Old Town which we have visited before, was born during the 1870s as a collection of warehouses that used Atchison Topeka, Santa Fe, and Frisco rail lines that ran through Old Town, connecting Witchita to St Louis, Chicago, and other points east. By 1911, Witchita was the nation's second largest distribution point for agricultural implements. Over time international higways took over distribution. For some years the warehouse were boarded up so in 1991 this area was opened up to the community however, they found that the goundwater was contaminated over a 6 mile strip including Old Town. Instead of asking for Federal assistance Witchita took finacial responsibility for the cleanup by creating an environmental Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district. No other US city had used this approach. This earned Witchia the 1992 Innovations in American Governments Award from the Government Innovation Network at Harvard University Kennedy School of Government.
Today it is provides many fine restaurants, shops, a park, a movie theatre and so much more. The square is a busy place on the weekends and this Saturady there was a Mexican market .
We opted for luch at River City Brewing Company. It had been an old warehouse in its day.
In its previous life it had been the Issa N. Hockaday Building.
We opted for the Brewer's Plate.
Then it was off to see Downtown Abby at the Warren Theatre. It was a great movie.
We treated ourselves to a magaretta and popcorn.
This is a combination platter which has a selection of goodies.
We do eat mostly at home and for lunch today was our version of a cheese and meat platter.
They have some interesting skies here.
Cheers,
Ross and Beverley
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