Compiled by Betty Jane Wilson, society president
A sundry of items from local news sources in the late 1800s included:
The Kansas New Era, Dec. 11, 1873, S. Weaver, Editor — "Last summer, as the workmen were engaged in tearing down the foundation walls of the old mill, three 'links' were found imbedded in the masonry and at a latter date some bones were found in another part of the wall. Later, portions of articles of clothing were discovered. Was the victim an Odd Fellow? A solution to this mystery was made.
"The links were from an old log chain; the bones were those of a defunct cat, and the clothing was part of the suit that Sid Squires used to go "a sparkin' " in."
The Valley Falls New Era, Aug. 19, 1893, E. P. Karr, Editor, Titled "Not A Harmony," the article continued: "Dr. Gillman and his daughter, Mrs. Blackwood, are having a good deal of trouble. The doctor says there is not a meaner woman on the face of the earth than his daughter and, in his own mind, he has no doubt that she poisoned his horse and she has threatened his life and that of his family a number of times. He says she can swear worse than any man in town and that she is a holy terror.
"Mrs. Blackwood, on the other hand, says her father is trying to get her out of town and has sent her threatening letters so that she is afraid to stay at home nights.
"The end of the trouble is not yet and something is liable to happen."
The 1893 New Era continued with a new subject. — "In the feminine business world in Valley Falls, none have been more successful than Mrs. A. Murray, who conducts the leading millinery establishment. Mrs. Murray came to Valley Falls 14 years ago, having lived in Louisville where she was the leading milliner.
"On Jan. 2, of this year, she lost her entire stock by fire. She replaced her stock and her store is now up to its reputation for neatness and stylishness.
"Another female business woman, Mrs. M.E. Witchner, is the proprietor of the City Hotel. Mrs. W. has resided in Valley Falls for 10 years and has been in the hotel business for five years.
"A restaurant is run in connection with the hotel. Cigars, tobacco, and confections, etc., are kept. Neat lunches for passengers travelling through the city are carried to the trains. The City Hotel is as good as any $1 per day house in the city and it is well patronized."
The historical society museum will be open at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 13.
October 10, 2012
October 03, 2012
Flooding in 1914
by Betty Jane Wilson, society president
When it rained it poured. "The worst rain storm in forty years. Bridges washed out, cattle, horses, and hogs drowned. Thousands of dollars damage to this district. From five to fifteen inches of rain," reported the Valley Falls New Era Thursday, June 25, 1914.
Excerpts from the story included the individual and transportation losses.
"Torrential rains, cloud bursts, Delaware flooding fell at Valley Falls last Sunday afternoon and evening. It averaged two inches per hour. An ordinary rain gauge could not hold it all the time. A continuous electrical storm accompanied the torrential downpour. The wind blew and shifted. Streams filled and became raging torrents. Flooding in the bottoms caused great damage to wheat and cornfields between Half Mound and Tosh's bridge along ten or twelve miles of river.
"Whole fields of wheat and shoulder high corn were carried downstream. All three railroads centering here were damaged by the floods. The Missouri Pacific had a 400-foot washout in Crow Hollow and another beyond Dunavant, but these were soon repaired delaying the morning train only 4 hours.
"Trains 503 and 504 passed at Valley Falls at 3 p.m. Trains on the Union Pacific were abandoned for two days by a washout at Walnut Creek bridge where passengers waded through water knee deep for a quarter of a mile to catch the Santa Fe 'plug' to Topeka, as it was the only way in or out on the Santa Fe for two days.
"McLellan, section foreman, with a workforce of men put in two hard days rebuilding the track. Dale Jones is a truthful farmer who lives southwest of town and were it not that his reputation for truth telling had never been questioned, it is doubtful this would be published, but Dale says during the rain, lightning struck a wheat shock in his field and though the rain was coming down in torrents, he went to see if the shock was really afire and when he got to the shock it really was burning brightly.
"If you don't believe his story, he'll show you the ashes. There are various stories as to the amount of rainfall. In the vicinity, from 5.5 inches at M.M. Maxwell's, 9.5 inches at Thos. Knouses, 11 inches at H. Boyers and a tub full at Fount Hurst's.
