Compiled by Betty Jane Wilson, society president
Thumbing through the files of the Valley Falls Historical Society reveals a sundry of items through early years, including daily events, seasonal activities, tragedies, and celebrations.
According to local news items, The Kansas New Era, May 7, 1874:
"Our streets are daily lined with the white-sheeted wagons of the immigrants seeking a home in Kansas.
"The first installment of ice was delivered last week among our businessmen gratuitously by Sam Sawyer of the firm of Sawyer and Mitchell. These gentlemen have a large amount of ice for summer's use, and they will expect and should receive a large share of the patronage of the city."
The Valley Falls New Era, June 10, 1886:
"They have about 100,000 bricks in the kiln at Patrick's Brickyard. They will 'touch it off' as soon as they get 50,000 more in. They now give promise of being a very excellent quality of brick.
"There is said to be gambling and beer drinking going on somewhere in the upper part of the building on the northeast corner of Broadway and Maple streets. It is expected that the marshal will ferret the 'hole' out and plug it."
The Valley Falls New Era, Dec. 13, 1890:
"Drowned. Last Wednesday evening about 5:30 o'clock, the terrible news was on everyone's lips that three little boys had broken through the ice on the Delaware River at the foot of Oak Street and were drowned. Little Fred and Leslie Case and their little stepbrother, Floyd Archer, were the victims of the sad accident.
"Their ages, respectively, were 16, 11, and 8 years. After school they had wandered down to the river and ventured to slide on the ice. Fred and Floyd went through the ice but 11-year-old Leslie tried to hold on to the edge of the ice until help had arrived, but slid into the cold water and drowned with the other two before help could be extended to him."
The Valley Falls New Era, July 2, 1892:
"The steamer 'Delaware' will carry passengers to and from the company's grounds on the Fourth of July, and thus give all a chance to enjoy a day free from all the bustle and heat in the city. Amusements of all descriptions. Round trip 25 cents."
New Era, July 9, 1892:
"The Fourth of July was as pleasant a day here as ever Italy enjoyed and though there was no general celebration, a tip top time was realized by our people in picnicking in the various handsome groves adjacent to the city. About 450 people availed themselves of a steamboat ride up the Delaware to a picnic ground prepared by the 'Delaware Navigating Co.' "
The Valley Falls Historical Society will be open at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 1.
October 28, 2014
October 21, 2014
All Hallows' Eve depicted in museum windows
by Betty Jane Wilson, society president
Purple owls with black wings and black owls with purple wings sporting twinkling orange-lighted eyes hanging from a black spider web against an orange curtain provide the background for the Hallowe'en display at the seasonal window of the Valley Falls Historical Society Museum. Black cats from a one-eyed, single on-looker to a trio of happy felines, jack-o'-lanterns, and noisemakers complete the festive scene. A proud, wise old owl guards the All Hallows' Eve scene.
The Veterans' window features the following tribute to all veterans, past and present, "For every moment of peace, liberty and greatness our country enjoys, we have someone who has worn a uniform to thank."
Military service uniform caps surround the tribute with a Liberty portrait overlooking the scene.
The Valley Falls Historical Society Museum will open at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 25.
Purple owls with black wings and black owls with purple wings sporting twinkling orange-lighted eyes hanging from a black spider web against an orange curtain provide the background for the Hallowe'en display at the seasonal window of the Valley Falls Historical Society Museum. Black cats from a one-eyed, single on-looker to a trio of happy felines, jack-o'-lanterns, and noisemakers complete the festive scene. A proud, wise old owl guards the All Hallows' Eve scene.
The Veterans' window features the following tribute to all veterans, past and present, "For every moment of peace, liberty and greatness our country enjoys, we have someone who has worn a uniform to thank."
Military service uniform caps surround the tribute with a Liberty portrait overlooking the scene.
The Valley Falls Historical Society Museum will open at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 25.
October 14, 2014
Notes from the 47th annual meeting
by Betty Jane Wilson, society president
The 47th annual meeting of the Valley Falls Historical Society was held Oct. 5 at the Barn Bed and Breakfast Inn.
After the 1 p.m. buffet luncheon and prior to the program, an election of officers and directors was held with the following selected to serve in the 2014-2015 year: Betty Jane Wilson, president; Rosalind Jackson, vice president; Lesa Brose, secretary; Gary Coleman, treasurer; and Joan Reichart (term 2015) and Anita Stutesman (term 2016), directors. Frank Shrimplin continues as historian and Clarke Davis as advisor.
