Morganville/Feves Project
Outline of Morganville/Feves Project from the Morganville Tribune

NOTE: This timeline was developed for the 1992-1994 Kansas-Humanities-Council-supported project and contains a number of errors and so is included solely as an artifact of that effort.

1/xx/48 - First Meeting - Youth Fellowship

2/5/48 - International Program at Clay Center to promote world unity. 16 foreign students present - Peru and other South American countries plus China, Egypt, Hawaii, Palestine, Iraq, Switzerland, and Panama.

Attending from Morganville - Joan Trudell, Barbara Roenigk, Vance Carson, Shelby Mellies, and Velma Carson.

3/4/48 - One World Program, UNESCO Film - One World or None

Speaker- Ruth Short, London, England, spoke of likeness and differences of people and problems in United States and Britain. Differences are immaterial.

3/25/48 - Velma Carson spoke about aims of and facts about UNESCO. 32 nations involved, Kansas 1st state in US to organize.

4/1/48 - County organization meeting at high-school, Speaker Dr. Robert A. Walker (Kansas State College) Chairman of KS UNESCO, County Officers: President, James Walker, Morganville; VP Loren Barker; Sec-Tres, Georgia Hemphill; Project Chairman Edith McConnell.

5/20/48 Film - "The Road We Walk" - relief and rehabilitation work in devastated countries. Methodist Church shipped 100 pounds of clothing via Methodist Committee for over seas relief. Mrs. Ed Merten's S.S. class have collected 25 pounds of clothing for pen pals. Sent good quality items as gifts.

5/27/48 - UNESCO Program last Sunday of month at church. Film to be shown. Speaker - Ruth Short. Offering for Children's Crusade - Funds for 20,000,000 starving and suffering children.

7/22/48 - UNESCO committee met at Mrs. E. L. Carson's. PLAN TO ADOPT A CENTRAL EUROPEAN TOWN.

7/29/48 - Youth Fellowship meeting, Velma Carson speaker about �Operation Democracy� Project though which European village to be applied for.

8/12/48 - UNESCO festival planned Aug. 27. Historical pageant, ice cream social, dance. Proceeds to pay expenses of adopting French town. Provide seeds and milk for children.

8/19/48 - One World Fete. State UNESCO offices to attend.

8/26/48 - Recording of script to be taken by Robert Sonkin. May be broadcast by World Wide Broadcasting System (Station WRUL New York). State UNESCO will take pictures, Dick Parker from State UNESCO will attend; LIFE Magazine interested if reporter available. Other coverage: Last weeks Clifton News, Monday's Clay Center Dispatch, Associated Press story in several news papers

9/2/48 - Pageant a success, J. K. Walter, Pres. Clay County UNESCO read telegrams, Robert Sonkin present, State UNESCO took pictures, Two other professional photographers took pictures, but prefer to remain anonymous.

9/9/48 - Clothing needed - Box in City Hall, Winter clothing preferred, Bedding acceptable, Layettes especially. Local Committee formed: Chairman - Velma Carson, Vice-Chairman - Mrs. Orville Young, Secretary - Dorothy Young, Treasurer - Dan Roenigk. Carson read Telegram from French Ambassador M. Bonnet, letters from Operation Democracy. Group decided to send shipment of candy and milk to children at of Feves at once and not wait for other plans to be perfected.

9/16/48 - Clothing to be collected at City Hall - Winter clothing, Bedding, Shoes - will be repaired by disabled vets. in Kansas City. Need woolen clothing to cut up for comforters, so bring in soon.

9/23/48 - First Box of Clothing shipped by UNESCO. Lots of work to get ready. Would help if garments are clean and mended before being turned in. Shoes need to be clean - can be repaired.

9/30/48 - Broadcast about pageant heard in KC on WHB - on Mutual Newsreel at 8:15 PM. Story plus voice from France and voice from NY thanking Morganville

10/07/48 - Homer Christenson donated proceeds form popcorn stand to buy candy for children in Feves. Money sent immediately after pageant. Since pageant - one shipment of clothing sent. More being collected at City Hall.

