Emporia Presbyterian Manor
JULY 2021
History of the Hamner Elevator By Resident Lorraine Lowrey Morton
My father, John Lowrey, grew up on a wheat farm near Argonia, Kan. They took their wheat to the Hamner Elevator where my mother, Helen Callison, was the bookkeeper for her father.
Long-term care insurance benefits to be focus of free virtual event It might be hard to imagine, but chances are you’ll need some form of help taking care of yourself later in life. As the costs of receiving care continue to increase, it’s important to account for this possibility in any long-term financial plan.
The Hamner Elevator in 1938
From the first, wheat and cattle were brought to Hamner to be shipped out by rail. Henry Callison moved to the farm just east of Hamner in 1910. Since he had scales, farmers would weigh their wagon loads of wheat there, and then it would be scooped into the train cars. It was in April 1927 that W. A. Titus purchased lots and the Kansas Milling Co. of Wichita built an elevator. Henry Callison ran the elevator with the help of his daughters, Ruth, Ora, and Helen, who worked in the office for many years. He retired and moved to Winfield in 1943. Hamner burned down in 1947 and the elevator office and scales were soon sold. The Orient Railroad was sold to the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway, who owned this branch line until the tracks were taken up from Viola to Harper in the late 1960’s. When the Hamner whistle signs were removed, Hamner was no more.
Emporia Presbyterian Manor will host a free virtual information session, Understanding LongTerm Care Benefits, at 10 a.m. Wednesday July 7. Like any insurance purchase, there are a lot of factors to consider. Do I need long-term care insurance? How does it work? What will long-term care insurance cover? What does longterm care insurance cost? When should I purchase long-term care insurance? Will I qualify for longterm care insurance? When
Just Ask continued on page 4
Hamner continued on page 3 Get the latest on visitation and COVID-19 at our campus at EmporiaPresbyterianManor.org/covid-19.
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Editor’s Note: This is a guest column from the chaplain at Lawrence Presbyterian Manor. In a nod to our Presbyterian heritage, we will be periodically sharing columns from our community chaplains in your Community Matters newsletter.
We are “AHA” people in the Lord! By Dinah Dutta, Chaplain
I led a Bible study using the book “Joyfully Aging” by Richard Bimler. He gave himself the title, Ambassador of Health, Hope, and Aging or AH-HA(sic). He wrote, “All believers in Christ are AHA people,” because the resurrection of Christ is the biggest “aha” of all. We hear so much about how to care for our physical health, which is very important. Unfortunately, our society has convinced people that after a certain age, people lose their significance and purpose in life. However, when I think of spiritual or physical health these days, I think of my relationship not only with God but also the relationships we have with each other as a community of PMMA. Here at Presbyterian Manor, many of our residents have a long life. When I visit them, I learn that their faith in Christ is the key to their longevity.
Recently, during a memorial service for one of our residents, Rev. Henry shared how strong roots are important for a plant to grow. He shared that being rooted in faith is as important as the roots of the plant for us to live and grow as well. His message stuck in my head. Yes, when we are rooted in Christ, trusting Him and His promises, our physical and spiritual health remains strong. My dear PMMA family, as we focus on our wellness without being anxious about growing old or aging, I want to invite you to join me to focus on these simple things Bilmer shared in his book and age JOYFULLY. “1. Thank the Lord daily for life
itself. Thank the Lord for the open roads as well as the detours. “ 2. Remember our baptism. We are redeemed in Christ. “ 3. Spend time with people. Talk to them. Listen to them. Share your life experiences. “4. Bring encouraging words to younger and older people every day. Be an encourager to all.” Dear ones, most importantly let us continue to stay alive in Christ! “Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving” (Colossians 2:6-7). u
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Community Matters 620-343-2613 ◆ Fax: 620-343-9195 2300 Industrial Rd. Emporia, KS 66801-6635 EmporiaPresbyterianManor.org
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COMMUNITY MATTERS | July 2021
is published monthly for residents and friends of Emporia Presbyterian Manor by Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America, Inc., a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization.
To submit or suggest articles: cstock@PMMA.org Susan Siepelmeier, executive director Crystal Stock, marketing director
OUR MISSION: To provide quality senior services guided by Christian values.
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The office at Hamner Elevator
Henry and Helen lived in the Hamner Elevator office after Henry’s wife died and he sold the farm. A sheet divided Henry’s bed from the front. Helen slept on a couch that she made up every day. She cooked on a 2-burner kerosene stove and had a small ice box. Ice was delivered every day. There was a small hand pump for water. There wasn’t an outhouse, so the “commode” had to be emptied south of the elevator in the stockyards. On occasion, the outhouse across the road at the Stogsdall’s farm was used. Although Sam Lowrey and Henry Callison knew each other and lived a few miles apart, John and Helen went to different schools and did not know each other until the farmer boy took wheat to the elevator and met the pretty girl in the office. In 1939, the farmer boy married the girl at the grain elevator.
canned them for our own use. We also sold sweet corn, tomatoes, and eggs from our home. As a child, I loved to play “hide and seek” with my brother in the sweet corn. (It seems to me that sweet corn is not nearly as tall as it was when I was a child!) By the time I was five or six, my mom’s father, Henry Callison, (who lived with us) would pull out his coin purse and ask me to count back the “change” for a dozen eggs. I don’t mind the price of eggs if I don’t have to gather them!
One year the potatoes were extra large and Dad sold them to a potato chip maker. My brother and I were allowed to see the potato chips being made. After I was married, my parents moved to a small acreage (still in city limits) and sold sweet corn, tomatoes and other vegetables in the barn. John Lowrey was very well known for his “sweet!” sweet corn and driving his little Ford tractor all around Winfield, plowing gardens for other gardeners. u
Making sorghum in 1942
Since their rental house across the road from his parents wasn’t ready, John and Helen stayed at the elevator and Henry stayed with another married daughter. Hamner was Honeymoon Hotel. While I was born at home across the road from my dad’s parents’ farm home, I was raised as a city girl that helped raise food for others in Winfield, Kan. We raised our own vegetables and
Henry and Keith Callison Emporia Presbyterian Manor | A PMMA COMMUNITY
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2300 Industrial Rd. Emporia, KS 66801-6636 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
Activities spotlight
Just Ask – continued from page 1
Independent and Assisted living
would I be eligible to start using my long-term care insurance benefits?
July 1 – Happy Hour featuring red, white, and blue drinks with fruit kabobs
Jones Healthcare Center Craft of the month - Star wreath
Campus Wide 4th of July Ice Cream Social
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COMMUNITY MATTERS | July 2021
Get the answers to these questions and more from Houston Sober, an agent with Farmers Insurance. Sober will provide information about long-term care insurance and answer your questions. Understanding Long-Term Care Benefits is part of Presbyterian Manor’s Just Ask lifelong learning program featuring speakers and topics of interest to seniors and their adult children. Register online at EmporiaPresbyterianManor.org/eventsactivities by July 5 or contact Crystal Stock at 620-343-2613 or cstock@pmma.org. You will receive a unique link to join the virtual presentation. u