News, Events & County History
Check out this short video about one-room schools in Kearny County!
Lake McKinney: Kearny County’s once popular recreation destination
Scout troops, fishermen, hunters, boating enthusiasts and other adventure seekers flocked to the shores of Lake McKinney for nearly 70 years, but what once was the largest man-made reservoir in Kansas has been closed to the public since 1978. Located just 2 ½ miles east of Lakin, Lake McKinney was born out of a need for “sure” water to grow sugar beets. The crop was already thriving in the Deerfield and Lakin areas when a group of wealthy Colorado capitalists and Garden City businessmen became interested in expanding into Finney County and increasing the amount of sugar beets grown here. The group was incorporated in 1905 as the United States Sugar And Land Company. Since sugar beets require large amounts of water, the group purchased the Great Eastern Ditch System and 12,000 acres of land along the ditch in Finney and Kearny counties. Completed in February 1907, the lake covered roughly 3,000 acres of land and held over 30,000 acre feet of water. Lake McKinney was fed by Arkansas River water through the Great Eastern Canal from the headgates at Hartland, and water was held at the lake until needed for irrigation. When lawsuits against the ditch company and flood damage forced them to abandon the western section of the ditch, water was carried to the lake through the Amazon Canal. Named for J. R. McKinney who was treasurer of US Sugar And Land, Lake McKinney was also known simply as the reservoir or Reservoir #5.
The construction of the reservoir was not without controversy. Lake McKinney covered ground that was formerly occupied by farms. Some of the land had been abandoned, but other farmers did not sell willingly. Their land was taken from them which led to lawsuits against the Sugar And Land Company. In Volume II of the History of Kearny County, Irene Frazer Boughton reminisced about her first glimpse of Lake McKinney as a five-year-old, “The lake must have been in the filling stages for I saw great cottonwoods turning yellow as they stood in the water clear up to their branches—some were almost submerged.” The image of a large two-story white home standing in the lake with water almost to its second story remained vivid in her mind many moons later. By August of 1907, newspapers reported that the water in the reservoir was 27 feet deep and sufficient to irrigate thousands of acres, and Lake McKinney became a popular recreation spot from the time it was filled.
The United States Sugar And Land Company; however, faced bond foreclosures which wiped out many stockholders. The original company name lasted from 1905 thru 1913. The company then became Garden City Sugar And Land Company. The next foreclosure came in 1920, and the name was changed to Garden City Company. Since the last foreclosure in 1930, the company has been known as The Garden City Company.
The Kansas Forestry, Fish and Game Commission leased the lake from the Garden City Company in 1947 to provide Kansans and tourists with additional fishing and hunting opportunities. The original lease cost $10, and the Garden City Company retained the water rights. The Fish and Game Commission agreed to build access roads and stock the lake, and the Lake McKinney Improvement Association formed in the 1950s and enhanced the lake with picnic tables, a well house, docks and ramps, and concessions. The LMIA also built and maintained camping areas with all the improvements being funded through dues-paying members. While some maps still showed the body of water as Lake McKinney, others referred to it as the Kearny County State Lake.
The lake grew in recreational importance as it lessened in agricultural importance. A 1967 Garden City Telegram article reported that there had been as many as 60-70 boats on the water at one time that summer and that membership in the LMIA was at an all-time high. At its peak, the organization had about 200 dues-paying members.
Ultimately a lake is only a lake if there is water, and that was something that outdoorsmen could not rely on. The reservoir went dry more than once and experienced several periods of low water levels caused by drought conditions, irrigation demands, and the operation of the John Martin and Pueblo reservoirs in Colorado which reduced the amount of water flowing in the Arkansas River. The lake was dry for most of the 70s, and tensions were at an all-time high. Kansas and Colorado had long battled over water rights. Some LMIA members argued that the Fish and Game Commission was not doing enough. LMIA rules were such that when there was no water to retain the membership, members didn’t pay. With a dried-out lake, there was no income from dues, but the association claimed the commission still expected the organization to maintain everything.
“The association has a sublease from us for $1 per year,” said Walter Harrison, then chief of Fish and Game field services, “but it always surprises them when we wonder why they don’t do what their contract calls for. We build and maintain the access roads, but we have to get approval from The Garden City Company for any improvements.” Justifying large expenditures on a lake that was privately owned was also a roadblock for the State.
In 1977, The Garden City Company, announced that the land was too important to let it stand idle. The company converted 1,800 acres of the reservoir to cropland, cleared much of the timber and brush, and constructed dikes in the lakebed to control water movement leaving approximately 1,050 acres in the middle of the lake for irrigation storage which was still leased to the Fish and Game Commission. The area included waterfowl resting islands and refuge. The conversion of the lake virtually halted public hunting and fishing opportunities. The Kansas Fish and Game Commission terminated its agreement in 1978, and the reservoir was closed to the public.
SOURCES: The Lake That Disappeared by Barbara Oringderff; Lake McKinney’s Start Marked by Happiness, Tragedy by Barbara Oringderff; A Brief History of “The Garden City Company” & “Sugar Factory” by W. F. Stoeckly; History of Kearny County Vols. I & II; Kansas State Historical Society; and archives of The Advocate, Lakin Independent, Topeka Daily Capital, Wichita Eagle, Kansas Farmer and Mail and Breeze, Garden City Telegram, The Waverly Gazette, and Marshall County News
Museum to re-open to public June 2
We are pleased to announce that Kearny County Museum will re-open to the public on June 2. Visitors may view exhibits in the Main Museum Building and Annex, but all outer buildings will remain locked. We are limited to no more than 10 guests at a time. There will be no guided tours.
