Our Past Is Present July 31, 2017

July 31, 2017

You are reading “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.
Yesterday’s story was about the early days of Junction City. Perhaps many of our listeners do not know how and why Junction City got its name. So… in today’s story those questions will be answered.
Junction City got its name because of its position at the junction of two rivers – the Smoky Hill and Republican Rivers. In 1854, Andrew J. Mead from New York, the Cincinnati-Manhattan Company and Free Staters with a connection to the Massachusetts Emigrant Aid Company, planned a community at what is now Junction City. They were going to call it Manhattan. There was even some discussion about calling it New Cincinnati. However, when the steamship, Hartford, which was delivering the immigrants, could not reach the community because of low water on the Kansas River, the Free Staters settled 20 miles west in what is today Manhattan. The new community, which is now Junction City, was renamed Millard City for Captain Millard of the Hartford steamship on October 3, 1855. Then it was briefly renamed Humboldt in 1857 by local farmers and renamed yet again later that year – Junction City. Junction City was incorporated in 1859. If you haven’t had time to visit our Museum yet this summer, we hope you will do so as soon as you can. Our Museum is open Tuesdays through Sundays between the hours of 1 and 4 in the afternoon. Admission is free and the air conditioners work really well for the protection of our artifacts and your comfort. The Museum is located at the corner of Sixth and Adams. Thanks for reading “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.       

Our Past Is Present July 28, 2017

July 28, 2017

            This is “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.

            Today’s broadcast will be a chronology of events in 1858 from May through December, which was published in the “Junction City Union” in May of 1876.  This information was a way to mark some of the significant events that led up to the 100^th birthday of the United States and was a chronological history of Junction City up to that point.  These are some of those events:

            The Junction City Town Company was organized in the fall of 1857 and on New Year’s Day of 1858, Daniel Mitchell began the survey of the present town site.  The survey was completed in the early summer of 1858.  The original members of the Town Company were: J.R. McClure, President; Robert Wilson, Treasurer; Daniel Mitchell, Secretary; F.N. Blake, John T. Price and P.Z. Taylor.

            In May, work had begun to erect a building near the crossing of 7^th and Washington Streets.  In June, editor Benjamin Keyser and printer, George Kingsbury announced, “We have bought the type and press for a democratic newspaper and have them now in town.  We will issue the first number in June.  It will be called the Junction Sentinel newspaper.”

            In July of 1858, the first sermon was preached in Junction City by Reverend William Millice, a Southern Methodist missionary.  He preached in a frame building erected on the northwest corner of 7^th and Washington Streets.  Also in July, the Union Lodge A.F. & A.M. was relocated to Junction City.  The first meetings were held in a crude log cabin on the Cuddy’s Addition. 

            On August 2^nd of 1858, Kansas voted on the Lecompton Constitution and Davis County cast 123 votes to reject with only 27 votes in its favor.  On August 5^th, Elizabeth and Robert Henderson gave birth to their daughter Lizzie.  She was the first child born in Junction City. 

            On October 4, Benjamin Keyser and Thomas R. Points were elected to the Territorial Legislature from Junction City and by December about a dozen structures including homes and businesses had risen in the town. 

            There was a lot going on in the early days of Junction City.  We can be sure that there was construction of business buildings, houses, unpaved streets, getting to know each other, helping each other, growing foods to sustain themselves and many other activities going on in the building of a town in the mid-1800’s. 

We have some pictures of early Junction City on the first floor of our museum in the Main Street Gallery.  Stop by and take a look to see what our City looked like then and see why we say – “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society. 

Our Past Is Present July 27, 2017

July 27, 2017

            This is “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.

            In the summer of 1920, the “era of prohibition” was changing the routine of court life from convictions for drunkenness to insanity hearings. “Lemon extract was the explanation offered by the police officers for the recent arrests related to alleged intoxication. A number of hearings were heard concerning arrests made by those who had been drinking lemon extract, which caused the user to appear crazed in the mind.  In 1920 the accused were referred to being insane not only here, but in courts throughout the United States.”

