Westphalia patrons will celebrate the town’s 135th anniversary Sunday THE 135TH anniversary celebration will begin at 10:30 a.m. with the Biennial High School Reunion at St. Teresa’s with a potluck dinner at noon.
The town dates back to September 1879 when Smith P. Cornell settled on a farm 1½ miles east of the Coffey County line at the head of Thomas Creek. I
In November of that year railroad tracks were laid across Anderson County to the Coffey County line. A railroad station was located on the Cornell farm and a post office was opened in Cornell’s home. The town plat for the city of Cornell was filed in January 1880.
Two brothers, Carl and Emile Flusche, German immigrants from Westphalia, Iowa, arrived in Cornell later that year. They liked the area and brought their family to the area and purchased the Cornell farm.
The brothers built a store and later requested the name of the railroad station be changed to Westphalia. In September 1881 the name was officially changed to Westphalia through the District Court of Anderson County.
A parade will begin at the elementary school at 3 p.m. Kids’ activities will follow in the church yard and pictures from the past will be shown in the church basement at 4 p.m.
A free-will donation dinner will begin at 5 p.m. in the church basement. The menu will consist of pulled pork, hot dogs, cheesy potatoes, baked beans, dessert and drinks.
Commemorative T-shirt order forms are available at Patriot’s Bank in Westphalia. DVD order forms will be available that day for the purchase of pictures shown.
For more information contact Donna Mader at 785-489-2247 or Marilyn Brooks at 785-489-2324.
Westphalia to celebrate 135th anniversary Sunday
