“I vote and I do jury duty.” – Christopher Hitchens “It’s rare to find someone excited over jury duty. If they’re out there, I’ve never met them. Not a one. When the summons for jury duty arrives in the mail, how many people scream, ‘Yes!’ and run to clear the calendar? None. Our first and […]
Calm Joyful Remembrance: Recall, Recount And Respond
Think only of the past as its (calm joyful) remembrance gives you pleasure. Jane Austen This weekend is Memorial Day in the United States. This day of remembrance began after the civil war. Honor was expressed by decorating the graves of fallen soldiers. In fact it was called Decoration Day even by my parents. It […]
If It Is The Joyland Carousel Then It Is Wonderful Wichita!
My husband and I recently visited Botanica, The Wichita Gardens. This is the new home for the Joyland Carousel scheduled to be open to the public fall of 2019. I have know this was coming, seen pictures and layouts, but it was not until this visit and seeing the building site, did I truly […]
Grosspapa’s Passing – Most Viewed Post of 2017
In 2017 one of the last of the Steinbüchels to live in our home passed on. The post about the passing of his ancestor, Herr von Bernard Karl Steinbüchel, was one of the most visited posts this year. I am pleased that in this time of loss, we were able to reconnect with several of […]
Chance Encounters, Connections and History
I believe that I am guided by chance encounters. I believe in the miracle of chance encounters. Paulo Coelho Recently while my husband was blowing off our sidewalks, he spotted a gentleman looking over our house from the curb. This is not an uncommon occurrence, since the house, even in its current “need for a redo state”, […]
Grosspapa And The Funeral – A Lesson In Loss and Life
Grief is in two parts. The first is loss. The second is the remaking of life. – Anne Roiphe Herr von Bernard Karl Steinbüchel, “Grosspapa” died on October 4, 1900. Maison Steinbüchel, a Kansas State Historic Landmark and our home, is named for the family of Herman Frederick Steinbüchel , the second husband of Marie-Louise […]
Was ist das Steinbüchel? (What is this Steinbuchel?)
A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots. Marcus Garvey I have been diving into the histories of the several families which converged and eventually made their home at Maison Steinbüchel. this is the Kansas Historic Landmark where we have made our home […]
How Does An Abstract Preserve History?
Abstract: A condensed history, taken from public records or documents, of the ownership of a piece of land. We have the original abstract of our Kansas Historic Landmark home dating back to the land grant of 160 acres from the Osage Land Trust. It’s existence serves to preserve history far beyond the handing off of property ownership. In past BLOG posts, I have told how three individual lives, immigrants from France and Germany, […]
What’s in a name? Maison Steinbüchel?
“And those from among you will rebuild the ancient ruins; you will raise of the age-old foundations; you will be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of the streets in which to dwell.” Isaiah 58:12 A name is important. At the surface they are handles one hooks to an object, a person […]