Send Halstead Marks 125 Years Of Old Settlers Celebration

Reporter: Jason Tarr

Saturday, August 11, 2012

Jerry McMillen and his wife found a 1937 Ford Cabriolet in Texas.

"We are from the 1940's and 1950's and we wanted something that reminds us of older times," McMillen said.

He's fixed it up and brought it to Halstead for the Rod Run Car Show done in conjunction with the Old Settlers celebration.

"Everybody likes to see a then and now concept," said McMillen, a leader of the River City Rod and Custom club.

No place is the 'then and now' concept on better display than at Old Settlers in Halstead.

It's the longest continuing-running celebration in Harvey County and one of the oldest in Kansas. It began in 1887 as a picnic in Halstead's Riverside Park.

Now, it attracts hundreds of visitors every year. A grand parade highlights the weekend that pays homage to the spirit of the people of the community, both past and present.

"It's a party for the town," Rod Run organizer Bill Millspaugh said. "We celebrate every year no matter if you are five or six years old, it doesn't matter. I think it's hard to appreciate what they had to go through back 125 years ago to have a festival."

Over the past 125 years, that festival has evolved and continues to grow.

"I imagine it has changed over the years, not sure they had a fly-in like they do now," Millspaugh said.

The Mid-America Antique Airplane Group fly-in is now done every year in conjunction with Old Settlers. Planes lead off the grand parade by flying down Main Street and then coming to rest in Halstead's Wiebe Airfield.

"In essence, it's like a flying museum out here," said Randy Shields, secretary/treasurer for the Mid-America Antique Airplane Group.

It's yet another chance for visitors to Old Settlers to take a stroll down memory lane.

"It's really pretty amazing when you get to see them go down the runway and feel the vibration in your body," Shields said. "It's really living aviation history."

And, keeping history alive is exactly why people such as Jerry McMillen are in town.

"It brings all the old-timers back," McMillen said.

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