Jackson Co. Lifestyle | Issue 5

No. 4 | 2026

Also in this issue

Rethinking the Battle of the Spurs

Holton’s Hollowed Queen

Small Towns, Big Weekends

Remembering a Rural Way of Life in Jackson County

dear readers. Welcome.

Welcome to the fourth issue of Jackson Co. Lifestyle. With each edition, we continue discovering new layers of the stories, traditions and creative spirit that make Jackson County unique.

Our cover feature, “Honoring Historic Filling Stations,” takes us back to the era of gravel roads and early highways, when filling stations served as landmarks and gathering places as much as service stops. Whether preserved as a nostalgic reminder or still serving customers, these stations reflect a time when travel—and community—moved at a different pace.

History also takes center stage as we revisit the Battle of the Spurs. Though the exact locations north of Holton were uncertain for decades, its national significance is anything but. Closer to town, the Hollowed Queen continues her careful revival, reminding us that restoration is often as much about patience and vision as it is about lumber and paint.

Creativity and community intersect in this issue as well. From the Jackson County Art Walk, where local artists filled downtown spaces with color and conversation, to the seasonal celebrations that mark Delia and Mayetta’s autumn weekends, these gatherings highlight the connections that keep our county vibrant. We also spend time with Granite Road Greenhouse & Nursery, a family business rooted in the rhythm of the seasons and community ties.

As always, this magazine is a shared effort. Thank you to the Jackson County Tourism Council, the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce and the many residents who open their doors, share their memories and contribute their time. And thank you for picking up our fourth edition—I hope you see something familiar, learn something new and feel once again the pride of calling Jackson County home.

Leslie Clugston Andres, Editor Sunflower Publishing

on the cover

Scott Bartlett, owner of Scott’s Shop in Holton, has installed vintage Phillips 66 signage and pumps at his combination office/hobby shop at 326 Vermont.

by Nick Krug

2026 | No. 4

Editor Leslie Clugston Andres

Copy Editor Gina DeBacker

Designer/Art Director Alex Tatro

Advertising Connie Roberts croberts@sunflowerpub.com

Contributing Photographers Jason Dailey

Michael Henry Nick Krug

Contributing Writers Nathan McAlister

Debbie Leckron Miller

Lucas Shivers

Beccy Tanner

Publisher Bill Uhler

Director Bob Cucciniello

Holton/Jackson County Chamber of Commerce & Jackson County Tourism Council 104 W 5th St. Holton (785) 364-3963 chamber@exploreholton.com exploreholton.com

Executive Director, Chamber Ashlee York

Assistant Director, Chamber Janette Hammack

Chair, Tourism Council Suzette McCord-Rogers

Vice-Chair, Tourism Council Jake Huyett

Jackson Co. Lifestyle is produced by Sunflower Publishing in cooperation with the Holton/Jackson County Chamber of Commerce and Jackson County Tourism Council. sunflowerpub.com

Come see us at our new location in Holton, Kansas on Highway 75! 800.844.7494 popcorngifts.net schlaegelpopcorn@gmail.com contact us today

Popped Popcorn • Unpopped Popcorn • Tins Gift Boxes • Seasonal Flavors 705 Arizona Ave, Holton, KS 66436

Delia Community Pride & Delia Community Center 334 Nora Ave, Delia, KS

Breakfast 8am-11am | Thrift Store 8am-1pm | every month

2nd Saturday thrift store & Breakfast Fundraiser Delia Thrift Store also open every Tuesday 10am-2pm

Every Tuesday 10am-2pm | Large tables and spaces available The Delia sewing group Call Connie at (785) 771-2370 for details and information

Indian taco feed & car show

Indian Tacos 11am-2pm | Car Show 10am

Sunday April 26, 2026

Delia Days Festival September 12 & 13, 2026

Kids games and art, train rides, quilt and textile art shows, breakfast, lunch and dinner, wiffle ball and washers tournament, car show and dance

5pm-7:30pm Halloween Soup Supper, Costume contest & Hay Rack Ride November 1, 2026

Contents.

A FAMILY BUSINESS IN BLOOM

At Granite Road Greenhouse & Nursery in Soldier, Will and Mary McAsey have built a business where family, community and a love of growing things flourish—along with a resident skink named Doug

RETHINKING THE BATTLE OF THE SPURS

The 1859 clash north of Holton may be difficult to pinpoint on a map, but its national consequences are unmistakable

arts & culture CONNECTING CREATIVITY AND COMMUNITY

Jackson County’s annual Art Walk brought artists into Holton’s downtown businesses, where live demonstrations and window displays invited patrons to explore creativity up close.

22 around the county SMALL TOWNS, BIG WEEKENDS

From quilt shows to chicken races, Delia and Mayetta mark autumn with celebrations rooted in history and community

A conversation with owners Theresa Sparrowsmith and Marshall Barrington reveals the couple’s commitment to Isabel’s revival

Whether restored, repurposed or still pumping gas, three Jackson County stations preserve memories of

the

A Family Business in Bloom

At Granite Road Greenhouse & Nursery in Soldier, Will and Mary McAsey have built a business where family, community and a love of growing things flourish—along with a resident skink named Doug

Will and Mary McAsey, owners of Granite Road Greenhouse and Nursery in Soldier, have rooted their rural business in family, community and a shared love of growing things.

“Being in the greenhouse is so calming for us,” Mary says. “It’s a Zen-zone to relax. We love to try new plants to watch how they grow each season. A strawflower from last year became so popular with our friends and customers.”

New Ownership

Blending practicality with personal passion, the McAseys live 2 miles east of the greenhouse located at 3345 238th Rd.

“Will and I decided to take the leap and go for it in 2023,” Mary says. “Because it was new to both of us, the prior owners stayed on with us for the first season, and then we took off with it. We kept the same name of the greenhouse to make it easy for our customers to find us.”

The McAseys bought the property from their neighbors, Raymond and Anna Mary, an Amish family who relocated to southern Kansas.

“We became friends with Raymond and Anna Mary,” Mary says. “I was over at the greenhouse all the time. I’m a plant addict. We chit-chatted. They had grandkids and lots of family around, which was so cool to see everyone working together. When they found out they had to move, they really didn’t want to give up on what they’d built. Luckily for both of our families, we were able to continue and build upon what they’d started.”

Both Will and Mary transitioned to the greenhouse full time. Mary previously served as the office manager at the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, and Will worked as a freight broker for more than 20 years.

“Owning a greenhouse is different from a nine-to-five job, and thankfully not as stressful as juggling life,” Will says. “We’ve been able to do so much more as a family that we might not have been able to do before.”

Customers come from across Kansas and Nebraska, with some driving more than 200 miles.

OPPOSITE: Spring blooms abound at Granite Road Greenhouse & Nursery in Soldier. RIGHT: Will and Mary McAsey bought the business in 2023; sons Lliam (8) and Royce (6) help select plants.

“Some of our favorite customers come every year and buy dozens of red geraniums to plant along their white picket fence. We make all of these connections with so many people and have the pleasure of being able to meet so many interesting people.”

—Will McAsey

“Some of our favorite customers come every year and buy dozens of red geraniums to plant along their white picket fence,” Will says. “We make all of these connections with so many people and have the pleasure of being able to meet so many interesting people.”

Another customer buys three or four flats of cabbage plants, which grow 20-pound cabbage heads to make sauerkraut with their church. Many have huge gardens just to give back to their neighbors and community.

Family Life

The McAseys have two boys, Lliam, 8, and Royce, 6. Both attend Jackson Heights Elementary School in Holton.

“They love playing in the dirt, and it gets really wild. They help pick out the plants,” Mary says. “Lliam loves lots of color, and Royce has the fancy and expensive tastes for planter combos.”

Extended and elderly family members help in the busy seasons.

“We have our grandparents who come out to help us. They love getting some sunshine and having something to do for a couple of hours,” Will says. “It’s something to do rather than sit at home. We have had high school helpers who have kept coming back to work after they graduate, just because they’ve enjoyed it so much.”

Will has lived in the area all his life, including in Circleville and now in Soldier. Mary moved into the area years ago.

“I’ve lived in every small town around here,” Will says. “The connections from our local people are the best. This area is still a place where you can help each other out to ask favors. People don’t expect to be paid for everything. Everyone wants to help their neighbors. We have so many great people who live close to us. We have a tight-knit community even though we don’t live right next door.”

