PITTSBURG —
Members of Oceanus Hopkins Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, decided more than 70 years ago to see that this historic highway would have the commemoration that it deserved.
“The DAR is interested in anything that is related to historical preservation,” noted Jackie Casey, current Oceanus Hopkins Chapter secretary and honorary regent.
Chapter members thought they had accomplished their goal on June 19, 1935, when a handsome granite marker with bronze tablet was dedicated at the intersection of the old highway with Highway 57 (since renamed 171). Numerous local and state dignitaries attended and the road itself was closed during the ceremony.
“This was close to Cow Creek and the Kansas City Southern Railroad line near Kniveton,” said George Dockery, Kansas Department of Transportation area engineer.
But times change, and the marker has accumulated an interesting history of its own.
In 1968 the marker was moved due to highway work and construction of an overpass.
“We moved it to where we had a piece of land at a port of entry,” Dockery said. “It was not very visible, but the DAR maintained it.”
Just about everybody else forgot the marker existed, until last year, when it attracted the wrong kind of attention.
“Someone broke the monument and was getting away with the plaque,” Dockery said. “Evidently it was too heavy or something spooked them and they threw it into the weeds. One of our mowers found it.”
Casey believes she knows what the motive was.
“That was when the cost of copper was rising, and I think somebody took a crowbar and peeled the plaque off the marker,” she said. “They left it about 50 yards from where the marker was situated, which was where the road curves and goes one way to Joplin and the other to Opolis.”
Dockery had the plaque in his office for a time, then Casey took it to her home.
“We had a good time entertaining it in our home,” she said.
Dockery and KDOT did some repairs to the stone marker.
“We sandblasted the stone and did little repairs to it,” he said. “I understand that the granite had been one of the pillars at the old Pittsburg Post Office.”
According to 1935 newspaper accounts, the stone had been thrown away and was rescued from the city dump.
KDOT also re-set the plaque, which was the work of two students at
Kansas State Teachers College of Pittsburg, now Pittsburg State
University. Ralph Nair designed the plaque, Craig Blevins made the
pattern, and other work was done by the United Iron Works.
In May 2011 the refurbished marker was placed at the junction of US 69 and K 171 Highways, at the end of 220th Street, long known as Langdon Lane. It was installed on a cement pad and there is a small parking area around it.
“We had kind of wanted a bench there, and Mr. Dockery found a little bench and put it there for us,” Casey sad. “I was completely blown away by how much they did for us.”
Dockery said that this portion of Langdon Lane had been KDOT property, but the right-of-way was deeded back to Crawford County.
“The access to the marker is from Langdon Lane, not from the highway, for safety reasons,” he said. “It’s not exactly where the Military Highway was, the actual location is about 1 1/2 miles east of there, but it’s where people can view it.”
Dockery hopes this increased visibility will help deter any future vandalism.
Casey said that a new plaque has been received indicating that the marker has been relocated, and it will be placed on the marker as well.
“Now we’re trying to get a grant from the National Daughters of the American Revolution to do some landscaping and possibly have a flag pole there,” she said. “But if we have a flag pole, that would be a lighting situation. This is something that you can’t just leap into.”
Dockery said the Military Highway will soon be getting a little more recognition.
“69 Highway is a state historic byway for the military route, and there will soon be signs up and down the route,” he said, though there is no exact time line yet.
There will also be a re-dedication of the marker at some point, though Casey said it probably won’t be until sometime next year.
“I think about those ladies who worked so hard back in 1935,” she said. “I think it’s because of their dedication that we are able to continue their project.”
In May 2011 the refurbished marker was placed at the junction of US 69 and K 171 Highways, at the end of 220th Street, long known as Langdon Lane. It was installed on a cement pad and there is a small parking area around it.
“We had kind of wanted a bench there, and Mr. Dockery found a little bench and put it there for us,” Casey sad. “I was completely blown away by how much they did for us.”
Dockery said that this portion of Langdon Lane had been KDOT property, but the right-of-way was deeded back to Crawford County.
“The access to the marker is from Langdon Lane, not from the highway, for safety reasons,” he said. “It’s not exactly where the Military Highway was, the actual location is about 1 1/2 miles east of there, but it’s where people can view it.”
Dockery hopes this increased visibility will help deter any future vandalism.
Casey said that a new plaque has been received indicating that the marker has been relocated, and it will be placed on the marker as well.
“Now we’re trying to get a grant from the National Daughters of the American Revolution to do some landscaping and possibly have a flag pole there,” she said. “But if we have a flag pole, that would be a lighting situation. This is something that you can’t just leap into.”
Dockery said the Military Highway will soon be getting a little more recognition.
“69 Highway is a state historic byway for the military route, and there will soon be signs up and down the route,” he said, though there is no exact time line yet.
There will also be a re-dedication of the marker at some point, though Casey said it probably won’t be until sometime next year.
“I think about those ladies who worked so hard back in 1935,” she said. “I think it’s because of their dedication that we are able to continue their project.”
