Ottawa Rises with Quirky Shops and Loyal Locals Remembered
The Ottawa community celebrates new downtown shops including The Goat Milk Soap Store at 202 S Main St and Dollar Tree expanding offerings. The 211 E 23rd St site reopened after a 2005 damage incident, while the Ottawa Senior Center on 130 S Main St closed after years of service. Prominent 2017 losses include Ed Taylor former county commissioner and longtime leaders Don Hay and Gene Ramsey, whose legacies shaped local governance, business growth, and infrastructure. Ramsey's push to widen US 59 culminated in a completed 11.1 mile stretch in 2012, aiding regional ties and development. The community also honors late benefactor Marguerite Gibson whose gifts funded OU projects, with Gibson Student Center opening 2014 and Gangwish Library in 2015.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Collins
Dollar Tree
23Rd St
Ottawa
Herald
Gate City Glass Company
Princeton Circle Drive
S. Main St
Joe Riggins
Julie
Sprint
Main Street
Ottawa Senior Center
Helen Hood
Senior Center
Ed Taylor
Taylor
Franklin County Commissioners
Roy Dunn
Taylor Surveying
Alan Radcliffe
Franklin County Development Council
FCDC
Ransom Memorial Hospital
Don Hay
Franklin County
Hay
Ottawa Lions Club
First National Bank
Lions Club
Kansas Lions Light Foundation
Melvin Jones
Ottawa Lodge No. 18
Ancient Free and
Ac- Masons, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks
Gene
Blake Jorgensen
Ramsey
Richard Jackson
East Central Kansas Economic Opportunity Corporation
City Commission
U.S. 59
Lawrence
Kansas Department of Transportation
Jorgensen
KDOT
Franklin
Douglas County
Neosho County Community College
Logan Street
Maguerite Gibson
Gangwish
Gibson
S. Cedar St
Kevin Eichner
Ottawa University
Carl
Carrie Gangwish
University
Bing-Go Dog Food, Inc
Franklin County Community Foundations
Franklin County Extension Unit
DO. Club
Ransom Memorial Hospital Charitable Association
Also Mentioned on This Page
Hood
Florenc Hart
Mid- America
Board of
US Bank Corporation
Thentae Winter
Dennis Butler
The
Ottawa Herald
Business Directory
Alpha AQ
AlphaRoofers
Aes
Alee
Cem
Betty
Betty Birzer
ReeceNichols
Jim Tawney
S. Princeton Rd
Windows & Doors
1600
Garnett
Kurtz
Cali Devid
Don Hardman
Louur Aa
Jer
Anticles
S&s Pawn, LLC
South
Ain - Ontawe
Jeff Robinson
Gaffron Glass Company
Limos 365
Thriftopia
Princeton Circle
Orawa
Chris Windler
Sukup
Yeder's Construction, Inc
Tickory St
Owe Herald
This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!