School & Community News

Yates Center Historic Town Square

As the class of 1972 is nearing our 50th High School Reunion, I believe it is a good time to consider leaving an important legacy to the youth that will follow us as graduates of Yates Center High School. Those before us left us a wonderful legacy in the Yates Center Historic Town Square.

In the 1990s, a local historian Linda Call and numerous building owners on the YC Square applied for a themantic nomination of 33 buidlings that are now listed on the Kansas and United States Registers of Historic Buildings. There are over 20 of these buildings that are either closed and/or in dire need of restoration. There are 21 apartments above the retail part of these structures that need restoration. We are all very pleased with the wonderful restoration of the Woodson Hotel that was completed a few years back. This is the quality of restoration we have as a goal for all of our historic buildings.

Numerous buildings still standing on the Yates Center Historic Town Square are for sell and need restoration. I have this past month been negotiating purchase of the YC Temple Theater that was created in 1930 w/modification of the original Woodson Opera House on the north side of the Square. We are planning a simple and functional restoration of the YC Temple Theater with the goal to open in 3 years.

You may not be aware of the 85 booklets entitled 'In The Beginning' that was written by Les Harding in the 1970s. This series of graphic historic stories about the settlement of Woodson County is for sell at the Woodson County Historic Museum when it is open or by contacting Linda Call when it is closed. You may purchase each book separately or aquire the entire series with one transaction.

After some consideration, I and other local YC alumni are exploring the forming of a non-profit Yates Center Historic Town Square preservation LLC with a trust that will own and restore the YC Temple Theater. We plan to purchase the building as possible to proceed with the cleaning and restoration of the structure that has been closed since 1985.

The Kansas Historic Theater Association will be meeting in Belleville, Kansas on Wednesday Oct 24th from 11 am to 4 pm. Join us at the Belleville Theater for this event. It is a great opportunity to network, learn new skills and have fun!

We need members, volunteers, investors and enthusiasts. If you would like to be involved in our efforts to document, protect and restore Yates Center's Historic Town Square, please write to me at EileenMSmithMArch@yahoo.com

Share this with other alumni who attended Yates Center High School from the 1800s to the present. We have great plans for Yates Center Historic Town Square for it has truly only just begun to live . . . white lace and promises a gift for luck and we're on our way! Being a part of restoring these historic buildings allows us to live beyond our natural lifespan.