"Albert Keen of north of Valley Falls says the water coming down Walnut Creek washed a lot of rock uphill onto Dr. Van Meer's place. Some of the rock larger than himself. Of course, he adds, he does not expect anyone to believe it, for he would not, had he not seen it with his own eyes.
"Henry Senn on Walnut Creek suffered a great loss. Three colts were drowned and his hay, oats, wheat and 25 acres of corn were ruined. Sellers Bros. had 1,000 chickens drowned. Ampie Delk had just begun cutting his wheat field on Saturday morning. Monday morning it was buried in the overflow. Monday forenoon shocks and bundles of wheat floated down the current, heads buried in muddy waters. It was bread cast upon the waters to return no more.
"Bunker wheat field across from Piazzek Mill was under water. Joe Lange had damaged crops and a cow, one steer and two calves drowned. Henry Kroll lost crops and several hundred chickens. Will Stauffer of Peter's Creek suffered crop loss and 95 young turkeys. Bolton District farmers lost wheat by overflow from Rock Creek.
"Blue Mound District owners lost wheat from Delaware River overflow. Numerous farms were damaged, pastures covered with mud and some homes destroyed. Brush Creek bridge, three bridges on Rock Creek, and a number of culverts were out.
"An interesting sight was the new audience in the baseball grandstand. Will Bragg's hogs, including two litters of pigs had been marooned there all night. The pigs were rescued in a lumber wagon and the older hogs were made to swim ashore by Bragg and Seible steering them through waist-deep water by holding them by their ears and keeping their noses above water."
Reprinted from Yesteryears, April 2002 (Jefferson County Genealogical Society publication).
The society's museum will be open Saturday at 10 a.m.
When it rained it poured. "The worst rain storm in forty years. Bridges washed out, cattle, horses, and hogs drowned. Thousands of dollars damage to this district. From five to fifteen inches of rain," reported the Valley Falls New Era Thursday, June 25, 1914.
Excerpts from the story included the individual and transportation losses.
"Torrential rains, cloud bursts, Delaware flooding fell at Valley Falls last Sunday afternoon and evening. It averaged two inches per hour. An ordinary rain gauge could not hold it all the time. A continuous electrical storm accompanied the torrential downpour. The wind blew and shifted. Streams filled and became raging torrents. Flooding in the bottoms caused great damage to wheat and cornfields between Half Mound and Tosh's bridge along ten or twelve miles of river.
"Whole fields of wheat and shoulder high corn were carried downstream. All three railroads centering here were damaged by the floods. The Missouri Pacific had a 400-foot washout in Crow Hollow and another beyond Dunavant, but these were soon repaired delaying the morning train only 4 hours.
"Trains 503 and 504 passed at Valley Falls at 3 p.m. Trains on the Union Pacific were abandoned for two days by a washout at Walnut Creek bridge where passengers waded through water knee deep for a quarter of a mile to catch the Santa Fe 'plug' to Topeka, as it was the only way in or out on the Santa Fe for two days.
"McLellan, section foreman, with a workforce of men put in two hard days rebuilding the track. Dale Jones is a truthful farmer who lives southwest of town and were it not that his reputation for truth telling had never been questioned, it is doubtful this would be published, but Dale says during the rain, lightning struck a wheat shock in his field and though the rain was coming down in torrents, he went to see if the shock was really afire and when he got to the shock it really was burning brightly.
"If you don't believe his story, he'll show you the ashes. There are various stories as to the amount of rainfall. In the vicinity, from 5.5 inches at M.M. Maxwell's, 9.5 inches at Thos. Knouses, 11 inches at H. Boyers and a tub full at Fount Hurst's.
"Albert Keen of north of Valley Falls says the water coming down Walnut Creek washed a lot of rock uphill onto Dr. Van Meer's place. Some of the rock larger than himself. Of course, he adds, he does not expect anyone to believe it, for he would not, had he not seen it with his own eyes.
