Pub. 2 2013 Issue 4

l e a d i n g a d v o c a t e f o r t h e b a n k i n g i n d u s t r y i n k a n s a s 10 Beverly Gaines, Chairman of the Board, and Mike Jeffers, President, both from First National Bank, Fredonia, pose at the check writing counter from the original Wilson County Bank. F redonia, Kansas is filled with rich history and tradition so in 2010 it seemed fitting to Franklin Gaines, Chairman and CEO of First National Bank, Fredonia, to pledge funding for a community building for the Old Iron Club. The Wilson County Old Iron Club is dedicated to preserving knowledge of the history of Kansas agriculture. They hold an event called Old Iron Days at the end of September every year and hundreds of school children come to learn about the former way of farming life. There are demonstrations of wheat threshing, rock crushing, wood stove cooking methods, old laundry methods, broom making, corn processing, and sawmill operations among other things. Gaines saw value in educating children as well as simply preserving history in this way. While preparations were being made to secure the permanent location for the local club, Franklin Gaines fell ill and passed away. Armed with knowledge of her husband’s passion, the Beverly J. Gaines Charitable Foundation donated the funds necessary to build two buildings that would help develop the home of Old Iron Days, as a lasting contribution in memory of Mr. Gaines. There is a general store that has period appropriate materials for sale and a room in the back where wheat threshing, laundry and cooking take place. Next to the store is a period appropriate bank replica and then a newspaper office that will soon hold a printing press. The bank replica has been fully equipped with antique pieces that feels like a step back in time thanks to the attention to detail and passion from Beverly Gaines. The original items from the old Wilson County Bank (later named First National Bank) include the teller window, side doors, check writing table (hung on the wall), marble detail, vault gate, posting machine, and general ledger book. The desk and chair behind the teller station belonged to Ben Paulen, former President of the Wilson County Bank who also held the office of Governor from 1925-1929. He was also the President of the KBA from 1924-25 and a member of the executive council for ABA. Across the way in this old replica town is a town hall that is a fully functional meeting space used by the community all year. Beverly Gaines ensured that the finishing touches are period specific to include the cooking stove and refrigerator in the kitchen made to look like an ice box and wood cooking stove. Beverly Gaines and current President of First National Bank, Mike Jeffers, have served the memory of Franklin Gaines well as they have helped the Old Iron Club to preserve the history of agriculture. A trip to Fredonia, Kansas the last weekend of September may be on many to-do lists this year. First National Bank in Fredonia Fulfills Old Pledge