Spring 2021 | Published Quarterly | Vol. III
Renew Your Membership with LHS
It’s probably safe to say that everyone anticipates better days ahead, and that includes the historical society.
Since our fundraising events were cancelled last year, your 2021 memberships and donations are vital to our efforts. Following are some of the projects your support will enable:
- Preservation of our historical resources for future generations
- A partnership with the Shawnees to create educational materials and museum displays that can be shared with schools and libraries
- Renewal and revitalization of the Lenexa Historical Complex — Legler Barn, Strang Line Station, Frisco Train Depot and Caboose
- Creation of a pictorial timeline and display to illustrate Lenexa’s history from its founding to the present day
Membership forms will be mailed to you by the end of March, or, please visit us on line at:
https://lenexahistoricalsociety.org/membership
You are an important part of the historical society and we appreciate your valued support.
Hope to see you at the LHS museum complex and future events.
Lenexa’s 3&2 Baseball Club
For decades, Lenexa parents have used private non-profit youth sports organizations as a tool to help raise good young men and women: Soccer, Softball, Football, Cheerleading, Basketball and Baseball. And, it is “The 3&2 Baseball Club of Johnson County” that has been serving those parents and children for 70 years. And for over 50 of those 70 years, beginning in 1965, 3&2 (3 balls and 2 strikes) has made the 9 fields just west of the Lenexa Kansas National Guard Armory their home and headquarters.
A few noteworthy milestones in 3&2s history include:
1951: 3&2 was officially incorporated
1951 – 1965: Games were played at Segner Field (named for Chris Segner) at 87th and Grant in Overland Park. Today, rather than serving up ‘home runs’, that land now serves up ‘home repairs’ from the Westlake Hardware store in the Louisburg Square Shopping Center. Various school locations, including Lenexa’s Bonjour School (now a Church) hosted games along with Segner.
1976 – 1985: Games were played on four additional fields that were acquired at 63rd and Pflumm (now a Hy-Vee Grocery Store)
1997: 73 acres were purchased for field expansion just north of 83rd Street at Highway K-7
2000: Play began on 16 newly created fields
2004: Partnered with the Shawnee Mission School District to build, maintain and program high school fields. Two years later 3&2 did the same with the DeSoto School district, including softball fields.
Daytime and “under the lights”, 3&2 athletes have proudly played during spring, summer and fall on fully appointed fields: mounds-dugouts-electronic scoreboards-grass infields and nearby concession stands. Players have been seeded by skill level beginning with coach pitch, on through machine pitch and on to ‘real baseball’ through high school.
For 70 years, 3&2 has scheduled tens of thousands of teams, leagues and tournaments. It has hosted High School State Baseball Championships and National Championships. It has won national ‘Complex of the Year’ awards and ‘Commitment to Excellence’ awards. It has been called ‘remarkable’ by Sports Illustrated Magazine, but its lasting legacy is the young people it has helped raise in an atmosphere of sportsmanship, teamwork, instruction and enjoyment of baseball in safe quality surroundings.
From The Lenexa Historical Society, we say thank you to 3&2 and to its volunteer and staff leaders.
Legler Barn’s Herb Garden
The herb garden next to Legler Barn was constructed in 1994. Over the years, hard working volunteers have given it a vibrant look during spring, summer and fall. In 2021, Lenexa’s Parks and Recreation Department replaced all of the fencing that surrounds the garden, making it even more appealing.
Volunteers, Lori Saving and Pat White, are the garden’s exemplary caretakers — they prepare the beds in spring, plant annuals and perennials, and maintain the garden throughout the year. LHS truly appreciates how Lori, Pat and Lenexa Parks and Rec make the herb garden such an inviting place to visit.
Herb garden volunteers are always welcome, so If you know gardening or would like to learn, go to lenexahistoricalsociety.org. and volunteer under the “Support” tab.
Shawnee Indian Partnership
LHS is currently partnering with the Shawnees to research and present the story of the tribe’s history in Johnson County. Valuable information about the Shawnees’ relocation to our area, their contributions to Johnson County and their current JoCo efforts will be featured in a completely new display at Legler Barn.
The 6’ x 7’ display pod will be “state of the art”, visually and electronically. The pod will be portable so it can be displayed at City Hall and the Lenexa Library when not in use at the museum in Legler barn.
Updates will be communicated as this exciting project progresses.
Want to be a member of LHS?
Lenexa has a long-running and continuing story — we’d love for you to join the
Historical Society and help preserve its history.
Sign up at lenexahistoricalsociety.org/membership
Have a Lenexa History Story?
If you have a Lenexa history story that you think would be a good fit for this
newsletter, email it to us at lhsnews@leglerbarn.org
Lenexa Historical Society 