Comments on: Elgin, Ks.

By: Mitzi

Mitzi — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 14:46:34 +0000

I was raised in Elgin from 6 grade to graduation from Sedan. When we first moved there we were bussed to Peru for Jr. Hight then to Sedan for High School. Loved living there. The Old School was still there and most of the kids at Elgin would gather there and play on the swings in the school yard and play softball. The Post Office was still open at that time. Then the building that had the grocery store was turned into a Bar. We used to go out West on the Hewins road and ride our bikes to Caney River and visit Robbers Cave and Outlaw's Coral. Loved it there !!!!

By: Eric

Eric — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 23:24:01 +0000

The line was built SW out of Havana to Chataqua, Elgin, Hewins and Cedarvale, where it ended. The Mopac was in Cedarvale before the Santa Fe, so the SF interchanged with them at this point instead of building on. The line was built in 1886-1888 and opened in Dec of 1888, I believe. The line was removed around 1939. At one point, Elgin was the largest cattle shipping point in the US. I'd be more than happy to send you a photo of the sign, but I'd have to have your email addy. Are you by chance in B-ville?

By: jai

jai — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 02:29:57 +0000

Visited a few times. Just curious why there are so many campers and RVs? Awesome town.

By: Patricia Crawford...

Patricia Crawford... — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 16:09:37 +0000

Thank you for the site. My grandfather , Todd Crawford was born there in 1887. He was married to Julia Bailey. His dad, David Crawford was still there in 1880 census that says he was a farmer. this is also the year I have for his dath.
I was told, Todd was a "trail boss". I don't know who he worked for but I know Julia was the cook at the ranch. She had great stories. If anyone remembers these folks I would love to hear from you. I am not sure where they are buried, but I will check the site given above.

By: Jay

Jay — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 03:25:57 +0000

I would be interested in seeing a photo of the railroad sign. The Santa Fe railroad ran to Elgin from Havana Kansas. I'm not sure how far it ran NW of Elgin though.

By: Eric

Eric — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 00:19:53 +0000

The railroad was pulled up in 1939, but if you drive west of town and follow the grade on the right side of the road and then up on the hill, you will eventually come to a spot where it crossed a creek and there is a huge stone bridge/culvert where the rails passed over the creek to your right. The handiwork of it is quite amazing and I have to believe that there were big plans for this brach of the railroad when it was first built. I actually have the depot sign from Elgin in my collection.

By: Steve

Steve — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 03:40:47 +0000

My Uncle owned one of the two gas stations in town in the 1960's….don't remember if the other gas station was still open then. I am not sure when his closed down but I believe it was the late 1970's. My grandmother owned the farm just out of town. At the time, it extended from the base of the hill that led to the cemetary to the main house set back 150 yards from the road towards Sedan past a house that was for the foreman (I think) which was on the opposite side of the main house from the cemetary.

By: Sam Sears

Sam Sears — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 03:33:41 +0000

We used to go into Elgin to buy food back in the mid 50's. My grandparents lived about six miles west of town and were named McGongial.

By: Martha Nicholas

Martha Nicholas — Sat, 06 Aug 2011 04:23:00 +0000

My husband and I just visited Elgin 08/05/11, we were so interested, we came home and looked it up on the internet, to see if we could find out any informationn about what happened in Elgin, Oklahoma. We were amazed with the answers. Thank you, people of Elgin for your replies.

By: killa clowns

killa clowns — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 08:43:34 +0000

Well that's Elgin alright. Everything still looks about the same except the water tower is gone now. That old 66 3/4 ton ford was runnin sob back in the day. That 352 sure did move. Tine drove it all over. We just rebuilt that old fire truck and still use it today.

By: Jane

Jane — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 18:00:15 +0000

When I was a little girl, a lot of the original buildings were still standing and were documents as to what they were. It was like walking back into time to go into the buildings and imagine what it was like 100 years ago. I was very sad when the majority of the buildings washed away in the flood. My sister has a stagecoach that our father purchased for her from a man who made them and either sold them in the cafe or the building next door. I understand that there is new life in Elgin. They have a musical thing going on and are raising funds to build a bigger building as I understand they have outgrown the current facility. Don't court Elgin out just yet
Jane Tulsa

By: Leah Adams

Leah Adams — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 21:03:11 +0000

Wow. Thanks for the post. My mother’s family is from here, in fact, L.C. & F.C. Wait, in the photos of your tombstones, were my great-great uncle & aunt. I remember going to the café there, and getting gas at the gas station, back when I was a little girl in the ‘70’s.

By: Gary Baker

Gary Baker — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 14:19:20 +0000

Sharon: I remember you well. As I remember you lived in the southwest part of town. Had contact with Jimmy Sweeney a while back. You probably don't remember me but in 1956 I dated Gloria Williams. What a good time I always had in Elgin and the many friends I had there. So sad when a town like Elgin dies. It was a real western town and had a very large part of the history of Chautauqua county.

By: Kenneth R. Payne

Kenneth R. Payne — Tue, 31 May 2011 21:26:14 +0000

I am curious as to when you went to the movies there. I was born in elgin in 1937 and lived there for maybe 5 years. On of the few memories i have of the place is of going to the movies as you have described. I have been told me that the lot was the site of my fathers restaurant (Paul and Ella Payne). I hope this reaches you.

Ken Payne

By: Eddie Wheeler

Eddie Wheeler — Mon, 16 May 2011 16:30:31 +0000

I own two lots across the street from the bank would you sell you're lots?
I like this town.

eddiegwheeler@yahoo.com

By: elaine thorn

elaine thorn — Tue, 03 May 2011 15:25:31 +0000

i grew up in elgin went to school in sedan, the best days of my life. when i was there most of the town businesses were already gone but buildings were there, we went through the flood in "86 i remember magrets cafe and rusty brim had a little store at one time then i remember a bar, i believe the gas station just went out of business around the time i was born in "69 i still remember seeing it on the corner. i remember all the pictures in the cafe. my father was louis duncan who lived in elgin most of his life, and when he wasnt working or helping people out in town we were at the river fishing, he is up on the hill now. always heard about how big and busy elgin was but was born to late to see it but nevertheless was always so proud to be part of it.