10/14/48 - Christmas Gifts for children being collected. Baskets and milk cans in stores for collections. Gifts should be compact and light weight to avoid excessive freight charges. Committee: Mrs. Phil Young, Chairman; Mrs. Carl Printz, Mrs. Sheb Congraight, Mrs. L.B. Allen, Mrs. C.B. Fisher, Mr. and Mrs. George Oetinger, Barbara Roenigk, Florence Ruffner, Mrs. Keith Dawson, Mrs. H.J. Merten, H. L. Oetinger, J. A. Trudell, Stanley Carson.

10/21/48 - Gift List for Feves - items need to be in by Oct. 29. Christmas wrappings, paper napkins trinkets of all kinds, plastic toys, paper dolls, stationary, crayons, handkerchiefs. Anything light weight. Money.

11/11/48 - Second box of clothing nearly ready. Leave more at City hall soon. County Meeting: Velma Carson spoke pageant. 400 pounds of clothing, milk and candy.

11/18/48 - 2nd State UNESCO Conference. Theme - Educating for World Understanding in the Local Community. Next box of clothing to be shipped Nov. 28 - Leave articles at City Hall, Lard cans in Oetinger�s Store to receive lard and fats. Requesting l-3 pounds of lard from each butchering. Mrs. Norman Canfield still receiving items for layette box.

11/25/48 - Letter from Feves, People suffered, Expulsion, Evacuations, Homes sacked and pillaged, Houses burned and bombed, Fields mined. "If Morganville excels in generosity, Feves will not fail in gratitude." Children want to know more about Homer Christianson. "Noel Night For Feves" - benefit. Velma Hahn floor show, Dan Roenigk colored Pageant pictures and Feves? Orb Pierson Old Time Orchestra

12/2/48 - Give fat for Feves - Fat greatly lacking in diet in children of Europe. Local people being ask to put aside one pound when butchering; leave at Oetinger's store. Republic County Farm Bureau gave $5.00 to project. Let�s not forget to give our share. Box of clothing shipped this week.

12/16/48 - Noel Night For Feves. Door admission set to admit everybody. Big Christmas Tree for extra cash donation to help bombed French town rehabilitate itself. Kent's Floral, Clay Center helped decorate.

12/30/48 - Noel Party Tonight! Honored Guests: Per Stenstand of Swenden Institute of Citizenship and Kansas State College; Peter Weiden - Editorial Staff Wichita Eagle; Mrs. Per Stenstand - Secretary of Kansas State UNESCO.


1/6/1949 - Noel Party Success - at School gym, German Band from Pageant, "All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth." Band members Midn. Ivan Roenigk, Merle Schwab, H.C. Kolling, Shelby Mellies. Speakers - Per Stenstand, K-State�s Kenneth Davis of Manhattan who is Milton Eisenhower's assistant in UNESCO.

1/13/49 - Feves Committee meeting 1/16/49 at school house.

1/20/49 - Feves Committee meeting postponed.

1/27/49 - UNESCO Committee Meets. $217.08 raised after expenses at Noel Party. Report of goods shipped: Two large boxes of clothing, milk, candy, school supplies, Christmas box. Mrs. Norman Canfield - Baby clothing ready to ship; shipment of comforters and blankets ready to go. Number of letter received from Feves and being translated by Mrs. Harold Webber of Clifton. Committee anxious to get fat and seeds shipped soon. Number of letter received from other towns wanting to adopt a town - one from Healdsburg, California.

3/10/49 Donations to Feves - Former mayor E.E. Davis sent check for $4.00 for seed package, more CARE packages, two more $4.00 gifts for seed packages from Harvey Gooch and Wm Roenigk. More promised - no more will be sent after this week.

