by Betty Jane Wilson
The Valley Falls Historical Society window displays honor the celebrations of our nation's Independence Day, July 4, with symbols of freedom and liberty.
The seasonal window is dominated by a giant replica of the Declaration of Independence surrounded by placards naming signers of the document, many of whom also signed the Constitution of the United States.
An enlarged photo of the 1911 Valley Falls Fourth of July parade accompanies the declaration. A fife and drum corp painting, by local artist Susan Phillips, overlooks the patriotic scene.
Military service flags, displayed before a background of red, white, and blue banners and framed by miniature United States of America flags, pay homage to the revered holiday.
The society museum will be open at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 28.
NOTE: Two oversized scrapbooks, dated 1916 and 1926-'27 respectively, presently of unknown origin, containing hundreds of newspaper clippings of local and historic events are currently on display at the museum. Visitor browsing in encouraged.
June 25, 2014
June 18, 2014
Remembering the Railroads
Compiled by Betty Jane Wilson, society president
From the Valley Falls Historical Society files, excerpts from a collection of railroad tales and quotes composed by the late Lorene Catron for the historial society — 1981.
"The first railroads built in the USA were started about 1829. It was 1859 before the railroad system reached this area, which was St. Joseph, Mo.
"Trains ran on wood — coal — water — and mutton tallow until 1859 when a conductor on the New Haven Railroad dug a 60-foot oil well at Titusville, Pa. This was a breakthrough.
"Another great advancement was the use of windmills, which were introduced by the railroads. Union Pacific had 70 large windmills they used for pumping water for use on the locomotives. One of the largest towers was 72 ft. high with a wheel 25 ft. across.
"The railroads were not welcomed by the boat people, especially in the south. They fought them all, going so far as to sabotage the bridges across riverways. Besides boat and bridge shippers, rival railroad crews would sabotage each other in order to hold their territory . . .
"Americans were enchanted with the Iron Horse! In 10 years, railroad promoters had taken 33 million acres across the peoples' land. In planning the railroads, Indian rights were ignored and 31 million buffalo were slaughtered in Kansas alone . . . The railroads west and south intercepting thousands of cattle grazing grounds . . . Even with free land, it took capital to build a railroad. Counties voted money, towns voted land and cash for terminals, individuals invested $400 and $500 each.
"Business would boom, real estate prices soared, farms started, and everybody won.
"The Santa Fe was late getting started, but in 1871 work started from both ends — Topeka to Atchison. It was completed in 1872.
"At that time, trains ran by smoke and headlights. The crews kept Winchester rifles handy. Drunken cowboys shot out the headlights, raided lonely depots, and Indians and prairie fire plagued the new railroads.
"The trains had no vestibule on their passenger cars. Conductors and brakemen leaped from car to car. There were no lavatories. Coal stoves heated the cars in winter.
"Before the railroad moved in, only a few thousand people were in the territory. In a few short weeks, with a railroad, the population doubled and tripled.
"The 'work train,' which laid out the railroad, was a 'town on wheels.' Laying of the rails was like a military operation. There were surveyors, locaters, graders, bridge builders, men placing ties, laying track, spiking down the rails, ballasting and completing the road.
"Work camps looked like a town. Another camp would be established 140 miles or so west. Then a new camp would follow on wagons with the the knocked down buildings, tents, wooden siding, and entire roofs. The vilest of men and women, gamblers, and desperadoes made up these settlements. Herds of cattle were driven each day alongside the work train to have fresh beef to eat. It cost $20 to $30 thousand to build a mile of railroad. Even then much of the work was shoddy and had to be replaced.
"The telegraph lines replaced the Pony Express. Each train carried a telegrapher as a member of the crew. He also served as a baggage man. Engineers and firemen were paid $60 a month. The brakeman had the most dangerous job of all and was paid $40 a month. He had to stand between the cars to couple them together. Many had missing fingers and hands. He also had to ride on top of cars in all kinds of weather to use the hand brakes. It took 15 or 20 years before railroads put in automatic couplers and air brakes."
Passenger rail service in Valley Falls ended in 1958.