Annual Calendar

Preparation begins around the new year, with seeds started and equipment set up.

“We open up around the middle of March with potatoes going out before St. Patty’s Day,” Mary says. “It’s busy all spring, and we encourage people to get their plants after the last hard freeze.”

The greenhouse fills with bedding plants, flowers and vegetables such as tomatoes and peppers.

“We have a big Mother’s Day weekend each spring,” Will says. “We try to wrap up in June. We keep

everyone in the loop on Facebook. It’s go-go-go all spring and early summer.”

Then, shipments of trees and shrubs are added for the landscaping side of the business.

“We’ve always kind of done landscaping. After advertising the first season, we’re still doing jobs into January,” Will says. “We’ve been doing both commercial and residential with lots of jobs lined up on the project list.”

With a heart for the community—especially schools—the greenhouse also hosts Teacher Appreciation Nights with treats and specials.

“We like to try to give back where we can,” Mary says. “We love being out in the greenhouse and sharing it with so many.”

In the fall, they raise chrysanthemums to sell to the public and wholesale to schools in Holton, Onaga and Centralia for fundraisers like Jackson Heights High School’s post-prom.

“We want to help out to make it easy to coordinate without the big box store percentages being taken from others,” Mary says. “This can be the one event to sell out big.”

Will and Mary are considering trying poinsettias in the future to extend the growing season.

Inside the Greenhouse

Granite Road has three full greenhouses: one peaked house and two hooped houses, each measuring 40 by 96 feet.

“We re-skin with new plastic to keep it all fresh every four to six years to hold up in the Kansas winds,” Will says.

They installed wood-burning boilers last year to reduce propane use and improve cost efficiency. Concrete walkways improve customer mobility.

“We’ve had people with wheelchairs, walkers and canes be able to get in to enjoy the plants because in most [greenhouses] you can’t get around,” Mary says. “We have a sitting area as well to gather materials and take it all in with toasty sunshine. There’s an ‘uninterested-spouse chair’ for the partners who are going to be there for a while.”

Beyond plants and infrastructure, the greenhouse has developed its own personality. Customers look forward to spotting familiar sights each season, including an unexpected resident.

“We have the biggest skink named Doug that is over a foot long, so our customers look for it every year,” Will says. “It’s become a tradition to find Doug.”

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DSB is an anchor in the community, serving generations since 1901. Find us at 5 branches and ATMs in the 35-mile radius, plus have 24/7 access on DSBconnect digital banking.

We can get a new checking account opened for you, along with direct deposits and direct payments. For housing, DSB makes more mortgage loans in Jackson County than any other company. Equal Housing Lender.

Visit: In downtown Holton on west side of Square, Hwy. 75 Holton, or Hwy. K-214 in Hoyt.

Rethinking the Battle of the Spurs

The 1859 clash north of Holton may be difficult to pinpoint on a map, but its national consequences are unmistakable

Story by Nathan McAlister

In the last days of January 1859, swollen creeks and frozen ground north of Holton became the stage for a confrontation that would ripple far beyond Jackson County. The events unfolded just north of present-day Holton, along Straight and Spring creeks in what was then a raw and contested Kansas Territory landscape. For decades, most local accounts placed the Battle of the Spurs north of Holton at the log cabin of Albert Fuller. Yet the confrontation was not a single engagement fought on one day at one location. Rather, it unfolded in a series of related encounters across two townships and two creeks, involving multiple groups of combatants and reinforcements. Exactly where those skirmishes took place remains the greatest mystery surrounding the Battle of the Spurs.

Decades after the confrontation, participants and local residents offered differing recollections of where the fighting occurred. In the July 25, 1884, edition of the Topeka Weekly Times, Captain J.P. Rust recounted that “his farm was the scene of Capt. John Brown’s famous ‘Battle of the Spurs.’” On October 27, 1900, the Atchison Champion reported that “The battle was fought right in front of the [George] Seaman house.” Both Rust and Seaman lived along Spring Creek near the old town site of Eureka,

Full map courtesy Kansas Historical Society Archives. Small insert labeled by Nathan McAlister.

locating the Battle of the Spurs some 2 miles north of the Fuller cabin. Juxtaposed with these accounts are those that squarely place the battle at the Fuller cabin. For example, in the September 8, 1921, Holton Signal, Julia A. Coffin stated, “On leaving Holton the party [Brown’s] drove northwest, arriving at the log house of Albert Fuller on Straight Creek.” Coffin even provided the cabin’s precise location: “On the northeast quarter of Section 10, township 6, range 15” (see map on page 13).

The days before the battle were cold, and heavy rain, perhaps snow, fell steadily across the region, turning wagon ruts to mud and swelling the creeks beyond their banks. In these conditions, John Brown, along with several companions— including the self-titled “Colonel Whipple” (Dwight Stevens)—and 11 people fleeing slavery made their way to Holton. Whatever the exact mix of rain or snow, the precipitation would play a critical role in what followed.

After spending a night at Holton House, the town’s first hotel, Brown’s party traveled roughly 6 miles north along the Lane Trail to Dr. Albert Fuller’s cabin on Straight Creek. A Free-State sympathizer, Fuller previously had sheltered freedom seekers traveling north. Their arrival marked the first of three engagements that would later be known as the Battle of the Spurs.

The weather of the previous days now determined their next move. Because Straight Creek was flooded and impassable, Brown and his companions decided to quarter at Fuller’s for the night. The next morning, January 28, a half dozen “slavehunters” arrived at the Fuller property. Holton resident William Creitz described the group as “drunken” in a December 1859 letter to Brown ally and journalist James Redpath. These men, either through sheer incompetence or drunkenness, would not be the ones to take this assemblage of freedom seekers back into bondage and the gallows. After taking one of the group members hostage, Brown and Whipple determined to proceed north with all possible speed. Meanwhile, proslavery forces in the Kansas Territory were organizing and were equally determined to end their flight to freedom. Both sides sent for reinforcements.

By the afternoon of January 28, as Brown and his party prepared to attempt a crossing, an

ominous sign appeared. Twenty-five men led by the now-infamous J.P. Wood, a recently deputized marshal, approached the Fuller residence and, by some accounts, surrounded the buildings. Brown, Whipple, Fuller and the others barricaded themselves in the cabin and barn. Wood was in no mood to negotiate. According to both Fuller and Creitz, Wood threatened to burn the buildings.

What transpired next became the core of mistaken historical memory surrounding the Battle of the Spurs. Confronted with the resolve of the well-armed and barricaded party of freedom fighters, Wood and his men spurred their horses and retreated, giving the battle its name. For many, that retreat marked the end of the confrontation. But it was not the end. Brown’s request for reinforcements reached Topeka on Sunday, January 30. Several prominent residents, including John Ritchie, John Armstrong and 16 others, answered the call, reaching Fuller’s cabin the next morning. Brown now had upward of 30 fighting men, and the waters of Straight Creek were receding. It was time to make the crossing.

Wood’s forces, however, had not been idle. Spring Creek and the land of Isaac Seaman—the northeast quarter of Section 33 in Netawaka Township— became the scene of the next engagement. According to Seaman, Wood’s men and additional reinforcements, bringing their total to nearly 65, arrived at Spring Creek and used his home as headquarters. This would become the decisive final engagement of the Battle of the Spurs. This account from William Creitz helps set the scene:

As soon as the enemy became aware of Brown’s approach they beat to arms, and drew up their men in battle array, on an elevated position, in the rear of Eureka; their scouting parties were called in, and the movements of both parties for some time indicated, that a general engagement was about to take place.

Whether it was the simple command “forward” or Brown’s sheer audacity, his forces progressed from a walk to a trot and then a full gallop. Wood decided he had had enough and fled. As Brown’s party continued onward, undeterred and seeing their command structure unravel, the proslavery men began to leave one by one, then by twos and fours,

“And it is very probable that if we had not had the introductory scene at Spring Creek, we never could have had the sublime audacity and courage of Harper’s Ferry.”

—Isaac Seaman

and finally in full retreat, “into the timber of [Spring Creek], from which they fled like frightened deer. They took several prisoners.”