3/31/49 - Letters from Feves - 1st letter from Feves Committee to Morganville Committee; 2nd letter from Henry Torlotting, school master, to D.J. Roenigk; 3rd letter from village Priest to Mr. Ed Menard and Mrs. Norman Canfield. CARE Packages - have 9 seeds packages, over three pounds each with 30 different kinds of seeds. Two crates shoes and used clothing sent 2/16/49. Sent early winter 1948 comforters, baby layettes and Christmas gifts, school supplies, sent 3/11/1949 From New York by Velma Carson: 50 lbs. used clothing, 192 lbs apricot preserves, 180 lbs sugar, 27 lbs canned meat, 42 lbs cheese, 72 lbs cocoa.

Hear about Feves on West Coast (Riverside, Ca.). Mrs. S.A. Anderson and Mrs. W.E. Higgins - book reviewer mentioned Charles (Lafe ) Todd and Operation Democracy and Morganville.

4/07/49 - Thanks from Feves - Letter to Mrs. Norman Canfield from Priest, (four new babies since layettes arrived), Feves has 270 inhabitants, Family size - Parents, 3 kids (17-13-2) plus baby living in two rooms.

5/05/49 - �Wichita copies Morganville,� Charles Todd, who visited Feves in the interest of Morganville last winter, to be in Wichita. May come to Morganville.

5/12/49 - To Hear Notable Guests Tonight! Melle de Wendell - France (Heads relief program for French government; Mr. and Mrs. Lafe Todd

5/19/49 - Chamber of Commerce attended by Melle de Wendell, Mr. and Mrs. Charles L. Todd. Represent Feves To Us, "Morganville was given credit for helping change the whole feeling of Europe toward American democracy," speech by Charles Todd. D. J. Reonigk received word from Henri Torlotting about receipt of 9 CARE Packages of seeds.

5/26/49 - Thanks From Feves, appreciation of action. Items distributed on Friday. Each person received 300 grams of sugar, 300 grams of preserves, each family a box of pastry, box of cocoa, big piece of cheese. Each Child received an extra box of cocoa. Value of 800-1000 francs per family (Population of Feves 300)

Saturday Day of Joy! - distributed pencils with erasers, colored pencils, (Mayor so touched he couldn't speak). Need: Fats and lard - shipped free, sugar for preservation of fruit, rice - grown ups have not had since 1940, cereals for babies. Clothing helped immediate need - expect to receive payment for war losses.

6/30/49 - Thanks from Feves - Dr. and Mrs. D.C. Schaffner, Emporia, sent CARE packages of seeds and had a niece (who is French) write a letter. Received note in reply from Mr. Roget (age 78) and Mrs. Roget (age 80). They have been married 53 years. Children: 2 boys, 1 girl - one boy died in German concentration camp as well as daughter�s husband. Evacuated 9/4/1944. Stayed in Metz. 11/9/44 Patton's Army entered and freed Metz. Rogets met the army at city gates. Returned home but house destroyed. Received 58,500 francs for war damages - purchased stove, bed, 2 cupboards, 3 chairs, 2 sheets, 2 pillowcases, a suit of clothing for him - money gone.

Receive Social Security pension of 5,800 francs ($19.00) Grand daughter has received clothing from Morganville boxes.

Donna Irene Carlson had letter from Joil Weyland, born 25/Oct./1936 (13). Has 1 sister - 23 and married, 2 brothers: Remy 19, Guard 8. Have received many nice things from you and wish to thank you for your kindness.

8/11/49 - UNESCO Meeting (local). Officers: Velma Carson - Chair, Mrs. Orville Young - Vice chair, Dorothy Young - Sec., D. J . Roenigk - Tres. Reports: Mary Jane Swenson - 4-H groups sending feed sacks to be made into clothing etc.; Henry Hager - family in Germany help needed - high costs compared to income. Utley's Visit Feves

9/02/49 - UNESCO Council meets. Plans for next few months. Thanksgiving Day Service and Dinner at Church. Afternoon and evening program at school house. Christmas Party.

