Visitors to Lakin in 1973 may have thought they had entered a time warp. Ladies in pioneer dresses and bearded men were a common scene as the community celebrated Lakin’s 100th birthday in a stylish year-long celebration. The “fuzz” phenom was the result of a beard and mustache contest, and some men began growing their facial adornments as soon as the year started. For beardless wonders, shaving permits could be bought for $5 each to save a fine or a dunking. The Blossom Club requested all women who were working downtown (and shoppers too) to wear pioneer dresses on Fridays in observance of the centennial year. Those who opted not to either faced a fine or wore a permit that was sold by the club for 50¢.
Many kept the permits as souvenirs for the big occasion. Other specially made souvenirs included plates, coins, car tags, and special edition Winchester rifles. A seal picturing key events and industries in Lakin was created for use on advertising materials to call attention to Lakin’s “big 100.” The seal was designed by Don Musick, a former Lakin High School principal whose painted school mascots adorned many gymnasiums in Kansas including Lakin’s.
Pitchers of beer, soft drinks, and food were available at the Centennial Ale House which was set up a half block west of Main and Waterman in a building that was owned at the time by Guy McCombs. Musical entertainment was also on tap there. The beer garden was the brainchild of a group of Lakin women who voluntarily worked the venue to raise money for centennial activities. The grand opening was held April 13, and the ale house was open to customers several Friday and Saturday nights throughout 1973.
Also in April, Gladys Hoyt and Ruben Maerz were selected as Queen and King by Lakin Manor residents and staff to represent the manor in centennial events. An old-fashioned basket dinner and hymnfest were conducted later that month at the Methodist Church under the direction of Rev. Duane Harms.
Former Lakinites came from all over the country to attend Centennial Days June 1-3. Frances Bostrom of the Lakin Booster Club was the chairman and coordinator of the big shindig which took the cooperation of dozens of organizations and scores of individuals to successfully orchestrate. The V.F.W. Auxiliary assembled a display of historic significance in the Memorial Building and served chuckwagon lunches on Friday and Saturday and a dinner on Saturday night. Job’s Daughters held old-time ice cream socials Friday and Saturday afternoons at the Masonic Temple, and the Museum, located in the building now housing Golden Plains Credit Union, was open all three days. A carnival with rides was a major attraction for the kiddies.
The Lakin Methodist Women held a rummage sale, and the Lakin Young Women’s Club conducted a pie sale on Friday. That evening the Lakin 50 Club presented a fashion show featuring yesteryear fashions modeled by beautiful young girls and distinguished dames. The Rhythm Rangers played a dance to close out the day’s events. On Saturday, Homemakers E.H.U. hosted a bake sale, and the Civic and Study Club served hot homemade bread and rolls from the Country Kitchen in the Memorial Building. The afternoon parade was seven blocks long and had 49 entries with winners chosen among both the float and antique car entries.
Shortly before the parade started, a “raid on the village store” was staged for the amusement of the crowd which had gathered on Main Street. Desperadoes Jon Wheat and Stephen McCormick entered Gary’s Grocery and demanded the hidden money sacks. The dastardly duo fled the scene after taking Janice Spencer Urie, an innocent bystander, as hostage. Gary Hayzlett, the irate storekeeper, pursued the bandits with his famous Civil War musket in hand. According to the Lakin Independent, “the scoundrels escaped to their hideaway on the shores of Lake McKinney.”
There were 47 entries in the beard and mustache contest which was judged after the parade. Awards were presented in eight categories with Warren Elliott awarded for fanciest beard and best all-around. Don Bemis won the longest beard category, Charles Hannagan won for fullest beard, and Paul Garcia won for whitest beard. Winning honors for their mustaches were Floyd Schwindt, longest mustache, and Everett Moreland, best trimmed mustache. The Rainbow King hosted a free dance that evening. The weekend’s festivities concluded Sunday with the LaFlora Garden Club and Ministerial Alliance hosting an old-fashioned picnic in the City Park.
There was plenty of do-si-doing going on at the outdoor square dance sponsored by the Lakin Square Dance Club the following weekend, and in July, an enthusiastic and appreciative audience came out to boo the villain and cheer on the hero in an old-fashioned melodrama put on by the Centennial Players at the high school auditorium. Admission was 11¢ or free if wearing centennial garb. Six lucky participants won Shetland ponies in the Shetland pony scramble at the Kearny County Saddle Club’s Centennial Rodeo July 21 and 22. Other events that weekend included the annual Rodeo Parade, an old-fashioned chuckwagon BBQ and a dance at the Ale House. The Santa Fe Railroad’s Centennial rail car was also in Lakin.
A baby beautiful contest for persons 65 and older was one of many activities added to the county fair in August. Ruby Enslow and Oliver Coder won the TOPS-sponsored event. Lakin’s birthday got special attention when Brad Tate arranged for August’s feature race at Santa Fe Downs to be called the Lakin Centennial Stakes. A chartered bus of race horse owners and racing fans from Lakin attended the competition, and Lennus and Frances Bostrom had the honor of presenting a cooling blanket to the winning horse’s owners.
September’s Centennial Art and Antique Show featured the art work of several area artists and an array of vintage items, and the Centennial Christmas Parade in December was called the best ever. Blessed with perfect weather, a large crowd gathered to witness the event which was preceded by an old west shootout on Main Street between a group of bad men from the sandhills and keepers of the peace who were concealed on the roofs of buildings. After the smoke cleared, the posse loaded up the losers in the farm wagon they came to town in and cleared the street for the parade. Lakin’s big birthday year wrapped up with a “Harvey House” Centennial Christmas Luncheon Dec. 21 which was sponsored by the Kearny County Council on Aging and Budget Shop. The program was centered around Lakin’s early railroad history.
The year closed, beards were shaved, and pioneer clothing was packed away. But the memories of 1973 would live on in the hearts and minds of all those who were lucky enough to take part in Lakin’s big 100th birthday bash.
SOURCES: 1973 Lakin Independent archives. History of Kearny Co. Vol. II, Museum archives, and mikelynchcartoons.blogspot.com