Morris County 4-H Fairgrounds Circle of History
1821 • The Santa Fe Trail is first used by travelers throughout this area.
1827 • Big John Spring, now buried beneath the highway berm 100 ft. south, is discovered and named by George Sibley survey party.
1844 • John C. Fremont's party, returning from California, camped near the spring in July
1846 • Colonel Stephen Kearney's Army of the West camps at the spring en route to the Mexican War.
1847 • The Kaw (or Kansas) Indian Reservation includes this site
1859 • The Kaw Reservation is reduced to an area south of this site
1871 • Seth Hays builds a large stone barn one quarter mile north.
1888 • The Morris County "poor farm" established here and operated until 1945.
1935 • The Civilian Conservation Corps establishes Camp Fremont on this site.
1943 • The CCC Camp is converted to a German Prisoner of War Camp.
1946 • The Morris County 4-H Fairgrounds is established here.
1990 • The Seth Hays barn is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Marker is on U.S. 56, on the left when traveling east.
Courtesy hmdb.org
