tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30599617690128366022024-02-07T04:53:47.656-06:00Catch up on Geary County History!Learn About Geary County Heritage in These Intriguing and Amusing Articles From our Museum StaffGeary County Historical Societyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02102773323271907315noreply@blogger.comBlogger629125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3059961769012836602.post-15608284095438689282019-01-04T07:00:00.000-06:002019-01-04T07:00:04.199-06:00Our Past Is Present January 4, 2019<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">January 4, 2019<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">This is “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Today’s
story is about the Dixon Brothers’ Land War and comes from an article written
by Gaylynn Childs and found on page 21 of the book <u>Set In Stone</u>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If Santa didn’t bring you this book for
Christmas, we still have some available for purchase at our Museum at the
corner of Sixth and Adams Streets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By
the way, this story is so complex and involved that for a better understanding
– it WOULD be good to read the entire article.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The Dixon
brothers located claims on land along Three-mile Creek just outside the
boundary of Fort Riley. The Pawnee Town Company had organized and a site was
selected in the same area for the new capital city of Kansas. One day the
Dixons were visited by a detail of soldiers from Fort Riley who ordered the party
to move on, saying the land was already claimed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The brothers maintained their ground and
continued to put up their house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A short
time later, a Captain Lowe appeared at the site with government lumber and a
crew of carpenters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They put up a house
on the same claim.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
Commanding Officer at the Post, notified the Dixons that they were intruding
upon the claim of Mr. Lowe and must move.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The Dixon’s paid Mr. Lowe $300 to leave – and so he did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One day after the Dixon house was completed,
the brothers were visited by Judge Ed Johnson.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He urged the family to leave their claim peaceably, because the land was
wanted for the military reserve.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However, in reality it was wanted by private individuals. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>That wasn’t
the end of the land war, which involved others wanting the Dixon’s to
move.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jefferson Davis even got
involved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He wanted the land where the
town of Pawnee was and the Dixon claim to belong to Fort Riley.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The residents at both sites were ordered out
and mounted troops tore down the buildings with grappling hooks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The Dixon’s
went on to make the most of their bad beginnings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They eventually moved to homesteads in the
vicinity and became prosperous and successful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>And…. that’s
today’s story on “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical
Society. <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />Geary County Historical Societyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02102773323271907315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3059961769012836602.post-38449684759901349072019-01-03T07:00:00.000-06:002019-01-03T07:00:08.392-06:00Our Past Is Present January 3, 2019<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">January 3, 2019<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">This is “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Today’s
story is about a famous cavalry horse by the name of “Comanche”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>When the 7<sup>th</sup>
Cavalry was posted at Fort Riley in 1888, Comanche returned with them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He remained in good health until late 1890
when Trooper Korn, who was Comanche’s ride, was killed at Wounded Knee.
Comanche seemed to lose interest in life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Veterinarians tried to keep the horse alive, but Comanche died of colic
in November of 1891 after having lived 31 years. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The story of
Comanche doesn’t end here, however.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>After his death the officers of the 7<sup>th</sup> Cavalry moved quickly
and asked Kansas University zoologist, Dr. L.L. Dyche, to preserve Comanche.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In 1893, Dyche gained permission to take the
horse and display it at the Columbian Exposition in Chicago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The preserved horse was later returned to KU
following the World’s Fair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>However, in
1947, General Jonathan Wainwright, hero of Bataan and an old cavalryman and
Geary County resident led a movement to persuade authorities at KU to return
Comanche to Fort Riley.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Chancellor Deane
Malott refused and stated that Comanche “was almost an alumnus of the
institution!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In 1953, the
museum at the Custer Battlefield requested that the mounted horse be moved to
that location and both the KU Chancellor and the Governor of Kansas got into
the fray and succeeded in winning in favor of keeping the horse at the
University.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Comanche remains displayed
at the Museum of Natural History. His tattered and moth-eaten coat is now
sealed behind glass and the climate is controlled by a humidifier that operates
24 hours a day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">And… that’s today’s story on “Our Past Is Present” from the
Geary County Historical Society. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />Geary County Historical Societyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02102773323271907315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3059961769012836602.post-18518879541610189162019-01-02T07:00:00.000-06:002019-01-02T07:00:10.130-06:00Our Past Is Present January 2, 2019<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">January 2, 2019<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">This is “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Today’s
story comes from the research and an article written by the late Ron Harris
titled “Frontier Trails and Travels”. The earliest trail to this area was the
Fort Leavenworth to Fort Riley Military Road, which opened in 1853.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This trail was made to build and supply Fort
Riley. In 1858 gold was discovered along the banks of Cherry Creek in what was
then western Kansas Territory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gold
Fever erupted and a gold rush started to the Rocky Mountain gold fields.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were two trails to the region.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One was the Oregon Trail, to the north of
Junction City.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was followed to the
South Fork of the Platt River to Cherry Creek and then on to Denver.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The other route at that time followed the
Santa Fe Trail, south of Junction City to Bent’s Old Fort and then followed an
