This park and the surrounding area are rich in early Kansas history. The Fremont Trail passed to the north and was used by the Kaw-Santa Fe Freight Company which was also the route for the first overland stages to California until they were forced . . . — — Map (db m53447) HM
During Ellsworth's earliest years, Wild Bill Hickok's common-law wife, Indian Annie, lived in a shack near this site. After Hickok abandoned Indian Annie, she made ends meet washing clothes, scrubbing floors at the Grand Central Hotel (9) and . . . — — Map (db m54094) HM
Directly across South Main Street, a double building housed the general store owned by Jerome Beebe. He sold groceries, wines and liquor, and reapers and plows. The events of Sunday, August 15, 1873, led up to the shoot-out that killed Sheriff . . . — — Map (db m54172) HM
The Drovers Cottage was originally built in Abilene by Joseph McCoy. Jim and Louisa Gore ran a friendly house and the Texans felt very much at home among their fellow cattlemen at the Cottage. In 1872, two-thirds of the original hotel was moved to . . . — — Map (db m54147) HM
When the Union Pacific built through here in 1867 this was buffalo country. As the engines chugged on west, the Hays newspaper reported: "Passengers on the cars between here and Ellsworth have almost daily fine sport shooting at buffalo, immense . . . — — Map (db m53550) HM
Arthur Larkin was one of Ellsworth's first businessmen. The Larkin House was his first establishment, but it burned in 1869 destroying the entire block. Mr. Larkin then determined to build the finest structure possible on the corner of North Main . . . — — Map (db m54118) HM
In typical frontier fashion, Ellsworth was established along the railroad grade, even before the rails were in place. Ellsworth has two main streets paralleling the track. The Plaza was a common area open to freight hauling teams and family buggies . . . — — Map (db m54169) HM
Fires plagued the businesses on South Main Street throughout the early years. The last of three devastating fires occurred in November 1875 destroying this entire block. Except one building near the center of the block, the buildings were entirely . . . — — Map (db m54152) HM
The Old Cattle Trail into Ellsworth passed down Douglas Avenue (Hwy. 14). Cattle were herded through town and circled to the west where they were penned in the extensive Kansas Pacific Stockyards (7). John Kelly's American House hotel, next door to . . . — — Map (db m54171) HM
Nicknamed "Gambler's Roost", Brennan's Saloon on the south side of this street was a favorite of the sporting crowd. One of the most notorious gunmen in the west, Ben Thompson, ran the Faro tables here. Dick Clark was considered the premier gambler . . . — — Map (db m54173) HM
The Depots, just north of this sign were the natural gathering place for frontier towns. The area bustled with actiivity as dray (delivery) operators came and went with freight for local business. Of course, information from "back East" arrived . . . — — Map (db m54180) HM
The stockyards were to your left on the location of today's old CK elevator. The photo to the left was actually taken from a location west of here. It shows scattered buildings in the background. Ellsworth was slowly growing to the north.
In . . . — — Map (db m54123) HM
Cowboys could get the latest in hand-made boots at the sign of the big red boot! John Mueller, (standing in front of the doorway next to the seated children) opened for business at this location in the early 1870's. Texans, just in off the trail, . . . — — Map (db m54148) HM
Snake Row had many different kinds of saloons. Nick Lentz offered medicinal baths. On August 15, 1873, Ben Thompson confronted fellow gambler John Sterling in Lentz's saloon across the street from this sign. The disagreement was about the winnings . . . — — Map (db m54198) HM
The Seitz Drug Store, founded across the street in 1868 on the corner of North Main and Douglas Avenue, was advertised as the oldest established drugstore in western Kansas. The claim still holds true as it is still in existence one block north on . . . — — Map (db m54200) HM
David W. Powers began freighting on the Smoky Hill Trail in the early 1860's. His bull trains were outfitted at Leavenworth destined for Denver, Colorado and going as far as Salt Lake City, Utah. Powers established a bank in Salina, Kansas, in 1870 . . . — — Map (db m54151) HM
During Ellsworth's frontier days, most of the business activity occurred along the two streets paralleling the railroad tracks. As the Texas cattle trade moved from Abilene to Ellsworth, the tradition of the Texans dominating the Plaza persisted. . . . — — Map (db m54127) HM
Mayer Goldsoll's Old Reliable House was a popular mercantile with the Texas cowboys. Goldsoll also had stores in Abilene, Russell, Great Bend, and Denison, Texas. In 1873, Ellsworth's Old Reliable House recorded $150,000 dollars in business! It was . . . — — Map (db m54199) HM
View of the Plaza looking west. The Grand Central Hotel (9) is on the right. The depot (14) is in the center of the Plaza and the Drovers Cottage (5) can be seen in the distance just to the left side of the depot. Had you been standing here on a . . . — — Map (db m54110) HM
Thin black lines indicate changes in relevance. Between each pair of lines entries are ordered geographically but all have the same relevance.
* Inflectional forms of words are their plurals, singulars, and possessives as well as gramatical tenses and similar variations.
