OAKDALE PARK, entered at the N. by Oakdale Drive and at the W. by the E. end of Mulberry St., a 5O-acre tract shaded by elm and walnut trees, contains a swimming pool, tennis court, picnic grounds, and CLAFLIN HALL, an open air auditorium. At the North entrance is the SPANISH WAR AND G. A. R. MEMORIAL GATE, erected by Saline County at a cost of $13,000. It was designed by George H. Honig and completed in 1918. On the marble columns beside the gate are heroic bronze figures of a Civil War soldier and a Spanish-American War soldier.
KENWOOD PARK, entered by the foot bridge at the E. end of Oakwood Drive or by the E. end of Prescott Ave., a 9O-acre tract within a bend of the Smoky Hill River, is the site of the annual meet of the Saline Racing Association, and the 4-H Club Fair. The 4-H Club Fair is held in AGRICULTURAL HALL, a large brick pavilion built by Saline County at a cost of $65,000.
ST. JOHN MILITARY SCHOOL, Santa Fe and Otis Aves., an Episcopal school with an average enrollment of 100 cadets, offers elementary and college preparatory courses for boys. The school was established in 1887 at which time VAIL HALL a four-story brick and stone structure of modified Gothic-Romanesque design was built. An octagonal tower is attached at the west wing and a square with pyramidal roof tower rises three-stories above the east wing.
KANSAS WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY, Claflin St. and Santa Fe Ave., is a Methodist Episcopal institution with an average enrollment of 400 students. The university, established in 1886, is housed in five modern structures on a 4O-acre campus. At the center of the group is the HALL OF PIONEERS, which houses the administrative offices, classrooms, and Sams Memorial Chapel. A two-story brick and stone structure with Gothic detail, designed by Zerbe and Wilmarth, it was dedicated to the pioneers of Kansas in 1926. Carnegie Science Hall, built in 1908, houses the university library and museum. The LIBRARY has 20,000 volumes. The MUSEUM contains botanical, zoological, and geological specimens.
MARYMOUNT COLLEGE (Closed in 1989), E. end of Iron Ave., a Catholic institution for girls with an average enrollment of 200, offers four year accredited courses in art, music, science, and home economics. The college was established in 1922 by the Sisters of St. Joseph. The main building occupying a knoll overlooking Salina, is a three-story E-shaped structure of stone, castellated and buttressed in the Gothic style. The central wing houses the Immaculate Conception Chapel. The two flanking wings contain the college offices, classrooms, and dormitories. On the walls of the GREEN ROOM, the main reception room, are paintings of The Holy Family and John and Jesus by Elizabeth Sirani, seventeenth century Florentine artist.
MEMORIAL HALL, 9th and Ash Sts., a municipal auditorium, is a three-story brick structure trimmed with concrete. It was designed by C. W. Shaver and dedicated in 1922 as a "Memorial to our Veterans of all Wars." The auditorium seats 4,000.
The SALINA PUBLIC LIBRARY, SW. corner 8th St. and Iron Ave., is a two-story brick and stone structure with neo-classic detail. The original building, completed in 1903, was designed by Fred Gum of Salina. An addition built in 1928 was designed by Ben Byrnes of Salina. The library contains 38,000 volumes, five paintings by Birger Sandzen (see ART), and a valuable collection of old magazines and books, among them a complete set of McGuffey's readers. On the second floor is an HISTORICAL MUSEUM, which contains pioneer memorabilia and a reference library of more than 500 volumes.
CHRIST CATHEDRAL (Episcopal), 134 S. 8th St., cathedral of the Diocese of Salina, is a native limestone structure of English Gothic design. The altar is of Carthage marble, with reredos of Silverdale limestone. The central tower contains n bell chimes, donated by Mrs. A. L. Claflin in memory of her husband, a pioneer resident. The interior woodwork of black oak was carved by members of the Lang family of Oberammergau, Bavaria. The cathedral was designed by Henry Macomb and Charles M. Burns of Philadelphia, and dedicated in 1907 as a memorial to Hermon Griswold Batterson, a missionary of the Episcopal Church. Funds for the building were donated by Mrs. Hermon Griswold Batterson, of New York City.
Websites about Salina, Kansas:
- Kansas Facts: Saline County Facts
- City of Salina
- Salina Kansas on Wikipedia
- Salina Chamber of Commerce
- Salina Parks and Recreation on Facebook
- St. Johns Military School | Facebook
- Marymount College on Wikipedia
- K-State Salina | Facebook
- Kansas Wesleyan University | Facebook
- The Salina Journal (Newspaper) | Facebook