Old Prairie Town

Praise the LORD...it's Wednesday!!!  

Back to seeing the outside world of Topeka's OLD PRAIRIE TOWN.

On the grounds is this replica of a 1842 PAPPAN'S Ferry with wagon on it.

Traveling across waters on a ferry might have been more excitement than I would have liked
to experience back in the day, but how else would you have crossed the river without getting totally soaking wet?

God bless you and may you have a sweet life,

~Deanna~

$1 per wagon would have been a lot of money in 1842.

Next time I go to the Dollar store 

I'll be thinking about how quickly 

I turn loose of a buck in 2010.

Old Prairie Town and Mail

Hi there!  

Hope your day is going well.

Today's visit is to Topeka's OLD PRAIRIE TOWN (OPT).

Taking time to look around outside before the snow blows.  

It's coming.  

Not ready for this beautiful event.  Brrrrr.  

When it's cold here, it's cold.  

Imagine getting your mail delivered from a stage coach.  

It would be exciting to get mail and we probably wouldn't mind as long as we got it.

Imagine receiving a much awaited letter from a loved one 

that you hadn't heard from in a very long time.

A hand written letter.  Remember those?  Grins.

Handwriting is as unique as each person is that wrote.

You're unique.

A individual.

So HaPpY DaY to you and God Bless,

~Deanna~  

Have a super day reading the mail 
even if it is just the bills!
OUCH...did I really say that?

Old Prairie Town and CHURCH

Dear Wednesday Blogging Friends,

Finally...

finally inside the OLD PRAIRIE TOWN Church!  

I was beginning to wonder if my pictures would be posted.

So glad you braved it and are visiting HomeHaven today.

My Wednesday visits have been from Topeka, Kansas 

at the OLD PRAIRIE TOWN Historical Museum.

This Historical 1880s Methodist Church is from Everest, Kansas.  

She was relocated to Topeka to be a part of this Historical site 

for visitors to enjoy and see how little 'ole churches were made 

available for fellowship 

and Christian worship in days gone by.

Our Tour Guide advised us 

that this structure can be rented out for present day gatherings, 

Bible Studies, Weddings, etc. 

Hope you enjoy the pics!

God bless and may you have a sweet life.

~Deanna~

May God's Peace be a reality for you...

Old Prairie Town

This week I hope to be up and running with my personal pictures.
Oh woe is me in this high tech world.  I'm still learning about Blogger and it's challenges.  Oh, Bless my soul!  Kind of like sneezing.

I don't quite "GET IT" and so I take it slowly.  After I get the "GO AHEAD" to post more of my personal pics from a thumb drive I will, but for now I seem to be only able to click pics from the internet.

This picture is of OLD PRAIRIE TOWN in Topeka.  On Wednesdays I have been posting pics of this neat Historical spot on the Planet.

On the left is the 1880s Methodist Church from Everett, Kansas.  Next week, I hope to post my interior pics to share with you.  Hope Hope.  I'm sorry I thought I'd have this all worked out...just been so busy.  Out of town Memorial Service for an Aunt and an out of town Doctor's Appointment.  On the goooooooooooooo.

This is the best I can do this Wednesday!
Hope your day is sweet and God richly BLESS you,
~Deanna~

Old Prairie Town

Wednesday's visit to OLD PRAIRIE TOWN in Topeka's own Historical sight has a beautiful old Church that can be viewed.

I'm having some trouble with downloading pictures today so after I get this figured out I will post more of the Church pics inside and out.

God bless you as you live your life.

May you make healthy and prosperous decisions 

that will mightily benefit you.

~Deanna~

Charles M. Sheldon and Old Prairie Town

'In His Steps' author Charles Monroe Sheldon (February 26, 1857 ~ February 24, 1946) had a small study that has been relocated to Topeka's OLD PRAIRIE TOWN.  

We only looked through  the windows because the door was locked.

I placed my hand on the door knob and wondered 

how many times Charles must have turned the knob.

In the winter of 1896 Sheldon developed a sermon story that he read as a weekly series from the pulpit of Central Congregational Church in Topeka, Kansas.  Remember the WWJD bracelets that so many wore in the 1990s?  What would Jesus do?  The unifying theme of these sermons was based on posing the question, "what would Jesus do?" when facing moral decisions.


Wikipedia states that Charles's theological outlook focused on the practicalities of the moral life, with less emphasis on the doctrinal traditions of personal redemption from sin in Christ.  He was an advocate of the late nineteenth century school of thought known as Christian Socialism.


In March 1900 he became editor for a week of the Topeka Daily Capital applying the "What Would Jesus Do?" concept.  In that short time, the newspaper's circulation exploded from just under 12,000 to 387,000, overwhelming the paper's Topeka printing plant causing it to print 120,000 copies each in Chicago, Illinois and New York City.


Charles M. Sheldon, saying that, "newspapers should be operated as Christ would operate them," sends the Capital circulation sky rocketing from 12,000 to 387,000 forcing it print papers in New York and Chicago.  ~Topeka Capital Journal~

What if in 2010 Homes were operated as Christ would operate them?

~Deanna~

Old Prairie Town and Humble Beginnings

Beloved, So glad you've stopped by for a visit with me.

Showing some pics of the Ward's humble Kansas beginnings.

240 acres of PRIME River Land was purchased for $100 from Joseph James, a Kaw Indian back in 1854 by Mary Jane and Anthony Ward. They are the ones that built the Ward-Meade Mansion that I've been visiting on Wednesdays.

Selling sand from the river to help support their family of 6 children, Anthony was a carpenter, wheelwright and teacher.

They combined 3 cabins for their first home and offered lodging to trail travelers. Mary Jane called herself the Mother of Topeka while she would keep a candle flickering in the window.

They lived in the cabin until the 1870s when they built the 2 story limestone and brick Prairie house that they called the Mansion.

In 1879 their daughter Jennie married John Mackey Meade and inherited the Mansion in 1897 at 124 NW Fillmore Street in Topeka.

Primitive homes make a strong statement about Pioneer life on the Kansas wilderness. Getting to the bare bones of what it took to function day to day and staying alive on the Prairie spurs my interest right along with living in a more refined establishment.

The humble beginnings of the Ward family was a pleasant place to visit. Enjoyed.

So glad you stopped by.

Have you ever wondered if you had the opportunity to build a small log cabin and live off the land if you'd go for it? I have. If we were in good health...I'd be very tempted to give it a whirl.

May you have a sweet life and God bless,

~Deanna~