Backroads and Ghost Towns of Woodson County, Kansas ||| Part 2

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We're back for part 2 of our drive around Woodson County, Kansas. We start in the middle of the county near Yates Center (current county seat) at the former county seat (and current ghost town) of Kalida (where there is a castle of sorts). We find more ghost towns and cemeteries along the way, as well as a historic fort and one incorporated town! It was a fun adventure and I learned a lot about the county!
Part 107 certified drone operator
0:00 Intro/Kalida
4:30 Belmont/Fort Belmont
7:27 Ghost Towns and Cemeteries
14:07 Batesville
16:15 Toronto
19:07 Final Thoughts and Outtakes
Music
Drankin Song - Kevin MacLeod
Juneberry Juncton - Chris Haugen
Sawdust - Silent Partner

[@JoKe4244]

Great Job on Part 2. The summers between my 5th and 6th grade years, and then between my 6th and 7th grade years, 1972 and 1973, I lived a nomadic lifestyle with my parents. As I said before, my father was a locomotive engineer for the Missouri Pacific Railroad. He spent a lot of time in the 1970s going from one railroad assignment to another and my dad was responsible for finding his own lodging. As I explained earlier, I spent the summers in the Neosho Falls. But Back in those days, the campgrounds were only open for people to camp for 3 consecutive weeks at a time, then we had to move to a different camp ground. And because my dad was working out of Iola on a railroad assignment, we would spend 3 weeks in Neosho falls at that campground then pack everything up and go to Toronto and stay there for three weeks. Then my mom and I would go back to our home in Wichita for me to start school at the end of August of each year and leave my father to camp out for the winter. I don't remember it being called Cross Timbers back in the 70’s. I think we called that area Toronto Point. On the east side of the point there was a big Cove that had a Marina. But it was a floating Marina with a floating bait shop and very small convenience store, fishing house in that floating building and inside of the building was all open to the water that was like an indoor swimming pool built in, but it was actually the lake that you could fish out of there in the wintertime. Well actually you could fish out of it anytime you wanted to, but it was pretty hot in the summer. And what was so fascinating about this store/bait shop was the only way to get to it was an electric tram that ran from the parking lot at the top of the cliff down, I don't know, 40 or 50 feet? down to the floating marina. There were also other docks attached to it where you could park a boat and fill it up with gasoline, or just tie up and go in and shop at the bait shop. Just like at Neosho falls, I ran amuck all over the campground at Toronto State Park and would ride my bicycle into the town of Toronto. My mom basically gave me free reign to go wherever I wanted and do whatever I wanted to do while we were camping there. It seems like I only had three rules. Be home at noon for lunch. Be home at 5:00 for dinner. And be home before dark. Other than that, I rode my bicycle all over the place. Every day I would ride into Toronto to a small convenience store and buy a Choco Malt for $0.25. The convenience store was located at the southeast corner of Main Street and the road that you came in from 54 highway on the West edge of downtown. From there the railroad tracks were just two blocks to the north toward the highway. There used to be a train that ran through there pretty consistently early in the morning about 9:00-10:00. So, in the mornings, I would have breakfast with mom and ride my bicycle into Toronto and hang out until the train went through. Then I would work my way back to the campground to have lunch with mom. Looking back on it, that was crazy stupid. I was like 10 or 11 the first year 11 and 12 the second year, and the world was my oyster. Every day was an adventure. It was never boring or routine. But I could just ride by myself 2 1/2 miles into town and back and nobody had a care in the world. I was like that Dennis the Menace kid that would stop at the ranger station at the top of the hill and bug the park rangers. But they were always friendly and polite. At the corner of Main Street and the road going out to Toronto point, on the southeast corner was an old rundown ball diamond. There were stories that the minor league teams from Chicago or LA or wherever would come to Toronto and play baseball Back during the depression. But I do know the summer between my 6th and 7th grade years my dad Took me to Iola KS to the Harley-Davidson dealer that was just West of the Santa Fe Railroad tracks on Hwy. 54 about 1/4-mile West of the square and bought me a Harley-Davidson minibike and he would take me to that ball diamond and let me run that minibike all around the diamond. I burned the wheels off that minibike tearing up the infield and outfield like it was a double enveloped race course. Toronto brings back good memories. Thank you for sharing. Kevin

[@ronfullerton3162]

Neat story! Growing up back in the day was fun. I burned up a bunch of miles on my bicycle also. It was definitely my freedom machine. When we would get a quiet day on the farm, I was off on my bike. I would even ride my bike to Washington, Iowa to see my cousins, taking county roads most all the way. Do not see kids out on excursions such as that anymore. We definitely had the world in the palm of our hand.

