March 20, 2012

March Madness, 1923-style

by Betty Jane Wilson, society president

"Harmony between Valley Falls and Ozawkie basketball fans" headlined the sports column of the Farmers' Vindicator (predecessor to the Valley Falls Vindicator) Friday, March 23, 1923, with the following story:

"After Ozawkie defeated Valley Falls basketball players with the aid of the referee in the Jefferson County Tournament played at Perry last week, the Ozawkie basketball fans sent a Valley Falls basketball fan a loving cup by special delivery made of Ozawkie's silver with about as many holes in it as there are in Ozawkie. The loving cup was wrapped in black crepe paper with the following note: 'You have a bunch of log rollers up there but you ain't got no basketball players.'

"The cup and the note are on display in the front window of Lou Hauck's big store.

"The Valley Falls fan is very proud of this cup because he has drunk out of it at the Ozawkie town well on many a hot summer day, also proud of the fact that Ozawkie admits that we can beat them at log rolling and many other things. After the display is removed from Hauck's store, the owner expects to donate it to the Valley Falls High School to be placed in the case among the many trophies won by the Valley Falls High School teams."

The museum will be open at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 24.

No comments: