"Did You Know This About Geary County History?”By Dr. Ferrell MillerGeary County Historical Society Board Member“Growing Up In Junction City – Some Reflections By Keith Hemenway”	In 2003, Keith Hemenway, who was 83 years old, shared memories of Junction City in the early 1900’s with Gaylynn Childs, retired Executive Director of the Geary County Historical Society: Keith’s father owned the Junction City Sentinel, a weekly newspaper. One of the first homes Keith remembered was in the Raber Flats. “This stone apartment building at the corner of Fourth and Jefferson Streets was built by Dr. C.K. Raber, a prominent local dentist who was the mayor here during several terms.” 	In 1908, Keith’s father built a house on South Jefferson, next door to Dr. Fred O’Donnell. Another close neighbor was Mr. L.J. Platt, who was a lawyer and judge. 	The O’Donnell house, at 504 S. Jefferson Street was still lived in by a daughter, Betty Cleary, in 1985 and it was much the same as it had originally been. The house formerly had stables behind it where the doctor kept his ponies. Keith recalled often walking over to the old polo field, which was at the corner of Madison and Pine and went clear up toward the cemetery to watch Dr. Fred and the renowned Junction City polo team practice.	Keith also recalled walking uptown. His first stop was always O’Reilly’s Livery Stable across the street east from the City Park. The second stop was on East Seventh Street where the old Degitz Blacksmith Shop used to be. He would watch them shoe horses and then go on to his third stop, which was the Brown’s Harness Shop, where the Cowen Shoe Store was for many years at 719 N. Washington Street. Finally, he would arrive at the newspaper office in the basement of the building at Seventh and Washington Streets.	The old Opera House and City Building was another favorite of young Keith’s. The main entrance to the Opera House was on the Jefferson Street side. The fire station was on the corner facing Seventh Street where with the two black horses were kept. The harness was hanging up over the horses and there was a brass pole the firemen would slide down. They would pull a cord and the harness would drop down over the horses and firemen would just have to fasten a few buckles. Then the horses would be ready to go.	Keith graduated from Junction City High School in 1919. He left Junction City for college and a career in the eastern part of the United States. Keith returned to Junction City in 1960. He was involved in organizing the Geary County Historical Society in 1972. Keith died in 1995 at the age of 90<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598541690217.jpeg" alt="1911 Bandstand in the City Park" />
 <figcaption>1911 Bandstand in the City Park</figcaption>
 </figure>“Historical Background About Our City (Heritage) Park”Gaylynn Childs, retired Executive Director of the Geary County Historical Society, wrote in an article in the book Set In Stone that the square in the center of Junction City now called Heritage Park and earlier designated as City Park, was always intended as a “park”. However, there were issues of contention about the park for nearly a hundred years. 	When the original town site was surveyed in 1858, the block bounded by Sixth Street on the north, Washington Street on the east, Fifth Street on the south and Jefferson Street on the west was designated as the “city park”. When the townsite was platted and registered in September 1860, the park plot was deeded to Richard C. Whitney, Mayor of Junction City. 	In the early 1860s, the first “friend of the park”, General Knox, laid out the paths in a winding serpent-like manner and planted trees along the paths with care. He faithfully watered the trees in order that they might survive the dry summers and be a permanent feature of the city”. It was later claimed by Thomas Dever, another pioneer mayor, that Knox’s efforts were not a success.	In an 1864 article in the Union newspaper where the author stated: “S.M. Stickler was brought before Mayor Hall for having appropriated the city park to his own use as a cattle yard. Stickler had the audacity to turn the cattle loose in the park and was fined $5.00.”	In 1870, former Mayor Whitney attempted to deed the park to H.P. Hynes a prominent grocer in town. There had been a picket fence put up all around the park. However, during the night of January 19, 1871, Mr. Hynes, threw down a section of the picket fence, moved into the park, cut down some of General Knox’s trees, erected a corral of sorts and built a pig pen, chicken coop and some say even a house. Within a short time the citizens removed Mr. Hynes into the street. He was arrested and his project brought to a halt. 	In 1891, the courts ruled that the Geary County Commissioners held title to the park “in trust” for the city of Junction City and in 1899 there was public sentiment in favor of appropriating the park square as the site for the new courthouse. Even in 1949, there were proposals to turn the park now known as Heritage Park into businesses. In 2020, Heritage Park has a fountain, bandstand, flowers and shrubs that add to its beauty. Monuments and memorials are in place to remind us of those who have served our country, county and city.

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