Our Past Is Present January 4, 2019

January 4, 2019

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

            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 Set In Stone.  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.  By the way, this story is so complex and involved that for a better understanding – it WOULD be good to read the entire article.

            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.  The brothers maintained their ground and continued to put up their house.  A short time later, a Captain Lowe appeared at the site with government lumber and a crew of carpenters.  They put up a house on the same claim. 

            The Commanding Officer at the Post, notified the Dixons that they were intruding upon the claim of Mr. Lowe and must move.  The Dixon’s paid Mr. Lowe $300 to leave – and so he did.  One day after the Dixon house was completed, the brothers were visited by Judge Ed Johnson.  He urged the family to leave their claim peaceably, because the land was wanted for the military reserve.  However, in reality it was wanted by private individuals.

            That wasn’t the end of the land war, which involved others wanting the Dixon’s to move.  Jefferson Davis even got involved.  He wanted the land where the town of Pawnee was and the Dixon claim to belong to Fort Riley.  The residents at both sites were ordered out and mounted troops tore down the buildings with grappling hooks. 

            The Dixon’s went on to make the most of their bad beginnings.  They eventually moved to homesteads in the vicinity and became prosperous and successful. 

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

Our Past Is Present January 3, 2019

January 3, 2019

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

            Today’s story is about a famous cavalry horse by the name of “Comanche”. 

            When the 7^th Cavalry was posted at Fort Riley in 1888, Comanche returned with them.  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.  Veterinarians tried to keep the horse alive, but Comanche died of colic in November of 1891 after having lived 31 years.

            The story of Comanche doesn’t end here, however.  After his death the officers of the 7^th Cavalry moved quickly and asked Kansas University zoologist, Dr. L.L. Dyche, to preserve Comanche.  In 1893, Dyche gained permission to take the horse and display it at the Columbian Exposition in Chicago.  The preserved horse was later returned to KU following the World’s Fair. 

            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.  Chancellor Deane Malott refused and stated that Comanche “was almost an alumnus of the institution!”

            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.  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.

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

Our Past Is Present January 2, 2019

January 2, 2019

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

            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.  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.  Gold Fever erupted and a gold rush started to the Rocky Mountain gold fields.  There were two trails to the region.  One was the Oregon Trail, to the north of Junction City.  It was followed to the South Fork of the Platt River to Cherry Creek and then on to Denver.  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.

            On May 19^th, 1859, the L&PP Stage coach Line signed a contract to carry the mail to Denver and on to Salt Lake City, Utah.  However, only two months later L&PP ran its last coach over their own route.  They had enough of the Kansas trails and decided to abandon them for the Oregon Trail. 

            This move left Junction City and other towns to the east in a vacuum.  Within days the “Junction City Sentinel” newspaper reported a shorter route than that of the L&PP.  It had long been argued that the coach line route could be shortened by following the Smoky Hill River on to Denver.  It would take off about 189 miles.  However, it was not mentioned that the Smoky Hill River disappeared about 130 miles short of the goldfields and civilization stopped at …. Junction City.  And… that’s today’s story on “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.

Our Past Is Present January 1, 2019

January 1, 2019

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

            Geary County was created by an act of the First Territorial Legislature.  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. 

            We have shared with you in the past that the legislative session at Pawnee lasted only five days.  Pawnee was on what is now Fort Riley and the First Territorial Capital building still stands where the legislature met.  The building is across the road from the new Irwin Army Community Hospital.

            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.

            When they reconvened at Shawnee Mission in the middle of July, the Bogus Legislature succeeded in getting Governor Andrew Reeder removed from office.  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.  This was done as they set the boundaries and established the first county geographical divisions toward the end of August.  Many of the counties were given names of Legislators by themselves or their pro-slavery heroes. 

            Geary County was originally named Davis County after slavery advocate Jefferson Davis, who later became the President of the Confederacy.  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. 

            And now you know a little more about why we say, “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.

           

             

Our Past Is Present December 31, 2018

December 31, 2018

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

            Today’s story is about the St. John’s Lutheran Church on Lyons Creek Road.  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. 

            They arrived at the home of C.F. Wetzel and his family.  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.

            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.  After two years, he accepted the call to Humboldt, Kansas.  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.  The present stone church was dedicated in July of 1883 at a cost of $1,378.75. 

            There was a need for a parsonage, so land was purchased from Mrs. Eva Mueller Schwalboldt in 1870.  Once the parson was built it stood until 2015, when it was in ill-repair and demolished.

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. 

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

Our Past Is Present December 28, 2018

December 28, 2018

            Today’s story was taken from an interview Dan Moran did with James Butler Hickock, commonly known as “Wild Bill”.  The interview was originally published in the “Kansas City Times” in 1894.   

            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.  His church then stood as it now stands on the south side of the public square (Heritage Park).

            Nearly everybody went armed in those days.  On a payday whiskey ran like water.  It seemed as though everybody was drinking.  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  volleys of shots fired.

            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.  The door stood open and the pastor was in the pulpit.  Bill urged his horse to the doorway and obedient to the rider’s command, the animal entered the church.  “Wild Bill” sat in the saddle and drunkenly surveyed the minister and the congregation.  The preacher paused from his discourse and gazing unflinchingly at the bold intruder ordered him to leave the church.  Bill answered the preacher with an oath and asked him what he was doing.

            “I am preaching the gospel,” said Reverend Anderson.

            “No, you ain’t preaching” said Bill, drawing back his revolver, “You’re dancing.  That’s what you’re doing.  Now dance – and dance lively!” commanded Bill.

