Place that exemplifies that custom in a unique manner: The Historic Franklin Sidewalk.
Walking to schoolbecame much easier in 1936 when the longest sidewalk that connects two towns was built between Franklin and Arma.
Sources of information: Phyllis Bitner
The Historical Geography of the Impact of Coal Mining Upon the
Cherokee-Crawford Coal Field by William E. Powell
Morning Sun Newspapers (formerly Pittsburg Headlight & Sun), Pittsburg
Kansas Highway Commission
Verbal interviews with early residents
ABOUT THE SIDEWALK Constructed in 1936 with federal funding
assistance, the Franklin Sidewalk connects two rural mining communities
in Crawford County -- Arma and Franklin. The three-foot wide sidewalk begins
at the south edge of Arma and stretches south 1.7 miles to the south
edge of Franklin, and runs parallel along the east side of Business
Highway 69.
The sidewalk is a product of the evolving changes in the mining
industry which encouraged immigrants to settle in the area as they
searched for jobs. The miners came to this area of the country in hopes
of finding a better way of life and jobs that would allow them to send
funds to their homeland to bring other family members to this country.
HISTORY BEHIND THE SIDEWALK CONSTRUCTION In the early 1900s southeast Kansas was a melting pot of immigrants. It
was known as the Little Balkans area denoting the immigrants from a
variety of Balkan countries. The most numerous European nationalities
laboring in the underground mines were Italians, Austrians, Germans,
Yugoslavs (largely Slovenians), British (English, Welsh, Scots),
French, and Belgians. The area boomed along with the mining industry.
Mining communities emerged as more and more immigrants came to this
country.
Schools and businesses prospered. The number of employees in
underground mines of the Kansas portion of the coal field reached
almost 10,000 during the early years of World War I.
During the late
1920's and 1930's, a series of debilitating factors, acting in
combination, caused the steady decline of underground mining in the
coal field. The main causative factors were the economic impact of the
depression, the rise of mechanized surface mining, competition from oil
and gas, labor problems in the coal field (strikes), and competition
from Eastern coals. Commercial underground mining, principally shaft
mining, stimulated the beginning and growth of numerous agglomerated
mining communities in the Cherokee-Crawford coal field.
A sizable
number of the present-day rural and urban communities can trace their
origins back to a camp near an underground mine. As a result of adverse
economic conditions during the 1920's and 1930's and technological
improvements in mechanized surface mining, shaft mining steadily
declined in output and importance. The decline had a debilitative
effect upon the many mining communities and their inhabitants. Miners
and dependents departed, and most camps were moved or fell into
physical decay. Where crops now grow or cattle now graze on many sites,
there were once busy mines and mining communities. With the cessation
of the last shaft mine in the coal field in April, 1960, a colorful and
important era of mining ended which had a profound impact upon the
history of this portion of southeastern Kansas.
A SIDEWALK WAS NEEDED Due to the decline in the mining industry businesses were forced to
close and schools were downsized and in many instances combined.
Franklin High School saw it's last graduating class in 1928. Children
then walked the two miles to school in Arma. Several accidents and deaths
were reported as the children walked along the edge of the road.
Businesses in Franklin also were downsizing and residents transacted
their business in Arma. While there is no written documentation,
memories of local residents indicate there was much concern for the
safety of residents and children.
The sidewalk was constructed in 1936
which gave residents and children a safe place to walk. The Franklin
Grade School closed in 1970. At this time there were bus routes
established and children were not required to walk to school in Arma.
Most families had transportation to conduct business in neighboring
communities. This was a reflection of the national trends of that era.
The sidewalk reflects changes in patterns of transportation throughout
the 20th century.
NEW USES FOR AN OLD SIDEWALK When the devastating tornado of 2003 destroyed much
of the community of Franklin residents banned together to ensure that
the town would be rebuilt. One of the major plans was restoration of
the historic sidewalk. While the sidewalk is still under restoration it
is once again used in much the same manner. It is used as a
walking/exercise/biking path and for neighbors visiting neighbors.
Residents can recapture the feelings of times spent walking to school
on that sidewalk. It has retained it's integrity, historic physical
features and characteristics and is easily recognizable to any
observer. The sidewalk uniquely reflects the trends of the area due to
changes in jobs, shopping, education and transportation.
IT'S FAMOUS! It has also
become well known for it's listing in either Guinness Book of World
Records or Ripley's Believe it Or Not as the longest sidewalk
connecting two towns in the United States. Many early residents remember the excitement as
newspaper, radio and television carried stories about this record. The
story about the sidewalk appeared in Life Magazine circa 1938.
ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER Franklin Historic Sidewalk is listed on the State and National Register
of Historic Places as a means of transportation for education and
commerce related activities. A marker at the Franklin Community Park, which is midway, denotes the
listing on the Historic Register. Other informative signs along the
sidewalk denote its significance.
ABOUT THE SIDEWALK
HISTORY BEHIND THE SIDEWALK CONSTRUCTION
A SIDEWALK WAS NEEDED