By Cindy Gladden, Record Staff Writer
A fall party that everyone could enjoy took place along the Katy Trail in Warren County Sunday, Oct. 23.The first Peers to Treloar Party offered fun for every age, whether on a bike or in a comfortable chair listening to some great music.Dan and Connie Burkhardt, owners of Peers Store, the authors of a new children’s book and founders of the Katy Land Trust, hosted the party.The couple calls Bethlehem Valley Farm near Treloar home and they love to share Warren County’s historic river valley with everyone they meet.“It was so good, and we had high expectations.”
Sunday’s event featured the Warren County Threshers, barbecue prepared by the Marthasville Volunteer Fire Department, and the Peers gallery filled with the works of local artists and Katy Trail memorabilia.The River Rats band played near the Treloar trailhead while Gloria Attoun and Michael Bauermeister of the Augusta Bottoms Consort entertained visitors to the Peers Store.The Missouri State Parks Department’s tram provided rides from Peers to Treloar on the Katy Trail, offering the scenic 3.5-mile ride to those who didn’t wish to walk or bike.“The tram was the highlight of the day,” said Dan Burkhardt. “The state parks had a narrator on board who told the story of La Charrette, Daniel Boone and Lewis and Clark. It was a 15-minute history lesson”.Bryan Haynes, the artist who illustrated the Burkhardt’s newly released book “Growing Up With the River,” was available to sign autographs with the Burkhardts at the Peers location.For the past two years, the Burkhardts have worked to bring part of the history of nine communities along the Missouri River to the youngest audience, enticing children with colorful depictions and interesting facts in the new book.Towns featured are La Charrette, Femme Osage/Dutzow, Hermann, New Haven, Marthasville/Peers/Treloar, Washington, St. Charles, Augusta and Chesterfield.Each town is highlighted during a different generation, spanning from 1806 until 2016. The conclusion of the book takes place in 2040, and ponders the fate of the bur oak tree “planted” in chapter one.Burkhardt said more than 75 copies of the book were sold Sunday. The book sells for $19.95. Proceeds benefit the Katy Land Trust and Magnificent Missouri, both organizations dedicated to teaching Missourians the value of the local landscapes and preserving them for the future.To learn more about the Katy Land Trust or “Growing Up With the River,” visit katylandtrust.org. The children’s book also is available at Fern & Sycamore in Washington, Gallery Augusta in Augusta, or at Peers Store through the end of October.An additional book signing will be held Saturday, Dec. 10, at Fern & Sycamore.Gloria Attoun, left, and Michael Bauermeister of Augusta Bottom Consort kept their instruments playing on the front porch of the Peers Store. Cindy Gladden photo.
