180 10 1803 https://kccarchives.cvlcollections.org/files/original/16/433/Vignettes.pdf 7f92085a73de4bc346d85c24dead8dbd PDF Text Text VIGNETTES t' ,''.'' ,:.' , . ,,t: "Prairie Life Blood" by Sally Bauder .',':,,, �COLORADO SKIES T42l MOM'S CREAM PIE T42A normal for this area. About 2 P.M. the color changed from dark blue to red. That wasn't normal. This cloud was headed to the southeast. COLORIDO SKIES At evening when the setting sun Spreads its brilliant rays across the sky, \:e gaze in rapture, as one by one, The flan:e-tinged clou(ls go uafLing by. i{e aatch the change from lold to gray, As the miraculous beauty fades from view, And niAht creeps on in silent array, l'Ihile moonbeams shine with siLv'ry hue, The eternal drama in the skies, Fron' evening's glow to daun's fa i nt rays, Reflects llis promise "l vill arise," .\nd brings bright hope to darkest days. Garold's parents, George and Agnes Pain- inisce about when we are together, such as the old Majestic Range, mince pies, chili suppers and cinnnmon rolls. But the thing that always tin, and I stood on the doorstep and watched a tornado go pastjust to the west ofthe barn. We could feel the force it created as it went past us. It was deathly still where we stood. As objects came to the edge of the whirling cloud, they would drop to the ground. One was a new binder canvas that was still rolled bring joy to our hearts and tears to our eyes is "Mom's Cream Pie." It was some eort of a custard pie. You could tell by the color and the nutmeg on the bubbles that would form on top. Mom would say, "I think I'll make a cream pie" and all four of us boys would be at attention right away. Why she seemed so powerfully proud of it, we may never know, as it certainly wouldn't take a prize at the County Fair. Just how it was made I'll never know, even though I saw the process many times. It was made in a pie shell. The filling was made with milk and included sugar and flour. There was not a crust on top, but the filling was sprinkled --DeIla Hendricl<s by Della Hendricke WHEAT HARVEST TIME I.916 There are many things we talk and rem- T422 There really wasn't much wheat planted in Kit Carson County in 1916. Most of the homesteader's farm crops were a few acres of corn, some cane, or millet cane for horse feed, and millet for cows. There was an old saying among corn farmers that their corn should be layed by the 4th ofJuly. Then a good share ofthe farmers would head for Kansas to find work in the wheat harvest. They would leave their wiveg and farnily to hold the homestead down, take care of the pigs, chiekens, and milk cow. A man could hire out single handed to work in a header barge for 91.50 per day. If he worked as a stacker he could draw 92.00 per day. All wheat in those days was harvested with horsedrawn headers and horsedrawn barges to catch the wheat as cut by the header. Then the headed wheat was stacked in the wheat field. Then as soon as the stacked wheat had gone through the sweat, which took a few weeks, it was thrashed with the old thrashing machine. I went to harvest wheat in 1916, south of Colby. I took six work horses and was lucky enough to get ajob. I ran the header for 97.00 per day for me and the horses, and board for myself and the horses. After the wheat was cut, the farmer hired me and the horses to do some summer fallowing. This was in the form of blank listing with a two row lister. At least this short session ofcash wages would supply me with some ready cash to help finance myself through the fall and winter. with nutmeg. As it baked, you could see the top ofthe filling set and form big bubbles that would rise and turn first gold then brown and then burst. When it was done it was not one half inch or one inch deep - it would be about one fourth inch thick or perhaps three eighths inch at the very most. It was vaguely like a custard but not a sissy-type custard. It was a solid layer of crust, sugar, flour, milk, and nutmeg of a pretty uniform consistency and quite durable. You would take it out of the pan and bit it and feel it and taste it and it was good. Then, you could put a piece in your jacket or pants pocket and hours later you could take it out and eat it and it would be in one piece and it would taste the same. It was good and it was durable and Mom was proud of it and we never talk about it but that we laugh and cry at the same time. No one will ever make anything at all like "Mom's Cream Pie." up and landed undamaged. The tornado was on the ground for nearly a mile. Garold and Melvin Sweet had just gone to the Joe Garner place and were within 300 yards of the house when they realized there was a tornado in that cloud of dust coming at them, so they vacated our pickup truck and hit the ground. It began to hail so Garold moved under the truck. A moment later the tornado turned the truck upside down, leaving the well tools that were in the back, in the spot he had just left. Joe Garner was in the house at the time. He laid on the floor until it passed. Although it was damaged, they drove the Garner car back to the Paintins. There were no serious injuries. Their pockets were full of sand and we had to pick cactus needles out of their backs. Our truck was thrown about 100 yards up a hill and almost completely demolished. The Garners had most of the outbuildings destroyed including a large barn. Some livestock were killed and trees uprooted. The house was da-aged but left standing. It took only about a minute to demolish a life time of work. by Jean.Paintin TO A SOD HOUSE by Carl TY. Bruner T426 TO A SOI] HOUSIJ THAT WAS MY TRUCK Come, pause beside the crumbling walls Of this aged sod house standing here Upon the wind-ssept loneLy plains-- T424 It was May 8, L952. The clouds began to form in the west about noon. That was A passing relic of the oLd frontier. Once these walls were olde and straight, Fresh sneLling of the ner Eurned sod, NhiLe on the broad, Iow windo\i sills A bride had placed geraniums to nod. SheLtered here from nature's elements \ sturdy broocl of lusty children Sreui Absorbed the homely virtues of the waLLs; liax€d bravely slrong, upri3ht and true. And these sod hones across the land Made possible a conquered west; So, Let us pay homa3e to an oLd pioneer For the many lives its roof has blest. --SeLetha Broton by J. Carl Harrison by Seletha Brown That was my truck! �I'LL DRM, YOU PITCH T426 usually would head for the barn, not necessarily taking the shortest route. They would usually go thru a fence row or two on their way home. This action could happen with the hayracks, too, but wasn't as dangerous to the driver. The Paintins built a large barn with a loft in 1929. It was handy in the winter to pitch the hay down to the alley below, but it was work to get the hay up to the loft before this feature could be used. Once the racks were loaded, they were driven into position below a large door near the top ofthe barn. A pulley was hooked into the sling which was on the bottom of the rack. The pully ran on a track inside at the top of the barn. This was pulled up and thru the loft by the horses hooked on at the opposite side of the barn. This large barn, along with twenty five hundred bales of hay in the loft, was destroyed by fire June 20,1963. Picture from the collection of Gladvs Paintin Gieck. by Jean Paintin The Paintin Barn, 193?. The farmers and ranchers etill hope and pray today, as they did in the early years, that their feed crop, which was planted early in MORNING IN JUNE T427 the summer, would escape any drouth, grasshoppers or hard rains and hail at the wrong time. Even a quick moving thunder shower would deposit enough moisture to reach the thirsty roots of the sorghum plant in the sandy soil. The Paintins farmed just a short distance up the hill from the Republican River. A good feed crop was a blessing but the process of harvesting this crop depended on the patience and strength of men and animals. They equipped their hay racks with a sling made from rope and boards which were stretched across the bed of the rack. They would be up before dawn to feed their horses. After a hearty breakfast of pancakes, sausage, MORNING the hay field on their first trip. This was at least a two man job per hayrack. Depending on how well broke the horses were was the deciding factor whether one man drove the team while the other pitched on the hay. If they were broke well enough to trust them to react to voice commands of "getup" or "whoa" you had it made. Both could pitch on the hay from wigwam fashioned shocks of feed which had all been done by manual labor or from windrows previously made by using a hayrake. The hayrake was pulled with their most trustworthy horses since this was a dangerous piece of equipment. It was light weight and easy to pull. If the horses decided to spook and run, the driver could get the thrill of his life if he was lucky to be able to hang on and not fall under the rake. A trip to the ground meant getting rolled thru stickers, dirt and eventually one or more of the rake teeth getting to him. Once out of control, the horses by Opal Boger FAREWELL TO MY SHANTY T429 FARE-II"ELL TO MY SHANIY irJ::r-cli to trllr pre-eDption sLranty, I have $ade my final proof. The cattle will hook down the salls And some will steal off the roof. Fareuell to my sheet iron stove, That stands in the corner all cold; The 3ood things I've baked in the oven Tn Lan3uaJe can never be told. FarewelL to my cracker box cupboard, llriEh a gunny sack for a door; FarewelL to my stoc!( of 3ood thin3s, That I uever shal1 rvant any nore, to n:y I itL Ie pine bedstead, Tis on thee I slunrbered and sLept; FareweLI to the dreams Ehat I dreampt llhile the centipedes over me crept, Fareue l I IN JUNE i\lhat 's so rare as a mornj.ng in June? My morning rides are over too soon. 1 check the cattle over the hill, And then return to the old windmill, Where I get a drink fron the bottom of the uell. The tefrp and flavor, one just can't tell. I shate my drink with my faithful mount, Before I finish the cattle count. Now who in the world could ever say, There's a better uay to start the day? --J. Carl Harrison Farewell to my down holstered chair Ii'ith the bottom sagged to the ground; Farewell to the socks, shirts and bretches, That filled again to the ground. Farewell to my nlce littLe table, hlhere under I have oft put my fee!; And think of many good things, Such as bacon and beans to eaE. Farewell to my sour dough pancakes, That none but myself could endure, lf they did not taste good to a stranger, They were sure the dyspepsia to cure. eggs or steak, biscuits and gravy with lots of coffee their work would begin. They wouldn't get a coffee break. They harnessed, watered and hitched the horses to the hay racks and loaded the water jugs which were wrapped in wet gunny sacks. Maybe they wouldn't be quite on the rack and one horse would take off with a jerk. Depending on the weather, the horses were usually pretty frisky at that time of day and would give them a bumpy ride to hours late to work. The problem was that no one had thought to call Gus and tell him of the hunt, so he spent the hours wondering what the delay was and Ruth was left wondering whether she would have threshers to cook for or not. Farewell to my coffee, tea, and crackers; FareuelL to my water and soap; by J. Carl Harrison THE LION HUNT FareweLL to my sorgum and flapjacks, Farewell to my lallacadope.': Farewell to my entire pre-emption, Farewell to your hills and your sand; I've covered you up with a mortgage, T42A There was a year, along in the late 40's, when rumors went the rounds of a pair of lions that were making their home in Kit Carson County. They were reported to have been seen in the Kirk area and south of Stratton. On one occasion our community, 13-15 miles north of Vona, wag alerted. The men were to go to the Gus Schreiner home early that morning to thresh wheat. Very early that morning, the phone rang. Burt Smit said a lion was seen going into the grove of trees just t/t mile east of the Harry Smit house. He said the threshers were all going to hunt it down, so Horace Boger and his man, Fred Lowery, went too. We called Harold Summers as we knew he would want to be in on it. So, eight or ten men stalked through the small grove of trees ready to shoot but no lion could be found. If there was one, it had escaped or perhaps a large yellow tomcat had been mistaken for big game. Be that as it may, the men were two Farewell to my quarler of land. --Jack Messenger *Gravy made with bacon grease, flour and wat er . poem by Jack Messenger WHEN I MET RUBE PRATT T430 I saw Rube Pratt three or four times in my life. Once I saw him standing in front of the Daniels and Fisher's Tower dressed in his red suit and the great coat with the brass buttons. He was opening the doors for people as they drove up to the store. He made a very �impressive sight for the tourists and customers. That was the last time I saw him. I believe I remember him at a baseball game and I heard my father say "I didn't mean it Rube." I think I saw him crank start his model "T" auto once. I know others would talk about how he would lift it up to crank it rather than PIONEER DAYS IN COLORADO T431 by Mrs. Sarah Blakman to get down on his knees. But I do know when I first met Rube Pratt, I remember it quite well. Rube was a big man, he was reported to be the biggest man in the Armed Forces (Navy) in World War I. He stood about or over eight feet high. Considering his size, he had a small head, anyway, on him it looked small. His head was always bent forward as if he were looking down. It was said that he had hurt his neck as a boy doing acrobatics off a hay stack. We were living in Stratton at the time, about 1918. I would have been about seven years old. There was a store on Main Street, we called the "Ten Cent Store." It was a narrow, long store, with a door in front, and display windows on each side of the door. Display tables were placed on each side of the aisle and goods were piled on top ofthe tables for almost the length of the building. Now, I don't know for sure how I got there, although I have a vague recollection that my mother was not far away. I was underneath one of the tables about half way back in the store. I was playing with or looking at something, I really don't recall what. I heard the door open, the floor was covered with light, then a shadow. I looked up and saw the shoes. They were gize eighteen or nineteen at least. The soles were almost one inch thick. When they hit the floor, the boards shook and they were coming almost directly at me. I PIONEER n:i{YS IN COLORADO When I left my home in Nebraska, for Colorado I was bound; And when I arrived at Claremont, I viewed the country round. There were antelope, coyote, prairie fox and cent.ipedes galore, And such a wild and desolate place I had never seen before. There $rere prairie dogs, or.rls and rat.tlesnakes; they lived under the ground together, And the dogs would come ouE and bark at you, in almost any kind of weather. We put. up at the Claremont Hotel, and the people \rere very kind; But, dear me, I was homesick for the home I had left behind. And when our household goods arrived, we rented a two-room shack, But I thought I would freeze to death for the floor was full of cracks. I covered them over with papers and put carpet down, And so we lived for over a year in this little Claremont town. Then we built a nouse on our homestead, I sure thought that was great, And now I love Colorado, more than any other state. --Sarah Blakeman scooted back a little but not much, fascinated by the size of the man that wore those shoes. Away up on top was this tiny head sort of looking down at me. It seemed to me as if he had to duck his head to keep from hitting the ceiling. I think he saw me, a small smile appeared on his face, maybe he said something, I don't remember. I can't tell you whether he came back to the aisle or went out some back door. But I do remember and will never forget the day I met Rube Pratt. by Carl YY. Bruner WASHDAY T432 Washday started with trips to the milkhouse where our water supply was located. Water ran directly from the windmill into a Iarge, cement tank. We carried the water to the house in milk buckets and sat them on the stove to heat, even on the hottest days, when the range threw out a great deal of heat. Up until about 1916, Mom washed on a washboard and wrung her clothes out by hand. Then they got a "modern" washing machine which was operated by hand. For me, that was much harder work than rubbing the clothes on a board. The lack of soap was a great drawback. We had no powders, bleaches or fabric softeners, only the great chunks of lye soap that Mom made from rancid grease, lye, and water. Soap making meant building a hot fire under the huge iron kettle and then one had to stand by it for 3 or 4 hours and stir round and round. Then the soap cooled overnight and was cut into bars. After rubbing the clothes with the strong soap, the white clothes had to be boiled in more soap and water, then rinsed and wrung and finally rinsed again in water, to which bluing had been added, wrung out again and finally hung out to dry and sun. It was a terrible job and my Dad always helped with the washing. We only washed once a week. by Opal Boger �THE DOCTOR T433 Williams Pharmacy Letterhead by Fred Page and Vivian Williams TIIE DOCTOR I ile! Doc lli [ | iinis, I thoughE the man was srirr I l. He dldn't carry surplus aei;lrt, And neithcr sas he ti I l. t^lhen f irst we vis lced for qutle u wiri I c Dlscuss ing thir1..!s ac hand, And as orrr frlend Iy clrat progressed, He seemecl to just exp0nd. .{nd lf a dead beat beat his bilt, Doc didnrt seem to nrind; He'd srnlle and say I'cr sure thac child Will not be deaf or bIlnd. The woman that's so s1c1( Upon the bed of pain, I'n sure my pilts vcry soorl l^tiIl end the aufuI strain. And tf I do oot get tllat bilt, I'l1 get by sonrelrou; It's better far co end tlri.s uuY, Than t€ke their only cou. I'd hate Eo take a big faL fee Fron one so short of breath, And 1n a fee short weeks flnd out The lady starvcd to deatl). And so In just a fek short years, The man I oncr thou8hc small, Burlington Centennial Parade, May 14, 1988 Had eldened to a large expanse And stood most sl.x feet tall, When civic problems ralsed their lread And ended in I fight, You'd flnd old Doc a busy nran Just batt lln; for the right, For things t() really helt, hls torn He aluays ilave hls basL, And at a fairly eartt age, to resL. Worn out, he lent And as we journey through this lle look down on a pup, But vhcn ue ileet a nrarr like Doc It'e're aluays looking up, Llfe, llou strangc lndccd ln thirty yeors The man I once thoughl snall, llould seam to have enormous wei.ght, And toeer above us aIl, If he and I should n'eec again, And I believe ue wilL, Ua'l I .lut .^ ^no Doc,IneedapllL '.,i I I {nrArr,'^t He'll say, does anyone remenrber nc, Or even love f,re still? I'I1 say, Yes, Doc, buc only chose L'ho tried to pay thelr bills, --Frederich Russ and Alene Davis Pagc Pn,:'SCI1IPTION SERV J CI' SEIiVIN(; IIASTI]]IIN ('OLC)IIAtrr) SIN(JIt 190{i WILLIAMS PHARMACY l\t. l'. end l-. 1,. \\'illi:rlrrs FLAGLEN, COLORADO \' l.)TllR I NA lrY strt,nLlES �MAKING BUTTER T435 We did not just walk in to a store and buy a week's supply of butter. We milked the cows, strained the milk through a flour sack, then separated the milk from the cream by running it through a separator, which was turned by hand. We sat the cream away to sour (overnight, I think) then it was put in a churn and the churn was turned by hand until butter formed. We drained off the buttermilk and drank it for supper. Then the butter had to be washed through many changes of cold water until all signs of milk was removed. Then it was salted well and molded. We did not have a butter mold, in Mom shaped the butter with her hands and made a fancy design on the top with a knife. Remember though, that the milk buckets, straining cloth, separator, churn, and the dishes used in the washing and molding all had to be washed thoroughly with soap, rinsed well and sunned for several hours for purification. All the hot water for those jobs was carried from the supply tank at the milk house, heated on the stove, and carried back to the milk house to wash these items. by Opal Boger "Carousel Pony" in stained glass by Rene6 Loutzenhiser THE FLOUR SACK T434 One of the faithful standbys of the depression era was the flour sack. Its uses were many and varied. We had a large tin can with a tight fitting lid that we used for a flour bin. The sack was opened and the flour poured into the bin. The sack was then completely opened up by removing the string. This string was no less aprize than the sack. All string was carefully saved and used for tying sacks, packages, for sewing ripped clothing, and even for quilting. The sack bore the brand name of the flour, printed in bright colors that were very hard to remove. This was in the day before Clorox One of the messiest jobs was making cottage cheese. The curds of milk were poured into a sack and hung on the line to drip out the whey. Then the sack must be washed out in several batches of water and rinsed 'til all the dried milk was removed. There was no end to the uses ofa flour sack. by Opal Boger -a or other bleach. My mother soaked the sack in kerosene then scrubbed it with homemade lye soap. Usually the sack went through many washings before the printing faded out completely. Some of the brand names I remember were, "Pride of the Rockies," "Snells" and "Clyde's Best." Many flour sacks were made into clothing. Most common were our "bloomers" or "drawers," aprons, bonnets, and even dresses. They were also used for tablecloths, curtains, dish towels, and lining for quilts. Some were not ripped apart but were left in sack form to store dried fruit. dried corn. seed corn, dry beans, chicken feathers, etc. On every farm clothesline 2 or 3 of the snowy white squares flapped in the wind. These were used only for straining milk, morning and night. Then they were washed and scalded and hung out in the sun until the next milkins. Drills of vesterdav �DUST STORM T436 I'ioT cu,{FF, B1JT DUST i.rhen the <iust storm was over, the wind its force had spent, We grabbed the broorn and duster and oter the house r\re went. I,,'e shook out all the curtains, we swept it out with care; The dirt lnas over everything, it aLmost made me s\{ear. But at last the worll was over, the cleaning job r,ras done. If ever a pound was taken out I knew r,;e took a ton. The wind it stopped its blovring, we didn't know it then, But it r'as resting up and getting prinred to do it once again. At 50 nriles an hour it came r^rith its dust cloud and its roar, And filled rhe house up all again just as it did before. It. riled me up a litEle then t.o come again so soon; By steady work, and patience, too, we cleaned her out by noon. When bang! There came another just like the one we had. trrterll srneep out the house no more, Ehis dustrs become a fad. hre just wipe off the table, arnd scrape it off fhe shelves, And srveep some pretty little paths around to suit ourselves. It'e wipe our feet off nice and clean before we go to bed, hie crawl right in and take the quilL and cover up our head. i'lhen dawn has come and time to rise and take another chance, I lay the covers carefully back and then I dust my pants, Put on my shoes and socks again, and sweep a little land, Then spend the day a spittin' dirt and wishing it would rain. But happy days will come again, as sure as you're alive, And we'll talk and laugh for 40 years of the storms of '35. of what would happen if their parents should hear of it. They watched to see if the peddler would stop at the next house and he did. The boys became more worried and watched the road for their parents to return. At last, they saw them coming and they saw the neighbors go out and stop them. Then down the road the buggy came bouncing. The mother climbed out of the buggy crying, "Oh my God, everyone in the country will think my boys are crazy! Oh, how could you shame us so?" And on and on. Jake said he wasn't so much worried by his mother's tears as what his dad would do to them. When he finally got up nerve enough to look at his father, he was surprised and relieved to see a smile and a twinkle in his dad's eyes. He knew his dad thought that that was as good a way to get rid of a peddler as any. by Opal Boger DIRTY'3O'S T439 After reading the article in the November 15th issue of the Farmland News headlined "The Colorado Plowdown," I'm inspired to write some of my first-hand experiences on the plains of eastern Colorado. In the early nineteen hundreds, in the free range days and my early cowboy days, I distinctly remember that we had the high winds that have always been the case on our high plains, but there was never any dust raised by the high winds. The prairie had a solid cover of mostly blue gramma and buffalo grass. We cowboys had to tie our hats on but there were absolutely no "tumbleweeds" rolling across the land. A few years later, when a few farmers and ranchers began plowing up more Iand and trying to raise more crops, I always supposed that the weeds that began to appear came in with the seed that was brought here from other parts ofthe United States or other --C.C. Rivers poem THE CATALOG THE PERILS OF THE PRAIRIE PEDDLER T438 Blowing dust and the tumbleweeds, and other varieties of weeds accompanied by a My aunt and uncle, Gertie and Jake Dircks, lived about 17+ miles east of our place. One drier-than-normal weather cycle became the common thing in the 1930's. I know of several small farms in the 30's T437 The Sears Roebuck and Montgomery flard catalogs were used for many things. We did not order much in the years before 1918 nor did we order much during the 20's, but it cost nothing to wish. When we received a new catalog the old one was not burned. I went through and cut out families of paper people, furniture, and so on. We put the old catalogs in a hot oven and heated them to put into our beds at bedtime bo take off the icy chill. We used them to rest our hot irons on while ironing. Some were covered and made into an attractive door ltop. Finally they were taken to the back house rnd suspended on a string - the latest in toilet bissue. day they went to Kirk, leaving their sons, Jake Jr. and Ted, home alone. Ted was cooking dinner and Jake was working at a work bench behind the house when a man arrived at their place, traveling by bicycle. He was selling Bibles and he made his business known and asked ifhe could get dinner there. Ted couldn't refuse. The peddler asked if he was all alone. Ted, always ready for excitement, said, "Oh no, my brother is outside, but he is crazy and dangerous, so watch out!" Then he excused himself to get a pail of water from the water barrel. He ran by the work bench and told Jake to act $azy. Jake was willing! Soon he came staggering in with a wild look on his face. by Opal Boger countries. I always wondered where the Russian Thistle came from. I never saw our very common Kochia weed until in the 1940's. The peddler never took his eyes off of Jake and when Jake grabbed up the butcher knife and started for the peddler, the poor man ran for the door and sped off on his bicycle as fast as was possible in that sandy soil. The boys laughed in glee until they thought that had the entire layer oftop soil blown off, down to the yellow clay that wouldn't even grow weeds. When blowing like that occurred and drifted over onto adjoining grass pas- tures, the soil covered up and killed out the buffalo grass. There were times in the middle of the day, when an old dust blizzard came over that it became almost as dark as night. If you happened to be driving on a highway, you were not sure of the road ahead and yet you hated to stop. You couldn't see a car ahead ofyou but you could see the headlights ofthe car behind you. You could not distinguish the car. I have seen tourists from the East who stopped in one of our towns and they were so frightened they didn't know what to do. I've had fences that first filled solid full of tumbleweeds, then the weeds filled solid full of dust to the top wire to the extent that the horses and cattle walked over the fence and the top wire was out of sight. In that case I built a second three wire fence right on top �of the one that was drifted under. This might be a good place to insert one of my tall-tales: "I went out one day and dug a quarter of mile of fence post holes, planning on setting up a new fence. Well, the wind came out terrible that night but I went back out the next morning to continue my fencing. When I got to where I had dug the postholes, I found that during the night the wind had blown all the dirt away from around those postholes and had left the postholes sticking up out of the ground! I might add my sons' comment. He reminded me that we went along and kicked those postholes over so we wouldn't stumble over them as we continued building our fence!" That is the end of the tall-tale, now to continue my story, and this is no tall tale: During the dusty years I've seen snow drifts that were half dust, and my wife taped the key holes shut to keep some of the dust out of the house. The cattle would seek protection from the blinding, choking dust in barns and windbreaks. I suppose you wonder how we survived during those dry, dusty years. Farming and raising cattle just could not provide our livelihood so I took a second job. I was a country school teacher for twenty years. My first salary was $50.00 per month and later raised to $80.00. That kept us off any handouts and W.P.A. With the small portion of the land plowed in those days, I dread to think of what could happen if and when weather conditions return to the dry and windy conditions ofthe "dirty thirties" with such a big percentage of fragile, marginal land being plowed up today. by J. Carl lfarrison THE DINING TABLE T440 which it was fashioned. My most vivid memory of those table legs is that they are where I learned to dust. Frequently, I had to do the task repeatedly. I often thought that Mother could see a speck of dust a block away! The table could be expanded by inserting the leaves that were kept in the pantry. Three times a day the table was used for its original purpose, meals. At that time the entire family gathered around the oilcloth covered table together. What a warm, cozy feeling to have us all together. How uneasy I felt when someone was absent. The table was used all during the day, every day. On ironing day the smooth, sweet smelling sheets, pillowcases and towels were placed on the dining room table to be neatly folded before being put away. When Mother cut out garments to be stitched together on the treadle sewing machine at the south window, she spread the material on the table and carefully pinned the newspaper pattern pieces on the cloth. The up to 900 quarts of fruits and vegetables which were put up every summer for survival were prepared around this table. How well I remember, as soon as you were old enough to snap a bean, pod a pea, peel a tomato, peach, pear, pit a cherry or help prepare any other food item that could be preserved by canning, you joined the crew around this table. Packages for mailing and packages for birthdays and Christmas were wrapped on the table. On school nights, homework was done around the table where there was space enough for opened books, notebooks, maps and pen and ink. A kerosene lamp provided a limited radius of illumination. When the lessons were completed our reward was popcorn, or an apple or hot chocolate and the pleasure of playing games (Monopoly, rummy, and pitch were favorites) until time to get ready for bed. At times two or more families gathered for supper and the evening. Then the men used the table for cards while the women visited. During the day Mother also used the table as a desk for writing letters, making out lists, or figuring household accounts. As I left the demonstration of the new wonder appliance, I decided that if it could serve just half the purposes of our old dining room table, it would be worth twice the price. by Irene Armistead That dining table today! While watching a demonstration of a kitchen appliance chopping, shredding, sli- cing, mixing, and almost serving the meal, I couldn't help but wonder what my mother would have thought of such a household device. Then I remembered that we also had multipurpose possessions and the most versatile we called the "dining room table." We had other tables; the kitchen table, end tables, the library table and a lamp table, but when someone said "the table" it meant the dining room table. Our dining room was an extension ofthe kitchen. The table was round with claw legs as sturdy as the oak tree from Mrs. Perrv's "Sod House." A. G. Perry's "Sod House." �SHERIFF'S EXPERIENCES SIIERIFF'S ExpERrENCIs I:x".:';":Hif::: j:i,.i.?,"lii::".:::: I44l Calls come by night and calls come by day, They may be near or miles away. The telephone rings and soon by heck Wetre headed for the country to cover a wreck. Before we have taken our Ehings from the Erunk, We see that the driver is just plain drunk. Hets wandering around not a scratch on his hlde, While his victim3 lay stretched out side by side. I begin to question him, he breaks lnto tears, He says, ttl have just had a couple of beers.tt Today we hunt evidence, and dig up the facts; Tomorrow we're struggling with detinquent tax. Next day qre're hunting a motEled face cow, Ihen stay up all night at some nice family row. Next day we have court and the lawyers rave; The defendent sits there in need of a shave. ttWhere hrere yourtt they beller tton the first of November?tt Ihe defenddnt replies, ttI dontt remember.tr They argue around tiLl half past three, Then Ehe jury goes out and fails to agree; The judge sends them baclc, till their duty is done; But several hours later theytre eleven to one. Non that's just a sample of what we do, An endless variety of old and new. It may be a prowler, a burglar, a drunk; your watch or your trunk. He may steal your billfold, We set out to catch him and we do our best, We catch lhe percentage and lose the rest. You canrt catch them all, for some leave no clue, They don't leave their cards as you and I do. Sometimes they plead {uilty, and the judge will Then half the country will want him parolled. scold, They blame the depression, the new deal, the tariff, A few of the folks put the blame on the sheriff. Sometin:es there are fireworks, an officer gets shott While doing his duty, he's out on the spot. Just latel.y tv,o sherif fs were killed, By a maniac's gun, their blood was spilled. Ihen he set fire to the buildings, they had to burn, The sheriff and deputy will never return. So this is the way ttto men paid the costs ' To the wives and the chi ldren a provider r,ras lost . You cantt get excited when you're out on a call, Cause you might clo the thing you shouldnrt do at a11. You nrustnrt get nervous or Lose your head, For if someome gets shot he is a long time dead. Itrs a job requiring judgement' Patience and grit, So we have to eliminate those that don't fit. It takes a lot of time their mistakes to explain, I{hich is time wastecl without any gain. So it's quite a game, if you stay rig,ht in, You'Il get a pat on the back and a sock on the chin. But I like it all, and I'm shedding no tears' And by the grace of ?od, I'11 fill out ttro more years. --O.C. Dunlap, Sheriff �J.A. Grigg, separator man, the engine. His face and neck were burned almost to a crisp, his right eye was burned out, both legs were broken below the knees and his entire body was battered to a pulp, sup- over 40 acres before it could be extinguished. Many of the neighbors were not aware of the explosion until after the fire had been put under conto atoms trol. Williams. who was not (Taken from the 1915 issue) posedly by the fierce impact of injured, dragged the men into Submitted by Lowell the furnace door as it was the circle that had been burned blown open. The steering over and saved them from beDunlap wheel that Grigg