 | Faye Graves, a native Wichitan, attended school at Friends and Wichita State, concluding at Midwestern Theological Seminary. He has been active in media for many years with Channel 12, KIRL, KFDI, KOOO AM & FM (Omaha), KFRM & KICT 95, as an owner, manager, producer, director and announcer. He has served as President of the Haysville Board of Education. He has also served on several national boards of the Southern Baptist Convention. Faye currently serves as Executive Pastor and Director of Administration and Education at Immanuel Baptist Church, 1415 S. Topeka, Wichita. You may contact Faye by e-mail fmgraves@amenibc.org, or by phone at (316) 262-1452. |
Nostalgia
2005-09-01 07:39:00
Homes in the Fall
: Do you remember early days at the State Fair?
ANSWER: Wichita is especially beautiful in autumn. I don't think that I have been in a city our size that has more trees and a wider variety. When the fall leaves turn, the town is gorgeous.I have lived in Wichita most of my life…but it has only been in the past decade that I have taken the time to notice how great the homes are, especially those close to downtown. You know, you tend to get so used to your surroundings that I would tend to just drive by the houses and see old homes, many in need of repair, bungalows built early in the 1900's. But more recently I started looking up to the rooflines and guess what? I started seeing many gigantic mansions. There were big, spacious two story homes, but many with three stories and some with the Cupolas sticking out above the roof. I began considering why were all of these houses built so close to downtown? Being the quick study that I am, it hit me! They were built during the horse and buggy era, convenient to downtown shopping. Those homes were where the merchants and the money people of Wichita lived to be close to their businesses. I think Park Place is a very interesting street. I know that I am not alone in my thinking; because some years back a movie company determined that North Park Place (between 13th and 17th Streets) was typical Mid-America because of the mansions and trees. They decided to shoot a feature film right there on Park Place. But, first they took out the street lights and anything that would date the area; they then put in the beautiful lamps that are still gracing that street today. The movie was called "Children of the Attic" and the good part is, the neighborhood is still just as they left it. The other thing that is interesting about these old neighborhoods is you can still see many of the horse ties, some cement, and some metal just like they were many, many years ago. So when you drive down the street, look up at the rooflines. You will be amazed in some of these older neighborhoods. And, do the same thing downtown. You will see the beauty of the old buildings: the Eaton Hotel, the Kress Building, Petroleum Building and many more. Wichita is a beautiful city, and especially in autumn…Enjoy!