The society's museum will be open at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 21.
From the Valley Falls Historical Society files, excerpts from a collection of railroad tales and quotes composed by the late Lorene Catron for the historial society — 1981.
"The first railroads built in the USA were started about 1829. It was 1859 before the railroad system reached this area, which was St. Joseph, Mo.
"Trains ran on wood — coal — water — and mutton tallow until 1859 when a conductor on the New Haven Railroad dug a 60-foot oil well at Titusville, Pa. This was a breakthrough.
"Another great advancement was the use of windmills, which were introduced by the railroads. Union Pacific had 70 large windmills they used for pumping water for use on the locomotives. One of the largest towers was 72 ft. high with a wheel 25 ft. across.
"The railroads were not welcomed by the boat people, especially in the south. They fought them all, going so far as to sabotage the bridges across riverways. Besides boat and bridge shippers, rival railroad crews would sabotage each other in order to hold their territory . . .
"Americans were enchanted with the Iron Horse! In 10 years, railroad promoters had taken 33 million acres across the peoples' land. In planning the railroads, Indian rights were ignored and 31 million buffalo were slaughtered in Kansas alone . . . The railroads west and south intercepting thousands of cattle grazing grounds . . . Even with free land, it took capital to build a railroad. Counties voted money, towns voted land and cash for terminals, individuals invested $400 and $500 each.
"Business would boom, real estate prices soared, farms started, and everybody won.
"The Santa Fe was late getting started, but in 1871 work started from both ends — Topeka to Atchison. It was completed in 1872.
"At that time, trains ran by smoke and headlights. The crews kept Winchester rifles handy. Drunken cowboys shot out the headlights, raided lonely depots, and Indians and prairie fire plagued the new railroads.
"The trains had no vestibule on their passenger cars. Conductors and brakemen leaped from car to car. There were no lavatories. Coal stoves heated the cars in winter.
"Before the railroad moved in, only a few thousand people were in the territory. In a few short weeks, with a railroad, the population doubled and tripled.
"The 'work train,' which laid out the railroad, was a 'town on wheels.' Laying of the rails was like a military operation. There were surveyors, locaters, graders, bridge builders, men placing ties, laying track, spiking down the rails, ballasting and completing the road.
"Work camps looked like a town. Another camp would be established 140 miles or so west. Then a new camp would follow on wagons with the the knocked down buildings, tents, wooden siding, and entire roofs. The vilest of men and women, gamblers, and desperadoes made up these settlements. Herds of cattle were driven each day alongside the work train to have fresh beef to eat. It cost $20 to $30 thousand to build a mile of railroad. Even then much of the work was shoddy and had to be replaced.
"The telegraph lines replaced the Pony Express. Each train carried a telegrapher as a member of the crew. He also served as a baggage man. Engineers and firemen were paid $60 a month. The brakeman had the most dangerous job of all and was paid $40 a month. He had to stand between the cars to couple them together. Many had missing fingers and hands. He also had to ride on top of cars in all kinds of weather to use the hand brakes. It took 15 or 20 years before railroads put in automatic couplers and air brakes."
Passenger rail service in Valley Falls ended in 1958.
The society's museum will be open at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 21.
June 10, 2014
Tragic death of Pearl Ferguson, 1904
Compiled by Betty Jane Wilson, society president
Born October 20, 1880 — Died October 16, 1904, Miss Pearl Ferguson
The news headlines and story reflecting the shock and grief of the community follows:
"Terrible tragedy. The flower of womanhood withered by suicide's bitter blight. Mind impaired by sickness. The beautiful and popular Miss Pearl Ferguson runs from her palatial home, plunges from a bridge into the Delaware and drowns in the night. Dark clouds have hovered over the skies during most of the week and cold rain has dampened and chilled the earth; but the clouds are as sunbeams compared with the shroud of gloom that appalls the hearts of Jefferson County and the moisture from the dreary skies perhaps does not compare with the flood of tears shed by a multitude of sorrowing people over the pitfall, tragic death of Miss Pearl Ferguson, the only daughter of Mr. Walter Ferguson, ex-county treasurer of this county.
