Compiled by Betty Jane Wilson, society president
Grasshopper Falls vs. Sautrelle, an apparent bone of contention for a majority of the citizens of the pioneer village, proved a popular subject for the Grasshopper Falls Jeffersonian edited by Rufus H. Crosby until late in the year when S.H. Dodge became editor and the publication was the Kansas Jeffersonian.
The publication was a source for opinions, observations and pertinent daily news. A writer to the editor noted, "You perceive I have called the place 'Grasshopper' rather than 'Sautrelle,' the French name imposed by the last legislature. The people prefer English as being the mother tongue."
The Jeffersonian declared, "The name of the post office (recently moved) remains 'Grasshopper' and that our town will be just as soon as action can be taken by the legislature."
The news headlines at the same time were—Hurrah for Poland . . . "Eighty years ago a Polander came to Grasshopper Falls and hired on at small pay in the saw mill that had just been erected. He knew nothing of English, and had but 20 cents in the world. Today, that poor Polander is sole owner of the saw mill, together with a grist mill and woolen factory all the result of a good head joined with willing hands."
September of 1863, headline: "Grasshopper Falls still lives . . . Our friends, in directing their letters to this place, should know the name of our post office has never been changed. Outside of two families, the detestable name of Sautrelle is utterly ignored by our people . . . In after years, the name Sautrelle will only be mentioned as an example of unmitigated folly on the part of the authors."
November 25, 1863, notice: remember the school meeting Monday evening. All who want a new school must be there, and all who don't want one, be on hand to give their objections.
December 7, 1863 — New school house at the school meeting on Monday evening, the board of directors were instructed to procure a site for new school house. It will be built next summer and from the general feeling of our community, will be a large and credible building.
December 1863, Warning — New hoop skirt dangerous. A woman came near losing her life lately in Leavenworth by severing an artery by a broken spring in her hoop skirt. The ladies will take warning.
April 17, 1864 — (Portion of a letter from Rufus H. Crosby) "I shall stop at Harford, Conn., and purchase and ship two looms for the woolen factory of Joseph Miller Piazzek at Grasshopper Falls. Mr. Piazzek deserves much credit in the enterprise manifest by him in improving the water power of the falls, and let me predict that ten or fifteen years will see Joseph Miller Piazzek the proprietor of the most extensive woolen factory in the far west."
The historial society's museum will be open at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 10.
