MAPLE HILL HISTORY AND MEMORIES

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The Eliot Union Congregational Church of Maple Hill, Kansas was founded in 1875. The church was named for our mother congregation in Newton, Massachusetts. Several members of that church had emigrated to the Midwest, to the Maple Hill area. Members initially met at the Warren home, west of the present townsite. The limestone building (now known as the Old Stone Church) was erected in 1882. A pulpit and altar Bible were donated at the time of it's dedication and sent by the Eliot Congregational Church of Newton. The pulpit is still used today at the present church site at 4th & Prairie Streets in Maple Hill. The Old Stone Church is still used for occasional weddings and funerals, as well as Sunday services annually in a special worship on the Sunday preceding Memorial Day.

With the establishment of the Maple Hill town site east of the Old Stone Church, it became practical to have a new location for the congregation. Already a Methodist church (see below) had been incorporated and built in the town. Two local townsmen, named Mr. Fowler and Mr. Pierce, quarreled about the town's location. In the end Mr. Fowler won out and donated the former town school to be renovated for the Eliot Congregational Church. The renovations were made and the building was dedicated in a blizzard in 1905. It is the one that is still used for services today. This picture was taken in 1910. One interesting note: Both Mr. Fowler and Mr. Pierce have streets named after them in town now.

This old map is of Wabaunsee County, Kansas. You'll notice "Maplehill" in the upper righthand corner. Today there are seven incorporated towns in Wabaunsee County: Maple Hill, Paxico, McFarland, Eskridge, Harveyville, Alma, and Alta Vista. There are also small resident populations in the unincorporated towns of Wabaunsee, Volland, Keene, and Newbury (not shown).

From Nick Clark: When I was home, some folks were visiting about what Maple Hill's Main Street looked like when there were still awnings on the buildings. I found these pictures of a 1949 or 1950 Armistice Day Celebration which show the awnings.

Armistice Day (November 11, 1918) was celebrated in grand fashion for many years in Maple Hill. The schools were all dismissed so we children could attend the program and dinner which was held at the Legion Hall. The American Legion would form on Main Street and parade the colors. The high school band usually marched behind and played patriotic music. Miss Inez Tiffany was the band director when these pictures were taken. After the dinner, there was a football game for several years. Our American Legion Post was started in 1921 after World War I. James Elmer Romick, a local boy, was killed in World War I, and the Post was named in his honor. The early meetings were held at the homes of Mrs. Franklin Adams or Mrs. James Tod. The Adams and Tods were active members of the Maple Hill Church from very early days. Mr. Tod owned a very large ranch southeast of Maple Hill. He would have has numerous ranch hands get up before dawn and "drag" the roads with sleds loaded with heavy salt blocks when it snowed. He was from Scotland and very conservative. When he was president of the National Cattlemen's Association during the early 1900s, a reporter asked him how he spelled Tod. He replied, "My boy, if one 'd' is good enough for God--it's good enough for Tod!" Franklin Adams, Jr. and Arthur A. Adams (sons of Mrs. Franklin Adams, Sr.) were both World War I veterans. The programs were always presented by some high ranking military officer from Fort Riley, or occasionally by one of the Governor's adjutant general's officials from Topeka. The menu for the dinner was the same as long as I remember: Hot Chicken Pie with biscuits on top, cranberry sauce, homemade mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, homemade rolls and fresh pies. The Auxiliary ladies worked very hard in a kitchen that had no running water and kerosene stoves.

This old bird's eye shot was probably taken in 1980 or before. Looking closely you'll notice the absence of the new street (Sunset) on the West side, and the presence of the Old High School at the NE corner of 3rd & Pierce.

This is the "old old" school building, which was located where the present Maple Hill Grade School is. It was constructed in 1904, and was used until the present building was constructed in 1953.
The first school in the Maple Hill Community was established in 1866 as a simple one-room log cabin located near Mill Creek on the farm of Rufus H. Watermann. Maple Hill District #39 was organized in 1872 and moved to the present townsite in 1887, occupying a newly completed building consisting of two large rooms. Then another new school (this building) was completed in 1904 on lots donated by Mr. George Fowler and the former school building was remodeled into the present Maple Hill Community Congregational Church. The new school consisted of a basement and four large classrooms. A high school was later held in the upstairs with the first class graduating in 1909. Maple Hill had a high school in the community until consolidation forced it to close in 1968.

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