Bushong, Kansas
Posted: November 15th, 2014, 6:07 am
Doc Bushong was one of the premier catchers of the 19th century. He is credited with the invention of a padded pillow type catchers mitt about the same time as Joe Gunson experimented with his own catchers mitt design. There was even a town in Kansas named after him.
As did many Kansas towns, Bushong came into being during the 1880s as the railroad developed in the newly opened Kansas Territory. The Missouri Pacific railroad, needing a depot in the area, constructed one in an empty pasture. A town followed naturally beside the tracks. Originally the town was called "Weeks" but the name was changed by railroad crewmen to Bushong, in honor of a baseball player famous at the time, Al "Doc" Bushong. The town, at its prime, was home to over 150 residents, but at present is under 60.
The town as it is today.
Here's a link to an intrepid photographers recent exploration of the town. It is pretty interesting. It is all about abandoned buildings and Atlas missile silos. I can see Rob exploring some of these artifacts. http://traversingtravy.wordpress.com/tag/bushong/
As did many Kansas towns, Bushong came into being during the 1880s as the railroad developed in the newly opened Kansas Territory. The Missouri Pacific railroad, needing a depot in the area, constructed one in an empty pasture. A town followed naturally beside the tracks. Originally the town was called "Weeks" but the name was changed by railroad crewmen to Bushong, in honor of a baseball player famous at the time, Al "Doc" Bushong. The town, at its prime, was home to over 150 residents, but at present is under 60.
The town as it is today.
Here's a link to an intrepid photographers recent exploration of the town. It is pretty interesting. It is all about abandoned buildings and Atlas missile silos. I can see Rob exploring some of these artifacts. http://traversingtravy.wordpress.com/tag/bushong/