25th Anniversary Celebration of Nicodemus National Historic Site
On Saturday November 13, a diversified group of happy, determined people gathered in the Visitors’ Center to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the establishment of Nicodemus as a National Historic Site. Nicodemus is nationally significant because it is the only remaining black settlement established by freed slaves in the United States. Among those present was Superintendent Frank Torres, Bert Frost, NPS Midwest Regional Director, Omaha Neb., past superintendents, Sherda Williams, Mark Weaver and retired NPS Ranger Felix Revello, filling in for Steve Linderer. Other persons on the discussion panels were Dr. Angela Bates; Barrie Tompkins, Clara Wooden, Former NPS Midwest Region Deputy Regional Director; LaSharon Wigfall, Associate Professor of Landscape Architecture, Land Regional & Community Planning from Kansas State University; Starr Woods, Project Associate, Trust for Public Lands; Jason Corzine, National Park Foundation Vice President-Resource Manager; Park Rangers LueCreasea Horn and Brendon Oats. All contributed the lively discussions.
Frost began the program by holding up a copy of the Act of Congress that established Nicodemus as a National Historic Site and explained that a Congressional action was necessary to establish a National Historic Site. Angela Bates, the primary architect of the gathering of necessary information and support to accomplish passage of this Act, gave a moving and impassioned presentation of her childhood memories of the annual family vacations traveling from Pasadena, Calif., to come “home” to Nicodemus. She acknowledged those who had given her the support and encouragement to succeed in her mission. Verl Switzer was one of the first to tell her that she must be the one to accomplish the longed-for goal of many town residents, descendants of the freed slaves who had come to Kansas in 1877.
All of those who contributed to the planning, the management, and the future of the site were open about their feelings of reverence for the people and the land of Nicodemus and are devoted to seeing that the site continue to flourish. The restoration of the AME Church has recently been completed. Other buildings are in need of restoration. A new visitor’s center is at the top of the list of needed improvements at the site. During the meeting it was announced that the land for the new visitor’s center has been designated. Leo and Bonita Oliva attended this event.
Oliva attended this event. On Tuesday November 16, Bonita Oliva traveled to Mark Arts, Wichita, to view the 2021 Western Regional Juried Exhibition of Traditional Oils. Approximately one-hundred-fifty paintings were shown. Two Kansas artists, Kim Casebeer and David Vollbracht had paintings in the exhibition. Bonita has taken painting workshops from both of these artists.
