compiled by Betty Jane Wilson, society president
The "Town Crier" cries for a museum for the Valley Falls Historical Society. Crier Clarke Davis reasoned as follows in the Oct. 22, 1987, edition of the Valley Falls Vindicator:
"Valley Falls needs to divert its attention to its historical society. It's their turn.
"A new ball diamond has been built, the school has a track, the swimming pool has been refurbished, and the city park is enhanced with a shelter house. Now it's time for a museum.
"The historical society got its start 20 years ago asking a mere $2 or $3 annual membership fee. Only a few have taken an active role over the years, but they have gathered, collected, stored, and preserved for us a number of treasures whose sum total add up to who we are.
"The time has come to empty some attics and basements and fulfill a long-time dream. The society's directors voted this week to take an option on the List building in the northeast block of Broadway. If the money can be raised in the next three months, Valley Falls will have a museum.
"The building is priced under $20,000, but a goal of $30,000 will probably be set in order to prepare the building and meet operating expenses.
"It is a bold step for a small, conservative group whose love of the past and search through the record is done quietly and outside of the public limelight. But as a community project the task should be easily accomplished when compared to the many other great strides taken in recent years.
"The society is a stable organization with nearly $10,000 in footings from lifetime memberships and grants. This provides interest income. The membership list has been eratic but once numbered 184 for a one-year period. One visible contribution has been the preservation of the Historical Shrine Church on Highway 16. Its less visible contribution is the preservation of who we are through research, writing, and compilation of the records.
"Early plans call for using the building for a museum, library, repository, meeting area, and lounge. The first thing that comes to mind is the economic factor. It will be a positive attraction to downtown and give visitors a place to go. The lounge will afford regular shoppers a haven, a clean restroom, and a place they can feel free to loiter.
"There is, however, a more meaningful purpose. We are defined by our past and if the goal is to do a credible job of displaying the truth then it will serve us culturally as well as the library and the ball park."
Next: Determined members, a generous community, available historical building, great location — how could anyone ask for more?
The Valley Falls Historical Society Museum will be open at 10 a.m. Jan. 31.
January 22, 2015
January 1913: snow and strange weather, a new Moon, harvesting river ice, Half Mound band
by Betty Jane Wilson, society president
More from January 1913, news items compiled by the late Edith Harden preserved in a scrapbook of newspaper clippings:
Jan. 10 — the three-day snowstorm, the first of winter, ended Tuesday evening leaving about five inches of snow covering the ground except on some open fields where it blew off, drifting in some lanes five or six feet deep. Mail carrier George McCracken had to drive out in the fields and Henry McCoy's team got down in a drift. The trains pulled through without much delay.
There was a new moon the 7th and from Grandpa Jas. Moon, we learn that on Jan. 7, a son was born to Mr. and Mrs. Fred Moon on the John Stockwell farm in Norton Township, the first of the marriage of 11 years.
Jan. 17 — In two and a half days, lively working Mitchell Bros. filled their big house with 600 tons of fine river ice, clear as crystal, by Wednesday noon. The ice from nine to 12 inches thick and the best they ever put up and pure enough to stand the test for drinking purposes.
Jan. 24—The young men and musicians of Half Mound have organized a cornet band and employed Billy Benedix of the city as instructor. Walter Abbuehl is their leader, Phil Reichart is president and manager and Robt. Reichart, secretary-treasurer.
The croquet players laid off only about a week on account of the snow on the grounds and again the game goes on. With the squaw winter, peculiar weather conditions existed last week. It blew cold and warm and one day after the ice men finished putting up ice, some of it more than a foot thick, the garden plowman, Art Smith, was at work on Piety Hill turning up the soil for gardens of Wallace Baylor and Paul Tischhauser. The frost came out of the ground while the river was yet blocked with ice.
The historical society museum will be open at 10 a.m. Saturday.
More from January 1913, news items compiled by the late Edith Harden preserved in a scrapbook of newspaper clippings:
Jan. 10 — the three-day snowstorm, the first of winter, ended Tuesday evening leaving about five inches of snow covering the ground except on some open fields where it blew off, drifting in some lanes five or six feet deep. Mail carrier George McCracken had to drive out in the fields and Henry McCoy's team got down in a drift. The trains pulled through without much delay.
There was a new moon the 7th and from Grandpa Jas. Moon, we learn that on Jan. 7, a son was born to Mr. and Mrs. Fred Moon on the John Stockwell farm in Norton Township, the first of the marriage of 11 years.
Jan. 17 — In two and a half days, lively working Mitchell Bros. filled their big house with 600 tons of fine river ice, clear as crystal, by Wednesday noon. The ice from nine to 12 inches thick and the best they ever put up and pure enough to stand the test for drinking purposes.