Indian-Mountain Man trading trail north to Denver and Cherry Creek. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>On May 19<sup>th</sup>,
1859, the L&PP Stage coach Line signed a contract to carry the mail to
Denver and on to Salt Lake City, Utah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However, only two months later L&PP ran its last coach over their
own route.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had enough of the Kansas
trails and decided to abandon them for the Oregon Trail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This move
left Junction City and other towns to the east in a vacuum.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Within days the “Junction City Sentinel”
newspaper reported a shorter route than that of the L&PP.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It had long been argued that the coach line
route could be shortened by following the Smoky Hill River on to Denver.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It would take off about 189 miles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, it was not mentioned that the Smoky
Hill River disappeared about 130 miles short of the goldfields and civilization
stopped at …. Junction City.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And… that’s
today’s story on “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical
Society. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Geary County Historical Societyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02102773323271907315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3059961769012836602.post-35351958226169504672019-01-01T07:00:00.000-06:002019-01-01T07:00:07.437-06:00Our Past Is Present January 1, 2019<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">January 1, 2019<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">You are reading “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical
Society.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Geary County
was created by an act of the First Territorial Legislature.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Davis County, as we were first called was
among 33 counties defined and named by that now infamous body during the last
week of August in 1855.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We have
shared with you in the past that the legislative session at Pawnee lasted only
five days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pawnee was on what is now
Fort Riley and the First Territorial Capital building still stands where the
legislature met.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The building is across
the road from the new Irwin Army Community Hospital.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The five
days was long enough for the body to unseat those minority free-state delegates
elected in the alternate election called by the Governor and then move the seat
of government back to the Shawnee Indian Mission on the Kansas/Missouri border.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>When they
reconvened at Shawnee Mission in the middle of July, the Bogus Legislature
succeeded in getting Governor Andrew Reeder removed from office.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then they set about adopting some
questionable pieces of legislation, including the infamous “Black Law”, which
made it a crime to help fugitive slaves or even speak against the right to own
slaves in the Kansas Territory. They then disenfranchised territorial voters by
appointing all the first count officials.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This was done as they set the boundaries and established the first
county geographical divisions toward the end of August.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many of the counties were given names of
Legislators by themselves or their pro-slavery heroes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Geary County
was originally named Davis County after slavery advocate Jefferson Davis, who
later became the President of the Confederacy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Eventually, after much protest, our county’s name was changed to Geary
after General John White Geary, the third Territorial Governor of Kansas and
Union War hero.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>And now you
know a little more about why we say, “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary
County Historical Society. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />Geary County Historical Societyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02102773323271907315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3059961769012836602.post-6904008106835945142018-12-31T07:00:00.000-06:002018-12-31T07:00:17.340-06:00Our Past Is Present December 31, 2018<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">December 31, 2018</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This is “Our
Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Today’s
story is about the St. John’s Lutheran Church on Lyons Creek Road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In 1861, the same year Kansas was admitted in
to the Union, a young missionary, Candidate F.W. Lange came to Davis County,
which is now Geary County. He came from Fort Wayne, Indiana and was accompanied
by Reverend Henry Lossner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>They arrived
at the home of C.F. Wetzel and his family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Reverend Lange preached his first sermon based on the text of John 3:16
to settlers of the beautiful and fertile valley of Clark’s Creek, seven miles
southeast of what is now Junction City.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>On September
1, 1861, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church was organized with twenty-one charter
members. Church services were held in the Wetzel cabin with F.W. Lange as the
pastor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After two years, he accepted the
call to Humboldt, Kansas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Reverend C.
Berner served the church for the next year. The parish experienced a seven year
vacancy until the arrival of Candidate G.A. Shaaf in September of 1871. From
1871 to 1883 services were held in the Berry School about three-quarters of a
mile north of the present church site.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The present stone church was dedicated in July of 1883 at a cost of
$1,378.75.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>There was a
need for a parsonage, so land was purchased from Mrs. Eva Mueller Schwalboldt
in 1870.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once the parson was built it stood
until 2015, when it was in ill-repair and demolished. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">The original Wetzel cabin, where
services were first held, is now a permanent part of the Geary County
Historical Site at the corner of K-18 and Spring Valley Road on the west side
of Junction City.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">And… that’s today’s story on “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County
Historical Society. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<br />Geary County Historical Societyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02102773323271907315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3059961769012836602.post-1490244376909574752018-12-28T07:00:00.000-06:002018-12-28T07:00:11.294-06:00Our Past Is Present December 28, 2018<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">December 28, 2018<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Today’s
story was taken from an interview Dan Moran did with James Butler Hickock,
commonly known as “Wild Bill”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
interview was originally published in the “Kansas City Times” in 1894.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Mr. Moran
wrote: “I recall an adventure that “Wild Bill had with the late John A.
