Western historian urges people to learn, appreciate the past
Ellsworth’s Greg Heller gave listeners an opportunity to experience a sense of 19th century frontier Kansas Saturday as he donned period-style clothes on the history stage at the 31st annual Chisholm Trail Festival at the Dickinson County Heritage Center, 412 S. Campbell.
He intermixed stories about the legendary lawman Wild Bill Hickok, who at one time was the community’s top cop during the Chisholm Trail cattle drives from 1867-71.
Heller also encouraged those willing to listen to take an interest in history.
“As Kansans we need to embrace our history, even if it is on the dark side,” he said. Heller said Kansas development had to do with a combination of factors including railroad, population growth and a timeless force -- politics.
Heller spent an hour on two occasions talking about famous Kansas Old West characters, including Wild Bill Hickok. He asked people to raise their hands if they could remember the classic portrayal of shoot outs as shown on Gunsmoke. Many people did. Heller said that was Hollywood, but in real life in the 1860s and 1870s gunfights were not that common.
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He intermixed stories about the legendary lawman Wild Bill Hickok, who at one time was the community’s top cop during the Chisholm Trail cattle drives from 1867-71.
Heller also encouraged those willing to listen to take an interest in history.
“As Kansans we need to embrace our history, even if it is on the dark side,” he said. Heller said Kansas development had to do with a combination of factors including railroad, population growth and a timeless force -- politics.
Heller spent an hour on two occasions talking about famous Kansas Old West characters, including Wild Bill Hickok. He asked people to raise their hands if they could remember the classic portrayal of shoot outs as shown on Gunsmoke. Many people did. Heller said that was Hollywood, but in real life in the 1860s and 1870s gunfights were not that common.