It was an exciting weekend in my hometown of Burr Oak, Kansas as the town’s 1871 founding was celebrated. The town’s roots began 150 years ago when A.J. Godfrey and his wife, Sarah, decided to move west. They first settled with others from the German Baptist faith in North Central Kansas. They established a little settlement. A post office was in one of their log homes, named Greenville near the White Rock Creek. Godfrey and his wife decided to move a couple of miles west, to where the White Rock meets with the Burr Oak Creek. They built a log home there. Soon the others moved the two miles to join the Godfreys. The following year Burr Oak was established.
Over the weekend the town’s population jumped in numbers as people came in from all directions to take part in the celebration. Numerous people came who hadn’t returned to Burr Oak for years. They became re-acquainted with the hometown folks. Several class reunions were held in conjunction with the celebration and my class was one of those. There were so many attending the celebration there was no way to see all the folks I had hoped to see and visit with. Thankfully photos were taken that showed up later on social media.
Friday night, filled the community center building with good eats, a lot of visiting and wonderful laughter. Bearded men lined up to be judged, and then there was some down home entertainment provided. Saturday, began with games, more eats, tours, a car show, motorcycle and tractor viewing, hatchet throwing, laser tagging and a parade which broke all entry records from past celebrations. There was a historical Tombstone Tour at the town’s cemetery featuring the Avenue of Flags, and then more eats were provided. The night ended with music, more visiting and more laughter.
As the sunrise came on Sunday, you’d think everyone would have been so tired from all the Friday night and Saturday activities they would have decided to return home. As the time drew close to start the annual Community Church Service, the community center building filled with people. Gospel music and a meaningful message were shared by my brother-in-law and his sister from Oklahoma, “Simply Faith.” Next came a four table long spread of food of all kinds from beef and noodles, to tasty potato salads that made up a potluck to end all potlucks. Another table featured the delicious desserts from chocolate brownies, to pies of all kinds including a gooseberry pie. More visiting followed. Then it was time for the celebration to come to an end.
So bravo to all those who made the hometown celebration possible, all the work that went into the planning which began two years ago, all the volunteers who came to prepare painting playground equipment, cleaning streets, tearing down old buildings along the main street, arranging the events and carrying them out, moving a grain bin to use for the beer garden, preparing food and serving, cleaning up and dumping trash cans following the celebration. All who participated deserve a big Burr Oak thank you!
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