We are staying at the city park campground in Concordia, KS. which is about 32 miles south of the Nebraska line. This is a pretty little park but the RV spaces and water/electric hookups are a bit funny. Most of the hookups are on the wrong side of the pads but you get what you pay for and they don’t charge us wandering folks anything…donations are appreciated.
Concordia is a friendly place but there doesn’t appear to have been any new construction in a number of years. Yet there are several sites to see.
One of the most interesting things we have encountered yet is the old depot. Concordia was one of the points that the Orphan Train came to sometime between 1854 and 1925. We had heard of these trains but had not ever seen as much information or memorabilia as we found here. If case you are not familiar with these trains, just a brief bit. There were so many children in New York City that were orphans or that parents could not care for during the above stated years that it was decided to basically find homes for them in other parts of the country. It was felt that if they were removed from the poverty and life they were living on the streets of New York, they could be given better lives. So they were matched with families that were willing to take them in. The families were checked out and precautions were taken because the people in charge were truly trying to find good homes for these children. And of course farm families were looking for help. The final trains ran in 1929. Anyway, for more, and better, info Google away. This also led the way to the idea of foster homes.
We also traveled just a few miles outside of Concordia and saw what remained of the POW camp that existed here during WWII. This is all that remains. 
Then of course we had to eat and Gambino’s Pizzeria was right down our alley….or on the main street. We visited with the young lady who was waiting tables…we were the only patrons as it was about 2:00. People are always interested when they find out we are full time RVers and as in any small town, they know when you are not locals. The pizza was yummy and luckily we have enough left over for dinner.
We stopped by to view the mural that has been sculpted out of the brick facade of one of the buildings down town. Please notice the children and the nun you can see in one of the train cars.
Bob was having a bit of discomfort with a tooth so I brought him home to rest and I made my obligatory visit to the local quilt shop, FABRIC ESSENTIALS. OH MY GOSH…there were more bolts of fabric than there are people in Concordia. The owner, Marsha Doyenne, was kind enough to help me select some fabrics that will go forward with us on our travels. (Rosanne, do you see the buttons laying on top of the fabric?)
Only one more thing I wanted to see and that is the convent of the Sisters of Saint Joseph at the Nazareth Motherhouse.
A brief stop at Walmart and home for the evening with a movie from Red Box. We have no satellite as we are in the trees and I have no internet so will post this ASAP.
Moving On.
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