This would be the last time Brown faced violence in Kansas. His contingent continued unmolested, escorted by their band of Kansas men, all the way into Nebraska Territory.

Did the Battle of the Spurs further persuade the already confident Brown that the raid on Harpers Ferry was the correct course of action? The evidence strongly suggests it did.

Brown was already riding a wave of confidence in his religious morality and military acumen, and he had pulled off—through sheer force of will and character—a bold, bloodless defeat of proslavery forces in Kansas once again. That victory would carry him to Harpers Ferry, Virginia, and bear eerie similarities. As at Fuller’s cabin, Brown would find himself unexpectedly outnumbered and barricaded in a building, yet confident that, through force of will, he would prevail. As at the Battle of the Spurs, he led the formerly enslaved as part of what he believed was a righteous cause.

John Brown was the first, last and only white man to lead a slave rebellion. This fact alone struck fear in the hearts of the proslavery South, as the Charleston Mercury noted on November 1, 1859:

Credit: Wikimedia Commons, public domain

Instead of tranquility and protection, hostility and insurrection are now [the Union’s] natural fruits. The Harper’s Ferry invasion, therefore, if wisely considered, is of vast significancy, and should lead the people of the South to prepare for those future events, of which this is only the premonition.

These sentiments are echoed by Brown himself, who, before his execution on December 2, 1859, wrote:

I John Brown am now quite certain that the crimes of this guilty, land: will never be purged away; but with Blood. I had[,] as I now think[,] vainly flattered myself that without very much bloodshed; it might be done.

Isaac Seaman described Brown’s words as “the most sublime sentence ever uttered against human slavery.”

The Battle of the Spurs should not be relegated to the footnotes of history. Along Straight and Spring creeks in January 1859, events unfolded that echoed far beyond Jackson County. For John Brown, the confrontation strengthened his resolve and his sense of mission. What began north of Holton carried him to Harpers Ferry— and pushed the nation closer to its reckoning with slavery.

Connecting Creativity and Community

Jackson County’s annual Art Walk brought artists into Holton’s downtown businesses, where live demonstrations and window displays invited patrons to explore creativity up close

Story by Lucas Shivers | Photography by Jason Dailey

Artists of all types—from painters, sculptors and glassblowers to student and culinary artists—along with live performances filled downtown Holton for the annual Jackson County Art Walk on the afternoon of June 27.

“It’s so special to have all of the artists from our town and surrounding areas bring art to us in a rural area,” says April Lemon, owner of More than Lemons, as well as Jackson County Arts and Tourism vice chair. “Art can be more than two dimensions to show creativity. We got to experience lots of art beyond what is traditionally accepted as art.”

A lead event organizer, Suzette McCord-Rogers says the Jackson County Arts Council has sponsored an art walk since 2011 with a tourism council grant.

“Regional as well as local artists helped highlight the arts and the importance of the humanities to bring people together,” McCord-Rogers says. “We’re all really connected by art and the interactions of our community. It’s a way to share our collective voice.”

To help build those connections, organizers personally deliver posters and invite downtown businesses to participate.

“It’s always exciting to have businesses involved and connected,” McCord-Rogers says. “We promote it all.”

Paired Up

More than a dozen businesses and locations hosted artists, many of whom offered live demonstrations, including high school portrait painter Sarah Immenschuh.

“My art teacher asked me to set up in the Holton Mercantile,” Immenschuh says. “It’s a little overwhelming, but it’s fun to set up my own little world here for others to look around. I love to express what I want in my paintings.”

Some artists, such as landscape painter Kathleen Cobb, discussed their work and connections with the community.

“Capturing the beauty of the Kansas landscape and the American West is the main focus of my paintings,” says Cobb, who studied fine art at Washburn University. “I pay special attention to the light in each scene, whether it’s the golden light on an autumn afternoon or the subtle light of a cloudy day or catching the atmosphere of distant rain squalls over wide-open spaces.”

Cobb says her first love is painting in oils, but she also works in acrylics and pastels.

“I’m presently a member of a plein air group in the Topeka area,” says Cobb, who is also a member of the Flint Hills Cooperative and a life member of the Topeka Art Guild. “I love to travel, and when I’m unable to paint on location, I take reference photos or try to at least sketch a scene.”

Other artists, such as impressionist Ashley Reinecke, displayed their work in businesses’ front windows.

“The businesses and artists are accepting and happy to participate,” Lemon says. “As a business owner, we try to support each other to come together and do an event that involves so many businesses to bring art to the community.”

Participating Businesses and Artists

On June 27, 2025, more than a dozen Holton-area businesses displayed artists’ work.

• More Than Lemons, Annie Honn

• 785 Antiques, Joyce Shupe

• Benevolence Total Wellness, Andrea Nix

• Jackson County Museum, Kathleen Cobb, Marty Mavrovich, Jerry Reed

• The Gossip and Uptown Treasures, Carol Totten, with treats from Triple B Hilltop Farm

• Water Department, Ashley Reinecke

• Mare’s, juried show titled “Old, New, Borrowed, Blue”

• Holton Mercantile, Sarah Immenschuh

• White Law Office, Stella Kennedy

• Title Abstract, Violet and Mae Kennedy

• 2 Bald Guys Appliance, Phyll Klima

• Salon Jubilee, Holton High School student artists

• BeOutdoors, Katie Morris

• Third Eye Piper, Nicholas Mendoza (culinary artist)

“We have so much locally that people don’t really realize. It’s just a night for Holton to shine a little bit. We’re so happy to bring people to our little community because it’s a beautiful little town.”

—Carolyn McKee

Business & Artist Benefits

Carolyn McKee, owner of The Gossip, says she appreciated showing the local artistic talent.

“We have so much locally that people don’t really realize,” McKee says. “It’s just a night for Holton to shine a little bit. We’re so happy to bring people to our little community because it’s a beautiful little town.”

Several hundred patrons strolled downtown businesses as part of the art walk, themed “Summer of Love.” The theme connected with Holton Community Theatre’s production of The Wedding Singer, whose cast sang from the courthouse square gazebo and promoted their upcoming performance.

The artists also shared insights and advice, says painter Marty Mavrovich, who shared her work at the Jackson County Museum. Like many, she talked with visitors about her creative process and inspiration, encouraging everyone to try their hand at various art projects.

“It’s a lot of fun to show and teach others about art,” Mavrovich says. “The more people you have showing, the more it draws, and the more we can get feedback on our work. Everyone who is creating has problems, so we can connect to get together and find solutions.”

Katie Morris, a member of the committee, worked to communicate with businesses and artists to make many of the connections.

“People in the community see different types of art, and our thing has always been trying to advocate all arts for all ages,” Morris says. “It doesn’t matter how old you are, or if you have training. Everybody can make art and participate and enjoy it and benefit from it.”

After moving the event from September to June in 2025, the planning team of four hopes to continue to let others in the community see art, including glassblower Annie Honn who shared more than 20 original pieces on display at More than Lemons.

“It’s a service to the craft itself to connect with people to make it viewable and answer any questions about glass, which is a complicated medium,” says Honn, who starts a new two-year residency in Kansas City this fall. “We get more genuine reactions, and it is more enjoyable in smaller towns to connect with art.”

Small Towns, Big Weekends

From quilt shows to chicken races, Delia and Mayetta mark autumn with celebrations rooted in history and community

Each autumn, annual signature events bring Jackson County communities together: Delia Days on the second weekend of September and Mayetta Days on the first weekend of October.

“We want to make Delia a better place to live and raise a family and get more people involved through community events,” says Delia Community PRIDE member Linda Dohrman. “Delia Days is an exceptional example of meeting these goals. We have a little bit of everything for everybody!”

A dedicated group of volunteers keeps the tradition going by planning and sponsoring the events to make the small town shine especially brightly for residents and visitors.

Last year’s event took place September 13–14. “We had a great time and hope everyone else did as well,” Dohrman says. “It’s the former residents and friends of Delia who return to Delia Days each year that make the event so special. The venue gives us a chance to catch up and reconnect with old friends.”

With activities scheduled throughout the weekend, Delia Days drew a few hundred attendees to the mostly outdoor event, says Joyce Abernathy, who owns Joyce’s Custom Sewing and volunteers for Delia Days. “Delia was an old railroad town, and we still have trains coming through all the time,” Abernathy says. “The farmers and community have a deep history going back to the late 1800s. Today, it’s a town where the dogs and kids run free. You can’t get much more country than us.”