Guest speaker Jane Rhoads was provided courtesy of the Kansas Humanities Council. The council conducts and supports community- based programs, such as the historical society, through an active grant program that pays her expenses, gratuities, and travel expenses.
Her presentation, "Bronco Bustin' Showmen and Their Spectacular Wild West Shows," resulted from her research, love of entertainment, and Kansas history.
With the assist of digital screen and projector, she presented an enviable selection of photos of the performers in various stages of their lives prior to and during their careers. Still scenes were shown from "Buffalo Bill Cody's Spectacular Show" with added tales of association with notables as famous sharpshooter Annie Oakley and Cody's influence on later known western screen star Tom Mix. Cody's fame as wagon master, buffalo hunter, and child messenger for his father, Isaac Cody, and their relation to Valley Falls were included. Pawnee Bill, Lucille Mulhall, and Will Rogers and their entertainment careers all enjoyed their claim to fame in her specialty.
Jane Rhoads is also the author and winner of a Kansas Notable Book Award in 2009. Born of her love for prairie entertainment and her visit to over 400 Kansas communities she authored "Kansas Opera Houses — Actors and Community Events 1855-1925." Composed of countless photos, stories included performers whose careers began on small Kansas stages. The outstanding feature of her book is an alphabetical listing of 479 Kansas communities with information about their entertainment centers. Among our neighbors listed are McLouth, Oskaloosa, and Meriden with Nortonville having the 1884 McCarthy's Opera House and an 1908 City Hall-Roxie House still standing. The Valley Falls 1884 Turner Opera House (Turner Hall), Valley Falls is on record with a stage 16 feet by 40 feet with seating for 600. The facility was heated by stoves and illumined by lamps.
The Valley Falls Historical Society Museum will be open at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 18.
The 47th annual meeting of the Valley Falls Historical Society was held Oct. 5 at the Barn Bed and Breakfast Inn.
After the 1 p.m. buffet luncheon and prior to the program, an election of officers and directors was held with the following selected to serve in the 2014-2015 year: Betty Jane Wilson, president; Rosalind Jackson, vice president; Lesa Brose, secretary; Gary Coleman, treasurer; and Joan Reichart (term 2015) and Anita Stutesman (term 2016), directors. Frank Shrimplin continues as historian and Clarke Davis as advisor.
Guest speaker Jane Rhoads was provided courtesy of the Kansas Humanities Council. The council conducts and supports community- based programs, such as the historical society, through an active grant program that pays her expenses, gratuities, and travel expenses.
Her presentation, "Bronco Bustin' Showmen and Their Spectacular Wild West Shows," resulted from her research, love of entertainment, and Kansas history.
With the assist of digital screen and projector, she presented an enviable selection of photos of the performers in various stages of their lives prior to and during their careers. Still scenes were shown from "Buffalo Bill Cody's Spectacular Show" with added tales of association with notables as famous sharpshooter Annie Oakley and Cody's influence on later known western screen star Tom Mix. Cody's fame as wagon master, buffalo hunter, and child messenger for his father, Isaac Cody, and their relation to Valley Falls were included. Pawnee Bill, Lucille Mulhall, and Will Rogers and their entertainment careers all enjoyed their claim to fame in her specialty.
Jane Rhoads is also the author and winner of a Kansas Notable Book Award in 2009. Born of her love for prairie entertainment and her visit to over 400 Kansas communities she authored "Kansas Opera Houses — Actors and Community Events 1855-1925." Composed of countless photos, stories included performers whose careers began on small Kansas stages. The outstanding feature of her book is an alphabetical listing of 479 Kansas communities with information about their entertainment centers. Among our neighbors listed are McLouth, Oskaloosa, and Meriden with Nortonville having the 1884 McCarthy's Opera House and an 1908 City Hall-Roxie House still standing. The Valley Falls 1884 Turner Opera House (Turner Hall), Valley Falls is on record with a stage 16 feet by 40 feet with seating for 600. The facility was heated by stoves and illumined by lamps.
The Valley Falls Historical Society Museum will be open at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 18.
October 02, 2014
Harman-Stockwell part 2: "Community rid of a bad character"
Compiled by Betty Jane Wilson, society president
The New Era, Saturday, May 12, 1894, reported a preliminary trial for city marshal Allen Stockwell was set for Monday, May 14, before Justice Beland.
