History defines our current existence. One way to effectively preserve the essence of the past is by talking with people who lived during that time. “We can chart our future clearly and wisely only when we know the path which has led to the present.” ~ Adlai Stevenson
The Larned community seeks information about Fort Larned from when it was a ranch. This time period was significant because the families living at the fort helped preserve the historic buildings before it became a National Historic Site.
Various organizations are working in collaboration on a project to collect oral interviews of people who were in close connection with farming at the Fort Larned Ranch.
Project sponsors include the Santa Fe Trail Center and Fort Larned National Historic Site, Golden Valley Co-operative, the towns of Rozel and Burdett, First State Bank and Trust, the city of Larned, and Giessel Brothers Farm. Information on crops planted while ranching, changes to the fort, and social interactions are a few of the subjects being studied.
Scarlett Olsen and Kevin Vonfeldt are two interns who will be conducting the oral interviews as part of the Ogallala Commons Community Internship Program. This internship exposes students to experiences in rural development, such as the preservation of oral history. Tom Giessel is overseeing the funding of the project.
The project is still in need of sponsors. Individuals and service organizations are encouraged to be sponsors. If you or a group of people would like to help out, or know of people who have a close connection with the fort, please contact Tom Giessel at (620) 285-2517 or Tom.giessel@gmail.com, or contact Fort Larned National Historic Site at (620) 285-6911 or fols_superintendent@nps.gov.
