The Lumberyard Arts Center
Don Coldsmith
Monday, October 23, 2006
WHAT? Is this a misprint or something? No; at least we’ll hope not. It does challenge the mind for a moment, but what part does a lumberyard play in the “Fine Arts,” or vice-versa?
We have to look back a century and a half to answer this puzzle. Back to when there was not yet even any state of Kansas. Kansas was still a territory, opening to settlement. By agreement between the “Northern” and “Southern” locations in the Congress, a new area entering the United States of America would be able to decide at its first election whether it would permit slavery. It was a bit more complicated, but that was the general idea. This made it quite important, to some religious groups, to get into the new Kansas Territory and put down some roots. One of these, quite active on the cutting edge, was the Methodist Church.
Mainstream Methodism was heavily focused on higher education and intended to open university-level institutions beyond the frontier. With this in mind, they crossed into Kansas Territory in 1858 and opened a university on the Santa Fe Trail, the first school of higher learning, even before statehood. Baker University, it was called, named for an early prospective donor. The University of Kansas was established the following year, on the Kansas River, within walking distance north.
Volumes have been written about the intense history of the area in the next few years. Almost every important event leading up to the Civil War occurred nearly within a stone’s throw of the town which grew up there: Baldwin City, Kansas. The most infamous madmen of the entire coming war operated there: John Brown for the North; William Quantrill for the South. Dozens, possibly hundreds, of killings (or murders) occurred in the area, long before Fort Sumpter was fired upon to “start” the war in 1861.
Meanwhile, the town of Baldwin City expanded. Several other small towns were springing up and milled lumber must have been in great demand. The day of log structures was over. As the towns grew in size, one of the largest and most modern of the new industries in Baldwin City was the lumberyard. This is borne out by the distinguished design of the front of the building today.
The brick front of the Ives-Hartley Lumber Company (previously the Baldwin Lumber Company) was erected in 1914. My parents graduated from Baker University about that time. The lumberyard was already a local institution then. They were married at the home of my mother’s parents, just north of town. No, this doesn’t have anything to do with the lumberyard, but all four of their children (I was No. 3) attended Baker.
Baldwin City was still growing after World War II when I arrived there as a student. Students arriving at college always needed a few boards or nails, screws and assorted hardware to prepare a rental, dorm, fraternity house or other quarters for residence. Anything needed could be obtained at The Lumberyard. It had become an institution. of an unusual type. “They don’t make ‘em like THAT any more.”
A few years ago, it appeared that the days of the lumberyard might be numbered. Despite the fact that the area continues to grow, students have more refinement in their needs — electronic and Internet, etc. Many needs originally dependent on the old lumberyard are now supplied by huge corporate building supply sources, many items “outsourced” from other countries.
But sometimes preservation becomes important. Thousands of students, townspeople and nearby neighboring areas have a soft heart for memories of the old lumberyard. The building is sound. Thus was born the Lumberyard Arts Center Project, a National Heritage Foundation. “A Home for the Arts.” The completed center will provide a home for musical and comedy performances, exhibits, drama productions, classrooms and workshops in all areas of the arts and will enhance the quality of life for all Baldwin residents in an accessible, familiar and friendly location. Additionally, it will provide a unique gathering place for community meetings and serve as an attraction for visitors to this historic area. There will be a benefit concert at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 8 on the Baker University campus featuring Kevin Mahogany, jazz vocalist (a Baker graduate and supporter of the Arts) and a great performer.
For more information: P.O. Box 523, Baldwin City, KS 66006.
See you down the road.
Author and columnist Don Coldsmith lives in Emporia.
eduardoalarcon (anonymous) says...
The building is sound. Thus was born the Lumberyard Arts Center Project, a National Heritage Foundation. “A Home
_______________________________________________
Hi Don,
You may need to check with the Lumberyard. They quit the NHF in 2006
This this kind of activity might have something to do with their decision?
Press Release
September 11, 2008
Yesterday, a Cameron County jury awarded $9 million in damages to Dr. Juan and Sylvia Mancillas in their lawsuit against the National Heritage Foundation (“NHF”). Dr. and Mrs. Mancillas sued NHF in 2005 because NHF changed the beneficiaries of three multi-million dollar life insurance policies from the Mancillas children to itself.
In December 1997, NHF sold Dr. and Mrs. Mancillas a charitable split dollar life insurance plan with annual premiums of about $85,000 on $7 million in life insurance. The large amount of life insurance was necessary because the Mancillases youngest son suffered a severe brain injury at the age of 6 that has left him unable to speak, walk or care for himself.
NHF did not inform the Mancillases that the tax deduction was not allowed or that it could have just paid the premiums themselves to insure that their sons still got the life insurance benefits. Had they done that, NHF would be out of the picture and would lose out on their substantial fees. NHF instead modified the plan—without telling Dr. or Mrs. Mancillas—so that it was the sole beneficiary of millions of dollars in 48,000 in premiums over seven years with no knowledge that NHF had changed the beneficiary to itself.
“I can’t help but wonder how many of the other 600 families with charitable split dollar life insurance plans with NHF have also had their children removed as beneficiaries just so that NHF could be the sole beneficiary”, said the Mancillases attorney, Albert Garcia. “Hundreds of families may still be sending NHF millions of dollars each year for life insurance premiums, thinking that their kids will receive the death benefits when they die,” warned Mr. Garcia. He added, “NHF said nothing to the Mancillases so why wouldn’t they pull the same stunt with these 600 other families.”
Dr. and Mrs. Mancillas were represented by Albert Garcia and Adrian Martinez of the McAllen, Texas law firm of Garcia & Martinez, L.L.P. They specialize in complex commercial and personal injury litigation.
Posted By Eduardo Alarcon
19319 Inverness Dr.
Spicewood, TX 78669
(512) 217-6655
Eduardo.alarcon@sbcglobal.net
P.S. If you want to contact the Law Firm mentioned in the press release please contact them directly at:
April P. Adrian, Paralegal
GARCIA & MARTINEZ, L.L.P.
10113 N. 10th Street, Suite H
McAllen, Texas 78504
(956) 380-3700 – office
(956) 380-3703 – fax
april@garmtzlaw.com
October 8, 2008 at 1:35 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
Thank you for that excellent information, Eduardo Alarcon.
I'd be willing to bet this is happening with the other families. This begs the question, who or what will go after the NHF now that a precedent is set?
Sneaky and underhanded. A Pox on the NHF!!! I'm surprised they're still around after this.
What say you, Coldsmith?
October 8, 2008 at 1:48 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )