Getting the Job Done

Highway 50 is one of the longest highways in the United States. It stretches from Ocean City, MD, to Sacramento, CA, and passes through central Kansas. A sign at Ocean City declares this coast-to-coast highway is 3,073 miles long. Time Magazine (July 7, 1997) called Highway 50 "the backbone of America."

Kendall, KS, is on the western side of the state, along this US-50 route. Initially known as Aubrey for an old fort nearby, it began as a railroad stop. Five people settled there in 1879 and founded a trading post. A Post Office opened the same year. In 1885, the name was changed to Kendall and the town was platted. It grew from 10 houses to 200 houses in 4 months becoming a temporary county seat after an election in 1886. 
Times have changed and now Kendall is an organized township of less than 100 people with a few houses, a grain elevator, a couple of businesses and the Post Office. A recent storm with blowing snow caused some travel problems for residents of  Kendall. 

Postmaster Becky Grusing said, "My husband drove about a fourth of a mile before coming to a big snow drift. He came back saying we're not getting to work."

But Grusing felt she should make every effort to get the Post Office opened so she saddled up her horse Macho and rode him two miles through the snow. 

Along Hwy 50, the town of Kendall and Postmaster Grusing are still part of the backbone of America.



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