[@tiffanymerritt9757]

Thank you for sharing these amazing places with us. It's fascinating to have a glimpse into what life was like at that time. I truly appreciate all of the time and energy you invest into each video.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you 😊

[@bethbartlett5692]

​​​@@TravelwithaWiseguy re: Ft Belmont clip There's a piece of History that has Value to all of your Productions that focus on Kansas and/or Missouri, particularly the areas that align the state line, the "Border Wars" involving the Jayhawkers vs the Missouri Ruffians. (This is the root/beginning of the real Jessie James and family story. I'm surprised there hasn't been an Authentic Book and Documentary on Jessie James, and in the same era, George Custer's experience during the 1 - 2 years prior to his passing. Both have a shared subject that been overlooked, ignored, or unrealized due to the propaganda/ and fiction written stories.) I may very well write the "missing chapters that clarify their experiences and cause Jessie's, and possibly Custer's premature departures. (late 1850's into the Civil War 1861v- 1864) and the Politics continued until the turn of the Century. Beth Bartlett Sociologist/Behavioralist and Historian

[@larryclark4791]

Growing up we used to fish at Woodson County State lake, we called it Lake Fagan.

[@alanm2842]

Fagen Lake was the name until some figurehead changed it.

[@kristalphillips108]

Agree. It will ALWAYS BE Lake Fagan to me and my grandpa, Bill Kress.

[@hollygolightly2735]

Thanks for the video. I grew up in Yates Center and had an opportunity to go inside the Kalida cellar / castle in the mid 1980’s. My mother was friends with the elderly lady who lived there. She had “pet” catfish she fed in her small pond. The castle was just a narrowish cellar with wood shelves running east to west. They were full of home canned goods when I was there. There is nothing, no structure, under the mounds of dirt on the north or south sides. It’s just earth.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thanks for the info about the cave! Appreciate it!

[@TroyOnymous]

Great tour of the area. My dads side of the family moved from South Dakota to the Toronto and Quincy areas around the late 1800's.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you 😊

[@stephenshurley6330]

We live in Toronto, thanks for highlighting our county, good job as usual.

[@pamlaenger6870]

Nice town! I love small towns and live in one!

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

My pleasure!

[@ronalddailey5208]

This was a great series on one county. When you quit coaching, you have a new career. Have a safe and great weekend.

[@marcrubendall4422]

Love your videos coach, my ancestors came from Decatur and Norton County, Kansas, and I still have relatives there. I hope to one day see you up there along 36 highway travel safely, my KZbin friend

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

I’d love to someday!

[@heathernoland5398]

I have been in the old kalida castle, and there was still old canned goods, I wish I still had pictures. But I spent most of my childhood in Toronto, and it's sad to see all the buildings that r no longer there. My grandma owned the Newts riffle bar back in the day but it has since burned down and that little cabin has been built in its place. I remember Thomas meat market and how he would cut your meat with a cigarette always hanging from his mouth. Many great memories there and still spend time there on 4th of July for Toronto days, as I have for 30 years 🙂

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Great stuff - thank you!

[@user-wd8mn8sf1j]

I've never seen such a detailed exploration of a county. It's staggering how many ghost towns there are. I lived in Toronto until 1956. The Corps of Engineers bought our farm because it was in the flood plain of the Cross Timbers reservoir, which at the time was name Toronto Reservoir, but everybody called it Toronto Lake.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

I really appreciate that! It’s fun to find the hidden gems I didn’t know about previously 😊

[@elizabethmarshall3251]

I loved the sequel - I'd really like to go to Cross Timbers State Park someday!

[@sueelliott3206]

I'm always amazed at so many rural and back roads cemataries. The lake was absolutely beautiful. Thanks so much for sharing.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you 😊

[@rosiemcnaughton9933]

I love seeing all those country cemeteries, school houses and buildings. I look a lot of these places up on the map as you go along...takes me a long time to finish the video 😁. Thanks for the trip. I enjoyed it.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thanks for being such a thorough watcher of the videos 😊

[@juliogonzales5441]

THANKS COACH...GO..WICHITA STATE 😅😅

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Go Shocks 🌾

[@julieschossow9315]

Great trip Coach!! Wish you could have gone into Carlisle Cemetery. There is a stone that reads 108 yrs and that’s the grave of my 3x grandmother. Kal-I-da Cemetery has the entire family of my great grandfather. There was a post office in Woodson named Juse, named after my great grandfather's niece, Jerusala Pickering. It was closer to Neosho Falls.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thanks! I didn’t even know it was there until I was driving by. Didn’t see it on any maps. Juse is a great name!