"Henry Senn on Walnut Creek suffered a great loss. Three colts were drowned and his hay, oats, wheat and 25 acres of corn were ruined. Sellers Bros. had 1,000 chickens drowned. Ampie Delk had just begun cutting his wheat field on Saturday morning. Monday morning it was buried in the overflow. Monday forenoon shocks and bundles of wheat floated down the current, heads buried in muddy waters. It was bread cast upon the waters to return no more.
"Bunker wheat field across from Piazzek Mill was under water. Joe Lange had damaged crops and a cow, one steer and two calves drowned. Henry Kroll lost crops and several hundred chickens. Will Stauffer of Peter's Creek suffered crop loss and 95 young turkeys. Bolton District farmers lost wheat by overflow from Rock Creek.
"Blue Mound District owners lost wheat from Delaware River overflow. Numerous farms were damaged, pastures covered with mud and some homes destroyed. Brush Creek bridge, three bridges on Rock Creek, and a number of culverts were out.
"An interesting sight was the new audience in the baseball grandstand. Will Bragg's hogs, including two litters of pigs had been marooned there all night. The pigs were rescued in a lumber wagon and the older hogs were made to swim ashore by Bragg and Seible steering them through waist-deep water by holding them by their ears and keeping their noses above water."
Reprinted from Yesteryears, April 2002 (Jefferson County Genealogical Society publication).
The society's museum will be open Saturday at 10 a.m.
September 12, 2012
Rev. J. B. McAfee: founder of Lutheran congregation in Valley Falls and fearless temperance man
Compiled by Betty Jane Wilson, society president
The Rev. J.B. McAfee was active in public affairs of Kansas for 40 years. Relative to local history in 1857, he organized a Lutheran congregation and built a church, the first Lutheran Church in Kansas, at Grasshopper Falls — now Valley Falls, where the Shrine Church still stands.
During 1862-63 and '64 he served in the Civil War in various capacities. Later, other accomplishments included private secretary to the governor of Kansas, Adjunt General of Kansas, a member of the Kansas Legislature three times, and mayor of Topeka.
He was a lifelong temperance man. When mayor of Topeka, he put prohibition into practice amidst threats to take his life.
Quoting a source, "He enacted prohibition by refusing to sign any license to saloon keepers as long as he was mayor, though they threatened to hang him from a lamp post.
"C.R. Jennison was running a Faro Bank in Topeka while Mr. McAfee was mayor, though the business was prohibited by city ordinance. McAfee found his gambling house, and, being refused admission, he heeded not the threats nor the warnings, but taking an ax in his hand he battered down the door, cleaned out the establishment and prepared to burn it as the law directed.
"He was told by the gamblers that he would not dare to do that if Jennison were present.
'When will he be back?' asked the mayor.
'At 2 o'clock tomorrow,' was the response.
'Well, we will adjourn the burning until the gambler comes,' said the fearless mayor.
"The next day, in the presence of Jennison, the bonfire was kindled and Jennison was meek as a lamb."
(Source: The Topeka Mail and Breeze, May 22, 1896.)
The Historical Society Museum will be open at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 15. Admission is free.
The Rev. J.B. McAfee was active in public affairs of Kansas for 40 years. Relative to local history in 1857, he organized a Lutheran congregation and built a church, the first Lutheran Church in Kansas, at Grasshopper Falls — now Valley Falls, where the Shrine Church still stands.
During 1862-63 and '64 he served in the Civil War in various capacities. Later, other accomplishments included private secretary to the governor of Kansas, Adjunt General of Kansas, a member of the Kansas Legislature three times, and mayor of Topeka.
He was a lifelong temperance man. When mayor of Topeka, he put prohibition into practice amidst threats to take his life.
Quoting a source, "He enacted prohibition by refusing to sign any license to saloon keepers as long as he was mayor, though they threatened to hang him from a lamp post.
"C.R. Jennison was running a Faro Bank in Topeka while Mr. McAfee was mayor, though the business was prohibited by city ordinance. McAfee found his gambling house, and, being refused admission, he heeded not the threats nor the warnings, but taking an ax in his hand he battered down the door, cleaned out the establishment and prepared to burn it as the law directed.