held on to ing burned up. One of the worst accidents was found nearly a quarter of Pugh stated that tne cause that ever happened in the a mile away. of the explosion was the fact history of the county took Fred Pugh was blown back Grigg had tightened the place near the Fred Dodd over the separator, falling on that pop-valve several times as he farm, l8 miles southwest of his head. One of his arms was thought the engine was this city, when the boiler of a broken, both hands badly ing off too soon. is blowIt suppossteam threshing engine explod- burned, and besides numerous that the steam gauge was ed, killing one man and cuts and bruises over the body, ed not working in proper manseriously injuring another. is suffering from a concussion ner and failed a register the The force of the explosion of the brain. His condition is exact amount to of steam the threw large pieces of the boiler considered very serious, but it engine was really carrying. over a radius of a quarter of a is thought that this young man Grigg started in to tighten the mile and tore a good sized hole will finally recover. The body valve before they had finished in the ground where the engine of the dead man as well as the the last job of threshing, and stood. Not enough of the injured man was taken to the the wonder is, the explosion engine remained to hardly residence of Fred Dodd. The had not occured when more identify the machine. remains were later taken to the men were around the outfit. The threshing outfit was the F.D. Mann undertakine The wreck was viewed by the property of Fred Pugh of parlors. deputy state boiler inspector Doctors Merrill and Bergen, Stratton and was being moved of Denver, and he siated that from the O.C. Dunlap ranch with Mrs. Dr. Merrill and to accomplish the results, the and was traveling on the road Mrs. Clark as nurses, were engine must have carried 500 when the accident occured. called to the scene and ad- pounds of steam, so complete The crew was composed of minstered medical aid. was the destruction of the Fred Pugh, owner; J.A. Nothing is known of the dead engine. Grigg, separator man; and man, except he is said to have The only part of 'rhe engine Geo. Williams. water hauler. a cousin residing near BeaverThe fact that Williams was ton. He had been in the coun- left near the place where it riding on the water tank try but three weeks, coming stood were the two front behind the separator, pro- here from Utah. In his pockets wheels and they were bent in bably saved his life. The was found a certificate of bap- toward each other. One of the escape of Fred Pugh, the tism into the Mormon church. large rear drive wheels was owner, is nothing short of a A small !'lcte book was also blown fully 8CI feet and left miracle. Grigg, the dead man, found stating he was from upright imbedded in the was horribly burned and bruis- Hobart, Okla., and was a ground. Heavy boiler iron was ed and died five hours later in member of Hobart Lodge No. torn like paper. Scraps of iron, 40, K. of P. The lodge was pieces of wheels, were strewn dreadful agony. The accident occured at communicated with. but no over the ground for a radius of about ten o'clock in the fore- reply was received. Unless over a quarter of a mile. noon and is without doubt one relatives are located. he will be Coroner Heiserman of of the most tragic in the annals buried in the Burlington Flagler, was called, but decidof this county. Grigg, the man cemetery Saturday. ed that an inquest was unwho lost his life. was at the Immediately after the explo- necessary. Late reports insteering wheel at the time and sion, the dry grass was set on dicate that Fred Pugh, the inwas blown fully 15 rods from fire. and burned over an era of jured man, will recover. almost instantly killed Fred Pugh of Stratton seriously injured Traction engine is blown THE GOOD LIFE L975 T442 We feel that we have been very fortunate to live this good life on our little ranch in Eastern Colorado. Here, I will mention a few of the special blessings of this good country life. First, the blessing of living in this beautiful world of prairie pastures and farm land. Also we have the blessing of as pure a water supply as is found anywhere in the world. It is not full of distasteful elements and minerals as is the case with much underground water and cannot be contaminated with waste spilled into it from above ground. I also feel that we have as clean and pure air as can be found anywhere. No smoke, smell or smog to afflict our health as is the case in many areas the world over. We are also free from the noise, the clatter and the rumble of the cities, whose noise is really a hazard to health and hearing. Sometimes it makes it almost impossible to concentrate or meditate on one's thoughts, reading or prayer. We don't have the hurry and flurry that are almost continual night and day in the large cities and many suburban areas. On our little ranch we have plenty of elbow room and are not crowded at any time. Not the least among our blessings is the fact that we have plenty of useful work that we are still able to do, which gives us much pleasure in the feeling of usefulness and responsibility. Winnie and I have the feeling that we are still contributing something to the good of humanity and that we are not too much of a burden to anyone although we are in our 70's and 80's. To us, it is a thrill to ride or drive out over our beautiful pasture land, most of it as virgin as when God made it. dotted with a herd of whitefaced cows and calves contentedly grazing which will leisurely come to my call expecting some small portion of food which they will eat from my hand. Each animal is an individual with a special name, description and date ofbirth all recorded in our "cow dairy-record book." Also, my saddle horse comes from the pasture on a run on hearing my whistle, expecting some special feed. During the temperate and warm part of the year I saddle my horse early in the morning about sunrise and ride to the pasture at that most beautiful time of dav to count the cows �and calves, check on water and salt and some mornings ride a mile or so of fence to check for needed repairs. On these early morning rides one has a feeling that you are really "away from it all." I occasionally would see an antelope, a coyote, a fox or a badger. The animals like our pastures as there is no noisy traffic within sight or hearing. I imagine that they have the same feeling that I do of being alone with God and nature and with no time schedule that must be met. Among the trees and flowers at home there are always the many different birds and the bees. Winnie and I have been bird watchers for years, a very interesting hobby. Some years when the clover blooms well we keep a few hives of bees and they are always industriously at work gathering pollen and nectar from Winnie's beautiful flower garden and also cross pollinating the blossoms on the fruit trees which causes the trees to produce a more abundant crop of fruit of which we have a plentiful supply most years. As winter approaches we find our basement well stocked with many kinds of vegetables, the product of Winnie's expert culi- nary art. Old Buttercup supplies us with plentiful good Jersey milk and cream of ,&: ,: il*!r-i: *' ''l r' Waiting to catch the wheat in the header barge. which we use a lot. Yes, and the biddies keep us in eggs. several times, mending worn spots on Mother's sewing machine. The monstrous, smelly I believe that Winnie and I are in better health than the average couple ofour age. So when we sincerely count our blessings, we are certain that you will agree with us that this is still the good life. We have a little country things were almost more than we two girls and Dad could handle so it wouldn't break all of Mother's precious sewing machine needles, but it seemed like machine repair was so much better than hand sewing, that we church here close where a small group of country neighbors meet faithfully each Sunday to study and discuss the Word of God. At the close of day we watch the setting sun, There's the evening meal when the chores persisted. Slats had all been replaced where needed and newly riveted to lie tight and flat. Roller bearing cages were rechecked and sickle blades replaced along with being sure are done, The stars light up as night draws nigh, And darkness drives daylight from the sky, We thank the Lord for His guiding light, Before retiring for the night. by J. Carl Harrison HEADER AND BARGE HARVEST T443 Back view of the header and the start of the wheat stacks, right of picture. sunbonnet ever tighter when gnats tried to get under and into my hair. "Sis!" No mistake now, and out I rolled. Sliding into fresh clothes left laying on my bed. . . soft, clean underthings, an old worn blouse and well-worn overalls, with comfy shoes over old socks - and I was ready for a bite of breakfast. Mother felt it was too hard for me to keep up the day-to-day going to the field with the menfolk, but it saved quite a few dollars and Daddy bragged on me so much and so eloquently that it would be a shame to let him down. Never sick, I couldn't pretend to be, so at age eleven I felt equal to the job and it did not hurt my budding ego either. Yes, it was harvest time in the mid 1920's, done at our farm with header and barges. The Harvesting wheat, front view of the header. "Come on, Sis! Get up. Daddy's harnessing the horses." My mother's gentle cajoling for probably the third time in the early morning of each summer harvest day rolled by my ears like so much buzzing from the pesky gnats in the harvest field. It bothered me but I'd brush it off and turn over, burrowing deep into my pillow to muffle the sound, just like I tied my stacker, a Mr. Scudder, had come from Salina, Kansas. He did it every year and worked very hard for the 912.00 a day that my folks felt he richly deserved if he could keep up with the young grain pitchers who tossed the fluffy yellow straw with loaded heads up to him from the header barges to shape into a wondrous stack that would shed rain and keep its loaf-like shape for the weeks until threshing time. Well over 60, he was often curt and snappy with those young whippersnappers who tried to make his life miserable in multitudes of ways as kids often do until their respect for someone older grows. We'd had the header canvases in the house the worn head was as good as could be so all those parts of harvest would go as well as one could prepare for ahead of time. We'd even made new rope to hold up the elevator. With a dozen dried apricot halves in the pocket of my overall's big front, some soft old gloves, two glass jugs wrapped with sewn-on denim thoroughly soaked for keeping our water, my sunbonnet as well as my straw hat, and remonstrance to "keep sharp," off I'd go to meet the men in the two barges and Daddy waiting with the six horse team, ready to sally forth to the field nearby or at times three miles away. My job was to keep a header barge under the elevator and move up and down at whatever pace was needed to make it relatively easy for the person in the barge to fill it very full and evenly all over to drive to the stack. We had two plodding old teams that knew the job so well they probably could have done it without my help, but together we made an essential part of the harvest crew. And I put up with a lot to get to be part of it . . . teasing, scarily riding the top of the elevator dangling my legs while one barge moved out and another pulled under in making the barge changes, oodles of chaff down my neck and scratches on any bare spots from the itchy beards, and the long tedious hours of round and round the field. But I remember it with relish. Seeing each field become a row of several stacks all lined up for the thresher to come and moving on to another field before a hail or rain could ruin it all seemed a real life-and-death matter and I was glad to be helping. No doubt, there were some events that scared me very much like horses acting up, but my dad was equal to anything, I thought, and I never felt any �danger. If we were harvesting on the home place, dinner was a beautiful sit-down affair with ham, chicken, noodles, macaroni and cheese or meatloaf and sometimes salmon loaf as a main dish, with accompaniments of gravy, over fluffy mashed potatoes, peas or green beans from the garden, cole slaw or jello, pickles and relishes plus pie or puddings. When the field being cut was several miles from home Mother would bring the meal to the field in the back seat of the car so the horses wouldn't have to travel, but rather get to eat and rest. It always seemed to me that the horses really controlled the harvest about as much as the weather. Ifone got colicky or they grew too tired, it would mean a shutdown and when the whole affair took a month maybe, there was no time to waste, so great thoughtfulness was taken for the horses. But dinner was glorious in the field, too. About the same food, served from skillet and pans as we stood or squatted in the barge's shade, topped off by lemon meringue pie was Mother's choice. And she'd bring freshly pumped water too if the wind was blowing so we'd have cool water for the afternoon. I can't remember that coffee or other drinks were part of the meal, but it wouldn't have mattered to me. But Daddy was always so tired, he seldom ate very much, but rather stretched out on the cool cement porch floor or under a barge and rested until he knew it was time to get going again. The harvest time was grueling for he always had the full care of the horses, currying and harnessing them, while they munched the oats and hay he had placed in their mangers. Furthermore, it was he straddling that sinuous header rudder wheel all day, guiding the huge machine around the corners and over the bumpy ground up and down the mile strips of wheat. It was no wonder he grew thinner than he already was with the passing weeks and often had deep pains in his side that Mother secretly feared was appendicitis ofthe chronic kind. It never really got him down but he wasn't much to complain, so we never really knew just how miserable he might have been. I can clearly remember how thin his overalls became in the crotch. and it made me wonder how much bruising his legs took. We worried about him a lot. If we had a break-down or a shower I was rather glad. He could have a change of pace, at least for a while. These were the usual kinds of chores to do too, like milking, and hogs to slop, and windmills to keep working, plus cattle to check on frequently. And Mother was doing her thing with garden, laundry, chickens and turkeys all that time, too, plus canning some if there was anything left to put in a jar after all our wonderful meals. Now, as I look back on that time each year, I am somewhat awestricken. Folks think the combine harvest days get wild and nervewracking. They should have been around in the so-called "good old days" of harvesting with header and barges! by Dorothy C. Smith IIOME BUTCHERING T444 cious as they made their clandestine plans. Maybe I felt a bit "left out." Then, shortly before they left, two of them came back in the school house and asked me to go along and I Did! by Marie E. Greenwood THE LADIES AID T445 by Eda llartman THE LADIES AID Home butchering at the Elvin Wilson's in the late 1940's. As a young girl I remember watching and helping with the butchering. Dad always did his own butchering, usually with the help of neighbors. He built a fire under a large barrel of water, and, when it got very hot, they scalded the hog and scraped the hair off. It was then left over night to cool out. When butchering beef, they always skinned the beef and sold the hide. Next day after butchering a hog, it was brought in the house and Mom would cut it up with Dad's help. The hams and bacon were salted down to cure. Was that ever tasty meat! They put them in a big stone jar. The sausage was ground and seasoned. Because there was always too much to keep fresh, Mom made patties, cooked it and put in jars and poured fresh grease on it and sealed the jars. She also canned beef and pork. It was my sister's and my job to cut up the fat for lard into small chunks. The next day Dad would get his kettle out, build a fire under it, and dump in the cubed lard and T'was in the spring of '35 Important plans s;ere laid, Before we knew r^,hat we had done I,le started Ladies Aid, In thirty years the sales rve served The piles of quilts we made Would stagger many a weaicer soul But nd the Ladies Aid. In characters boEh great and small In wonderous plays we played No acEor out in HolLywood Coul-d touch Ehe Ladies Aid. The money made in thirty years Put Con3ress in the shade. That's nhat Ehey need co run this land. They need a Ladies Aid. From l{odeL T's to Cadillacs In every car thats made No matter what the weather is I{e wenE to Ladies Aid. i'le wa Lked, we rodq ne pushed, we pulled And oft with mud were sprayed. !^lhaE if our ha ir was s light ly down I{e got to Ladies Aid. cook it until it was melted or rendered. Then he put it through a lard press and it was stored in stone jars. Mom used the lard for cooking and baking. When it began to be too aged, she used it to make homemade soap. She kept some of the cracklings and used them in making cornbread. .:.:r. l_ ,;,i.'rr,, by Florence McConnell MISS CHANDLER DID IT! T446 The other day thoughts of teaching school at First Central back in school year L922-23 came to me. So here is a bit of reminiscing about the high school where I was teacher that year. There were nine or ten students and we occupied one corner of the north half of the building which also accommodated the 5th,6th, 7th and 8th grades. I was 21 years old and the high school students were in their mid-teens. I think Theodore Smith was eighteen years old. However, they were a studious and well-behaved bunch and we had good rapport. Maybe I was being a bit kiddish when I joined them on the swing for a group The 1922-23 First Central High School students picture. Theodore Smith, Russell Greenwood. On the swings: Gertrude Church (Sally Bauder), Clara Radspinner, Hazel Lesher, Ruth Church, Ida Smith (Boecker), and the teacher Marie Chandler Near the end of the school term, the young folk decided to have a "sneak day" like the high schools in town. I was trying to be dignified and authoritative but not suspi- and Miss Chandler (Marie E. Greenwood). On top of the swing, I to r: Chester Storrer, Bertie Austin, (Greenwood). �VONA � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource History of Kit Carson County Description An account of the resource Brief historical stories and elements from the founding and recent history of Kit Carson County, Colorado. Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Book Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Vignettes Date Created Date of creation of the resource. 1988 Subject The topic of the resource history Description An account of the resource A series of poems and short anecdotes about life on the prairie as recorded in the book History of Kit Carson County. Type The nature or genre of the resource text Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Salmons, Janice Hasart, Marlyn Smith, Dorothy Language A language of the resource English Is Part Of A related resource in which the described resource is physically or logically included. History of Kit Carson County Volume 1 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource text/pdf Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Curtis Media Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/</a> https://kccarchives.cvlcollections.org/files/original/16/431/Stratton.pdf b5a03677078f4e660b59c4a44ee7f953 PDF Text Text "Main Street" in Stratton, looking south, about 1910. Linford Building in center back. The Holloway Garage interior. W.T. Tyne and Montgomery Garage in the 1920's, now the site of Clark Storage called "The Barn", but used in many other ways during the years. In 1914 Clarence Reish built a large cement garage on the west side of the main street, Part of the Stratton Hotel dining room where meals were served family style. Ruby Ryun Pugh is at the piano and her sister, Almeda Ryun is on the right. The picture is of Amos L. Ryun. STRATTON T364 becoming the agent for Overland and Maxwell automobiles. He also built a large three story residence which Joe Collins Iater bought and used as his home. Ada Osburn and daughters Irene and Maxine lived there to care for Mrs. Nellie Collins. This establishment became a popular rooming house for railroad men prior to a disastrous fire. Later it was razed. Today the site is marked by Virginia Malone's home. In late 1914 interested persons of the Stratton community organized a Farmers Cooperative selling shares of stock. R.M. Farquhar was the first manager. Dick Rose was manager for many years and the business grew rapidly although while weathering the depression and dust bowl years the "going was tough". Today this establishment is the largest employer in the town and has ramifications in its operation that rank it among the top co-operatives in Colorado as well as the nation. Ben Davis has been manager since May 1, 1968. Stratton in 1926, looking toward the southeast; taken from the water tower; Collins Hotel in center foreground. �was elected the first mayor and the first town trustees were J.W. Borders, S.W. Messenger, E.W. Tarrant, A.D. Gemmell, D.O. Beahm, and Jes Holloway. Stratton's mayors over the years: 1919-21: J.E. Holtz; L92l-23: E.W. Tarrant; L923-24: Alex D. Gemmell; L924-25: Roy S. Wingfield; L925-28: J.W. Borders: 1928-34: Thomas J. Murphy; 1934-36: C.W. Waters, pro tem; 1936-38: I.D. Messenger; 1938-40: C.S. Wall; 1940-44: J. Ivan Howtz; 1946-48: J.R. Zur- cher; 1948-52: L.L. Pugh; 1952-58: G.L. Zutcher; 1958-64: 8.L. " Zeke" Kerl; 1964-66: Floyd Borders; 1966-68: Samuel Crocker; 1968-72: Max Toland: L972-74: Charles Nelson; 1974-82: E.L."Zeke" Kerl; 1982-86: Ezra Stratton's Men's Band beside the Stat€ Bank building. Eberhart later came into possession of the building where they conducted an implement establishment doing extensive construction to accommodate their business. In the mid '60's they sold this site to John and Dick Buhr for their grocery and locker plant. Mel Hatfield bought the business from the Buhr's and in 1966 sold it to Ed and Marlyn Dischner who have their very outstanding grocery business housed at that site. In 1915 when talk of incorporation of An early 1900's view of Stratton, looking north. In 1915 the Holloway Brothers built a large cement garage on the east side of the main street and became agents for Chewolet. That same year Collins and Blair opened a hardware store on the west side of the main avenue which they later sold to White and Mavity. B.M. Johnson was a later purchaser of this business. Carlos Dillon and Bob Stratton began, E.W. Tarrant was named chairman of the movement. On March 2, 1915, an election was held between 1 and 4 p.m. at the Linford Hall to vote for incorpora- tion. The vote was 64 in favor of and 49 against incorporation of the Town of Stratton. The incorporation papers were filed with the county clerk on March 15, 1915. This move was followed by city elections in ensuing years. The first election occurred on April22,1919 at the Linford Hall. J.E. Holtz Yoder; 1986-90: Roy Tatkenhorst. In 1916 J.N. Bradley built a large two story structure north of the Holloway Garage. The main floor housed the William Long Hardware Store, with living quarters on the upper level as well as office space for Dr. Cavey. In time the hardware store closed and Mrs. Florence Cavey operated a dry goods and variety store there for a time. Later the Frozen Food and Locker Plant operated by John and Dick Buhr occupied the building. Today the upper floor is apartments. A second disastrous fire in 1918 destroyed a home and the post office. These were replaced by brick buildings which housed the post office and the First National Bank for many years. In 1968 the post office was moved to a new permanent location at 313 Colorado Avenue. On November 4, 1918, the Federal Reserve Bank Charter was issued to officially create the First National Bank of Stratton The first cashier was M.E. Denver, president, E.W. Tarrant, directors: T.W. Triplett, E. McChesney, and Jes R. Holloway. Until its move to a new building dedicated November, 1962, the First National Bank was located at its original site. Many other businesses have occupied the old post office and bank buildings since, but in 1988 the town hall with its offices and court room moved to the bank building. The Stratton Spotlight and Golden Plains Insurance offices are housed in the old post office in the 100 block of Colorado Avenue. The minutes of town board of the 1920's when the board was accountable to only themselves were brief and to the point with little explanation. Today minutes are by Dorothy C. Smith STRATTON T355 One of the earliest fire ensines at Stratton. The famous Collins Hotel with its fabulous sunken garden which employed a full time gardener. �three year old sister died from scarlet fever at this time.) In the early years every home had a windmill or a hand pump and there were few if any trees for many years. One individual who planted many trees all over the town was Raymond Hughes, Vena Scheierman's brother. Until the first town well was drilled trees took second place. The wells which serve Stratton originated when the first well permit was procured in 1919. The town fathers were foresighted enough to procure four lots for the watertower site that year and paid for two in 1919 and two in 1920. In May of 1921, R. Salisbury, an engineer, appeared before the town board with information regarding the probable cost of installing water and a light system in the town, but, although local citizens were interviewed and A 1920's airplane view of Stratton and the "Golden Belt Highway" looking east . . now Highway 24. was 421. On February 24, L920, an ordinance was passed which prohibited the exhibition of motion or moving pictures and the opening of other places of amusement on Sunday, The west side of the Collins Hotel built in 1917. violators to be fined no less than $5.00 or more than $300.00 and costs of prosecution, and to go to jail until all costs and fines were paid. Although 88 petitioners tried to have this measure rescinded, the town board ignored the petition. In the fall of 1930 an epidemic of scarlet fever struck the community. And on November 16, the town ordered that all schools, churches. theaters. and so on be closed to check the spread of the dread disease. But on November 23, by order of the physicians, the town board lifted the ban on closing the school and decided to allow them to reopen. This disease was a terrible scourge in the years before modern day medicines. (Your author recalls things like this vividly for her ,'' ar.... meetings held, nothing transpired in this regard. Then in November of 1921, brave souls that the town board must have been, they awarded a general contract to Gordon Construction of Denver for the waterworks at $26,950, a $5,700 contract to Chicago Bridge and Iron Works for the water tower; and a $1,590 contract to Eureka Fire Hose Company, Denver for fire apparatus. James A. Reisch, Stratton, was given the contract to dig the wells for $2.25 per foot. Drilled in 1922, that well was located where the water tower currently stands. The first water bond was to "Construct Waterworks for Fire and Domestic Purposes" and was made possible by an ordinance passed in August, 1921, which the people of the town of Stratton voted on: 53 votes "for",43 votes "against". The Sundberg Garage with Chrysler auto sales and gas pumps was built in 1923, with a home in the south side and daughter's apartment across the front above. This building has known other uses through the years. . sale barn site, etc. But today it is known around town as "The Barn", a storage facility. At some time through the years a broom factory was established in a brick building behind what is now the Co-op station. For two years this was in operation, then in 1924 a northeast room in the factory building was ;i&w*15r$g A pleasant country home north of Stratton built by the Joe Garners in the 1920's. detailed, long and copious, in order to better document the town'g proceedings which are under scrutiny by not only the local people but the state also. But those early minutes reveal some interesting detail. By the 1920 census figures the town's population .L Coming into town from the north this is what one saw in 1918. A 1940's harvest scene on the Colorado Avenue approach to the elevators where waiting in line to unload was a many hour experience. �rruLcu uP ruf a Jau. Many fine homes were being built in this period, too, and the town board minutes note that it would Iike to haul dirt from any basements to the city street for use in building them up. Some of those building new homes at this time were families named Fuller, Borders, Weddington, Tarrant, Dages, Long, and the Gerke's, who lived at the farm now owned by Kenneth Pottorff, a showplace in its heyday; even then they had electricity, a bathroom, and forced air heat. The town had a marshall named William Hoeck who was very busy in those days but his pay was determined per dog destroyed! In the town board meeting on January 3I,1932, the board voted to pay 300 per hour for a man and 500 an hour for a man with his team, and one man and two teams 700 an hour. Apparently a job with the city was prized in that day. In February of L922 E.A. Brown of Kansas City estimated for the town that bringing electric current the 18 miles from Burlington would cost $19,488, and although the board's consensus was that this was much needed, it was quite some time before the project was accomplished. One big event July 8, 1929, was a terrible train wreck on Spring Creek west of town when lives were lost with some bodies not found for a time. This was so traumatic that people talk of the occasion yet today. But 't t \ apparently the railroad was soon running again, for the Stratton Press carried advertisements for a special round trip by Dorothy C. Smith STRATTON T356 excursion to Denver or Colorado Springs for $3.00 on the Rock Island by the next summer. The papers were full of farm sale ads . . sometimes three as week . . so times An influential couple in Stratton's history: Mr. and Mrs. Ray H. Calverley. ./:" f' tfria '$V W,n', A 1962 train derailment that occurred in town between the Kirk highway and the Stratton Equity co-op fertilizer plant. "& ."Va44. A big time in Stratton especially for the kids . "fur#WWm ittr' . installation of the swimming pools . 1973. were growing more economically depressed. The names of G.W. Waters, L.G. McChesney and Doctors Cavey and Keen appeared often in social news and advertising. Two barber shops were running competitive ads. Arrangements were made for a golf tourney on the Stratton course north of town on May 30 and there were numerous entrants. The Stratton Press was taking subscriptions at 91.50 per year. Several oil companies were leasing land in the area, among them Phillips and Gypsy Oil. Excitement was hiehl �directors. In 1950 the system was in place in Stratton. By 1956 having natural gas in the area became a reality when Kansas-Nebraska Gas was granted a 25 year franchise on March 1. In accord with the times an early 1956 ordinance granted the privilege of Social Security to town employees. In October 1962 discussions were frequent about a zoning 1:--'= ordinance but no action was taken. As early as February, 1959, the town began retaining an attorney, Dick Thomas of Burlington. In this era the Stratton Mobile Home factory was in full swing with 25 or so employees at the lst Street site across from today's Stratton Equity Cooperative hardware dock. The Zurchers were responsible for this business venture. October 1962 sawthe formal opening of the The lineup for Stratton Day's famous barbeque. city at 250 per gallon. The city was proudly maintaining its image the city library in 1966 by budgeting $525 for outhouses nuisances; because of many complaints, these were ordered abandoned and owned by the First National Bank helped the Iibrary greatly. Moved to the 331 New York in 1936 when the town board declared The American Legion Flag corps always heads Stratton's parades: left to right: Max Toland, Sam Rueb, Wayne Greenwood, Ray Schiferl. removed. Erv Jeppe received payment for orange paint he used in marking curbs and parking spaces, so some curb and gutter was in place. In August 1939 Mountain States Telephone and Telegraph received a 20 year franchise in the town. The town purchased blocks 3 and 4 in July, 1930, for $55.89 and received a quit claim deed for land that was the future park. MSA Federated Women's Club worked to procure a WPA project and funds necessary for planting upward of 100 trees. The club members and their husbands planted and carried water to start those trees. The next spring $250 was approved to pipe a fountain and install hydrants plus build a tennis court with WPA labor. At the same time the WPA was utilized in oiling 7 blocks of Colorado Avenue, the main street, and grading and graveling 30 blocks of side streets. Rotary Club began in this era. Lions Club came later in the 1970's. Celebrating Colorado's Centennial along with the nation's bicentennial was a memorable time. In March of 1934 Stratton's famous girls' basketball team played in the state championship game at a Stratton hosted tournament and went on to Wichita for national finals. In spite of "depression" talk the matter of an airport for Stratton was under consideration, yet the town board voted as an economy measure to turn off all lights on the streets except at each church, two at the Collins Hotel and those on the west side of the main street as well as at the Highway 24 intersection. Total Town of Stratton expenditures in 1933 were $8,582.21 which included the water bond payment. The 1988 total expenditures of the city were in excess of $200,000. Some contrast! At one point in 1935 the town had water problems for a gtocery filed a claim for damages to a compressor because they were not told the water was being shut off. Costs of $41.00 were paid. The need for water was increasing, and in July, 1935 a new pump was installed. The Rock Island Railroad was granted permission to obtain water from the First National Bank of Stratton in its new building. A significant mid-60's event was installing the swimming pool, owned by Stratton and located in the city park but leased and operated by the Stratton Swimming Pool Association. The town first began to assume some financial responsibility for The war years were trying for all and rations books for town vehicles were extra hard to procure. In November of 1946 Inland Utilities appeared at town board meetings regarding a new lighting system, and on January 20, t947, a contract was signed to provide this service. A new town well was drilled and pump installed in 1948 at a total cost of $4,619.75. Crops were good and prices high, so things looked promising. But people complained to the town board about the same things they do today: rowdy young people; running dogs and licensing of dogs; upstairs tenants in downtown apartments tossing bottles, water and refuse out of windows; occasional cesspool or sewer trouble; the securing of stop signs for intersections; hiring and firing marshals; and on and on. Problems of the times do not seem too different over the years. In 1949 Stratton became a member of the Colorado Municipal League and soon requested information on starting a sewer system, it estimated cost and the availability of any government funds for financing. In steps which followed with petition elections, Frank Liebl was elected secretary of the sewer that purpose. Free housing in a building Avenue home in the former Seventh Day Adventist Church, the library now occupies an historic landmark of the community. Today when Stratton's 1988 population is estimated at 654, we are celebrating the 100th anniversary of its platting and becoming an early 1888 frontier town. With this story we have tried to recount things that will excite your personal memories, helping you appreciate the genius and effort of the hardy, farsighted persons, the events and circumstance that led to this time in our history. If you recall persons such as Mrs. Blakeman, a pianist at the theater; Dr. Chamberlain, a dentist; the Chautauqua or the Hillman touring troop which came to town especially during Stratton Days; the lovely dress shops of Mrs. Mamie Weddington and Esta Bowers or Hazel Tuttle; of Wolgamott's ice plant and Hubbel's shoe repair shop; the lawyer Ikey Friedman; talk of the KKK cross burnings in the 1920's; that Stratton had its own "jet set", members of which wore tuxedos and formals to its evening and cocktail parties; of great meat markets run through the years by Lulu Dack, Hugo Stegman or the Kruse's and later by the Preedy's; of a 5 and 100 store; of five groceries at once in town and 3 or 4 cream- eries; that the West Side Hotel was still operating in the 1920's as Tressie Pugh does because she had to stay there once when she was detained from getting home to the ranch north of town; that upstairs in the Linford Building was a beautiful dance floor and the Odd Fellows met there: that the hardware store carried coffins; and how wonderful it was to visit the confectionery/bakery by the pool hall which was near where Jones Sporting Goods is today, and on and on . . then we have achieved the objective we had in mind when we started to write this story of Stratton. Sincerest thanks are due those who reminisced, or spoke of long ago stories, or told of the early years; to the town clerks over the years who wrote notes from which we drew many of the facts; to old newspapers and diaries; and to wonderful critics who helped by reacting to the story as it was being �written. Without you this would not be much. As it is, there is so much we have not said! by Dorothy C. Smith STRATTON PICTURES T357 :' 'Y,3, id'l'',, ' ::' :i- " _ W:X r,- b-- l --.