Members of Preceptor Pi Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi met at Flavored Creations for a delicious meal to celebrate this year’s Valentine Queen, Susan Coulson.

They also enjoyed two programs. In anticipation of Valentines Day, Cindy Meitler gave a program on the long history of Russell Stover Candy Co. It was begun in 1920 by Kansas native Russell Stover and his wife Clara, in their kitchen, using her recipes. Their 1st creation was a chocolate covered ice cream bar, the Eskimo Pie. By 1924 there were five Russell Stover stores in the central U.S. Clara sold the business in 1960 and today the company produces 60 million pounds of chocolate annually.

Karen Hayes talked about Lustron Homes. Thanks to a franchise in Great Bend, there are 18 in Great Bend and 20 in Barton County. They were produced between 1948-1950 and sold for $10,000 or less. Karen was familiar with one and took members on an imaginary walk-thru describing the interior layout. There is one on display at the Barton County Historical Society Village and Museum.