The late Harvey and Hannah Kruse were one of the many farm couples who lost their places to the Marion Reservoir. Their homestead now is an overflow camping area at Marion Cove.

The couple was left with a 45-acre pasture on the east side of the reservoir. Harvey saw that it gave a perfect view of the lake and conceived the idea of developing a housing area there.

After a feasibility study was done, the go-ahead was given to develop the site. The Kruses filed a plat for the subdivision in October 1969 and divided it into 116 lots.

Several Marion County banks offered municipal bonds for financing. Roads were laid and graded, and electricity, water, and a sewer system were installed.

The Kruses installed a mobile home on one of the lots to serve as an office and living quarters.

The first lot sold went to Bob and Dorothy Coates of Wichita on Sept 20, 1969, while development still was in progress.

The other lots sold slowly over the next few years and eventually all lots were sold. The lots contain permanent residences, mobile homes, and weekend/summer homes.

Eastshore turned out to be a dream come true not only for the Kruses but the many people who live there. On the heels of Marion Reservoir’s 40th anniversary, the people of Eastshore soon will have their own history to celebrate.