TO HELP US KEEP COVID-19 OUT OF OUR MUSEUM, THE FOLLOWING RULES WILL BE ENFORCED:
1. Face masks are required (wear your own as we will not provide them).
2. Maintain a social distance of 6 feet from other guests and staff.
3. Cover your coughs and sneezes.
4. Only sit in designated areas.
5. Do not touch artifacts or display cases.
6. Children 12 and younger must be accompanied by an adult who is responsible for supervising them and making sure they follow our rules.
7. You will be asked to leave if you do not follow these rules.
IF YOU ARE NOT FEELING WELL, HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH COVID-19 OR HAVE HAD RECENT CONTACT WITH A PERSON WHO HAS COVID-19, DO NOT VISIT THE MUSEUM UNTIL YOU ARE FEELING BETTER AND/OR HAVE SELF-QUARANTINED FOR 14 DAYS.
If you have items to donate, please call first for drop-off instructions.
The lasting impact of small town ways
The origin of “It takes a village to raise a child,” may be somewhat of a mystery, but that certainly makes the saying no less true. We are who we are mainly because of relationships we had with adults and values they taught us as children. This is especially true for those of us who grew up in small communities like Lakin, Deerfield and Kendall.
Our young minds were not only shaped by our parents but also by Sunday School instructors, Scout leaders, teachers and coaches. Even something as seemingly insignificant as the demeanor shown by the clerk who rang up our ‘candy’ bill at the local grocery store planted a seed about hospitality and good manners.
Local librarians ignited a spark that turned into a lifelong love of reading. Our first employers took a chance on fresh faces, taught us responsibility and rewarded us accordingly. As young athletes, musicians, and actors, we were cheered on by the entire community. Helpful words of advice were given freely and taken to heart.
Growing up in rural SW Kansas meant our parents knew everyone. We were set free on Halloween night to go all over town. Neighborhood moms were happy to give us a ride to school. Neighborhood dads shot hoops with us and repaired the flat tires on our bikes. We never went hungry because local gardeners were happy to share. Hand-me-downs from the family next door were eagerly accepted and appreciated. At our darkest moments, thoughtful souls stopped by with food for our families and words of comfort.
Times have changed, but fortunately Kearny County hasn’t. In this time of Covid-19 and all its uncertainty, we witness younger generations giving back to the “village” that gave them so much. In the midst of crisis, we see perhaps clearer than ever the true blessings of community and small town ways.
Museum remains closed as Covid-19 arrives in Kearny County
The Kearny County Historical Society Museum remains closed to the public at this time due to the potential spread of Covid-19. We are unsure when we will be able to open again as cases in Kearny County continue to increase. We will keep you posted on the situation, and rest assured, we will take every precaution to keep our visitors and staff safe when we are allowed to re-open.
Museum Closed to Visitors
Kearny County Museum values the health and well-being of our guests, community and staff. As a precautionary measure,we are closed to visitors until at least April 1. As the threat of Covid-19 increases and authorities make ever-changing recommendations and policies, we anticipate that we could be closed longer.
We apologize for any inconvenience and encourage you to practice social distancing, avoid large gatherings of people and stay at home if possible to protect yourself and your loved ones from the Coronavirus.
Our staff will still be available by phone during regular business hours should you have a question or need research assistance.
Covid-19 Leads to Cancellation of Annual Meeting
In keeping in line with the CDC’s recommendation that events involving groups of 50 or larger be postponed or cancelled, the Kearny County Historical Society will NOT be having its Annual Meeting on March 28. If possible, we will reschedule at a later date. We apologize to our members and friends. Please stay home and stay safe!
Annual Meeting 2020
The 62nd Annual Meeting of the Kearny County Historical Society will be Saturday, March 28, at the Deerfield Community Building. Doors will open at 6 p.m., and a meal of beef and noodles with mashed potatoes and all the fixin’s will be served at 6:30. The meal is being catered by Kandy Katz.
A short business meeting will follow the dinner. Election of board members will also take place. Only members of the Historical Society may vote.
Guest speaker for the evening will be Hannes Zacharias. In the summer of 1976, Zacharias put his kayak in the Arkansas River at his hometown of Dodge City and traveled all the way down the river to New Orleans. He promised himself that he would one day make the trip again. In 2018, the then 64-year-old fulfilled that promise, but this time he traveled the entire length of the Arkansas from its beginnings in the Rocky Mountains to Venice, Louisiana. Zacharias will be talking about his journey, and observations and friendships he made along the way.
The annual meeting and dinner are free, but reservations are required for the event. They can be made by calling the Kearny County Museum at 355-7448. RESERVATIONS MUST BE MADE BY 4 P.M. ON THURSDAY, MARCH 19.
Coloring Contest Winners
Kearny County Museum congratulates second graders Renata Quinones, Miles Delgado, Briseis Ornelas and Alex Johnson. The four students were winners of our Kansas Day coloring contest. Each received a special gift for their efforts, and their pictures will hang in the museum lobby until the end of the month.
As part of their Kansas Day curriculum, second graders from Lakin and Deerfield visited the museum for tours of the main building, annex and school house. They learned about Kansas and local history during their visit.
