Eventful picnic at the grove

by Betty Jane Wilson, society president

"If you want a nice day out, go to Valley Falls and charter 'The Delaware' for a ride up the river" recommended the Friday, Aug. 14, 1896, Nortonville Herald. 

The news source reported on a picnic excursion to Valley Falls:

"Last Friday afternoon about 18 couples of young people went to Valley Falls intending to take the steamer boat ride to Riverside Park and spend the remainder of the day in that resort, but the river was up so high that the voyage was too perilous. So, the boat crew landed the party in a beautiful grove near town where an enjoyable afternoon was spent. The party arrived at Valley Falls without an accident except the turning over of one buggy on Newman's Hill by a careless driver. No one was hurt. The couple was picked up and the procession proceeded. 

The proprietor of the steamboat 'The Delaware,' Mr. D.F. Piazzek, is a very accommodating, gentlemanly fellow and he courteously left his work at the bank to help make the short ride a success. When it was found impossible to 'stem the tide' any farther than Kendall's Grove, the boat managers furnished our party camp chairs, benches, ice water and did all they could to make them enjoy themselves and did not make any charge for the ride. In the afternoon some Valley Falls young people came to the Grove to picnic. They did not behave themselves as gentlemen and ladies should, did not treat the Nortonville crowd respectfully, drank all the water, carried away the tank and when a Nortonville lady and gentleman were carrying a bucket of water from a house nearby, kicked the bucket out of their hands. 

Valley Falls is a good place to go generally to have a good time, but there are some young men there (smart alexs) (sic) whose early education in etiquette has been neglected. The Nortonville party enjoyed the day's outing and the drive home at night was delightful." *Information Source — Yesteryears

The society's museum will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 16. Admission is free.

2010 Annual Meeting

Best ball game; Grasshopper Falls statistics 1870

by Betty Jane Wilson, society president

"One of the best games of ball ever played in the county or the state
came off last Saturday at Grasshopper Falls between the Red Jackets of
that place and Eagles of this place, resulting in a victory for the
latter club by a score of 18 to 11," reported J.W. Roberts, editor of
the Independent, Oskaloosa, Sept. 3, 1870.

The editor continued, "The Red Jackets, although one of the youngest,
are among the best clubs in the county and are going to make
themselves felt."

The 140 years ago issue also included Jefferson County statistics for
that time of which Grasshopper Falls reported 415 houses and 442
families. Among the 51 wealthiest men in the county, Grasshopper Falls
Township men were S.C. Gephart, G.W. May, Jo Miller, F. Ferguson, R.H.
Crosby, Cal Smith, Wm. Gragg, W. Crosby, and Geo. Van Gaasbeck.

The oldest man in the county was "Harry Nichols (colored), reported at
108 years, though there was some uncertainty at that point;" the
oldest woman was Elizabeth Conwell, 89, both resided in Oskaloosa.

The oldest persons in Grasshopper Falls Township were Curtis Howe, 98,
and Anna Bowles, 77. The largest owners of improved land: N.H. Harmon,
380 acres, Finley Ferguson, 480, E.E. Hutchins, 400, G.W. May, 300,
all in Grasshopper Falls Township.

Other township owners were J.P. Barnes, 400 acres, Rock Creek; G.
Hudson, 450, W.H. Coppinger, 700, N.A. Howard, 360, Jefferson
Township; C.A. Buck, 700 acres, J.A. Patterson, 338, Oskaloosa
Township; and R.G. Elliott, 400 acres, Sarcoxie Township. Non-
residents owned larger tracts of land than any of the Jefferson County
listings.

The Valley Falls museum will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
Admission is free.

October window display

by Betty Jane Wilson, society president

A colorful mural of some 108 inches plus, depicting an autumn country scene, serves as a backdrop for the October window display at the Valley Falls Historical Society museum.

A deserted barn near a small pond, suggestive as a haven for Hallowe'en pranksters, bears no evidence of trickery or witchery, no blood curdling sounds from within and no gory sentinels on the outside.

A distant crop of pumpkins is enhanced by a close-up pyramid of a solitary pumpkin, surrounded by cousins with funny painted faces.

To complete the scene, a regal clan of jet black cats with glaring orange eyes, accompanied by some playful friends, make their presence known by sight, not by yowling meows.

No headless horseman, no Ichabod Crane, No Sleepy Hollow invades the tranquil scene. Even the wise old owl perched above the quiet view emits not an audible hoot. All visible characters are gentle harbingers of a less sedative atmosphere with the approaching fun day of tricks or treats and costumes for Hallowe'en events.

The museum will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 9. Admission is free.