Plenty to see, do at 2007 Good Ol' Days

An old-fashioned scavenger hunt will take place on Saturday, June 2 during the 2007 Good Ol' Days festival. Teams consisting of two to five players will meet at 10:45 a.m. at the pavilion at Heritage Park, First and Main streets. The hunt will begin at 11 a.m. and end at 1 p.m.

Families, friends, youth groups, and co-workers are encouraged to create a team and participate in two hours of good old-fashioned fun. Teams are encouraged to pre-register by calling Marcia Bowersock at (620) 223-2860.

There is a $25 registration fee for each team. Teams are asked to identify their members by wearing T-shirts or bandannas of the same color. Teams also may be given names. However, in order to avoid disqualification, organizers ask that only family-friendly clothing and names be used.

Teams will be given clues, riddles, questions and a map to find various items or perform certain tasks. The scavenger hunt will take team members all over the downtown area. Team members may even learn interesting facts about historic Fort Scott during this contest.

The team that brings back the most found items and answers the most questions correctly will win a cash prize. A key to the city will be hidden and will have a coupon attached to it. At the end of the race, that coupon can be exchanged for a cash prize.

The railroad exhibit will be conducted again this year in the Scottish Rite Temple, 110 S. Main. The exhibit will be open during the following hours: Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 12 noon until 5 p.m.

The railroad exhibit will include five operating model railroad layouts in HO, N, and Z scales. Model railroad clubs and individuals from Topeka, Pittsburg, Joplin, and Carthage will be present.

Again this year, visitors will view an extensive display of railroad memorabilia. Timetables dating from the nineteenth century until the end of independent passenger service in 1971 will be available. Lanterns, dining car china, pictures, maps, and drawings from the Frisco, Missouri Pacific, and Katy railroads will be on display.

An interesting item that will be available is a telegraph key, known as "a bug," used by Ernest Swafford in the Fort Scott Frisco Depot between 1915 and 1960. Visitors will also be able to view a display of manual track tools similar to the type used to build the railroads in this area.

Trained presenters for Operation Life Saver will be present both days to provide programs on safety around railroads and railroad crossings. A lucky visitor will become the recipient of an HO model train set as a memento of the 1007 Railroad Exhibit.

Students who are interested in working in the Children's Fair have a few more days to sign up on-line at the Good Ol' Days web site at www.fortscottgoodoldays.com. Copies of the application may also be found at the Eye Center of Fort Scott at 624 S. National Ave. All applications must be submitted by May 18.