Neosho Falls triples for feed

NEOSOHO FALLS —
The population of Neosho Falls tripled Saturday as former residents poured in from around the region for the third annual community bean feed.
Mayor Ron German noted last year’s attendance was 275; the town has around 80 full-time residents.
“We cook 60 pounds of beans and 80 pounds of ham,” German said. “And we go through about 400 chunks of cornbread.”
The feed grew to fill a space after the former “Old Settlers Celebration” died out, German said. Feeling the loss, a core group of citizens “just started doing it.”
A few years back, German and some friends “were just shooting the breeze,” about the former gathering and what could be done in its stead. “Some neighbors south of town had a big pot,” he said, and the idea of a bean feed took shape.
Until this year the city paid for the meal, German said. With costs “right around $3,000,” the mayor said this year the city approached the Woodson County Chamber of Commerce for funding.
The meal is a gift to the commutniy.
“Nobody charges any money at all,” he said.
“It takes about three hours to cook the beans,” noted Paul Baker, head cook. Baker also mans a locomotive-shaped smoker that he and the others built to prepare the ham for the event.
“It took us three winters to make it,” Baker said of the smoker, which is made from an old oil tank.
Ed Fitzpatrick supplied the giant kettle for the beans, and a huge copper pot used to hold cold drinks.
Additional volunteers put in time and effort necessary to set up and feed the crowds.
Thea Barrett of Houston, Texas, was dishing out stewed white beans laced with huge chunks of ham.
“This is the first time “I’ve ever done this,” she said.
Barrett had brought her father, Thomas Barrett, back to Neosho Falls for the event.
He lived there until recently, she said, and is good friends with Baker, Fitzpatrick and the other residents.
One of his buddies came up to Thea Barrett and showed her a nicley packaged bag of ragweed, something for her father “to remember Kansas by” when he returned to Texas, he said.
“He’s really allergic,” Thea Barrett noted with a laugh. “Those guys are always having fun.”
Such antics are one example, she said, of why Houston may be where she works, but Kansas is home.

BEFORE the feed began, a parade of local vehicles coursed down Main Street.
A 1926 Model T, mule cart, horse cart and golf carts all partook.
“Last year it lasted all of 45 seconds,” Mike Bruner quipped.
This year’s parade took about a minute and a half.
“It’s about long enough,” Charlene German joked. “I’m not into parades.”
Of course, she pointed out, that was her son, the mayor, at the lead.

By ANNE KAZMIERCZAK Register Reporter
09/07/10