Anderson in Junction City, Kansas. John Anderson was a Presbyterian minister
then.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His church then stood as it now
stands on the south side of the public square (Heritage Park). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Nearly
everybody went armed in those days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On a
payday whiskey ran like water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seemed
as though everybody was drinking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There
were brawls and fights, but nothing serious until Bill and some of his old
friends mounted their ponies and started to “do” the town (as they called it)
with their guns gleaming in the sun and <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>volleys
of shots fired.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Reverend
John A. Anderson happened to be holding services that day and a large crowd
filled the church building. “Wild Bill” and his party finally grew weary of
racing their horses through the streets and Bill reined his horse in front of
the church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The door stood open and the
pastor was in the pulpit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bill urged his
horse to the doorway and obedient to the rider’s command, the animal entered
the church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Wild Bill” sat in the
saddle and drunkenly surveyed the minister and the congregation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The preacher paused from his discourse and
gazing unflinchingly at the bold intruder ordered him to leave the church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bill answered the preacher with an oath and
asked him what he was doing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I am
preaching the gospel,” said Reverend Anderson.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“No, you
ain’t preaching” said Bill, drawing back his revolver, “You’re dancing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s what you’re doing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now dance – and dance lively!” commanded
Bill.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ladies crept under their seats and the males
in the congregation sat paralyzed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There
was nothing else for the preacher to do<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>- but dance, for it was dance or die.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So he danced!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>And… that’s
today’s story on “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical
Society.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Geary County Historical Societyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02102773323271907315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3059961769012836602.post-72359435273991853192018-12-27T07:00:00.000-06:002018-12-27T07:00:10.089-06:00Our Past Is Present December 27, 2018<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">December 27, 2018</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">This is “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In the early
days of our city, religious congregations often did not have their own building
in which to worship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, they used various
rooms above stores or wherever there was a gathering space available or even in
the homes of members of the congregation. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In a
previous story, we shared with you that in Junction City, school was conducted
in the room above the old jail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In an
article in the “Junction City Union” newspaper of 1894, the writer, who was
only identified as “The Old Settler” shared this story:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Seeing in
the “Union” (newspaper) “Reminiscences of Early Day Kansas” takes me back<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in memory to our church privileges in the
1860s in Junction City.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The newcomer
will scarcely believe that all the church going people in town met together for
worship in the upper room of the building known as the old jail, just north of
the Central Hotel on Jefferson Street.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We also met a few times in the lower part of the building now used by
Mr. Muenzenmayer as a storage room for stoves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The seats were always improvised for the occasion.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>On January
4, 1863, Junction City’s Union Church was officially organized and met in
Reverend Todd’s home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The group met
without denominational concerns.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>As the Civil
War came to an end, the Methodists, Presbyterians and Baptists in the community
all formed churches of their own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
Union Church continued meeting wherever there was an available space.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A Congregational Church building was
constructed on the southwest corner of Fifth and Adams Streets and was
dedicated on March 4, 1869.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>And… thanks
for reading today on “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical
Society. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />Geary County Historical Societyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02102773323271907315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3059961769012836602.post-71967278294292459042018-12-26T07:00:00.000-06:002018-12-26T07:01:23.445-06:00Our Past Is Present December 26, 2018<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">December 26, 2018</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>You are
reading “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The Fort
Riley Mounted Honor Guard was established in 1992 to provide a link to the
post’s historic past.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This unit was
motivated in part by a commanding officer’s wife who loved to ride.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Old cavalry stables were once again equipped
so that personal mounts could be kept on the reservation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Fort Riley
Public Affairs Office has stated that the troopers and horses of the honor
guard are outfitted in the uniforms and equipment of the Civil War era.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The soldiers, who are detailed from the ranks
of the units assigned to Fort Riley, receive instruction from the same manuals
that were used by Civil War cavalrymen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As a ceremonial team, the unit performs at reenactments and parades. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Until the
formation of this group, horses had been officially absent from Fort Riley
since the death on May 24, 1968 of “Chief”, the last cavalry horse on the rolls
of the United States Army.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Chief” had
entered the Army in 1932 and in 1949 he was placed in retirement when the
cavalry was officially disbanded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was
kept on the post to live out his life with the best care and comfort due a
horse that had served the country well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Chief” is the horse that is buried below and in front of the “Old
Trooper” monument on the Cavalry parade field.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>According to accounts of the simple burial ceremony, the old horse was
placed “in his last stall” – a large wooden casket – standing upright as a
measure of respect and dignity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
service concluded with an appropriate goodbye by Major General R.
Wetherill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“And now we bid farewell to
“Chief” as he leaves us for “Fiddler’s Green”, the final resting place for all
great cavalrymen and their mounts. And… that’s our story today on “Our Past Is
Present” from the Geary County Historical Society. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Geary County Historical Societyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02102773323271907315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3059961769012836602.post-53067657307596066182018-12-24T07:00:00.000-06:002018-12-24T07:04:32.260-06:00Our Past Is Present December 24, 2018<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">December 24, 2018<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">This is “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>By Christmas
of 1917, Junction City had taken in stride the impact of the 60,000 “doughboys”
in training at Camp Funston on Fort Riley.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The town’s population had grown by half, business was booming and
schools were so crowded that students attended only half a day and it took two
years to complete one grade’s work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Churches and civic clubs took up war service and Red Cross work and
private citizens opened their homes to those in need of a place to stay while
visiting with sons and husbands at the post.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Rationing had been gallantly accepted and meatless meals, war bread and
the Hoover pledge were common topics of conversation AND<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the news as locals geared down to do their
part to win the war.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Headlines in
the “Daily Union” newspaper during the days preceding Christmas of 1917
revealed that Junction City’s first Community Christmas Tree was erected in the
City Park that year and entertainment was staged around it during the holidays
for the soldiers at the post and their families staying in town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Church members, school groups and civic
organizations provided concerts and inspirational dramatizations in the park on
Christmas Eve, when the tree was first lit as well as on Christmas night and on
New Year’s Eve.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>On Christmas
day at Camp Funston, a huge “wild west” show or rodeo was staged on the
football field near the Golden Bell Road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The temperature was only 20 degrees at eight in the morning. To some of
us this seems like an unusual way to spend Christmas, but apparently<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the holiday rodeo was enjoyed by soldiers
who participated and those who watched the “Wild West Show”, which concluded
with a fireworks display.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">And… that’s today’s story on “Our Past Is Present” from the
Geary County Historical Society.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Geary County Historical Societyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02102773323271907315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3059961769012836602.post-27836183978559172602018-12-21T07:00:00.000-06:002018-12-21T07:00:02.255-06:00Our Past Is Present December 21, 2018<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">December 21, 2018<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">You are reading “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical
Society.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Peace,
Progress and Prosperity” was the campaign slogan of President Dwight D.
