New Andover event focuses on city’s train-inspired past

The city of Andover is leaning into what one local writer called its “fling with the Wild West” as inspiration for a new community event on May 17.

Several HeritageFest activities tie into Andover’s beginnings in the late 1800s as a stop on the St. Louis-San Francisco Railway and the July 16, 1898, robbery of both the train depot and the daily nighttime passenger train.

The free HeritageFest is happening from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday at The Heritage, a mixed-use development with a public plaza at Kellogg and Yorktown Road.

Along with live music from the local bands The Haymakers and Diamond W. Wranglers, HeritageFest activities include sack races, tug-of-war competitions, gold-panning and free ice cream while supplies last. Costumes related to the late 1800s or trains are encouraged.

Livingston’s Café will sell typical food items from the era, including biscuits and gravy and pies. The mobile Texas-based Miss Purdy’s Old Time Photos will offer photo sessions with a vintage background and costumes. The latter paid activity will be available from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

In his published accounts of the 1898 train robbery, Andover-based writer and train enthusiast Robert Collins called it the city’s “fling with the Wild West.”

During the robbery, the local Frisco depot agent managed to run to the nearby Methodist church to get help, interrupting the ice cream social that he had been at earlier that evening. In the ensuing gunfight between the responding armed citizens and the two outlaws, resident William Belford was shot and eventually died of his injuries. One of the robbers, Samuel Smith, was also wounded. The thieves had made off with $95 in cash and checks from the depot and $500 from the train’s safe. The outlaws were later captured.

While the train robbery may have inspired the new event, HeritageFest will not include a reenactment of the robbery and gunfight said Megan Schapaugh, Andover’s public information officer.

Those interested in Andover’s history can hear more during a lead-up event to HeritageFest: “A Journal Through Time” panel discussion from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, May 16, at the Andover Public Library. Tricia Lee with the Andover Historical Museum will lead the discussion with five longtime Andover residents.

Lee, who also works with the Towanda Historical Museum, said she’s hoping the panel discussion will help encourage residents to learn more about Andover, where she grew up and returned to a few years ago.

“Our main goal is to connect our community with our history and get the word out that we need to gather more of it,” Lee said.

While Andover wasn’t officially incorporated until 1957, its roots go back more than a half-century to 1880, when it was founded as Cloud City. After the Frisco railroad extended service through the area in 1880, several other businesses opened, including a trading post, hotel and general store, and a school was started as well. The depot was eventually torn down after the last passenger train left in 1960.

HeritageFest at Andover

What: new community event inspired by Anodver’s train roots and a local 1898 train robbery

When: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, May 17

Where: The Heritage, 360 S. Heritage Way, Andover (intersection of Yorktown and Kellogg)

Cost: Free; food, beverages, memorabilia and vintage photo sessions are available for purchase.

More info: andoverks.gov/932/13001/HeritageFest or facebook.com/CityofAndoverKS