Antonino |
Catharine | Czech Colony
| Ellis | Emmeram
| Hartsook/Herzog | Hays
| Munjor | Pfeifer
| Schoenchen | Turkville
| Victoria | Vincent
| Walker | Yocemento
Volga Germans
Fort Hays
Other Colonies
Homesteading in Ellis County
Walker
A small colony of settlers from Ohio
established the town of Walker in 1872. The Volga-Germans from
Russia and the Germans from Kentucky and Ohio, known as the "Plattdeutschen",
came to the area in 1876-1878. Walker was a thriving community
but the 1930's depression closed its primary businesses.
St. Ann's Church was built in 1904-1905
under the supervision of Fr. Emmeram Kausler and dedicated on
Thanksgiving 1905.
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The first school building was built
in 1893, and a second building was built in 1924-1925. The building
is no longer used for parochial school events, but is still in
use as a community center.
Walker was also the home to Walker
Army Air Field which was located 2.5 miles northwest of the town.
The air field was built in 1942 as a satellite field for the Smoky
Hill Army Army Field in Salina. By the middle of 1943, it was
used for training crews to fly the B-29 bombers. On January 31,
1946, it was placed on inactive status.
Sources
“At Home in Ellis County,
Kansas 1867-1992.” Hays, KS: Ellis County Historical Society,
1991.
Photo taken by Mitch Weber, University
photographer
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