McCammon-Goodrich wedding gifts, 1882

— Compiled by Betty Jane Wilson, society president

Mrs. Charles Bliss, when recounting early days living in Grasshopper Falls (Valley Falls), listed G.W. McCammon as a frequent visitor to her home prior to his meeting and eventual marriage to Miss LeLe Goodrich. Apparently, the custom at that time was to list the wedding presents presented to the bride and groom and their donors.

The Valley Falls New Era, November 25, 1882, listed the following gifts (the donors names have been omitted except those from the parents of the newlyweds) :

"Groom to bride, fine ladies' purse, contents $100 in gold, and jewelry case containing bracelets with lock and key, and a gold-headed diamond pin; bride's parents, gold watch and chain; groom's parents, a large Morocco bound Bible, and two, large oil paintings.

Other gifts from friends, included: lace handkerchief and silver ice pitcher, bronze French clock, hanging lamp, pair of vases, pair of silver napkin rings, silver soap dish, double silver pickle castor, dressing case, silver sugar bowl, students' lamp, work box and matrimony thermometers, silver syrup pitcher, silver pickle castor, glass pitcher and half dozen goblets, glass cake stand, fine parlor lamp, card case, carving knife, fork and steel (for sharpening),

"Silver thimble and case, fine French tablespread, counterpane, fine towels, water flask and glass, chamber set, tidies and mats for arm chair, fine rocking chair, Jean Ingels on Poetical Works, Colorado mineral specimens, fine silver jewel case, several gifts of five dollars, case of perfumery, silver card receiver, gold scarf pin, case of perfumery, work box, colored glass vase, large scrap book, glass ink stand, sterling silver pin, Mour's Poetical Works,

"Dictionary of Poetical Quotations, The House and Haunts of Our Elder Poets, English lake scenery, Taylor's Songs of Yesterday, Lowell's Poems, The Josephine Gallery, Bible Gallery, illustrated album, autograph album, two beautiful bouquets, counterpane, oil painting on plush plaque, plush picture frames, and a fine, silk handkerchief."

Note: The society's museum will be open at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 26.

Damaging flood and ice, 1881

- by Betty Jane Wilson, society president

"We don't refer to Noah's Flood, but we mean the recent 'Old High' the Delaware has been on," reported G.D. Ingersoll, editor of the Feb. 12, 1881, Valley Falls New Era.

He continued, "The usually quiet and unostentatious stream has been on a regular 'old bender' and has attracted considerable attention. She began to raise last Friday evening and kept swelling her dimensions till Tuesday when she was at her highest. Water was two feet deep on Piazzek's mill floor and within three feet of the highest raise the oldest settler can remember.

"All Sunday night men were busily engaged carrying flour and grain out of the mill and luckily enough, the miller lost no grain. The ice had now broken up and great blocks as large as a house were rushing down the mighty current towards the Kansas River.

"Much anxiety was now manifested concerning the safety of the bridges and mills on account of the floating ice. Monday morning a large cake struck the northwest corner of the Piazzek Mill and broke one of the large corner posts. A large gorge had formed below the mill, and the way to clear it was a conundrum.

"Mr. Hayward, the miller, solved it by putting eight charges of powder into half gallon jugs with well varnished fuses attached to them. The 'little brown jugs' were then sunk under ice, the fuse lighted, and the work was accomplished.

"Tuesday evening a mass of ice struck the trestle under the east end of the Kansas Central (RR) bridge and tore it away. The water is now falling and the mill men are repairing the mill."

The February weather scenario was not ended. in the Feb. 19, 1881, issue of the New Era, the editor reported, "The storm has been immense. A whole week we've been cut off from the rest of the world. Snow blockades all around. A whole week without mail. No wonder everyone has the blues. The biggest snow storm the oldest inhabitant remembers. Drifts as large as a house in front of every man's door. Terrible in the extreme, but the Rubicon is crossed."

The museum will be open at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 19.

School children explore the past at the museum

- by Betty Jane Wilson, society president

The Valley Falls Historical Society played host to local students from grades two through six celebrating Kansas Day, Friday, Jan. 28.

The students and teachers assembled at the museum at 30 minute intervals from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The teachers presented their students with a list of historical items to locate throughout the museum. Following the search, the visitors were invited to tour the museum and to see the collections, artifacts and antiques on display throughout the two-story building. Museum hosts were on hand to guide and answer questions.

The special interests of the groups were as varied as the ages and genders of the visitors. The sheepskin throw rug drew the attention of a few who chose to stretch out prone on the throw to experience the soft spun hair.

