Haddam, Kansas a/k/a www.ci.haddam.ks.us Anita R. Childerston, Author

Having been involved in a Haddam cemetery improvement project since 1999, it seemed like a good idea to put cemetery information on the internet. After all, other communities have been putting their cemetery information on the internet, so why not Haddam? It shouldn't be too difficult, but it would require a knowledge of the process.

After making several inquires it became apparent there was no easy one-step program available.

Lucky am I, though. Living in North Platte, Nebraska affords me the opportunity to take a range of classes from antique collecting to furniture refinishing to auto mechanics. Thus the web design class scheduled to start in January 2001 would, hopefully, be just what I needed.

When the Haddam City Council was approached for approval of the internet cemetery project, they not only gave their blessing but asked, "Why not put the city on?" This seemed reasonable. A larger project - but reasonable.

As the oldest member of html.101, and many years senior to the instructor, Mr. Steinbeck, much time was required for me to accomplish the January-February weekly homework assignments.

Html is another language. one that is more easily learned by seven or seventeen year olds than someone three score and seven. And Mr. Steinbeck's theory is that you learn the process in its entirety.

Although apprehensive about the project, I looked forward to the challenge. At the conclusion of Lesson Three, Mr. Steinbeck announced, "With the next lesson, the fun begins." "I could hardly wait because what I had been doing for the last three weeks was not fun." New terminology and learning several new software programs all at once was not easy.

Lesson Four was a review of my hierarchal flow chart. Mr. Steinbeck's comment, "You have quite a project for the first time out the chute," left me wondering what he meant. Was it a compliment that someone my age would attempt such a project or a doubt?

Another html class was offered two weeks after Mr. Steinbeck's class ended. Instructor McKenny's statement, "when you get into web design you never get done," presented me with a dilemma. What about all the quilts I had planned to make? And the 50 year accumulation of pictures that needed to be categorized and put into albums? And the waiting furniture refinishing projects? And the short stories I had planned to write? Yet none of that seemed to matter too much. Because by mid March, the fun had begun.

Once a good portion of the data had been written in html language it appeared the time was near when we needed to make application for the official URL (web address). Haddam Mayor, Jerry Brown, and I spent part of a May 2001 afternoon filling out electronic forms. While I held my breath Jerry pushed the "submit" button which would, hopefully, put Haddam on the world wide web.

In early June 2001 notification was received that the universal city designation had been approved. Haddam's web address, www.ci.haddam.ks.us would become the pathway which would allow internet users all over the world the opportunity to visit Haddam, Kansas.

Responses are being received from all over the world as search engines have picked up the site. Many folks whose ancestors once lived in the area have contacted this webmaster and/or the mayor.

Personally, this project has been a fun and rewarding experience. I am proud of the City Council's foresight in envisioning what might be accomplished electronically for their small community. A community of less than 200 according to the 2000 census. Full benefit not yet certain. What is certain though is that Haddam has had lots of out of town visitors since going on-line in 2001.

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Anita (Schocke) Childerston, Friend of Haddam and Web Design Manager