Chapman Area Preservation Society

Goal: $5,000.00

Specific Need

We hope to become self-sustaining over time. Chapman Area Preservation Society, Inc. (CAPS) owns a three store-front building on Marshall Street in Chapman, which dates from 1881. The building is in need of new windows, renovation of the second story, and general overall maintenance issues are continually needing to be addressed. We would like to present a more organized and interesting display area that is appealing to visitors and be more of a resource for preservation of items of historical significance and for historical signage for buildings and homes.

Mission

“To encourage and facilitate the preservation of Chapman local history."

Profile

It is the belief of CAPS members that the history of the Chapman community and the surrounding rural area is an important part of our heritage and thus should be preserved.
  CAPS meets on the second Thursday of each month at the CAPS building, located at 438-442 Marshall St., Chapman. CAPS is interested in compiling files of information on historical events occurring in or around Chapman, acquiring old photographs or copies of them, abstracts, memorabilia, geneologies, books, publications and personal histories pertaining to Chapman. With the donation to CAPS of a downtown business building a long-range goal of the establishment of a local museum where historical items and photographs can be safely displayed, and where information can be found for those wishing to do research was realized. The preservation of the building also continues to be a major goal.
CAPS was instrumental in having the Butterfield Trail segment of the Smoky Hill Trail placed on the state and national historical registries and preservation of the Butterfield Trail segment in our area is one of our permanent goals. The volunteer staff produces four quarterly newsletters a year and distributes them to dues paying members. The Annual Meeting/Supper is held around St. Patrick's Day, and usually provides a program from the Kansas Humanities Speakers Bureau. Volunteer staff at CAPS is working hard to preserve Chapman’s past for future generations.
   We hope that this group can help provide a bridge between historic Chapman and our community as it is today, and can actively work to keep our past from "getting lost".