Compiled by Betty Jane Wilson, society president
A trip through the Valley Falls Historical Society files reveals the view from a business standpoint of Grasshopper Falls (legally Valley Falls by legislative action — 1875) through the eyes of the Kansas New Era April 15, 1876, our nation's centennial year.
"It's manufactories — markets — trade and future prospects — a live town and live businessmen — the spring lookout for the centennial year.
"Valley Falls is conceded to be the commercial center of Jefferson County. Her situtation at the crossing of A.T.&S.F. and K.C. railroads gives railroad connections from every point of the compass and by competing lines gives her better freight lines than any other point in the county. The same reasons give better shipping facilities than are possessed by any other point in the county. These facts enable her businessmen to pay more for produce and sell goods cheaper than any other point not similarly situated.
"These advantages have been accepted by our businessmen so that a better market for better prices for produce has been found at Valley Falls during the last six months than any other town in the state. Goods have been held at bedrock prices so that a load of corn will buy more goods at Valley Falls than at any other town in the state.
"The advantages mentioned will continue to be ours for all time, and if the present liberal policy of our businessmen toward the farmer is continued, our continued prosperity is assured! That the world at large may understand more fully our advantages, we will mention briefly our businessmen and tell what they do.
"First in importance, our water powers — Two in number, one is improved by a flouring mill and woolen mill owned by J. M. Piazzek, Oak Hill Mills — built by Legler and Hefty in 1874 — have a capacity of 100 bushels of grain per hour and manufacture of flour that is making these gentlemen a reputation at home and abroad;
"Wagon, carriage, and smith- shops carried on by S.H. Dunn, V.P. Newman and Nolker, and Schumacher. Harness manufacturing represented by shops of J.J. Winterburg and John Ready;
"Family groceries, A. Frazier and Louis Lutt; drugs and medicines, A.A. Coy and S.A. McDaniel; agricultural implements, Strickland & Bliss, Coulter & Moyer, Trowbridge & Wood, and J. Beland; cabinet making and furniture, D.Y. Gallison & S. F. Coulter;
"Millinery, notions, dressmaking, etc., Mrs. McCartney, Mrs. Mounds, Mrs. Meyer, and the Misses Steele; photographic artists, Cobb & Shirk; city barber, Geo. Lewis; jeweler, watchmaker, H. Shellburg; bakery, Mrs. Baldwin;
"Hotels, Cataract House, Octagon, and The Broadway; livery stables, Sprague & Wood and Thos. Coulter; the Michigan Lumber Yard; Banking institutions, Valley Bank and Savings and Hicks, Gephart & Co.
"They are accommodating gentlemen and safe men to do business with.
"From the Editor: In our haste we may have omitted many important items, but our aim being to show Valley Falls from a business point of view and to show the dependent relations existing between our city and the rich country surrounding it. We think that sufficient has been mentioned for the present purpose and that our readers will all realize that we are a necessity to each other and by cooperation on the part of town and country the prospects that look so prosperous with the opening this centennial spring, will continue to brighten."
The Valley Falls Historical Society museum will be open at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 19.
No comments:
Post a Comment