Local Talents on Display at Delia Days

A sense of reunion and belonging drives participation in events like the quilt and art show, which features about 30 displays.

“The quilts were extra beautiful this year,” Dohrman says. “One favorite from Rossville was an older quilt with a design and names embroidered in each block. The names represented the person who completed the block and brought back special memories from the families represented.”

The Delia Sewing Group displayed many small, colorful quilts that they would later donate to the children of the Prairie Band Potawatomi.

A former resident of Delia crocheted and displayed a purple baby dragon measuring 6 feet

long. Sixteen-year-old Mary Brown also shared various pieces of her artwork.

A new addition in 2025 was the popular wiffle ball tournament fundraiser. The participants, forming five-player teams of different ages, had a lot of fun and are already talking about next year’s event. The funds raised support a local baseball team.

Several vendors were present. Women from the Presbyterian Church hosted their popular bake sale, known for their traditional homemade pies that sell out quickly every year. A new vendor offered a variety of wooden decorative items for holidays. Other booths featured decorative bowls, distinctive jewelry and vibrant fresh-cut flowers.

The car and tractor show featured around 45 entries. The organizers also sold screen-printed T-shirts featuring one of Delia’s early businesses, Olejnik Blacksmith, Welding and Woodworking, complete with vintage cars parked out front.

“There was always wonderful food that’s just terrific,” Abernathy says. “The car show was really fun to see. We pull in lots of people from Topeka, Silver Lake, St. Marys and Rossville. Facebook helps draw people in.”

Several other activities add layers of tradition and charm. The Delia Thrift Store opened with a half-price sale to help sell the remaining summer seasonal clothing.

Several historical displays featured memorabilia, photos and write-ups to share highlights from a 1,200page Delia history book created by Laverne Zlatnik and his wife, Velma, for Delia’s centennial in 2005.

“We’ve featured several individual businesses in the past from this book,” Dohrman says. “This year, we highlighted a local man, Kevin Kerwin, who wrote a history report on Delia when he was in high school around 50 years ago. We reprinted and displayed the original essay that ran in the St. Marys Star newspaper.”

Since 2013, a kids’ craft area has allowed for open creativity.

“The kids’ art station was one of the biggest groups we’ve had with 30 kids at the table and some adults doing it here and there,” Abernathy says. “It’s fun to see their interactions and how they make bonds. There were quite a few boys who took part.”

With loads of various supplies, kids twisted pipe cleaners into imaginative creations. The hot glue guns bring it all together.

“We warn them that tips are hot, and they still sometimes burn a finger,” Abernathy says. “Thankfully, they mend quickly. We let them do what they want to do with glue guns, sparkles and beads. They’re so creative, and they do things I would never think of.”

Year after year, the events reflect Delia’s close-knit character.

“It’s a good community event that brings a lot of people together,” Abernathy says.

Mayetta Days

For the past decade, Denise Lundin has led a team of about five volunteers in planning Mayetta Days.

“It brings our community together,” Lundin says. “When I returned home from the hospital after being born, I came to the same house I live in today as the fifth generation in my family. Mayetta is a very small community where everyone looks after everyone else.”

During Mayetta Days, October 4–5, 2025, there was a 5K Fun Run, Touch-a-Truck at the Mayetta Fire Department, a motorcycle and car show, face painting, drum

TOP: Community members relax and visit during Mayetta Days. FROM LEFT: Local pride is on display during Mayetta Days; Downtown Mayetta fills with vendors and visitors during the weekend festivities; Young residents enjoy the many family activities that define Mayetta Days.

performances and demonstrations, and a dramatic reading on the founding of Mayetta.

In 2025, the organizers reimagined the event by tweaking its theme. “This [was] a transitional year for us to rename just to Mayetta Days, dropping the pioneer theme from the past that we felt was a little too restrictive. We now plan four events spread throughout the year in each season,” Lundin says. “This original event of Mayetta Days each fall had horse and wagon rides, motorcycle and car show, craft fair and contests.”

Some of the most popular events included the Friday Night Street Dance featuring the band Sloppy But Lucky and the Saturday all-day festivities, such as the fastest hen race down Main Street.

“The highlight this year was our newest event, the chicken run,” Lundin says. “You had to bring your own chicken to race a couple at a time in different heats. Everyone really enjoyed it. It replaced the turtle race we had for years and years.”

For the afternoon parade, the Prairie Band Potawatomi Elder Royalty team of Janis Simon and Tom Wabnum started the lineup with the grand marshal, Roy Hale. The Beard and Mustache Contest has been an original event since its founding.

“We’ve always had these, and we intend to continue them,” Lundin says.

The ‘Let Them Eat Cake’ and pumpkin decorating contests brought families together. Along with the Mom and Kid Granny Pants Contest, which featured teams of one mom and one kid, the Dad Dance Contest featured dad bods showing off their best moves. The buried treasure and ball toss race with teams of two rounded out the day.

“It’s events like Mayetta Days that keep us from becoming a ghost town,” Lundin says.

LOCAL FULL SERVICE GROCERY STORE

423 Arizona Ave. Holton, KS (785) 362-7997

HOURS: Mon-Fri 10:00-7:00 Sat 8:00-6:00 Sun 10:00-4:00 follow us on Facebook @cecilkshometownmarket

Behind the weathered walls of the Victorian home on Holton’s Wisconsin Avenue, a long-awaited revival is underway. A mere skeleton of itself, the 1880s showpiece, nicknamed the “Hollowed Queen,” indeed shows glimpses of a long-awaited revival.

Starting with a new roof, tower and porch last fall, and working their way through the gutted interior, owners Theresa Sparrowsmith and Marshall Barrington are painstakingly orchestrating their Victorian’s resurrection.

“Even now, the transformation is breathtaking,” Theresa says. “All that Kansas Victorian grandeur is coming through. She’s starting to look like the queen she once was.”

Here, the passionate pair shares their story and vision for their historic Holton home:

Debbie Leckron Miller: Can you tell us a bit about your background and what led you to Holton?

Theresa: I was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico. My first career was in the medical field as a naval hospital corpsman. I went back to school when our kids entered high school and eventually found my way to law school. That decision—to attend Washburn Law School—brought us to Kansas. We came during COVID and fell in love with Kansas during a prospective student tour—a fantastic realtor named Helen Crow showed us a Victorian in Potwin that fell through, which turned out to be a blessing. We found a little house in Holton instead. The brick-lined streets, the kind people, the parades that lined up right in front of our home—we fell in love with the community. When I graduated, we decided to stay. I’m a research attorney now.

Marshall: I’m from small towns in Michiana, so Kansas and Holton feel like home to me. I was stationed in the Boston area in the Army and loved the old New England architecture. Surprisingly, we have a lot of that in Kansas as well—abolitionists moved here from Boston and brought their architecture with them.

Theresa: My grandparents taught me to build, create and improvise. The Victorian obsession? That started when I was a kid. Turns out, they pair well. Over the years, I’ve helped flip more than 10 homes, learning plaster work, drywall and detailed

finishing along the way. I never imagined I’d use those skills on something like [this project].

Marshall: My father was a contractor, so I grew up in construction. I remember working on job sites when I was 7. Later, I started my own crew. Today, I run a small board game company that makes historical training games for military officers. I’ve always loved history—it’s what draws me to architecture and houses, too.

DLM: You’ve nicknamed this historic home “Hollowed Queen” and “Isabelle.” Why are these names fitting?

Theresa: Well, there’s the Hotel Josephine in Holton, and our Victorian was definitely a lady, too, so she needed a proper lady’s name. Isabelle is my grandmother’s middle name, and when we first mentioned it while standing in that gutted shell, the house just seemed to whisper “yes.”

“Holton’s Hollowed Queen”—there’s wordplay there that I love. She was hollowed out when we found her, so she was quite literally a “hollowed” queen. But I also love the play on “hallowed”— because she’s sacred to us, this piece of Holton’s history that deserves reverence. Plus, “Hollowed Queen” has this deliciously spooky sound, almost like “Halloween.” The name captures everything about her: personal, playful and perfectly spooky in the best Victorian way.