--" -, .{ __.5=_-\ A parade entry when Limon was an arch footbsll rival. ll 0uE's Dodie Crocker in front of her clothing store in the Linford building before she sold it to become "The Family Affair" and they in turn to "Someplace Special" as it is today. September 1987, Mayor Roy Tatkenhorst received the official recognition of the Colorado lottery role in building the gazebo in the town park. Mel Grantham, Colorado State Lottery Representative made the presentation at homecoming. With the coming of I 70 the complexion of the south side of Stratton changed . . . the Stratton Equity Co-op's "Country Store". �{*-a"'l t{&s, tt A locomotive after the trains ran less and less. l! ':.a:.a;:,., ".6i\ More signs of the weather and its action in Kit Carson County and Stratton . . . thistles. The Stratton Bicentennial Committee, Zeke Kerl, Kenneth Scheierman, and Ida Boecker, receiving the Bicentennial Flag in 1976. Rotarians Gene Clark and Ugene Brown sacking candy for Santa's delivery some Christmas time. A Stratton Day Homecoming parade moving down Colorado Avenue. The girls'basketball team in 1933: Front, I to r: Miss Idris Phipps, Calista Schiferl, Leva Campbell, Stella Sholes, Helen Bardwell, Lucia Gerke, Lilah Druse. Back row: Violet Hernbloom, Sylvia Krauth, Netta Bertrand, Evelyn Ackerman, Magdelen Leoffler, Doris Beck, Coach Robert Murfin, forerunner of 1934 State Champions. �Burlingt on ne pu b lic an, August 7, 1903 Trunks and traveling Mtllisackg. *" w &4,''. & to: IjooalQood _qu-rlity and toir y_ejqh{€ on at Abbott'e. i ; A 320 aere ranch in tho Weet end jof tbe ibunty for sale. An ib'aldl rncs of water at cix to te; fcrt.' 'I{or priee aod termt iuqurrr at.Itepu$[ioai offics. Stratton observed Colorado's Centennial on August 1,1976, with a big bash sponsored by the Stratton Garden Club. Many familiar faces in this crowd watching the awarding of prizes for the day, before the birthday cake was cut. For Mnrtland f,ump and Jnpeflqi uut cod, posts, wire and atl llndt oJ building msteiial ca.ll at, the oflcc bf Iroster .Lumber Co. Burhnqton, Colo ,Groaeriee coet you F great deal in p vear. Tou .can sove a D.rce 8um oB youi groclery bili if fou let ug setl it. C. M. ilillisack. [heap Excursion fiate TO TFIE EA$T GffiEAT ROCK ISLAI'IT} ROUTI A 1930 banquet given by Ray B. and Julia Hoskins, the IHC dealer in Stratton, after the sale of one freight car load of IHC cream separators. Note the separator in the far background. BPECI.AL TRAINS ONI' NICHT oUT 'r'O OHICACC. Ttclrrr: also good oD regul&r tfalDs. olct,Y DrliEcrt r,ir'rr: Fnoru cr)LoRAE.SPIiII,TGS AND MANITOU. !f . II. Fj itTll. G. A. P. D.. Donver, Oolo&irln E. W. l:)ornDcon, A. G, n ,1.. Topekr Kat' John Sebastlsn G. P. A., Chltsco. IU. I I I i l 'rVHffAT WANTED. , (,'boice milling wlteat w::nte.,J 'fop rnnrket pnr:t. .I. W. Pnxror,l, Pr6r, itlre rllll. �theater was open only 2 or 3 years. Dad and Uncle Bob ran a roller skating rink in the building for a while. Aunt Kitten, Uncle Bob, and Bobbie lived behind the stage in the 3 dressing rooms and the film winding room during this time. On Thanksgiving Day the members of my mother's fanily (she, Aunt Ruth, and Aunt Kitten were sisters) had Thanksgiving dinner on the theater stage with a large table made of saw-horses covered with boards and sheets. At least 20 of us enjoyed this great celebration. Seen through the eyes of a child, what a glamorous place to live and to eat a special dinner. Our house with plain furniture seemed very ordinary in contrast. The roller skating business did not last but a couple of years. The Stratton High School then took over the theater for graduation exercises, plays, and to use an a gym for both boys and girls basketball games and practice. My brothers, sisters, and I played basketball on this court. Sometimes dances were held on Saturday nights. During W.P.A. days, when the new school addition was built, a g5rmnasium was included in this work. The old theater building was torn down shortly after this Shades of the 1930's but this was in 1977! school improvement was completed. by Belle (Beck) Danforth a l,.l f'" i*" r,l' l'. {t ;:t PROTECT' 8*' I DtSr ,l'ffi ,l *tr.,,, , Later day fire protection district equipment. TITE MAJESTIC THEATER AND ANNEX ice cream parlor with my Aunt Ruth Dages as proprietor. She sold all kinds ofwonderful T358 I was 6 years old in 1919 when we moved to Stratton from the farm about 20 miles south of town. Soon after that my father, Lewis Beck, and uncle Bob Collins built the Majestic Theater and Annex just north of what is now Bob Miller's store in the business district. Bob has old cars parked there now. The theater faced the west with recessed double doors in the middle and large windows on each side and a lobby all across the front. The ticket window was directly in front of the doors with entrances on both sides of the ticket window. Double doors on the north side of the lobby opened into the Annex when there was a movie showing. The annex was an ice cream and soft drinks, also sandwiches or popcorn if you were hungrier. Booths lined the south wall and there were those beautiful 'ice cream' tables and chairs through the middle. About 3 years later Aunt Ruth married Bill Dew. who worked for his uncle in Dack's Meat Market and they moved to Colorado Springs and the Annex was closed. Later Ada Osburn had a cafe in the building. The latest movies were shown in the theater and sometimes dances were held after the show on Saturday night. John Calkins or Percy Collins operated the projector, my dad sold the tickets, Uncle Bob played the violin, Aunt Kitten (his wife) played the piano, my mother took the tickets at the door. When we children became tired ofthe show and sleepy, we laid down on a comforter on the floor. behind where Mother sat, and went to sleep. Times were hard and monev was short. The �STRATTON T369 THE STRATTON POST OFFICE T360 To begin this history we take the liberty to quote from Nanatiues of Stratton, Colorado by Mrs. Dessie Cassity who lists the Stratton Postmasters as follows: Louis Roether, appointed September 11, 1888; George Hobart, appointed February 26, 1889; James T. Roberts, appointed March 24, 1906, Williem R. Smith, appointed December 29, 1906; Joseph M. Smith, appointed July 22,1908; Eva B. Hamilton, appointed May 1, 1913; M. Gladys Pugh, appointed November 2, 192L, name changed to Quinn, December 17,1925;8. Velma Logan, appointed April 25, 1934; Marie E. Greenwood, appointed April 15, 1943, serving presently. (These names are �Colo. and Dave Meyers from Colorado Springs during the interim before the present Postmaster, Geraldine L. Troyer, was ap- pointed on Aug. 3, 1984. federal government. A contract was awarded to Lloyd L. Pugh who constructed a new brick building with a parking lot at 313 Colorado added to Routes 2 and 3. Rex Powers served as rural carrier from 1924 to Dec. 31, 1959 when he retired. Fritz Kruse, who was the substitute at that time, served the route until Rich May received his appointment Sept. 1960. Fritz Kruse continued as substitute until he retired, Nov. 1966. Then Ray Schiferl subbed until he became acting postmaster Nov. 30, 1971. Other substitutes for Route 2 have been Darrell Fox and Jan Fox. Guy J. Brown was another 37 years career postal employee. He began carrying mail at Lake Village, Ark., then Jaspar, Mo. and Timpas. Colo. He came to Stratton, Colo. in 1936 and served on Route 3 until he retired Dec. 31 1959. He and Rex Powers retired at the same time. Norman Smith was his substitute and continued to carry until Jim McConnell was appointed Sept. 3, 1960. He continued to sub until Jim retired. Norman Smith began substituting for Guy Brown when he moved to town in 1948. After Brown retired Dec. 31, 1959, Norman carried the mail until Jim McConell was appointed Sept. Stratton Post Office was dedicated Aug. 10, Jim retired at the end of March 1985. On 1968. March 27,1985 Norman Smith was appointed regular carrier on Route 32. Fred Erbert is his substitute. Over the years the Post Office was located in various buildings a hardware store, - merchandise furniture store, general store, and a hotel. The quinns moved the Post Office to the front of their building, now designated as 125 Colorado Ave, and lived in :t,.i::::-,.:r.:. ",. . .. Stratton Post Office in 1988. the back. When Mrs. Logan was appointed, she moved the Post Office to the Linford Building, corner of Main St. and Colo. Ave. Mrs. Greenwood continued operations in that building until it was sold by the owners, the Bradshaw family. The Greenwoods then bought the Quinn building and the Post Office returned to 125 Colo. Ave., July 1, 1946. During the 1960's the Post Office Dept. instituted an Improved Mail Service progrem part of which was providing the Post Offices with more ample and permanent facilities. Under a lease-construction program, a local citizen would construct the building, paying taxes in the community, and leasing it to the The Linford Building, site of the Stratton Post Office from 1934 to 1946. Ave. The move was made and the new It would be impossible to name all the postal employees so to avoid the risk of ;-a*,. M ffiwxex,r Bob and Joan Nowak on a Sept. 1951, Stratton Day float presented by the post office. omitting someone I will mention only a few. According to Mrs. Cassity, Milo Davis and James L. Dages were two of the earlier carriers. There was a Thomas L. Van Hook who served as rural carrier several years before 1920. One of the most outstanding carriers was Noble L. Bradshaw. Appointed in 1911, he served for 40 years, Stratton until 1938, then Burlington until 1941. His con- veyances consisted of horse and buggy, mailcart, sled, seven Model T Fords, and several other makes of cars. Another faithful carrier was Raymond Hughes, appointed about 1920. When the snowdrifts were too deep, Raymond would stike out with a team and sled, go as far as he could by nightfall, stay all night with a farmer family, rest and feed his team, and complete the route the next day. About this time the Stratton mail carriers went together and had a snowmobile made. It was a kind of motorized sled that climbed over the drifts and they took turns using it. When I went into the Post Office, there were three rural routes and one Star Route going to Kirk, Colo. Route 1, extending northwest and southeast of town was served by Joel C. Bradshaw. Route 2 reached out northeast of town above the county line and was served by Rex P. Powers, and Route 3 was laid out southwest of town and was Rural carriers out of Stratton Post Office, Novem- ber, 1971: Rich May, Jim McConnell, Tom Conarty. dates were obtained for me by Representa- tive Donald G. Brotzman when he was serving in Washington, D.C., May 1963) Continuing with the above statistics, Marie E. Greenwood served as Postmaster until her retirement, Nov. 30, 1971. Ray W. Shiferl was acting Postmaster until his appointment on Feb. 4, 1972. He retired January 31, 1984. The Post Office was managed by two Officers-inCharge, Michele McHenry from Gunnison, Simon, David Finely, Norman Zogg. Tom Conarty retired June 31, 1978. At this time Route I was discontinued and the mileage served by Guy J. Brown. The Star Route carrier was Earl AtkinsJoel C. Bradshaw began his career as rural mail carrier when he started serving as 3, 1960. He was Jim's substitute then until On the Star Route other carriers besides Earl Atkins were Bill Thyne, Cecil Niles, Russell Spurlin, Bill Ehlers, Duane Spurlin, Ruth Spurlin, Leona Meyers, Audrey Eisenbart, Walter Meyers (17 years), Kathy Thompson, and Allen Greenwood. When Ruseell Spurlin was on the route it was extended from Kirk, through Joes, and to Cope, Colo., April 13, 1964. Elmer C. Kruse was another long-term employee. He was appointed post office clerk by Velma Logan, Oct. 1, 1941 and retired Nov. 30, 1971. He and Marie E. Greenwood retired at the same time. At Elmer's retirement party he remarked that at the time he took office, Iocal first-class mail that stayed in the office could be sent for one cent an ounce, letters on local rural routes cost two cents an ounce, and out-of-town letters were three cents an ounce. Over the years some of the other clerks were Albert Kimminau, Ray W. Schiferl, Joe Simon, Tillie Kruse, Betty Fox, Ray Droste, and Lucille Liebl. Ray Schiferl was associated with the Postal Service from 1952 until Jan. 31, 1984. He substituted on all three rural routes until he was appointed substitute Post Office Clerk in Sept. 1960. He served as acting-postmaster from Nov. 30. 1971 to Feb. 4. L972. He then received his appointment as Postmaster under the New Merit System established by the Postal Service. He retired Jan. 31, 1984. I would be remiss if I did not mention the substitute for his brother, Noble Bradshaw, Post Office custodians who so faithfully scrub, wax, and dust in the building, then Sept. 1, 1917. He substituted on several other routes until he got his regular appointment on Route 1, May 1, 1938. He retired June 30, 1955 after more than 37 years of service. He estimated that he had traveled approximately 600,00 miles during this time. Ray Schiferl, who was his substitute at that time, served the route until Tom Conarty was appointed Aug. 1, 1955. Other substitutes on the route besides Ray Schiferl were Joe Liebl, Joe water the lawn and the flowers in the planters out in front. Leona Meyers served for many years and now Kathy Thompson. Leona also subbed as star route carrier for her husband, Walt Meyers, and Kathy Thompson subs for Allen Greenwood. Bonnie Miller was another lady who took care of the premises. Terri Troyer, appointed Postmaster, Aug. 3, 1984, is the friendly lady at the window these days. She and her two genial clerks, �Lucille Liebl, appointed Nov. 11, 1973, and Ray Doste, appointed Oct. 12, 1974, are the ones responsible for keeping our mail rolling to its destination. After reviewing this history, Mrs. Troyer wishes to add these words of greeting: "The current Postal Personnel considers it both an honor and a privilege to serve the proud and friendly community of Stratton" by Marie E. Greenwood STRATTON PUBLIC LIBRARY T36l Legion Auxiliary were active in assisting with some library events and gifts. During the 1970's the main individual responsible for keeping the library abreast of developments in the state library connection and managing the local library was Doris Peters. Her devotion was exemplary and she served as long as health allowed. It was she who really interested the city in assuming some responsibility for financing of the library. Others who became involved after Doris left the library were Willa Peters, Darice Hostetler and Flossie Reeder. Membership in the High Plains Regional Library Service System, Greeley, and the services of the Northeast Colorado Bookmobile became essential in providing a large array of materials for the library's clientele. Purchase of the historic Seventh Day Adventist Church in 1984 with some city revenue sharing funds started the process that led to a move into a larger and more desirable location for the facility. Although remodeling had been undertaken without outside assistance other than community and city support, an early 1985 application for a Title II LSCA grant was honored by the Colorado State Library, providing monies to remodel and furnish the new site at 331 New York Avenue. The Century Club added further funding, demonstrating the commu- nity enthusiasm for the project. Rewiring, insulating, plumbing, refinishing and painting, a new roof, construction of shelving and desks, carpeting and new sidewalks and a remp preceded the formal dedication held on October 13, 1985. MSA Club further demon- Stratton Public Library housed in the historic landmark: Seventh Day Adventist Church of 1913. strat€d its interest by providing sod to landscape the area. A uniquely charming library sign designed and made by Will Morton, noted carousel restorer and artist, marks the historic site so heavily used by today's patrons. A 1987 Title I LSCA grant was received which made possible the purchase of a computer and its peripherals for use by library patrons with computer expertise as well as for librarian use. That the computer speedily links the local library with the loan services available through High Plains Regional Library Service System became possible, also. As this is written in 1988, Jewell Banister is the amiable librarian, assisted by Esther Lewis, a Green Thumb volunteer, and Dorothy Lucas who gives many hours of volunteer help. A University of Colorado architectural Doris Peters when librarian at Stratton Public Library. Establishment of Stratton Public Library began in an informal fashion in the 1950's when interested and devoted women recognized the need such a facility could fill and proceeded to organize their own books and materials into a small library collection. Gifts and some purchases with their own funds further enlarged the holdings. The first site of the library was a small room in the American Legion Hall, and some of those persons most involved were Dessie Cassity, who never flagged in her enthusiasm for the project, Patti Best, Rena Borders, Florence McConnell and Lucile Lepper Clark, who all took turns acting as librarian a few hours each week. In time the library was moved to a small building on Colorado Avenue where it was for many years. MSA Club and American student drew plans for an equal-sized facility as a class project which he presented to the library. The day is speedily approaching when consideration of making that addition may be necessary. by Dorothy Smith L945. . . GREATEST GRAIN CROP T362 Kit Carson County in 1945 became the wheat and barley center of the Middle West. Two days after the harvest began the elevators at Stratton were overflowing with wheat running as high as 55 bushels an acre and winter barley to more than 95 bushels per acre. With at least two weeks of harvesting A big harvest meant standing in line on Stratton's main street. Looking north toward the elevator. left, two of Stratton's largest garages were being used as storage space. Those rapidly filled up and farmers piled the precious grain on the ground with no immediate transportation relief in sight. A heavy rainstorm at that time would no doubt have caused a loss of thousands of bushels of grain. Farmers being handicapped with the lack ofsufficient harvest hands worked from earlv in the morning until long after sunsei, endeavoring to save the record-breaking crop. It was estimated that there were 80,000 acres in wheat and 70,000 acres in barley in the county. The following article taken from the Rocfry Mountain Nerus gives a very good account of the county's bumper crop: "With the rich prairie's soil yielding better than for many years past, the only sour note in the harvest picture is an inability to obtain railroad cars to move the heavy crops to the markets. 'I haven't seen anything like it in my years', Dick Rose, manager of the Farmers Equity Co-operative, said. 'I haven't seen so much grain, but I don't believe more than one car has been shipped out. The three Stratton elevators are full and the bins are filling up. Grain is being piled on the ground.' "J.R. Zurcher, mayor of this small farming community located in the center of sprawling Kit Carson County, had the same story to tell as did County Commissioner Tom Kennedy and Dr. James L. Keen, president of the Rotary Club. The harvest got underway two weeks ago and will continue another three weeks they said. The wheat is standing well and though there is a shortage of manpower, the huge wheat crop is being rapidly combined. With farms running from 160 to 1,500 acres or more, many individual farmers are harvesting in excess of 50,000 bushels. C.D. Pottorff, who farms 1,500 acres two miles south ofhere, is averaging 50 bushels ofwheat to the acre, and Joe Droste, who has 1,400 acres in wheat six miles northeast of Stratton, it getting about 35 bushels of wheat and 45 bushels of winter oats to the acre. "'This will be our biggest year since 1940', R.O. Woodfin of Burlington, Kit Carson County Extension Agent since 1933, said. 'There is a lot of 40-bushel average wheat in the county. The county average should run about 25 bushels to the acre, which is exceptionally good. We are getting a five-year crop of wheat barley in one year, as barley usually runs about 12 bushels to the acre. This year the farmers are averaging about 55 bushels. One field owned by Leo Dusharm who farms north of Seibert is getting 95 bushels of barley to the acre.' Woodfin attributes the heavy barley yields to a mild winter last year and the use of two barley varieties, Ward and Reno, which are adapted to Colorado's eastern plains.'The lack of cars for shippping purposes can become very �serious if rain comes,'Mr. Woodfin said.'The weather is ideal for the harvest, but if it rains there will be losses in the wheat piled on the ground.' "'A few years ago people were calling this a dust bowl area,'Mayor Zurcher said.'I wish everyone in Colorado could see this haryest. You have to see it to believe it!"' We have seen great crops piled on the ground since, rows of grain bins on farms, and watched as huge silo-like elevators were erected in all the towns of the county. The transportation of grain has changed to accommodate the passing of the Rock Island Railroad in this area, and trucking is commonplace now. But there are many persons who recall vividly that 1945 year with the bounteous golden harvest, the essence of prosperity and joyous reaping. by the editors STRATTON PUBLIC SCHOOL T363 Tradition says that the first school in Stratton was held in a small frame building that had originally been a butcher shop, located on the spot at the corner of Colorado and Main where today's DG Liquors is located. Seven pupils taught by Charlie Dickinson attended. Very soon that building became too small and in 1895 a two story school building was erected on the area where the school stood for so many years. Pictures of the early Catholic Church show this considerable building in the background. According to records, Miss Ruth McCoulogby taught there in 1896 having the Roberts girls, Hazel, Inez and Susie, Manda Buller, Billie and Clara Lipford, and Albert Bradshaw as pupils. In the early 1900's Mrs. Jennie Wellman became the teacher. Her ntme appears consistently in Kit Carson 3rd and 4th grades, Stratton schools, 1923. County school records. Schools involved little expense in those days even if the money was hard to come by. Teachers and pupils handled all the work of modern day custodians and made sure there was fuel and that fires were kept as well as brought the drinking water. You know where the bathrooms were. Teachers salaries were so modest then as to be almost non-existent. By 1910 so many people had settled in the area that a larger building was necessary. Then a b rick building that has been torn down in recent years was built on the same location to replace the two story frame building used for 15 years. As athletics became part of the school program, space for playing floors was found in buildings about town. Many recall playing basketball in the Majestic Theater, located just north of present day Miller Store. This had a large floor suitable for not only the theater showings but dances and use as a gym floor. It was in those years of the 1930's that girls' basketball predominated over boys. Stratton girls went to a national tournament in 1934, and, although they lost in the early games, the town of Stratton was given great "press" in the newspapers and the laurels that came to those players is still recalled by many. A demise of girls basketball carne when injury or illness caused the Colorado school authorities of that day to drop all girls' competition from then on until the late 1970's when they were reinstated. Under the WPA programs begun in the 1930's by the US government a cement building which housed a modern gymnasium and four elementary classrooms was erected north of the brick building. Until 1961 this glrm was home floor for the many fine boys basketball teams flourishing in the school in those years. The home team locker was located in the furnace room under the stage. That stage with heavily gold fringed green velour stage curtains was the scene of many splendid productions in the form of class plays as well as the renowned Drama Club .,J productions under the direction of Mrs. Kivia Slade who is remembered as a teacher of mathematics and Latin during nineteen years at Stratton High School starting in 1942. Christmas operettas, National Assembly programs, productions by local clubs and organizations were also performed before the footlights of that stage. Many students recall painting the setting backdrops in preparation for a play or cleaning the footlight trough and replacing the lightbulbs. During the '50 and '60's this gym was the setting for elaborate Junior-Senior proms. Lots of romancing occurred behind those stage set flats, no doubt. In 1951 the two buildings were joined together by another structure which made The building which replaced Stratton's first school; used continuously until 1977 as a school. possible a school shop and its finishing rooms, a music department and a school lunchroom and its kitchen pantry. Previously the hot �Superintendent J. Oscar Smith carried the plans forth. Building was done on an almost sacred spot to past football players . . . the football field. Impressive dedication ceremonies were conducted on March 5, 1961, following the move into the building in January, which was done in one day with students managing the many trucks as by Dorothy Smith Today's Stratton Elementary School in 1988. lunch program had begun under the direction expectations of those persons so dubious kitchen to which everyone trooped at noontime. There was no shop program until J. Oscar Smith was hired in 1950 with this program in mind for the community school. The music program had no area of its own, but with the forming of a Music Club and the funds they generated for instruments and just come about. Stratton Schools under the direction of Superintendent Arthur G. Wat- of Marge Brown in the American Legion band uniforms, Joseph Lombardi in 1950-51, was able to organize the band that originated bands of today. Home economics had a program for a few years in the late 1930's but during World War II cutbacks this was dropped. In 1950 Dorothy C. Smith initiated a new department housed in the basement of the high school. One must recall that this year was the period of school reorganization and Stratton schools were trying to meet the The Stratton School pupils in 1915. about the wisdom of consolidation which had son at that time did a great deal to augment its programs and revitalize its offerings especially at high school levels. In the mid-'50's as state standards for school buildings became more restrictive, the constant cost of keeping the old high school building "under code" was studied again and again, and the feeling prevailed that a new high school building was needed. This was the era when St. Charles Parochial School was coming into the public school. With well thought out local plans, the services of an architect and bonding company and all the preliminaries needful to promote and produce this new buiding, the school board and �buildings, however. It's the story of people and activities. But without writing a volume of its own one could not mention it all either. Suffice it to say that Stratton Schools have a reputation for offering a diverse curriculum which has prepared many students for the college and vocational training they later pursued, that Stratton has had its share and more of outstanding football, basketball and wrestling teams, that music is an integral part ofthe school activity each year, that the home economics department and its related Future Homemakers of America organization has provided many state and district officers as well as one national officer, that the shop students are famous over the area for the splendid products of their efforts, that science fairs and related activities occur frequently, that dramatics is still an interest for many students, that the commercial and business offerings are distinctly geared to today's expectations, that the school boasts two libraries which are heavily used, and that the community is justifiably proud of its school. The Eagle Chapter of National Honor Society inaugurated and chartered in 1958 has chosen outstanding students who have made special niches for themselves in the entire world. People are a school, too! There are teachers' names that linger and are often mentioned around the community wherever those who felt their influence gather. . Margaret Walthers, Orville Reddington, Helen Price, The first grade at Stratton School in 1923. Violet Davis, Eleanor DeWalt, Ruth McChesney, Mabel Hemphill, Nell Van Devender, Idris Phipps, Harry B. Davis, H.C. Beibee, Curtis Bradshaw, Margaret Holstine, Wallace James, Hazel Chalfant, Frank Osta- noff, Kivia Thorene Slade, Olive Thiringer, Mildred Shenandoah, Jennie Tressel, Thelma Allen, Ruth Gulley, Virginia Felch, Rosemary McCormick, Lucile Lepper, Mabel Guy, Gladys Quinn, Helen Traylor, Joseph Lombardi, J. Oscar and Dorothy Smith, Arthur G. and John H. Watson. Coates Bradshaw, William Leckenby, Betty and Fred Rock, Lee Carpenter, Adeline Sawyer, Leland Monroe, Joan and Larry Vibber, Earl Knox, Elizabeth and Bill Kercher, Ron Neeley, Virgil Watkins, George and Jane Clark, Helen Mclean, Alyce Lewis, Elmer Boone, Joan and Harold Hagan, William McKinley, Robert Sparks, Roy Towns, Richard Buck, Ron Atkins, Betty Smith, Glen The Stratton Public School from 1895 to 1910. STRATTON T364 ues to house the Stratton High School. By 1975 plans for a new elementary school had been completed and the fine structure directed by each department instructor. This building with some modification and the addition of a separate shop building contin- Wry Stratton "S" Club has a homecoming "float". which now houses the elementary school was occupied Feb. 18, 1977. Envisioning a day when all the Stratton school might be located in a campus-like arrangement with playing fields and playground between the two structures occurred when the high school was built and the land was procured in the mid 1950's. When the present elementary building was constructed that long ago dream was realized. Yesterday's elementary building is now a bowling alley with two restaurants and the old annex houses a number of office spaces. T'e old high school has been razed and many former students have an old brick to stir nostalgia for times long past. MSA Club made arrangements to move the original bell which so long called pupils into school to a site near the present elementary school as a preservation measure. Any story of a school is not the story of Hunter, Roy Ingram, June Short, John Trued, Terry Miller, Nick Wilhelm, Wilbur Ziegler, Tom Pannell, Franceis Coles, Kathy Pickard, Cheryl Barry, Linda Stevens, Jim Martin, John Sporleder . . the list could go on and on. Superintendents through the years include some whose names may not have been recorded. Notable among the listed ones are Homer Peck, R.F. Murfin, Gerald Scofield, Harry Zinn, Arthur G. Watson, R.F. Becker, John H. Watson, J. Oscar Smith, Norman Downie, Carl Weigand, Valerie Sullivan, Wayne Brown and currently David Cockerham. No story is complete without the names of graduates either so they are given in another article entitled "High School Graduates Stratton and First Central". And how remiss it would be to conclude this account without reminding us of all the blizzards, the school bus incidents, the dust storm days, spring's muddy roads, the many trips to district and state events, the heartaches of losses or the glories and elation of victories, the long, long �with having played a considerable role in their lives. by Dorothy C. Smith *****{c****rfc***:l€ Freshman class; Stratton,1945-46: Front row, I to r: Rock Luebbers, Joe Weibel, Bill Fehrenbach, Allen Greenwood, Johnny Luebbers, Dean Campbell. 2nd row: Barbara Schermerhorn, Bertha Balanga, Mary Anne Green, Bernadean Rose, sponsor, Dolores Jostes, Doris Paintin, Marlyn Schmidt. 3rd row: Wayne Greenwood, Margaret Meade, LaVilla Sealock, Shirley Ferris, Dorothy Messinger, LaRene Herberger, Verla Jean Reisch, Ida Knochel, Norma Jean Hershey, Bob Bush. Back row: Bill Griffith, Norman Zogg, Sonny Webster, Bob Pickerill, Alfred Flageolle, Dick Borders, Harvey Rose, Donald Torline. bus rides daily for many kids, the patient highorhighschool,revolvearoundtheschool parents who waited for those who practiced, and its activities. That the life of any the beautiful spring days when school could community is determined by its schools is hardly"keep". . andonandon. . .thiswas recognized nowhere more clearly than in part of school, too. That Stratton schools Stratton community. Many have gone from have been a pervading element in the com- this community to higher education and into munity and county throughout the years is endeavors here and all over the world. Most mostevident.Thelivesof allfamiliesoftoday of them will credit Stratton Public Schools having children in school, elementary, junior Machinery "graveyard." June 23, 1988 Market report ..'.$3.51 Wheat .$3'00 New corn Livecattle'....$63.90 Feedercattle. ..$71.00 LiveHogs ...'