Eisenhower and describes the 1950s. Though the war in Europe was over, the
decade began ominously with a conflict in Korea that would claim America’s
attention for three years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Back at home,
the technological advances motivated by WW II were now being put to use to
bring the good life to the people. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The 1950s
was the age of tract housing, big cars, felt skirts, ducktails, 3-D and the
Yankee baseball team.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps the thing
that changed the American scene the most was the box-like piece of equipment
that found its way into the living rooms across the land.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With its metal antennas projecting from roofs
of houses, and fuzzy pictures on the screen, the television was here to stay
and it changed American life forever. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The Yuletide
Festival became solely a senior high production at that time with a big new
high school, which was built in the 1950s on Eisenhower Street.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was possible to move the production from
the Municipal Building to the comfortable and fitting setting provided by the
auditorium of the new school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Though this
annual event still drew devoted crowds, big television Christmas “specials”
introduced a whole new genre of holiday entertainment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During the 1950s traditional carols and
classics were joined by such secular characters as “Rudolph the Red-nosed
Reindeer” and “Frosty the Snowman.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Standards like “Let It Snow”, “Winter Wonderland” and “It’s Beginning To
Look A Lot Like Christmas” were heard on radio – similar to what we hear on
“Reindeer Radio” on KJCK 1420 AM and 107.9 FM today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And...thanks for reading “Our Past Is
Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Geary County Historical Societyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02102773323271907315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3059961769012836602.post-14127252851917085162018-12-20T07:00:00.000-06:002018-12-20T07:00:05.494-06:00Our Past Is Present December 20, 2018<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">December 20, 2018<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">This is “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Today we
continue with “Christmas Activities in the 1940s.” Again, this information was
taken from a series of articles written by Gaylynn Childs, our former Executive
Director of the Geary County Historical Society. She used this material for a
presentation titled “A Century’s Worth of Christmas”, which was presented at
the Museum on December 2, 1999.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“The
Yuletide Festival of 1941 featured the music of American composers and
arrangers and a huge choir of more than 400 voices sang “The Hallelujah Chorus”
from the “Messiah” in a packed Municipal Auditorium.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The singers were accompanied by the high
school orchestra and brass ensemble.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Recreation
centers and USO’s were gearing up to meet the needs of soldiers far away from
home at holiday time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When 5 inches of
snow fell on Christmas Eve, it assured a “Christmas Card perfect” setting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A holiday dance with girls from Junction
City, Salina and Kansas City was planned for all the soldiers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>USO touring groups performed popular music of
the day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>As the war
progressed, this scene was repeated over and over in Junction City as we sought
to keep the soldiers happy and content during their brief stay in Kansas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The holiday music of Irving Berlin and other
composers of the era served as a poignant reminder that someday soon the war
would be over and our soldiers could truly come “Home For Christmas”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>And that’s
our story today on “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical
Society.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />Geary County Historical Societyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02102773323271907315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3059961769012836602.post-84028861473513692382018-12-19T07:00:00.000-06:002018-12-19T07:00:12.365-06:00Our Past Is Present December 19, 2018<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">December 19, 2018<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">This is “Our Past Is Present” from
the Geary County Historical Society.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Today, we
will again be sharing more about past Christmases in our County.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This information was taken from a series of
articles written by Gaylynn Childs, our former Executive Director of the Geary
County Historical Society. She used this material for a presentation titled “A
Century’s Worth of Christmas”, which was presented at the Museum on December 2,
1999. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“The 1940s
dawned with the gloom of a war once again raging in Europe hanging over our
land.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the infamous deeds of
December 7, 1941, plunged America into the conflict, it seemed almost a relief,
for now we knew what we had to do and we rolled up our sleeves and got to it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In Junction
City, Christmas of 1941 was one of contrasts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The colorful outdoor lighting displays, which graced both residential
and business district streets that year, perhaps weren’t savored quite enough
for they would be the last until wartime black outs were over in 1945. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>At the same
time, local residents were reminded that the American flag could be kept flying
all night when the country was at war, and all were urged to fly the flag
through the holiday season.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Two days
before Christmas, it was announced that the new recreation center for colored
soldiers, under construction on West 18<sup>th</sup> Street, would be ready for
use by January 1.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was to provide the
finest accommodations for the recreation needs of the colored troops.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Be listening
tomorrow as we continue with more on the “Christmas Activities in the 1940s” on
“Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />Geary County Historical Societyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02102773323271907315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3059961769012836602.post-23962001332914553992018-12-18T07:00:00.000-06:002018-12-18T07:00:04.633-06:00Our Past Is Present December 18, 2018<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">December 18, 2018</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This is “Our Past Is Present” from
the Geary County Historical Society.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Today we
will continue with the historical timeline of the Opera House and conclude this
series in celebration of the 120<sup>th</sup> Anniversary of the C.L. Hoover
Opera House. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In the 1920s
the Opera House had several different names, but was at the same time referred
to as the Opera House.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two of those
names were the Junction City Theater and sometimes it was referred to simply as
the City Theater.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>From