"He was told by the gamblers that he would not dare to do that if Jennison were present.
'When will he be back?' asked the mayor.
'At 2 o'clock tomorrow,' was the response.
'Well, we will adjourn the burning until the gambler comes,' said the fearless mayor.
"The next day, in the presence of Jennison, the bonfire was kindled and Jennison was meek as a lamb."
(Source: The Topeka Mail and Breeze, May 22, 1896.)
The Historical Society Museum will be open at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 15. Admission is free.
September 05, 2012
Water troughs installed; an attempted break-in; 1898 meat prices; catching 437 lbs. of fish; Carrie Nation
- Compiled by Betty Jane Wilson, society president
"The city has put in two large watering troughs for the accommodations of the public," reported the Valley Falls New Era March 7, 1889. "One for the benefit of the farmers who enter town from the south and west, is near the city park. The other, which will benefit more those who come from the north and east, is on Maple near James Blacksmith Shop. They will always be full of water."
From the New Era, March 26, 1898:
"Tuesday morning about 1 o'clock some person or persons tried to enter the home of James F. Batchelor. They were prying and cutting at the window when Mrs. Batchelor was awakened by the noise. She quietly aroused Maggie Flora, a young lady employed by Mrs. B., and together they got up and Miss Flora, with great presence of mind, took a revolver laying on the dresser and fired several shots through the window at the light outside.
"None of the shots were effective only in shattering the window pane and arousing the neighbors. Mayor Evans, J.H. McNutt and others were soon searching for some trace of the parties, but failed to find even a clue. it was quite a trying situation for the ladies who were entirely alone."
Continuing from the New Era, same month and year:
"Notice: From now on the following prices will rule at our meat market: Loin steak, 15 cents per pound; round steak, 12 cents per pound; chuck steak, 10 cents per pound; rib roast, 12 cents per pound; rump roast, 8 cents per pound; and boiling meat, 6 and 7 cents per pound. —Dort Bros."
From the New Era, October 28, 1899:
Headline: "A Good Catch"
"A fishing party composed of S.T. Mayhew, B.B. Reppert, C.L. Overhosler, S.E. Mitchell and J.W. Mitchell, F. Glenn and Charley Rice were out about an hour Monday seining the Mitchell pond east of the city. The pond is not a deep one and unless the fish were removed, they would be frozen in the ice during the winter.
"A trammel net was used and only three hauls were made in the south half of the pond which resulted in a catch of 437 pounds of fish. The species of fish were principally buffalo and German carp with a few small cats.
"The catch was taken to Mitchell Bros. Meat Market where they were strung up and together with the fishermen were photographed by A.A. Reiderer. After the photo was taken, the fish were put on ice and retailed at 5 cents a pound and most of them were disposed of in a very short time."
Valley Falls New Era, December 29, 1900:
"Mrs. Carrie Nation, president of the W.C.T.U. of Barber County, is in jail at Wichita for trying to destroy the Carey Hotel saloon. She threw a stone through a valuable painting, also a $1,500 mirror, and did considerable other damage."
The society museum will be open at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 8.
Clarke Davis
Davis Publications, Inc.
The Oskaloosa Independent
The Valley Falls Vindicator
785-945-3257
Fax: 785-945-3444
"The city has put in two large watering troughs for the accommodations of the public," reported the Valley Falls New Era March 7, 1889. "One for the benefit of the farmers who enter town from the south and west, is near the city park. The other, which will benefit more those who come from the north and east, is on Maple near James Blacksmith Shop. They will always be full of water."
From the New Era, March 26, 1898:
"Tuesday morning about 1 o'clock some person or persons tried to enter the home of James F. Batchelor. They were prying and cutting at the window when Mrs. Batchelor was awakened by the noise. She quietly aroused Maggie Flora, a young lady employed by Mrs. B., and together they got up and Miss Flora, with great presence of mind, took a revolver laying on the dresser and fired several shots through the window at the light outside.