            According to the “Junction City Union” newspaper of August 4, 1920, “within the past two weeks in probate court in Salina, two cases of insanity had been brought before the judge, which were distinctly traceable to the effects of lemon extract.  And…. just the day before, officers were questioning a Junction City man and he, at first, said he had given some money to a stranger, who bought lemon extract for him.  However, he later changed his story and stated he had purchased 17 bottles of the extract at a dozen different stores.”  The alcohol content in lemon extract is about 84%.  “It was predicted the insanity would overtake that man soon.” 

            That’s today’s story.  Thanks for reading “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.

Our Past Is Present July 26, 2017

July 26, 2017

            You are reading “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.

            Today’s story is about the price of land in our area in 1914.  It was in the summer of 1914 that assessors in Junction City and Geary County had completed their work.  From a glance through the rolls, it appeared that some citizens were of the opinion that in addition to having the higher rate of taxes to pay for city expenses, those who lived in the city were also assessed a higher rate based on valuation of their property.  There were many hundreds of acres of good bottom land within three miles of Junction City.  None of which could be bought for less than $125 to $250 an acre and none of which was assessed at over $75 an acre.

 At the same time there were plenty of pieces of property in the city that could be bought for the assessed value.  Taking the imaginary line along the southwest corner of the city, in Sheridan Heights addition, the lots then in use as a pasture, were assessed at a rate of $350 an acre.  While adjoining land across the imaginary line used also for pasture for the same livestock, but just outside of the city was assessed at $70 an acre. 

            In looking over the various valuations, other odd things were noticed.  One township in the county was found to have horses of a certain age that averaged being worth 30 percent less than similar horses in any other township in the county. This was according to the Deputy Assessor. 

            Even today, we tend to be hopeful that the assessor is fair and accurate when assigning a figure related to the amount of taxes we will need to pay.

            Well, that’s today’s story on “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society. 

Our Past Is Present July 25, 2017

July 25, 2017

            You are reading “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.

            A neighborhood feud in Junction City was settled in August of 1924, much to the relief of the police and county authorities.  The neighbors in this story will be referred to as Neighbor No. 1 and Neighbor No. 2, just in case any of our readers might be able to identify the characters involved in this story.

            It seems that Neighbor No. 1 had been complaining that a cow belonging to Neighbor No. 2 had been allowed to run at large to the detriment of the first’s garden.  Shortly afterwards, No. 2 called the police and complained that No. 1 had locked up his cow and demanded $25.00 for damages to his garden before he would turn the cow back to its owner.

            The police and county authorities declined to get involved in this fuss and suddenly the matter was dropped.  Shortly after this incident, Neighbor No.2 caught a white angora cat belonging to Neighbor No. 1 on his premises and locked her up on the claim that she had been eating his chickens.  When Neighbor No. 1 called to protest, he was told that it would cost $25.00 to get the cat released.  Neighbor No. 1 replied “I’ll trade you the cow for the cat”….

And with that exchange, the feud ended. 

            Wouldn’t it be great if disagreements could be handled that easily today?”

           

Our Past Is Present July 24, 2017

July 24, 2017

            This is “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.

            Sibling rivalry is common among families.  That was certainly true about Frank, Andy and John Flower, who were brothers.   Here is an example of a typical day in 1924, when the boys teased each other in a spirited and amusing way.

            What started out to be a beautiful day for Junction City merchants, Andy and John Flower got spoiled when their brother, Frank, walked into their store with a large bouquet. Frank stated that while they were busy raising vegetables in their backyards, he was doing something to beautify the town by raising flowers in his front yard.  With that remark he presented the bouquet to them.  With true brotherly spirit, Andy and John lit into Frank and gave him a verbal dressing down.  The boys were clear that although their last name WAS Flower, Andy and John had always raised vegetables and they didn’t think very highly of a man who spent his time puttering with flowers.  Anyway, they said, all Frank had to do was sit in his office and watch the money from rental properties roll in, running home occasionally to the 35 minute job of hoeing his flower beds.  They, however, worked all day in the store and did their gardening after super and before breakfast, raising vegetables that would be of real value instead of flowers that would only satisfy the eye. 

            Perhaps if you have siblings, you have experienced a similar rivalry.  In the end though, it is also common for siblings to be the best defenders of each other when that need arises.

Our Past Is Present July 21, 2017

July 21, 2017

            This is “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.