9/29/49 - Meets Feves Instructor - A-W. Kolling on European Tour

10/27/49 - Feves Broadcast to Morganville June 23, 1949. Radio Lorraine - recorded broadcast; Radio Boston will re-transmitted broadcast for people of Morganville. Statement in broadcast from Mr. Torloting: "Morganville holds out its hand to us, we place ours in it.�

11/13/49 - UNESCO Regional Meeting held in Morganville. Community Thanksgiving Day (Adv - Slide Show). Thanksgiving Service at church; Public selection of picture for Feves at school house painted by Arvid Jocobson (KU). �Family treasures� exhibit at school house, A. A. Kolling's slides of Feves and Europe all day at school house, special music, talks, football scores.

Square dance in Gym in evening with Ole Pierson's Orchestra. �Hunt Up Your Family Treasurers� - to be exhibited at school house. Already promised - Silver candelabra - Deetjen Family used by Barons in Germany, Pewter plate - used everyday over 100 years ago by Schwab Family in Switzerland, Painted Oak Chest by Mrs. Leda Holte Nelson brought by Olaf Johnson from Sweden in 1848. Expecting to see - Lucinda Silver's cake stand.

12/01/49 Community Thanksgiving Observance - Church service at 11 a.m. Decorations - fruit, vegetables, grasses and tapers. Ushers (in Indian costumes) were Jay Mellies, Lee Young, Dwaine Mellies and Lonnie Silver. Noon Meal. Traditional Thanksgiving Dinner and Italian Spaghetti Dinner - served by Mrs. Earl Brown - recently from Italy. Turkey dinner prepared by Mrs. Phillip Young Jr., Mrs. Wm. Roenigk, Mrs. Floyd Hanson, Mrs. Geo. Oetinger, Mrs. C.C. Young, Mrs. Merle Young, Mrs. Howard Germann, Mrs. Alex Purvis, Mrs. P..B. Young, Miss Pearl Furrer, Mrs. Enoch Schmidt and Mrs. Earl Brown assisted by Miss Florence Ruffner. Edwin Schwab carved the turkey. Mrs. C. C. Young in German Costume sold shimer case [schmierkase] and Boston Baked Beans. Mrs. A.C. Wickland in Swedish Costume served brown bread, rolls and ost kaka. Mrs. Ernest Johnson sold French pastry. The Gypsy band members were: Paul Graves, Ilene Silver, Cynthia Carson, Lois Dee Anderson, Lennea Oetinger, Joan Trudell, Elizabeth Martin, Vance Carson and Don Gill.

Pictures by Arvid Jocobson, KU Professor and former Morganville resident were on display. AMBER FIELDS chosen to be send to Feves.

Heirloom Display: lst prize Violin - Mrs. Wm Silver, brought from England 150 years ago, 2nd prize - Brass astrologers ball found by a GI while digging Fox Hole in Italy brought to Morganville by Earl Brown, 3rd prize - Chest by Mrs- Carl Nelson brought from Sweden in 1848 by Olaf Johnson

12/01/49 - Noted Men Address Conference, UNESCO meeting in Wichita

12/08/49 - Annual UNESCO Conference. Held in Wichita. Dr. Will Menniger keynote speaker. Speech:"Unless we increase our world mindness, it seems our own self destruction is evident.�

George V. Allen, Asst. Sec of State of Public Affairs in UNESCO, Ambassador to Yugoslavia "We may see the time when the rank and file of the people through the spread of UNESCO ideas will take the conduct of foreign policy out of the hands of foreign diplomats.� Milton Eisenhower spoke of need for economic and political cooperation between nations.

Two Points from Conference: War is not inevitable and everyone should become internationally minded.

12/29/49 - Noel Party Friday Night. 8 PM at school house, Orb Pierson's Orchestra, Musical Program at 9:30 - includes our own town artists.


1/05/50 - The Noel Party Program - Ivan Roenigk, announcer, Song and Dance - Rex Derusseau, Clyde; Mrs. Wilbur Taddiken, accompanist; Mrs. Ervin Taddiken; violin oblegato solo - Through the Years: Paul Huddleston, Wakefield, Mrs- Fred Settles, accompanist; Tap Dance "That Certain Party, Alvin Freeman (11 yrs old), Wakefield, Paul Huddleston, accompanist; Piano Solo "Rhapsody In G Minor," Dorothy Ann Buckley, Clyde; Song and Dance, "Kissin In The Corn," Mrs. Wilbur and Mrs. Ervin Taddiken accompanist.