"None of the shots were effective only in shattering the window pane and arousing the neighbors. Mayor Evans, J.H. McNutt and others were soon searching for some trace of the parties, but failed to find even a clue. it was quite a trying situation for the ladies who were entirely alone."
Continuing from the New Era, same month and year:
"Notice: From now on the following prices will rule at our meat market: Loin steak, 15 cents per pound; round steak, 12 cents per pound; chuck steak, 10 cents per pound; rib roast, 12 cents per pound; rump roast, 8 cents per pound; and boiling meat, 6 and 7 cents per pound. —Dort Bros."
From the New Era, October 28, 1899:
Headline: "A Good Catch"
"A fishing party composed of S.T. Mayhew, B.B. Reppert, C.L. Overhosler, S.E. Mitchell and J.W. Mitchell, F. Glenn and Charley Rice were out about an hour Monday seining the Mitchell pond east of the city. The pond is not a deep one and unless the fish were removed, they would be frozen in the ice during the winter.
"A trammel net was used and only three hauls were made in the south half of the pond which resulted in a catch of 437 pounds of fish. The species of fish were principally buffalo and German carp with a few small cats.
"The catch was taken to Mitchell Bros. Meat Market where they were strung up and together with the fishermen were photographed by A.A. Reiderer. After the photo was taken, the fish were put on ice and retailed at 5 cents a pound and most of them were disposed of in a very short time."
Valley Falls New Era, December 29, 1900:
"Mrs. Carrie Nation, president of the W.C.T.U. of Barber County, is in jail at Wichita for trying to destroy the Carey Hotel saloon. She threw a stone through a valuable painting, also a $1,500 mirror, and did considerable other damage."
The society museum will be open at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 8.
Clarke Davis
Davis Publications, Inc.
The Oskaloosa Independent
The Valley Falls Vindicator
785-945-3257
Fax: 785-945-3444
August 21, 2012
Former slave Charity Ross finds her long-lost daughter after 45 years
- Compiled by Betty Jane Wilson, society president
The Valley Falls New Era, Jan. 14, 1899, featured the following story from the Kansas City Journal:
"An old colored woman sat in the Union Depot yesterday, rocking to and fro, whimpering and moaning softly, while her tears fell on an envelope, which bore her address, 'Charity Ross, Valley Falls, Kan.,' written neatly but crudely. It was the first and only word she has had from her daughter for 45 years.
"The old woman said she had passed the 100-year mark. She had just learned that her daughter, whom she saw sold to a southern slave dealer and carried away as a young woman, was still alive and living on a small farm in Mississippi. The old mother did not have enough money to buy her ticket. She had nothing to eat.
"The notion of trying to find what had become of her child came to her over a year ago. It was 15 years before the war when her daughter was sold. When she went to Kansas about five years after the close of the (Civil) war, she gave up all hopes of ever seeing her daughter.
"The first letter was written for her by a neighbor and was directed to her old master. After months of waiting, she received a letter from him telling her to write to a man who is today living on the farm which forms part of the old plantation. He was the man who brought the purchaser of her daughter to him and from him she might get definite information.
"Another letter was written and again she waited for months before a reply came. This time she secured information by which she came into communication with her daughter. She said she sold everything she owned in Valley Falls to raise money to go to Gunnison, Miss. She sold her cow and the little house in which she had lived with all its furniture.
"Detective Bradley counted her money and found she lacked only 40 cents. He spoke to several people around the depot, raised the balance and purchased a ticket. The porter brought her a basket of food which would last until she got to Memphis. She says her daughter is about 63 years old."
The local museum will be open at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 25. Admission is free.
The Valley Falls New Era, Jan. 14, 1899, featured the following story from the Kansas City Journal:
"An old colored woman sat in the Union Depot yesterday, rocking to and fro, whimpering and moaning softly, while her tears fell on an envelope, which bore her address, 'Charity Ross, Valley Falls, Kan.,' written neatly but crudely. It was the first and only word she has had from her daughter for 45 years.
"The old woman said she had passed the 100-year mark. She had just learned that her daughter, whom she saw sold to a southern slave dealer and carried away as a young woman, was still alive and living on a small farm in Mississippi. The old mother did not have enough money to buy her ticket. She had nothing to eat.
