Meet "Bernie" the Buffalo, sponsored by the Jewell Fire Department. He is only one of the Jewell Buffalo without his feet firmly on the ground. He was painted by Joyce Benedict of Beloit.
This is "Oliver" a Jewell Buffalo sponsored by Jon Hajny. Pictured on the Buffalo is a 1968 Oliver tractor owned by Hajny. The tractor was originally purchased by his parents, Carol and Clarabelle Hajny. It is located on Highway 14 on the south side of Jewell.
"Colonel Jewell" is sponsored by Steve and Marsha Bartsch. He is found along Highway 28 on the east side of Jewell. He honors Lt. Colonel Lewis R. Jewell, for whom Jewell and Jewell County are named. Jewell was an officer with the sixth Kansas Cavalry Regiment and lost his life as a result of wounds suffered during the Battle of Cane Hill on November 30, 1862. "Colonel Jewell" was painted by Joyce Benedict of Beloit.
Many who are observant have noticed some newer buffalo in Jewell. Beginning in early October, buffalo statues started to join the other 15 buffaloes in the herd around Jewell. (Yes, there are also four "calves" in the herd.) "Bernie" was the first to come alongside the others.
"Bernie" sits atop an 8-foot pedestal just north of the fire fepartment. He is sponsored by the Jewell Fire Department. Mayor and Fire Chief Darrell Bohnert said the buffalo "needed to be different." All the other buffalo have their hooves firmly on the ground but "Bernie" is 8 feet in the air. Appropriately he is painted in full firefighter gear, with a fire helmet atop his head.
"Colonel Jewell" is sponsored by Steve and Marsha Bartsch. He is found along Highway 28 on the east side of Jewell. He honors Lt. Colonel Lewis R. Jewell, for whom Jewell and Jewell County are named. Jewell was an officer with the 6th Kansas Cavalry Regiment and lost his life as a result of wounds suffered during the Battle of Cane Hill on Nov. 30, 1862. "Colonel Jewell " was painted by Joyce Benedict of Beloit.
Jon Hajny is the sponsor of "Oliver" who sits on the southwest corner of the intersection of Highway 14 and Broadway. This buffalo wears a painting of a 1968 Oliver 1850 tractor owned by Hajny. The tractor was originally purchased new by members of Jon's family, Carroll and Clarabelle Hajny, for use on the Hajny farm. According to Bailey Hajny, "Granddad Carroll was a proud Oliver owner."
"Bernie," "Colonel Jewell" and "Oliver" all were painted by Joyce Benedict of Beloit. They and all the other buffalo in Jewell's herd are shown on a map available at the Jewell City Office during regular office hours. Get a map and find the buffalo!
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