"The sad story begins with March 1904 when Miss Pearl and her mother were afflicted with the measels, her mind has been affected ever since.
"During this time she was under the constant surveillance of a competent medical advisor and her condition was thought to be rapidly improving. Last Sunday evening Walter Ferguson was writing a letter to his brother, Mrs. Ferguson was reading to her two youngest sons, and Miss Pearl played awhile on the piano and then went upstairs saying she would write a letter to her uncle also.
"Soon Mr. Ferguson went to her room to get her letter, but he could not find his daughter. After calling outside, they searched her room. Miss Pearl's rings, watch, combs, pins and hat were there and in a drawer were found two letters, one to her parents and one to her brother, Ross, and his wife.
"The former letter lamented over mental condition since her sickness and expressed the fear that she would become worse. She said she had deliberated long over what she should do and decided that for the sake of herself and loved ones she best end it all.
"The letter told her parents that it would be no use to try to find her, that she was the same as dead. But if they did, to give her a Christian burial. A tender farewell was signed, 'Your dead Pearl.'
"The letter to Ross and his wife begged them to be kind to her parents as they would have no daughter now and bade them farewell.
"Mr. Ferguson called Dr. M.F. Marks, who had the case in charge and said he feared they were in trouble and asked the doctor if there was any danger of the girl doing anything desperate; to which the doctor responded positively and started a search immediately with C. Smith and J. Huber and others.
"At the bridge they saw a lantern below. It was the girl's brother, Ross, and F. Harmon looking out into the water. Strangely within only a dozen feet was the girl's body, but the cold silent waters in the blackness of night told no secret.
"All night long lanterns as thick as stars glimmered through the woods, fields and byways. Monday and Monday night hundreds continued the search. Many gave up the search. Tuesday afternoon Dr. Marks, Lou Hauck and J.E. Tutt were in a boat dragging the river.
"Lou Hauck said, 'We might as well cross here, leave the boat and give up, but I will always believe she is right between the bridges.'
"Tutt said, 'My mind was raking through this hole and I dreamed I found her.'
"Dr. Marks, who had the oars, said, 'If she is near here, I will take you across the place she is most likely to be.'
"Just then about seven feet above the wagon bridge at Legler Hill near the east side of the river, Tutt's hook caught something heavy and the poor young woman's dresses were pulled to the top of the water.
"Perhaps 500 people in 150 carriages attended the funeral Wednesday. Cold rain fell in dreary mist as if nature was weeping over 'Poor Dead Pearl!' Rev. Braden preached the sermon — short, impressive, paying glowing just tribute to the fair dead — attributing no blame to man or God.
"The deceased, born in Valley Falls, was buried one day before her 24th birthday . . . a beautiful useful life ended . . . a thousand hearts now ache with sorrow. Our priceless Pearl is gone."
The society's museum will be open at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 14.
Born October 20, 1880 — Died October 16, 1904, Miss Pearl Ferguson
The news headlines and story reflecting the shock and grief of the community follows:
"Terrible tragedy. The flower of womanhood withered by suicide's bitter blight. Mind impaired by sickness. The beautiful and popular Miss Pearl Ferguson runs from her palatial home, plunges from a bridge into the Delaware and drowns in the night. Dark clouds have hovered over the skies during most of the week and cold rain has dampened and chilled the earth; but the clouds are as sunbeams compared with the shroud of gloom that appalls the hearts of Jefferson County and the moisture from the dreary skies perhaps does not compare with the flood of tears shed by a multitude of sorrowing people over the pitfall, tragic death of Miss Pearl Ferguson, the only daughter of Mr. Walter Ferguson, ex-county treasurer of this county.
"The sad story begins with March 1904 when Miss Pearl and her mother were afflicted with the measels, her mind has been affected ever since.
"During this time she was under the constant surveillance of a competent medical advisor and her condition was thought to be rapidly improving. Last Sunday evening Walter Ferguson was writing a letter to his brother, Mrs. Ferguson was reading to her two youngest sons, and Miss Pearl played awhile on the piano and then went upstairs saying she would write a letter to her uncle also.