"The notion of trying to find what had become of her child came to her over a year ago. It was 15 years before the war when her daughter was sold. When she went to Kansas about five years after the close of the (Civil) war, she gave up all hopes of ever seeing her daughter.
"The first letter was written for her by a neighbor and was directed to her old master. After months of waiting, she received a letter from him telling her to write to a man who is today living on the farm which forms part of the old plantation. He was the man who brought the purchaser of her daughter to him and from him she might get definite information.
"Another letter was written and again she waited for months before a reply came. This time she secured information by which she came into communication with her daughter. She said she sold everything she owned in Valley Falls to raise money to go to Gunnison, Miss. She sold her cow and the little house in which she had lived with all its furniture.
"Detective Bradley counted her money and found she lacked only 40 cents. He spoke to several people around the depot, raised the balance and purchased a ticket. The porter brought her a basket of food which would last until she got to Memphis. She says her daughter is about 63 years old."
The local museum will be open at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 25. Admission is free.
August 15, 2012
Horse thieves, Bill Cody, walnuts, street lights and a marital dispute
— Compiled by Betty Jane Wilson, society president
A sundry of news items from a sundry of newspapers and editors:
The Grasshopper, Grasshopper Falls, June 8, 1858, J. A. Cody, Editor — "A gang of horse thieves are now infesting our neighborhood and stealing many valuable hourses. We propose that a vigilance committee be organized to look after these gentry and bring them to account. There are some individuals among us who have no visible means of support. Now and then one of them disappears and a horse with him. Let us see to these men and if there is no other way to get rid of them, drive them from the country anyway so that they vamoose the ranche."
The Valley Falls New Era, Aug. 24, 1878, A.G. Patrick, Editor and Proprietor — "Buffalo Bill (Wm. F. Cody) visited the fairgrounds last week with his rifle and illustrated to the boys how he could shoot. A walnut tossed into the air was hit nine times out of ten tosses. A small plum was hit two times out of three and a nickel hit two times out of three, all with a small rifle."
The Valley Falls New Era, Oct. 12, 1878, G. D. Ingersoll, Editor and Proprietor — "The envy of the masculine side of the Sunday school at this season of the year is the boy whose hands show the blackest with walnut juice stain."
Continuing with the New Era and G.D. Ingersoll, Editor, Dec. 14, 1878, — "Two of our business men have exhibited a degree of enterprise for which they deserve praise. We allude now to Mr. Wm. Steffins and Mr. F. LaFountaine who have each erected nice street lamps in front of their business houses. We think this is a matter that our city council should look after, the lighting of our streets. It is not necessary that we should have a gas factory. A great many cities are using the Chicago street system because they are much cheaper. Coal oil is used in them and it is estimated the cost is about a dollar a month per light."
Continuing with the New Era and Ingersoll, Dec. 21, 1878 — "Mr. W.F. Cody (Buffalo Bill) has been appointed a special agent for the Nez Perce and Shawnee Indian tribes on account of valuable services rendered the government as Chief of Scouts."
Valley Falls New Era, Aug. 19, 1893, E.P. Karr, Editor and Proprietor — "Frank LaFountaine and wife got into a fair-sized row in their store Thursday evening over some books, which the old lady refused to give up. They were going at each other rough and tumble and filling the air with profanity when Marshal Stockwell separated them and quited them. Frank went out to Turner Hall and when she returned, the old lady had nailed shut the doors of the store and held possession. The marshal was called again and had to break in. Mrs. LaFountaine went upstairs and took possession there and left the old man downstairs. His troubles have just commenced now since she came home from jail in Oskaloosa."
The society museum will be open at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 18.
A sundry of news items from a sundry of newspapers and editors:
The Grasshopper, Grasshopper Falls, June 8, 1858, J. A. Cody, Editor — "A gang of horse thieves are now infesting our neighborhood and stealing many valuable hourses. We propose that a vigilance committee be organized to look after these gentry and bring them to account. There are some individuals among us who have no visible means of support. Now and then one of them disappears and a horse with him. Let us see to these men and if there is no other way to get rid of them, drive them from the country anyway so that they vamoose the ranche."