Serving coffee and doughnuts; Mrs, Elmer Seitz, Mrs. Carl Nelson, Mrs. Earl Hawks, Mrs. Walter Hanson, Mrs. Earl Hahn, Mrs. Charles Anderson, Mrs. Edwin Schwab, chairman. In charge of pop: Mrs. Stanley Carlson. Tickets sold $119.50, donations $6.00, total $125.50. Approximate expenses: $67.00. Clear $68.00 for Feves Committee.

1/19/50 - Letter From Mayor of Feves (12/30?49) - New Year Greetings. Packages of crayons, erasers, pencils, tablets and school supplies plus Christmas Candy arrived Dec. 29. Distributed Jan. 2. Purchased Picture as gift for Morganville. "We hope this picture will prove to our friends and their decedents in Morganville the unending gratitude of Feves to her Godmother (Morganville).

2/02/50 - Letter from Mayor of Feves 1/30/50 to Dan Reonigk - "Thanks to inhabitants of Morganville for kindness and generosity and hope that kindness may be prolonged indefinitely.

Facts about 1949: Fruit harvest good; rye and wheat damaged by mice; other crops badly influenced by drought; weather much too mild - no sign of rain; waiting impatiently for snow which has not yet appeared.

Packages all arrived intact and in good condition, Mr. and Mrs. Torlotting distributed like before. "Thank you my dear colleague. I sent this letter with best wishes (across the ocean) and earnestly hope that all Morganville lives in peace and happiness.�

3/30/50 - French Classes Growing in interest. Mrs. Marie Perreault Weber, teacher, cost $1.00 for 30 lessons.

4/06/50 - Feves Receives Picture of Kansas Harvest Scene by Prof. Arvid Jacobson. Picture Feves giving Morganville has been shipped.

4/20/50 - Edna (Petermeyer) Cowell, (Mrs. John) of Topeka - formerly of Morganville, came to get material about UNESCO for (Women's Society of Christian Service) WSCS in Topeka.

4/27/50 - Picture from Feves - sent March 23, arrived April 25, is in Dan Roenigk"s office, to be hung in school house.

5/18/50 - County UNESCO Meeting. Held in Clay Center; Telegram sent to Trygve Lie, Secretary General, United Nations: "The Clay County, Ks UNESCO Council prays for your success in strengthening the United Nations. Thank You for your effort for a peaceful world.�

7/06/50 - Feves Pictures and Broadcast July 14. Mrs. Utley to show pictures taken in Feves. KSAC Radio Station will play broadcast of Feves radio program in response to the Morganville broadcast of two years ago. People of Feves remarked how many city people have visited their village since their international fame.

7/13/50 - Utleys To Tell of Feves Friday Night. Girls French Class to try and sing "Sur Le Pont" (song sung to Lafe Todd in Feves two years ago) WSCS to serve refreshments at Feves Program.

7/20/50 - The Ambassadors Report Home. Edwin and Billie Utley reported on visit to Feves.

9/21/50 - Make Tape Recording for Elmore McKee - 20th Century Fund (Founded 1919 by Boston Dept. store) - and Lou Hazen of NBC. Made recording for series of radio programs showing "grass roots� democracy at work. (Note: see book, "The People Act")

10/26/50 - Operation Democracy Broadcast. Series scheduled to start Sat. Dec 9 at 7 p.m.- exact date of Morganville Broadcast not known. Will Include recording form Prof Arvid Jacobson, KU and Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Utley, K.C.

11/02/50 - UNESCO Meeting at Baptist Church in Clay Center. Rudolph Heberly - Volunteer worker with Youth Movement in Germany Speaker; "Average wage per day 1 Mark. Takes 20 marks to buy a suit of clothes.

