700@$70

Rosalea’s Big Seven Ohhh!

The Balmer Fund, Inc.

Preserving the history, art & culture of the prairies for future generations - Since 1968 & 1994

For her 70th birthday year, Rosalea Hostetler, Founder & President of The Balmer Fund, has a dream to find 700 contributors who will give $70 each to The Balmer Fund to help put direly needed roofs on the Prairie Arts Theatre and the Buckeye Building, two of the six significant historic structures in Harper County Kansas America owned by the 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.  Many know Rosalea’s story of endeavor since 1968 when she returned from New York City and purchased the historic Patterson House, and locals met at City Hall to run her out of town. (She didn’t leave.)   Since then, countless attacks, boycotting and shunning by locals have continued, and have caused her enormous setbacks financially, physically and emotionally. Trespassing and vandalism has been rampant. The wall of the I.P. Campbell building was deliberately knocked down.  In 2004 she was arrested and thrown in jail.

To endure through these chronic harassments to save historic buildings is unprecedented in Kansas.  Shame on us.  We cannot let this struggle continue any longer without showing our support. This fundraising project is Rosalea’s late life endeavor to continue her lifelong passion to preserve the history, art & culture of the prairies for future generations.  And as she is fond of saying, “Rosalea ain’t dead yet!”

                Despite the countless setbacks, much has been accomplished.  Six buildings have been stabilized and/or saved from demolition by The Balmer Fund: In Anthony: King Parrot Warehouse (1887 & 1905).  In Harper:  Prairie Arts Theatre (1922), Buckeye (1885), Bank (1883), Rosalea’s Patterson House Hotel (1883 &1968) and the rare I.P. Campbell Hall, aka Anchor Oyster Parlor (1887),listed on the Kansas Register of Historic Places; the last known fresh oyster parlor and Prairie Gothic style.  There has been continuing education since 1994 through the Prairie Connection, an all-volunteer grassroots journal published ten times annually.  The Prairie Arts Theatre (formerly the Harper Movie Theatre) presents concerts and student performances, as well as recording Women’s Voices every Second Friday. King Parrot On The Road, a traveling mini-flea market for fundraising and PR. (Due to the years of harassments, a thrift store has been forced to move six times since 1994. Rosalea finally took to the road in 2005 to create public awareness as to what has happened in Harper County for saving historic buildings.)

                Make a gift to The Balmer Fund of $70, or more, and you will be recognized for your support of endurance & tenacity. Your name will be printed in the Prairie Connection during 2006, (you will receive a free one-year subscription for a contribution of $35 or more). Your name will also appear on: rosaleas.big.seven.ohhh.blogspot.com,. It will also be displayed on a plaque when The Prairie Arts Theatre is restored.  Funds received will be used where most needed (first: roofs on Prairie Arts Theatre and Buckeye building), unless requested otherwise.

                Thank you for your support of this special project that will impact your life, as well as future generations.

Help Save The Balmer Fund Buildings!

Please send this notice to seven (7) of your best friends.  Keep the network going!

      www.prairieconnect.com     wepreserve@balmerfund.org      620.896.7566

Copyright © The Balmer Fund, Inc., 121 West Main St., Harper, KS 67058