.546.25 Grades 5 and 6, May 1925, Stratton: back row: Eugene Spurlin, Roy Folsom, Bob Reddy, Sonny Collins, Ernest Lidke, Paul Weddington, Ralph McFarland. Next row: Sarah Sholes, Ruby Ford, Dorothy Bardwell, Teacher, Edna Folsom, Beryl Montgomery, Dorothy Spurlin. Next row; Belle Beck, Lucille Holloway, Thelma Heltzel, -, Lois McOolloch, -, -. Front row: Claude Ellis, Jimrny Rogers, Curtis Rogers, Robert Davis. -. �Homecoming and Stratton Day were combined in 1966 for the first time. The Assn. began to organize the parade, plan the Stratton 5th/6th grades, 1926: Front row: Del Holiday, Floyd Hetzel, Carl Wood, Durward Riggen, Robert Holloway, Wayne Campbell, Vaden Hn-lin. Second row: Stella Chilili, Lucia Gehrke, Evelyn Ackerman, Lucille Chamberlain, Ruby Wolfrum, Dixie Turner, Stella Sholes, Lelah Kruse, Norma Scott. Third row: Evelyn Pischke, Allie Jean Beck, Helen Bardwell, Lloyd Einspahr, Roy Davis, Violet Davis Teacher, George Harnlin, Donald Wolgamott, John Brady. STRATTON ALUMNI ASSOCIATION T365 In March of 1949 a group of Stratton High School graduates gathered to form an Alumni Association. A set of by-laws were drafted similar to those used by the Burlington Assn. The group's main function was to keep an accurate record of the Stratton graduates as well as to raise money for contributions to the school. Some of the early fund raising activities were box socials, carnivals, and plays. The first Alumni banquet and dance were held in 1953. This also became the time when twelve members were elected to the board. When the Assn. was first organized only the twenty-five year class was honored. The graduates from First Central School were initially honored around 1961. Over the past years it has become a tradition to honor the ten, twenty-five, and fifty year classes at the annual banquet. Classes are recognized and given an opportunity to reminisce with old friends. Beginning in 1964 the honored classes had their pictures in the paper. banquet, and the Homecomingdance. Before this the Alumni had held picnic lunches on Homecoming Day. In order to increase the size of the parade the Assn. invited school bands from surrounding areas. Donations to the school have been made frequently and helped with the purchase of musical instruments, speaker system, trophies, the senior class picture album in the High School and the bell tower. Due to the hard times during the Depression the classes of 1934 and 1935 were unable to have their pictures in the senior class album. In 1986 the Assn. donated money to have these pictures framed. The Alumni began charging one dollar dues in 1965 to help cover expenses. After raising the Association's dues to five dollars annually or thirty dollars lifetime, the Board of Directors formed an Alumni Scholarship to be awarded to the most qualified applicant from the graduating senior class. The amount of this scholarship was originally $250.00 but has been raised to $900.00 due to the generosity of time and money given by the Stratton Alumni Assoeiation members. Key: Graduates of Stratton and First Central: *Deceased, FC First Central (Married name) 1909 Mable Pugh (Guy)* 1916 Grace Johnson (Tompkins); Loretta Taylor* 1917 Joel Bradshaw, II*; Marie Chandler (Greenwood) 1919 Evelyn Mulnix (Anderson) 1920 Leonard Hamilton*; Clara Pugh (Baker); Fern Vanhook (Reddington)* 1921 Curtis Bradshaw* 1922 Eleanore Cochran (Beahm); Allan Long; Aliee Mulnix (McNaryl); Gray Spurlin; Frank Wilson 1923 Floyd Borders; Violet Campbell (Barr);Joseph O. Chandler; Gertrude Church (Boulder); Ruth Church (Schaal)*; Fern Ford (Craig); Mary Horrell (Dvorak)*; Alice Poppert (Beal); Lillian Radspinner (Underwood); Theodore R. Smith FC; Fred Weibel*; Elizabeth Zittle (Woolsey) 1924 Blanche Beattie (Dove); Dorothy Cochran (Reish)*; Iva Crocker (Engelage); Virginia Felch; Florence Huscher (Ford); Harold Huscher; Amy Wood*; Ruth Pischke (Wells) 1925 Clarence Connaway; Grace Evans (Weybright); Esther Gerke (Scheierman); Esther Lindley*; Marshall Sims; Ida Smith (Boecker) FC* 1926 Ave Marie Kellogg (Parks) FC; Norma Mavity (Moody) 1927 Amanda Fuller (Borders)*; Mrs. Earl Carpenter; Annie Connaway (Spurlin); Mrs. Carl Hamilton*; Laura Powers (Shupp); Ambrose Williams*; Garvin Church FC 1928 Lewis Adkins; Gladys Beattie (Clair); Erma Gerke (Thompson); Vena Hughes (Scheierman); Leona Jones*; Gladys Lindley"; Roy McColloch; Justus Rose*; Ava Barr (Magnuson) FC; Glenn Smith FC 1929 Lucille Brantley (McColloch); Bertha Chamberlain; Margaret Day (Huppert)*; Verla Ellis (Pieper); Ruth Gerke; Helen Holloway (Jackson); Hilda Kruse (Claussen); June Rose (Schofield); Ruth Thyne (Spurlin)*; Helen Weibel (Berger); Ruth Wilson Stratton High School in 1988. (Norwack); Lawrence Erickson FC 1930 Burnelle Adkins (Horton); Belle Beck (Danforth); Edith Beeson (Murray) FC; �Bernice Brady (Kenper)*; Reva Braley (Jackson); Frank Brock; Irene Calvin (Hern- bloom); Mae Ellen Calvin (Kellogg)*; Edith Campbell (Johnson); Velva Collins (Beeman); lnez Dunhe- (McArthur); Velora Mulnix (Davis)*; Lee Ora Tuttle (Hanrahan);Wilbur Barr FC;Albert Glad FC; James Greenwood FC; Lyle Kellogg FC. 1931 Harry Holloway*; Lucille Holloway (Woodson); Margaret Holloway (Houtz); Leo Kirkendall; Robert Logan*; Georgia McCollough (Berandt); Robert Ready; Viola Wolf (Gacnik); Irene Dunham (Kennedy) FC; Clarence Iseman FC; Lloyd Parks FC L932 Aletha Allen (Bowers); Ted Burggraff; Robert Davis*; Helen Duncanson (Ancell); Luella Hernbloom; Marie Mase; Lois McColloch (Currier); Beryl Montgomery (Hutchins); William Morgan; Maye Rose (Blodgett); Lee Dunham FC; Claude Ellis FC; Ralph Greenwood FC; Warren Hodge FC; Helen Mitchell FC; Lloyd Perkins FC. 1933 Charles Allen; Helen Bardwell (Al- len); Allie Jean Beck (Iseman); Melvin Calvin*; Earl Collins; Ruth Gulley; Lyle Hooper; Helen Kennedy (Kerl); George Klocker*; Magdalene Leoffler (McKenzie); Ralph Pelle*; Edna Blucheck (Carlton); Collosta Schiferl (Swogger); Dorothy Hodge (Peters)* FC; Violet Norton FC; Wanda Norton (Perkins); Harold Pelle; Kenneth Scheierman FC; Norman Smith FC; Cloyd Storrer FC; Nora Wright (Johnson) FC; Orville Wright FC. 1934 Evelenne Ackerman (Folsom); Helen A. Bertrand (Lichety); Irvin Binkley Lucia Gerke (Cowles); Kathleen Green (Sister Evangeline); George Hamilin; Violet Hern- bloom (Kirkendall); Lilla Kruse (Campbell)*; Lillian Murphy; Iona Penne (Hous- mann); Stella Sholes (Arends); Reid Strong; Robert Barley FC; Clair Barr FC; Leonard Beeson FC; Loraine Iseman (Wood) FC; Marie Kiper (Lesher) FC; Ella Storrer (Lebsack) FC; Parker Swann FC; Wesley Taylor FC*. 1935 Lylah Ayers (Ness) FC; Doris Beck (Engelbrecht); Donald Bertrand; Mary Burggraff (Calloway); Lena Campbell (Keelet); Clarice Christian (Johnson); Mertie E. Christian (Crouse); David Davis; Evelyn Einspahr (Burnett); George Green; Mary V. Klocker (Dill); Clara Pautler; Ben Pelle; Oswold Pautler; Inez Perkins (Batholomew) FC; Evelyn Ritzdorf (Poland); Lenora Stom- bought (Scott); Harold Thomason; Leonard Willey*; Virginia Wilson (Foster); Edgar Geisit FC; Russell Glad FC; Lunette Swem (Kibble) FC. 1936 Earl Atkins; Lewis Beck; Lee Binkley; Rueben Beecker; Jeanne Bradshaw (Bruner); Louis Brueske; Helen Burggraff (Morris); Eugene Byrne; Mabel Garner (Scheierman); Dorothy Hanner (Danekas); Alfred Holloway*; Dorothy Huppert (Pierson)*; Willard Kirkendall; Sylvia Krauth (Bowers); James McFarland*; Juanita Nixon; Agnes Powers (Stramel); Doris Proctor (Peters); Eloise Proctor*; Faye Proctor (Byrnes); Fern Proctor (Penick); Magdalene Stoffel (Heiken); Viola Waechter (Ancell); Frank Wolf*; Mavis G. Ayers (Smith) FC; Agnes Iseman (Leonard) FC; Dale Lesher FC; Helen Magnuson (Smelker) FC; Ivan Smelker FC; Vaughn Taylor FC. 1937 Evelyn Atkins (Paintin); George Bowers; Nadean Brown (Zwetschke); Lois Jane Calverley (Schlihs)*; Wava Campbell (Hetzel);Alyce Dischner (Lewis); Arlin Erf- man; Irene Erfman (Hibbits); Delmer Glaze; Edward Klocker; Edmund Green*; Gordon Hernbloom; Frank McFarland; Thomas Moyer; Mary Pautler (Carnese); Ruth Sealock (McFatridge); Galen Thomason; Isabella Thompson (Kerr); Herbert Waechter; Maebelle Wolfrum (Boyer); Eldon Wolgamott*; Velma Beeson (Davis) FC; June McArthur (Martin) FC; Elywin Swann FC; Mary Alie Swen FC; Vance Taylor FC*. 1938 Lucille Bertrand (Wharff); Helen Churchwell (Rockwell); Veralee Conners (Schillings); Dorothy Feirstein; Louis Feirstein; Ruby Gehrke (Bates); Lucille Glaze (Clark); June Courtright (Hampton); Evelyn Gauge (Edmunds); Mary Knochel (Marnell); Emma Lucas (Lempp)*; Wilda Paintin (Pratt); Lewis Powers; Rev. Homer Rich; LaVerne Thomason; Mary Thyne (Flippin); Ralph Tryon; Marie Zubrod (Navrot); Paul Baetz FC; Maxine Iseman (Chandler) FC; Ila Magnuson FC*; Ella Mae Young (Meade) FC. 1945 Millicent Beller (Luebbers); Wanda Bishop (Churchwell); Roberta Calvin (O'Halloran); Marion Dischner (Borden); (Gibble); Lelia Reish (Raines); Juanita Rum- Helen Green (McCormick); Thelma Greenwood (Hutton); Marcella Knochel (Schaefer); Jim McConnell; Norma Jean Messenger Thompson (Gabelman); Arlie Vannatta Harley Pottorff; Almetta Russel (Johnson); mel (Johnson); Raymond Schiferl; Olive (Camp); Lyle Bunch FC; Dean Smelker FC; Dorothy J. Taylor; (McArthur) FC. 1939 Johannah Atkins*; Edith Bardwell; Joel Bradshaw III*; Myron Brown; Mary Burne (Gerligk); Alberta Collins (Rowe); Gladys Hernbloom (Hooper); Herschel Hoo- per; Lucille Hooper; Ruth Krauth (Slick); Agnes McConnell (Boecker); Irene Osburn (Buhr)*; William Parsons*; Neoma Rafferty (Smith); Ethlyn Ready (Springer); Olive Rowley (Eppelsheimer); Wanita Sealock; Catherine Simon*; Irene Stewart (Brown); Lucille Wolf (Kenney); Hazel Wolgamott (Guerin) Maxine Young (Wolgamott); Mary Pfaffly FC*; Shelby Taylor FC*; Donald Thompson FC. 1940 Clark Beck; Herman Bertrand*; Doretta Brown (McEnter); Lola Mae Calverley (Kidd); Gertrude Collins; Earl Davis*; Marcella Dischner (Greenwald); Wanda Gar- ner (Sweet); Clarice Hernbloom (Fager); Cleona Hernbloom (William); Letha Holstein (Lorraine); Jim Keen; Harold Kitten; Gerald Lempp; Julia McCormick (Lowe); Edna Payne (Godfrey); Bill Reish; Vesta Russell (Geoffrey); Bert Stombaugh*; Irene Zubrod (Cannon); Helen Zurcher (Glenskie); Rose Mary Zurcher (Cox); Clark Beeson FC; Charles Bunch FC; Alvin Lowe FC; Velma Lowe (Pratt) FC; Jessie Rich (Gaunt) FC. 1941 Bob Bowers; Arthur Dischenr; Tom Kennedy*' Laurine Kitten (Schiferl); Charles Krauth*; James Leoffler Sr.; Faye McColloch; Clarence Muchow; Lola Lohrman (Gramoll); Louis Pugh; Betty Reish; Joe Simon*; Loren Stombaugh; Pauline Stombaugh; Frances Thomason; Peggy Warrington; Francis Byrne; Dorothy Wilson*; George Wilson; Rev. Phillip Cline FC; George Kirkendall FC; Vivian Smelker (Whitmarsh) FC. 1942 Myrtle Collins (Mumford); Everett Holstein*; Violet McOonnell (Wolski); Rosemary McCormick (Gergen); Zelma Kennedy (Eubanks); Rev. Russell Meade; Marion Powers; Ethel Wolgamott (Evans); Julianne Zurcher (Savada); Rev. Oscar Borden FC; Oris Bunch FC; Wayne Iseman FC; Violet Magnuson (Bunch) FC; Bertha Swann FC; Darrell Taylor FC. 1943 Leon Beck; Marianne Beller (Stevens); Melva Freeman (Cline); Neona Gade (Pierce); Norma Garner (Borden); Laura Greenwood (Thomason); Evelyn Heintz; Floyd Hooper*; Kenneth Lindley; Russell McFarland; Leona Meade (Rich); Howard Pickerill; Lucille Rich (Schreiner); Bernadine Rose (Ardueser); Margaret Simon; Salvador Valesquez; Marion Webster; Verla Smelker (Martinez) FC; Shirley Taylor (Thompson) FC; Walter Rich. 1944 Joyce Beck (Clark); Vivian Bush (Schlichenmayer); Mildred Pelle (Drietz); Goldie Waechter (Doane); Charles Sholes*; Darlene Taylor (Pottorffl FC. 1946 Glennadene Copley (Cline); Keith Kruse; Luella Lucas*; Clifford Messenger; Lela Pottorff (Wilkinson); Florene Schmidt (Weibel); Dorothy Smelker (Clark); Mary Valesquez (Suazo); Rosalie Webster (Jorden); Andy Weibel*. 1947 Altha Borden (Ely); Bill Collins; Ed Dischner; Ardis Heningson (Valesquez); Dale Kindred; Betty Pelle (Lobmeyer); Betty Russell (Sutton); Dale Shermerhorn; Jerry Simon; Colleen Zogg (Travis); Eloise Valesquez; Rita Zurcher (Vinduska); Arlene Bunch (Rains) FC; Patsy Bush. 1948 Roberta Collins (Higley); Marvin Edmunds; Netha Hansen (Kindred); Melvin Hatfield; Roy Herberger Jr.; Conrad Jostes; Elva Lowe (Akins); Velva Lowe (Pickard); Ted Sallee; Melvin Smith; Dean Spurlin; Jim Spurlin; Don Valesquez*; Dale Wolgamott. 1949 Bertha Balanga (Johnson); Dick Borders; Pearl Collins (Hair); Shirley Ferris*; Alfred Flageolle; Mary Ann Green; Allen Greenwood; Wayne Greenwood; LaRene Herberger (Kauffman); Norma Jean Hershey; Francis Husenetter; Delores Jostes (Erbert); Ida Knochel; John Luebbers; Rock Luebbers; Dorothy Messenger (Weaver); Edna Miltenberger (Stegman); Bob Pickerill; Verla Reish (Hall); Harvey Rose; Barbara Shermerhorn (McDaniel); Marlyn Schmidt (Dischner); LaVila Sealock (Clark); Rosalie Stoffel (Greenwood); Joe Weibel; Kathryn Waldron (Burd); Norman Zogg; Maryarct Meade (Thomason). 1950 Lloyd Borden; Donald Borders; Anne Bradshaw (Struthers); Dean Campbell; Donna Carpenter (Borden)*; JoDell Carpenter (Talley); Theresa Isenbart (Baylor); Bill Fehrenbach; Bob Fox; Marvin Hatfield; Joan Nowack (May); Doris Paintin (Vondy); Donna Rae Pelle (Englert); Ellsworth Pottorff; Bill Pugh; Shirley Scheierman (Zoeg); Carcl Smelker (Newman); Arla Smith (Franke); Mary Spurlin (Newton); Claudine Stoner (Messenger); Betty Vinduska (Schawe); Eugene Waldron; Vera Sue Wolgnmell (Grimes); Peggy Zogg (Hubbell). 1951 Richard Bayles; Douglas Bishop; Maynard Bowen; Robert Fehrenbach; Duane Ferris; Chester Frankenfeld; George Miltenberger; Lavina Pugh (Decker); Virgil Pugh; Betty Jo Quinn (Roehr); Charles Sallee; Dorothy Schermerhorn (Neva); Franklin Smelker; Gordon Smith; Bob Spurlin; Melvin Thomason; Kay Webster (Wendler); Lily Woller (Hinton). 1952 Norman Beattie; Clifford Borden; Bill Day; Marlis Dinger James Brachtenbach; (Weaver); Lyle Garner; Joy Hatfield (Blancken); Leroy Herndon; Mary A. Isen- �bart (Sister Mary Cecil); JoAnn Jostes (Day); Kenneth Lobmeyer; Lelan Lucas; Bernetta Luebbers (Curver); Max Mason; Myron Powell; Eileen Powers (Tschetter); Connie Rhea (Decker); Sherry Rose (Martie); John Schermerhorn; Twila Smelker; Paul Smith; Frank Spurlin; Kenneth Stull; Delbert Tanner; Mary Waldron (Keeling); John Webb; Nola Webster (Engstrom). 1953 Carol Lee Conarty (Eberhart); Lodema Courtright (Templeton); Ferdie Knochel; Borden; Audrey Brachtenbach (Eisenbart); Dale Conrardy; Robert Dischner; Richard Flageolle; Darrell Fox; Janice Husler (Collins); John Husler; Dennis Kordes; Nean Liebl; Kathy Mitchem (Hartzman); Danny Rose; Neoma Sisson (West); Gladys Smelker (Norman); Velva K. Smith; Connie Stegman (Baker); Kathy Stegman (Leavitt); Ronald Stoner; Bill Swanson; Bernadean Tesmer; Bob Werner; Donald Wood. 1960 Lila Borden (Gilley); Barbara Bra- fler (Daugherty); Karen Potterff (Ziegler); Marilyn June Powell (Overholt); Colleen Stegman (Stutzman); John Schulte; Mary M. Selenke; Jean Shean (Erker); Robert M. Stegman. 1966 Dale Boecker; Kathryn Buhr; Larry Crocker; John Dasenbrock; Rodney Davis*; Joyce Dischner (Stockwell); Diane Flageolle (Miller); Doris Flageolle (Dombeck); Jennifer Garner (Singley); Delores Goodin (Setter); Vickie Hornung (Sutton); Jana Dee Johnson Claus Hume; Benny Miltenberger; Virginia Pelle (Malone); Kenneth Pottorff; Dan Schaal; Frances Selenke (Torline); Doris Spurlin (Stevens); Dale Strothman; Carrell chtenbach (Eisenbart); Dr. John Bruckner; Galen Conrardy; Charles W. Cure; Genevieve (Shalata); Linda Lewis (Miller); Dennis Merritt; Diane Pottorff (McCartney); Patrick Rueb; LaRita Sawyer (Addams); Sally Shean (Ehlers); Shirley Smith (MicHaelis); Bonnie Toland (Swann); Arlene Weingardt (Weisshaar); Gerald Thompson; Harold Sal- denberger); Joyce Hornung (Austin); Berna- (Rueb). 1967 Darrell Bezdek; Gary Brachtenbach; Stull (Blakely); Geraldine Summers lee; Maxine Urban (Erbert); Denise Verbiest (Kozial); Jack Wolf; Verla Wolgamott (Skufca). 1954 Delmar Beattie; Mary Ellen Bowen; Raymond Bowen; Ora Carrell; Dean Herndon; Roger Kliesen; Janet Luebbers (Bancroft); Martha Mclrvin (Baxter); Opal McNees (Nelson); Donna O'Halloran (Eberhart); Harold Pelle; Orilla Pugh (Harless); Kenneth Sallee; Eleanor Scheierman (Herndon); Albert Selenke; Una Smelker (Reese); Jean Smith (Mason); Marvin Tanner; Carol Webb (Powell). 1955 Ronald Atkins*; Shirley Bohling (Pearson); Paul Brown; Betty Jo Calvin (Bell); Louise Dvorak (McCormick); Gwen- dolyn Einspahr (Schlichenmayer); Charles Fox; Phillip Helsel; Palamon Hornung; LaVon Jostes (Taylor); Bob Krei; Glen Lucas; Dale Mason: Zella Mclrvin; Donald Peters; John Spurlin; Kenneth Stegman; Darlene Verbiest (Strothman); Delphine Verbiest (Wharton); Florence Denise Wilson (McCon- nell); Amy Marie Wood (Smith); Doug Woodson; Patsy Young (Havens). 1956 Harold Churches; Bonnie Bishop Droste (Rubio); David Flageolle; Delores Flageolle (Luebbers); Jerry Fox; Phyllis Goodin (Worthington); Anita Homer (Lin- dine Husler (Gelizeus); Lolita Klotzbach (Ramos); Carolyn Krei (Feldhousen); Mary Lou Liebl (Zink); Carolyn Mclean (Miller); Ronnie Meyers; Phyllis Pottorff (Albrecht); Beverley Scheierman (County); William Selenke; Doyle Smith; Janice Tesmer (Burrow); Ronald Wolf. 1961 Dan Anthofer; Judy Bohling (Payne); Margie Brachtenbach (Colpitts); Don Churches; Roy Conrardy; Charles DeCastro; Shirley Erker (Bruckner); Lorena Flageolle (Kimminau); James Garner; Alberta Lang (Schaal); Douglas Paintin; Luella Paintin (Hershberger); Doris Pelle (Weir); Doris Pugh (Durham); LaDonna Sawyer (Peters); Lynn Scheierman (Johnson); Pauline Selenke (Pesek);Audrey Wood (Smith); Patricia Thomas (Forbes); Mary Kay Werner (Huppert); Myrna Wilson (Bill); Jack Young. 1962 Rollan Bauman; Sylvan Bauman; Larry Brachtenbach; LeRoy Brachtenbach; Anita Conrardy (Balman)*; Betty Cure (Brossman); John DeCastro; Cecilia Isenbart (Fox); Diannen Erker; Marcia Grasser (Sister Mary Carol); Kenneth Hornung; Gary Huppert; Betty Jean Kordes (Brachten- (Schumann); Jack Brachtenbach; Rose Marie Droste (Stoos); Jerome Fox; Ruth Isenbart (Kimminau); Esther Mclean (Herndon); Drusilla Mitchem (Spurlin); Robert bach); Nancy Liebl (Feist); Teresa Liebl (Douglas); Glenn Pence; Sandra Pottorff (Berry); JoDell Pugh (Musgrove); Leonard Pugh; Lyle Sawyer; Betty Bea Scheierman (Short); Bonita Sisson; Charles Smelker; Virginia Stegman (Dobler); Leon Thomas; Robert Smith; Dean Smith; Donna Spurlin; Duane Spurlin; Andra Stegman (Maxon); Melvin Strothman: Carmilla Werner (Pelle); Barbara Wilson (Edmunds); Raymond Mil- Janet Zrubek (Lasinski). Pottorff; Darlene Powell (Freytag); Marie Pugh (Idler); Elsie Smelker (May); John tenberger. 1957 Martin Bauman Jr.; Keith Beattie; Margene Brown (Smith); Raymond Droste; Betty Eisnpahr (Hansen); Albert Hornung; Ed Husler; Elaine Jostes (Hubbard); Tom Luebbers; Vera Malone (Noyce); James Mather; Juanita Meade (Marrow), Diane Pelle (McDermott); Leona Peters (Krentz); Mary Margaret Quinn (Sandy); Geraldine Rose (Ludwig)*; Herbert Scheierman; Elaine Smelker (Hornung); Gary Smelker; Richard Stramel; Carlyn Werner (Gerwick); Edna Woller (Robinson). 1958 Elaine Anthofer (Krueger); Ivan Beattie; Linda Calvin (Torline)*; Judy Conarty (Smith); Glenda Dinger (Levins); Bill 1963 James Best; Lynette Dasenbrock (Fankhauser); Ron Downey; Charles Ehlers; Donnie Flageolle; June Goodin; Anne Helsel (Young); David Hernbloom; Esther Husler (Luther); Robert Kerl; Charlie Mclean; Gary Pautler; Robert Pelle; Mary Proctor (Ehlers); Diane Pugh (Schulz); John Rueb; Delores Smelker (Rehor); Doyle Smelker; Linda Storrer (Swanson); Diane Werner (Kloeckner); Larry Wolf. 1964 Gene Beattie; Joel Bradshaw IV; Christine Calvin (Brachtenbach); Janice Conrardy (Anderson); Cynthia Davis (Beck- er); Carol Ann Droste (Whitten); Ernie Flageolle; Hary Fox; Verlin Garner; Linda Gramoll (Nemec); Gary Helsel; Irvin Husler; Wayne Huppert; Donna Jones (Fox); Robert Ehlers; Leo Isenbart; Walter Isenbart; Ange- Meyers; Jerry Miller*; Linda Paintin (Amack); Carolyn Pugh; William Rueb; Peggy Schwieger (Fox); Rose Selenke; Keith la Flageolle (Isenbart); Kathy Homer (Dobler); John Huppert; Robert Jacobs; Bill Krei; Weingardt; Kenneth Wolf; Daryl Wolfrum. 1965 James Bradshaw; Pam Bruckner Jerry Lucas; Danny McCormick; Ivan Schaal; Rita Selenke (O'Hayre); Richard Smith; Nedra Swanson (Pierce); Loretta Tesmer; Larry Torline; Ruby Urban (Mauer); Rita Werner (Ziegler); Jeanette Wolfrum (Embacker). 1959 Cordella Bauman (Pickerill); Theo (Jones)*; Vickie Calvin (Hahn); Diane Cibol- ski (Albertson); Paul Clark; Robert Coles; Ethel Mae Cure (Martin); Kathy DeCastro (Woodrick); Robert Downey; Ronald Einspahr; Darrell G. Garner; Terry Hornung; Dennis A. Johnson; Beverly Kordes (Beattie); John Liebl;Phillip Liebl; Sondra Leof- James Christopher Carnathan; Kenneth Clark; Edward Cure; Mary Ellen Cure (Bohnen); Dorothy Droste (White); Richard Grasser; Patricia Griffith (Alderson); Jerry Homer; Ronald Jones; Kathy Lempp (Lewis); James Leoffler, Jr.; David Liebl; Glenda Jo Pfaffly (Bauman); Connie Pottorff (Volskis); Pamela Powell (Boles); Dan Ricke; Leon Schaal; Carol Shean (McAlister); Linda Stegman (Johnson); Penny Brachtenbach (Carpenter); Timothy Weibel; Kenneth Witzel; Gary Wolfrum*; Larry Wolfrum; Edward Zrubek. 1968 Kenneth Bezdek; Mike Davis; Karen Downey; (Kerschner); Mike Eisenbart; Marvin Garner; DeeAnn Goss; James Sidney Hubbard; Jeanette Husler (Schreiner); Dennis Kindred; Mark Laue; Janice Lempp (Perkins); James Lewis; Marvin Megel; Beth Ann Miller; Gail Paintin; Leon Pautler*; Terry Pfaffly; Mary Ann Price (DeVinney); Elaine Rueb; Mary Lou Schiferl (Hubbard); JoAnn Schulte (Willis) Jolyn Schulte (Garrison); George Stegman; Dessa Shutte (Jantz)*; Connie Vinduska (Foose); Mike J. Werner; Gerald Wolf. 1969 LaDonna Brachtenbach (Anderson); Linda Cibolski (Miltenberger); Vickie Corliss (Schlepp); Pastor Clyde R. Denslow; Willetta Garner (McKee); David Gwyn; Delores Heit- schmidt*; Steve Hornung*; Sue Hubbard (Marrone); Sherry Krei (Merritt); Patsy Kordes (Eisenbart); Mike Laue; Mike Mclean*; Tom Mills; Janice Pottorff (Ecke); Steve Powell; David Ricke; Lester Schiferl*; Ed Schulte; Becky Schulz; Calvin Shean; Darris Taylor. 1970 Judy Best (Wall); LuAnn Brown (Lucas); Greg Buhr; J.D. Coles; Cheryl Courtright (Richards); Bob Cure; Kay Cure (Unruh); Marsha Davis (Kravitiz); Mark Dischner*; Dan Erbert; Larry Grasser; Rick Kordes; Bob Lewis*; Deborah Mattix (Huppert); Judy Pottorff (Winick); Sherry Pottorff (Lupher); Terry Pottorff; Bill Rau; Joan Ricke (Hick); Lois Schulte (Tilley); Tony Schulte; Patty Schwieger (Witzel); Linda Shutte (Einspahr); Dan Witzel; Donna Witzel (Gwyn). 1971 Virginia Bezdek; Candice Clark (Spicer); Deborah Courtright (Conrads); David Cure; Jane Cure (Hubbard); LuAnn Dasenbrock (Berens); Rick Davis; Bill Dykes; Jim Dykes; Jane Flageolle (Smith); Lynn Gramoll; Mary Gwyn (Tart); Billy Homer; Cindy Hornung (Luebbers); Pam Hotter (Smith); Jane Jostes (Ingram); Gary Kindred; James Liebl; Bunnie Mitchem (Chartier); Wanda Nusser; Randy Pickard*; Nick Price; Tom Proctor; Rex Salling; Charles Schulte; Della Shutte (Calhoun); Denis Smith; Pam Smith �(Liebl); Delmar Stegman; Leon Vinduska; Gary Wilson; Janet Zogg (Churchwell). 1972 Dennis Cure; Nona Eisenbart (Woller); Linda Flageolle (Davis); Mark Flageolle; Niles Ray Garner; David Hornung; Walter Hubbard; Janice Kindred (Still); Valerie Kordes (Thyne); Jeanette Lempp (Leurquin); Nancy Lowther (Sneed); Jo-es Mattix; James Monroe; Marilyn Paintin (Cranmer); Valerie Paintin (Taskila); Larry Pottorff; Sherry Reeder (Monroe); Marla Salling (Flageolle); Doyle Schiferl; Allen Schulte; Daniel Schulte; Barbara Schwieger (Hornung); Larry Shutte; Steve Stegman; Cindy Weibel (Ridder); Rick Weingardt; Roxie Wilson. 1973 Suzy Critchfield; Michael Cure; Rhonda Davis (Peterson); Mary Jane Dischner; Frank Droste; Andy Flageolle; Gail Grasser (Allen); Dianna Greenwood (Husem- an); Neta Griffith (Rau); Nancy Hadachek; John Malone; Sue Matthews; Joanne Monroe (Jones); Patty Parker; Timothy Pautler; John Rau; Mike Ricke; Stanley Rueb; Darrel Schulte; Theresa Stegman (Amos); Marie Toland (Wolfley); Diane Twomey (Denslow). 1974 Jody May Atkins; Bonnie Clark (Mattix); Rusty Critchfield; Alan Cunningham;William Cure; KathyDavis (Sims); Rick DeMichele; David Dischner; Terry Erbert; Steven Fox; Jackie Griffith; Jerry Hasart; Patrick Hornung; Kent Jostes; Alan Kopplinger; Alice Leoffler (Smith); Susan Leoffler; Neal Luebbers; Donald Malone; Karen Mattix (Albers); Kathy Megel; Carolyn Miller; Laurie Mittlestead; Sherry Nusser; Shirley Nusser; Edward Parker; Randy Ramos; Sheryl Reeder (Grant); Keith Rogers; Rita Schulte (Erber)*; FLaDean Wigton; Ronald Wolfrum; Devin Wood. 1975 Ronald Borden; Myrva Buhr; Bill Courtright; James Hadachek; Joyce Ann May (Malone); Mike McCormick; Tony Paintin; Arthur Price: Marc Pottorff: Laura Ricke (Strick); Terry Rogers (Atkins); Linda Schulte; Elizabeth Stegman (Pautler); Mike Weigand; Charlene Wigton (Gorton); Colleen Wilson (Weigand). 1976 Douglas Beeson; Janell Brachtenbach (Woods); John Cure; Lisa Dasenbrock; John Dischner; Norma Eisenbart (Fox); Al Finley; Greg Flageolle; Keith Greenwood*; Lester Hasart; Arlene Hornung; Kenneth Malone*; Mark McClay; Debra McCoin; David Megel; Paul Pautler; Debbie Pottorff; Edward Pottorff; Bill Price; Robert Rueb; Ruth Schukar; William Schulte; Lori Thyne; Janet Wood; Trish Zogg (Dorsch); Greg Grasser. 1977 Glenda Borden; Russell Corliss; Ron- ald Cure; James Fox; Patricia Fox; Sandra Garner; Carl Graham; Karen Greenwood; Edward Herndon: Kevin Hubbard: Kevin Jostes; Marilyn Leoffler (Turner); Gregory Liebl; Kathy Logan; Cindy May; James May; Paul Miller; Jennifer Page; Theresa Peters ; June Radabaugh (Daniel); Marcia Schulte (Stauter); Ramona Schulte (Wagner); Vean Spurlin; Cindy Stegman; Angela Thompson; Shirley Wigton; Lance Wood. 1978 Robin Arends; Shirley Brachtenbach; Donna Courtright (Hake); Theresa Cure; Tom Dischner; Tina Eisenbart; Fred Erbert; Janine Hornung (Fox); Corrine Graham; Terry Ingram; Kurt Jostes; Kendra Kliesen (Monasmith); Linda Leoffler; Dean Liming; Brian Luebbers; Dan May; John McCormick; Rick Peters; Craig Pottorff; Kim Pottorff; LarryRicke; Rita Stegman; Michelle Thompson (Cure). 1979 Carl Anderson; Drusilla Beesley (Jostes); Jeanette Beeson (McCormick); Judy Borden; Gay Nell Courtright; Trenda Garrett (Weisshaar); Stan Hornung; Ted Ingram; Lisbeth Jensen; Moira Kliesen; Vernon Knox*; Beverly Malone; Tom May; Jim McCoin; Laura McCormick; Marci Pickard; Jenny Pottorff; Mark Rueb; Ted Spurlin; Dennis Schulte; Richard Thompson; Tim Greg Whipple. 1988 Roger Austin; Devin Bauman; Kristy Dieterle; Kelly Eisenbart; Brian Fox; John Hornung; Mark Hornung; John Howe; Scott Huppert; Stephanie Krason; Mark May; Patricia Miltenberger; Chuck Pautler; LaDawn Polzin; Daisy Reese; Tonya Schwindt; Dan Topp; Judy Wigton. Wehling. 1980 Rhonda Austin; Marc Banister; Carol Beesley;Kim Downey (May);Bill Fox; Keith Fox; Christy Graham; Peggy Grasser; Annette Hornung; Tony Isenbart; Lynette Jackson; Kris Kimminau; Trina Kliesen (Benson); Jim Malone; Liz May; Stacey Mays; Monte McCormick; Tammy McCor- mick; Pat Price; Mark Schmidt; Janell Wigton. 1981 Lyle Austin; Brenda Eisenbart; Robby Edwards; Jacque Erbert (Schmidt); T.C. Garrett; Carol Herndon; Bill Hornung; Cindy Isenbart; Ed Isenbart; Jeanette King; Kevin Lueck; Trudi Malone; Steve May; Patricia Maya; Del Schiferl; Nean Schmidt; Terry Schwindt; Janice Simon (Pautler); Tammy Solberg; Jeanine Stegman (Hor- nung); Justin Tatkenhorst; Dave Thompson; Lisa Thyne; Kathy Wieton. 1982 Debbie Austin; Joy Borden; Bob Brachtenbach; Dorothee Bruckner; Todd Fehrenbach; Dennie Flock; Pam Fox; Whit- ney Hornung; Amy Isenbart; Barbara Isenbart; Wade Kliesen; Scott Pottorff; Dick Remos; Mary Ricke; Justin Rueb; Jackie Stegman; Denise Price; Darla Swanson; Jenni Thyne; Joe Valenti; Kenny Valenti; Deb Wilson: Pam Smith. 1983 Julie Austin; Diana Banister; Tammy Flock (Beeson); Connie Brachtenbach; Doreli Bron; Tanya Fehrenbach (Taylor); Rochelle Flock; Jon Fox; Leroy Frazee;Pat Kear; John Lempp; Joy Lowe; Tony Garrett; Steve Huppert; Tim Isenbart; Mary May; Ray McConnell; Tim Miller; Tom Miltenberger; Todd Pottorff; Laura Shulda; Ted Simon; Judi Smelker (Mitchek); David Solberg; Doren Spurlin; Bernard Stegman; Rodney Thompson; Rona Weis. 1984 Kendra Berry; Jacqueline Brachtenbach; Zane Brachtenbach; Cheryl Drescher; Donald Fox; Kenneth Fox; Michelle Fox; Susan Hornung; Timothy Hornung; Dolores King; Dana Kliesen; Garrett McConnell; Donna Monroe; Michael Ramos; Robert Schulte; Steve Schulte; Tricia Schwindt; Mitch Swanson; Rebecca Topp; Lawerance Yoder*. 1985 Shandra Adolf; Karine Berry; Eric Brachtenbach; Pam Brachtenbach; Christine Conrardy; Paul Conrardy; Russel Eisenbart; Greg Engel; Geri Freiberg; Roger Hopewell; Larry Hubbard; Joseph Isenbart; Melinda Isenbart; John Lightle; Kimberly McCombs; Deena Monroe; Ann Simon; Juleen Stegman; Carole Lightle. 1986 Lora Abbott; Cheryl Beeson; Howard Craig; DeAnna Fox; Lisa Gorryn; Anna Hartzmann; Mark Kelley; Ed May; Mike May; Bobbi McCombs; Jim Ramos; Leroy Shields; Karen Simon; Danny Shulda; Bruce Thompson; Gerald Weis; Rhea Wigton. 1987 Kerstin Berry; John Brachenbach; Matt Isenbart; Janine Martin; Rodney Martin; Lonnie Drescher; Craig Fox; Kim Fox; Donna McConnell; James McCormick; Gretchen Neumann; Layne Polzin; Jill Pottorff; Julie Pottorff; Lori Roesch; Alice Schaal; Pam Stramel; Rick Stramel; Wendi Swanson; ..CHURCHES' T366 Of the many facets of pioneer life that played meaningful parts in settling the area we know today as Kit Carson County, nothing assumed greater roles than education and faith in a Higher Power. This is evident from the large response to school stories and having a story submitted for almost every church in the county. With "Churches" we are calling to our attention that four of the churches featured in the 1970 book. White Churches of the Plains, written by Robert Hickman Adams and published by Colorado Associated University Press are about churches whose stories are recounted in the Kit Carson County History Booft: Seibert United Methodist, Immanuel Lutheran Church north of Bethune, Stratton United Methodist Church and the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Stratton which is now the Stratton Public Library. In his foreword to that book Thomas Hornsby Ferril, famous Colorado author, stated "People lacking beauty tend to create it." In its unique fashion the prairie was and is beautiful, but the stark and unending sweep of the plains before fences and roads, the trials, disappointments and daily monotony, the vicissitudes of weather, and the ceaseless change of seasons accompanied by infrequent times of exulting in accomplishment drew those hardy souls to attempt fulfilling their fragile dreams by grasping for some visible and constant symbol of beauty and steadfastness that would stay within their grasp. Building and maintaining these churches reflects to us the love and dedication and yearning of great hearts and minds among the early pioneers and their descendants reaching even into today. by Dorothy C. Smith CHURCH OF GOD T367 In the homestead days of 1912 and 1913, Grandma Thomas, who lived north of Stratton, felt the need for a church in her community. Mrs. Thomas began conducting cottage prayer meetings in her home. Grandma Thomas had contact with the Church of God in Kansas. Through her invitation Rev. Clarence Bright and wife held a revival in an adobe school house known as the Thyne School in the year 1916. Near the close ofthat year or the beginning of L9L7 a Sunday School was organized. In August 1918, Mrs. Pearl Norris and Miss Birdie Luther held a two weeks meeting in the same school house. At this time they decided to change from a Union Sunday School to Church of God Sundav School. �to raise money for the Building Fund. This began the practice of a Fall Ingathering Dinner which continues as a yearly extra project for the church. In 1965 bids were opened for the construction of the present building. Geo. H. Allen Construction Co. of Denver was the low bidder. Dan Rohwer was the architect. The Building Committee was Wendell Arnold, Howard Taton, Ray Bishop, Mrs. Joe Garner, Mrs. John Hasart. Kenneth Scheierman and Loyd Hostetler. The new church was dedicated October 24, t965. A dream of 12 years had come to be a reality. The church paid off their loan in 1972 and they are free ofdebt. A new building fund is being held for the construction of an educational unit. Merrill Smith pastored the church at the time the new building was constructed and returned to pastor the church again in 1987. The roster of Ministers is as follows: R.E. Hooper 1918-1923, T. Wade Good The Church of God, Stratton, 1942, in the process of being remodeled. (ready for the stucco). who lived in Stratton, and he was afraid to carry the loan so they refinanced to pay him off. In just a few weeks after the church paid him, the local bank failed, and the man lost all his money. The first building was a one room structure with no basement at a cost of between $2800.00 and $3000.00. It was dedicated in May 1920. Rev. Hooper pastored the church until . ot;-.'1."1*-r-' -,* _,-),'t- .r* The Church of God as it stands in 1988, built in 1965. They began using Church of God literature. R.E. Hooper, who lived south of Stratton, had felt his call to the ministry and he began preaching in the Thyne School and held services Sunday mornings. A.G. Lovell held a revival for the small church in the little school house in November 1919. This meeting brought out people from town. The people were in the process of starting a building fund to build a church. On December 6, 1919, a business meeting was held at the Thyne School for the purpose of deciding as to the wishes of the congregation in regard to building a new chapel and such other business as might be considered. The motion was made and carried that the church be built in Stratton. Will Sweangen was elected President of the Building Committee and R.E. Hooper was elected as SecretaryTreasurer. Pledges were taken and totaled $1850.00. Those who pledged were Mr. and Mrs. D.B. Sealock. Mr. and Mrs. H.D. Thomas, Mr. and Mrs. Joe Garner, Rev. and Mrs. R.E. Hooper, Mr. and Mrs. Will Sweangner, Will Sealock, Mr. and Mrs. D.B. Thomas, Laura Sweangen and Merlin McNees. Lots were purchased at the site of the present church buiding. The money was raised by pledges of money and articles from the farm. Some gave horses, cattle, chickens, machinery or whatever they could give which was sold at a public sale. The balance of the money needed was borrowed from an individual. The money was borrowed from a man 1923. T. Wade Good followed him and was with the church until 1926. Rev. Good supported himself one year during his pasto- rate in order for the church to pay off their debt. In 1934 Rev. R.E. Hooper returned to pastor the church again. The church purchased a parsonage and the Hoopers moved into it. It was located in the block south of the present parsonage. During his pastorage the church was remodeled and a full basement put under the church. Rev. and Mrs. C.W. Baldwin came to the church when the Hoopers left. The Church sold their parson- age and purchased the Hasart house which is still used as a parsonage. It has been remodeled since then. In 1945 the furnace smoked filling the church with thick black oil webs. The ladies of the church cooked meals and the men and women came in to clean away the heavy black smoke. They were very thankful that the church did not burn. In the early 1950's the church basement was enlarged to make ready for an enlarged sanctuary. In the middle fifties a building fund was started for a new church building. A God's Acre project was promoted one year when different farmers in the church gave a few acres of crop to the building fund. There was a drouth during this period and the amount of money raised was small. Kenneth Scheierman then offered to give up the lease on a quarter of land he was farming which belonged to Baughman's. The church rented it and farmed for the Building Fund. This proved to be a big boost to the Building Fund. During one year of this time, the income from the land had to be used to pay the current church expenses, Pastor Harold Taves and his brother-inlaw fished in Canada each summer and when they came home, they would have a fish fry 1923-1926, J.N. Richardson 1927-1930, W.B. Morgan 1930-1932, David Lighty 1932-1934, R.E. Hooper 1934-1943, C.W. Baldwin 19431947, S.C. Ritchhart 1947-1948, E.C. Arthur 1948-1952, Fred Bruner 1952-1958, Harold Taves 1958-1959, Merrill Smith 1960-1968, Wilbert Nelson 1968-1973, Merrill Cunningham 1973-1978, Wayne Woodworth 19781980, Donald L. Bloomer 1980-1987, Merrill Smith 1987-. by Mabel Scheierman SAINT CHARLES