1936-1941 the building was owned by the White Construction Company.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During that time –<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in 1939, the City Offices were moved to the
Municipal Building and the inside of the theater was remodeled to be a modern
movie theater.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>From
1941-1981, Dan James with Mid-West Theatres, Inc. purchased the building and
named it the Colonial Theater, where movies continued to be shown. In 1982, the
Colonial closed its doors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fred Bramlage
purchased the building and then donated the building to the City of Junction
City for the purpose of establishing office space and as a site for conferences
to attract people to Junction City. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">From 1982 until 2008, the building
stood idle until fundraising and the restoration process was completed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The process was to be done in three phases
with the first stage beginning in 1989.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The grand opening was in 2008 when there was a return to concerts,
Junction City Little Theater plays and musicals, Summer Theater, concerts,
candidate forums, movies and numerous performers who provided
entertainment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Montgomery Rehearsal
Hall on the second floor was made available for rehearsals, banquets,
receptions and political gatherings to name a few.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We encourage you to support the events at the
Opera House and see why we still say …”Our Past Is Present” from the Geary
County Historical Society. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />Geary County Historical Societyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02102773323271907315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3059961769012836602.post-41260394732240836312018-12-17T07:00:00.000-06:002018-12-17T07:00:01.136-06:00Our Past Is Present December 17, 2018<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">December 17, 2018<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This is “Our Past Is Present” from
the Geary County Historical Society.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Today, we
are continuing with our stories about the Christmas season in early Junction
City.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During the 1920s the world was
dominated by WWI, which erupted in 1914.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The war had a tremendous effect on Geary County.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Junction City played host to, entertained,
sheltered, fed and nursed 60 to 80,000 soldiers in our town at the outskirts of
Fort Riley. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Soldiers who
went abroad brought back with them new cultures and ideas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some even brought back a spouse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>During the
brief lifespan of Camp Funston, local residents had the opportunity to see,
hear and partake of the legendary musical performance outside of Lindsborg,
Kansas – “The Messiah”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was also
the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and several concerts by operatic diva Madame
Ernestine Schuman-Heink. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Community
Christmas celebrations during this period included the illuminated Christmas tree
in the City Park in 1917. Special programs, concerts and services were held
around it for soldiers and citizens during the Christmas week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were solos and choir numbers by area
citizens and churches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps it was here that Junction Citians
first heard the Christmas hymn by Frenchman Adolphe Adam, the “Cantique de
Noel” or “O Holy Night”, which was introduced into this country by returning
doughboys almost a century after it was written.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Join us for more reflections on Christmas
traditions on “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society on
Wednesday.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Geary County Historical Societyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02102773323271907315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3059961769012836602.post-57702390618251450022018-12-14T07:00:00.000-06:002018-12-14T07:00:03.599-06:00Our Past Is Present December 14, 2018<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">December 14, 2018<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">You are reading “Our Past Is Present”
from the Geary County Historical Society.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>As the 20<sup>th</sup>
century dawned in Junction City, there was great optimism and excitement about
what this new century would bring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
ill-advised war with Spain was over and Geary County’s valiant sons in the 20th
Kansas had returned to a glorious heroes’ welcome. By 1905 a contract for new
electric street lights had been let and as Christmas approached in 1908, a
committee of citizens was picking out the locations for these marvelous new
wonders.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Christmas
entertainment included the traditional school programs and “Christmas Tree”
socials, live theatricals in the Opera House and the so-called new-fangled
motion pictures offered at the Lyric Theater were enjoyed by many. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Along with
the readings featured at every holiday gathering during the first decade of the
century, there was more often than not a performance on the violin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The interest in the violin most likely came
from the success and notoriety of J. Abbie Clarke. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Christmas
Eve or Christmas Night services were often held in local churches, which
featured a decorated tree with candy and gifts for the children, a program consisting
of recitations and the Nativity story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>These Christmas Tree Socials as they were called were part of the local
holiday scene as late as the 1950s. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>If you or
your family has a tradition during this season, please share it with us at the
Museum by calling 238-1666 or stop by Tuesdays through Saturdays and visit with
our staff between the hours of 1 and 4 in the afternoon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And… thanks for reading to “Our Past Is
Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Geary County Historical Societyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02102773323271907315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3059961769012836602.post-19201707726999477442018-12-13T07:00:00.000-06:002018-12-13T07:00:02.088-06:00Our Past Is Present December 13, 2018<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">December 13, 2018<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">You are reading “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical
Society.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Today we begin a series of stories
about Christmas seasons from the past.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This story was taken from an article written by Gaylynn Childs, our
former Executive Director at the Museum. This is some of what she wrote:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“A century ago in Junction City, the big
Christmas push didn’t begin until a week before the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And yet, if the newspapers of that day are accurate
indicators, they had most of the traditional Christmas trappings and
festivities. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The B.
