE is not a CONDITION that has borders!
Love is not a secret to be hidden from the world!
Love is tender! Beautiful! Thoughtful! Genuine! Kind!
Love is complex and simple at the same time!
Love is NOT sensible, and yet it is profoundly practical!
True love is not shallow, and its depths are unimaginable! Love is every shade and color of the rainbow, painting a tender world magically!
Love never keeps score!
And love does not hurt to cause or inflict pain!

Your love is and always has been breathtaking!

“To LIVE is an awfully big adventure!” Peter Pan

Let me tell you also what love is! Love is every single Hallmark “love card on the planet” because there are not enough words or ways to say or express that I love you!