BORREMO CHURCH T368 Even before 1900, Franciscan priests from St. Elizabeth's Church in Denver served as missionaries for communities in East Central Colorado. In 1909, the Franciscans turned these missions over to the Diocese of Denver. Bishop Matz assigned Monsignor Godfrey Raber and his assistants to serve the many missions in the area. In Stratton, Mass was usually held once a year in the hall over the old bank (now the Roadrunner). Priests who came to Stratton during the years of 1909 and 1912 included: R. Charles Hagus, Fr. Cloppet, Fr. Felix Abel, Fr. George Fenske, and Father Alphonse Kieffer. In 1910, a committee was formed to raise funds and build a church. Leo Craig was appointed chairman by Fr. Raber. O.S. Taylor and C.E. Malamphy also served on the committee. Members of the parish contributed funds, labor by constructing the basement, and items to furnish the church. A Mr. Leofflor, who was not a Catholic, donated the land. The Catholic Church Extension Society donated $500 and an altar. A local builder, Mr. Huntington, was hired as the contractor. The cornerstone of the first St. Charles Church edifice was laid on November 17, 1910. Planks placed on nail kegs served as pews. Mass was then held once a month. In May 1912, Rev. George Fenske was appointed pastor of St. Charles and its missions, which at that time included Hugo, Burlington, Kirk and Seibert. Due to Fr. Fenske's illness, Rev. Alphonse Kieffer was appointed pastor in 1913. He first lived in one of the Sacristies in the church and ate his meals with the Ollie Taylors, who lived across �to travel on because ofthe ruts than were the side roads through the prairie. The Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Dubuque, Iowa arrived in September of 1919, and taught school in Stratton for the next eight years. Sister Mary Charles Duffy was the first directress. She became ill with the flu and died here on March 21, L920. She taught the upper grades and was an artist. Sister Mary Loyola was the next directress. Sister Mary Arangelia Duffy taught music for the eight years and gave individual violin lessons in the kitchen. Sister Mary Therese was the teacher for the lower grades. Sister Mary Agnes was the cook for the school and for Fr. Schmidt and the caretaker. She used a coal stove. Clara Knockel recalled sitting with her feet on the oven door to get warmed up. Other teachers included: Sister Mary Clara, Sister Mary Annunciata, and Sister Mary Juliana. Three lay teachers also worked during the last few years this particular order of sist€rs were here. Miss Mary Horrell (later Mrs. Joe Dvorak) taught the 5th, 6th, and 7th grades, in 1924-25 for 925.00 per month. Miss Grace Comerdy taught the first and second grades one year, and Miss Lucille Wisco the 5th, 6th and 7th grades in L926-27. This was the last year that the Presentation sisters cnme to St. Saint Charles Borremo Church built in 1910. Charles. In 1920, the cornerstone was laid for the St. Charles Academy. The initial cost of the building was $42,000, but the total cost was eventually $125,000 due to the accumulated interest. This was a controversial project from the beginning. It was commonly agreed that a larger school was needed. Some people felt that an academy where girls from the surrounding area could board and room would help develop the parish. Other people felt that this was too ambitious a goal. Once the decision was made, however, many people St. Charles Catholic Church built in 1949 replacing their first structure. The new Parish House and Religious Center built in 1983. replaced Father Kieffer. One of Fr. Schmidt's accomplishments was extending the church to the east in 1918, the new part being the Sanctuary. In 1919, Fr. Schmidt moved into the little white house so the Sist€rs could live and conduct school in the rectory. The south half of the rectory was for the upper grades. The lower grades were taught in the adobe addition. The adobe had double seats with three to a seat. There was a well with a windmill, also a cistern northeast of the The two story brick rectory built in 1915. the street to the west. With his own money, Fr. Kieffer built a little white house, approximately where the church stands today. This little one story house was moved, in later years, to the southeast of the church, but still in the same block, and the caretakers for the church property lived in it. At one time, George Quinn was one of the caretakers. In 1915, the two story brick rectory was built. An adobe addition was later added on the east side. Fr. Kieffer had his office in this addition, with a bedroom upstairs. He had to go outside and up the staircase to reach his bedroom. The adobe also had a cellar under the porch. In 1917, Father Felix Schmidt rectory. Sister Marie Therese would pull out a bucket of water and the students would all line up to get a drink after dinner. In the winter, since there was not much heat in the adobe, the students would take turns standing where the heat came into the room, holding their books to study all the while. Some children c'me by horse and buggy; some walked. Josephine, Alice and Anthony Walker walked eight miles to school when they couldn't catch a ride. The Knockel pledged funds. Unfortunately, a period of drought and hard times followed, forcing many to leave their land and move away, leaving the debt on those members of the parish who remained. Father Munich arrived in 1921. During the 1928-29 school years, the children attended public schools, and Father Munich conducted religious classes in the church each Saturday morning after Mass. Clara Knockel wrote that after Father Munich was sure individuals among older children knew their Iessons he would have them help with the lower classes. Miss Knockel would go up front and ask the lst, 2nd, and 3rd grade girls their catechism. Helen Weibel (later Mrs. Joe Bunger) was sent up to ask the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd boys their catechism. The Sisters of the Most Precious Blood from O'Fallon, Missouri taught school from September 1929 to May of 1960 when St. Charles.Academy was closed due to a shortage of teaching sisters. Sister Mary Walburges was the first Superior. Sister Mary Geraldine taught music. She had been on the stage in Europe before she became a num. Other sisters from that order who taught during these years included Sister Madeline, Sister Christine Marie, Sister Virginia, and Sister Aurelia who also taught piano to many children had to travel seven miles to school. Miss Clara Knockel remembered that the driver would put the top down on their Ford so that it could go faster. She recalled the time of a blizzard and two of the sisters wrapped her up in their shawls for the ride young men and women. Father Munich served St. Charles parish until 1936, when he became ill. He died in Denver in 193?; Father Henry J. Ernst was appointed pastor in September, 1937. He became ill in 1946, and home. In bad weather the highway was harder Fr. George Spehar and Father Edward Dinan �each assisted in the interim. Father Dinan was later appointed pastor and served the parish for over twenty years. Due to the growth of the congregation, a larger church was needed, The cornerstone for the new church was laid on February 23, 1949. The church was dedicated on July 28, 1949. A large hall containing an auditorium, kitchen and dining facilities was built in 1952 and dedicated on Dec. 15th of that year. In 1983, the old St. Charles Academy was torn down because its state of deterioration made it an unsafe place to hold CCD classes. The rectory was replaced by a building which functions as both the parish house and the religious center. The new rectory was dedicated on June 19, 1983. Pastors since Father Dinan include: Fr. II. These members, wishing to continue to observe the teachings and practices of their God-given faith and also to be loyal to the 2000 year tradition of the Roman Catholic Church, sought out priests, who were loyal to 'eternal Rome'of St. Peter and his successors. to offer the Traditional Latin Mass, the Mass of the Saints. Father Placid White, O.S.B., the first resident priest, came to the area from Springfield, Colorado where he had served the Catholics of Southeastern Colorado for sixteen years. At present, Father Eugene R. Berry of Aurora, Colorado offers the Traditional Latin Mass on a scheduled basis at Our Lady of Fatima Roman Catholic Chapel, Stratton. by Joann Hornung Maclnerney, Fr. Bannigan, Fr. Sobiesczyk, Fr. Wm. Murphy, and Fr. Edward Leonard. Fr. John Krenzke is the priest in 1988. Boys from St. Charles who became priests were: Rev. Hugo Pautler, ordained in 1932, Rev. George Weibel, ordained in 1948, and Rev. John Holloway, ordained in 1955. Girls from St. Charles who became nuns include: Barbara Wurtele, Mary Dvorak, Helen Wein- gardt, Augusta Weingardt, Elenora Byrnes, Kathleen Green, Mary Alice Isenbart, and Marcia Grasser. Early families in the parish include the Anthofer, Balanga, Brachtenbach, Brock, Dischner, Dvorak, Evans, Fierstein, Flageolle, Ford, Heiman, Horrell, Hahn, Taylor, Jostes, Knockel, Leoffler, Wm. Nowak, Paut- ler, Pelle, Quinn, Schiferl, Simon, Stoffel, Strick, Walker, Thomas, Thyne, Weibel, Weingardt, Wolf, Zurcher, and Thomasen families. Many descendants of these families are still active in the St. Charles parish and the Stratton community today. The history of this church were taken from materials written by Miss Clara Knockel in May of 1969, and a letter from Mr. Leo F. Craig in 1953, and personal conversations with Mr. Louis Pautler. by Elizabeth Whipple OUR LADY OF FATIMA CATIIOLIC CHAPEL T369 Int974,a group of Roman Catholics joined together because of the radical changes caused by the 'so called' reforms of Vatican Our Lady of Fatima Roman Catholic Chapel near Stratton. ST. PAULS LUTHERAN CHURCH T370 St. Pauls Lutheran Church was built in L92L. In 1949 the congregation purchased the Nazarene Church which had abandoned services in Stratton. St. Paul Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod, was started in Stratton by the Flagler Church as their mission church. Their pastor, Rev. Beirwagen came and gathered several families together for worship. In 1920 they organized into a congregation. The charter members came from the following families, the Wollers from Vona, Gaddys, Gerke, Pischke, and Lucas. They gathered in the John Gerke home for worship under the leadership of Rev. Vuesing, who interned here for one year. They were encouraged to build a house that could be used for a church. At that time they were a part of the Kansas District of the Missouri Synod. Funds were borrowed from the mission fund of the district and Mr. Joe Collins gave them the lots and helped them build their first house of worship. The church was dedicated in1922 free of debt as they had paid the loan off by that time. Their first Pastor was Rev. Webber. Next came Rev. and Mrs. Christ Adams. They stayed for a year and one half leaving due to health reasons. Rev. Biens came and stayed for a long time. During this time the church grew with the addition of the Grammol, Chris Zogg, Erth- man, Meyer, Einspahr, Scheierman, Mucho and other families. Later other families joined them from the Burlington area. They were the Lucke, and Seelhoff families. The Hasart family joined in the thirties along with others who cannot be recalled. In 1949 they traded their "house" for the church building of the Nazarene Church. The Nazarene Church wanted to sell their building but couldn't find a buyer prompting the trade for the house . . . Worship services were held there until 1979 when the congregation voted to fold due to declining membership. The Church building along with some of the contents was sold in 1980. Mr. Curt Jostes purchased the building converting it into a lovely home. The old bell went to Trinity Lutheran Church in Burlington. Mrs. Hilda Lucas is the only remaining charter member living at this time. by Hilda Lucas STRATTON UNITED METHODIST CHURCH T371 The Constitution and By-Laws of the Claremont Congregational Church were adopted March 10, 1888, when it was organized in the home of Mrs. Lucy Hobart. She and her daughter Clara were the only members. Rev. Martin H. Meade was a traveling pastor who came through and held services when he could. In 1889 a building fund was started. Rev. George E. Tuttle was the first resident minister, moving to Claremont on March 1, 1892. By July, 1896, when he left, there were 27 members, Some names that are familiar are Mr. and Mrs. N.H. Fuller, Mr. and Mrs. E.G. Davis, and Mr. and Mrs. Charles Wellman. Starting in the winter of 1896 services were held only once each month so the pastor could travel farther west and carry the message to more people. He served Seibert and Flagler, also. Rev. C.W. Smith then served Seibert, Flagler, Cope, and Kirk part-time and Clare- mont all of the time until March 1. 1901. Brother Peter Rasmussin of Cope preached a few Sundays at 3:00 p.m. until Rev. N.H. Nash came to Claremont on May 5, 1901, for a salary of $100 per year. His parish consisted of Cope, Seibert, Bethune, and Claremont. On March 1, 1903, Rev. F.S. Hughes became the preacher in this parish. On July 3, 1904, he preached his farewell sermon to the Claremont Church. Rev. J.W. Tipton of Burlington filled in until September 4, 1904, when Rev. J.L. Read was called to be the pastor for a salary of $200.00 per year plus a parsonage, which was bought from Mr. Book for $450. At that time the average Sunday service attendance was 36. In 1906 the members voted to take up a collection at each service to be used as needed for the church. On June 14, 1908, the name ofthe church was changed to the Congregational Church of Stratton as the town's name had been changed. The Methodists had built a basement and used it for a time but were no longer able to continue having a church in Stratton. So the Congregational Church bought this basement and built the First Congregational Church on it for a total cost of $2,012.69. During the next 14 years there were increases and decreases in membership, pastors came and went, and services were held when possible. Sunday School was held regularly and officers of the church were elected and active. On September 22, 1922, Rev. Barton, pastor ofthe Seibert Congregational Church, became pastor of the Stratton Congregational Church, also. His salary was $1,600 per year paid half by Seibert and half by Stratton. Rev. Barton resigned September 16, 1923. Several ministers c"me and delivered a sermon but did not want to serve two churches. On Novembet 24, L924, Rev. J.T. Bainbridge of the Methodist Church in Burlington came over and held a worship service at 2:30 p.m. He agreed to do this on �I i i : AA Iu ,,"-m Stratton United Methodist Church, 1988, one of the "Little White Churches of the Plains" On October L2, 193L, the trustees of the Congregational Community Church voted to lease the church building to the Evangelical Church for 925 per year, although no payment is recorded in the financial statements of the following years. At a special meeting held in 1942, the Stratton Congregational Community Church became the Stratton Evangelieal Church and the deed to the parsonage and church property was turned over to them. The parsonage was sold to Mrs. Anna Scheierman and the house on the corner of 3rd and Colorado Avenue was Community Congregational Church, now United Methodist Church at Stratton, t920-23. an irregular basis. Then from December 1, 1926 until May 1, 1927, Rev. Jockins of Idalia Methodist Church served as pastor for the Stratton Church with two services each month. In February L927, a fire broke out in the little room under the stairs in the basement of the church. Mr. Stoner repaired the damage to the building for 9266.35 but the organ had to be replaced. ' A special meeting was called on March 28, 1927, with Rev. Jockins presiding. Under consideration was the changing of the church to an Evangelical Community Church or, if that did not pass, changing it to the Stratton Congregational Community Church. The motion for the first change did not pass, but the one for the second name change did pass. On May 2, t927, Rev. Alfred Alf came to Stratton, with his wife and 2 daughters, to serve as the full time minister of the church. A new constitution and By-Laws were written and charter memberships were accepted until the end of May, 1927. Rev. Alf served in Stratton for about one year. Sunday School and other activities were continued after he left but no regular minister was assigned. A worship service was held only when a visiting minister could be available. The Evangelical Church rented the sanctuary and started having regular worship services on February 10, 1929, with a membership of 46. Rev. C.E. Glaze was the pastor. bought for a parsonage. In L946 the Evangelical Church merged with the United Brethern Church thus the Stratton Evangelical United Brethern Church came into being. At the annual meeting held on March 27, !947, the pastor, Rev. Erickson, presided. The following officers were elected: Marge Brown, secretary; Geneva Hill, treasurer; trustees, Elora Calverly and Russell Sawyer; class leader Adeline Sawyer; assistant, E.R. Smith; Sunday School Supt., Earl Kindred; 1st asst., Vena Scheierman; 2nd asst., Marge Brown; secretary, Dessie Cassity; Membershin cnm E R Smifh ond Elnro fa"l.'."|.' Tearing down the church steeple and remodeling the kitchen were discussed and referred to the Ladies Aid. During the next few months the church steeple was discussed but nothing was done about tearing it down. In April of 1948, a building committee was elected to start on plans for remodeling the church. Ernest Pottorff, Vena Scheierman. and Art Lowe were elected. A goal of g12,000 was set for this project. Rev. Francis Bayles, Jr. came to Stratton as the pastor in June, 1948. The Building Committee was instructed to get an architect to make plans for the remodeling. In September the plans were presented for the remodeling at an estimated cost of$8,100. 96,100 was on hand or pledged, $1,500 promised from Conference, 91,100 promised for new pews by the Ladies Aid, making a total pledged of $8,700. The committee was instructed to proceed with the remodeling as economically as possible. On March 3, 1949, the estimate of amount needed to complete the project $b,260. A campaign for more money was started and the Ladies Aid would help to make up the difference. Volunteers could be dependld to do some of the labor. A loan in the amount of $6,000 was secured so the building could be finished. On January 15, 1950 plans were started for the rededication of the remodeled building. The rededication was held on March 19, 19b0, with an all day celebration. The Reverend Virgil J. Lnmm came to Stratton in June, Lgl2,to be the pastor ofthe Stratton E.U.B. Church. At the Administrative Council meeting held in November, 19b2, the three pulpit chairs were given to the Bethune E.U.B. Church. At the November. 1953 Council meeting it was announced that Stratton's invitation to host Annual Conference had been accepted. The dates were May 26, thru May 30, 1954. Plans for beds. breakfasts, and transportation for some of the guests to stay in Bethune, Kirk, and Seibert were discussed. Some of the meals were to be served by the Ladies Aid in the Church or perhaps in the school lunch room. Because of this careful planning the whole affair was a great success. During the next years, under Rev. Lamm's strong leadership, the church grew in mem- bership and attendance. Helen Kerl was appointed church treasurer in March, 19bb. Money was always in short supply but with every-member canvasing and a firm understanding of stewardship the bills were always paid even if things were pretty close sometimes. With faithful giving and some sacrificial giving the financial position ofthe church slowly improved. In June, 1957, Rev. Lamm suggested that the membership was increasing and it was becoming necessary to acquire more space. It was reported that the property north of the church might be available. Also the parsonage was getting very rundown and inadequate. Extensive remodeling and improvement was needed. Building a new parsonage might be more economical than the work on the old one. On April 23, 1958, the Council voted unanimously to buy the property on the north side of the Church for $8.800. A letter was sent to every member and a special meeting was called to vote on buying this property.On May 7, 1958, the vote was 84 for buying it and 18 against. At that time the average attendance at Sunday School was 115. The cottage on this property was greatly needed to use as Sunday School class rooms. The cottagewas dedicated July27,19b8. The final payment on the property was made on Sept. 17, 1958 instead of on the due date which was June 1, 1960. During the summer and fall of 1961 several suggestions on a new parsonage or remodel- ing were investigated. On September 21, 1961, a special congregational meeting was called to vote on trading the current parsonage at the corner ofColorado and 3rd Ave. for Nusser's lots, north of the E.U.B. Cottage, and $4,000 cash. The vote was 19 yes and 18 no and the exchange was made. Guy Ancell was given the contract to build the new parsonage with a full basement for 917,000, not including the wiring and fixtures, about $500, as Max Toland had pledged to do the wiring. Financial statement for the building of the parsonage - Cash on hand $4,127; borrow $7,500; making a total of 917,500. In March it was voted to borrow the $6.?50- still �owed the Conference at 6 percent interest, served nearly 4 years (through June' 1983). Sunday evening 18, and prayer meeting 16. In June 25, 1964 Rev. V.J. Lamm was sent Niwot, Colorado moved to Stratton on July the District and Conference Mission Teams. Membership remained a little above 100 for these years. In June, 1982, Rev. Bingham accepted the Hotchkiss/Crawford charge in getting more youth and more young families into the church. On September 7, 1966, he reported an average attendance at Sunday Greenwood, having married Ernest Greenwood, a long time resident of this community. The Auxiliary received a charter in June, moved to Stratton and served the Stratton/Seibert parish until his death in November, 1982. Rev. Douglas Lewis served this parish on weekends from January, 1982, until in June, 1983, when he became the fulltime pastor until June, 1985 when he moved back to South Carolina. Rev. Marge Huffman was appointed to the Stratton/Seibert Parish in June, 1985. Great plans are being made for the Stratton United Methodist Church's Centennial Celebration The charter members were Ursula Fitzgerald, from the Stratton First National Bank at 5 percent interest and pay off the Conference loan. At that time the average attendance was: Sunday School 80, worship service 70, to Peetz, Colorado. Rev. David Finley of 28, L964. Two of his first concerns were School of 46.0 and worship service 46.5. October was designated as Church Loyalty Month to boost attendance' Dorothy Smith and Helen Karl were appointed to prepare a prospect list and implement it with a followup call. In 1967 the 3 churches in Stratton, Church of God, St. Charles Catholic Church, and E.U.B. Church, started working together on helping the migrants in the community. A Joint Conference meeting with Kirk, Bethune, and Stratton on September 19, 1967' was held and the members were reminded that as ofApril 23, 1968, our churches names would be changed to The United Methodist Church. The curriculum of the E'U'B. and These were good years for the Stratton U.M.C. with a strong Sunday school and youth program. The United MethodistWomen were very active with members serving on the western part of Colorado and is still serving there in 1988, but is now Rev. Doris In June, 1982, Rev. Eldon Shoemaker in May of 1988. by Belle B. Danforth Methodist Churches had been written to- gether for the last two years. District orientation groups were suggested. The mortgage on the parsonage was paid off and a celebration service was held on October 29, 1967. It was suggested that the church recognize the uniting ofthe two churches in an appropriate STRATTON AMERICAN LEGION POST way at the discretion of the pastor. Rev. Finley used part of his vacation to attend the Uniting Conference in Dallas. A new bulletin board was erected south of the church and was dedicated on May 12, 1968. The memorial fund was reserved for a new organ. During the next four years membership decreased slightly but attendance at Sunday school and worship service remained stable. New hymnals were purchased. In June, 1972, Rev. Charles M. Wood was assigned to the Stratton/Seibert Parish. The membership in Stratton was 137, with an average attendance in Sunday school of 56 and in worship service 64. New loudspeakers were installed. A memorial plaque was placed in the church and.a2 drawer file cabinet with lock was purchased to be placed in the parsonage. A Baldwin organ was bought from Hershberger, McCook, Nebraska, for $2,395. A new furnace with air conditioning cabinets was installed with air conditioning to come later if money were available. A Building Committee was elected to work on plans for an education building. In June, 1974, Rev. George Dagenakis was appointed as pastor for the Stratton/Seibert Parish. After much work and some disappointments, the work of the Building Committee finally paid off. The contract was let to Ezra Yoder and the building finished near the end of 1977 at a total cost of $65,000' The trustees signed a 6 month note at the Stratton First National Bank which was paid off in 4 months. The dedication and mortgage burning was cause for real celebration with Greeley District Superintendent Jon R. Nieves joining in this time of joy and thanksgiving. In July, 1978, Rev. Frank Harvey came to the Stratton/Seibert Parish on a temporary basis. Rev. Doris L. Bingham was appointed fn fhio norioh fhe firsf nf Sentemher end T'J72 STRATTON AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY T373 The American Legion post and the Auxilia- ry were named for the first two World War I veterans killed in service, Nagel-Rehms. 1926, with J.G. Ford, Commander, and G.E. Quinn, Adjutant, conducting the ceremony. Ada Hunt, Cora Janeway, Gladys Quinn, Jane Pugh, Margaret Epperson, Olive Bertch, Anna Quinn, Inez Ford, and Henrietta Barry. Meetings were held at the Collins Hotel sitting room. Later they moved to the homes where they pieced and tied quilts to sell. They moved to the present Legion Hall which was built in 1948 after World War II. Activities through the years have included having Capper's hospital equipment for community service and use, making and sending knee robes to Fort Lyons and the VA Hospital in Denver, sending cookies with Christmas gifts and a TV for use at Fort Lyons, buying and selling poppies to help the Disabled Veterans, sponsoring space for the library for several years, sponsoring a girl at Girls' State, and hosting Gold Mothers teas. The Gold Star Mothers were Elva Holloway, son Alfred; Nettie Taylor, son Vance; Carrie Wolf, son Frank; Clara Hoyda, son Chester; Esther Mclean, son Chester; Clara Doddridge, son Philip; Lula Hooper, son Floyd; Rosie Gray, son Kenny Hanson; Hilda Lucas, son Ernst. Each year we fix decoration for the departed veterans on Memorial Day. We have a three generation trio of ladies and members: Grace Greenwood, Vera Greenwood, and Karen Greenwood Eastland. Two generation members are Edith Fehrenbach and granddaughter Tanya Fehrenbach Taylor. Our meetings are held the third Wednesday of the month in the dining room of the American Legion Hall. by Lola Gramoll The home of Nagel-Rehms Post No. 138 since 1948 in Stratton. Application for membership to maintain a Post of the American Legion was granted to Stratton. Colorado on June 15, 1922, to be known as Nagel-Rehms Post No. 138. The name Nagel-Rehms was chosen to honor the first two men from this area who had lost their lives in World War I. After World War II the membershiP swelled with World War II veterans being eligible for membership. The old Midway Theatre building was purchased to maintain the Post. The present building was erected in 1948 and continues to be the center of much community activity as well as providing the Legion's home. The Post now has a membership of 86. by Ray Schifierl M.S.A. CLUB HISTORY T374 "M.S.A. Club was organized in 1933 by a group of sixteen Stratton ladies who sought by inspiring relationship and mutual ex- change of ideas to better themselves, their families and their community." The first of 54 scrapbooks has this rather stilted sentence to explain the beginnings of M.S.A. Club. The first meeting was held Oct. 3, 1933 with Helen Liebee presiding as President. The second meeting wae a tea honoring Mrs. A.G. Fish. President of Colorado State Federation of Women's Clubs. Topics that were discussed at that meeting were Hitlerism, Monetary standards, Inflation and the N.R.A.Code. Of these Inflation and Monetary Standards, are still timely as are many topics that the ladies delved into during the years with emphasis in 1987 on obsewing the Bicentennial Celebration of the America Constitution. Now bv Derusing through fifty-four year- �worthy projects - the Community Scholar- ship Fund, the Heart Fund, A.M. Cancer Fund, March of Dines, CARE, Stratton Swimming Pool, the Kit Carson County Carousel Restoration Fund, Deric Bauman Day, and a donation to the United Methodist Church Library in memory of the late Doris Peters in recognition of 28 years of faithful membership in the Club. Another project sponsored by the Club was the establishment of a City Library, Mrs. Dessie Cassity, Chairman of the library Committee will always be remembered for her tireless efforts in finding a suitable building, soliciting financial support from the town, promoting the donation of books and securing the services of the Bookmobile beginning April 7, 1959. In 1968 the Club bought a set of Encyclopedia Brittanica for the Library. Much credit should be given to other members who supported the Library or served on the Board including the late Doris Peters who dedicated so much of her time as Librarian. When the Stratton Public Library MSA Club, the sponsoring organization for this book. Back row, left to right: Marie Greenwood, Shirley Hornung, Mabel Scheierman, Patty Witzel, Wanda Sweet, Florence McConnell. Middle row: Marlyn Hasart, Henrietta Schlte, Belle Danforth, Betty Stewart, Dorothy Smith, Dorothy Stegman, Eileen Cure. Front row: June Pottorff, Sharon Todd. books and scrapbooks we can recall that the M.S.A. Club has promoted a great variety of programs and projects such as Guest Night, Mother's Day Teas, Husband's Parties, reports from Columbine Girls State which the club helped sponsor, Safety programs, Energy Saving and Community Beautification programs, reports from 4-H Club members some of whom were delegates to the Citizen's Short Course in Washington D.C., talks by Foreign Exchange Students, a demonstration bythe County E.W.L., Ambulance Director, high school parties up to the year 1948 when we changed to honoring the High School Senior Girls with a dinner and evening of entertainment, In 1971, a program, arranged by Dorothy Smith and open to the public, featured a guest speaker, Mrs. Galla- gher, the Director of Ridge Home. Other outstanding programs have been "History of Early Pioneers", the Colorado water situation, Child abuse, Keep America Beautiful, Living with a Handicap with Irene Armistead, a paraplegic, as guest speaker; lawyer who explained the legal processes of estates and wills; The administrator of a Nursing Home, Hugh O'Brian Reports; Organ Donors; Reports on National Conventions; and County Nurse on Sex Education in the schools. In 1946, the Club entertained the other Clubs of Pikes Peak District with a pageant of Colorado History, using original script written and directed by the members with Oct. 26th, and are preserved in the scrapbook for that year. On Oct. 22, 1983 the Club celebrated its Golden Anniversary. Several State and District officers attended as well as former members. and members of other Federated Clubs. A history of the Club was read as well as letters from former members. One former member who was 96 years old that year is still keeping in touch with the Club at the age of 100 years in 1987. M.S.A. has had many outstanding pro- grsms and special speakers. On February 19, 1974 the club hosted a group ofboys from the Colorado Boy's Ranch, LaJunta, Colorado. After partaking of a scrumptious supper, the boys favored the club with a musical program and Indian dances for which they are famous. This program was open to the public. In 1977, Jo Downey, Executive Director of East Central Council of Governments, gave a program on Housing and Community Beautification. Other enjoyable programs were on poetry by Bonny Gould, Art by Roy Duell, Hummell Collecting by Frank Liebl, Doll Collecting and repair by Naomi Allison of Greeley and Oil Painting by Sally Bauder of Burlington. One of the most enduring projects of M.S.A. Club is Stratton's City Park established in 1939 with tremendous physical effort from members and their husbands who carried water to nourish the trees. This site is an attractive addition to Stratton and the many tourists who use its shade and ameni- correlating background scenery. In 1947, the ties each year. The public swimming pool and tennis courts are there. Now a part ofthe city many of the organizations in Town participating and competing for prizes. government's responsibility. M.S.A. is very proud of the latest improvement, the delightful gazebo provided with lottery money. The Club has made a number of donations to the San Juan National Forest in the name of bereaved members. They have also contributed to many health drives and other Club put on a Talent Show Contest with In 1958-59, The Club celebrated its Silver Anniversary. The past presidents were contacted and the letters which they wrote constitute history in themselves. These letters were read at a special Guest Night on outgrew the small downtown building, the club supported the city of Stratton in its mandating of efforts to establish new quarters and develop greater use of the town's facility. M.S.A. Club chose sodding of the area and some floral plantings surrounding the historical site, once the Seventh Day Adventist Church, as its major contribution to this project. As M.S.A. Club members as well as Stratton Public Library board officers, Belle Danforth and Dorothy Smith have been closely involved in this endeavor. In order to finance their activities the Club has had many money making projects. For the last seven years it has compiled and sold Community Calendars to the people in the Stratton Community. Birthdays, anniversaries and community and sports events are recorded on the calendars. During the years, the members have been actively involved in the pursuits of the District and the State Federation of Women's Clubs. M.S.A. Club has always taken its turn at being convention hostess club. Several members have served as State Chairman of various departments. Four members have held the office of Pikes Peak District President - Manda J. Borders about 1950. Mabel Scheierman in 1964-66, Florence McConell in 1972-74, and Shirley Hornung in 1976-78. Many awards have been received at District and State Conventions including ribbons on our scrapbooks. Others have been environmental undertakings and several years the Club was cited for collecting the most cancelled stamps. In 1982 they received the Sears Community Improvement Award. One member, Dorothy Smith, was sponsored by the Club as the Colorado Mother of the year 1973 and was honored by the Colorado Mother's Committee as a Colorado Merit Mother at a luncheon in Denver April 21, t973. In 1982, the Club nominated Whitney Hornung, daughter of member Shirley Hornung, as teenage volunteer of the year. Another community project was the preservation of the old bell and belltower taken from the recently demolished old