Rockwell Merchandise and Grain Company, which was located near the intersection
of 8<sup>th</sup> and Washington Streets had a contest that anyone could
enter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was a<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>five foot tall, pure beeswax candle that was
twelve inches in circumference and weighed 25 pounds, placed in the window of
the store. The contest was intended for people to guess how long it would take
to burn the candle once it was lit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
winner would receive a prize. The clerks in the dry goods department of that
same store provided an evening of entertainment for the clerks in the grocery
department.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">School programs also marked the
approach of Christmas in 1891. They were held on Christmas Eve when school was
still in session. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Well, be reading this program for
more ways the Christmas season was prepared for and celebrated during the early
days of Geary County History on “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County
Historical Society<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />Geary County Historical Societyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02102773323271907315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3059961769012836602.post-20883842745640933782018-12-12T07:00:00.000-06:002018-12-12T07:00:06.782-06:00Our Past Is Present December 12, 2018<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">December 12, 2018<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This is “Our Past Is Present” from
the Geary County Historical Society. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>If you were
reading on Monday, we had a story about the old Spanish cannon that was a
prominent fixture near the fountain in Heritage Park.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The cannon was a “war souvenir” brought back
by members of Company “L” from their service in Manila in the Philippines.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In an article
in the newspaper on December 12, 1898, the author stated that the cannon “bore
the date of 1799 and looked as though it had been used ever since Noah did
business.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet it was in splendid
shape.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The gun was mounted on wooden
wheels with a wooden carriage and was engraved with the words “Presented to Junction
City, November, 1899.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>However,
sometime during WWII the cannon disappeared.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In the “Daily Union” newspaper of August 29, 1942, there was an article
titled “Historic Cannon May Be Scrapped To Aid Nation’s War Effort.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Apparently local officials had decided to
contribute two historic cannons to the nation’s scrap metal drive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of those was located on the courthouse
grounds and the other was the cannon gifted to the city by Company L – the 1799
Spanish cannon, which had been on display in Heritage Park.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>So, if you
go to Heritage Park looking for that famous Spanish cannon – well it won’t be
there and now you know the reason and …..that’s our story today on “Our Past Is
Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />Geary County Historical Societyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02102773323271907315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3059961769012836602.post-26425624300928318892018-12-11T07:00:00.000-06:002018-12-11T07:00:01.705-06:00Our Past Is Present December 11, 2018<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">December 11, 2018</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span></span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">You are reading “Our Past Is Present”
from the Geary County Historical Society.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Since
January of this year we have shared stories about the Opera House with the
timeline as we know it from our research at the Museum.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will bring this series to a close next
Tuesday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you have been listening on
Tuesdays, you know that the concept of an opera house was created when 75
people from the area visited the opera house in Abilene in 1879.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Shortly after that the City of Junction City
issued bonds for $20,000 then reduced the bonds to $12,000 to build an opera
house in Junction City. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
On August 14, 1880 a proposal for
the construction of an opera house was completed with a deadline of April
1881.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was named the Blakeley Opera
House after William Blakely, a former Junction City Mayor, county legislator
and Post Master. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
The Opera House opened in January
of 1882.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some examples of entertainment
consisted of minstrels, wrestling, boxing, a circus, Graduation Exercises and
variety shows and concerts by local talent. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
In January of 1898 at 5:30 PM the
building caught fire, but was restored and re-opened in October of the same
year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By 1915 there were a mixture of
road shows and motion pictures presented.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>By 1918 silent films were shown and as early as one year later talking
pictures were shown.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was given
different names in addition to being called the Opera House.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of those names was the City Theater.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Next
week will complete the timeline in celebration of the 120<sup>th</sup>
Anniversary of the now C.L. Hoover Opera House.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Be listening then and every Monday through Friday at 9:15 AM on KJCK’s
1420 AM or 107.9 FM for “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical
Society. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />Geary County Historical Societyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02102773323271907315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3059961769012836602.post-19095901533610271662018-12-10T07:00:00.000-06:002018-12-10T07:00:06.468-06:00Our Past Is Present December 10, 2018<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">December 10, 2018<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This is “Our Past Is Present” from
the Geary County Historical Society.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>On December
12, 1899, there was decorating going on in town and a spirit of
celebration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, the celebration
wasn’t related to Christmas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was
instead, a patriotic event where veteran soldiers honored younger
soldiers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>December 12, 1899 had been
declared “Grand Army Day.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The purpose
of this occasion was twofold. It was intended to honor the Geary County
soldiers who served in Company “L” of the 20<sup>th</sup> Kansas Infantry. This
was the National Guard Regiment that had won honors for gallantry in the
Philippines during the “postscript” to the Spanish-American War known as the
Philippine Insurrection.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The other
purpose of the observance was to increase the membership in the local post of
the Grand Army of the Republic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was
a fraternal organization for Civil War veterans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The big
highlight of the day, however, would occur when “the members of the Company
“L”, who enlisted from Junction City would formally present to the City the
cannon obtained by them in the Philippines. For the next 45 years or so, this
Spanish cannon was a prominent fixture near the fountain in Heritage Park.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Keep reading to learn more about how that old cannon was in Heritage
Park and then… it was not when we continue this story on Wednesday right here
on “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />Geary County Historical Societyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02102773323271907315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3059961769012836602.post-21224778298506481682018-12-07T07:00:00.000-06:002018-12-07T07:00:00.591-06:00Our Past Is Present December 7, 2018<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">December 7, 2018<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></b>You are reading
“Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It
was a fair and warm day in Junction City on December 7, 1941 with the
temperatures in the mid ‘50’s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Churches
were beginning the special pre-Christmas services.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The unique “choir exchange” between the
Methodists and Presbyterians slated to take place that morning drew a large
attendance to both buildings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
afternoon found families gathered around dinner tables engaged in other
home-center activities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was no
Christmas shopping on this December Sunday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>These were the days when the “blue laws” were in effect and retail
business had to remain closed on the Sabbath. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
“Junction City Daily Union” newspaper of December 8 had an article in which the
author stated “Junction Citians were amazed Sunday afternoon when word was
flashed over the radio that the Japanese had attacked Pearl Harbor in Hawaii.
