As a child in the 50's I spent a great deal of time visiting my great aunt, Agnes Connick, at Grenola. A widow, she lived in the house of her childhood, located across the street from the Methodist Church.

      Some of my fondest memories were playing Canasta for hours with Aunt Agnes and her old lady cronies. Also, the Saturday 'drawings' both there and in Moline. We would go in her vintage '20's chevy to Moline for a picnic and the drawing and then back to Grenola. The evening usually was spent on the porch, sipping a Koolade/fruit mixture and visiting with neighbors who walked by.

      I played with the newspaper girl, Linda Terry, and each summer took home a cat from the milk lady (it usually had fled or died by the next summer). I always went over to visit the neighbor to the north, Mrs. Kessinger. I helped pump water from the cistern and I hated the old out house!

      I visited Grenola about three summers ago and was so pleased to find a vibrant and active town. I researched at the museum, had lunch with the folks at the senior center, met the Kessinger grandson who now lives in my aunt's house (though sadly for me it had been changed), and I spent the evening in the company of Mrs. Sweet - who told me wonderful stories which took me back to my visits during my childhood. So long ago, but so close in memory!

      I was born and raised in Wichita so the quaintness of Grenola was not lost on me. I always loved visiting there.

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John & Susan Howell