brick school building and placed in front of the new elementary school building where it was dedicated during the Stratton Day-Homecoming celebrations Oct. 8, 1983. The most recent large project sponsored by M.S.A. CIub with members Marilyn Hasart �November and December being combined through the years 1962 ending in October and Dorothy Smith as co-chairman, is the monumental task of gathering and compiling a History of Kit Carson County to be published in 1988 in celebration of the 1966. In the following years they have gone back to March through October meetings. They have enjoyed lessons on many garden subjects led usually by a club member. They have toured gardens in the community and have had some interesting field trips to other gardens and green houses from Goodland, Kansas to Denver. Colorado. county's century of development. Past Presidents: Helen Liebee 1933, Winnie Bradshaw 1934, Genevieve Murfin 1935, Florence Cavey 1936, Mary Evans 1937, Gladys Herburger 1938, June Scofield 1939, Ellora Calverley 1940, Gertrude Rose 1941, The Club promoted flower growing and Dessie Cassity 1942, Leona Stapp and June Scofield 1943, Polly Thiringer 1944, Gladys Herburger 1945, Myrtle Hanley 1946, Marie Greenwood 1947, Manda Borders 1948-49, Mabel Guy 1950, Lucile Lepper 1951, Mary Anne Bradshaw 1952-53, Dorothy Smith 1954-55, Mabel Scheierman 1956-57, Lucile Lepper 1958-59, Eleanor Proctor 1960-61, Betty Miller 1962-63, Doris Peters 1964-65, Florence McConnell 1966-67, Wanda Sweet 1968-69, Helen Mclean 1970, Dorothy Smith 1971, Doris Peters 1972-73, Mabel Scheierman 197 4-75, Belle Danfofih L976-77 , Eileen Cure 1978-79, Dorothy Smith 1980-81, Florence McConnell 1982-85, Patty Witzel 198688. by Marie Greenwood STRATTON GARDEN CLUB T375 The Stratton Garden Club was organized in 1957 fulfilling the dream of Mrs. Dessie Cassity. Mrs. Cassity had visited friends and relatives who were members of a Garden Club and her keen interest in gardening prompted Stratton Garden Club soon after organizing: Left to right: Mabel Scheierman, Helen Mclean, Dessie Cassity, Belle Pottorff, Edith Malone, Gladys Kerl, Cora Hansen, Marge Brown. her to action. She invited a group of ladies to her home on June 19, 1957. She also invited members of the Burlington Garden Club to give direction in the organization of a Garden Club for Stratton. The Club began after that meeting with Mrs. Cassity as its first president. The CIub elected to not become a federated Garden Club because ofthe reports and emphasis on items that were not of interest to them. Dues could be kept at a lower figure and Mrs. Cassity wanted women to belong. Gladys Kerl, Louise Smith and Mabel Scheierman became members in that first year. Helen Kerl was an Associate Member for a number of years in the beginning of the organization. The three ladies who became members that first year have been members of the club all through its 30 years of existence. The Club year begins in March and ends with an enjoyable early Christmas party held in the month of October. The Club held monthly meetings the entire year except for arranging by holding flower shows in its first years of existence. In 1957 they had a flower arrangement show in connection with Stratton Day. They gave three prizes; first of $1.50. second of 750 and a ribbon to the third place winner. Mrs. Marie Greenwood won the first prize, Mrs. Heiman won second and Mrs. Marge Brown the ribbon. The Club has had many projects to beautify its community. They had a very lovely flower bed in the city park and also a flower garden around the flag pole at the old grade school. They planted evergreen shrubs at the new school and donated for landscaping at the High School. They have made donations to Stratton Library, the swimming pool, and Christmas decorations for the town. They helped the Rotary Club in donating in the Park for Christmas. They have been faithfully donating to the Stratton Community Scholarship Fund. They have made floats for many Stratton Day parades and have won money several times. Several years they took Christmas goodies to the elderly and shutins. They have had art shows which included not only flowers but quilts and other types of hand work. Stratton's observance of Colorado's Centennial on August 1, 1976, was spearheaded by Stratton Garden Club. Deceased members have had living memo- rials placed in Stratton City Park and the United Methodist Church yard in Stratton. This Club has not been a money making club. In all of its 30 year existence it has probably only had one big money making project. by Mabel Scheierman IF AN ABSTRACT COULD TALK! T376 Studying abstracts for several properties in our search through Stratton history revealed the wealth of history one could glean from an abstract if given time. The excitement of acquiring a piece of land, the struggle to keep its expenses currently paid, the taxes espe- cially, the regrets and sorrows that were attached to letting it go into other hands or the thankfulness of getting it off one's own hands . . . it is all written between the lines. This is the "story" told by the abstract of the oldest building in Stratton today: the one at the southeast corner of Colorado and Main which today houses the D.G. Liquors and Stratton Garden Club members on a June 20, 1985, tour of the Denver Botanic Gardens and the Governor's mansion: Standing, I to r: Kenny and Mabel Scheierman, Dorothy Flageolle, Dorothy Smith, Karen Topp, Marge Brown, Charlene Garner. Middle row: Doris Gulley, Eileen Cure, Laurine Schiferl, Gladys Kerl, Helen Kerl, Marie Greenwood, Louise Smith. On floor: Lib Boone, Joyce Clark, Belle Danforth, June Pottorff. Roadrunner Cafe and Bar. Built in 1908 or 1909, Stratton has been a town for several years and most buildings built to that time had been frame construction. Fires destroyed blocks of the town during that period of time, so no earlier building remains. Kit Carson County was yet Elbert County and had not resolved the Morton vs. Kit Carson County naming choice when the � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource History of Kit Carson County Description An account of the resource Brief historical stories and elements from the founding and recent history of Kit Carson County, Colorado. Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Book Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Stratton Date Created Date of creation of the resource. 1988 Subject The topic of the resource history Description An account of the resource A history of the Town of Stratton as recorded in the book History of Kit Carson County. Type The nature or genre of the resource text Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Salmons, Janice Hasart, Marlyn Smith, Dorothy Language A language of the resource English Is Part Of A related resource in which the described resource is physically or logically included. History of Kit Carson County Volume 1 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource text/pdf Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Curtis Media Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/</a> https://kccarchives.cvlcollections.org/files/original/16/429/Stage_Routes_and_Trails.pdf 58073161ad732d6c7daaa326497c1d74 PDF Text Text such environment would be classed as a StnoKey Hfrl .l4Bice Salmans Vona, Colo. tenderfoot. rral-r Besides that, he had been in a run-away. Let's let his companion, Albert Richardson, tell us about it: "Descending an abrupt hill, our mules, terrified by meeting three savages, broke a line, ran down a precipitous bank, upsetting the coach, which was hurled upon the ground with a tremendous crash and galloped away with the fore-wheels. I sprang I I Krt Carson Serbert Fort 8.1 HauLhorne SPrlngs out in time to escape being overturned. From a mass ofcushions, carpet sacks and blankets soon emerged my companion (Greeley), his head rising above the side of the vehicle like that of an advertising boy from his frame of pasteboard. Blood was flowing profusely from cuts in his cheek, arm and leg, but his face was serene and benignant as a May Morning. "He was soon released from his cage and taken to'Station 17', a few yards beyond, where the good woman dressed his wounds. "Spent the night at'Station 17'. As usual we slept in the coach which vibrated in the strong prairie wind, rocked like a cradle." LosL SPrinqs Now anyone in a run-away with mules as motive power would not be held accountable o for some time to come afterwards-what he K1t carson Hill said, did, or wrote. So perhaps we should take these statements he made at this time with a couple of grains of salt. We have given you an over-all picture of this trail. Now, let's get down to the local scene and trace it more specifically. ttl .,\,cfrl qnrindc Zce 'r I ) a I Smokey Hill Trail a - I SouLh Fork RepubJ ican Rrver When the route left Beaver Creek near Ludell, Kansas, it went over a high divide in a northwesterly direction, entering Nebraska at a point 76.26 chains (305 rods) west from the southwest corner of Section 35, Township L North, Range 34 West, thence going down a long draw or creek, 8 or 10 miles, coming to the Republican River in Section 28, Township 2 North, Range 35 West, then up the river about a mile where Station 18 was located in Hitchcock County about one mile from its west border, a short distance from where Indian Creek comes down from the northwest on the north side ofthe river. This was about twelve miles below The Forks. Then it followed the river up past The Forks and re-entered Kansas at a point 9.65 LEAVENWORTH AND PIKES PEAK EXPRESS ROUTE Tt34 "On this route there is no poisonous or alkaline water, nor sagebrush, two peculiarities and disadvantages of the Santa Fe route. There is no sand except in one body of 40 miles in extent and this is along the Republican with plenty of water, timber and grass at hand. Now we wish to present some of the merits ,f this route and later on the reason for its ,bandonment. "They further say that the region which they have just traveled is the best grass country in the West, that there is an abun- The Leauenworth Tirnes of April 3, 1859, dance of water and timber for emigrants and that in these respects it is far superior to the rublished the following account of two nembers of the surveying party: i'hursday afternoon Messers. Ewbank and )owning, two experienced mountaineers and ,ld Californians, returned from the reconraissance upon which they with others, had reen dispatched by Jones and Russell of the )verland Express. Their statements are clear nd explicit and most effectively put an end o all outside caviling as to the wisdom and oresight of the company in adopting a route rhich they pronounced unequalled for the equirements of travel, and of which the oaximum distance is not to exceed much ,ver 500 miles from Leavenworth to Denver )ity. Platte route." This does not exactly coincide with Horace Greeley's statement that we mentioned in our previous article, where we quoted him as saying: "For more than a hundred miles back, the soil has been steadily degenerated until here, where we strike the Republican River, we seem to have reached the acme ofbareness chains (39 rods) west from the southeast corner of Section 31, Township 1 North, Range 37 West, and continuing up the South Fork to Section 34-1-39 where Station 19 was Iocated. The above information about the trail from Station 17 to Station 18 and on to Station 19 we have obtained from our good friend, E.S. Sutton of Benkelman, Nebr. Mr. Sutton and Mr. Carmody found the site of Station 19, there being part of a sod enclogure 100 by 103 steps and trenches that were still visible in 1940 when they made their investigation. The survey on the Kansas-Nebraska line was made in 1859 shortly after the trail was established and the surveyors made mention of it, both where it entered and left Nebraska as the "Jones and Russell Wagon Road to Denver City." As to the exact location ofthe trail up the South Fork was somewhat uncertain we and desolation. I could match this station and its surroundings against any other scene on decided to see if by checking the surveyors' field notes we could obtain some definite our continent for desolation." But we must remember that Horace Greeley had been brought up in the East where there were lots of trees and timber, that he was a city dude, and coming out West from information. The results were very gratifying. Cheyenne County was surveyed in 1873, the township lines in 1872. The surveyors made note of crossing this trail 50 times in laying out the �section lines up and down the river and only four times did they fail to make mention of it. from South Benkelman, Highway 61 crosses the old trail, a little over one half mile (184 rods) south of the state line. In the Asa Clapp and John Ramsey neighborhood, it entered Section 30-1-38 102 rods east from 4 the northwest corner of said section and left it 80 rods south from said corner. By the E.S. Carman place it crossed the section line between Sections 17 and 20-2-39, east 215 rods from the northwest corner of Section 20, 56 rods east of the river where it was then. By St. Francis, the road that crosses the railroad tracks going north past the old stockyards, crosses the trail 8 rods south of the corner where the road turns west. The trail went in a southwesterly course from there and was west from the power plant beyond the old railroad grade. It went where the old railroad grade was made or very close to it on up to the old Benkelman Ranch and passed just a jew rods north of the old building site in Section Ll-4-41and where the present buildings are. The so-called Burnham bridge further up the river is where the trail once went. The river was further west at the time of the t survey. ,q -al -J^ g a E !r ,+ I $g ?r, at :6 'd, It crossed Battle Creek about 40 rods north + of Section 29-4-4L, crossed a dry creek or I : z 0,) ? q Io a )q' B o ?/ z ' : ! s.' , 3 C z Iq o +o! \r+ , r t J o z z E I o c u I .{ z o went up to higher ground, continuing sou- thwesterly and westerly for six to eight miles before getting back to the river. One day in January, through the courtesy and guidance of George Homm, an old-time rancher in that locality, we were able to locate the view the old wagon track of said trail. In Section 25, Township 5 South, Range 44 West, they can be seen dimly, but in Section 35-5-44 they can be seen as plain as day; in t ! draw 30 rods northeast of the stone house on the Sheldon place, went midway between the old Jacqua store and the section line corner south, crossed the Kansas-Colorado line at a point 66 rods south of the northwest corner of Section 4-5-42 a few rods south of the remains of the old lra Whipple place on the state line and thence on up the river valley pastHale and BonnyDam in southeastYuma County, Colorado, continuing on up the river from there. It continued up the river in much the same manner until it reached Landsman Creek, or as some called it Launchman. It followed this creek upstrerm about a mile or more then I r'l o i I fact, they can be seen a half mile away. It's quite interesting to view some of the old markings left by those early travelers who o I : t 3 o <l t 2l o o{ I I .*"t; Leavenworth & Pike's Peak Express Route 1859 4 blazed trails through what was then a wilderness. Installment 4 One can't help but stop and think ofThe hopes and aspirations that caused them to press forward to an unknown goal. The hardships and suffering they encountered along the way. The heartaches and disappointments that overtook so many ofthem before reaching the journey's end, some falling by the wayside, caused by hunger and thirst, some overtaken by the wintry blasts that swept the plains and freezing to death by the lack of shelter, and others slain by some foe they could not defend themselves against. One cannot help but think of these things when one beholds the markings of the old �trails. Contrast that with the comfort we have today in going from place to place. May we verify the above statement by quoting from some writings of men who were participants in this trail blazing drama of crossing the plains, almost a century ago. But first let us get the setting where some of this took place, and the reason for the suffering and privation that overtook these travelers, who had set out to cross the plains, in their quest for gold, or for a more comfortable living than they had 'back home' in some of the eastern states. Many of whom never reached their destination, but perished along the way. First, let us quote from the field notes of E.D. Boyd, chief engineer for the L. and P.P. Express Company: "Station 22, (supposed to have been \Vz miles northwest of Seibert, Colo.) on the south bank of the Republican; large spring in bed of river which sinks immediately below. "Since first striking the Republican our course has been nearly parallel with it and our which we descended, seeming no more than two miles away. At last we struck the old trail from Santa Fe to Salt Lake, rode a mile along the dry bed of Cherry Creek, and at eight this eleventh morning, reached Denver City." Horace Greeley wrote the following in his diary: "Here is 'Station 22,' and here are a so called spring, and one or two considerable pools, not visibly connected with the sinking river, but doubtless sustained by it. "And here the thirsty men and teams which have been 25 miles without water on the road, are met by those who have come up the longer and more southerly route by the Smoky, who have been traveling 60 miles since they last had water and shade. "The Pike's Peakers from the Smoky whom I have met here, have driven 60 miles at one stretch, the time required being two days and the intervening night. From this point westward, the original road nearly level. Smoky Hill route is abandoned for the one we have been traveling, which follows the Republican some 25 miles further." "For the last 23 miles there has been no wood or water, but grass is good. "The Smoky Hill routc comes in from the southeast. Then beyond there"A ride over the rolling divide of some 20 miles brought us to the'Big Sandy,'running southeast to become a tributary to the "The South Fork of the Republican comes in from the southwest." Now quoting Albert D. Richardson, writer for the Boston Journal, and traveling companion of Horace Greeley, on their trip over the Leavenworth and Pike's Peak Trail, from his book, Beyond the Mississippi: "June 3, 1859, met several Indian villagers, their ponies drawing lodge poles on their backs. "Passed hundreds ofemigrants. Spent the night at Station 21 (a few miles above Bonny Dam). June 4th. We still follow the Republican which at one point sinks abruptly into the earth, running underground for twenty miles and then gushing up again. "After riding twenty-five miles without seeing a drop of water, at Station 22, we crossed the Smoky Hill route which, from a point far south of ours, abruptly turns northward across the Republican to the (South) Platte. "Emigrants who have come by the Smoky Hill tell us they have suffered intensely, one traveling seventy five miles without water. "Some burned their wagons, killing their famished cattle and continued on afoot. "We are still on the dessert with it soil white with alkali, its stunted shrubs, withered grass, and brackish water. End of day's journey." "June 5th. At daybreak, Pike's Peak, more than a hundred miles away, appeared dim and hazy on the horizon and we began to feel the inspiring breath of the mountains. "Our dining station was Station 25. Towards evening Pike's Peak loomed up grandly in the south west, wrapped in its ghostly mantle of snow. In the northwest Long's Peak was sharply defined against a mass of ominous black clouds. "Supped at Station 26, we made a comfortable bed in the coach, and rolled on at the rate of seven miles an hour, slept quietly through the night. "June 6. Woke at five, still in motion, and obtained a glorious view of the mountains, their hoary peaks covered with snow and their base, thirty miles across the vallev into Arkansas. "Like the Republican it is sometimes a running stream, sometimes a succession of shallow pools, sometimes awaste of scorching sand. In the course of the 20 miles or so that we followed up its northern bank, I do not remember of any willow or paltry cottonwoods. I recollect only that the grass at intervals along its narrow bottoms seems a little better than on the upper course of the Republican." Unquote. Installment 5 This portion of the Smoky Hill route and on west was called the 'Starvation Trail.' More people died on the Smoky Hill from hunger and thirst than Indian attacks. The following is taken from the Rocky Mountain Neus, as of May 7, 1859, explaining how the 'Starvation Trail' got its name: "Two footmen have just arrived via the Smoky route. They appear to have suffered severely from hunger and thirst. They report having passed some 10 or 15 bodies unburied and many graves. These men say the lived for nine days on prickly pears and a hawk." A pioneer train arriving in Denver about the same time reported: "We picked up three men who had given out and laid down to die ofhunger and thirst, having eaten nothing for four days, and brought them with us. "We traveled 150 miles without water, except for melting snow, which fortunately for us, fell twice during that time." Now quoting from another source: "The emigrants came in covered wagons, and on foot, even with push-carts and wheel barrows. "Poorly equipped and scantily fed, they braved the chilling winds, and the snow and mud of early spring in their eagerness to reach their goal, the desolate city oftents and cabins which were to become the'Queen City of the Plains.' "The Smoky, like the Oregon Trail, was lined with abandoned property, broken wagons, dead horses and oxen, and many unmarked graves." Here below is a story more gruesome yet than anv of the rest. as quoted from the Colorado Magazine, Volume 7: "Daniel Blue was rescued by the Arapahoe Indians and brought into'Station 25'in the early spring of 1859. "Statement of David Blue, late of Clyde Township, Whiteside County, Illinois, made this 13th day of May 1859, at the office of the Leavenworth and Pike's Peak Express Company, in the City of Denver" "We arrived in Kansas City on the 6th of March, taking the Smoky Hill route. Myself and eight others then continued on our journey, while the rest remained behind for the purpose of hunting buffalo. "Three or four days elapsed after the separation, when we lost our pack horse. Our stock of provisions was then very much reduced, and we packed whatever we had left and pushed onward. "After having traveled eight more days, two other members of the company left us. "Upon their leaving, our provisions became exhausted, and for ten days we lay still, endeavoring to kill a sufficient amount of game for our subsistence. "A few hares, ravens and other small game was, however, all that came within our reach. Our only firearm was a shot gun, all other arms having been thrown away in consequence of the weakness of their owners. "At the same time three others parted from us, with the intention of making for the nearest settlement for the purpose of securing relief to the remaining one-leaving but the three brothers, Blue, and a man by the name of Soleg, from Cleveland, Ohio-all of the part being very weak and nearly exhausted. "After a short effort to continue our journey we were again compelled to lay up, and the next day Soleg died from exhaustion and want of food. "Before he breathed his last he authorized and requested us to make use of his mortal remains in the way of nourishment. "We were then, I later learned, on Beaver Creek (should be East Bijou), one of the tributaries to the South Platte, and about 75 miles east of Denver. "After the consumption of Soleg's body, Alexander, my brother died, and at his request, we used a portion ofhis body for food on the spot, and with the balance resumed our journey towards the gold region. "We succeeded in traveling ten miles, when my younger brother, Charles gave out, and we were obliged to stop. For ten days we subsided on what remained of our brother's body, when Charles expired from the same causes as the others. "I also consumed the greater portion of his remains, when I was found by an Arapahoe Indian, and carried to his lodge, treated with great kindness, and a day and a half thereafter (that is on Wednesday, the fourth day of May) brought to the encampment of the Leavenworth and Pike's Peak Express Company's train, enroute to Denver City, under the charge of superintendent B.D. Williams, where I was received and taken care of, and left at Station 25, to recover sufficient strength for the continuance of my journey. "By direction of Mr. Williams, the second coaches that came along took up and brought me safely to this point free of charge." End of statement. In reviewing the statements made by the above mentioned persons-and comparing it with our lot in life as of todav-we certainlv �;1il"ffi ;:itrffi#il;'ru;ffi il'l,"Jl;iJil and our surroundings miserable. Nor to cuss and damn at the least provocation when everything is not coming our way. After all, most of us are not too bad off. Installment 6 If the detailed field notes of surveyor E.D. Boyd and his mileage chart and his descrip- tion of the terrain up the river is correct, 'Station 20'should have been in Section 304-4L on the old Charley Frodin place, about 4 miles from the Colorado line. Boyd's notes read: "Station 20, on bank of river. No trees. 1 mile west of dry run (dry creek) going northwest." The old wagon tracks can be seen on each side of the place, the south bank is 20 feet high or more and no trees ever were here. In section 25-4-42, they are very plainly visible, in some places, several tracks are to be seen side by side a foot or more deep. 'Station 21' was located 29.5 miles above 'Station 20,'and should be on or near the old Tuttle Ranch, somewhere around ten miles above Bonny Dam. A very dependable mail service was inaugurated by the Leavenworth and Pike's Peak Express in 1859 to Denver and points west. They charged a 25 cent fee above the regular postage charges for every letter delivered. Now we will let a mail clerk tell something about the mail service: "The post office was usually the first place emigrants inquired for. Then they could distinguish between mail and express. There wasl no mail opened on the road, of course. "The average time consumed in traveling across the plains was about thirty days; the stage made it in six and this naturally led the travelers to expect to hear from home immediately on arrival. "Our office was often the place of amusing incidents. Our patrons were continually trying to play smart tricks on us. Frequently they would return letters and demand the return of the money. At first we could not see through the trick. A letter that was not worth 25 cents to them after they had learned its contents, was almost sure to be brought back with the claim it was not their letter but was for someone elee of the same name. "We at first assumed everybody to be honest and conscientiously desiring that the right person should have his mail, we would . refund the money. But it was not long before we were paying out almost as much money as we were taking in and were loaded down with letters marked,'Opened by Mistake.' "We saw the necessity of changing our method ofdoing business, so, in case ofdoubt, when mail was called for, after questioning whence the expected mail, we satisfied ourselves (in case as a last resort a letter had to be opened to prove its identity) by opening it ourselves at the supposed owner'g request. "I remember, on one occasion, of opening a letter, that the applicant requested me to read a little of it and in that way he could tell if it was his. I did so. It commenced by saying: 'Dear Bill: Your wife has been raising hell ever since you left!" The man said,'Hold on, don't read no more-I think that's my letter.' He took it and paid for it and disappeared in the crowd which was constantly hanging around the window. "Another case of about the same character was a letter from some point in Iowa. It commenced by saying: 'My dear beloved #;'il-: Hi "::r"iT Ji:' *frXil1''iil,"l!,Ti the quarter and read the rest myself.'He took the letter and paid for it without any further public reading." The Marysuille Sentinel published this early-day item: "Traveling the hard way-two men passed through our town last Monday evening enroute to Colorado. They had their'grub' and effects packed in a wheel barrow and seemed determined to make the trip in good order. Both are stout, hale fellows and every mile or so they'change posish'-one walking along leisurely and the other giving motive power to the wheel banow. If they don't succeed and make their 'pile,' there is no virtue to perseverance." From the same paper we glean this com- ment about the styles ofthat day as expressed by a red man: orawn Dy rour mures or norses," These terms no doubt obligated Jones and Russell to adopt the road by way of the Platte regardless of their earlier preference for the shorter route by way of the Solomon and branches of the Republican. E.D. Boyd, surveyor and describer of the earlier route, had this to say: "If it had not been for Jones and Russell's connection with the Salt Lake City mail, the change would never have been made." A writer in the Leauenworth Herald of February 18, 1860, had this to say: "In the spring of 1859, Jones and Russell sent a corps of experienced men to view and mark out a route from Leavenworth to Denver City. To avoid crossing large streams, it was thought best to keep the divide between the Smoky Hill and Solomon Rivers on the south and the Republican on the north, and I doubt very hoop skirts on, he exclaimed: 'Ugh! Heap big much whether a better natural track for a road the same distance can be found in the United States than there was found to the head of the Solomon River. From that point wigwamt." the viewers had no guide other than their own "The other day, while a big Indian was calmly surveying a "white squaw'with large Some crossing the plains in the early days met up with such things they did not seem to appreciate too much. Here is the way one gave vent to his feelings about the'eats': "I loathe! Abhore! Detest! Despise! Abominated dried-apple pies. I like good bread; I like good meat, Or anything that's good to eat. But of all poor grub beneath the skies, The poorest is-dried-apple pies. Give me a toothache or sore eyes In preference to such kind of pies." Installment 7 The question may be asked, and rightly so, what caused the abandonment of the route up the Republican Valley? The gold rush to California and the Mormon migration to the valley of the Great Salt Lake increased the demand for improved mail service to those western communities. The first government contract for a regular overland mail service was made in 1850 with Sa-uel H. Woodson of Independence, Mo., who was engaged to serve the route between that frontier outpost and Salt Lake City by way of the Oregon Trail. This service was none too good, partly because of poor equipment, Indian raids, rough terrain and the Iengthy route. Several concerns had the mail contract for a short time. In April, 1858, a contract was made with John M. Hockaday of Independence for a weekly mail from St. Joseph to Salt Lake City by way of Fort Kearney and Fort Laramie. When Congress, early in 1859 failed to pass the customary appropriation for the support of the Post Office Department, the Postmaster General felt obligated "to review the existing mail service of the country with a view to its curtailment." It put J.M. Hockaday & Co., in a tight squeeze, causing them to sell their line. On May 11, 1859, Jones, Russell & Co., of the Leavenworth and Pike's Peak Express notion of the direction to Denver City. The course taken from that point was north of westwhich I presume was to strike the waters of the Republican as soon as possible, perhaps a mistake on the part of the viewers instead of going due west." The same writer goes onto say: "It became in the interest of the express company to move their coaches and stock to the Kearney route-not from choice of route as I under- stood from the agent-but they have purchased the contract for carrying the mail to Salt Lake City by Kearney, therefore, the express company changed the passenger route but retained the new route (Republican valley) for their heavier wagon trains in carrying stores, etc." By the above statement we draw the conclusion this route was used for some time. When the Kansas-Colorado state line was surveyed in 1872, the surveyors made this notation: "Cross wagon trail oftroops." So no doubt it was used at times by the troops, by buffalo hunters and others who had reason to follow the river. No doubt those who came up the river to locate a good site for the Benkelman Ranch came up this road and used it going up and down the river. In all probability, John Dunbar, W.W. McKay and John Goodenberger, who came up from Benkelman and located the site of the new town of Wano, traveled this road. The emigrants who were surrounded by Indians on Battle Creek and rescued by troops, undoubtedly traveled this road. The mail route from the Benkelman Ranch and on to the Tuttle Ranch used it, as well as ranchers who lived up and down the valley. Thus we have tried to give you a comprehensive account of the establishment of the Leavenworth Pike's Peak Stage Line Trail, its use, the terrain and condition of the country it traversed as it appeared to those who traveled across this trail almost a century ago, and the hardships and difficulties they encountered. Co., purchased the Hockaday contract which called for the transportation of the mail "from St. Joseph, Mo., by way of Fort Kearney, Nebraska Territory and Fort Laramie to Salt Lake City, Utah Territory, and back once a week in 22 days each way, at $190,000 per annum, the service to be performed in carriage or covered wagon, by Marsha C. Squires and Simon E. Matson �OLD STAGE COACH LINES tlargler, Nebraska; wray, uolorado; or statlons on tnrs route were dlscontlnued ln Cheyenne Wells, Colorado, an old railroad town. Most supplies came from Cheyenne Wells as that was the closest. 1860. In the early 1800's an old stage coach route angled across Kit Carson county from Haigler, Nebraska to Cheyenne Wells. Later the stage coach ran from Cheyenne Wells to Beloit then up to Columbia, a place east of Stratton, then north to Tuttle Post The price was 25 cents per hundred pounds with 4,000 pounds being the average load. In 1859 there was a stage coach route that passed through the county, following the north fork of the Smokey Hill River, known at that time as Boyds North Fork. At a point south and east of the present town of Flagler it crossed over to the north side of the Republican River and went northeast to one of its stations, known as Boyd's Station #22, which was between Crystal Springs and Flagler. This route to Denver was used only a little over a year, as the government demanded the mail be carried over the more used route that went through Julesburg. The Tr36 office on the Republican River, and came back by way of Burlington to Cheyenne Wells to complete the two-day trip. This trip was made twice a week. The road from Cheyenne Wells to Columbia was made by Tom Reed, with the aid of a spring wagon, and three men. Later a stage route was made from Cheyenne Wells to Burlington. Frank Man drove the Stage- by Janice Salmans Jake Brommier and C.J. Eatinger wete early day freighters making the two day trip. coach. All the supplies were freighted from , Wallot, Colo. i'ang", lb nlUes northenst bt Rurlilrgtoq. t+- J. F. Gray, range, south af liiebsft, S€lbert, (loio. F. W. Buchele, ( o Bulllugtor,, iiolo' faug.e, soutFwesp of Gq I Fgtrelope IJuu', -r futtle' 0q1P' a,nd FT I -T lat:rr,t lailign5 , Colo '1n!t.,,1 arbort Pcrcr'9nt i) A '* yorrrg slocf. L'{'g Cid Sfage Reule Sharr 6, WFtteE, rlqilhgl,oD, Oolo. range, l0 nrlles southeagt of " /i r)gnr Dlp J if:.i t.t i.l $*ure 1a nllca north'e,Ist ot olore'rlont. i::io.r..i,l x/z Ee.r T L, !. pt U,0.,Iolrn8co, l,plrlbol'D, Iaans. r"nge.xoJtlr S]laII - Ranc:l ll !fllo!, Seomau,. h Burllngton, Colo. a r&nge, lortbe&st ot * 3r S' L. Howell di; Cbas. Howell' ltU I r' - voiro,, core. r|)Dge, 2 mlles nortb ol VoDa. E, A, Brddlc, Brirlinqton CcJ or adl Seibcri, Oelo. cilttle oll lett slde or bip, lrorEes on left shoulder. ljredltatthres. F H F Bcthune, C0lo. c&ttle on left sldA, horsis ou left, sho[lder. lRjoge. I mlles north of }lclhune. Fl.. J, Drulbar. Goll, Colo. RaDSe west of GofJ, (l('lo te-L o-i L Cc Ior.rdn 'inr ec i!o I tn& (i. \Y. llro&(iswold E r .