Hays House: 158 Years of History and Good Cooking
The Hays House is the oldest, continuously operating restaurant west of the Mississippi River, getting its start in 1857. Since then it has become a historical site on the National Register and provided the small town of Council with that small town charm and pioneer feel.
Seth Hays, the great-grandson of Daniel Boone, came to Council Grove in 1847 on a mission to trade with the Kaw Indian tribe. Hays decided build a log cabin for serving food and trading along the bustling Santa Fe Trail. This was the beginning of the Hays House.
The Hays House has since been used for many different things; court, mail distribution and even church on Sunday mornings but always has remained a staple in Council Grove. Several fires have brought renovations, the most recent renovation being in 1974.
Seth Hays: Founder of the Hays House
Helen Judd inherited the Hays House in 1974 from her grandparents when they passed and she decided that she needed to help it return to its original glory.
Judd and her family moved from California to Council Grove to take part in renovating the Hays House. She moved into the house her grandfather had built and where she lived as a child.
The Judd family added a free standing kitchen and a cellar as the first parts of their rennovations as well as more dining to the upstairs which had previously served as boarding rooms. Helen's idea behind all the rennovations was to "maintain the integrity and keep as much of the historical building as possible".
The Hays House had become a family affair and their roots stay close to the restaurant to this day. Besides being the mastermind behind the rennovations, Helen was able to add her own touch and influence to the menu. Her worldly travels allowed her to add new dishes to the menu including stir fries, curries, pastas and chili rellenos. Many of these items were new to Council Grove.
In 1988, Helen and Charlie Judd retired from working at the Hays House and sold it to their cook Rick Paul. It is currently run by a group of locals.
Helen is currently 93 years old and suffers from dementia but still comes to enjoy the fried chicken, salad bar and pie at the Hays House every Sunday.
