Wilmington Stone School Building, built in 1870 of locally quarried limestone.

This is the original school building that my great-grandfather, Hiram McPherson helped build in the new town of Wilmington, Kansas, southwest of Topeka on the Santa Fe trail. I was told that the trail became the main street of the town and you can see it here as it ran in front of the school house.
He was a Civil War veteran and he with several of his friends from Wilmington, Ohio came to this new town right after the war. They brought their new wives and settled in Wilmington and nearby Harveyville.
The Santa Fe trail ruts are still visible in the pastures to the east and west of Wilmington.

Hi Phyllis, thanks for sharing your family's history with us! It's fascinating to learn about the town of Wilmington and its connection to the Santa Fe trail. We'd love to hear more about your experiences growing up in Wabaunsee County at that time. Do you remember any specific events or landmarks that are no longer around? What changes have you noticed in the area since this photo was taken in 1984?