DLM: Were you looking for a home to rehab?

Theresa: We were those people who drove around on Sundays just house-stalking beautiful Victorians we couldn’t afford. Still are, actually— now we’re stalking to get ideas for Isabelle!

When Isabelle came up for sale, we spent about a year going back and forth—part excitement, part terror. I finally made Marshall sit through The Money Pit. I figured if he could still look me in the eye after watching Tom Hanks’ house literally eat his life savings, then maybe we were crazy enough to do this thing together!

DLM: Tell me about the home’s history.

Theresa: Thanks to Jackson County Historical Society research, we learned that a local grocer, Gilbert “Gib” Bishop, purchased the property and

TOP: Theresa Sparrowsmith and Marshall Barrington stand inside Isabelle, their 1880s Victorian. As they restore the home, its original framing has been revealed. LEFT: Original exterior millwork, including decorative brackets and trim, reflects the home’s Victorian craftsmanship. ABOVE: An original lockset remains in place as restoration work continues throughout the home. Salvaged architectural elements await repair and reinstallation as part of the home’s ongoing restoration.

built a smaller residence on it in 1878. In 1883, James F. Purvis of the Exchange Bank bought the property from Bishop and built the grand Victorian that stands today. After the deaths of James and Annie Purvis, the house transitioned from a beloved family home to a rental property for local college students and, eventually, during the Great Depression, to four-plex apartments. Like many Victorian homes, the elaborate details that made Isabelle beautiful also made her expensive and labor-intensive to maintain. Once she became a rental property, no owner had the emotional or financial investment to preserve her grandeur. The conversion to apartments meant walls were closed up, architectural features were covered or removed, and maintenance focused on basic function rather than preserving Victorian character.

DLM: Describe your first look at Isabelle

Marshall: Oh, she was a total disaster. Everything was stripped inside. Gutted down to the lath. Water poured through the roof at seven places when it rained. There was a 6-foot hole in the middle of the roof!

Windows busted out. Stray cats and raccoons living in here. No utilities— no plumbing, no electrical, no heating system.

The size and shape of the rooms, how they flow into each other—it’s classic historical architecture that works perfectly for a modern family. Plus, we saw opportunities to fix historical mistakes, like that 1920s bungalow porch slapped onto the side of an 1880s Victorian.

Theresa: She wasn’t just asking for repair—she was asking for resurrection. Maybe we needed her as much as she needed us. Sometimes broken things find each other, and together you build something beautiful again.

DLM: How is the preservation work going so far?

Theresa: We felt gutted, seeing her in ruin. But we couldn’t just walk away as others had. We could see her incredible bones. There was something about her steep-pitch roofs, the way she still held her Victorian posture despite everything she’d endured. When we looked at her stripped-down frame, we could envision the possibilities.

Marshall: The technical aspects were amazing. The lot is huge and beautiful. The foundation is solid Kansas limestone. I checked every window, and after 150 years, every single one was perfectly level, plumb and square.

Theresa: We started with the most critical need—her roof. Marshall built her a tower with an oval leadedglass window and topped it with a copper finial that has become her crown jewel. He also demolished the massive shed’s rear roof and reconstructed it as a proper hip roof. We’ve opened the front hall walls that were added during the apartment conversion to restore the flow beneath her intact staircase. Behind those walls, we found layers of stunning original wallpapers that tell her story—delicate florals with blue accents, vertical stripes with geometric chevrons echoing the Eastlake style. We rebuilt the front porch and are removing a later porch that cuts into a gorgeous window bay. We’ll restore that bay window and rebuild a period-appropriate porch. We’re preserving the few original doors she still has, and even the 1913 fire scars that are part of her survival story.

DLM: I understand you two are tackling much of the restoration yourselves, but with help from your high school “heroes.”

Theresa: Those young gentlemen heroes from Holton High School—Cody Rodriguez, Kannon Seganhagen and Shawn Ireland—have been absolute lifesavers. They helped with the massive demo job, clearing out decades of rubble and debris, and

“Every discovery connects us deeper to the people who lived here, worked here and loved here. We’re not just renovating—we are archaeological storytellers.”

—Theresa Sparrowsmith

ABOVE: Isabelle’s original staircase remains intact as restoration work continues around it. OPPOSITE: The repaired roof and newly built tower represent the first major victories in the home’s restoration.

they’ve been meticulous, too, uncovering amazing treasures in the walls with such attention to preserving what they find.

Marshall: Those kids came in and cleared it all out: plaster, lath, blown-in insulation. A miserable mess through the hottest part of summer. They filled up more than five roll-up dumpsters. They didn’t complain. They showed up every time. Great attitudes. They were awesome.

DLM: What treasures has demolition uncovered?

Theresa: I’m most fond of the 1869 Knickerbocker Life Insurance Company letter addressed to “Mr. Purvis, Esq.”— it’s 156 years old and was hidden in the walls. Finding something with Mr. Purvis’ name on it, addressed to him personally, feels like getting mail from the past.

The 70-year-old Red Brook bourbon bottle is a close second. Someone took a couple of swigs, carefully put it back in the paper bag with a candle, and hid it under the attic floorboards. It’s so beautifully human—you can picture someone taking those fortifying nips during cold repair work in the 1940s, thinking, “I’ll need this again someday.” That day never came until we found it.

Every discovery connects us deeper to the people who lived here, worked here and loved here. We’re not just renovating—we are archaeological storytellers.

DLM: What community feedback are you getting?

Theresa: We’ve been overwhelmed by the community support. Isabelle’s Facebook page has 1,000 followers, which, for a small town like Holton, feels pretty significant! The comments have been incredibly encouraging—people sharing their own memories of the house, offering help, and just cheering us on. It’s been essential to us that we hire local contractors and craftspeople, and we try to shout out these heroes on Isabelle’s Facebook page.

Isabelle represents something bigger than just one house. She’s a piece of Holton’s story, a keeper of all those personal memories and family connections. That responsibility feels really meaningful to us.

DLM: What are some of the highs and lows so far?

Theresa: The lows can be crushing. Finding someone willing to tackle that massive, complex roof was incredibly difficult; most contractors took one look at those steep pitches, all those gables, hips and valleys, and just walked away. So we tackled the framing ourselves—I did the math, Marshall did the hard part. Terrifying and empowering. Thankfully, we

“ Isabelle will always be our family home—not a commercial venture or rental property. But we’re designing the first floor so Isabelle can serve our

community the way

Annie Purvis

intended—by lifting others and investing in her community. We plan to host small, meaningful events where local organizations can raise funds.”

—Theresa Sparrowsmith

found a roofer brave enough to take it from there.

The water damage from that massive hole in her roof was a challenge. All that water made her inner foundation heave up, but now we’re drying her out, and she’s already settled down a ton since we put her new roof on.

The most daunting thing is just the sheer overwhelming amount of work she needs. Everything. Absolutely everything. There are days when you look around and think, “How are we ever going to get through all of this?” It can feel impossible.

The highs make it all worth it, though. Finishing that front tower and rear hip roof was such a victory—seeing her silhouette transform back into the Victorian lady she was meant to be. And having our first candlelight dinner in her to benefit the Holton Hospital Foundation felt incredible. Here she was, still gutted, but already serving her community again. And every treasure found in the walls, every time a neighbor stops to say thank you for saving her, every small step forward—those moments fuel us through the overwhelming parts.

DLM: When do you hope to be living there?

Theresa: Realistically—perhaps optimistically—we’re looking at another two to three years. We’re

taking a methodical approach to get it right. With everything from complete electrical and plumbing to HVAC, interior walls, flooring, kitchen, bathrooms, plus all the detailed Victorian millwork we’re recreating, that’s a substantial timeline.

Marshall: We’re not in a rush. That ruins many projects. The little architectural details take more time, but they’re what make Victorians so magical.

Theresa: Isabelle has waited 140 years to be properly restored—we want to do it right, even if it takes a little longer.

DLM: What can the community expect when she’s fully restored?

Theresa: Isabelle will always be our family home—not a commercial venture or rental property. But we’re designing the first floor so Isabelle can serve our community the way Annie Purvis intended—by lifting others and investing in her community. We plan to host small, meaningful events where local organizations can raise funds. We’ll always use local caterers and businesses because it’s about creating opportunities for the people who make this town special.

