Compiled by Betty Jane Wilson, society president
A German picnic excursion to Grasshopper Falls July 5, 1874, reported by the Kansas New Era.
"Last Sunday was rather a peculiar day for the people of the vicinity, or rather, the people witnessed something out of the usual routine of Sunday gatherings.
"As is well known, our German fellow citizens, as a rule, believe in enjoying themselves, and to accomplish the end, they form themselves into societies, create a fund to meet necessary outlays and during the summer months have frequent excursions to pleasant groves more or less remote from their homes and businesses.
"Such an excursion from Leavenworth visited the pleasant grove situated about a mile north of this city and on the ground belonging to Phillip Minger on July 5th.
"The excursion was the theme on every tongue from its announcement. Not one less than 100 of our citizens assembled at the depot Sunday morning to greet the coming of the excursionists.
"A train of six cars came in shortly after 11 a.m., freighted with near 400 of as intelligent and bright faces as one sees in a lifetime. The train halted long enough to allow our citizens to hang themselves on to already crowded cars best they could.
"Upon arrival at the grove, they were welcomed by at least 100 already assembled there from surrounding Grasshopper Falls. The grove was well seated and a large stand had been erected for the use of the bands, which they immediately occupied and opened the enjoyment of the day with music rarely heard in rural districts.
"It would have been a very extraordinary thing among the Germans to have a picnic without the adjunct of lager beer, but it seemed, from the time the first keg was tapped, there sprung up a rivalry between the Germans and those manor born as to who should invest the most beer, yet truth compels us to say that with four or five exceptions, no one made swill-tubs of themselves.
"After dinner a large part of the assemblage headed by the band repaired to Mr. Minger's residence to pay their respects to Mr. and Mrs. Minger for their hospitality to the society."
From the Leavenworth Commercial:
"The excursion to Grasshopper Falls on Sunday of seven carloads of our best citizens, under the auspices of the Maener Gesand Verein, was a pleasant affair. The train was under charge of Sam Black and everything was orderly and enjoyable. We are glad to learn that this progressive and liberal society made some money out of the trip."
The Valley Falls museum will be open at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 25.
July 20, 2015
May 1875 news highlights, including changing the city name to Valley Falls
Compiled by Betty Jane Wilson, society president
Highlights of the local news reported by the May 1875 Valley Falls New Era, included spelling matches, grasshopper invasions, name changes and AT & SF Railroad activity.
May 1 "The spelling match epidemic struck Valley Falls last Friday evening. Dr. Wilson is good at pronouncing and the way he leaps from monosyllables of two letters to French phrases is startling to the best spellers in America.
"The Hon. R.H. Crosby went down on the first round at the spelling bee last Friday. He never sang 'Hazel Dell' or he would not have tripped on so small a thing as 'Hazel.'
"There will be a spelling school at the Baptist Church next Friday evening. A Webster's New Counting House and Family Dictionary will be given to the best speller and a Higuly Illustrated Primer to the poorest. A.V. Jewett will pronounce the words. He has already selected 'monysontetoirtriggelypherlyphizeigokraut' and a few other light words for the spellers. Admission for the events is 25 cents for couples and 10 cents for children."
May 8, "Brix went to the spelling match last night. About an hour after he'd gone home and to bed, his wife poked him in the ribs and said, 'Brix, wake up! There's a burglar in the house!' Brix sat upright in bed burglar — b-u-r-g-l-a-r, burglar,' he spelled, rolled over and went back to sleep.
"The sidewalk around Block 21 to the depot is finished and now one can walk to the depot and cars dry-shod.
"Hillyer's Hall has been furnished with seats for an audience of 125 and is just such a room as our city has long needed. Posts have been provided for the room below that makes the floor secure and our citizens can now have gatherings without placing the authorities of the city churches in the embarrassing position of refusing to open the church for an entertainment because of those who think churches should be used for religious instruction only."
May 15, "Today the act of changing the name of our city to Valley Falls takes place and hereafter, all legal papers in which this place in an important point, must date from Valley Falls; township instruments from Delaware Township.
"The dome of the eight-gabled Octagon Hotel is the first object which greets the eye of the traveler approaching Valley Falls. The building is situated on the eastern brow of the hill descending gently to the depot. The site was chosen, the edifice designed, built, and is still owned and now kept by Dr. L. Northrup, an old 'fifty-fiver' of the town.
"R.H. Crosby of Valley Falls recently sold 100 head of cattle in Chicago for $8,225, which is pretty good for a grasshopper year and a winter of destitution."
May 22, "778, 451, 97, 651, 863, 132, 901 grasshoppers are what ailed our lettuce bed and early garden.
"Fifteen trains came in to Valley Falls Thursday and as many went out. The A.T. and S.F. is a driving business and they are in better order than any road in the west.
"There was a special passenger train that stopped for two days at the Depot. Two days since it carried on it persons representing $3,000,000. "The governor of Missouri has appointed a day of fasting and prayer in view of the grasshopper ravages. If there is a state in the union that needs the prayers of the righteous, that state is Missouri."
Highlights of the local news reported by the May 1875 Valley Falls New Era, included spelling matches, grasshopper invasions, name changes and AT & SF Railroad activity.
May 1 "The spelling match epidemic struck Valley Falls last Friday evening. Dr. Wilson is good at pronouncing and the way he leaps from monosyllables of two letters to French phrases is startling to the best spellers in America.
"The Hon. R.H. Crosby went down on the first round at the spelling bee last Friday. He never sang 'Hazel Dell' or he would not have tripped on so small a thing as 'Hazel.'
