Another one bites the dust
Jeff Bryan continues Clean-up Kiowa efforts
December 15, 2021
There's a pile of blond bricks by the helipad beside what was the Kiowa District Hospital on Drumm Street built in 1951. The special building had fond and sad memories for so many in the area. The hospital was an iconic landmark in this town, but had fallen from its days of glory and safety. It had become a dilapidated eyesore that was dangerous for curious people to investigate. KDH continues on in a state-of-the-art facility on the south end of Kiowa.
Kiowa businessman Jeff Bryan is leading an effort to clean-up unsightly properties around Kiowa. It's funded by private donors of which more are needed. Also the Greater Kiowa Community Foundation (which includes The General Store) is contributing as is the City of Kiowa.
Donations are totally tax deductible. Bryan said it's taking at least $45,000 to take down the hospital. Cornerstone owner Jacob Davis and Garrett Johnson owner of Rural Waste Solutions are running their heavy equipment and doing the work.
Donations can be taken to the City of Kiowa office or Bryan Chevrolet. Write Kiowa Clean-up in the memo of you check.
Bryan said he paid the taxes on a double-wide trailer with an attached two-car garage at 9th and Robinson so he could tear it down. He said he's personally paying the bills for removal of that structure. He said that property is sitting on part of Kiowa's drainage problem. He added that "It was full of cats and stuff."
Another big project to take down is on the west end of town by the railroad tracks. In early days it was the Elmore Hotel, then The Trax restaurant and the Kiowa Social Club. It's a very dangerous structure with lots of collapses inside.
Bryan said his role is to keep raising funds and getting more unsightly and dangerous structures removed. "I've been doing this 10 months straight. I've got to regroup." He wants to keep the promises he made.
Members of the public are welcome to take some of the bricks. However, Bryan warned people to stay off the old hospital property as it's dangerous with debris still remaining at this point and a basement.
"People are welcome to call me and share their thoughts," Bryan said.
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