The New Era, May 14:
"Monday, the case was called before Justice Beland and Mr. Stockwell's attorney, Messrs. W.F. Gilluly, G.W. McCammon and P.J. Hamble waived preliminary examination and asked that the defendent be bound over to the District Court for trial. Acting County Attorney M. Gephart, at the request of the prosecuting witness, Colfax Harman, dismissed the case and paid the costs. No further action has been taken, and whether the Harmans will have Mr. Stockwell re-arrested is not known. Perhaps they have found how the public sentiment is and have wisely decided to drop the matter.
"The coroner's jury was composed of our best citizens and men who treated both sides fairly. Their verdict was in accordance with the evidence and our people are well satisfied."
THE OTHER SIDE:
"Thursday afternoon (May 17) we received a call from N.H. Harman, father of Fora Harman, to the editor of the New Era. He took exception to the article we published last week in regard to his son's death. The New Era aims to publish the truth and will not knowingly publish any false statements. We wrote the article as we thought the facts warranted and did not try to publish a prejudiced account of the unfortunate affair. We aimed to give all parties justice in our article and certainly did not intend to make any false or misleading statements.
"Mr. Harman said our statement that his son was a 'dangerous character' was false, and instead of saying 'a bad career ended,' we should have said an 'indiscreet,' not bad career ended. He said that the statement that Fora had threatened the marshal's life a number of times was false, and that the evidence did not show that Harman had threatened to kill Stockwell. He said the time Stockwell shot at two other parties, giving an excuse that he thought he was shooting at Harman, Fora did say that he had better go prepared for Stockwell, that was all he ever threatened, and that was after he heard Stockwell had done the shooting, thinking he was the man. He also said that the statement that Harman made towards the marshal after he had been ordered to leave the jail window was false, because Harman had no time but to run away and was shot in the back side. He also said that 'Durham and wife saw Stockwell sneak up to Harman and giving him no warning, fired. Harman did not start toward Stockwell.'
"It is but natural that Mr. Harman should take the part of his dead son, and no doubt objects to the way in which the death was caused, but now that it is all over, he should not try to stir up any more strife in the community. We publish his side of the case because we want to be fair and not prejudiced. We believe, however, that the verdict of the coroner's jury was a just one and that the community is now rid of a bad character."
The Valley Falls Historical Society Museum will be open at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 4.
The New Era, Saturday, May 12, 1894, reported a preliminary trial for city marshal Allen Stockwell was set for Monday, May 14, before Justice Beland.
The New Era, May 14:
"Monday, the case was called before Justice Beland and Mr. Stockwell's attorney, Messrs. W.F. Gilluly, G.W. McCammon and P.J. Hamble waived preliminary examination and asked that the defendent be bound over to the District Court for trial. Acting County Attorney M. Gephart, at the request of the prosecuting witness, Colfax Harman, dismissed the case and paid the costs. No further action has been taken, and whether the Harmans will have Mr. Stockwell re-arrested is not known. Perhaps they have found how the public sentiment is and have wisely decided to drop the matter.
"The coroner's jury was composed of our best citizens and men who treated both sides fairly. Their verdict was in accordance with the evidence and our people are well satisfied."
THE OTHER SIDE:
"Thursday afternoon (May 17) we received a call from N.H. Harman, father of Fora Harman, to the editor of the New Era. He took exception to the article we published last week in regard to his son's death. The New Era aims to publish the truth and will not knowingly publish any false statements. We wrote the article as we thought the facts warranted and did not try to publish a prejudiced account of the unfortunate affair. We aimed to give all parties justice in our article and certainly did not intend to make any false or misleading statements.
"Mr. Harman said our statement that his son was a 'dangerous character' was false, and instead of saying 'a bad career ended,' we should have said an 'indiscreet,' not bad career ended. He said that the statement that Fora had threatened the marshal's life a number of times was false, and that the evidence did not show that Harman had threatened to kill Stockwell. He said the time Stockwell shot at two other parties, giving an excuse that he thought he was shooting at Harman, Fora did say that he had better go prepared for Stockwell, that was all he ever threatened, and that was after he heard Stockwell had done the shooting, thinking he was the man. He also said that the statement that Harman made towards the marshal after he had been ordered to leave the jail window was false, because Harman had no time but to run away and was shot in the back side. He also said that 'Durham and wife saw Stockwell sneak up to Harman and giving him no warning, fired. Harman did not start toward Stockwell.'
"It is but natural that Mr. Harman should take the part of his dead son, and no doubt objects to the way in which the death was caused, but now that it is all over, he should not try to stir up any more strife in the community. We publish his side of the case because we want to be fair and not prejudiced. We believe, however, that the verdict of the coroner's jury was a just one and that the community is now rid of a bad character."
The Valley Falls Historical Society Museum will be open at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 4.
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