Web posted
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Train festival taking shape
By FOSS FARRAR
Traveler Staff Writer
A county-wide railway festival planned for April is shaping up nicely, the coordinator of the event said Monday.
A planning committee for the first Cowley County Railroad Heritage Days met Saturday at the Cherokee Strip Land Rush Museum to continue planning the event. It is set for April 19.
Several activities are planned for Wilson Park that day, such as a moon walk, crafts and re-enactors, said Connie Kimsey, director of the Arkansas City Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.
In addition to the "family fun day" at the park, there will be a reunion dinner for retired railroaders that evening at the Best Western Hotel in Ark City.
"The Landing Strip Restaurant has been contacted for a quote for catering," Kimsey said. "The proprietor, Connie Byers, has been given the Harvey House cookbook, which she will peruse and determine if there are some items in it that could be adapted for a large group."
A Web site is set up with old pictures of train depots and railroad engines from throughout the county. Spearheading that project is Emory Lewis, of the East Central Cowley County Historical Society. The site's address: eccchistory.org; click on "C.C. Railroads" toward the bottom of the left column.
Emory said he plans to offer several pictures for sale at the festival. He said he welcomes stories and pictures from retired railroaders and their families.
The Walnut Valley Woodcarvers have agreed to create railroad crossing signs to be placed around town and the county to promote the county-wide event, Kimsey said.
Fund raising and advertising activities for the festival were also discussed at Saturday's meeting.
Carol Black showed several blocks of a proposed quilt she is making to be raffled. The quilt is to include six squares with silhouettes of train depots from communities in Cowley.
Kimsey said photos will be taken and posters made for placement around the county.
The next planning group meeting will be at 10 a.m. Feb. 2 at the Cherokee Strip Land Rush Museum.
All meetings are open to the public.
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