We’re not just restoring a house— we’re preserving a piece of Holton’s story and making sure it keeps giving back.

Historic Filling Stations honoring

and a way of life in rural Jackson County

Whether restored, repurposed or still pumping gas, three Jackson County stations preserve memories of gravel roads, hometown garages and the era of full-service pumps

Travel across any county in Kansas and you’ll find a plethora of old filling stations— remnants of buildings where only ghosts of the past remain.

While some may still be in use as gas stations, most through the years have been converted into other uses—car lots, hair salons, homes or even taverns and coffee shops, as seen in some Kansas communities.

In Jackson County, there are at least three historic gas station buildings with ties to the area’s early days of automobile travel.

Whiting Service Station, Whiting

The oldest—and only one of those buildings listed on a historic register—is the Whiting Service Station, located at the northeast corner of Whiting and 2nd Street in Whiting. It was listed on the Register of Historic Kansas Places in 2014 for its historical and architectural significance.

“It is an example of a domestic-style gas station, a type of station popular in the 1920s that resembled a small house that conveyed a sense of domesticity meant to appeal to auto travelers,” the application for the listing reads. “The Whiting station exhibits the Craftsman style and features a canopy that extends over the driveway.”

But more importantly, the building is part of the early fabric of Whiting.

Whiting was founded in 1866 and named after Martha Whiting, the wife of U.S. Senator Samuel P. Pomeroy. The senator was influential in the founding of the Central Branch of the Union Pacific Railroad, and Whiting was the first stop along the railroad.

In March 1917, local newspapers reported that Kansans had spent $12.5 million on automobiles since January 1 that year. And although horses were still in use, that meant there was one car for every 13 people. In 1928, Fred Thonen opened the White Way Garage. The White Way was an automobile trail (it is too generous to call it a road) that began in 1914 and stretched from Chicago to Colorado. The 317-mile Kansas portion is now essentially Kansas Highway 9 and runs east to west.

It was called the White Way because of the white limestone gravel road surface and the white bands painted on telephone poles along the route. And it was a wonderful nod to another “Great White Way” popular in the nation—New York’s Theater District, so known for the thousands of lights, billboards and marquees.

The service station in Whiting sold Top Hat Motor Oil and Gas and featured a compressed air car lift.

The station closed in 1966.

Time has not been kind to the station.

Two years ago, the roof and portico collapsed on the building. The station is currently under new ownership and undergoing restoration.

Every other May, the Great White Way Auto Run takes place where car clubs re-enact the route by driving from Atchison to Frankfort.

It’s one way to re-live the passion and excitement of early automobiles and the routes they traveled.

Historically, gas stations were franchises of a national company and sold its products, or they were independent stations, often selling cheaper or “no-name” fuel.

For instance, Wichita boasts the nation’s first Phillips 66 station. It opened on November 19, 1927, at 805 E. Central.

So, for Whiting’s filling station to have opened in 1928 speaks to how quickly Kansans and Jackson Countians were changing and adapting readily to the use of automobiles.

Scott’s Shop, Holton Holton can also boast its own version of a Phillips 66 station: Scott’s Shop at 326 Vermont.

Scott Bartlett bought the building in 1985 and remembers getting gas at the filling station when he was in high school in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

According to Bartlett, who has read the property’s abstract, there was a small house on the property until 1928. That year, it was turned into a filling station, with the house incorporated into the station.

“I honestly can’t tell you what brand of gas was sold,” Bartlett says. “But it sits on what used to be U.S. 75. It’s on the east side of Vermont. There’s not been a highway through here in years, since the early 60s. This was known for years as the Gray and Black Station because Mr. Gray and Mr. Black were partners.”

Later, a garage was added. And even later, Walter Grundeman, who owned a concrete business, bought the property.

Although no gas has been sold on the property for decades, Bartlett has installed vintage Phillips 66 signs and pumps on the site and has run his used-car business there.

“I bought it originally to operate my car business,” he says. “It’s been my second home for the last 47 years. There’s some sentimental value to it. I guess because I raised my girls here. My wife, Carolyn, worked for the last 20 years before she retired as a school nurse. We’ve been part of this community forever.

“I put this gas station together on a whim. I just did it for fun. I thought, ‘I’ve had this car business,

and I’m going to see if I can do something here.’ It’s now basically my hobby shop. I still have an office here. My daughter does all my bookwork.”

A friend of Bartlett, Jack Martin, is restoring a DX station three blocks from Scott’s Shop. It was built mid-century.

“He’s actually going to a lot more trouble and expense than I did, and it’s going to be a really neat station when he’s done,” Bartlett says.

Stithem’s Hoyt Services & Tire, Hoyt Nostalgia is often the best part of old filling stations.

Stithem’s Hoyt Services & Tire is one of those and likely one of the last remaining full-service stations in Kansas. Nationwide, full-service stations are rare, except in New Jersey, where the law prohibits self-serve gas pumps. Travelers can still find full-service stations in Oregon. While Oregon laws have recently changed to allow stations to be entirely self-serve, many still offer a full-service option.

TO RIGHT: Model cars from Scott

collection reflect a lifelong appreciation for vintage automobiles; Converted into a filling station in 1928, the building at 326 Vermont preserves the town’s roadside past; Jerry Thornburg stands beside the pumps at Stithem’s Hoyt Service, where full service remains; A familiar “ding” signals a customer’s arrival at Stithem’s Hoyt Services & Tire, and Thornburg steps out to pump the gas.

Memorabilia and longtime keepsakes line shelves inside Stithem’s Hoyt Service, reflecting decades of smalltown business; After 27 years at Stithem’s Hoyt Services & Tire, Jerry Thornburg says he plans to retire at the end of the year.

Nevertheless, in Hoyt, Jerry Thornburg responds when a vehicle runs over the hose that promptly dings, notifying him there is a customer.

He’s been doing that for 27 years.

“We used to have five filling stations in this town back in the 1950s and 1960s,” Thornburg says of Hoyt, population of about 600. “That was before U.S. 75 was a four-lane highway.”

He is the manager at Stithem’s and does pretty much what customers ask of him—pump gas, wash windows, etc.

“Some of the older people come here, and I’ll pump gas for them,” Thornburg says. “Some of the younger farmers pull in, and they do it themselves. Some of the younger people don’t even know how to read our pumps. They are just the older kind of pumps, but you know. They are still good but just different than what those $30,000 pumps cost.”

Stithem’s pumps aren’t the kind you stick a credit card in.

At 75, Thornburg says he’s going to retire at the end of the year.

“We got it for sale now,” he says. “You know, I’ve been here 65 hours a week, every week for 27 years. I’ll find something to do, but I don’t want to work more than 30 to 40 hours a week. So, if I need to go somewhere, I can go.

“But here, you’ve got to be here all the time, whether you are busy or not.”

The property, Thornburg says, has been a filling station since the 1930s.

“Like I said, there used to be five stations in Hoyt because this was on the main highway. Now, there’s only one left, and that’s this one.”

Oh sure, there are convenience stores in the area— but none like this.

Chances are, when he retires, the full-service aspect of the station may change.

“I was talking about this the other day,” Thornburg says. “We do have somebody interested in it. I’ve been here 27 years. A lot of people, the reason they come

here is because of me. I’ve known them forever. Whoever buys it, they are going to have to figure out for themselves how to run it.

“There will be a lot of people people who miss me because I’m pretty easy going.”

It’s a place, he says, that values the small-town way of life and the people who live there.

He estimates the station has done close to $20 million worth of business since he started.

“I’ve only been taken about $7,000 or $8,000 or two-tenths of 1%,” he says. “You can handle something like that. A couple of two or three people died, I didn’t even ask them to pay their bills. And then I had some bad checks—but that’s just part of the business.”

It’s also the good nature of someone who knows the customers who frequent his filling station.

The Pumps

When Brett and Carly Fletcher opened The Pumps on Old 75 two years ago, they aimed to combine old-fashioned hometown values with a forward-looking fuel stop.

The Pumps is a 24/7 card-lock station for approved members—a model common in rural Kansas but newer to eastern Kansas.

“It’s definitely a new concept for around here,” Carly says..

