HUMBOLDT — Humboldt residents gathered around the historic bandstand on the town square Saturday afternoon to celebrate the fact it is listed on the National Historic Register of Historic Places. The recognition came after the Downtown Action Team applied for the list. The bandstand was surveyed two summers ago by the Kansas Historical Society. They were notified the week of January 8 that they made the cut.
Representatives from the city, county and state spoke during the opening presentation to guests. The late State Rep. Ed Bideau and Sen. Caryn Tyson helped amend Kansas statutes on historic preservation.
Bideau’s wife Margaret and brother David spoke before the crowd, saying how Ed loved the Humboldt community and would have been pleased to see the bandstand on the historic list.
Tyson commended the community on its efforts on making the project a reality.
The bandstand was built in the early 1900s. Before it made the list the Downtown Action Team made improvements to the bandstand. It raised $10,000 in materials to make cosmetic changes to the flooring, ceilings and new lighting. Local businesses and community members helped with the project.
During the afternoon different area bands played on the band stand to entertain the crowd. The Downtown Action Team presented the historic plaque to the City of Humboldt. The sign will be placed on the stand.
