Shawnee County Historical Society

07/29/2026

July 26th at the Ritchie House, Retired Colonel Frank Siltman and his men fired a Civil War Rifle cannon as part of a demonstration to show how weapons were used in the Civil War. Click here for the firing: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Aa61Hk1PEiw

07/26/2026

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nj9yxVW48QA

The Union Pacific's largest steam engine, number 4014 came through Topeka July 23rd and drew a large crowd of enthusiasts to see it. The train had 13 cars but several were added during the short stop in Topeka over the lunch hour. The behemoth is 133 feet long and was built in 1941.

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07/17/2026

We are remembering the birth of John Ritchie today who was born on July 17th in 1817. Ritchie moved from Franklin, Indiana to Topeka, Kansas Territory, in early spring of 1855 in search of cheap land and to help Kansas enter the country as a free state. His wife, Mary Jane Shelledy Ritchie, was the fifth woman to settle in Topeka and their young son, Hale was the third child. As early settlers they lived in a dugout near 1116 SE Madison through the first winter and around 1856 had constructed and moved into a limestone house that still stands in Topeka today. He was selected to serve as a delegate in two of the four Kansas constitutional conventions: Leavenworth (1858) and Wyandotte (1859).
Ritchie was part of the Bleeding Kansas episode in history and was engaged in various acts opposing the expansion of slavery in Kansas Territory. Ritchie was a close associate and supporter of the notorious politician James H. Lane. Ritchie was associated with the "Topeka Boys" and operated a "station" on the Underground Railroad. In January 1859, Ritchie helped John Brown and eleven slaves elude federal troops and escape to Nebraska.
Remember John Ritchie on this date...and come by his house at 1116 SE Madison.

07/15/2026

Join us this Sunday July 26th at 3pm at the Historic Ritchie House at 1116 SE Madison to see a demonstration of a Civil War cannon. We will be a firing a 3 inch Ordinance Rifle which was probably the most advanced field artillery weapon of the Civil War. It had greater range and accuracy than all previous US artillery pieces.

This demonstration will include a presentation of how Civil War artillery was organized, operated and a discussion on the ammunition used. Retired Colonel Frank Siltman will lead the presentation which will culminate with a blank firing of a reproduction 3 inch Ordnance Rifle by historically uniformed living historians. This group has done presentations at Fort Larned and the Fort Leavenworth Museum, as well as events at Honey Springs State Battlefield Park in Oklahoma and Prairie Grove State Battlefield in Arkansas. This is a unique program which will begin at the Cox Center at 1116 SE Madison and culminate with the firing later in the day. Society members are free to attend however non members are encouraged to provide a $5 Donation. See ya Sunday. Parking will be at a premium and we suggest you consider the parking lot at the Boys Scouts offices at 11th and Monreo.

06/28/2026

This Sunday, the Shawnee County Historical Society will sponsor a tour of Ward Meade Park led by county commissioner Bill Riphahn. The tour which starts at 3pm includes the Potwin drugstore, the Ward Meade mansion and other features. Admission is free to members of the Shawnee County Historical Society, $5 for non-members. Park to the west of the park as the tour begins there.

06/05/2026

This weekend is D Day which coincides with the release of the Movie about D-Day. When I saw the promo for the movie “Pressure” it showed Eisenhower calling out Oyler since he was from Kansas. It’s a good movie and the short segment about Oyler is so short you might miss it. But it is important to me since Oyler was my junior high history teacher. Learn about Mr Oyler in this story from the Capital Journal.

As he prepared to take part 75 years ago in the Allied D-Day invasion of occupied France, Army paratrooper Sherman Oyler Jr. found himself face to face with Allied Commander Dwight D. Eisenhower. E…

05/23/2026

The Rossville community celebrated the official ribbon cutting for the newly restored McPherson Grandstands at Joe Campbell Field this afternoon Saturday, May 23rd at noon.📆

This event marks the renewal of Kansas’ last remaining all-wood baseball grandstand and honors the McPherson family’s century-long legacy in Rossville baseball.⚾️

Following the ceremony, the afternoon featured an old-time baseball doubleheader along with classic ballpark festivities, creating a lively, nostalgic atmosphere for families, friends, and neighbors.🍿Our own trustee,Ben Coates was on one of the teams.

It’s a milestone moment for the stadium and a chance for the community to come together around a landmark brought back to life.🐾

05/06/2026

WIBW recently visited the oldest house in Topeka, the Ritchie House located just east of the old cement Water Tower in Downtown Topeka. https://www.wibw.com/2026/05/06/ritchie-house-topekas-underground-railroad-safe-house-stands-testament-freedom/

05/06/2026