            This is a little early to be thinking about the new school year, however, it is closer than some may want to realize.  Today’s story is about the beginning of the public school system in Junction City, which was established as District No. 1 in July of 1862.  The first settlers in the area were from communities where a school was an integral part of everyday life.  As soon as they were able to take care of the necessities of life, they made provision for the education of their children.  As early as 1858, select schools were in operation in Davis County, which is now Geary County.  These schools were actually private schools wherein the parents paid the teacher directly and the teacher usually maintained the school in his or her home. No records exist today of these tuition schools and only scant mention is made of them in newspaper articles of the time.  Some of these select schools existed throughout the 1860’s becoming specialized in areas like spelling schools, singing schools and “finishing” schools for young ladies.  During the winter of 1858-1859, three select schools were maintained in the immediate area; one at Bacheller (which was the first name given to Milford, Kansas), one at Junction City and one four miles northwest of town.  To finance Davis County School District No 1, the first Board of Trustees assessed a tax of one-half of one percent for renting or building a school house, one fourth of one percent for teachers’ wages and one fourth of a percent for supplies and equipment. The school opened on November 17, 1862 with classes held in a rented room upstairs over the Ganz Building that stood on the north side of Sixth Street. Seventy-two students enrolled for this first class. The first building built specifically for education purposes was known as the “school on the hill”, but its location at the intersection of what is now Jackson Street and Walnut Street proved to be too far out from the city.  Rural schools also sprang up quickly around Junction City and by 1872; just ten years after the city district was established there were 20 rural schools in the county. 

            USD 475 School District now has schools in Junction City, Grandview Plaza, Milford and on Fort Riley.  All of the buildings are being made ready for the 2017-18 school year, which will begin August 9^th for teachers and August 16 for students.

             

Our Past Is Present July 20, 2017

July 20, 2017

This is “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.

Getting outside and enjoying the weather, taking a ride in the country, visiting small towns or just admiring the Flint Hills is something many of us like to do.  In July of 1925, the automobile gave many just that opportunity. A number of conveniences for the tourist had been invented for preparing and keeping food hot or cold while on an excursion.  There were elegant and perfectly equipped luncheon boxes and baskets, but until that year no one had invented a table on which a luncheon could be served to travelers when they wanted to stop along the roadside for a meal either inside or outside of the car.   

            The folding table filled that gap.  It was advertised as being perfect in any car and gave tourists assurance that luncheon may be served at any place or at any time – rain or shine. And…. it was not necessary to leave the car. After lunch, the table could be used for playing cards or writing a letter that needed to be posted at the next stop. When not in use, the table folded and hung out of the way from the robe rail or it could be folded flat to lie on the floor of the car.  This traveling table was invented by Mrs. George A. Rockwell, a prominent citizen of Junction City.  She applied for a patent on it in 1915 and had the tables manufactured by a furniture factory in St. Louis.  Mrs. Rockwell was expecting to establish agencies in most of the large cities to promote and sell her table, which seemed to have been a forerunner to today’s…..folding t.v. trays.  

            And… that’s today’s story on “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.

Our Past Is Present July 19, 2017

July 19, 2017

            This is “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.

            One of the earliest Junction City settlers passed away in July of 1915.  That was Mrs. Ruth Keys.  She was born in Lima, New York in 1829, but when she married John Keys in 1854, they decided to move out west.  They first lived in Iowa before coming to Kansas in the spring of 1860.  They stopped in Junction City where they purchased a land warrant for $200, which entitled them to 160 acres of unclaimed land.  They settled in the Chapman Creek area.  All that summer there wasn’t a drop of rain.  John and Ruth slept in their covered wagon with their nearest neighbor being three miles away.  Indians roamed about the area. 

            One day John Keys went to Junction City to get supplies and did not return until the following day.  Just before dark, a band of Indians came by and asked if the big chief, meaning Ruth’s husband, was in the wagon.  She led the Indians to believe that he was and they didn’t bother her.  However, they set up camp so close that she could hear them snoring as they slept.

            As a result of the drought and the ill health of her husband, the family gave up the farm that fall and moved into Junction City where Ruth lived on the same block for nearly fifty years.  She raised two sons, but both died within a month of each other in 1906. This left her with just one grandson.  Her husband, John, had passed on many years before she died in 1915.  Ruth was buried in Highland Cemetery in 1915.  Her picture may be seen in display on the first floor of our Museum. It is among the many pictures we have displayed of early settlers in Geary County.  Stop by and see them any Tuesday through Sunday between the hours of 1 and 4:00 PM.