"There will be a spelling school at the Baptist Church next Friday evening. A Webster's New Counting House and Family Dictionary will be given to the best speller and a Higuly Illustrated Primer to the poorest. A.V. Jewett will pronounce the words. He has already selected 'monysontetoirtriggelypherlyphizeigokraut' and a few other light words for the spellers. Admission for the events is 25 cents for couples and 10 cents for children."
May 8, "Brix went to the spelling match last night. About an hour after he'd gone home and to bed, his wife poked him in the ribs and said, 'Brix, wake up! There's a burglar in the house!' Brix sat upright in bed burglar — b-u-r-g-l-a-r, burglar,' he spelled, rolled over and went back to sleep.
"The sidewalk around Block 21 to the depot is finished and now one can walk to the depot and cars dry-shod.
"Hillyer's Hall has been furnished with seats for an audience of 125 and is just such a room as our city has long needed. Posts have been provided for the room below that makes the floor secure and our citizens can now have gatherings without placing the authorities of the city churches in the embarrassing position of refusing to open the church for an entertainment because of those who think churches should be used for religious instruction only."
May 15, "Today the act of changing the name of our city to Valley Falls takes place and hereafter, all legal papers in which this place in an important point, must date from Valley Falls; township instruments from Delaware Township.
"The dome of the eight-gabled Octagon Hotel is the first object which greets the eye of the traveler approaching Valley Falls. The building is situated on the eastern brow of the hill descending gently to the depot. The site was chosen, the edifice designed, built, and is still owned and now kept by Dr. L. Northrup, an old 'fifty-fiver' of the town.
"R.H. Crosby of Valley Falls recently sold 100 head of cattle in Chicago for $8,225, which is pretty good for a grasshopper year and a winter of destitution."
May 22, "778, 451, 97, 651, 863, 132, 901 grasshoppers are what ailed our lettuce bed and early garden.
"Fifteen trains came in to Valley Falls Thursday and as many went out. The A.T. and S.F. is a driving business and they are in better order than any road in the west.
"There was a special passenger train that stopped for two days at the Depot. Two days since it carried on it persons representing $3,000,000. "The governor of Missouri has appointed a day of fasting and prayer in view of the grasshopper ravages. If there is a state in the union that needs the prayers of the righteous, that state is Missouri."
July 15, 2015
Hickory Point battle historical marker
Compiled by Betty Jane Wilson, society president
"Hickory Point marker unveiling June 22" reported the June 20, 1941, edition of The Winchester Star, the weekly news publication of our neighbor city.
"To commemorate the only military engagement in Jefferson County of the Kansas slave-or-free state struggle, a suitable marker has been erected by the state Highway Commission near the site of the Battle of Hickory Point fought in September 1856.
"This marker will be unveiled, with ceremonies, next Sunday afternoon, June 22, at three o'clock. Hon. John A Dawson, chief justice of the Kansas Supreme Court, will make the inspirational address of the occasion.
"Mr. John Sherwood, who has resided many years on the actual site of the battle, will unveil the marker and repeat reminiscences he has heard of the affair.
"The Rev. Clyde King, Winchester minister, will pronounce the invocation.
"A trio of Valley Falls young ladies — the Misses Rita Goodwin, Mary Jane Blake, and Pauline Shermer — will sing patriotic numbers. The Oskaloosa uniformed school band will open the program with a concert.
"Kansas State Highway Patrol will have charge of traffic and parking.
"Location of the marker is four miles west of Winchester and a third of a mile north of Dunavant corner on US-59.
"Credit belongs to Gov. Payne Ratners' administration for initiating and executing the enterprise of marking this and half a hundred other historic sites in Kansas. The Highway Commission was given authority to negotiate for sites and funds to build the markers; the state Historical Society has cooperated by verifying historical data.
"The committee for the Hickory Point ceremonies is composed of Jas. A. Swoyer, chairman, and John W. Roberts, Oskaloosa, Richard A. Swallow and Bert Booth, Valley Falls, and John Sherwood, Hickory Point.
The Valley Falls museum will be open at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 18.
"Hickory Point marker unveiling June 22" reported the June 20, 1941, edition of The Winchester Star, the weekly news publication of our neighbor city.
"To commemorate the only military engagement in Jefferson County of the Kansas slave-or-free state struggle, a suitable marker has been erected by the state Highway Commission near the site of the Battle of Hickory Point fought in September 1856.
"This marker will be unveiled, with ceremonies, next Sunday afternoon, June 22, at three o'clock. Hon. John A Dawson, chief justice of the Kansas Supreme Court, will make the inspirational address of the occasion.
"Mr. John Sherwood, who has resided many years on the actual site of the battle, will unveil the marker and repeat reminiscences he has heard of the affair.
"The Rev. Clyde King, Winchester minister, will pronounce the invocation.
"A trio of Valley Falls young ladies — the Misses Rita Goodwin, Mary Jane Blake, and Pauline Shermer — will sing patriotic numbers. The Oskaloosa uniformed school band will open the program with a concert.
"Kansas State Highway Patrol will have charge of traffic and parking.
"Location of the marker is four miles west of Winchester and a third of a mile north of Dunavant corner on US-59.
"Credit belongs to Gov. Payne Ratners' administration for initiating and executing the enterprise of marking this and half a hundred other historic sites in Kansas. The Highway Commission was given authority to negotiate for sites and funds to build the markers; the state Historical Society has cooperated by verifying historical data.
"The committee for the Hickory Point ceremonies is composed of Jas. A. Swoyer, chairman, and John W. Roberts, Oskaloosa, Richard A. Swallow and Bert Booth, Valley Falls, and John Sherwood, Hickory Point.
The Valley Falls museum will be open at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 18.
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