The Valley Falls New Era, Aug. 24, 1878, A.G. Patrick, Editor and Proprietor — "Buffalo Bill (Wm. F. Cody) visited the fairgrounds last week with his rifle and illustrated to the boys how he could shoot. A walnut tossed into the air was hit nine times out of ten tosses. A small plum was hit two times out of three and a nickel hit two times out of three, all with a small rifle."
The Valley Falls New Era, Oct. 12, 1878, G. D. Ingersoll, Editor and Proprietor — "The envy of the masculine side of the Sunday school at this season of the year is the boy whose hands show the blackest with walnut juice stain."
Continuing with the New Era and G.D. Ingersoll, Editor, Dec. 14, 1878, — "Two of our business men have exhibited a degree of enterprise for which they deserve praise. We allude now to Mr. Wm. Steffins and Mr. F. LaFountaine who have each erected nice street lamps in front of their business houses. We think this is a matter that our city council should look after, the lighting of our streets. It is not necessary that we should have a gas factory. A great many cities are using the Chicago street system because they are much cheaper. Coal oil is used in them and it is estimated the cost is about a dollar a month per light."
Continuing with the New Era and Ingersoll, Dec. 21, 1878 — "Mr. W.F. Cody (Buffalo Bill) has been appointed a special agent for the Nez Perce and Shawnee Indian tribes on account of valuable services rendered the government as Chief of Scouts."
Valley Falls New Era, Aug. 19, 1893, E.P. Karr, Editor and Proprietor — "Frank LaFountaine and wife got into a fair-sized row in their store Thursday evening over some books, which the old lady refused to give up. They were going at each other rough and tumble and filling the air with profanity when Marshal Stockwell separated them and quited them. Frank went out to Turner Hall and when she returned, the old lady had nailed shut the doors of the store and held possession. The marshal was called again and had to break in. Mrs. LaFountaine went upstairs and took possession there and left the old man downstairs. His troubles have just commenced now since she came home from jail in Oskaloosa."
The society museum will be open at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 18.
August 08, 2012
Mr. Stewart's recollections of early Valley Falls, part 5
compiled by Betty Jane Wilson, society president
Part V
"Young folks seemed to enjoy fake patent medicine shows," continued E.J. Stewart in his "Early days in Valley Falls" story. "They set up each season in old Turner Hall (located on the corner of Walnut and Louisa Streets.) They always included an old time clog (tap) dance and a one act play. Oil burning footlights lighted the stage in Turner Hall. The seats were hard bottom chairs.
"The merry-go-round, when it came to town, was a joyful attraction. It was only a nickel a ride, but nickels were not very plentiful among the kids. One year there was a street carnival and the outstanding thing to be remembered was the man on the trapeze. The real thrill was the little one-ring circuses that made one-night stands up on the hill in Coy's addition at the south end of Walnut Street. Usually there was a parade. One year the circus used Mitchell's Feed Lot east of the Santa Fe tracks for a location. A shell game was operated in a tent and it took a lot of suckers.
"The attraction was outside the city limits and city officials could do nothing about it. Maj. Conser was constable and decided he would put a stop to it. The rowdys resented his action and showed him the way up town. He took a safe lead and secluded himself in the back room of Tom Gary's lunch room.
"Winters were plenty cold and rugged and it seemed as though there was a considerable snowfall. What fun it was to go for a ride in a bob sled or sleigh behind a spirited team of horses wearing a string of tuneful jingle bells. There were several who owned a fancy cutter (sleigh) or one could rent one at the livery stable.
"In the good old summertime, boys would gather on moonlight evenings for an exciting game of 'lay-low' or 'run-sheep-run.' Other games played in daylight included marbles, shinny, mumblepeg, and of course baseball. We didn't know anything about basketball, football, or volleyball. The boys called those Halloween pranks fun, but sometimes they went to extremes. There was a time when the keyhole of the lock of a hardware store was filled with cement and quite a number of 300 pound barrels of salt that Lou Hauck kept racked on the east side of his store were rolled down the hill toward the railroad. The upsetting of outhouses was always to be expected.
