In a nod to the season, we cast our minds back to memories of Holliday’s past.
Holliday, Kansas, that is.
Townspeople gather at Alderson's store in Holliday, late 1800s
Holliday, originally named Waseca, was platted in 1882 on the south bank of the Kansas River. It was the arrival of the Santa Fe Railroad—founded by the town’s namesake, Cyrus K. Holliday—three years later that breathed life into the small community. As many as 45 workers found employment at the depot, which also served as a refueling station for the steam locomotives of the era.
Holliday's depot, about 1940
By the turn of the 20th century, the town was also a hub for farmers in the surrounding area, and in 1910 boasted three general stores, a restaurant, blacksmith shop, barbershop, dance hall, depot, and two churches. Holliday also had two schools: home to a thriving black community, Holliday’s children attended segregated schools.
Holliday School, District No. 100, late 1800s
After World War II, things began to go south for the little town. First, the transition from steam to diesel locomotives diminished Holliday’s importance as a railroad station, and the depot closed in 1949. Then, the big one struck. In the summer of 1951, the Kansas River valley was swept by a historic flood, and the town of Holliday was among the casualties. For nearly a month, the flood waters cut off the people of Holliday from the rest of the world. After the flood, few townspeople rebuilt. The school consolidations of the 1960s shuttered Holliday’s school.
Leonard Stanton and George Lynn survey the flood damage in Holliday, 1951
In the years that followed, what remained of the once bustling hamlet fell into disrepair. In 1968, the City of Shawnee annexed the area. A series of fires claimed some of the structures, including one of the historic general stores. By 2002, just eight homes still stood, clustered around the intersection of 50th and Locust Streets. That year, the final death blow fell. Deffenbaugh Industries purchased the town site to expand the Johnson County Landfill, and bulldozers demolished the last vestiges of the little town of Holliday.
View of the berm surrounding the Johnson County Landfill
JoCoHistory Blog 
Are there any photos of Holliday, right before everything was razed, say, circa 1990’s? And also, the village of Cedar Junction, maybe in the Seventies or Eighties? Thanks.
I lived there. It was a small community with lasting good memories. I can be contacted at thurtado435@gmail.com
I am thrilled to find this article! I’m Leonard Stanton’s great granddaughter and I used to looove to hear Holliday stories. The whole family would just talk about the post office, the old store, etc. for hours upon hours.
I was in the store many times. I fell in love with rootbeer there.
I lived there.
I am Leonard Stanton’s nephew. Before he owned the store he had a farm a few miles away. I spent many good times on the farm and in the store. I was eleven when the flood came.
Mr. Stanton, are you Richard’s son? Nanna and Grandad spoke often of a Lloyd and I remember hearing about the farm. They lived there when Grandad supported the family painting houses during the great depression. I’m Evelyn’s granddaughter.
In response to Zach Scott’s question, there is a book about Morris, KS called “Morris 1821-1997: A community of the Ft. Leavenworth military road to the Santa Fe Trail” that may answer your questions or provide pictures you seek. I showed it to my grandmother from Holliday and she recognized quite a bit of the information inside.
Hello Amanda, I am Evelyn’s cousin. Richard, my brother, was killed in Viet Nam. My dad Lloyd Sr. is Leonard’s brother. I spent time in Holliday with Aunt Babe and Leonard before and after the big flood. I remember the apartment Evelyn and Mr. Perkins built in the back of the store. Lots of memories. My grandfather Lewis Albert Stanton also painted with Leonard. Please call me Ed and if you like, please stay in touch. My wife Sharon and I live in Klamath Falls, OR 541-884-6441
There is now a Facebook group called “Holliday, KS Reunion Group.” I am scanning pictures that I inherited of our home and uploading them there. For those of you who do not use Facebook, other plans are in the works or you can post here and we can talk about getting some pictures to you or someone you know would like pictures, but who doesn’t use/have a computer.
8/18/2019 – Who here remembers the Big Yellow House on top of the hill ?? That My father Paul Faltermeier purchased in 1970, and cleaned up the area towards the bottom on the hill . Paul My father owned it until 1981, when it was sold. Anybody remember the TEVIS Kids, or David Bush, or Ronny or Casey, Bobby Boyce ?? they lived at the foot of the hill,, off Barker Road. We had the Yellow House that sat way on top of the Hill, that everybody could see for miles.
Mr. Stanton, and his wife lived right down below up 1/2 way up the hill and The BUSH’s lived on the corner lot.
Willie Wall,, lived over the next few acres from us and has the Red & White out buildings.
Anybody remember Mr. Cooper, we ended buying his properly and adding it to our 10 acres, for a total of 15 acres.
Contact me here : Jetranger7777@hotmail.com
Paul was very nice to me as a child. He would often stop by and invite me for ice cream when he went to Bonner. I have fond memories of him
You can find a feature article on Holliday, KS from the morning edition of the Kansas City Star (Kansas City Times) volume 99 number 121, pp. 1A, 13A, printed on January 26, 1967. It is titled “Store That Time Passed By Sets Tone of Town,” written by staff writer Rosalind K. Young, photographs by staff photographer Wes Lyle.
Thank you for this article. I am the great great granddaughter of Addison Robert Baxter and Clara Myrtle Kay who owned the Baxter Bros. store in Holliday.
I hold in my hand several original 1903 shares of stock, issued to A.R. Baxter and C.M. Baxter!!! Also, a 1904 letter & (Circular Date Stamped) envelope, regarding the shares, to Baxter Brothers, Holliday. The stocks are for the Argus Bonanza Mining Company of Washington. Might these be of interest to Kimi Jac or another family member or a museum!? Please feel free to contact me directly.
Correction: One certificate to A.R. Baxter and two to C.J.Baxter.
Frank, that would be amazing! How can I contact you directly? My email is kimi@fastmail.fm. Thank you!
Yay for Holliday! I would love to see those if you care to upload them to the Holliday FB group :) If not, that’s fine too. Mr. Hammelbacher, if you are on Facebook and would like to visit/join the Holliday, KS Reunion Group please do so! I’m finding and scanning more photos this new years.
hI – I am Ken Holliday, Regina, Saskatchewan Canada. as far as I know any relationship to the Holliday clan in Kansas is remote. My father’s family came from England in here is a note in our Family Tree “George born July 10,1812 – of Yorkshire England, emigrated with parents at age 3 to smith Falls Ont. Married Marion Wilton at Smith Falls where they lived for some years. George has a brother william who married a sister of Marion, Parents were John Holliday , George and Marion settled in township of Normandy is 1862 – lot 64, cone 2 – which remained in the Holliday name until 1955 – It was reported as owned by William Page son of Dave page and sold again lately(1960?)” I do own the domain http://www.holliday.com and it is NOT for sale at this time. I have several requests from Hollidays to buy it. If you like i will add your email to the list of those interested and someday – if I ever decide to seel, i will auction it off. I have many email address’s inthis domain for me and family. I have a web page , and may someday update it. I do a yearly travel blog which is a private posting of travels when we travel. I do know that Truman Holliday settled in Edgeley, Sask. in mid 1800’s and went to California every winter for a few years. he had a bit of a reputatiion – not so religious? may have left some unaccounted for offspring there. ? (Just my guess).