NEW BEGINNINGS
In 1933 the doors were opened to a homeless camp for men seeking work. It was one of three sites in Kansas. The south main street location had space for 500 men. When the WPA began, these men received real wage paying jobs. The men’s talents provided infrastructure in the community; buildings and landscaping work done in Carey Park, work at the municipal airport, bridge work, canals and construction of buildings at the state fairgrounds in our community. They were also responsible for planting/building shelter belts to limit future dust bowls withing the county. These formerly homeless workers were also instrumental in starting the city’s hot school lunch program.