Cato Historical Preservation Association

11/14/2025

Cato Days 2025 was made extra special by a visit from Cato teacher Maudine Picht. Maudine was the last teacher at Cato in the 1950s. We also had a visit from Jerry Coonrod, who attended the Cato School.

11/14/2025

From the Cato Schoolhouse, Tour Day's grand finale was our wagon ride. This year we traveled north to the Pleasant View Cemetery (formerly Large) where many of the ancestors of Cato are buried. Merle Engle, former Cato resident, told our wagon riders about the history of the cemetery and how the Large School was formerly there. We continued the tour past the old stone house, which was build around the same time as the school with stones quarried near Cato. The wagons continued and stopped at a high plateau where we could see for miles and imagine what it was like for the native people who originally lived here and for the settlers who arrived in the mid-1800s.

11/14/2025

Our Cato Day session on the schoolgrounds concluded with a presentation of the Gettysburg Address by Abraham Lincoln, aka Wayne Bockleman.

11/14/2025

Cato Tour Day visitors enjoyed a beautiful day at Cato. We had learning stations. We had food. We had music. And we had our annual drawing for the quilt and a mini-auction.

11/14/2025

Cowboy stew was served for lunch, compliments of Mighty MO Chuck Wagon. Lunch was served by Cato HPA member Shirley Hensley, along with helpers Tina and Timber.
We were also treated to special performances by The Players Circle, organized by Cato HPA member Jim Harris.

11/14/2025

Other things were happening on the grounds. Several presenters were there to show off some of the old-time wares. We also had our Cato Store where visitors could purchase some Cato merch.

11/14/2025

After the school session, we were treated to a re-enactment of the 1860 Settler Removal. Cato HPA member Robert Magginetti led the story supported by re-enactors Matt Wells, Carl Brenner, Anna Portwood Swank, Jamie & Elizabeth Thompson, Carter & Jill Pugh, Mary Portwood, Jim Harris, Jill Franks, and Andrew Thompson. Matt Feild was the Union soldier who arrived on horseback to evict the settlers from their homes.

11/14/2025

The morning session continued with our presentation in the schoolhouse. Anna Portwood Swank, Jamie & Elizabeth Thompson do a wonderful job of sharing what a typical day in a one-room schoolhouse was like.

11/14/2025

Cato Days had a first this year. We were entertained by Matthew Feild, who demonstrated a Cavalry Saber Drill on his horse, Blanco.

11/14/2025

Well, it's been almost a week since our Cato Days 2025 celebration. It was a beautiful day and we had so many wonderful things happening. We are so thankful for all the wonderful volunteers and presenters who help to make this event happen. Enjoy the pictures! This first set of pictures is from our morning session in the church.

11/10/2025

11/08/2025

Schoolteachers Anna Portwood Swank, Jamie & Elizabeth Portwood Thompson present a typical school day in a one-room schoolhouse. (Thank you, Dustin Strong and the Morning Sun.

Area kids get a lesson, 19th century-style, from Jamie Thompson in the one-room school in Cato, KS, during Kids Day. 11-06-2025.