Amazement was followed by a reaction of relief.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The average individual here had expected war for so long that there was
no excitement when it finally arrived.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>No crowds gathered on the streets and surprisingly few calls of inquiry
were made to the “Union” office.” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
first flash was received at the newspaper office between 2:30 and 3:00 PM.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Between 3 and 4,000 copies of a special
edition newspaper were published and sent out to readers. It wasn’t long until
every copy had been sold. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>By
Monday evening, the sobering facts had set in – especially the thought that
“most of the service men are boys who were graduated from local schools just a
few years ago.” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We
have since been involved in other wars and conflicts we will never
forget the traumatic even of 9/11.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Offer
your thoughts and prayers for those who have served and are serving in our
military today in remembrance of this day that will remain in “Infamy”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>And
...thanks for reading “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical
Society.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />Geary County Historical Societyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02102773323271907315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3059961769012836602.post-77681369059446493432018-12-06T07:00:00.000-06:002018-12-06T07:00:04.208-06:00Our Past Is Present December 6, 2018<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">December 6, 2018</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">This is “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>From 1861 to
1888, George W. Martin was the editor of the “Junction City Union” newspaper
and it was said that his paper had “exercised a greater influence in Kansas
politics than any other weekly ever established in the state.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The editor
of the “Leavenworth Conservative” newspaper wrote in 1864 a grudging compliment
to this statement about George Martin and the “Union” paper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He wrote: “The editor of the “Junction City
Union” believes that when God made things, He put one point of the compass
where Junction City now stands and gave it a twirl. Martin’s loyalty to
Junction City was awe-inspiring. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
stood up for the town and everything in it that was right. An example is that
George Martin made a great fight to have Junction City sawed stone used in the
construction of the state capitol building, but a Topeka crowd was in control
of the situation and a red sandstone from near Vinewood was used.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The foundation was laid in the fall of
1866.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the following January the frost
was making havoc with it and when spring came it had thoroughly thawed and was
a mass of mud.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It cost the state
$40,000.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then Martin turned loose again
and Junction City stone WAS finally used for construction of the Statehouse,
which is now the east wing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Junction
City people have a lot to be proud of in our community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We need to stand up for our city and Geary
County when the negative comments are said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Apparently even in the early days of our history it was still something
people had to work at doing, which once again shows us that “Our Past Is
Present” and you can learn more about Geary County History right here Monday
through Friday at about this same time as well as by making a visit to our
Museum at the corner of Sixth and Adams Streets Tuesdays through Saturdays
between 1 and 4 in the afternoon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And…
thanks again for reading. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />Geary County Historical Societyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02102773323271907315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3059961769012836602.post-28305743468778882652018-12-05T07:00:00.000-06:002018-12-05T07:00:02.915-06:00Our Past Is Present December 5, 2018<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">December 5, 2018<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">This is “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The Altwegg
family emigrated to Kansas in 1874 from Switzerland.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Under the Homestead Act of 1862, any head of
a family, on condition of his agreement to occupy and cultivate a claim
continuously for at least five years, could be granted 160 acres of land. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first home of Konrad and Rosetta Altwegg
was a dugout – typical of most early settlers’ homes in this area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Baby Konrad was not a strong child and died
soon after their arrival in America.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
baby was buried on the homestead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The Altweggs
found many other problems as they set up their homestead, but stayed and worked
the land and added to and raised their family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Four children were born between 1875 and 1880.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Records show that a land patent was granted
to Konrad Altwegg in 1881 for<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>160 acres
in the Smoky Hill township of Davis County one and a half miles north of
present highway K-18.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Five more
children joined the family after the Altwegg’s moved to the “home place” as it
was called.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Additions at the back and
front were made to the house to make room for the enlarged family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>During the
early years in America, Konrad cultivated the soil and planted crops, then
found other work during the rest of the year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>For a time he worked making cheese at P.H. Gfeller’s store.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Later he walked twenty miles to work for a
mill in Industry, Kansas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His pay was 50
cents a day, but he could also have his own grain ground into flour and meal
there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some days we may think we are
having a tough time, but imagine the sacrifices of early pioneers in our
county.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well… that’s our time together
today on “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Geary County Historical Societyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02102773323271907315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3059961769012836602.post-65867153760174239502018-12-04T07:00:00.000-06:002018-12-04T07:00:08.464-06:00Our Past Is Present December 4, 2018<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">December 4, 2018</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">This is “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.