            

Our Past Is Present July 18, 2017

July 18, 2017

            You are reading “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.

            “Shaken, not stirred” is a command often given by James Bond in the Ian Fleming novels, which became movies.  This is in reference to James’ preference for the making of his martini.  However, today’s story is about what to do with hay after it is mowed.  Should it be “shaken or stirred?”

            This story comes from a July 1866 article in the “Junction City Union” newspaper.  The writer stated that “his father says it don’t do nay good to keep stirring hay all the time after it is mowed, till it is cured.”  Uncle John, who is a good farmer, says we “ought to keep stirring the grass all the time.”  Mother says “Uncle John cannot bear to see anyone rest for one minute, so all the while he keeps his people working whether or not it does any good.”  I should like to know who is right on this subject stated the author. 

            Well, the reply came back stating that “it seems Uncle John was right.  The more one stirred newly mown grass, the more it cured evenly and the sooner it was fit to go into the barn. Some of the best farmers used a horse hay-tender for keeping the grass in constant motion.  As soon as an acre or two was mowed, they started up the tender, shook up and turned over the hay until it was fit to rake.  When it lay thick on the ground and was not turned, that was when the sun did the most damage by burning and scorching the grass.  The respondent also stated that “it would be best to shake all the bunches into pieces and throw it around lightly so the air may circulate through it and raise the moisture.  This would hurry along the curing process.”

Now we all know that shaken not stirred is preferred by James Bond in the making of his martini and the same can be said for those who work with cutting and putting up hay. 

            That’s today’s story from the Geary County Historical Society.

Our Past Is Present July 17, 2017

July 17, 2017

You are listening to “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.

Besides visits to our Museum and attending our fundraisers, a way to support the Geary County Historical Society is through a membership.  We have a wide range of annual memberships that range from $10.00 a year for Senior Citizens to Individual Memberships for $15.00 and family memberships for $25.00 per year.  The membership of your choice will get you special notices of upcoming events, our newsletter and you will be showing your support of our mission to preserver and educate about the history of Geary County.  Contact one of the staff at 238-1666 or just stop by the Museum at the corner of Sixth and Adams Streets between the hours of 1 and 4:00 PM Tuesdays through Sundays.

Now for today’s story…

In September of 1854, the Pawnee Town Association was formed to establish a town near the new Army post at Fort Riley.  The Association was composed totally of military officers and territorial officials, including Major W.R. Montgomery, the commander of the Post and the first Territorial Governor, Andrew H. Reeder of Pennsylvania.  Governor Reeder assured the Association of his intent to convene the first Territorial Legislature at Pawnee if proper buildings could be constructed and Major Montgomery agreed to exclude the town site from the first survey of the fort reserve.

Pawnee was soon a booming town of a dozen or so dwellings with a two-story capitol and a large hotel under construction.  By May, the hotel could boast of about 500 residents.  Two sawmills were operating there and three saloons catered to the workmen and soldiers, who were building the nearby fort.  In April of 1855, Governor Reeder called the first legislature to convene at Pawnee on July 2^nd.  However, the legislators were mostly pro-slavery Missourians, while Reeder and the Pawnee citizens were predominately Free-stators.  This “Bogus” Legislature met at Pawnee July 2^nd through 6^th in 1855 in the unfinished Capitol Building.  The main acts of the session were to expel the two free-state members and to vote to remove the seat of the governor to Shawnee Mission, a few miles from the Missouri line.  Though Governor Reeder vetoed this bill, he had no choice but to join the body when they reconvened in Shawnee Mission on July 16^th.

            Later that summer, Jefferson Davis, the Secretary of War, in Frank Pierce’s cabinet, expanded the boundaries of the fort to include the Pawnee town-site.  The citizens were ordered out and in October of 1855, soldiers used grappling hooks and rode in and pulled the houses and buildings down.  This left only the old stone Capitol Building as a mute testimonial of the little settlement that was to have been the Capitol City of Kansas.

            The building can still be seen on Fort Riley and is open by appointment.

           

Our Past Is Present July 14, 2017

  July 14, 2017

            This is “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.

