Chase County holiday tour set
Gives visitors a look at Flint Hills homes
By The Emporia Gazette (Contact)
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Signs of the upcoming holiday season are popping up everywhere. In Chase County, it’s time for the annual holiday tour.
The tour will be from 2 to 5 p.m. Nov. 24 and will include three homes and a church. The homes tour is a part of this year’s Chase County Christmas, according to the Chase County Chamber of Commerce.
The homes include:
F Pioneer Bluffs on the Flint Hills National Scenic Byway, one mile north of Matfield Green. Charles W. Rogler, who was 17 in 1853, left his family in Asch, Austria, to come to the United States. Six years later he settled in the Flint Hills near Matfield Green on the 160-acre spread that is today known as Pioneer Bluffs. The ranch remained in the Rogler family until 2006. At that time, the 4,081 remaining acres of the historical Chase County ranch sold at auction for almost $7 million. The Pioneer Bluffs Foundation now own 12 acres, where the home and outbuildings sit along with a replica of the cabin Charles Rogler built in 1859.
F St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Strong City, one block south of U.S. Highway 50 on the Flint Hills National Scenic Byway. St. Anthony’s was built in 1880 with native Chase County limestone. It featured 10 large stained glass windows with a total building cost of $4,021.02. In Jan. 1881, seats were installed for congregates. Prior to that services were held without seating. The year 1881 also brought a tornado, which hit the church, ripping off the doors and severely damaging the walls. The parish became a mission served by pastors from Council Grove in 1980. This year, the church underwent a renovation.
F Josh and Gwen Hoy’s home on the Flying W Ranch, 1/4 mile south of the Clements Stone Arch Bridge. The Hoy home is part of a 10,000-acre working cattle ranch. The home sits in a valley along the Cottonwood River. The ranch offers guest ranch experiences to Chase County visitors. The four-square home has been completely restored with a gourmet kitchen and hardwood floors.
F Beverly and Jerry Hedrick Home east of Strong City, just north of U.S. Highway 50 on Peyton Creek Road. For years, this home has been referred to as a “prairie palace.” Every room of the nearly 5,000 square foot home is decorated in a cowboy or western-themed way with western art, furniture and accessories.