The baby stroller of recent vintage was recognized by more advanced groups while glittery party shoes, jewelry and a graduation dress were declared awesome. Some more conservative young women shunned the extravagance of the graduation attire.

Top honors for adult and youth admirers was won by the ever popular stereoscope. Lines formed by those waiting for a look-see of the hand-held "scope" to view the 3-D image of the post card type pictures displayed.

Close rivals in popularity were the country school desks and bench-like seats of graduated sizes for use by the student's physical size requirements. Ink wells, stick pens, slates, and first-year readers shared the rivalry.

Another crowd pleaser was the collection of Valley Falls high school senior graduation class composites. Young descendents surrounded the photo displays seeking school day pictures of parents, relatives or friends.

A miniature, partially functional typewriter from the bank, numerous cameras, toys, wagons and a scooter commanded viewing time from those whose interest focused on that historical era.

An antique album with thick pages of unidentified ancestral photos whetted the curiosity of a couple of youngsters. They were so intrigued they devoted their visiting time to carefully turning pages, commenting and frequently giggling about the wearing apparel and hair styles.

A small lad startled his peers by exclaiming "Isn't it fantastic?" when observing the huge display of intricate sailor's knots. His companion examined the larger knots of tightly bound cords with tiny exploring fingers.

Finale: A youthful departing guest announced "Wish I owned this place!"

The Valley Falls Historical Society's museum will be open at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 12.

Kansas or Bust, part 3

— compiled by Betty Jane Wilson

Part III of III

Mrs. Bliss recalls early days living in Grasshopper (Valley) Falls. "Who would have dreamed that in fifty years from the time that I landed in Grasshopper Falls, I would be comfortably located in a house of our own, not more than a block from where I first started housekeeping."

She described their first home. "The house had four rooms below and an attic we used for a store room. We reached it by a step ladder as far as it would go, then we climbed the best we could until we landed safely above. 

"We had only been keeping house about two months when I was taken very ill. We called a doctor by the name of Coyle. This was Saturday night, Oct. 30, and rain coming down in torrents. Before morning we had an addition to the family, a dear little baby boy. 

"In December, Mr. Bliss and Strickland bought the Curtis Hicks Hardware Store. In March of the following year, we thought our young hopeful, then five months, needed a new perambulator, so we proceeded to hire Mr. Dunn's 'one horse shay' with the horse hitched in front and drove to Atchison. We purchased the finest baby buggy they had in the city. It was the only one. I was happy to have something to take the baby out in and believe me, I was 'some beans'. As to my knowledge, it was the only buggy in town at that time. Five and a half years later, I had it remodelled for the second heir to the Bliss fortune. By taking the tongue off the front (for then we had pulled the buggy) and having handles something like those that are now used on the back and we pushed the vehicle in the front of us.

"My first meeting with Mr. Kendall was as a young man in Mr. Rufus Crosby's store." (Later A. D. Kendall of Kendall State Bank) "And Mr. John Dornblasser, also clerking in Mr. Crosby's store. I remember buying a toothbrush holder from Mr. Dornblasser. It was of white iron stone china and had little holes in the bottom and a saucer to catch the dripping water. He sold it to me for a bouquet holder saying that the holes were there to let the water run out. I was too timid to tell him what it really was. 

"My first callers were Mrs. Mark Hillyer, an aunt of Mrs. Kendall, and a Mrs. Jones, the Congregational minister's wife. Mr. G. W. McCammon was one of our early acquaintances. Mr. McCammon was teaching at what I believe is now called Pleasant Ridge School House." (G. W. McCammon, later, was builder of the building that now houses the Valley Falls Historical Society Museum.)

"He came often to spend the evening or Sunday afternoon or evening with us. He was lonely and so were we. Later on, Miss LeLe Goodrich came to visit her aunt, Mrs. Hillyer, and when Mr. McCammon became aquainted with her, his visits to our home were not so frequent. They were finally married.

"On May 18, 1872, we drove to Leavenworth to attend the celebration of the new bridge over the Missouri River. While we were there, we learned the first passenger train was to leave Atchison for Grasshopper Falls, so we sent the team home, and went to Atchison, thereby coming home on the first passenger train that ran over that track.

"Many things flit through my mind as I think of the pioneer days such as shoutings of desperadoes (I being an eye witness to one shooting affair), of the grasshoppers, the drought, the building of churches and many more incidents that I haven't time to touch upon, but I will close my paper with these few lines— 'Proud of Kansas? Yes, I am. In the onward march Kansas sets the pace and was never known to lag in the race. If the nation should lack presidential timber, Kansas can furnish it. Please take our number.'"

The Valley Falls Historical Society's museum will be open at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 5.