            Sometimes it is a challenge to deal with certain customers, who DEMAND service or deals beyond what the business owner may be able or willing to provide. Well… there was an example of a challenge a local grocer had, which was published in the “Junction City Union” newspaper in July of 1910.

            The grocer said he admired women greatly and indeed thought most of them to be quite sensible.  However, occasionally he met a woman who tried his patience.  He said she was the kind of lady who would order groceries at 11:30 in the morning and become highly indignant if the groceries could not be delivered to her house in time for lunch.  That kind of woman usually forgets that the grocer had more than one customer. He said that one woman telephoned her order in at 11:45 AM and said if the goods were not at her house by noon she would cancel the order.  He told his delivery wagon driver to pretend he was beating the horses as he approached the woman’s house.  A little later the woman telephoned to say that the driver was beating the horses unmercifully and she wanted him fired right away.  After the grocer explained that it was difficult to get her items delivered to her on such short notice, she agreed to phone her order in earlier in the future.    

Dealing with some of those DEMANDING customers can be a challenge for those who work in the retail business. “The customer is always right” is a good philosophy, but sometimes the customer needs to consider the business owner’s perspective too.

Our Past Is Present July 13, 2017

July 13, 2017

            This is “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.

            Today’s story is about the man who took care of the Opera House clock.

We have shared stories about Walter Starcke on past broadcasts. According to a newspaper account in July of 1927, Walter Starcke was the official custodian of the Junction City town clock, located in the Opera House Tower.  He had held the position for 44 years – ever since Junction City had a town clock.  This first clock was installed in the tower of the city hall and Opera House building in 1883.  But the clock tower fell during construction and had to be rebuilt.  The clock was not installed again until about three years later. Mr. Starcke, then a youngster was employed by his uncle, Andrew Vogler, who had a jewelry store on East 7^th Street.  Young Walter was given the job of winding, regulating, oiling and taking regular care of the clock.  He did this until it was destroyed when the building was burned in 1898.  When the Opera House was rebuilt, another clock, a Seth Thomas was installed.  Mr. Starcke estimated that he averaged 150 trips a year into the clock tower for the purpose of winding the clock and doing maintenance on it.  For many years Walter Starcke received only $15 a year for acting as guardian of the clock.  But in 1927 his wage was raised to …..$52.00 a year. 

Many of you have visited the Starcke House on the corner of Fifth and Adams, which is an historic site owned by the Historical Society. Free tours are available upon request.  Just contact one of the staff members on your next visit to the Museum at the corner of Sixth and Adams or call for an appointment at 238-1666. 

Our Past Is Present July 12, 2017

July 12, 2017

            This is “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.

In July of 1882, the Board of County Commissioners went to the eastern area of the county to inspect a new iron bridge at McDowell Creek.  A newspaper reporter was invited to go with them on the journey and his article published in the “Daily Union” newspaper gave a graphic description of the countryside east of Junction City.  He wrote that while the commissioners looked at the bridge he wanted to see the farms, crops and the prairie with its millions of flowers.  After leaving the city, the first thing to catch his eye was Fogarty’s 225 acres of corn.  It was as level as a floor and well cultivated.  Then he saw Captain Wright of the Cedar Springs Farm.  There was an undulating field of rye, wheat, oats and corn.  Frank’s farm, which was further along the way was the farm that Anson W. Callen, who was known as “Old Grizzly” first claimed when he came to Kansas.  On the ascent to Government Hill, there was a magnificent view of the Clark’s Creek valley.   Then it was on to the Humboldt Creek valley.  As they reached Commissioner Hobb’s place, the reporter found him and two boys wrestling with sheaves of wheat and setting them up in huge shocks.  The Commissioner showed the party the way to McDowell Creek by way of the prairie.  For five miles they followed a blind trail through acres of grass that would have fattened thousands of cattle. Lunch was taken at the sheep ranch close to the new iron bridge and after another inspection of the structure, the party headed for home.  There was more written about the landscape and the beauty of what was then Davis County than there was about the inspection of the new iron bridge, which was the intent of the trip.

            Our area IS beautiful this time of year with all the rain we’ve had.  The grasses and tree leaves are green, the creeks and rivers full and the puffy white clouds during the day and the beautiful sunsets in the evening are some of the reasons this a great place in which to live, work, play and retire.

            Thanks for reading “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.