If You're in Kansas

The WSJ has a way of putting things in perspective by using numbers and references to years. I will never forget when Ronald Reagan was running for president in 1980 the Journal astutely pointed out that when Ronnie was born there were only 46 stars on the flag flying over the courthouse in Tampico, Illinois, where he was born (My mother and her brothers were born there as well. Another story.)

Since the 47th state admitted to the Union was New Mexico, and it didn't join the Union until 1912, Ronnie predated the 47th star. He was born in 1911. The intimation was of course was Ronald Reagan too old to be running for president at the age of 69? The flag then and now has 50 stars. Ronnie was ancient history. Or was he?

They've put things in historical perspective many times since then. Consider the latest when they tell us that the town Angelus, in a northwest corner of Kansas, now has more chickens in its old school building than there are children in the town, which now totals 9; there are 28 residents of all ages in town. If only the kids outnumbered the chickens, the building might still be a school.

It is certainly not an uncommon tale. A prairie town has steadily lost population and services like schools, that have been combined with surrounding towns that have also shrunk.

The picture above shows what the Angelus school looks like now. The red brick building has the look to me of a power station that was in my Flushing neighborhood that was alongside the LIRR tracks. A closer look does leave you with the impression that it might have been a Catholic school, which it was. Remove the goats, chickens and tires from the front and surround it with trees and grass, the building looks like it could be a Catholic elementary school in any of the boroughs of NYC, other than Manhattan.

Certainly changes have come to Angelus, Kansas. Bob Dylan could have been singing about it. The building was once a school, housing nuns who lived above the classrooms. The building ceased to be a school in 1999.

It became the Ewers family residence in 2000, who raised their children and grandchildren there. Then it was owned by Travis Ryburn, who basically didn't use it. Mr. Rayburn, who still lives in town, runs a towing service, drives the school bus, and reports the rainfall in Angelus to the radio station KXXX, Farm-N Country 790 on the AM dial in Colby, sold it in 2015 to Josh Rumback, who has now been basically using the building as a barn. It is after all red.

The building, and its surroundings, by any standard, have to be considered an eyesore—at best. Josh Rumback admits its use as a barn has left people "butt sore."

Looking at the terrain from Google Earth, you can see the building just off the gravel road that is basically Main Street for Angelus. There is not much else around, but the church remains in its original splendor, if not filled anymore with parishioners.

The WSJ reports that Mr. Rumback, knowing the place is not what people like to see, has erected a wall in front of the building that somewhat blocks the view from the road. On the wall he has also put the sign:

"THIS PROPERTY IS PROTECTED BY GUNS AND GOD. ENTER UNINVITED AND YOU’LL MEET THEM BOTH!"

God is certainly involved, since the building is 100 years old. But if the chickens are armed, they might be too tough to eat.

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