Hillyer business house, later hotel, opens in 1880

by Betty Jane Wilson, society president

The July 24, 1880, issue of the Valley Falls New Era reported on improvements made in the town during the spring and summer. Among those built and finished and about ready for occupation was the business house planned by M.P. Hillyer.

The business, located on the southwest corner of Broadway and Sycamore streets, was 60 x 25 feet on the ground with a basement and two stories above. The basement, 10 feet high, was used as a barber shop and storeroom. The second story was to be occupied as a banking house 14 feet high.

A brick and iron vault was installed and excellenty lighted. Front windows were large and composed of five French plate glass each. The upper story, owned by the Valley Falls Lodge, F.A.M., was 15 feet and used as a lodge room. It was divided into a hall 48 x 22 feet and used as an ante and preparation room.

The wall of the building were of stone on the rear and west side, and on the front and east of brick, and finished with a heavy cornice. Eventually, the structure was enlarged and 12 or 14 rooms were added and it was known as the Hillyer House or Hillyer Hotel, famous for its elegance and well-known clientele.

The Valley Falls Historical Society Museum will be open at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 21.

Early setbacks caused by Mother Nature

by Betty Jane Wilson, society president

No one said it would be easy, settling a small town and community. Mother Nature played her role in pioneer days along with border ruffians and horse thieves.

A sundry of items from newspaper articles and historical publications reveal the hardships and damages the pioneers endured.

The prosperity of the county was seriously retarded by the big drought of 1860. The crop yield was almost an entire failure. There was no small grain raised and very little corn.

In May 1872 there were heavy rains, which flooded the streams and much damage was done to growing crops. Many places were covered with water for many days.

In the summer of 1874, just as the harvest of small grain was being completed, the grasshoppers appeared in immense numbers. They came down on fields in myriads and within three days the fields of corn and every other thing that was yet green was destroyed.

On June 8, 1875, a severe storm of wind and rain passed over the county and did considerable damage to growing crops and demolished many farm buildings.

April 10, 1882, news clipping: "Valley Falls was visited by a very severe hail storm Friday night about 11 o'clock, which not only broke every window on the south side of every house but ruined nearly every iron and tin roof in town.

"Some of the stones weighed over a pound. They came down thick and fast injuring fruit trees and small gardens. There is not a business house in town that was not more or less damaged. The roofs on the Hillyer bank building were ruined. The plate glass in one of the bank buildings was ruined while another was cracked. "Old settlers say it was the worst hail storm they had ever seen."

The Valley Falls Historical Society museum will be open at 10 a.m. Saturday.

Piazzek changed Polish name, changed it back

by Betty Jane Wilson, society president

Grasshopper Falls was not unique in its history of name change. One of the founders of the town also had an experience in changing his name. The Polish name Piazzek was not easily remembered or pronounced by patrons of Joe Piazzek's grist mill, so many began calling him "Joe the Miller."

About the time the name of the town was changed to Sautrelle in 1863, he decided it would be advisable to have his named changed to Joe Miller.

At his request, the change was made by the Legislature; however, before long an estate was to be settled in his home country and no one named Miller was eligible for Piazzek's share.

After some consideration on his part, he induced the Legislature to make his name Piazzek again.

The source of this came from a March 10, 1943, Vindicator in a letter from Edward Baumgardner, Lawrence.

Photos of the pioneer miller and his mills are on permanent display at the Valley Falls Historical Society Museum. The museum will be open at 10 a.m. Saturday.

VF Basketball history new to museum

by Betty Jane Wilson, society president

Two sports photo albums or scrapbooks have been added to the library that includes portraits of pioneers, prominent community builders, businesses, street scenes, etc. available for browsing at the Valley Falls Historical Society museum.

The latest additions are two volumes of basketball history and memorabilia of newspaper clippings and photos for the 1966-1972 seasons during the reign of coach Bill Barnes. He is renowned for a record 100 wins after completing five years of basketball coaching.

Sports articles are from the Topeka Capital-Journal, Atchison Daily Globe, and local writings that include those of Junior Rush. Some personal profiles of county coaches, players, and cheerleaders share the limelight.

The albums are available during open hours or on advance arrangements and will be prominently displayed during class reunion periods.

The museum will be open Saturday, March 31, at 10 a.m.