[@michaelpaske4327]

Growing up on the area (across county line in Greenwood Cty) near Toronto from 1951-1959 I really liked your drive thru Woodsen Cty. When you see one of the cemeteries there was probably a church for local farmers and very often a school to go with post office and maybe even in a few places a General store. Too bad you did not do more with Woodsen County Fishing Lake (aka Fegan Lake) near Toronto, very picturesque dam and spillway. My family was run out of area by government creating Toronto Dam and Reservoir. My paternal grandfather in defiance put up a sign at corner of US 54 and K105 that read "DAM(N) FOOLISHNESS with big arrow underneath in 1956-57 time frame. He and my great grandfather also had built one of those stone school houses on little rise in prairie 1/2 mile east of aforementioned junction but it was destroyed in the 1957 or 58 (fuzzy time line memory) by a tornado that made a direct hit on it after destroying 3 or 4 rural houses and killing one man. The stone & masonry foundation is still to be found in the pasture at the site if you know where to look, just like with Lena Valley church and school in upper Greenwood county on the farm that we move to after lake took Toronto farm. I remember taking train several times out of Toronto and either going thru Duran or stopping there for some reason on way either to Fort Scott, McCune, Kansas City or Osawatomie, where my maternal grandfather was the dentist at the State Mental Hospital from mid 1936/7 to 1961. He had been town dentist in Toronto from around 1911/12 before taking State Hospital position. Most of my family is buried in Toronto Cemetery and at one time there were 5 farms with my family members in residence, plus one cousin ran Grocery store from 1930's to 1960's and his brother was the Postmaster. During the 1950's Batesville still had a gas station that I remember and maybe a little store with it. As you mentioned the railroad in many cases, Toronto was at one time served by two railroads - main one was Missouri Pacific offering passenger service up until about 1960. There was also a spur of the ATSF that came down toronto and about 10 or 15 miles south from Madison (Greenwood County), Virgil and Quincy. There was a junction, but I am not sure exactly where and do not know if it was just a crossing or if there was siding where freight cars could be transferred. I remember walking part of the old S.F. line right of way with my father when he was quail hunting on parts that went thru our farm N.E. of Toronto. I guess Woodson County can be considered one of the leading candidates for Kansas Ghost County with the slow demise of even places like Neosho Falls, Duran, Piqua, Toronto and Yates Center in the last fifty years. Again, thank you for your excellent video. P.S. You missed the big attraction in Woodson County! The Nuremberg Hangman MSGT John C. Woods is buried in Toronto Cemetery. He apparently hanged Nazi War Criminals Joachim Von Ribbentrop (Nazi Foreign Minister), Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel (head of Wehrmacht), Ernst Kaltenbrunner (Austrian SS official, major perpetrator of the Holocaust and head of Gestapo), Alfred Rosenberg (Nazi Political Theorist and Reich Minister for Eastern Occupied territories with authority over worst of the extermination camps like Auschwitz) , Hans Frank ( Reichsminister without portfolio and Reichsleiter who was direct overseer of 4 of the Eastern extermination camps), Julius Streicher (strident anti-semitic propagandist, Gen Alfred Jodl (Chief of Staff of German Army and #2 under Field Marshal Keitel of German Army) Ref: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_C._Woods and www.findagrave.com/memorial/73369257/john-clarence-woods#source

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you for the info! It’s hard to document absolutely everything - especially when I’m doing this on the side and I’m not from there. So I’m glad you and others are able to fill in the gaps of what I miss.

[@robchit1]

The Santa Fe line crossed the Missouri Pacific west of town in a wooded area east of the river according to a map from 1904. The ATSF depot was near Main and Chestnut streets looking SW. That end of the branch was abandoned in 1944.

[@KenBurtner]

Thank you for a good tour. Hapy things are turning green.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

So nice of you - thanks!

[@marysimon7601]

So enjoyed both parts os Woodson County. Grew up in Neosho County in the late 40s and 50s. Neosho County would be interesting. Tee shirt is great!

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Awesome thank you 🌾 😊

[@kristalphillips108]

Big Sandy and Little Sandy Cemetaries are where relatives if mine are buried. The Blevins ancestors and the Harp/Nead ancestors. I don't remember if this other small town is in Wilson or Woodson, but there once was a Middleton Kansas.

