Taxing Paradise

Only two certainties in Life. Dinsmoor prepared for one, but not the other...

While digiting a very special set of newspaper clippings, pasted into a stove catalogue as a make-shift scrapbook, two short items clipped from separate papers, tell the same story:

WICHITA, March 3 - S.P. Dinsmoor, Lucas, Kan., who operates a Garden of Eden at that place, must pay Uncle Sam more than $600 in admission taxes, according to a decision received here from the internal revenue commission - or at Washington, D.C. Dinsmoor denies he owes the government any taxes and refuses to submit an offer and compromise. It is believed here the case will be turned over to the United States district attorney.

Dinsmoor is 81 years old. About a year ago he married a comely girl of 21 and only recently an heir arrived at the Garden of Eden. The operator of the paradise informs revenue officers here that he does not charge admission fees for those who want to see the garden. He admits, however, that he sells postcards and receives money for acting as a guide to visit.

We don’t quite know the date of the article, but if they were aware of Dinsmoor’s March 8th Birthday (and if they’re in with the feds, you betcha they do…), the date would work out to 1924.

Happy Tax Day, all!