March Madness, 1923-style

by Betty Jane Wilson, society president

"Harmony between Valley Falls and Ozawkie basketball fans" headlined the sports column of the Farmers' Vindicator (predecessor to the Valley Falls Vindicator) Friday, March 23, 1923, with the following story:

"After Ozawkie defeated Valley Falls basketball players with the aid of the referee in the Jefferson County Tournament played at Perry last week, the Ozawkie basketball fans sent a Valley Falls basketball fan a loving cup by special delivery made of Ozawkie's silver with about as many holes in it as there are in Ozawkie. The loving cup was wrapped in black crepe paper with the following note: 'You have a bunch of log rollers up there but you ain't got no basketball players.'

"The cup and the note are on display in the front window of Lou Hauck's big store.

"The Valley Falls fan is very proud of this cup because he has drunk out of it at the Ozawkie town well on many a hot summer day, also proud of the fact that Ozawkie admits that we can beat them at log rolling and many other things. After the display is removed from Hauck's store, the owner expects to donate it to the Valley Falls High School to be placed in the case among the many trophies won by the Valley Falls High School teams."

The museum will be open at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 24.

March window displays at museum

by Betty Jane Wilson, society president

A frolicking lamb and ferocious lion, colorful murals created by artist Susan Phillips, to humor the mood of the "in and out" days of the unpredictable month of March set the scene for the window display of the Valley Falls Historical Society museum.

Calendar of events reminder signs include the first day of spring and St. Patrick's Day. Special emphasis on St. Patrick's Day is induced by the appearance of Irish piglet replica, Miss Brigit Molly O'Swine resplendent with shamrock tiara, green slipper shod feet, and an Irish blessing attached to her garment.

An enlarged eagle placard mounted on a patriotic blue background and surrounded by armed service and American flags dominates the veterans' window display honoring U.S. military men and women past and present and serves as a constant reminder to support our troops worldwide.

The museum will be open at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 17. Admission is free.

1863-64: Grasshopper v. Sautrelle; new school; Piazzek mill

Compiled by Betty Jane Wilson, society president

Grasshopper Falls vs. Sautrelle, an apparent bone of contention for a majority of the citizens of the pioneer village, proved a popular subject for the Grasshopper Falls Jeffersonian edited by Rufus H. Crosby until late in the year when S.H. Dodge became editor and the publication was the Kansas Jeffersonian.

The publication was a source for opinions, observations and pertinent daily news. A writer to the editor noted, "You perceive I have called the place 'Grasshopper' rather than 'Sautrelle,' the French name imposed by the last legislature. The people prefer English as being the mother tongue."

The Jeffersonian declared, "The name of the post office (recently moved) remains 'Grasshopper' and that our town will be just as soon as action can be taken by the legislature."

The news headlines at the same time were—Hurrah for Poland . . . "Eighty years ago a Polander came to Grasshopper Falls and hired on at small pay in the saw mill that had just been erected. He knew nothing of English, and had but 20 cents in the world. Today, that poor Polander is sole owner of the saw mill, together with a grist mill and woolen factory all the result of a good head joined with willing hands."

September of 1863, headline: "Grasshopper Falls still lives . . . Our friends, in directing their letters to this place, should know the name of our post office has never been changed. Outside of two families, the detestable name of Sautrelle is utterly ignored by our people . . . In after years, the name Sautrelle will only be mentioned as an example of unmitigated folly on the part of the authors."

November 25, 1863, notice: remember the school meeting Monday evening. All who want a new school must be there, and all who don't want one, be on hand to give their objections.

December 7, 1863 — New school house at the school meeting on Monday evening, the board of directors were instructed to procure a site for new school house. It will be built next summer and from the general feeling of our community, will be a large and credible building.

December 1863, Warning — New hoop skirt dangerous. A woman came near losing her life lately in Leavenworth by severing an artery by a broken spring in her hoop skirt. The ladies will take warning.

April 17, 1864 — (Portion of a letter from Rufus H. Crosby) "I shall stop at Harford, Conn., and purchase and ship two looms for the woolen factory of Joseph Miller Piazzek at Grasshopper Falls. Mr. Piazzek deserves much credit in the enterprise manifest by him in improving the water power of the falls, and let me predict that ten or fifteen years will see Joseph Miller Piazzek the proprietor of the most extensive woolen factory in the far west."

The historial society's museum will be open at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 10.