In 1947, as a junior transfer, Bill Hougland entered Beloit High School. That same year, the Beloit Basketball team made it to the state championship game-the first time in Beloit history. The following year they again played in the state championship game. After graduating, Bill enrolled at Kansas University. During his senior year, the Jayhawks were the champions of what is now the Big Eight Conference and of the 1952 NCAA Tournament.
 

        Bill was one of the seven KU players to work for Phillips Petroleum Company. Working for the company, he was eligible to play for the Phillips 66 team in the AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) league. In 1956, winning the Olympic playoffs, he and the team were qualified to go to Melbourne, Australia, to play in another Olympic Game which they won, bringing home a second gold medal.

Bill started working for Koch Industries in 1962 later becoming president of Koch Oil and president of Koch Oil Limited, a Canadian company.

He is now retired but has never forgotten KU. He and his wife Carolie donated $1.2 million to their alma mater. The income from the William M. and Carolie Miller Hougland Fund will assist four programs at the University.

        Col. Kinslow came to Beloit in 1873 when he was eight years old. He spent many of his adult years entertaining others and keeping alive the traditions of the Old West. Kinslow, at 6'7", was a member of the National Society of Longfellows and at one time was listed as the second tallest man in Kansas.
 

        Kinslow, with his long white hair, a long mustache and white goatee, resembled his friend William "Buffalo Bill" Cody. He could often be seen wearing a 20-gallon hat and carrying a cane. He appeared in such movies as Dodge City, Wells Fargo and Gay Nineteen.
 

        A picture of Kinslow is displayed in the Mitchell County Historical Museum. He was featured in the publication "Historical Moments in Mitchell County", published in 1976.
 

        His funeral was held at the Vail McDonald Funeral Home, and he was buried in Elmwood Cemetery. When he died on October 18, 1948, no one thought to place a headstone on his grave. He was buried next to his wife, Jesse Irene Crowell, who does have a headstone.
 

        Forty-nine years after his death, William Newton Kinslow was imortalized by the members of the Waconda Chapter of the Kansas Anthropological Society and other caring persons who donated money to buy the stone.
 

        Bell Memorials of Beloit made and set the headstone at a special price to the group as their contribution to the memory of the "Buffalo Bill" look-a-like.

        Between 1879 and 1890, many of the survivors of the Civil War came to Kansas as pioneers to settle in Mitchell County. It is believed that there are as many as 1000 civil war veterans buried in Elmwood Cemetery.
 

        A statue of a union soldier was dedicated in Soldier's Square on May 30, 1913. The inscription reads "Erected in honor of defenders of the Union 1861-1865 by the patriotic citizens of Beloit and the community under the auspices of Women's Relief Corps # 52, Department of Kansas Auxiliary of the Grand Army of the Republic, Fraternity, Charity, Loyalty."

The monument was erected during a surge of memorials throughout the former union sympathizing states of that era. The statue was ordered from a company that specialized in such art, and is one now catalogued in a special project by the Kansas Historical Society. Cost of the statue was $1,600 with the square costing a total of $1,850.

A revitalization of Soldiers Square is a living legacy that was completed by Ercelle Speaks and Dean Speaks, her son, and the City of Beloit in 1997. Many flowers were planted, the limestone walkways were uncovered and raised approximately 7 inches and reset in a sand base. The walkways were laid in a circle around the statue with four "spokes" radiating from the monument. Dean also built two limestone "patios" within the circle. It is a place people can visit, relax and enjoy the peaceful beauty.

There was a re-dedication service on April 25, 1998 when the Kansas Department of the Sons of Civil War Veterans met in Beloit.
 

        There are many interesting stories concerning historical places in Kansas, and the legend of Waconda Springs (Wakonda Springs) falls in that category.
 

        The "Great Spirit Springs" was a well-known site to both Indians and the first white men. The Indians considered the Springs to be a god and would bathe and drink from it, believing it possessed great health giving properties. Waconda is a deep-seated spring whose supply source is the saliferous shale immediately overlaying the Dakota sandstone which is thought to be 600-800 feet below the surface.
 

        After this area was settled, the Waconda Springs Resort was developed. The health spa specialized in the treatment of arthritic patients. It was known far and wide for its therapeutic and healing values. Dr. & Mrs. Carlos Bingesser were owners of the Springs and hospital until it was bought by the government. Waconda Springs is now completely covered by water of the huge reservoir which is now called Waconda Lake or Glen Elder Reservoir.
 

        The Waconda Heritage Village Committee has received a grant to further the development of the replica of the Waconda Springs. It will be located near the Hopewell Church that they had previously moved to the site on the Glen Elder Dam/Waconda Lake property. This dedicated group have plans to move an old schoolhouse to the site and numerous other plans are in the development stages and will be forthcoming as money allows.
 

        More information on the Legend of Waconda Springs and the development of Waconda Heritage Village can be found on the

Waconda Springs