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Chase County Sketches


1863 - 2003





SWOPE PARK

By: Mrs. Donna Stubenhofer

Mr. and Mrs. Lee M. Swope will long be remembered by the citizens of Chase County, with gratitude for their gift to the City of Cottonwood Falls of a 37'/2 acre tract of ground, adjoining it to the southeast - now known as Swope Park. They called it a gift of appreciation to the community where they had lived so long. They expressed gratitude for the friendships that make life so worth-while. They hoped that this would add to the opportunity for recreation of their friends and their children. (The Swope's had no children of their own.)

Over the years, it has been a place for gatherings of all kinds, particularly the Chase County Fair. Golf links, athletic fields, school play days, horse races, motor cycle races, trap shoots, summer baseball programs, family reunions, class reunions, and picnics - all enjoyed at the Swope Park.

The Park was presented to the City of Cottonwood Falls by L.M. Swope and Mary L. Swope, and dedicated to the memory of their mothers - Anna Eliza Swope and Mary Hillert.

George and Frank Roniger of Bazaar, Kansas built and donated a large shelter house with fireplace; then, the Pepperettes HDU of Cottonwood Falls built and donated another shelter house. In December, 1965 the construction began on an olympic size swimming pool, which had been voted and approved by the citizens of Cottonwood Falls. It opened on Memorial Day, 1966.

Since the time of presentation to the City of Cottonwood Falls, many people from Chase County and elsewhere have enjoyed the thoughtfulness of the Swope's.



Chase County Centennial, 1872 - 1972




Chase County Submitted Historical Sketches
compiled and abstracted from the Chase County Courant, Chase County Leader, other sources and newspapers
by your Chase County Host, Lorna Marvin.
Please submit your historical sketches.




Chase County Host
Lorna Marvin



Return to Chase County Submitted Historical Sketches


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Last updated 11/10/2003
   
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