[@aliceevans3357]

Great ending to an interesting county. Your drone would probably not have done well in the wind, but I enjoy seeing the old cemeteries. I like to visit, checking all the names we don't hear so much any more. No dogs this time, at least the cows were friendly 😅 Always nice to visit the out of the way places, thanks for the trip. Stay safe and GOD bless

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

I almost took the drone up at the end but wanted it to live to fly another day 😊

[@senzanome8294]

Another great trip, very interesting.

[@papabear562]

You see houses like the one you found near Coloma and you wonder what's in it, is it still stable, could it be fixed up and lived in. On another note, you found me! Or rather, you found a ghost town named after me. Byron, Kansas. That settles it, I gotta relocate there. Would it be cool or what to live in a town that shares my first name! 😆 Great video John!

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you! Good idea 😂😂

[@robertodebeers2551]

Glad to see you spending time in the old cemeteries. Show us a few of the more interesting stones up close, maybe.

[@whatsmyname3237]

Thanks!

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Wow thank you so much for your generosity!!!

[@Nickifoster-hl3ux]

If memory serves jesse james middle name was woodson. If so, just a fun bit of trivia.

[@briebel2684]

South of Iola in Allen County, there's a small natural cave on the Lehigh-Portland trail system. It's not much to look at as there's no formations, but it is a natural cave. I wouldn't go through it without a hard hat, and sometimes it fills up with rain water. Dries up nice in the summer though. Neat to hear the echoing voices when there's somebody at the opposite opening. Last time I knew, they were in the process of turning that whole trail system into a state park. The "lake" there is an old rock quarry that was used by the old cement factory nearby. Hence the "Portland" in the name.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Interesting. There’s also a Portland ghost town in Colorado because of a cement company.

[@briebel2684]

@@TravelwithaWiseguyIf you go check out the trail system, be warned that the cement factory grounds itself are still occupied by businesses. One of those businesses is rumored to be a little quick to pull a revolver if people come snooping around. The trail system itself is safe, just watch out for the possibility of snakes.

[@bertholini2810]

Nice video. In the winter it is very hard to tell how pretty an area is. In the summer, I bet it's really pretty. I like the lakes as well. Once upon a time I used to fish every day (not kidding). Yard work, fence, argh..... Lol. Be good, be safe !!

[@elizabethmurray3221]

I was thinking why is there a fish on the map? Then I remembered seeing your post about fishing every day and put 2 plus 2 together.

[@bertholini2810]

@@elizabethmurray3221 Sadly, I really did fish that much. But I was not 67 (like now) either. Just yard work for me now.

[@elizabethmurray3221]

You need to pick up a pole and find a fishing hole! Yard work is hard work.

[@williammatzek4660]

Around Sedgwick we have plenty of ground water. I've heard if you go 7 miles east water can be hard to find. I've got several cousins that farm around Parsons. One of uncles that moved down there , told me this. We don't pay as much for are land , it does not produce as well as up there.(Sedgwick / Reno counties) Wander if some people settled and started farming and could not make it.

[@carolstevenson9247]

In many small post Offices were in a local home owner.

[@gazooberful]

good one, thank you sir :)

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Most welcome!

[@stevemccoy8138]

Looks like it's still winter there. I see videos once in awhile, of people fixing up and cleaning old headstones, have you ever thought about doing something like that. Thanks for Sharing. 😊

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

This was filmed about a month ago so it’s turning green now!

[@TruBluJayhawk]

This was really interesting! Thank you for showcasing the disappeared (and disappearing) history of Kansas. I was particularly fascinated by the settlement of Belmont and its rise and fall. I have family roots in a couple of the countries on east of Woodson, so these stories help me connect to our family’s past. Could you share what map or maps you are using? The level of detail is great, and I’d like to have a similar one for the Kansas county I grew up in!

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Yes Belmont is a fascinating area I didn’t know about before this! I use the Delorme Atlas and Gazetteer 😊

[@TruBluJayhawk]

@@TravelwithaWiseguy Thank you!!!!

[@SusanHL]

I loved Kalida - all the stuff built of stone - especially the cemetery, was amazing! In fact, I loved all the cemeteries. If I could pick any of those cemeteries to be buried in, I'd pick Big Sandy, preferably in the more wooded section. The amount of information you provided in both parts 1 and 2 of Woodson County is impressive. Oh! - ok, I have to ask (and now, imagine someone asking in a fun, conspiratorial way, rather than a stern, finger-wagging way): at 13:30, were you driving the car and flying the drone at the same time? 😂 In all seriousness, one of the many things I admire about your content is the perspective, the way it enables contrast between past and present - I wonder what remnants of our present way of life people will see 150 years from now, and what they'll make of it? 😊

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you! And no problem asking - I was driving and flying at the same time. It’s not as hard as it might sound. Also some drones can automatically “follow” you if you set it up they way. The technology is great!