"Soon Mr. Ferguson went to her room to get her letter, but he could not find his daughter. After calling outside, they searched her room. Miss Pearl's rings, watch, combs, pins and hat were there and in a drawer were found two letters, one to her parents and one to her brother, Ross, and his wife.
"The former letter lamented over mental condition since her sickness and expressed the fear that she would become worse. She said she had deliberated long over what she should do and decided that for the sake of herself and loved ones she best end it all.
"The letter told her parents that it would be no use to try to find her, that she was the same as dead. But if they did, to give her a Christian burial. A tender farewell was signed, 'Your dead Pearl.'
"The letter to Ross and his wife begged them to be kind to her parents as they would have no daughter now and bade them farewell.
"Mr. Ferguson called Dr. M.F. Marks, who had the case in charge and said he feared they were in trouble and asked the doctor if there was any danger of the girl doing anything desperate; to which the doctor responded positively and started a search immediately with C. Smith and J. Huber and others.
"At the bridge they saw a lantern below. It was the girl's brother, Ross, and F. Harmon looking out into the water. Strangely within only a dozen feet was the girl's body, but the cold silent waters in the blackness of night told no secret.
"All night long lanterns as thick as stars glimmered through the woods, fields and byways. Monday and Monday night hundreds continued the search. Many gave up the search. Tuesday afternoon Dr. Marks, Lou Hauck and J.E. Tutt were in a boat dragging the river.
"Lou Hauck said, 'We might as well cross here, leave the boat and give up, but I will always believe she is right between the bridges.'
"Tutt said, 'My mind was raking through this hole and I dreamed I found her.'
"Dr. Marks, who had the oars, said, 'If she is near here, I will take you across the place she is most likely to be.'
"Just then about seven feet above the wagon bridge at Legler Hill near the east side of the river, Tutt's hook caught something heavy and the poor young woman's dresses were pulled to the top of the water.
"Perhaps 500 people in 150 carriages attended the funeral Wednesday. Cold rain fell in dreary mist as if nature was weeping over 'Poor Dead Pearl!' Rev. Braden preached the sermon — short, impressive, paying glowing just tribute to the fair dead — attributing no blame to man or God.
"The deceased, born in Valley Falls, was buried one day before her 24th birthday . . . a beautiful useful life ended . . . a thousand hearts now ache with sorrow. Our priceless Pearl is gone."
The society's museum will be open at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 14.
June 03, 2014
April and May museum visitors
Compiled by Betty Jane Wilson, society president
April and May visitors of the Valley Falls Historical Society Museum including the Memorial Day holiday weekend were:
Mathew, Marcella, and Molly Montez, Oakley, Calif.; Laurie Montez and Carolyn Patterson Tuttle, Tracy, Calif.; Becky S. Grisson and Bernita I. Morton Miller, both Merced, Calif.; L. and Leola McAfee, Custer, S.D.; C. Amble, Quincy, Ill.; Edward Funk, Greenfield, Mass.; Jayne Irwin, St. Charles, Mo.; Roger Ford, Hazelwood, Mo.; Kathy Marsh Langhue, Smithville, Mo.;
Elaine and Dennis Doernberg, Las Cruces, N.M.; Catherine Ferrell and Gary Ferrell, both Tulsa, Okla.; Elva Ferrell, Midwest City, Okla.; Ina Neubauer, Oregon City, Ore.; Charles Tharp, Humble, Texas; Casey and Christy Speer, Camby, Ind.; Pat Wilkerson, El Dorado; Charles and Gail Coker Carr, Hiawatha; Jerry and Karen Lonard, Lenexa;
Jared, Carrie, Kaylee, and Lauren Rider, Olathe; Fred Steinmetz, Overland Park; Gwendolyn Marlene Reichart-Towle, Overland Park; Gerald and M. Boyce, Maple Hill; Butch and Jan Wichman, Manhattan; Nelle Marsh Schneider, Shawnee;
Donald Dial, Emily Clark, Lois Reichart Beamer, Charles and Norma McMullen, Lorraine Perkins, and Tom and Peggy Burns, all Topeka; Rex and Scarlett Ford and Ed Richie, all Tecumseh; Kim Clark, Wamego; Ron and Lorraine Herring, Winchester; and Susan Phillips, Keith Jackson, Rachel Woodgate, Cheyenne Ingraham, Mary Breitsprecher, Shirley, Alden, and Isaiha McGee, Evalena Fox, Bonnie Heuertz, Jerry Tullis, Denise Coker, Charlie Stutesman, all Valley Falls.
