McPherson History: The City of McPherson (pronounced Mc-fur-son) was founded in 1872 and is located in the centre of Kansas, 60 miles north of Wichita and 30 miles south of Salina on Interstate 135. Named after Union Civil War General James Birdseye McPherson, the progressive community developed quickly. The original town fathers had considerable vision and designated plots of ground to be used for churches, schools, streets and parks. The two blocks where the current county courthouse and library are located where designated for county buildings. One year later the town-site had 25 houses and became the focal point of the county.
In 1887, town fathers laid out a 160-acre "Capitol Hill" and made a bid to become the state capitol. However, Topeka was selected and McPherson went on with other plans. The Santa Fe and Union Pacific Railroads extended branches to McPherson in 1879, providing access routes for trade and travel. The Missouri Pacific and Rock Island Railroad reached lines to McPherson in 1888.
Reminders of the 1800s are still prevalent in McPherson as many of the city's older homes date back to the 19th century. Built in 1889, the McPherson Opera House was considered one of the finest buildings of its type in the Midwest. The McPherson County Courthouse was constructed in 1894 and refurbished in 1980. Both the Opera House and the Courthouse are on the National Register of Historic Places.
McPherson County struck oil in the late 1920s, boosting the local economy and avoiding repercussions from the Great Depression. After World War II, as farm consolidation began, community leaders had the foresight to develop an industrial base well before many other towns. McPherson has develop into one of the most industrialised small communities in the nation. Centred in one of the largest wheat producing areas of the United States, McPherson is also ranked among the top agricultural centres of Kansas.
Project History: In the Spring of 2003, Alison Flory Replogle was asked by Gary Flory, director of the Kansas Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, to help facilitate the Time of Discovery for the Hutchinson Ulster Project later in July. While Alison served with Gary in this role in Hutchinson through July 2006, after the first year of facilitating, Alison was convinced of the mission of Ulster Project, especially its emphasis on relationship building, across religious differences, across oceans, across town. She widely proclaimed, “the McPherson community could do this!” For the next several years this pursuit became her passion. She started by contacting Keith Neill and Mario Gribbon, the Portadown Ulster Project coordinators she had met through her work with the Hutchinson Project.
They were both enthusiastic and supportive about her vision for a McPherson County Ulster Project. After establishing Northern Irish support, Alison set out to plant the seed of Ulster Project in McPherson County. With the cooperation of Becky Goss, executive director of the McPherson County Community Foundation, a group of potentially interested persons, both Catholic and Protestant, was convened to talk about the Ulster Project and what it might take to bring the program to McPherson County. That group included: Alison, Judy Casey, then of the McPherson Visitors Bureau; Tammy Aubushon, youth pastor at First United Methodist Church, Carol Dreiling, reporter for the McPherson Sentinel; Mindy Allen, Catholic Youth Organization sponsor; Becky Goss; Mike Fibranz, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church; and Shawn Flory Replogle, pastor and youth minister at the First Church of the Brethren. Significant interest was expressed to continue pursuing a Project. In this period, the foundation and built-in contacts with Keith and Mario already established by the Hutchinson Ulster Project were crucial to the McPherson County Ulster Project’s beginnings. Beth O’Brien, one of the Hutchinson Ulster Project Committee chairpersons during this period, was particularly helpful in working with Alison on the details of doing a Project: fundraising, program booklets, setting up schedules, recruiting families and teens, and much, much more.
The McPherson County Ulster Project has been blessed by over 35 host teens and their families in the past 11 years, including several families who have hosted twice, as well as half a dozen American counselors who have been tremendous. The Project has been even more blessed by the 44 Irish teens, and the many Irish counselors who have journeyed “across the pond” in that period. Special thanks to Annie McGuinness who provided such strong leadership to the Project in its beginning, to Philly Hamilton who provided a stabiliing presence in the period of transition, ad to Ryan Rafferty who, brought an infusion of youthful energy to the Project.
In 1887, town fathers laid out a 160-acre "Capitol Hill" and made a bid to become the state capitol. However, Topeka was selected and McPherson went on with other plans. The Santa Fe and Union Pacific Railroads extended branches to McPherson in 1879, providing access routes for trade and travel. The Missouri Pacific and Rock Island Railroad reached lines to McPherson in 1888.
