A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots. Marcus Garvey I have been diving into the histories of the several families which converged and eventually made their home at Maison Steinbüchel. this is the Kansas Historic Landmark where we have made our home […]
A Blended Family: The Steinbüchels and Stackmans
“Sometimes love isn’t fireworks, sometimes love just comes softly.” ― Janette Oke, Love Comes Softly Maison Steinbüchel, a Kansas State Historic Landmark, our home, is named for the family of Herman Frederick Steinbüchel , the second husband of Marie-Louise Hahn. I have been digging into the details of the three family lines that blended into one and […]
Patent Medicines and Home Remedies in the Steinbüchel Home
In summer 1988, after moving into Maison Steinbüchel, we tackled a pile of rubbish and sand from under the apple tree beside the garage along the alley. A trumpet vine had taken over the area, growing up into the tree, masquerading what was in store. Once the vine and rubbish were removed, we discovered a large pile […]
The Joyland Carousel – Exposing Hidden Connections
I have never been to the Joyland Amusement Park founded by the Ottoways in 1949. Although still active until 2004, I simply never had a reason to check it out. As a child, my amusement park exposure was limited to school playgrounds, county fairs and carnivals, but I loved the carousels. I also love seeing lost things […]
The Abstract – Maison Steinbuchel’s Personal History
We have the original abstract of our Kansas Historic Landmark home dating back to the land grant of 160 acres from the Osage Land Trust. In past BLOG posts, I have told how three individual lives, immigrants from France and Germany, converged in Wichita, Kansas. How through love, hope, taking risks and even tragedy ended up as […]
The Farm, House and Bridge – Peter Stackman’s Legacy
“Praise the bridge that carried you over” – George Colman “The simple hearth of the small farm is the true center of our universe” – Masanobu Fukuoka Peter Frederick Stackman was the first husband of Marie-Louise Hahn, the matriarch for which the Kansas Historic Landmark, Maison Steinbuchel is named. In a previous post I outlined his […]
A Story of a Blended Family : Marie-Louise Hahn Stackman and Herman Steinbüchel
A Story. My father used to say that stories are part of the most precious heritage of mankind. — Tahir Shah, In Arabian Nights Maison Steinbüchel, a Kansas State Historic Landmark, our home, is named for the family of Herman Frederick Steinbüchel , the second husband of Marie-Louise Hahn. I have been digging into the details of […]
A Visit to Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF)
Many of the things that form our lives rest in the background. They crisscross our paths making significant deposits in quiet ways. On a recent trip to the northwest, we took time to visit the headquarters of Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) in Nampa, ID. We have been supporters of MAF for over 20 years, but my […]
Leftovers – The Loaves and Fishes of Life
Using leftovers. I enjoy re-doing and re-making things. I always have. Taking what I have on hand and making something useful again: Whatever I might have in the pantry or frig becomes a one-time kind of meal. Pieces of cloth become a comforter, pillow or something for the wall. Scraps of wood become art, wooden […]