History

People interested in Pittsburg’s history have a new way to research it through the Pittsburg Public Library. Local newspapers from the years 1886 to 1915 that were previously preserved on microfilm reels are now online.

Southeast Kansas residents gathered at the Miners Hall Museum on Sunday for information about the historic walking dragline.

Nine members of the 1975-76 Pittsburg High School girls basketball team reunited on Dec. 6 for the Purple Dragons’ game against Shawnee Mission North. They celebrated the 50th anniversary of their season, which was the first season of girls basketball at PHS.

Patrons can now check out materials from the Frontenac Public Library. A ribbon cutting ceremony and open house were held on Nov. 11 to celebrate the opening.

A Page 618 Walking Dragline, a unique piece of coal mining equipment, will be moved this fall from Cherokee County to Franklin, where it will be preserved by the Miners Hall Museum. The museum held a program on July 26 for attendees to learn more about the machine.

A Parsons native born at the turn of the last century who went on to become one of the wealthiest and well-known entrepreneurs in America will be the subject of a special presentation at Axe Library at Pittsburg State University on Oct. 10.

The September 28 event is free and open to the public. Guests are encouraged to arrive at 5 p.m. to enjoy renowned Independence pianist, Sarah Stone, and the Grits and Grass String Band of Parsons, featuring old time banjo music.

Stotts City's buildings are in disrepair, but you can still imagine what it was like in its glory days. Its population now includes people fighting addiction.

According to SFS Architects the city has three options regarding Memorial Hall. Stabilize and mothball the structure for $8.7 million. Rehabilitate and make the building suitable for the public for a price of at least 28 million dollars. Or pay $4.8 million to demolish the 100-year-old hall and make plans for the site's future use.

Last summer, Dr. Blair Schneider, a principal forensic investigator with the Kansas Geological Survey and a KU adjunct professor, led a contingent of KU archeology and anthropology students to SEK for a two-week field school to conduct a preliminary geophysical study.