The society's museum will be open at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 7.
April and May visitors of the Valley Falls Historical Society Museum including the Memorial Day holiday weekend were:
Mathew, Marcella, and Molly Montez, Oakley, Calif.; Laurie Montez and Carolyn Patterson Tuttle, Tracy, Calif.; Becky S. Grisson and Bernita I. Morton Miller, both Merced, Calif.; L. and Leola McAfee, Custer, S.D.; C. Amble, Quincy, Ill.; Edward Funk, Greenfield, Mass.; Jayne Irwin, St. Charles, Mo.; Roger Ford, Hazelwood, Mo.; Kathy Marsh Langhue, Smithville, Mo.;
Elaine and Dennis Doernberg, Las Cruces, N.M.; Catherine Ferrell and Gary Ferrell, both Tulsa, Okla.; Elva Ferrell, Midwest City, Okla.; Ina Neubauer, Oregon City, Ore.; Charles Tharp, Humble, Texas; Casey and Christy Speer, Camby, Ind.; Pat Wilkerson, El Dorado; Charles and Gail Coker Carr, Hiawatha; Jerry and Karen Lonard, Lenexa;
Jared, Carrie, Kaylee, and Lauren Rider, Olathe; Fred Steinmetz, Overland Park; Gwendolyn Marlene Reichart-Towle, Overland Park; Gerald and M. Boyce, Maple Hill; Butch and Jan Wichman, Manhattan; Nelle Marsh Schneider, Shawnee;
Donald Dial, Emily Clark, Lois Reichart Beamer, Charles and Norma McMullen, Lorraine Perkins, and Tom and Peggy Burns, all Topeka; Rex and Scarlett Ford and Ed Richie, all Tecumseh; Kim Clark, Wamego; Ron and Lorraine Herring, Winchester; and Susan Phillips, Keith Jackson, Rachel Woodgate, Cheyenne Ingraham, Mary Breitsprecher, Shirley, Alden, and Isaiha McGee, Evalena Fox, Bonnie Heuertz, Jerry Tullis, Denise Coker, Charlie Stutesman, all Valley Falls.
The society's museum will be open at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 7.
Valley Falls' first Decoration (Memorial) Day observance, 1884
by Betty Jane Wilson, society president
The Valley Falls Historical Society's annual reminder and review of the events in honor of the first Decoration (Memorial) Day observed in Valley Falls follows —
The patriotic event was reported by the Valley Falls New Era Thursday, June 5, 1884, by R.E. Van Meter, editor. First known as Decoration Day, the story follows:
"Last Friday a most beautiful day in Valley Falls, and one calculated to inspire the loftiest patriotism in the breasts of those who participated in the solemn but eminently fitting and beautiful ceremony of honoring the soldier and dead in a manner which has come to be an almost universal custom.
"Especially interesting was this event here because it is the first time in the history of the town that Decoration Day has been observed, which is accounted for by the fact that but two heroes of the last war are buried here. Early in the morning people began to gather into town from all parts of the surrounding country and by 1 o'clock, the hour set for meeting of the G.A.R. (Grand Army of the Republic) headquarters, the town was alive with people, and as many as could crowd in, gathered into the G.A.R. hall, where special services took place, among which was the presentation of a handsome United States flag, presented to the post by the ladies of the city, many of whom are mothers, wives, sisters, and daughters of members of the Stafford Post.
