Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Caldwell, Kansas


I was in this town today, very close to the Oklahoma Border. It didn't look quite like this, but I think maybe some of those buildings still stand. If I'd had this photo when I was there, I could have checked. It was a big land rush and cattle drive town, wild and woolly, as evidenced by this quote from a website called Legends of America:

"During its reckless cowtown period between 1879 and 1885, Caldwell 'boasted' a higher murder rate, and loss of more law enforcement officers than other more famous cowtowns. During this period, violence claimed the lives of 18 city marshals, leading a Wichita editor to write, "As we go to press hell is again in session in Caldwell."

My kinda town!

12 comments:

Larry Kollar said...

Billy Joel was right: "The good ol' days weren't always good / Tomorrow ain't as bad as it seems."

See y'all tomorrow.

Nancy P said...

Today beats the good ol' days, too, according to my 92-year-old mom.

Night, Far.

Anonymous said...

Sounds like a wild place - too bad you couldn't compare 'then' to 'now,' Nancy! Is it still somewhat interesting?

1:40am, and I'm wide awake. A friend pissed me off today, and I can't get over it. I guess the older you get and the more people you know, the better the chance that some of them will betray you. One of these days, I'll learn to not be so gullible and trusting. Sigh.

Anyway, hope the rest of you are snoozing, since I seem to have firm possession of the stupid insomnia wand tonight!

See you later today....

AndiF said...

Darn, if I'd known about the history of Caldwell, I'd have saved my High Noon picture for today. It sound like Sniff and Bebo would fit right in. ;)

Ah Beth, I think it doesn't matter how old you are, there are stinkers at every age and in every place. Sorry you had to meet up with one. Hey let's curse her (this is my favorite from my bubbe): May she grow like an onion -- with her head in the ground.

Morning all.

Anonymous said...

Caldwell sounds like what we admire about the West--tough, independent spirit.
On the other hand, I'm thinking those rougheons moved down here and their great grandkids spread chaos and are sent to my school.

Nancy THANK YOU for packing such a big bag that we can all fit in. I'm visualizing this carpetbag with all our little pointy heads sticking out babbling away.

Beth--Hug. Nother Hug. Pissed and betrayed is a crappy feeling. It is hard to let go of it sometimes. Nature of people though--they don't always do what WE would like and can be mean.
Point 'em out--Andi release the hounds and flush em this way. I'll take the posse and rough em up--Caldwell ain't got nothin on this blog.

Andi--love Bubbe's curse.

Hubby hits a new decade today--begins with 6. He married a child bride BTW. We'll aspire to make it as long as Nancy's mom.

Wonderful Weds to All.

Maria Lima said...

Morning, peeps and a happy b'day to Mr. Lisa.

Ended up working a 12 hr day yesterday, most of which was a mtg with a client. Sighs. Nearing a launch and there's still a lot of work.

On the positive side, my new book deal (for book 4) got mentioned in Publisher's Marketplace, so I guess it's real after all. Now, I get to start writing that one. :)

Hope today is better and consists of fewer job hours. (would that could as today beating the "good old days"?)

Off to the mimes...

Anonymous said...

That was a great picture of you yesterday documenting your travels. You would make the bestest Kansas travel planner of anyone in the whole wide world. Wow, Caldwell sounds like a rootin' tootin' town. :-o

Love the new vocabulary from yesterday, Nicola. I always get a kick out of colorful terms. Much the way I love Andif's curse.

Warm fuzzies for Beth. Sorry you ran into a meanie. I was just talking to my sister last night about why there seem to be so many mean people around today. Of course, I guess it's nothing new considering what Nancy's told us about 1800's Caldwell. Everything old is new again.

Happy B-Day to Mr. Lisa. And Lisa, thanks for the visual of all of us pointy head people. lol

I'm with Sally, what the heck IS chicken fried steak anyway? lol

Happy hump day.

Anonymous said...

Okay Bono you and Sally have got to travel more. Get on down here to Big D and I'll treat for the Chicken fried Steak.
At my house it's cube steak (tenderized round steak) rolled in milk and egg then flour, seasonings and pan fried. Served with cream gravey. MMMMM Good. Pass the Mashed taters and biscuits.
Needless to say I don't cook it often.

boran2 said...

Nancy, your next book really should be a travel guide to the state of Kansas. Happy travels!

Maria Lima said...

Mmmm, chicken fried steak and gravy. That's a quintessential Texas meal.

One of the absolute BEST places in the state to eat it: the Hobo Depot in Liberty Hill, Texas. A real dive, old train depot nearly impossible to find (even with a GPS), but well worth the trek.

I'm salivating...

Larry Kollar said...

Here, that's called country fried steak (and gravy). Heart attacks never tasted soooo good…

Well, I'm far enough out of shape that I dragged the Evil Exerbike back in the house & started using it. Should have done it a couple months ago.

Jaclyn Ryanne said...

Glad you enjoyed visiting Cladwell! You should try to come back sometime for the Chisholm Trailfest when the covered wagons roll trough town again and it looks as thought you stepped back in time!

As for the pic there, I think that tall building is the Caldwell Messenger office and it is still there and the newspaper is still in that end office.