[@SusanHL]

☺️. Wow - thank you - a great behind-the-scenes nugget of info!

[@roberteshaw9520]

Hey coach. I like drone @ 13:30 ish. Peek into the 1st. school house goes way back.I haven't washed my Chevy Astro in 12 years.......Long Island gets a lot of rain so it's good, my rationale is an exaggerated version of that which you said.in the outtake section. Woodson County looked pretty good. Happy Motoring.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Haha nice! I rarely pay for a car wash either 😂

[@mycomputer87]

You do know why there were so many small towns along railroads right? Steam locomotives could only travel ten or fifteen miles before they needed to take on water.

[@UMtiger311]

enjoyed the video as always. if you ever do a video on Cahaba, the former capitol of Alabama and current ghost town, you could do a whole video on just the cemeteries there.. just saying. great video, looking forward to more

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Sounds interesting!

[@Scott.Newmaster]

Looks like 7:45 was a grange building for rhe farmers.

[@stevesloat6544]

Awesome video...driving in my truck with your video going...well the music with the video fit right into my drive this morning in the NW part of Michigan and the UP...can the music be down loading?

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Aww that’s awesome!!

[@johns7868]

Wow , that Nickeltown church could easily blow away in a tornado

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

I know right?!?!

[@pamelacrowe4971]

Thanks for sharing John. Interesting Woodson county. I like seeing old cemeteries.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thanks!!

[@rgreed20081]

A lot of Americans refuse to travel to Kansas because they think that it is very flat and BORING. As an armchair tourist, I realized that Kansas is one of the states where you must search for the historical places and etc. Oddly while a lot of Americans continue to refuse to visit Kansas, they are missing on a lot. For Kansas makes it perfect for travelers and Nomads.

[@ronfullerton3162]

We really need to change the Wiseguy to the Wiseman because he shows us so many gems in his travels that we would otherwise never see. On my motorcycle rides, I have taken the back roads and come by some gems myself. So many people do not realize what awaits out there to be discovered in the quiet of the lesser traveled roads. I guess that just keeps our Wiseman's travels extra special!

[@colingeorgeh]

Kansas is a well kept secret.

[@ronfullerton3162]

@@colingeorgeh All of us fly over states have hidden gems! And they will remain unblemished as long as those people keep flying over.

[@nadenolam8368]

You ought to check the old brick factory in Buffalo Ks.

[@pamlaenger6870]

I love all your travels and videos. I’m going to visit family then hit the road!

[@UMtiger311]

I'd be curious to know who takes care of the old Mennonite cemetery - there was a new stone, a repaired one.. somebody's keeping it up

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

For sure - nice that someone is!

[@SamanthaTull-dz5ss]

Wrong spelling but I’m certain Coach found Big Sandy cemetery for one of his favorite subscriber/commenters!

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

😊

[@richardrichardson515]

Have you done a video of Ft Scott and the nearby battlefield in east Kansas,THE Big Brutus in Mineral Ks

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

I have not … yet!

[@richardrichardson515]

@@TravelwithaWiseguy The History on all three places,just awesome

[@colingeorgeh]

Great video. I lived in Toronto Canada when I was a kid. What ghost towns do you recommend in McPherson county?

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Not sure - I’d have to do some research!

[@JOHNDANIEL1]

I'll put on 2 of your videos so you have the info to work from: Territorial Governments had from 1869 to 1902 and again a few in 1930-31 just a few records. But the real history is Union Rail BOL & Teamsters Records, Here's some big info your not aware of. All those schools you see that are nearly identical were builds from Kits. Most all in the plains from Nebraska to Texas came from 1 of 4 locations. They were plans and precut parts mostly by Garrison of Pennsylvania. Churches and Schools made and shipped about 50 to 80% complete from: St Peters Missouri, Pittsburg Kansas, Stilwell Oklahoma and Mineola Texas.

[@justnerdystuff]

Is it possible that these "towns" with nothing but graveyards, were wiped off the planet by a Tornado? Kansas is in Tornado Alley. I was thankful to see your post after the news mentioned a tornado in Wichita a day or two ago.

[@pamlaenger6870]

I’ve often thought that too.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

I’m sure it has happened to a few of these places - that and flooding.

[@stanleybest8833]

But can you buy a house and property without a realtor?