Nicodemus in Graham County, Kansas — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Together We Gather

Nicodemus National Historic Site

— National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior —

Together We Gather Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Connor Olson, August 19, 2019

1. Together We Gather Marker

Inscription.
"One of the main things we did at (Nico)Demus was skate and dance at the Hall at Christmas. Oh man, old young tried to skate."
Bernard Bates, Nicodemus descendant

Construction of the Township Hall gave Nicodemus a community building with electricity and a stage. Twelve residents-black and white- quarried rock and built the Hall from 1937-39. People gathered here for weekly dances, community events, roller-skating, "pay parties," and elections.

Community life has always been vital in Nicodemus. Churches and benevolent societies were active social forces from the 1870s. During the Great Depression, the federal government's Works Progress Administration (WPA) paid unemployed people to learn new skills. Nicodemus residents learned new trades while building their community center.

[Caption:]
Workers planed the door for the front of the Hall. They quarried magnesia limestone in neighboring Rooks County since it was stronger that the local stone.
The Hall continues to hst town meetings, special programs, and Homecoming gatherings. The National Park Service's Visitor Center here includes exhibits, a park store, and an audiovisual program.

Erected by National

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Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Charity & Public Work • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Works Progress Administration (WPA) projects series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1937.

Location. 39° 23.593′ N, 99° 36.887′ W. Marker is in Nicodemus, Kansas, in Graham County. It is on Washington Avenue just west of 2nd Street, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 304 Washington Avenue, Bogue KS 67625, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American Midwest,

in the Corn Belt,

on the prairies,

and on the Southern Plains.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Main Street Boom and Beyond (a few steps from this marker); St. Francis Hotel (within shouting distance

Nicodemus Town Hall image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Connor Olson, August 19, 2019

2. Nicodemus Town Hall

of this marker); Mail From Back Home (within shouting distance of this marker); Nicodemus (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Leaning On The Land (about 500 feet away); We've Come This Far By Faith (about 600 feet away); First Baptist Church (about 600 feet away); Nicodemus Baseball History (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Nicodemus.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Nicodemus (was about 500 feet away but has been permanently removed).

Also see . . . Nicodemus Nat'l Hist. Site. (Submitted on August 15, 2020, by Connor Olson of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin.)

Credits. This page was last revised on August 15, 2020. It was originally submitted on August 15, 2020, by Connor Olson of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 231 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 15, 2020, by Connor Olson of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.