12/14/50 - Listen to Morganville Broadcast on the Air - "The People Act" - Sat. Dec. 23, 7-7:30 p.m. EST (nearest station WHA, Kansas City. Noel Dance to he held in Gym Dec. 29

12/21/50 - Noel Party in High School Auditorium Dec. 29. Girls and Ladies formal or Fancy Christmas Dress

NBC Broadcast Morganville Story Saturday Night DEC. 21 (note date change not day) [23] 6:30 p.m. We would like to hear from any former citizens living at a distance who hear the broadcast.

12/??/50 - Broadcast Heard From coast to Coast. Reports from California, New Jersey, Texas. Wm. Jevons, Hemet California; Mr. and Mrs. C.B. Williams, Kansas City; Mo.; Major Donald Merten, San Antonio; Mrs. Stanley Brower (Hazel Filtzwater), Lakewood N.J.; Mrs. John Gugel (Maxine Williams), Kansas City, Mo.


1/04/51 - More Hear Morganville Broadcast - from New York: Mr. and Mrs. Courtland Osborn; Colorado Springs: Emil Johnson, Colorado Springs; Mrs. Frank Gleason, Baldwin; (Men's Fellowship in Baldwin trying to work out a project like Morganville/Feves.

1950 Noel Party - Dancing, main entertainment was floor show; Rex School of Dance - Clifton/Clyde seven numbers; Sandra Hanson, Charlene Overstreet, Jerry Donnelly, Sandy Russell, Joan Donnelly, Rex DeRusseau

Anna Marie Roenigk showed pictures of her European tour assisted by Wm Reonigk. Coffee and donuts served by: Mrs. George Young, Mrs. B.H. Ruffner, Mrs. Phil Fowler, Catherine Young

1/11/51 - More Reports on Broadcast - Mr. and Mrs. Christian Anderson, Mr. and Mrs. Averill Yonally, Donice and Warren Anderson heard it while enroute between San Deigo and San Francisco, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. A Berggren heard it in San Deigo, Mrs. Charles (Mattie Blackwood) Grainger, Hemet, Ca., Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Blackwood and Mrs. F.C. Silver, Santa Ana Ca.

3/01/51 - Morganville Broadcast Repeated In Europe - Voice of America rebroadcast Morganville Story 1/24/51.

3/08/51 - County UNESCO Meeting

1/03/52 - Annual Noel Entertainment - Sponsored by Avanti Club for Feves Fund. Program: Duet - Mrs. Wm Silver and Mrs. Vernon Nikkel; Solo - Raymond Haden; French Dance - Rose Mina Oetinger, Donice Anderson, Donna Irene Carlson, Mavis Allen, Janice Canfield, Mary Charlotte Lewis, Reta Trudell, Beverly Carson. Mayor of Feves Dead - D.J. Roenigk received clipping

2/07/52 - Clay County UNESCO Meeting

7/24/52 - Author of "The People Act" Elmore McKee (story about in American Magazine. He was the Pastor- of St George's Episcopal Church of New York)

9/04/52 - Morganville Men in Europe - A.W. Kolling, Pfc. George Johnson visited Feves a couple of days.

9/11/52 - Letter From August Kolling about above trip. Mr. and Mrs. Torlotting picked them up; to Feves and Luxembourg to visit American Cemetery

12/04/52 - Sixth Annual UNESCO Meeting in Emporia

12/18/52 - UNESCO Elects Officers

12/25/52 - Annual Noel Party - Dec. 30 at School House, Fancy Dress or Christmas Costume


1/01/53 - Noel Party At School Auditorium - Program: Rex School of Dance, Clyde. Morganville Residents: Charlene Overstreet, Edgar Young; Solo - Mrs. Wm Silver; A. W. Kolling showed picture and talked about Feves

9/10/53 - Letter From Corp. Johnson, visited Feves (Torlottings)


1/07/54 - Letter From Feves - Greetings from Henry Torlotting plus letters from school children

1/14/54 - Letter From Feves France to Morganville School Children written by Jeanne Gilles

8/19/54 - A. W. Kolling returned from Europe - Entertained in the Torlotting home in Feves


5/19/55 - The Book "The People Act" published

7/21/55 - "The People Act Published"