Otis, Kansas History

Otis, Kansas

Otis was founded in 1886 by Major E. C. Moderwell, an investor in the Missouri-Pacific Railroad, from Salina, Kansas. The town was named for his son, Otis. It had already been determined by by the Missouri-Pacific Railroad, that as it headed westward it would barrel right through what was to become Otis.

As the streets were laid out, some were named for children of the original founders. A new train depot and section house were built by the Missouri-Pacific Railroad and a post office opened on August 12, 1887. Moderwell donated a plot of ground where the first grade school was built and the present school still stands. Before long, there were a number of new businesses opening up in the flourishing city.

Otis' Main Street today, March, 2009, Kathy Weiser.

The Methodists first held their services in the school house until they built a new church in 1895. The Trinity Lutheran Church was founded by settlers who had immigrated from Russia.

By 1910, Otis had several businesses including a bank, telegraph and express office, and boasted a population of about 400.

The following year, a cigar factory was built that was in production for a number of years. When natural gas was discovered in 1928, Otis soon had 50 producing oil and gas wells that brought prosperity and more people to the town.

In 1943 the Otis Helium Plant was constructed to extract helium from natural gas. One of the largest of it's kind, it was originally constructed in 1943 by the United States government and an entire community was developed south of town to house the plant workers. Though the plant relocated from its original site and is privately owned, it continues to operate today. A wind turbine company has also recently been located in Otis, placing the small town on the forefront of alternative energy production in western Kansas.

Today, the population of Otis is just a little more than 300 people.

It appears it's been a while since this old service station filled up an automobile,

Kathy Weiser, March, 2009.

Compiled by Kathy Weiser/Legends of Kansas, updated April, 2010.

An old building in Otis, Kathy Weiser, March, 2009.

While these old buildings are sad, they are also somehow hauntingly beautiful, Kathy Weiser, March, 2009.

From the Rocky Mountain General Store

Custom Greeting Cards - Combining our great vintage photographs with words, wisdom and proverbs of the Old West, these photo cards are unique to the Rocky Mountain General Store.