7 Tiny Towns In Kansas Where HUGE Things Happened
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Clarisa
Author
Have you ever wondered about certain inventions or people who got their start in Kansas? Some of Kansas’ largest events happened in our smallest towns. Sometimes they’re disastrous, and sometimes they are the start of something wonderful. Here’s 7 small towns in Kansas where huge things happened to impact what our state is today.
Susanna M. Salter was elected as the first woman mayor in 1887, after her name had been added to the list by men who wanted her to lose and keep women from running in the future. What good that did! Thanks to those people who abandoned their candidates and gave Susanna Salter a two-thirds majority win.
In 2007, an EF5 tornado tore through town, leaving 95% of their buildings ravaged or gone completely. It killed 11 people in Greensburg, and caused over $100,000,000 in damages.
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Purvis & Wilson are honored names in Goodland, Kansas where they created the first helicopter patent in the United States. The helicopter itself didn't really fly too well, because the six horsepower engine just wasn't enough to keep it in the air.
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A drilling operation found a gas that didn't behave like the natural gas we thought it was. It wasn't flammable, and the mixture escaping from the well was 15% methane, 72% nitrogen, but they found helium within it as well. Later, they discovered the area was sitting on a rich helium pocket, and Kansas would be known as one of the largest sources of helium in the world.
Originally known as the Cowtown Cafe, it was transformed into a hotel in 1894, and became famous for home cooking. Soon, after the name changed to The Brookville Hotel, the name became synonymous with Family Style Chicken Dinners. The restaurant moved to Abilene in 2000, taking the recipes with it, as well as the history.
The Great Plains Tornado Outbreak of 1955 caused major trouble for Udall, Kansas when it was hit by a 3/4 mile wide tornado that destroyed or heavily damaged every building in sight. It wrapped this pickup around a tree, and stripped it of everything except for the frame and tires. 77 people died to the storm, and another 270 were injured. To this day, it's the deadliest tornado to ever have hit Kansas.
In 1897, Amelia Earhart was born in this home, and she went on to accomplish many great deeds during her life. To think that a humble start in Atchison led to her legacy is really something amazing.
There’s something so amazing about learning more about our history, isn’t there? We think you’ll love reading about this town overflowing with local history.
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