"The presentation on behalf of the ladies was made by the writer and A.A. Griffin, the post commander, responded in a very stirring patriotic speech. Those congregated in the hall formed a procession and marched down to Broadway, where the following order of the parade was arranged:
"City officers; Sunday schools; Capt. Lewis Stafford, Post No. 225, G.A.R.; Crescent Lodge No. 86; International Order of Odd Fellows; ACME Lodge No. 42; IOUW; Valley Lodge No. 67; KOFR; other societies, citizens on, foot, carriages, and other conveyances.
"The following was the line of march to the cemetery: From corner of Broadway and Sycamore west to Elm Street; thence south to Mary; west to Frazier Avenue; south to cemetery where there on foot in the procession were drawn up in line on either side of a large beautiful floral cross, at the top of which and facing west, was a large card bearing the following inscription:
'In memory of Capt. Lewis Stafford, Lt. T.F. Jolly, Joseph Catt, Henry G. Griffin, Wm. Grigsby, Jonathan Myers, Calvin Turner, Joseph Hilty, Ernest Benedix. All of which had honor to enlist from this neighborhood, but only two of which now rest in the city of the dead here.'
"Following prayer, ceremonies, tributes, floral grave decorations by posts and sabbath schools, ceremonies were concluded and crowd dispersed, terminating one of the most auspicious events in the history of Valley Falls."
The society museum will observe these hours Memorial Day weekend: Saturday, May 24, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday, May 25, open immediately following the reunion dinner at the Delaware Township Hall until 3 p.m. or later if required, and Monday, May 26, 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Valley Falls Historical Society's annual reminder and review of the events in honor of the first Decoration (Memorial) Day observed in Valley Falls follows —
The patriotic event was reported by the Valley Falls New Era Thursday, June 5, 1884, by R.E. Van Meter, editor. First known as Decoration Day, the story follows:
"Last Friday a most beautiful day in Valley Falls, and one calculated to inspire the loftiest patriotism in the breasts of those who participated in the solemn but eminently fitting and beautiful ceremony of honoring the soldier and dead in a manner which has come to be an almost universal custom.
"Especially interesting was this event here because it is the first time in the history of the town that Decoration Day has been observed, which is accounted for by the fact that but two heroes of the last war are buried here. Early in the morning people began to gather into town from all parts of the surrounding country and by 1 o'clock, the hour set for meeting of the G.A.R. (Grand Army of the Republic) headquarters, the town was alive with people, and as many as could crowd in, gathered into the G.A.R. hall, where special services took place, among which was the presentation of a handsome United States flag, presented to the post by the ladies of the city, many of whom are mothers, wives, sisters, and daughters of members of the Stafford Post.
"The presentation on behalf of the ladies was made by the writer and A.A. Griffin, the post commander, responded in a very stirring patriotic speech. Those congregated in the hall formed a procession and marched down to Broadway, where the following order of the parade was arranged:
"City officers; Sunday schools; Capt. Lewis Stafford, Post No. 225, G.A.R.; Crescent Lodge No. 86; International Order of Odd Fellows; ACME Lodge No. 42; IOUW; Valley Lodge No. 67; KOFR; other societies, citizens on, foot, carriages, and other conveyances.
"The following was the line of march to the cemetery: From corner of Broadway and Sycamore west to Elm Street; thence south to Mary; west to Frazier Avenue; south to cemetery where there on foot in the procession were drawn up in line on either side of a large beautiful floral cross, at the top of which and facing west, was a large card bearing the following inscription:
'In memory of Capt. Lewis Stafford, Lt. T.F. Jolly, Joseph Catt, Henry G. Griffin, Wm. Grigsby, Jonathan Myers, Calvin Turner, Joseph Hilty, Ernest Benedix. All of which had honor to enlist from this neighborhood, but only two of which now rest in the city of the dead here.'
"Following prayer, ceremonies, tributes, floral grave decorations by posts and sabbath schools, ceremonies were concluded and crowd dispersed, terminating one of the most auspicious events in the history of Valley Falls."
The society museum will observe these hours Memorial Day weekend: Saturday, May 24, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday, May 25, open immediately following the reunion dinner at the Delaware Township Hall until 3 p.m. or later if required, and Monday, May 26, 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
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