Still, the Fletchers added amenities that set it apart.

“We put our own spin on it. So, it has four dispensers (pumps) on a concrete island just south of our main office,” she says. “It dispenses premium unleaded, no ethanol; dyed diesel; clear highway diesel; and DEF (diesel exhaust fluid) that many diesel trucks have nowadays. And we recently teamed up with a local business here in town—Holton Truck and Tire—and they are sponsoring an air-refilling station, for like your tires. People can pull up, and it’s free for our customers.”

Next door, the Snack Shack offers drinks, snacks and local goods, including Elk Creek Farm Fresh Eggs sold by their niece, Adalie Alley.

“We have a vending machine where the snacks are on top and the drinks are on the bottom. There is self-pay Keurig coffee available as well,” Fletcher says. “We just have a little pay box, and customers can just come in, make whatever coffee they want and drop the cash in the box. We also have, when available, first-come, first-served farmfresh eggs. Our niece has a little refrigerator out there, and our customers come in—and she has a cash box.”

The philosophy is simple.

“It’s a slower pace,” she says. “We are trying to promote local values, integrity, and just, you know, trusting people—where we all have everybody’s best interest at heart. It’s secure. It’s safe. It’s well lit. And … it’s taking off.”

The Pumps continues a family legacy that began in 1942. Now, with their son Taygen joining the business, the Fletchers remain focused on stewardship.

“We have a parent company, and then all the umbrellas [businesses] are underneath it,” Fletcher says. “We have The Pumps now. There has been a lot of interest in small communities to do something similar. But, you know, only God knows the rest of that story. We are not sure at this point [about expanding]. We are focused on getting this one right. We want to make sure that the system can carry us through to the next generation.”

From your Chamber & Jackson County Tourism Council.

We are proud to present the newest edition of Jackson County Lifestyle Magazine. This publication reflects the vibrant spirit of the community we are honored to call home. From highlighting our local businesses and attractions to sharing the natural beauty and cultural richness that define Jackson County, this magazine tells the story of who we are and where we’re headed.

From a tourism perspective, Jackson County offers endless opportunities to explore, unwind and experience something new. Whether you are a lifelong resident or visiting for the first time, you will find welcoming small-town charm, outdoor adventure, rich history and meaningful experiences waiting around every corner.

From a chamber perspective, we are committed to supporting the growth and success of our businesses and entrepreneurs. Their dedication, innovation and hard work fuel a thriving local economy and shape the future of our county. This magazine provides a platform to celebrate their achievements and connect them with the broader community.

More than a publication, this magazine is a celebration of our community’s character, resilience and vision. We are proud of the stories, people and places featured within these pages, and we invite you to dive in, discover something new, and continue exploring all that Jackson County has to offer.

Thank you for your continued support.

Warm regards,

Suzette McCord-Rogers, Chair Jackson County Tourism Council

Ashlee York, Executive Director Holton/Jackson County Chamber of Commerce

calendar of events

April

April 26

Delia

PRIDE Indian Taco Feed & Car Show

Rev up your engines and join Delia Community PRIDE at the biannual Delia Classic Car Show, 10 a.m.–2 p.m., and Indian taco sale, 11 a.m.–2 p.m. Proceeds benefit Delia Community PRIDE.

May

May 8

Jackson County Art Walk

Fill your spirit with local arts—from murals to music and everything in between. Enjoy this family-friendly event as you stroll through the square.

May 23

Holton

Glory Days

Jackson County High School’s reunions, vendors, and a car show bring the entire community together on Memorial Day weekend.

May 23

Holton

Jackson County Spring Livestock Show

A Jackson County favorite for all generations.

June

June 27

Holton

July Jubilee

Our Independence Day celebration! An evening filled with entertainment, family activities and vendors— culminating in a spectacular fireworks show! This event is at our beautiful Banner Creek Lake, where you can camp, fish, swim, kayak, canoe, and paddleboat!

July

July 10–11

Holton

Jackson County Ranch Rodeo

Hosted by the Jackson County Fair Association, the Jackson County Ranch Rodeo is an opportunity to have some fun watching friends, family and horses.

July 11

Holton

Golf Tournament

Our annual golf tournament is our most anticipated networking event of the year, with about 100 golfers competing. There will also be raffles, games and major prize giveaways.

July 13–16

Holton

Jackson County Fair

A annual favorite attended by locals and tourists. Appreciate the hard work and talents exhibited by 4H students and clubs, then enjoy an evening of fair rides and carnival games.

July 25

Soldier

Soldier Community Fair

Enjoy our small-town fair with homemade ice cream, shaved ice, face painting, balloons, street games, inflatables, carnival games, bingo and food.

August

August 7

Holton

Cruise Night

Join us in Downtown Holton for Cruise Night! Featuring hit-and-miss engines, dinner and root beer floats served by community businesses and organizations, and quality time with family and friends.

August 29

Hoyt

Pride of Hoyt

A community-based event, organized and run by community members to provide fun activities for all ages, a parade, craft and food vendors, silent auction, chicken dinner and a tractor pull.

September

September 12–13

Delia

Delia Days

This charming festival includes kids’ games, art, horse and train rides, as well as a quilt and textile show, breakfast, lunch, dinner, a car show and dance.

October

October 3

Mayetta

Mayetta Pioneer Days

Come out to Mayetta, where we celebrate the founding of the Mayetta community in 1886. Enjoy a car show, children’s games, music and vendors.

October 10

Holton

Fall Fest

Join us for a family-friendly festival on our beautiful courthouse lawn, which has grown to attract hundreds of locals and visitors to our downtown shopping district. Don’t miss the chili cook-off!

December

December 12

Holton

Christmas Homes Tour

Tour festively decorated homes across Holton during the Christmas Homes Tour, highlighting holiday décor, seasonal design, and the warmth of Christmas in our community.

- Bobby Kennedy, US Senator and Civil Rights Activist

Listings highlighted in red are Jackson Co. Lifestyle advertisers.

Accounting and Bookkeeping

Holton Tax Services holtontax.net

785-362-6450

Jackson Hewitt - Elizabeth Bell jacksonhewitt.com 785-379-3524

NEK Tax Services nektax.com 785-873-3414

Agriculture - Supply

Greenacres Feed and Farm Supply, LLC greenacresfeed.com 785-364-4761

Holton Livestock Exchange holtonlivestock.com 785-364-4114

JC Ag Solutions, LLC jcagsolutions.com 785-305-1752

Tarwater Farm and Home Supply tarwaters.com 785-364-2162

Ambulance Services

Jackson County EMS ksems.com

785-364-1911

Appraisal Services

Morgan Appraisal Services

785-207-1721

Auto Dealers

Foster Ford fosterfordinc.com

785-364-4646

Auto Repair

Ron Kirks Body Shop ronkirksbodyshop.com

785-364-2931

Wilson Tire wilsontireks.com 785-362-8473

Bakery/Coffee Shops

Cactus Creek Cafe 913-426-5833

Mare’s Coffee Shop and Cool Stuff 785-362-6043

Banks

Denison State Bank dsbks.com 785-364-3131

The Farmers State Bank fsbks.bank 785-364-4691

GNBank gn-bank.com 785-364-2166

Broadcasting

MSC Radio Group mscnews.net 785-547-3461

Casinos

Prairie Band Casino and Resort prairieband.com 785-966-7777

Sac and Fox Casino sacandfoxcasino.com 800-990-2946

Catering

Lentz Express Catering lentzexpress.net 785-548-5028

Chamber of Commerce

Holton/Jackson County Chamber of Commerce exploreholton.com 785-364-3963

Child Care

Lollipop Lane Preschool 785-741-0899

NEK-CAP, Inc. nekcap.org 785-742-2222

City Office

City of Holton holtonkansas.org 785-364-2721

City of Mayetta mayetta.org 785-966-2435

Civic Organizations

Circleville Kansas Masonic Lodge #20 469-507-9194

Friends of Beck Bookman Library Joinfobbl@gmail.com 785-364-3532

Holton VFW Post 1367 holtonvfw.org 785-554-5790

Jackson County Democratic Central Committee 785-364-4991

Jackson County Farm Bureau Association jacksoncountyfb.org 785-364-2111

Jackson County Historical and Genealogical Society sites.google.com/site/jchsks 785-364-2087