Reminders of the 1800s are still prevalent in McPherson as many of the city's older homes date back to the 19th century. Built in 1889, the McPherson Opera House was considered one of the finest buildings of its type in the Midwest. The McPherson County Courthouse was constructed in 1894 and refurbished in 1980. Both the Opera House and the Courthouse are on the National Register of Historic Places.
McPherson County struck oil in the late 1920s, boosting the local economy and avoiding repercussions from the Great Depression. After World War II, as farm consolidation began, community leaders had the foresight to develop an industrial base well before many other towns. McPherson has develop into one of the most industrialised small communities in the nation. Centred in one of the largest wheat producing areas of the United States, McPherson is also ranked among the top agricultural centres of Kansas.
Project History: In the Spring of 2003, Alison Flory Replogle was asked by Gary Flory, director of the Kansas Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, to help facilitate the Time of Discovery for the Hutchinson Ulster Project later in July. While Alison served with Gary in this role in Hutchinson through July 2006, after the first year of facilitating, Alison was convinced of the mission of Ulster Project, especially its emphasis on relationship building, across religious differences, across oceans, across town. She widely proclaimed, “the McPherson community could do this!” For the next several years this pursuit became her passion. She started by contacting Keith Neill and Mario Gribbon, the Portadown Ulster Project coordinators she had met through her work with the Hutchinson Project.
They were both enthusiastic and supportive about her vision for a McPherson County Ulster Project. After establishing Northern Irish support, Alison set out to plant the seed of Ulster Project in McPherson County. With the cooperation of Becky Goss, executive director of the McPherson County Community Foundation, a group of potentially interested persons, both Catholic and Protestant, was convened to talk about the Ulster Project and what it might take to bring the program to McPherson County. That group included: Alison, Judy Casey, then of the McPherson Visitors Bureau; Tammy Aubushon, youth pastor at First United Methodist Church, Carol Dreiling, reporter for the McPherson Sentinel; Mindy Allen, Catholic Youth Organization sponsor; Becky Goss; Mike Fibranz, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church; and Shawn Flory Replogle, pastor and youth minister at the First Church of the Brethren. Significant interest was expressed to continue pursuing a Project. In this period, the foundation and built-in contacts with Keith and Mario already established by the Hutchinson Ulster Project were crucial to the McPherson County Ulster Project’s beginnings. Beth O’Brien, one of the Hutchinson Ulster Project Committee chairpersons during this period, was particularly helpful in working with Alison on the details of doing a Project: fundraising, program booklets, setting up schedules, recruiting families and teens, and much, much more.
The McPherson County Ulster Project has been blessed by over 35 host teens and their families in the past 11 years, including several families who have hosted twice, as well as half a dozen American counselors who have been tremendous. The Project has been even more blessed by the 44 Irish teens, and the many Irish counselors who have journeyed “across the pond” in that period. Special thanks to Annie McGuinness who provided such strong leadership to the Project in its beginning, to Philly Hamilton who provided a stabiliing presence in the period of transition, ad to Ryan Rafferty who, brought an infusion of youthful energy to the Project.
Annual Events
Service-Oriented Activities: Fireworks and Bucket Brigade on the 4th of July, visits to care homes, Disability Supports dance, Rails to Trails, Old Mill Museum, City Commission and Police/Fire Station Tours
Fun Activities: Pretty Prairie Rodeo, McPherson County Fair and Demolition Derby, Day at the Lake
Outdoor Activities: Rope Course, Team Building, The Amazing Race – McPherson Edition, Swimming
Faith Based Activities: Opening and Closing Ecumenical Worship, Church Service attendance at many local churches
Time of Discovery: Sessions on team building, racism, classism, sectarianism, and conflict resolution
Service-Oriented Activities: Fireworks and Bucket Brigade on the 4th of July, visits to care homes, Disability Supports dance, Rails to Trails, Old Mill Museum, City Commission and Police/Fire Station Tours
Fun Activities: Pretty Prairie Rodeo, McPherson County Fair and Demolition Derby, Day at the Lake
Outdoor Activities: Rope Course, Team Building, The Amazing Race – McPherson Edition, Swimming
Faith Based Activities: Opening and Closing Ecumenical Worship, Church Service attendance at many local churches
Time of Discovery: Sessions on team building, racism, classism, sectarianism, and conflict resolution