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.
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