Jan. 24—The young men and musicians of Half Mound have organized a cornet band and employed Billy Benedix of the city as instructor. Walter Abbuehl is their leader, Phil Reichart is president and manager and Robt. Reichart, secretary-treasurer.
The croquet players laid off only about a week on account of the snow on the grounds and again the game goes on. With the squaw winter, peculiar weather conditions existed last week. It blew cold and warm and one day after the ice men finished putting up ice, some of it more than a foot thick, the garden plowman, Art Smith, was at work on Piety Hill turning up the soil for gardens of Wallace Baylor and Paul Tischhauser. The frost came out of the ground while the river was yet blocked with ice.
The historical society museum will be open at 10 a.m. Saturday.
January 06, 2015
Church bells on New Year's, other 1913 news
by Betty Jane Wilson, society president
More "Out of the Past" items from a century, plus two, gleaned from those yellowed pages of a Valley Falls Historical Society scrapbook. Compiled by the late Edith Harden from pages of a news source with the published date clipped from the page to fit the scrapbook, except all items have the year date of January 1913:
Jan. 3, "While Col. John Triggs, after a drive, was unhitching Bert Boot's borrowed team Saturday, the horses, not liking the looks of the Colonel's fur coat, broke away, ran into a post across the street, broke the tongue, dashboard, both reaches of the buggy, and other damages, to the amount of $10 or $12, according to the repair bill.
"Church and school bells rang out the old and in the new year in merry peal, loud and long. The Endeavors, of the Congregational Church, met in the church annex to watch the old year out and welcome the new, but a bunch of boys carried the rope into the belfry and rang the bell for them. Another bunch of boys rang the bell at the Christian Church and a third party jingled the bell at the school — the tintinnabulation of the bells was on.
"The Endeavors of the Christian Church, instead of holding their annual watch party, went by train to Half Mound to attend a revival meeting Mr. Kimball is holding at the schoolhouse.
"Several of the boys who have tried it don't find much sport in 'coon' hunting though the music of the hounds was fine.
"Paul Newman, who is attending the school for the blind at Kansas City, was at home here with his parents, the V.P. Newmans, (V.P. Newman, pioneer blacksmith, skillful in shoeing oxen as well as horses) during vacation. Paul is growing in learning and stature and is an expert on roller skates. With only a cane to guide him, he can skate all over town on the cement sidewalks.
"Dan Royer is proud to announce that he won the last game of croquet that was played on the last day of 1912.
"The Santa Fe waiting room was not large enough to hold half of the waiting passengers Monday morning.
"A little daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. Ted Bickley Christmas Day (North Cedar item).
"Maude Bruton and Carrie Haas were at St. Joe last Friday to order new goods for the Hauck's Store."
The Valley Falls Historical Society Museum will be open at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 10.
More "Out of the Past" items from a century, plus two, gleaned from those yellowed pages of a Valley Falls Historical Society scrapbook. Compiled by the late Edith Harden from pages of a news source with the published date clipped from the page to fit the scrapbook, except all items have the year date of January 1913:
Jan. 3, "While Col. John Triggs, after a drive, was unhitching Bert Boot's borrowed team Saturday, the horses, not liking the looks of the Colonel's fur coat, broke away, ran into a post across the street, broke the tongue, dashboard, both reaches of the buggy, and other damages, to the amount of $10 or $12, according to the repair bill.
"Church and school bells rang out the old and in the new year in merry peal, loud and long. The Endeavors, of the Congregational Church, met in the church annex to watch the old year out and welcome the new, but a bunch of boys carried the rope into the belfry and rang the bell for them. Another bunch of boys rang the bell at the Christian Church and a third party jingled the bell at the school — the tintinnabulation of the bells was on.
"The Endeavors of the Christian Church, instead of holding their annual watch party, went by train to Half Mound to attend a revival meeting Mr. Kimball is holding at the schoolhouse.
"Several of the boys who have tried it don't find much sport in 'coon' hunting though the music of the hounds was fine.
"Paul Newman, who is attending the school for the blind at Kansas City, was at home here with his parents, the V.P. Newmans, (V.P. Newman, pioneer blacksmith, skillful in shoeing oxen as well as horses) during vacation. Paul is growing in learning and stature and is an expert on roller skates. With only a cane to guide him, he can skate all over town on the cement sidewalks.
"Dan Royer is proud to announce that he won the last game of croquet that was played on the last day of 1912.
"The Santa Fe waiting room was not large enough to hold half of the waiting passengers Monday morning.
"A little daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. Ted Bickley Christmas Day (North Cedar item).
"Maude Bruton and Carrie Haas were at St. Joe last Friday to order new goods for the Hauck's Store."
The Valley Falls Historical Society Museum will be open at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 10.
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