by Betty Jane Wilson, society president
"One of the most auspicious events in the history of Valley Falls" reported R.E. Vanmeter, editor of the Valley Falls New Era June 5, 1884. The annual reminder of his story of that first Memorial Day, then known as Decoration Day, in Valley Falls follows:
"Last Friday a most beautiful day in Valley Falls, and one calculates 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's museum will be open at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 30.
May 27, 2015
May 19, 2015
Historical fern "siblings" on display; Memorial Day schedule
by Betty Jane Wilson, society president
The story is not new nor is the lofty fern now celebrating its 100th year. The longtime Valley Falls Santa Fe Depot celebrity resides at the Valley Falls Historical Society Museum, 310 Broadway Street, enjoying desirable temperatures, sunshine, regular food, and water.
Briefly, the history. When a Santa Fe employee was a teenager working in a grocery store in Valley Falls, he bought the fern for his mother at a dime store in Kansas City in 1914 or 1915.
His mother gave the fern to a Red Cross benefit sale during World War I in 1918. Mrs. Bert Scott, wife of Santa Fe drayman, bought the large potted fern and took it to her home. When the fern outgrew its space in her home, she gave it to J.P. Haggard, Valley Falls Santa Fe agent, who put it in the new Santa Fe Depot, placed it on a stand about five feet high, where it grew into a beautiful specimen whose long fronds almost touched the floor.
The fern was often classified as a "landmark" of Valley Falls. When people passed through the town by train and met others who had been passengers, the question was always asked "Is the fern still there?" Johnny Carson once mentioned the awesome plant on his TV show.
In 1969, a new depot was to be put in service. There was no room in the new building for the giant fern. After resting on the same stand for 50 years, the stand gave way and the huge plant fell to the floor. Just before a move to a new location, historian Arthur Strawn, Mrs. Geever Allen, and the Kendall State Bank housed the plant until eventually the huge fern found a home in the Valley Falls Historical Society Museum.
In the spring of 2007, the plant was taken to a local nursery where it was divided into approximately 20 starts and potted for nurturing and sold to those wanting a piece of the "landmark."
A limited number of "siblings" of assorted sizes from the celebrated centurion will be on display at the historical society's museum, effective, Saturday, May 23, and throughout the Memorial Day holiday weekend. (Advertisement in the Valley Falls Vindicator).
The Valley Falls Historical Society Museum will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 23; Sunday, May 24, immediately following the reunion dinner; and Monday, May 25, from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The story is not new nor is the lofty fern now celebrating its 100th year. The longtime Valley Falls Santa Fe Depot celebrity resides at the Valley Falls Historical Society Museum, 310 Broadway Street, enjoying desirable temperatures, sunshine, regular food, and water.
Briefly, the history. When a Santa Fe employee was a teenager working in a grocery store in Valley Falls, he bought the fern for his mother at a dime store in Kansas City in 1914 or 1915.
His mother gave the fern to a Red Cross benefit sale during World War I in 1918. Mrs. Bert Scott, wife of Santa Fe drayman, bought the large potted fern and took it to her home. When the fern outgrew its space in her home, she gave it to J.P. Haggard, Valley Falls Santa Fe agent, who put it in the new Santa Fe Depot, placed it on a stand about five feet high, where it grew into a beautiful specimen whose long fronds almost touched the floor.
The fern was often classified as a "landmark" of Valley Falls. When people passed through the town by train and met others who had been passengers, the question was always asked "Is the fern still there?" Johnny Carson once mentioned the awesome plant on his TV show.
In 1969, a new depot was to be put in service. There was no room in the new building for the giant fern. After resting on the same stand for 50 years, the stand gave way and the huge plant fell to the floor. Just before a move to a new location, historian Arthur Strawn, Mrs. Geever Allen, and the Kendall State Bank housed the plant until eventually the huge fern found a home in the Valley Falls Historical Society Museum.
In the spring of 2007, the plant was taken to a local nursery where it was divided into approximately 20 starts and potted for nurturing and sold to those wanting a piece of the "landmark."
A limited number of "siblings" of assorted sizes from the celebrated centurion will be on display at the historical society's museum, effective, Saturday, May 23, and throughout the Memorial Day holiday weekend. (Advertisement in the Valley Falls Vindicator).