{\ ^ HDtc, colo. It&ogc Dedr Ilr,le. spr i nq g !,le rL:.l Le .:r"l',:'.r'lg i.hi: .f.rai-i , p.li.rrli -o,i nvery few:cJ: ';irri,:rt i.; i C llU. BOrqurD, Claremont. Colo. E it Cheyenne hells Coloraiu J6 s l'aDge, Dbrtheg,st of Cler€mDnt, Henry Ha,rtstloe, 2 -H Laftborn. KaDs. raDgs, west trom Stole lrne. w) I, P. E!re, EurllbgtoD. Colo. rango. Dottboe|tJo Burllogtori. C [/) - c' w' smlth' rl., fb$€ir L'Ul'i. taol!, beif li'lrllt. Old Stage Route -{ �SMOKEY HILL TRAIL COUNTY Tr36 rlqers f,nat were rnf,erested m seerng how tast they could run their route of 18 miles. The first rider picked up the mailbag on the state line 5 miles east of Bonny Dam. The pickup was made at L0:35 and they made the transfer 4"n*Ae o a I ? €u b: .f Betty Reimer adding letters to the "mail Bag" from Kit Carson Countv. \\ 't t 'lr I I ,t I i( Making the run, Dave Corliss and Betty Reimer with Betty Corliss in back, through Kit Carson County. store designating it as part of the Leavenworth and Pike's Peak stage line 1859 to 1984. Tuesday morning, May 15, the Kit Carson County riders resumed their responsibility of running the mailbag through the county to the next exchange with Lincoln County. Seven riders and several interested neighbors gathered for coffee and rolls at the Dave Reid ranch north of Seibert. They left about 8:4b and followed the south fork of the Republican River southwest toward Station "22" cafled. Crystal Springs. The seven riders were Dave and Betty Corliss, Dave Reid, George Trail of Death with present day towns shown. by Editors PROJECT MAIL BAG Tr37 to Kit Carson county riders at 12:10. They were a colorful bunch of riders that ranged in age from L6 to 24. They were Julie and Collette May, Dee Kerst,Ron and Kelly Chamberlain and Louie True. Some 25 riders, newsmen, and interested residents met for a sack lunch and a lesson on Dave Corliss ranch, which was near the Bag" was to stimulate the public's awareness of the original Leavenworth and Pike's Peak Express route across Kansas and Colorado. The route was the white man's first commercial "wagon road" through the country. The reason for the line was the discovery of gold in the Denver area that began the "Rush to the Rockies". The Leavenworth & Pike's Peak Express Route had 27 stations. Four Mile Park was probably is as close a site as can be found. Betty Corliss, Betty Reimer, Elsie Lidle and Tuttle Store and Crystal Springs. The Boy photography and storytelling. The arrival of the mailbag at the Yuma-Kit Carson county line, May L4, L984, was an exciting event for all of those gathered five miles west of Hwy. 385. Jim Mclaughlin and his riders made a colorful entry into the little parkway designated as a spot where we would make the mailbag switch. They had six relay Hubbard, Ernest Cure, Buster Jenkins and Shorty Hostetler. They reached the dam at 11:00 and then rode on to Flagler where the mailbag was turned over to Mary Liz Owens from Lincoln County at the Airport Cafe. The purpose in having a "Project Mail Dave Corliss, Buster Jenkins and Fred Magley rode together with the mailbag to the original station "21". The Tuttle Store Marsha Magley placed a marker at the Tuttle the last stop along the route. Kit Carson County has two of these historic stations; the � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource History of Kit Carson County Description An account of the resource Brief historical stories and elements from the founding and recent history of Kit Carson County, Colorado. Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Book Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Stage Routes and Trails Date Created Date of creation of the resource. 1988 Subject The topic of the resource History Description An account of the resource A history of the Stage Routes and Trails in Kit Carson County as recorded in the book History of Kit Carson County. Type The nature or genre of the resource text Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Salmons, Janice Hasart, Marlyn Smith, Dorothy Language A language of the resource English Is Part Of A related resource in which the described resource is physically or logically included. History of Kit Carson County Volume 1 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource text/pdf Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Curtis Media Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/</a> https://kccarchives.cvlcollections.org/files/original/16/427/Seibert.pdf 065f9ef25cbd9fa5038454a0b4ec7783 PDF Text Text A history of Seibert must begin not with that town, but with the town of Hoyt, Iocated originally about four miles north of Seibert between the Republican River and Buffalo Creek. Hoyt was established in 1887 by a Doctor J.S. Hoyt on whose homestead the town developed. Doctor Hoyt, along with many other newcomers, established his Howard Kious and children with an early day auto 1916. ready to go to Church north of Vona - homestead along the Republican River because it was such a tremendous source of water, As a locator and surveyor, Doctor Hoy't was instrumental in bringing homesteaders to Colorado from Haigler, Nebraska. It was he who established the trail from Haigler to the new town of Hoyt by surveying the route and Seibert, which was incorporated in 1917, was a patent town, meaning the town's lots were given away. In order to own a lot a person had only to pay the taxes on the lot. If the taxes weren't paid, the lot was put up for auction. Many individuals claimed lots in the town, but few managed to pay the taxes, thereby losing their lots. Nevertheless, businesses did spring up. by Judith King SEIBERT T332 turning up the sod along the trail. Once a trail had been established, he helped freight homesteaders from Haigler (at that time one of the stopping points on the railroad) to Hoyt. Two of these homesteaders were his mother and sister. Not much else is known about Doctor Hoyt. He seems to have faded from the picture after Seibert was established in 1888. He may have spent little time in Hoyt since he surveyed other trails than just the one from Nebraska to Hoyt. Although Hoyt only existed as a town for about one year, a great deal of development occurred there. The town sported a restaurant run by Mrs. Wiveness; a drug store and saloon operated by Jerry Sands; a post office with Leander Hutchens as postmaster; a An 1892 view of the Davis General Merchandise establishment. blacksmith; a livery stable and feed barn run by Bert Hendricks and George Tucker; two general merchandise stores, one run by Kate and Leander Hutchens and the other by \ Seibert water tower erected in the 1920's. A 1921 view of Seibert Main Street with Mrs. Punshon's Cafe on the right. Seibert in the 1930's. V.S. Fitzpatrick published the "Seibert Settler" newspaper. Arenscheild and South; a hardware store operated by Mr. Scheib; a hotel; andthe Hoyt Free Press, owned and operated by G. L. Olds. Hoyt also had a school which was in a sod house just south of the town. It had a dirt floor, homemade desks, and books gathered from the settlers. The first teacher was Mrs. E.P. Trull. Other teachers were Charlotte Rose (whose family homesteaded near Hoyt), Lora Scheib, Luella Bell McKenzie, and A.P. Blair. By the time Hoyt was fully established there were approximately 150 people living there. For entertainment, dances were held wherever there was enough space. Many were held in Scheib's hardware store, where the participants would dance up and down the aisles between the counters. A Fourth of July celebration was also held in Hoyt. Numerous people attended, including the men from the Rock Island grading crew and cowboys from the KP Ranch in Hugo. James Priest, an early-day homesteader, estimated there were 500 people present. Several fights broke out between the grading crew and the men from the KP Ranch. Priest said the drinking and fighting kept things exciting. When the railroad came through Colorado in 1888, water stops were established. Seibert, which was named for Henry Seibert, an official of the railroad who donated books for a library, was developed from one of these stations. Since the workers needed food, the first business moved from Hoyt was the restaurant owned by Mrs. Wiveness. The grading crew used their mule teams to haul this building to the new town site four miles south of Ho1't. It wasn't long before other merchants moved their businesses to Seibert. In little time, Hoyt became a ghost town and Seibert became an important stop on the railroad. Kit Carson County's first National Guard drilling for Army service before going to France in World War I at Seibert looking northeast. A July 3 celebration in Seibert in 1909. w, r'. DAvrs, 'rt. .rut A letterhead for the W.P. Davis store established in 1892. �""d;;i;;'tuilding south of the hotel was used for various purposes including a real estate office and at one time was a store run by Oliver Hendricks, though not for long. Also on the east side of the street, several Iots south ofthe hotel, stood a building built by L.C. Rogers, a carpet weaver. This building also served as a post office of which Rogers was postmaster. A carpet weaving loom was in the front room to the left of the door as one entered. The post office was in the northwest corner of the building. When a person wanted his mail, Mr. Rogers would quit weaving, unload his mouth of tobacco juice, and then go across the aisle to get the mail. Rogers'wife Mary was an agent for the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad for many years. Located about one hundred feet north of the post office was the Seibert Free Press, formerly the IIoyt Free Press. Its owner, G.L. Olds, sold the paper in 1889 to a Mr. Patterson who only published it for a few months before it failed. The paper's assets were sold to Frank Mann who used them to start a paper in Burlington. Thie early day store is the 1988 site of the Seibert Food Store. The first hotel, located at the north end of main street where the Seibert Community building now sits, was built by Oliver Hendricks. His sister Kate Hutchens and her husband Leander ran the hotel. Leander had Water well in the center of town in Seibert. Water was piped from the original Rock Island Railroad well to center of town. ?] dn i71 Sfrcef Seibert's resident physician was Doctor been the postmaster in Hoyt, but if he continued in this capacity in Seibert it was not for long. For a short time two brothers nnmed Davis operated a store from one of the hotel rooms. Kate Hutchens was a great supporter ofthe town and was fondly referred to as Aunt Kate. She did everything she could to further the town and was notorious for matchmaking. She gave parties at her house and organized the singing for Seibert's Fourth of July celebration in 1888. Kate and Leander had one son, Corta, an Indian boy whom they had adopted after his parents were killed in an Indian massacre. Corra, known to everyone as Hutch, was a good person and well liked, but he did have his bad traits. He had a tendency to get drunk and take up with women he didn't know. Hutch eventually maried Zella Buchanan, the daughter of the section foreman. In later years they moved to Denver to live. They had , h Jct bc r t :'-t,,r',j, : L;l' " .. ::...,..:.4'.,. f Paul Godsman. Along with his business partner Sidney Laune, Godsman ran the Seibert drug store. Though its exact location is uncertain, the drug store was probably located on the east side of main street north of the post office. Dr. Godsman had a consulting room in the back ofthe drug store, though much of his practice came in the form of house calls. Dr. Godsman married Charlotte Rose, a teacher in the community and daughter ofJohn Rose whose homestead was near the old town of Hoyt. Godsman and Laune eventually sold the drugstore stock to Bert Hendricks, and Godsman and his wife turned the drug store into a residence. Even though he was a doctor, Godsman was interested in the law and decided to change professions and became a lawyer. In time he developed a law practice in Burlington and later became a county judge. In 1918 he was elected State Representative for Kit Carson, Lincoln and Cheyenne counties, and even became a candidate for governor in 1922. He withdrew from the race, however, before the election. Paul and Charlotte Godsman's only child was a boy, Sidney, who also became an attorney. Bert Hendricks built the first house in Seibert, but he never lived in it. It was used as a saloon run by Jake Hoffman. The location of this house is unknown. The Hendricks family was quite large and several of them lived in Seibert. The most prominent, however, was M.B. (Bert) Hendricks. He owned a general merchandiee store situated on the west side of main street nearlv across from the hotel. by Judith King An early day Seibert street scene. �oEpot, Seibert, Colo Thistles stacked for cattle feed. for the street cars. Bert Hendrick's brother Oliver, who had built the Seibert Hotel, and his wife Tamah had four children: three girls, Hattie, Eulah, and Myrtle, and one boy, George. George was about a year younger than his cousin, Corra Hutchens. The boys often rode their horses together. On one such occasion the boys had tied the horses together with a rope, each end ofwhich had been fastened to the neck ofthe horses. The horses were about one length apart with George riding ahead of Corra. Seibert depot in the early days. SEIBERT T333 He also ran the livery stable to the west of his store. Hendricks and his wife Cora had two children: one boy, Abe, and one girl, Cordy. Bert and his family moved to Denver where he became the head of the track crew Suddenly, Corra's horse stepped into a prairie dog hole, stumbled, and yanked George's horse over backwards. George fell to the ground, and the horse fell on top of him, crushing him. Corra also fell from his horse but was not injured. George was taken home and attended to by Dr. Godsman, but he never regained consciousness. George died before the next morning. Naturally this was a terrible blow to his family. The lumber yard in Seibert was managed by a young man named George Bryant who ran it for a well-to-do uncle. also named .bffi &, Trucks, Seibert. The Holiday homestead near Seibert. Bryant, who lived in the east. George Bryant did not particularly like the lumber business, but he was in love with a woman named Dell Rhinehart whose brother was the telegraph operator. However, when Bryant's love for Dell came to nothing he gave up the lumber yard and left Seibert. The uncle came to Seibert to see about the business. he was anxious to find someone to take over the lumber yard. After having asked Paul Godsman for advice, he asked the doctor to take it over. Bryant eventually persuaded Godsman to take the business. However, because he was now county attorney and needed to be in Burlington most of the time, Godsman engaged Jim McCombs, who owned a coal yard near the lumber yard, to work both yards together. McCombs did this for a number of years. Later, McCombs, along with Stephen Bell, purchased the lumber yard. In years to come, a man named Weaver became the manager. Jim McCombs, who ran both the coal and lumber yards, had settled on a homestead near the old town of Hoyt near the homesteads of his sister and brother. He hauled lumber and coal from Wray or Haigler until the railroad was finished. McCombs was a great talker and a very personable man. However, he had a terrible birth mark on the left side of his face. One person described it as looking like a bunch ofgrapes; another said it didn't look like human flesh. Even though g How most folk paid for their groceries. The egg and cream money was the only ready cash. this birthmark hurt him socially (some people couldn't even beat to look at him), McCombs was described as a fine man who managed to get people to overlook his affliction. However, it did prevent him from having a family of his own. Stephen Bell, who later became one of the �The second Seibert post office building with Jim Priest, John Kistler, Joe Smalley standing; Francis Hendricks, Bert's daughter, and Effie Priest sitting with Bill Shanahan. ,, Mae and Jess Messinger in their grocery store in Seibert, Colorado in 1925. Homer Hughes had this rare spotted mule, the only one known in the United States. which he sold for $200. Jess Miller, a well-known Seibert oil dealer and collector of artifacts. Doc Williams and his 1911 Maxwell. owners of the lumber yard, and his son hauled water from Hoyt to Seibert before a well was dug. The railroad dug a well which was to be used only by railroad personnel. Everyone SEIBERT T334 w else had to drink the water from the barrels that had been hauled from Hoyt and had sat in the hot sun. The section foreman's wife, Nellie Buchanan, frequently gave settlers water from the railroad well. She felt that the settlers were important to the growth of the west and deserved to have fresh, cool water. The supervisor came and told Mrs. Buchanan that she was not to give anyone but railroad employees water. She told him she would not refuse anyone a drink and finally convinced the supervisor that she should be able to give the water freely. As it was, the well never went Fosha Gorton, Jr. in the 1930's by his Conoco pumps and station. Until the railroad built a section house, the Buchanans lived in railroad cars to the north of the tracks. Seibert also had a large depot drv. in which town activities and church services by Judith King held for a number of years. When the railroad went out of business, the depot, which is greatly different from the original, was Jess Miller's old home at Seibert. moved to a point along highway 59 and is at this writing a gas station and cafe. Scheib's hardware store was also moved to �gas station and cafe on the west side of Highway 59. by ,Iudith King SEIBERT CEMETERY T336 The Seibert Cemetery is located one mile east and one mile north of the west edge of :il;fi Seibert. After checking through available records, I find the first marked and identified graves in the Seibert Cemetery are Mary Agnes Glaister 1870-1891 and George R. Hendricks 1882-1891 and Henry Howell 1882-1893. The oldest persons buried there are David Herald Born, 1817-1894, and i*1 .t& l' Joseph Glaister, 1819-1909. ,,]s Seibert in 1955, looking from southeast to northwest. Another interesting resident of Seibert was Jess Miller. Jess claimed to be related to the notorious Jesse James. He also claimed to have killed a man in Missouri. He did kill a man in Seibert in 1948. Jess had a filling station on the northwest corner of the There are many unmarked graves in the section which we have no way of identifying in any way. So it is very possible there were others before our records indicate. There are ten World War I veterans, three World War II veterans, six Civil War veterans, two peace time service veterans and one Spanish American War veteran, that are identified as such. There are a total of 34 Veterans buried in the cemeterv to this date. 1987. by Twila Gorton intersection of Highways 59 and 24. He also sold "historical" relics and had a cottage camp. Diagonally across from Jess's filling station was a beer bar. Some of the men who frequented the bar had taken to harassing Jess who was getting on in years and was somewhat senile. One day Jess went over to Chicken ranch on south side of Seibert, owners: Emmett Bell and later Martin C. Johnson. Seibert and was located on the west side of main street in about the middle of the block. Bill and Charles Blake ran freighting business and used oxen teams to haul merchandise from Hugo and Haigler. A large school house was built by the railroad in 1893. It was located about four blocks south of the present - day school house. However, this building burned. Part ofthe present school also burned in 1971. The students were sent to school in Vona. Later, the Seibert and Vona schools consolidated, forming the Hi-Plains School District. In the 1920's Seibert also had a bank. However, it closed during the depression years. AIso during the thirties, in order to provide much needed jobs, the Work Projects Administration (WPA) sponsored the building of the VFW hall (now the Seibert Community Building) after the Seibert Hotel and the building next door burned down. One of Seibert's most prominent citizens during the late 20's, the 30's, and the early 40's was Valentine (V.S.) FitzPatrick. He operated the town's newspaper, the Seibert Settler, and served six terms as mayor. During the difficult depression years he and his associates created the National Directory Company and published business directories for Colorado. FitzPatrick, who at this writing in 1987 is 101 years old and resides in Aniba, Colorado. has written a series of books titled The Back ?roil which recounts his life and give a history of specific areas in Colorado. the bar to get a beer. The men began harassing him, pouring an open beer in his front pants pocket. Then one of the men threatened to cut off Jess's long handle bar mustache of which Jess was quite proud. Jess told the men if they tried to cut off the mustache he'd kill them. He then went to his station. One of the men followed, weilding a knife and telling Jess he was coming to cut off the mustache. When the man reached the station, Jess took out his gun and shot the man between the eyes. A trial was held, the verdict of which was justifiable homicide. Businesses thrived during the 20's, 30's and 40's. Although they are too numerous to list individually, they included grocery stores, gas stations and service garages, creameries, hardware stores, a blacksmith, a telephone company, real estate offices, insurance salesmen, restaurants, a bank, a pool hall, and a theater, to name just a few. The number of businesses declined throughout the 50's, 60's and 70's. The major businesses in Seibert in 1988 are as follows: the Seibert Food Store, located on Main Street just south of the Seibert Community building; the Seibert Equity Co-op Association, located on the north end of the town; Steel Corner, a welding shop, located on the northeast corner of the intersection of Highways 59 and 24; Witt's Travel Shop, located south of town just off Interstate 70; Seibert Liquors and Seibert Self Service, located east of Highway 59 on the west side of town; Turner's Service, located on Highway 24 one block west of Main Street; and a SEIBERT LIONS CLUB T336 The Seibert Lions Club was chartered Tuesday, May 10, 1949, at 7:30 p.m., in the old red brick high school gymnasium. It was done at banquet attended by the new members and their wives. There were 42 charter members; of the 42 members 23 have passed away as of 1987. Sponsors of the Seibert Lions Club were the Flagler Lions CIub. The charter night chairman was John Bear; welcome was by Robert Snell, Mayor of Seibert; invocation by Dr. A.G. Hahn, Pastor of the Congregational Church in Flagler; Toastmaster - Rev. A.J. Abel, Pastor of the Lutheran Church in Arriba; gift of sponsoring club - Bill Stebbins, President of the Flagler Lions Club; presentation of Charter - George A. Doll, Lions District Governor of Fort Morgan; acceptance of charter - Fosha S. Gorton Sr.. President of the Seibert Lions Club; and benediction - Rev. T.A. Marks. Pastor of the Evangelical United Brethen Church in Seibert. The first club officers were President Fosha S. Gorton Sr.; First Vice President Robert G. Snell: Second Vice President - Zoder N. Golliher: Third Vice President Harley L. Greenlee; Secretary - Howard Taton; Treasurer - B. Dale Hargrove; Lion Tamer - George B. Grey; Tail Twister Ralph L. Rowley; and the Board of Directors - Ward H. Cheu, Ben H. Short, Earl Livingston, and Cecil Boren. Members still in the club for the 20 year celebration were: Earl Boren, Earl Livingston, Ralph Gorton, Howard Taton, and Roy Dykstra. Through the years some of the clubs projects were seeding the park, starting a tennis court and an ice skating rink in the park. Home demonstration Clubs helped �with many of these projects. But through lack of use these soon deteriorated and are now gone. Glasses were purchased for the needy children. They helped build wooden bleachers for the school's outside activities, some ofwhich are now at the gun club. They helped sponsor the Seibert Labor Day celebration on Monday, September 3, 1951. They helped with all community activities. Through the years, following the chartering of the club, members began moving away, dropping out as members, and many passed away. This caused the elub to gradually grow smaller in membership. The last elected officers, found in the records, to be installed was in April, 1972, and, were: President - Hulon Webb, Vice Presi- dent Lion - Robert Schmidt, Secretary Lion - Gerald O. Guy, Lion Tamer - James Smith, and Tail Twister - Roy Dykstra. Both Hulon Webb and Robert Schmidt resigned and moved from the community in early 1973. The club was disbanded in 1973. by Twila Gorton It was becoming such a hardship and attendance was dropping gradually. As soon as the V.F.W. purchased the Old Post Office Building in 1963, we immediately started meeting in the small hall. We continued to meet there until September 1978, when the Vets decided to shut off the utilities in the hall because of the expense. We started meeting in our homes and are still meeting in our homes, There have been 133 members joined the auxiliary since it was chartered, many are deceased, moved away and are non-resident members. Many continue to pay their dues for the insurance we have as a group. There are 56 paid members in 1987. Highest membership was 67 in 1982. There are four charter members of the auxiliary still in the organization. They are Marjorie Gorton, Lois Atkins, Bortha Niles, and Alice Rose Stoffell. Officers are holding the offices over and over to keep the organization going. At this writing, 1987, the offices are: President - Nancy Phillips; Senior Vice President Delphia Burr; Junior Vice President - Mar- garet Tovrae; Secretaryflreasurer - Twila IIISTORY OF POST # 6492 AUXILIARY VETERANS OF FOREIGN WAR T337 Gorton; Chaplain - Louise Gamble; Conductress - Carol Smith; Guard - Ellen Cruickshank; Trustees 3 yr. - Jean Jarnagin, 2 yr.Lois Atkins, 1 yr. - Marjorie Gorton; Color Bearers # 1- Shari Graham, # 2 - Dee Felker, # 3 - Donna Gorton, # 4 - Jeanette Kemp; Historian - Marvel Geiken; Patriotic Instructor - Myrtle Shaw; and Musician - Bonny Hughes. by Twila Gorton The Women's Auxiliary to our post was instituted in May, 1947. First president was Mae Cruickshank; Sr, Vice President, Lois Atkins; Junior Vice president, Marjorie Gorton; Chaplin, Rose Kemp; Treasurer, Minnie Fingado; Secretary, June Short. The 2nd president was Lois Atkins, 3rd president, Marjorie Gorton,4th, Mabel Linder, and 5th Juanita Greenlee. They were a great help to us in getting our post home equipped. During out first three years they gave $50 towards building the stand, $275 to buy chairs, $100 for ladies shower room, lumber for the tables and cupboards, stove for the kitchen, helped to buy the stage curtain, gave money towards installing the ceiling, and gave the post cash services. When time came that the "White Ele- phant", our old V.F.W. hall and skating hall, was to be renovated into a new community building, we donated the big blue velvet stage curtains to "Old Town," in Burlington, in 1986. "Old Town" is now being developed into a tourist attraction. "Received Mar. 16, 1888" office of First Assistant Postmaster General. Signed by A.E. Stevenson: Washington D.C." "Post office to be located NE quarter of Section 16, Township 8, South Range 49, West of 6th Principal Meridian, County of Elbert, State of Colorado. This would be located on the direct route from Tuttle to Hugo on which the mail is now carried two times a week. Hugo being 40 miles southwest and Tuttle 28 miles northeast. The name of the nearest Creek Buffalo on the north, name of the most prominent River south fork of Republican on the South. Number of inhabi- tants in the town of Hoyt being 40 but expecting to supply 600 or more with mail." Instructions were to select a short name for the proposed office, which, when written will not resemble the name of any other Post office in the state. Hoyt was the name the Post office was called. A note of interest written at the bottom of the page signed by Charles H. Scheib, is as follows: "The town of Hoy't is located on the north halfofsection 16, township 8, south ofrange 49, west 6th PM. Elbert, County, Colo. No post office within 28 miles, the nearest being Tuttle, Burlington being the next which is 35 miles. Hugo is our nearest Rail road station at which place our people get their supplies, being 49 miles south west of us on the Kansas Pacific Ry. We desire a special Post Office and mail pouch so we can get supplyed from Hugo. Hoyt has five stores, one printing SEIBERT POST OFFICE T338 office, one livery, and five stables, one lumber yard, and one blacksmith shop. Charles H. Scheib prepared P.M. The first post office in Seibert was housed in a two story building which also served as a hotel and general merchandise store. Lee Hutchens was the first postmaster as well as manager of the store and hotel. Several people served as postmasters in the early years after Lee among them, John Sutton, Lee Erskin. W.A. Weaver. L.C. Rogers and Miss Lint. Robert Wrenn was postmaster for many years. In 1918 Mae C. Cates was postmaster followed by Mrs. Simmons in 1925 and later Zella M. Hutchens. Meryl D. Haynes became Zella's clerk in May 1930 and later served as postmaster from May 1936 until November 1943. Meryl many times. Some of their first money projects were serving for dances, sponsoring a basketball team, giving plays, and bake and rummage sales. The charter members were Dortha Niles, Mae Cruickshank, Rose Kemp, Rosa Akers, Minnie Fingado, Katherine Gleason, Norma Arthur, Marjorie Gorton, Alice Stoffel, Minnie Crum, Betty Cox, Edith Boren, Bertha Ricks, and Lois Atkins. Through the years the auxiliary has purchased or received by contributions, several hospital items which have been loaned throughout the communities at no charge such as hospital beds, crutches, wheel chairs, walkers, coffee pots, and folding chairs. We have also assisted with funeral dinners and Of interest is a copy of the application to establish the Post office at Hoyt, Co. dated 2-28-198 , which has been acquired through the Archives. This was applied for through the Post office at Hugo, Colo. by Charles H. Scheib, and through A.K. Clarke Postmaster at Hugo, the 12th day March, 1988. The application has a cancellation stamp recalls his salary in 1943 was 91500.00 a year. His clerks were Gladys (Andre) Kerl and Donna Fingado. His wife Myrna followed him as a temporary postmaster for about 9 Seibert Post Office, 1988. good Way back when days - in thethe townold before Seibert was founded, ofHoyt was located 4 miles north of the present location of Seibert. Mail came to Hoyt from Hugo once a week via wagon and horses. The rails hit Seibert Aug. 14, 1888, and Seibert was founded in 1888 and the mail came by train. The business places then moved from Hoyt to Seibert and the Hoyt post office "via Hugo" was discontinued. months. The post office was located in the bank building then. Two south routes were established about this time with Clarence Bell and Frank D. Allen as carriers. The routes were combined and Fosha S. Gorton Jr. started carrying the mail for both routes in July 1937. Fosha Gorton retired Dec. 1980. Ralph F. Gorton substituted as mail carrier for the rural routes from 1943 to Oct, 1980. After the Haynes moved to Pueblo where Meryl took another position with the Postal Service, George Simon was appointed postmaster in 1944 and served until his death in January, 1960. Earl Atkins who was clerk at �the time took over as Acting Postmaster with Arthur O'Neill as clerk; he held this position until May 1961 when William A. Fitman was appointed postmaster. Earl went back to his job as clerk, which he had 19 years in, having served from January 1946 to January 1975. Phyllis E. Fox served as clerk, having repla- ced Earl upon his retirement. Bill Pitman retired July 1979 with over 18 years as postmaster. The Cope Star Route has been in effect for Dick Baker secretary. A2 V2 H.P. siren was ordered March 1956 and was installed 1 block east and one-half block south of Main Street and Highway 24. The firemen were called at 6:30 PM Aug. 30, 1956 to respond to a flat car loaded with poles on the railroad track which had caught fire. The fire was extinguished with less than half of the poles being damaged. The April 29, 57 election resulted with Ralph Gorton fire chief, A.A. Curtis Asst. many years and some of its early carriers were chief, Fosha Gorton Jr. Sec. RobertW. Work, HenryGaylor, Mr. Winkler. Ezra Atkins had the route from 1942 to 1959. Vern Miller contracted the route in October 1959 and a few years later his wife Kay took proposed a fire District Aug. 19, 1957, Dale Hargrove and A.A. Curtis and bill Pitman to contact farmers & etc. Hargrove reported over with Vern and Kathryn Myers as The Seibert Volunteer Fire Dept. first substitute drivers. Other subs over the years most farmers contacted were skeptical of phone service. Curtis reported the town Greenlee among others. council decided the truck could not go out to fight grass fires, only to protect farm build- have been Martin Johnson and Harley Parker D. Calvin was one of the mail messengers bringing the mail from the Rock Iskane Depot to the Post Office when the mail came by train. George Simon also hung and picked the mail from the train when the Rocket came into being. In the early years the Post Office was located in a small building on the east side of Main Street. It was moved to the old bank building in 1936 and back to the east side in 1944 where it remained until Postmaster Bill Pitman had the new building constructed on the corner of Highway 24 and, Main, which they moved into in November, 1961. Since Bill Pitman's retirement there have been several changes in the Postal department. Sandra Claus to Colorado Springs was appointed as O.I.C. (officer in charge) and served from Aug 1979 to February 8, 1980, when Phyllis Fox was appointed Post Master of Seibert. Charles Turner was the clerk from 1980 till he transferred to Burlington post office. Jim Levin started as substitute Nov. 1980 and was appointed the Highway Contract Routes July 1, 1981, carrying both the former rural Routes south of Seibert that Fosha Gorton had been carrying. Eleanor Short was appointed clerk June 29, 1985. by Twila Gorton SEIBERT VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPT. T339 ings. Officers elected April 21, 1958 were Fire Chief Bill Pitman - Asst Chief Richard Baker and Sec. John Martin; same officers were of Vona. Colorado. One Ford F-600 used truck chassis. 