"In the horse and buggy days traveling salesmen seemed to like to stay in Valley Falls where there were three fairly good hotels. The Cataract was built by the Gardiner family in 1857. It was torn down years ago. The once famous Octagon hotel was erected by Dr. L. Northrup. It burned down 35 or 40 years ago. The Hillyer House was built by Mark Hillyer in the early '80s and was operated for many years by that very well known hotel man Dick Simpson. Just before noon and at 6 p.m. the porter would come out and beat a large gong to let people know that chow was ready to serve. The hotel burned after the turn of the century.
"It seems most fitting and proper to pay a tribute to the pioneers who founded Valley Falls and endured many hardships. They were of a type common in those days, but seldom found now. They were honest and hardworking. Their word was as good as a banker's note. I offer this toast to them! 'May you folks, men and women, always be remembered and never be forgotten.' "
Correction: Recipient of the story was Earl Roy Lillie, not Roy Earl Lillie.
The Society Museum will be open 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 11.
Part V
"Young folks seemed to enjoy fake patent medicine shows," continued E.J. Stewart in his "Early days in Valley Falls" story. "They set up each season in old Turner Hall (located on the corner of Walnut and Louisa Streets.) They always included an old time clog (tap) dance and a one act play. Oil burning footlights lighted the stage in Turner Hall. The seats were hard bottom chairs.
"The merry-go-round, when it came to town, was a joyful attraction. It was only a nickel a ride, but nickels were not very plentiful among the kids. One year there was a street carnival and the outstanding thing to be remembered was the man on the trapeze. The real thrill was the little one-ring circuses that made one-night stands up on the hill in Coy's addition at the south end of Walnut Street. Usually there was a parade. One year the circus used Mitchell's Feed Lot east of the Santa Fe tracks for a location. A shell game was operated in a tent and it took a lot of suckers.
"The attraction was outside the city limits and city officials could do nothing about it. Maj. Conser was constable and decided he would put a stop to it. The rowdys resented his action and showed him the way up town. He took a safe lead and secluded himself in the back room of Tom Gary's lunch room.
"Winters were plenty cold and rugged and it seemed as though there was a considerable snowfall. What fun it was to go for a ride in a bob sled or sleigh behind a spirited team of horses wearing a string of tuneful jingle bells. There were several who owned a fancy cutter (sleigh) or one could rent one at the livery stable.
"In the good old summertime, boys would gather on moonlight evenings for an exciting game of 'lay-low' or 'run-sheep-run.' Other games played in daylight included marbles, shinny, mumblepeg, and of course baseball. We didn't know anything about basketball, football, or volleyball. The boys called those Halloween pranks fun, but sometimes they went to extremes. There was a time when the keyhole of the lock of a hardware store was filled with cement and quite a number of 300 pound barrels of salt that Lou Hauck kept racked on the east side of his store were rolled down the hill toward the railroad. The upsetting of outhouses was always to be expected.
"In the horse and buggy days traveling salesmen seemed to like to stay in Valley Falls where there were three fairly good hotels. The Cataract was built by the Gardiner family in 1857. It was torn down years ago. The once famous Octagon hotel was erected by Dr. L. Northrup. It burned down 35 or 40 years ago. The Hillyer House was built by Mark Hillyer in the early '80s and was operated for many years by that very well known hotel man Dick Simpson. Just before noon and at 6 p.m. the porter would come out and beat a large gong to let people know that chow was ready to serve. The hotel burned after the turn of the century.
"It seems most fitting and proper to pay a tribute to the pioneers who founded Valley Falls and endured many hardships. They were of a type common in those days, but seldom found now. They were honest and hardworking. Their word was as good as a banker's note. I offer this toast to them! 'May you folks, men and women, always be remembered and never be forgotten.' "
Correction: Recipient of the story was Earl Roy Lillie, not Roy Earl Lillie.
The Society Museum will be open 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 11.
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