The Valley Falls Historical Society Museum will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 23; Sunday, May 24, immediately following the reunion dinner; and Monday, May 25, from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
May 05, 2015
1879 headlines and Old Settlers poem
Compiled by Betty Jane Wilson, society president
A variety of items gleaned from the Jefferson County Historical Society newsletter, Editor John Bower, taken from Kansas Historical Society news sources:
OVER THE STATE columns in the Emporia news, Feb. 7 and 14, 1879, included,
"Oskaloosa Has Marvin College." "The Union Depot at Atchison will cost $100,000."
"Kansas had 19 completed railroads, 2,302 miles of rail and they are worth $15,525,033."
"John Bull, a farmer of Washington County had 450 bushels of corn stolen from his corn crib."
"A vein of coal has been struck ten miles north of Topeka. Four men are taking out 200 bushels a day."
"Four miners in Scranton, Osage County, got into a row in which one Dobson got his skull fractured and will probably die. His assailants were fined $2."
"Louis Jackson of Leavenworth was sent to jail for 200 days for carrying concealed weapons."
"Died within a few days, the Troy Bulletin and Fredonia Tribune."
"A woman in male attire has been operating in cattle business in Kingman County."
A poetic tribute to early days from the proceedings of an Old Settlers Reunion recorded in the Manhattan Nationalist, Feb. 28, 1879. One of the speakers, a Mrs. Jacquith, presented a poem "composed in haste for the occasion."
"When Settlers Old Were New"
With loving hearts though faulty rhyme,
We meet to boast the good ole time,
We do not laud the present time.
The good old times — to speak their praise,
When settlers old were new,
Roll backward time, thy years a score,
As we recount these memories o'er.
E're 'times were hard' 'ere' greenbacks came,
When railroad bonds we did not blame,
Repudiation but a name — our Capitol was a traveling one
It changed with every season's sun.
A townsite on each farm did lie,
Each held his town lots very high,
and had fortune 'in his eye.'
When settlers old were new,
We shot the buffalo on the trail,
We killed the chicken and the quail,
Of games laws with their fines severe,
To bleed our purse we had no fear.
We dined on 'possum, coon and deer.
When Kansas state was new.
We rode behind the amblin' ox,
We rattled safely o'er the rocks,
We worshipped God in cabins small, between the chinks in mud daubed walls.
We watched the stars and saw them fall,
When Kansas state was new."
The Valley Falls Historical Society Museum will be open at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 9.
A variety of items gleaned from the Jefferson County Historical Society newsletter, Editor John Bower, taken from Kansas Historical Society news sources:
OVER THE STATE columns in the Emporia news, Feb. 7 and 14, 1879, included,
"Oskaloosa Has Marvin College." "The Union Depot at Atchison will cost $100,000."
"Kansas had 19 completed railroads, 2,302 miles of rail and they are worth $15,525,033."
"John Bull, a farmer of Washington County had 450 bushels of corn stolen from his corn crib."
"A vein of coal has been struck ten miles north of Topeka. Four men are taking out 200 bushels a day."
"Four miners in Scranton, Osage County, got into a row in which one Dobson got his skull fractured and will probably die. His assailants were fined $2."
"Louis Jackson of Leavenworth was sent to jail for 200 days for carrying concealed weapons."
"Died within a few days, the Troy Bulletin and Fredonia Tribune."
"A woman in male attire has been operating in cattle business in Kingman County."
A poetic tribute to early days from the proceedings of an Old Settlers Reunion recorded in the Manhattan Nationalist, Feb. 28, 1879. One of the speakers, a Mrs. Jacquith, presented a poem "composed in haste for the occasion."
"When Settlers Old Were New"
With loving hearts though faulty rhyme,
We meet to boast the good ole time,
We do not laud the present time.
The good old times — to speak their praise,
When settlers old were new,
Roll backward time, thy years a score,
As we recount these memories o'er.
E're 'times were hard' 'ere' greenbacks came,
When railroad bonds we did not blame,
Repudiation but a name — our Capitol was a traveling one
It changed with every season's sun.
A townsite on each farm did lie,
Each held his town lots very high,
and had fortune 'in his eye.'
When settlers old were new,
We shot the buffalo on the trail,
We killed the chicken and the quail,
Of games laws with their fines severe,
To bleed our purse we had no fear.
We dined on 'possum, coon and deer.
When Kansas state was new.
We rode behind the amblin' ox,
We rattled safely o'er the rocks,
We worshipped God in cabins small, between the chinks in mud daubed walls.
We watched the stars and saw them fall,
When Kansas state was new."
The Valley Falls Historical Society Museum will be open at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 9.
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