             Ladies crept under their seats and the males in the congregation sat paralyzed.  There was nothing else for the preacher to do  - but dance, for it was dance or die.  So he danced!”

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

Our Past Is Present December 27, 2018

December 27, 2018

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

            In the early days of our city, religious congregations often did not have their own building in which to worship.  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.

            In a previous story, we shared with you that in Junction City, school was conducted in the room above the old jail.  In an article in the “Junction City Union” newspaper of 1894, the writer, who was only identified as “The Old Settler” shared this story:

            “Seeing in the “Union” (newspaper) “Reminiscences of Early Day Kansas” takes me back  in memory to our church privileges in the 1860s in Junction City.  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.  We also met a few times in the lower part of the building now used by Mr. Muenzenmayer as a storage room for stoves.   The seats were always improvised for the occasion.”

            On January 4, 1863, Junction City’s Union Church was officially organized and met in Reverend Todd’s home.  The group met without denominational concerns. 

            As the Civil War came to an end, the Methodists, Presbyterians and Baptists in the community all formed churches of their own.  The Union Church continued meeting wherever there was an available space.  A Congregational Church building was constructed on the southwest corner of Fifth and Adams Streets and was dedicated on March 4, 1869. 

            And… thanks for reading today on “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.

Our Past Is Present December 26, 2018

December 26, 2018

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

            The Fort Riley Mounted Honor Guard was established in 1992 to provide a link to the post’s historic past.  This unit was motivated in part by a commanding officer’s wife who loved to ride.  Old cavalry stables were once again equipped so that personal mounts could be kept on the reservation.

            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.  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.  As a ceremonial team, the unit performs at reenactments and parades.

            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.  “Chief” had entered the Army in 1932 and in 1949 he was placed in retirement when the cavalry was officially disbanded.  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.  “Chief” is the horse that is buried below and in front of the “Old Trooper” monument on the Cavalry parade field.  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.  The service concluded with an appropriate goodbye by Major General R. Wetherill.  “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.

Our Past Is Present December 24, 2018

December 24, 2018

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

            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.  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.  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.   Rationing had been gallantly accepted and meatless meals, war bread and the Hoover pledge were common topics of conversation AND  the news as locals geared down to do their part to win the war. 

            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.  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.

            On Christmas day at Camp Funston, a huge “wild west” show or rodeo was staged on the football field near the Golden Bell Road.  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    the holiday rodeo was enjoyed by soldiers who participated and those who watched the “Wild West Show”, which concluded with a fireworks display. 

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

Our Past Is Present December 21, 2018

December 21, 2018

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

            “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.  Back at home, the technological advances motivated by WW II were now being put to use to bring the good life to the people.

            The 1950s was the age of tract housing, big cars, felt skirts, ducktails, 3-D and the Yankee baseball team.  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.  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.

            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.  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. 

            Though this annual event still drew devoted crowds, big television Christmas “specials” introduced a whole new genre of holiday entertainment.  During the 1950s traditional carols and classics were joined by such secular characters as “Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer” and “Frosty the Snowman.”  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.  And...thanks for reading “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society. 

           

Our Past Is Present December 20, 2018

December 20, 2018

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

            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.

            “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.  The singers were accompanied by the high school orchestra and brass ensemble. 

            Recreation centers and USO’s were gearing up to meet the needs of soldiers far away from home at holiday time.  When 5 inches of snow fell on Christmas Eve, it assured a “Christmas Card perfect” setting.  A holiday dance with girls from Junction City, Salina and Kansas City was planned for all the soldiers.  USO touring groups performed popular music of the day.

            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.  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”.

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

Our Past Is Present December 19, 2018

December 19, 2018

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

            Today, we will again be sharing more about past Christmases in our County.  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.

            “The 1940s dawned with the gloom of a war once again raging in Europe hanging over our land.  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.

            In Junction City, Christmas of 1941 was one of contrasts.  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.

            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. 

            Two days before Christmas, it was announced that the new recreation center for colored soldiers, under construction on West 18^th Street, would be ready for use by January 1.  It was to provide the finest accommodations for the recreation needs of the colored troops.”

            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.

               

Our Past Is Present December 18, 2018

December 18, 2018

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

            Today we will continue with the historical timeline of the Opera House and conclude this series in celebration of the 120^th Anniversary of the C.L. Hoover Opera House.

            In the 1920s the Opera House had several different names, but was at the same time referred to as the Opera House.  Two of those names were the Junction City Theater and sometimes it was referred to simply as the City Theater.

            From 1936-1941 the building was owned by the White Construction Company.  During that time –  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.

            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.  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.

From 1982 until 2008, the building stood idle until fundraising and the restoration process was completed.  The process was to be done in three phases with the first stage beginning in 1989.  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.  The Montgomery Rehearsal Hall on the second floor was made available for rehearsals, banquets, receptions and political gatherings to name a few.  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.

Our Past Is Present December 17, 2018

December 17, 2018

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

            Today, we are continuing with our stories about the Christmas season in early Junction City.  During the 1920s the world was dominated by WWI, which erupted in 1914.  The war had a tremendous effect on Geary County.  Junction City played host to, entertained, sheltered, fed and nursed 60 to 80,000 soldiers in our town at the outskirts of Fort Riley.

            Soldiers who went abroad brought back with them new cultures and ideas.  Some even brought back a spouse. 

            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”.  There was also the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and several concerts by operatic diva Madame Ernestine Schuman-Heink.

            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.  There were solos and choir numbers by area citizens and churches.   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. 

              Join us for more reflections on Christmas traditions on “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society on Wednesday.