Kiwanis Club of Jackson County 785-364-6509

Mary L. Bair Post 44 of the American Legion 785-851-0803

Northeast KS Heritage Complex/ Jackson County Fair Association nekhc.org 785-580-3796

Cleaning Services

Basel Cleaning Services, Inc. (Steam Power Carpet and Air Duct Cleaning) steampower.squarespace.com 785-364-5021

T-Rex Cleaning

785-851-4241

Computer Repair

The Computer Doctors

785-364-9300

Community Foundation

Jackson County Community Foundation jacksoncountycf.org

785-362-2298

Construction Contractors

Aeschliman Construction

785-207-0416

Capitol View Masonry capitolviewmasonry.com 785-383-1882

Chris Gross Construction chrisgrossconstruction.com

785-364-5600

Haug Construction

785-364-6109

JT Roofing

785-408-3593

Two State’s Exteriors, LLC twostatesexteriorskc.com 913-238-6562

Co-Op

Jackson Farmers, Inc. www.jacksonfarmers.com 785-364-3161

County Offices

Jackson County jacksoncountyks.com

785-364-2826

Dance Studio

Studio 1 Dance Center

785-364-4660

Dentists

Holton Dental holtondental.org 785-364-3038

Electrical Contractor

Riley Electric, Inc. rileyelectricks.com 785-364-2821

Engineering

CFS Engineers cfse.com 785-272-4706

Entertainment & Attractions

Banner Creek Science Center & Ford Observatory bcscience.org

Crown B Bison, LLC www.crownbbison.com 785-275-3015

Event Planning

Bloom Events & Florals bloomeventsks.com 785-383-8845

Financial Services

Edward Jones edwardjones.com 785-364-4662

Farm Bureau Financial ServicesThe Wareham Agency fbfs.com/find-an-agent/robertwareham 785-364-2111

Fitness Center

Netawaka Family Fitness Center netawakafc.com 785-933-2616

Rhino Fitness rhinofitnessholton.com 785-991-0093

Florists

Petals + Praise Flower & Gift Shop petalsandpraise.com 785-851-7102

Food Manufacturing

Johnsonville www.johnsonville.com 785-364-3126

Schlaegel’s Popcorn popcorngifts.net 800-844-7494

Funeral Home

Chapel Oaks Funeral Home chapeloaksfuneralhome.com 785-364-2141

Mercer Funeral Home mercerfuneralhomes.com 785-364-2626

Gas - Propane

B & P Propane/Knotty Pine Oil bp4propane.com 785-364-3711

Grocery Store/Market

Cecil K’s Hometown Market cecilk.com 785-362-7997

Hobby Store & Tabletop Gaming

Free State Gaming, LLC freestategamingllc.com 785-362-6785

Holding Company - Tribal

Prairie Band, LLC prairiebandllc.com 785-364-2328

Hospitals & Health Care

Community HealthCare System chcsks.org 785-364-3205

Holton Community Hospital holtonhospital.com 785-364-2116

Holton Direct Care holtondirectcare.com 785-362-8677

membership listings

Housing

Cypress Glen Apartments agmhousing.com/cypressglen 785-364-3560

Holton Housing Authority atchisonhousing.org/Holton 785-364-2130

Homestead Affordable Housing homesteadks.org 785-364-0110

Insurance Agencies

Aflac - Kristel Bontrager 785-991-1041

Bergsten Insurance bergstenins.com 785-364-3771

Brad Noller Agency - American Family Insurance bradjnoller.com 785-364-3302

Josh Elder Insurance 785-836-0221

Kellerman Insurance kellermaninsurance.com 785-364-2921

Shelter Insurance - Courtney Boswell Agency shelterinsurance.com/ca/agent/ courtneyboswell 785-364-9090

State Farm Insurance - Gus Suarez gussuarez.com 785-364-3890

Lawn Care/Pest Control

Champion Pest and Lawn championpestandlawnks.com 785-364-2233

Grass Roots Lawn Care grassrootsks.com 785-872-0118

Legal Services

White Law Office whitelawholton.com 785-364-3971

Libraries

Beck Bookman Library beckbookmanlibrary.org 785-364-3532

Liquor Stores

Arcada Liquor 785-364-2361

Lodging

Red Rock Guest Ranch theredrockguestranch.com 785-834-2552

Manufacturers

Hammersmith Mfg & Sales hammersmithmfg.com

785-486-2121

Meat Processing

Holton Meat Processing holtonmeat.com 785-364-2331

Mental Health Services

KANZA Mental Health & Guidance Center kanzamhgc.org 785-742-7113

Psychological Health Services phs-holton.com 785-362-7000

Monuments

Quality Monuments

quality-monuments.com 785-364-4454

Newspaper

Holton Recorder holtonrecorder.net 785-364-3141

Nonprofit

Developmental Services of Jackson County dsjcks.com 785-364-3534

YWCA Northeast Kansas ywcaneks.org 785-362-2222

Nursery & Garden

Granite Road Greenhouse 785-851-8146

Nutrition

Hot Mess Nutrition 785-329-3524

Optometrist

Lifetime Eye Care lifetimeholton.com 785-364-5000

Pharmacy

Medical Pharmacy 785-364-2114

Photography

Still & Wild Photography stillandwild.com

Physical Therapy

RehabVisions kansas.rehabvisions.com 785-933-2086

Plumbers/Plumbing

Bell Plumbing 785-364-4434

Printing/Promotional Items

Lasting Impressions lastingimpressionsofks.com 785-364-4900

Real Estate

BEOUTDOORS Real Estate beoutdoors.com 800-599-5263

Kellerman Real Estate kellermanrealestate.com 785-364-2000

Sara Fox Team Stone and Story Real Estate Group stoneandstory.com 785-364-0424

Sunflower Association of REALTORS sunflowerrealtors.com 785-267-3215

Repair Services

Jayhawk TV & Appliance jayhawktv.net 785-364-2241

Sam’s Equipment Service & Sales LLC

785-363-8880

Restaurants

Boomers’ Steakhouse boomerssteakhouse.com 785-364-2468

Dairy Queen 785-364-3110

Elm Creek Beef Local Market elmcreekbeef.com 785-230-8233

Kat Ballou’s Bar & Grill 785-362-2325

Holton Pizza Hut pizzahut.com 785-364-4168

Retail/Boutiques

Beverley Brown & Co. beverleybrownco.com 785-362-2382

The Gossip, LLC thegossipholton.com 785-305-1089

Heart to Home hearttohome.com 785-362-7111

Holton Mercantile 785-364-3321

Midwest Dixie Boutique midwestdixie.com 785-260-5298

More Than Lemons morethanlemons.com 785-383-2849

Ohlsen Designs Embroidery and Laser Designs ohlsendesigns.company.site 785-817-1172

Holton Walmart walmart.com 785-364-4148

Salons

Head 2 Toe Salon and Spa 785-364-4342

Salon Jubilee salon-jubilee-llc.square.site 785-364-6987

Senior Living

Homestead of Holton - Assisted Living midwest-health.com/holton 785-329-0958

The Pines of Holton thepinesofholton.com 785-364-3314

Solar Energy

Nextera Energy jeffreysolar.com

Spa Services

Benevolence Total Wellness massagebook.com/therapists/ MassagetherapyandBodyworks 785-328-9663

Staffing Agencies

LaborMax Staffing labormax.net 785-364-5627

Telecommunications

Giant Communications giantcomm.net 785-362-9331

JBN Telephone Co. jbntelco.com 785-866-2310

Theaters

Holton Community Theatre holtoncommunitytheatre.org 785-364-7685

Title Company

Kansas Secured Title kstitle.com 785-217-9020

Title Abstract Co. titleabstractco.com 785-364-2040

Transportation Services

TayJay Transport bp4propane.com/tayjay-transport 785-362-7990

Utilities

Rural Water District #3 jacksonrwd3.com 785-364-3056

Veterinarians

Banner Creek Animal Hospital bannercreekanimalhospital.com 785-364-4560

Heartland Veterinary Health Center heartlandvetholton.com 785-364-4495

Water Management-Retail

Powercat Outdoors powercatoutdoors.com 785-851-0002

Website Design

Umbrella umbrellaumbrella.com 785-221-2246