Items from the 1889 New Era, part 1

A sundry of news items from the Valley Falls New Era from January to November 1889

Part I

- compiled by Betty Jane Wilson, society president.

Jan. 11 — The ice house at the creamery is filled with Walnut Creek ice.
The old Half Mound bridge was cut in two and two bridges were thus made for smaller streams. The bridge now across the river at Half Mound is one of the best the county.

Feb. 7 — Mr. Atchison's ice house spoken of last week is quite an imposing structure. About $100 a day is being extended here in the ice business.
Mr. Davis Atchison of Leavenworth will put about 3000 tons of ice at this place. He will commence at once the erection of an ice house near the elevator, 60x80, 24 feet high and dump the blocks of ice into it by means of a chute.

Feb. 14 — Mr. David Atchison, the Leavenworth ice man who is putting up 3000 tons of ice in our city, is every inch a gentleman. By invitation we boarded a N.W. engine (RR) in his employ and rode up to Cedar to witness the work there. The way they get the glistening blocks is business. Mr. Atchison has between sixty and sixty-five hands employed, and they are nearly all men and boys from our town. He could have brought his help with him probably cheaper, but preferred to give our laborers work. His large ice house here is a permanent thing an every winter the same business will be transacted. Mr. Atchison is thus leaving considerable money in our town.

Feb. 21 — A Blue Mound item: We took a stroll down to the ice house of Mr. Atchison and found a big thing in the shape of congealed water. The building being in size 60x84 feet and 24 feet high, three walls thick, making two air chambers, no saw dust being used. The building will hold 150 car loads of 20 tons each worth at least $10 per ton or the nice little sum of $30,000. Ten cars were used in hauling the ice from Cedar Creek to the building, five being loaded at the creek while five were being unloaded at the building. Six men were kept busy just placing the blocks after they came to them on two tracks in the building.

Part II: Rail wreck and tragedy and new enterprises.

The Valley Falls Historical Society museum will be open at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 19.