Today’s program is a continuation of “Memories of Good Old Days At The Opera
House” taken from an article in the “Junction City Union” newspaper in January
of 1932.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The building
had been repaired following the fire in 1898 and was being reopened on October
14, 1898.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One mother was asked by her child:
“Were the people very much excited over it?” (Meaning the reopening of the
Opera House) “My dear, I’ll have you know that was a great occasion in this old
town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everyone got out their newest duds
and all the families went to their buggies,” she answered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“And what is more”, she went on, “that Opera
House was known as the finest house between the Rocky Mountains and the
Mississippi River. It was the best show house between Kansas City and Denver.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Yet another
question was asked of the mother by the child: “Did we go often?” “I should say
we did” the mother replied.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“We went to
many, many shows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those certainly were
the good old days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every lover took his
lassie and a box of chocolates – never forgot the chocolates – and settled down
in the soft seats for an enjoyable evening.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Dad piped up with a reminder: “And don’t forget, I paid $1.00 a seat.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Well, as
many of us know the seats are still comfortable and the shows are GREAT!!! It
may cost more than a dollar, but the cost is minimal to the awesome
entertainment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And… that’s today’s story
on “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />Geary County Historical Societyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02102773323271907315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3059961769012836602.post-78601030205040803232018-12-03T07:00:00.000-06:002018-12-03T07:00:08.050-06:00Our Past Is Present December 3, 2018<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">December 3, 2018<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">You are reading “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical
Society.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The first
courthouse in Davis County (now Geary County) was also used as a church, a
school house, the land office, a community hall where theatricals had been
performed and the upper room had housed the first printing office of George W.
Martin’s “Smoky Hill” and “Republican Union” newspapers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was located on East Eighth Street where
the current courthouse now stands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>By 1898 and
during a trial that attracted many spectators, and the fact that one-third of
the plaster had fallen from the ceiling in the clerk of the district court and
register of deeds office, the citizens of Junction City were determined to have
a new courthouse and jail built.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The decision
was made to purchase the two lots west of the existing courthouse on 8<sup>th</sup>
Street and raze the old building to make way for the new.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By December 29 of 1899, the roof was on and
the heating plant was ready to be fire lighted. There was an intent by some to
have a clock in the tower of the building, but that didn’t become a
reality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>After nine
months of watching and waiting, it would have seemed that a grand celebration would
have been planned to open the new building, but that was not the case.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The opening of the courthouse was in May of
1900 and done without much fanfare.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On
May 14 of 1900, Judge Moore opened court in the new building and the American
flag was suspended from the 28 foot flag pole atop the tower a distance of 135
feet from the ground.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was the only
ceremonial act to mark the building’s completion. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">We have a picture of the courthouse in
the process of being built in 1899 in the lobby area of our Museum.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stop by and take a look.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And...that’s our story on “Our Past Is
Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Geary County Historical Societyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02102773323271907315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3059961769012836602.post-32010071950895465562018-11-30T07:00:00.000-06:002018-11-30T07:00:05.285-06:00Our Past Is Present November 30, 2018<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">November 30, 2018<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">You are reading “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical
Society. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Tom Allen
Cullinan was Junction City’s famous lawman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>People called him “Tom Allen”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
kept the peace with his fists.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tom and
his family arrived in Geary County in 1866.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He had had a contract to supply beef to the army at Fort Riley.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, in 1871, he became the Marshall of
Junction City through a circumstance, which was typical of his way of doing
things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had been mainly responsible
for the election of an easy-going “Marshall” to the office.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This Marshall was soon in trouble and Tom
volunteered to straighten things up if the Marshall would deputize him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tom was deputized and his first duty was to
subpoena witnesses in impeachment proceedings against the Marshall. However, by
nightfall Tom had the Marshall’s resignation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Tom did this to prevent his friend from scandal and humiliation. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Shortly
after this, in the mid 1870’s, Tom Allen Cullinan was appointed Junction City’s
Marshall by Mayor Robert O. Rizer and from then until his death in 1904 he
served in that capacity. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Marshall
“Tom Allen” is posed in the famous Pennell picture used in the opening of the
tv series “Cheers”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have a copy of that
picture hanging in the lobby of our Museum.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The picture was taken at the Horseshoe Saloon at what is now 805 N.
Washington Street which currently houses the Adolescent Resource Center. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>And…that’s
today’s story on “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical
Society. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />Geary County Historical Societyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02102773323271907315noreply@blogger.com0