1975 purchased - Pumper unit built by Steve Miller Vona, Colorado. The command car, purchased 6,23,1984, from the Flagler-Seibert Community Ambulance Service, is a 1970 Chevy Suburban that was used as an ambulance til 1984. The building houses 3 fire trucks, one command car, two ambulances. The original members of the new district were: Vern Miller Chief - Gene Hase, Assistant Chief - Jim Cowen, Rick Dykstra, Stan Geiken, Fosha Gorton Jr., Ralph Gorton, Jerry Guy, Wilford Huppert, Ervin Jones, Ed Killiam. MelvinLevin, Glen Myers, BillNoel, Ernie Noel, Jim Smith, Clifford Hughes, Mike Hatfield, Jim Levin, Kenneth McCaf- Bill Pitman Sec. June 2, 1959 orders were issued by the Board of Trustees that the fire truck could no longer be taken out of the incorporated boundaries of Seibert because of limitations due to insurance, and not having a 2nd truck to remain in town. At this time the only firetruck was a 1938 Ford pumper truck which had been pur- chased seconded handed and as of this date December 1987 only had 4049 original miles on it. Firechief elected 1965 was Earl Atkins Asst chief, Les Hase, Bill Pitman Sec.; 196770 Les Hase elected Chief. Gene Hase Asst Chief, Bill Pitman sec.; 1971 Les Hase elected Fire Chief, Glen Myers Asst Chief, Bill Pitman Sec.; 1972 Earl Atkins Fire chief, Dale Murphy asst. Chief and Bill Pitman Sec. Besides the phone being used for fire calls all these years at the Gorton Hardware store and the Ralph Gorton home, a special fire phone was installed in the hotel lobby in 1976. However. the whistle still had to be rung manually. Members wishing to retire from the board Mar. 15, 1976, were Dale Hargrove, Wanen Bowser, Bill Pitman, Alva Cruickshank and Les Hase. Officers elected in 1976 were Earl Atkins Chief, Asst Chief Vern Miller, Jim Cowen Sec. Again in February they tried to organize a Vona - Seibert fire District by getting members of Vona Farmers Union, Seibert ton Fire District but apparently this idea was also dropped. fire chief - Bob Anglen assistant fire chief - unit was built on the truck by Steve Miller frey, Carlos Arnold, Leon Blackwell, Dick Keiter and Wes Pelser. Meetings were to be held the 3rd Monday each month, Bob officers was held resulting with Ralph Gorton One Ford F-350 4WO Crew Cab 1980 chassis was purchased new and a fire fighting Elected Officers Mar 21, 1960 were: Ralph Gorton Fire chief, Asst, Chief Dick Baker, Farm Bureau, Vona's mayor and councilmen, were presented to the town council for approval, 19 members had signed for active status and 1 for inactive duty. Election of steel building. Contract signed 4-10-80. retained 1959. Seibert Volunteer Fire Department was officially organized in October 1954, and bylaws were written up at this time. Bylaws Committee: Orville Thisius chairman, Art Anglen, Chairman, presiding. November 15, 1954 Bylaws read: active membership be limited to 20, and must be 18 years or older. Three members were elected to the membership committee and were: Dale Hargrove, Virgil Hase and Les Hase. January 17, 1955 the copy of the bylaws director, Vern Miller lst Fire Chief. The building contract went to Don Herman Construction of Burlington for a 76 ft x 40 ft Vona's Fire Department and Seibert PTA together, but this didn't materialize. In 1965 they discussed joining with Strat- The first organization meeting with a lawyer was held Dec. 16, 1977 for a fire district. Seibert Fire District legally was established March 27.1978. A bond election to finance a new building and trucks was held February 12, 1980 for the amount of $80,000.00; this passed 84-2. First bylaws were approved November 19, 1980. First board members of the new district were Jerry Guy President, Bill Livingston Vice President, Ervin Jones Secretary, Rich- ard Herman Treasurer, Harry Hatfield * Herman, Bob McCaffrey, Dick McAuley and Stan Scheer. Present membership is limited to around 20 members. There are radio and telephone contact spread throughout the District, to help keep contact with the truck with messages, and also water trucks farmers have ready to go to assist if needed. A second fire whistle was purchased and installed about 1983 or '84 and is located by the fire house. Fire phones connections to the whistles were installed in six homes or businesses in Seibert so that it will ring into all at the same time and the whistles can be rung by any of the connected phones. The first ambulance housed in Seibert was in a garage at the time owned by the town and Iocated just north of Melvin Levin's residence, but is currently owned by Mel Levin. Seibert started housing their first ambulance in 1976, and the ambulance was moved across the street when the fire shed was finished in 1980. Also "Old Green", the Army Red Cross unit the service has as a back up unit, is housed in the fire shed too. The present ambulance we have is a 1976 van which was used by Flagler until the new unit was purchased and we received this unit May 10, 1984. by Twila Gorton SEIBERT ALUMNI ASSOCIATION T340 In the early fall of 1954, Evelyn (Scheidegger) Wanczyk, Leona (Scheidegger) Cowgill, and Twila (Murphy) Gorton, got the idea of starting an alumni organization. They immediately tried to get addresses and locate as many people as possible. In September, 1954, a meeting was called to gather interest- ed parties in the community, and the ball started rolling. Many hours were spent writing letters and with the cooperation of the Seibert High School Superintendent, George Cuckrow, we were on our way. The first banquet was held Saturday, October 9, 1954, in the V.F.W. Hall. Seibert organizing officers were: President - Leona �Cowgill, Secretary - Evelyn Wanczyk, and Toastmaster - George Simon. September 24, 1955, elected officers were: President Ralph Gorton Sr., Vice President - Cecil Boren, Secretary - Arthena (Aumiller) O'Neill, Treasurer - Lillian (Schemerhorn) Reid, Toastmaster Russell Goodwin, and Bylaws Committee - Russell Goodwin, Charles Boren, and Paul Short. The banquet continued for every year following. In 1958 other parties decided we should combine Homecoming and Community Day. Donations were asked for and a free barbecue was added to the event of September 27,1958. A large crowd attended at noon and a nice alumni banquet was held in the evening. In 1959 it was back to just a class serving the noon meal and no barbeque. In 1962 the graduating class of 1922, consisting of Ralph Burden, Martha (Abbott) Boggs, Ellowise (Allen) Pearson, Royal Reul, Olive (Johnston) Hill, Elmer Everett and their superintendant Homer H. Bishop, were here to celebrate a big day. September 20, 1969, a suggestion that possibly a potluck supper might encourage a better attendance, was tried, but the result was the worst attendance we ever had, with only 53 attending. Saturday, September 26, 1970, having no football game, the Roping club helped with the afternoon at the Rodeo grounds with activities and junior events. There was a 12:30 soccer game with Bethune, which ended up in a l-1- tie. At 5:00 p.m. there was a demolition derby west of town at the old baseball field. Because the Seibert High School burnt down on April 1, 1971, and the Seibert High School students were now attending school in Vona, the day's events were held on Vona's Main Street. The football game, Hi-Plains (Vona-Seibert) vs. Genoa was held at the football field in Vona. Seibert still held their alumni banquet at Seibert and continued to hold the annual dance in the V.F.W. Build- ing. In L972the Blue Vona Wildcats and the Red Seibert Bulldogs soon became the Red, White, and Blue, Hi-Plains Patriots. We then decided to hold our alumni banquet open to the public. Several attending the day's events suggested that they would like to come to the Seibert banquet, and it was decided that they could come. Both Seibert and Vona held separate banquets with Vona's being a buffet supper in the Vona lunch room. It was decided at both banquets to hold a joint banquet the following year. On September 29, 1973, the joint banquet was held and a large crowd attended. The banquet was held in the multi-purpose room in Seibert, CO. At this banquet it was decided to combine the two associations to the Hi - Plains Alumni Association, officers elected were: President - Larry Pickard (V63), Vice President - Kelly Burr (568), Secretary - Marjorie (Boren) Blackwell (S54), Treasurer - Ralph Gorton Jr. (364), Corresponding Secretary - Hazel (Thompson) Ford (Va5) andTq/ila (Murphy) Gorton (S41), and Historian - Mary (Jackson) McCaffery (V54). It was also voted to eend a girl to girls'state as has been Vona's custom. The parade and all day events, including the football games, are always held at Vona football fields with volleyball games, if any, being back in the Seibert gym. On Saturday, September 2L, 1974, the banquet was held but after discussion and lack of response to letters of invitation sent out, it was decided to try the Alumni banquet by not sending individual letters because of postage expense. It was thought that by just putting it in the papers and on the radio enough people would respond. In 19?5, after discussion as to lack of response, it was decided to try the alumni banquet every five years. In 1980 again the banquet was held with a good crowd. Again in 1985, there was a good crowd for the banquet at the school and the dance held later in the Seibert Town Hall. Twila (Murphy) Gorton has been an active officer of the Seibert Alumni Organization since it was first suggested and organized. She has also added some enjoyment for the old and young as a clown, throwing out candy and gum. For many years her grandchildren have also joined the ranks as clowns with her; even friends and her children have helped out, In later years many classes are holding their class reunions on the annual Seibert Day. It is always held on the last Saturday of July, this way people know ahead of time when it will be and can plan ahead for their vacations. This is also a convenience for most children do not attend school in the month of Julv. by Twila Gorton �l't' :: url.',t:: lli:' :' i:lar: ..r..il : $d,- "X*.6.. ;ee$ :. .:'u L $ '::' !!$ '.rr'ri:}lr:' l$' ''':'':."'*; -.rlF*J*. :4, $s'*!!lld1*il!*$'' N$ry"'$ "..'tl'" : @qtr$i �SEIBERT BRANCH, RLDS CHURCH ,,N' {t Reid was appointed Pastor. Bro. Wilbert Richards of Denver and Gerald Gabriel were also in attendance. Ministers from Denver. Genoa, Goodland, Wray, Pueblo and other communities helped with the spiritual growth through the early years. Some names which appear in the first decade ofour history were those mentioned above and Wesley Evans, Apostle D. Blair Jensen, Ward Houg- as, Owen Self, A.H. Christenson, Hilton Lamphere, Kenneth Buckmaster, Ernest Crownover, J.R. Graybill, Steve Bullard, Charley Zion, Conrad Graybill, Don Cash, Ted Sammons, Walter Lutz, Bernard Buchanan, Peter and David Judd, Calvin Carpen- ter, Pete Harder, Malcolm Barrows, Missionaries Herb Linn, Larry Shoemaker, Dale Argotsinger, Arthur Gibbs, and Norman Page. In 1956 the Seibert Mission became The original Seibert Branch of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Chriet of Latter Day Sainls building in November, 1956. part of the newly established Kansas-Colorado District. In 1957 Wm. Livingston was appointed pastor as Lewis Reid's health was failing. Lewis passed away February 27, 1958. Seibert was organized as a Branch in May 1972. Those having served as Priesthood in our congregation are Wm. Livingston, David Reid, Orlen Reid, Roger Reid, Norman Eagleton, and the late Lewis Reid and James Boren. Pastors of the congregation through the years have been the late Lewis Reid, David Reid and Wm. Livingston. Ground breaking services for the present building were held August 25, 1974, just north of where the church building was located at that time. Apostle Russell Ralston turned the first shovel of dirt, followed by Bishop Jack RLDS Church, Seibert. The Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Church in Seibert, Colorado had its beginning when a few people from the Fair Haven community, 8 % miles north of Seibert. attended a tent reunion near the river by Cope, Colorado, in 1920, hearing sermons from J.Charles May, J.D. Curtis and J.R. Sutton. This led to these missionaries holding a series of meetings in the Fair Haven School. Some were baptized at this time and church school was held in the school house almost every Sunday. Many of the people traveled by horse and wagon to attend. Priesthood from other congregations came when they could and others were baptized from time to time. Some of the early members of the church were the families of Alva Cruickshank, Lewis Reid, Earl Boren, J.A. Brown, Ernest Akers, J.W. Gales, Ralph Roberts, Ben Bartlett, Ernie Bancroft, Claude Hughes and Mrs. Fischer. (These names are from memory and if we left someone out we apologize and would appreciate hearing who, so we could up date our history.) In 1951 a rural schoolhouse was purchased and moved into Seibert. It was set on a basement in what is now the parking lot just south of the sidewalk. This building served as our place of worship until the present structure was built in 19'i4-75. On October 5, 1952, with 30 members on the roll and a congregation of about 60 people in attendance, including some from Denver, Genoa and Goodland, Kansas, Bro. J.A. Hufferd, Counselor to the D.P. declared us a mission of Eastern Colorado District. Teacher Lewis Curtis, R.A. Lewis Landsberg, Seventy Norman Page, Edith Boren representing the eldest member of the congregation, Earl Boren, Mayor of Seibert and Sr. member of he building committee, Gordon Hamit, contractor, Rogene Livingston, Women's leader, David Reid, Bishop's agent, Sandy Hughes and Cheryll Levin representing the youth and others, followed by Wm. Livingston, Pastor. The service closed with Bonny Hughes singing "How Great Thou Art". Jack Curtis gave a benediction. A hamburger fry followed with about 40 people in attendance. We held our consecration service on December 2L,L975 with over 100 in attendance. Elder Wm. Livingston presided, southeast Colorado D.P. Lawrence Colby, Platte River D.P. Bernard Buchanan of Yuma and western Kansas D.P. Vaughn Young of Tribune, Kansas, extended greetings and made brief comments. The sermon of consecration was delivered by Apostle Russell Ralson of Independence, Mo. He stated it was his hope that this church building might become a center for the achievement of God's purpose in all who came to worship, and all those whose lives are touched by those who worship here as they reach out. We consecrate not only the building, but also the people, that the cause of Jesus Christ might become known among all men. Bro. Ralson said that as we consecrate this church and its people, we challenge you to respond to the challenge to be a light unto the world and this community. Other priesthood assisting in the service were Lewis Landsbe.'g, Elder David Reid with Orlen Reid as Deacon in Charge, assisted by Norman Eagleton. The dedication services were held September 5 and 6, 1987. Howard Sheehy, member ofthe First Presidency of the Church, was our special guest for the weekend activities. Bro. Sheehy grew up in Colorado and was pleased to renew friendships from his teen years. Dedication activities included a hamburger fry and pot luck picnic in the Seibert park September 5, with approximately 50 in attendance. This group returned to the church where the youth group, under the direction of their leaders David and Betty Reid, entertained with skits: Vickey Eagleton led the group in campfire songs; movies and slides of years past were viewed (My, how some of us have changed!); memories were recalled and special recognition given to Alva and Ellen Cruickshank who have been members of this congregation the most years; to Bonny Hughes for many years of service in the music department and a special moment for Pastor Bill and Rogene Livingston. David Reid served as emcee and President Howard Sheehy shared some reflectoins with us before we closed the evening with the group holding hands singing "We Are One in the Spirit" followed by prayer. Sunday September 6, dawned bright and beautiful as we gathered for services on Dedication Day. A communion service was held at 9 A.M. High Priest Lawrence Colby of Pueblo brought the ministry to worship. He and Sister Regina Colby sang "He is Worthy" as a special. We experienced a first in our congregation when we had two ordained women priests, Regina Colby and Barbara Reid of Maquoketa, Iowa, assisting Priests Norman Eagleton of Seibert and David Carlock of Pueblo in serving the communion. The world church began ordaining women to the priesthood following the revelation which was presented to the 1984 World Conference. A beautiful spirit blessed the congregation as the service ended with congregational response of prayers and testimonies. The dedication service began with a welcome and a "Praise Medley" sung by the choir; Jacque Levin, Norman, Vickey, Dawn and Carma Eagleton, Nick Price and Betty Reid, directed by Bonny Hughes. Carla Herman was organist. President Sheehy brought the sermon. Bro. Colby gave the dedicatory prayer. The choir sang "Faith of Our Fathers". Following the services a pot luck lunch and roller skating were enjoyed at the community center. Some people played volleyball at the park. We have at various times sponsored Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Skylarks, Orioles, Zion's League, Women's Dept., Young Adults and Choir. Some projects we have enjoyed are service to families such as taking in meals, cleaning, ironing, mending, etc., visiting rest homes, community Good Friday and Easter Services, Easter breakfasts, bread baking, goodie boxes to service people, fruit plates or baked bread for the elderly shut-ins or those alone at Christmas, community vacation church school, pageants at Easter and Christmas, serving banquets, retreats, cook-outs and swim parties or volleyball, riverside picnic and worship, community mother daughter banquets, world day of Prayer, funeral dinners, Christmas caroling, witnes- sing weekend, church growth classes and workshops, family social, puppet, clown, and chalk talk workshops; temple school classes; craft fair; Sr. Citizen dinners and activities; Scripture study and many more. We haven't done it all, nor have we done it all right . . . but we have done many things to try to further the work of the Lord here in Seibert. Some of the furnishings in the church bring to mind special memories . . . the pulpit was �a gift from Bro. Orval Schall of Loveland. Various memorials given through the years have proved our library, candleabra and brass flower stands, public address system, bhe curtain for the kitchen serving window, ceiling fans and our new organ. Our heritage is rich with the blessings of God and the cledication of the Saints. We are grateful for all who have contributed in the growth and progress of the work of Christ in the community. Praise the Lord! by Betty Reid new church organized, with 11 charter members as the Seibert Congregational Church. August 1, 1896, Rev. Charles W. Smith served as pastor of the Seibert Church. In the year of 1906 in order that a church building might be erected, grant loan of $215.00, was secured from the Congregational Church Building society, and a frame building erected, and dedicated on June 16, 1902 with an ordination service by the then pastor, Rev. N.H. Hawkins. With membership growth and church work growing during the pastorate of Rev. E.P. Owen, another grant loan from the Congrega- tional Church Building was secured for SEIBERT UNITED METHODIST CHURCH T343 $400.00 and a new building was completed in 1914. In 1915 the old building was sold to B.E. Roller, and the interior of the new building was remodeled and completed. In the following years m{rny different pastors served the church, and most of them preaching in other churches, such as Stratton, Cope, Flagler and others, and progress was very slow. The following persons served as pastors from the time the first church was built until the year 1920: E.S. Hughes, Jas. Read, Jan J. LeFebre, Mrs. E. Shimrock, E.P. Jnited Methodist Church, Seibert, built in 1914. Owens (who was pastor at the time the present church was built), Rev. A.E. Hartman, P.R. Kiplinger, Charles W. Smith and Mrs. Charles W. Smith, who alternated Sundays as they served for a second time, having served first before any building was erected. Serving from 1920 to 1926 were: Rev. A. Sturgis, Rev. W.P. Barton, Rev. Charles D. Gearhart, Rev. S.J. Snyder, Rev. Peter Rasmussen, and Rev. J.N. Trompin, officiating when there was no other pastor. There was little progress and being left without a pastor, they requested advice from Rev. I.A. Young, Evangelical Pastor who was visiting his daughter in Seibert, Mrs. John Schekel. Rev. Young suggested that the Evangelical Church might be able to supply pastors if the people so desired, resulting in Rev. B. Barthel, the District Superintendant of Colorado Conference of the Evangelical Church, visiting the Seibert community, and at the following conference session in 1927, Rev. F.D. Dexheimer was appointed pastor of the Seibert Mission. Rev. Dexheimer arrived and people of the community rallied immediately to his aggressive manner and much progress resulted and at a publicly announced meeting of the memberg of the Seibert Congregational Church held on August 25,1927, it was voted to see if the church would become an Evangelical Church, results being 28 in favor, none opposed. Rev. D. Barthel preached several Sundays before and following the above action. October 5,1927 , the Seibert Congregation- vlethodist Church today after brick was added to he exterior of the building 1988. Religious work began in the town of Seibert n 1889, by a D.H. Minich, a Home Mission- ry of the Congregational Church. Others vho helped get it established were Robert (nowles. Rev. Lee and Rev. Jones of lowa. In the spring of 1892, Rev. E. Tuttle, who vas commissioned Home Missionary for lastern Colorado, came and served as pastor rntil 1896. Meetings were held in the Seibert {ouse. Feeling the organization was not rroperly organized, it was voted to disband md reorsanize. On Februarv 10, 1896, the al Church disbanded and became the new Seibert Trinity Evangelical Church, a community church. Sixty-four people were received as charter members. A class was organized resulting with the following elected as Trustees - S.M. Abbott, President - H.C. Greenlee, Secretary - Martin C. Johnson, L.M. Brown, and John Schekel. A full basement was built under the church. A house was secured and purchased for a parsonage which was diagonally across the street. With the new basement and purchase of the parsonage a new debt of $465.66 was acquired. With the transfer of propertv from Congre- gation Church to Evangelical, the grant loan from Congregational Church Building Society became due in the amount of $615.00 plus interest. this was not discovered until twelve years later, however. The Seibert Trinity Evangelical Church was formally dedicated Nov. 4-5-6th 1927 by Rev. B. Barthel Dist. Supt. of Colorado Conference. Other ministers present besides the Pastor R.D. Dexheimer were: Rev. Nash of Genoa - Rev. I.A. Young, Denver Alameda church - and Rev. L.D. Hale of Stratton. A large crowd was in attendance and rejoiced throughout the day. During the following months, calls from Bethune, and many surrounding schools came for someone to preach, and Leslie E. Gabel was appointed by the Dist. Supt. Rev. B. Barthel to serve as Assistant Pastor of the Seibert Field and to serve many nearby appointments. He arrived March 15th, having been recommended as capable for the Gospel Ministry be the Sterling Congregation. Regular preaching services were held at Rock Cliff twelve miles south of Seibert, Second Central fifteen miles southwest of Seibert, Prairie Gem twelve miles northwest of Seibert and Bethune and Seibert. The Pastors daughter Roberta Dexheimer preached at Rock Cliff, and Rev. L.E. Gabel Second Central and Bethune. Rev. F.F. Jordan, an evangelist from Illinois, held revival services at Seibert and Second Central with many souls being saved and uniting with the Church, and by Conference time 1928 there was a total membership of 150. Christian Endeavor Societies, Women's Missionary Society were organized and also there was an active Ladies Aid Society. At this Conference Session the Seibert Society requested the Conference to be put on the selfsupporting Fields and this request was granted. The following year Membership reached 194 and a total of $3,620.00 was raised for all purposes, excluding building. The next year, however only having a parttime preacher, a steady decrease of membership and amount of money raised resulted. The severe depression, crop failures and dust storms caused many people to move from Seibert and businesses were discontinued. In the year 1936 and '37 a low of 94 membership was left and only $771.00 was raised for all purposes. From this time on the steady decrease, resulted in the church again being placed on the list of missions. However there was an increase of money raised and progress in spite of the war conditions and workers going to supply the war jobs. In 1938 the Church was painted, and in 1940 the balance ofthe indebtedness of$200 was paid off. In L943-44 the entire interior was repainted and varnished. Pastors who served the Trinity Evangelical Church include Rev. R.D. Dexheimer L927 -28 with Rev. L.E. Gabel as Assistant part-time - Rev. J.A. Brewer a short time 1929 - Rev. Wm R. Van Devender part-time 1929 - Rev. W.C. Johnson moved here from Colo. Springs Trinityin Nov. 1929, to May 1931 -Rev. A.G. Hettler May 1931 to December 1932 - Rev. T.A. Marks May 1933 to May 1935 and also serving Stratton 2nd year. Rev. B. Barthel Dist Sup t. from May 1935 to Sept. 1935 when Rev. V.H. Schroeder served Seibert and Genoa for some months and secured a supply pastor. Rev. S.E. Parrott who served under the Supt. until May 1936. Pastor L.E. Gabel served the feild from Mav 1938 to 1944. In �May 1942 the Smokey Angle, formerly part of the Kit Carson Mission was added to the Seibert Mission and the pastor who had also been preaching at the Cope Congregational Church took it on also. This field showed promise of a fruitful Mission of the Evangelical Church along with Joes Territory; Cope is 26 miles north of Seibert and Smokey angle 35 miles Southeast of Seibert. Rev. C. Lafoon served several years followed by T.A. Marks who carried on the ministry until 1950. Rev. Oliver Davidson was here one year, followed by Francis Bayless, assigned here from Stratton in 1952, serving two years. Rev. Raymond Scott followed him in June 1954 and progress strived all these years. A large Sunday School class of young people, youth and adults developed. Other accomplishments were interior redecorating of the walls, new furniture for the front of the church being added as memorial gifts. A Hammond Spinet Organ was given in memory of Fosha S. Gorton who passed away in 1955, by the Gorton families, and many other items. Money for floor tiles were given. An addition was added to the west side of the church during the ministry of Rev. Francis Bayless and the front of the church shifted from the north side of the church to the west side in the new addition. Under the ministry of Rev. Raymond Scott a rededication Service of the Evangelical United Brethern Church was held. In June 1958 Rev. Scott was transferred to Peetz. Co. and Rev. R.M. Churchill came to Seibert. During the year of Rev Churchill's pastorate, the E.U.B. Church was given a new coat of paint, a memorial fund was set up in memory of Mary Tiffany in a savings account. In 1959 a Wurlitzer piano was given in memory of Dale Jones by Irene Jones and the children. April 23, 1968 the Evangelical United Brethern Church and the Methodist Churches merged and beceme United Methodist Churches, and the first session of the uniting Conference began Tues, April 23, 1968 with Bishop W. Maynard Sparks presi- ding. June 18, 1968 Seibert took formal action to change its name to United Methodist Church, Seibert, Colorado with Dist. Supt. Lloyd D. Nichols here. panelling down stairs, padded cushions for the pews, paint for the interior, carpet for the church floors, all this brought about by the labors of the ladies by quilting, bazaars, selling nuts, making hen door stops, (which are in many countries of the world), and new tables for the basement. Except for the Adult Senior Sunday Class, the Sunday School was nearly defunct in 1975. April 1975 the church members decided to brick the outside of the church instead of painting. The Conference was contacted and a request for a loan from the money from the sale of our parsonage was made and the loan was granted. Mohave brick was ordered Nov. 1975, new doors were added from memorial money, and new storm windows were added at the time of the bricking. Under the pastorate of Rev. George Dageenakis in 1976 an active Youth group again was organized. Following Rev. Dageenakis was Rev. Frank Harvey and Interim pastor who filled the pulpit from June 1979 til Pastor Doris Bingham came Sept. 1, 1979. After Pastor Doris came the church once again grew in active membership and attendance and Youth activities. In 1980 the Dist. Supt Jon Nieves was approached about the possibilities of a full time pastor at Seibert, but we were informed by the Supt. that we would have to have an additional $9000.00 in conjuction with the $11,000 budget that we were trying to meet before we could think about it. So after much discussion and hopes it was decided to set up an improvement Fund and thus it was started. But still in 1987 we are still a two charge church and hopes dim. 1981 brought about a speaker system for the church. The young ladies Carpet Capers U.M. groups also installed two much needed ceiling fans in the church. Later they have gotten a stereo, T.V., kitchen stove, microwave oven, and other help. New Gold Choir robes were purchased from a personal gift for the 14 robes. Doris Bingham was pastor in 1981. Improv- ements to the church included a new roof. new ceiling fans, choir robes and a P.A. system. A thirty member group, including Seibert's U.M. choir, presented a Christmas Contata directed by Denis Stahlecker. Choir members also joined Stratton's choir to Pastor David Newman was here in 1969 but when Rev. David B. Finley was here in Jan, 1970 we were a two charge church with present ajoint Easter Contata. Fourteen were Stratton. membership was recorded via transfer. The In 1970 the church Membership voted to sell their parsonage (the former John Martin home) to Hulon Webb. Year 1972 showed still a decrease in Sunday School attendance, a week of Special meetings were held with Dr. Nichol Presiding. Dr. Charles Wood came to Pastor the two churches inl972. The front of the church was paneled to add a great appearance to it. Due to an apportionment assessed on our churches by the Conference, which was based on membership, it made it impossible to meet the apportionment, as many of the members were older persons and non-resident members who wished to still have their names remain on the roll. The United Methodist Church does not recognize an inactive list for such members, so our apportionments were too high to be met. Without the help of the United Methodist Women through the years it was next to impossible to survive. Many times they came to the rescue with finances in various wavs. Special Seder services were held on Maundy Thursday. Pastor Lewis started "Kids Klub" which was geared towards Grades One through Six. The children of the community met once a week for study, recreation and refreshments. The Seibert/Stratton parishes cost shared a VCR, but this was dissolved later. Seibert participated along with other local United Methodist congregations in a special program in Burlington in honor of Bishop Sano. Pastor Doug Lewis moved to South Carolina in June with Pastor Marge Huffman coming on board as his replacement. Membership rolls were updated and audited showing a decrease in membership to 54. Recognition was given to Bessie Short who celebrated her 100th birthday. Richard Gilbert completed his six year term as District Superintendent. Mason Willis was named new District superintendent for the Greeley District. The Seibert congregation participated in a "Hats Off' Celebration planned by the Stratton U.M. Church honoring Pastor Marge Huff- man's ordination as an elder. The Youth Group has remained active over the years and has almost always had representation at Buckhorn Camp and/or the Up With Youth Conference every year. They participated in a variety of activities, usually in conjunction with the Stratton U.M. Youth. Another active group over the years has been the United Methoidst Women (U.M.W.). They hold an annual bazaar and use the profits from this event for local church needs as well as various mission oriented concerns. The U.M.W. distribute fruit baskets at Christmas and send cards and visit sick and shut ins throughout the year. The Carpet Caper Group, composed of the younger U.M. members, also contribute to church and community needs. This group has made hundreds ofwall hangings over the years and are now concentrating on barbed wire wreaths and country crafts. Other yearly traditions include Galilean Services at Bonny Dam, Bible School held jointly with the RLDS Church and a Sunday is set aside each spring to honor graduating Hi-Plains seniors. by Twila Gorton confirmed and baptized and an additional Pastor reported six funerals and two weddings in the Seibert community in 1981. The Seibert congregational joined in voicing their opposition to homosexuality in the church. Pastor Doris Bingham left our parish in May and Eldon Shoemaker served as pastor for a brief period of time until his death. Reverend Douglas Lewis came as a interim pastor at the close of 1982. Pastor Lewis continued to serve the Seibert parish on a part time basis until June at which time he was asked to serve Seibert/Stratton as full time pastor. The combined choirs presented an Easter Contata directed by Maxine Matthews. Seibert's choir was a part of a community contata, directed by Denis Stahlecker, which was presented on Good Friday. Seibert voted to participate in the three year Church Development and Redevelopment Program, a fund raising effort to enable the construction of additional United Methodist churches. Seibert's membership totaled 95. SEIBERT CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE T344 A Church of the Nazarene was organized at Seibert, Colorado, Sunday morning December 22, 1940, with Rev. C.W. Davis. District Superintendant in charge. This organization was the result of the revival held by Rev. and Mrs. Paul Doddy of Casper, Wyoming. Rev. Vogt and Rev. Mize started the revival. The Lord wonderfully blessed and gave us souls and victory in this meeting. Rev. George Vogt acted as pastor, his salary started at $4.00 per week. Charter members were: Miss Daisy Hase, Mrs. Hope Hase, Mrs. Opal Hase, Mrs. Margaret Hase, Mrs. Laura Sawhill, Mr. Ben Sawhill, Mrs. Opal Sawhill, Miss Dixie Sawhill, Mr. Robert Sawhill, Miss Nellie Sawhill, Miss Betty Sawhill, Mrs. Isabelle Clifford, Mrs. Mertie Bigelow, Margaret �Clevenger, and Floyd Clevenger. In 1941 the elected trustees were: Brother Ben Sawhill, Brother Floyd Clevenger, the Sister Isabelle Clifford, to serve one year on the annual board. Three trustees for the church board were: Sister Laura Sawhill, Sister Margaret Clevenger, and Sister Isabelle Clifford. Rev. Vogt appointed Isabelle Clifford, secretary, and Brother Ben Sawhill, treasurer. The church started holding their meetings in the Blake Building on the west side of Main Street. July 6, 1941, Rev. Vogt was Pastor. In September 1941, Sister Lillian E. Johnson, sister:in-law of Pastor Vogt, came to serve. They rented and began meetings in the old shops building across the street, north ofthe Griffith, the Elphis Church be moved to Seibert as property of the Nazarene. The property located two blocks east of Main Street and one block south ofHighway 24 had been donated to them. At July 8, 1946 annual meeting, permission was given by District Superintendant, Glen Griffith, that the Elphis Church could be moved to Seibert where a basement had been made for it. The church still sits there in 1987. Rev. Walden rode the top of the Elphis Church in the chimney from north of Vona to Seibert. The cost of moving the Elphis Church was $800.00 and the money was borrowed from the District, and was paid back on a monthly basis. The money was raised by Laura Sawhill, who raised chickens big White Elephant building on the north end and sold them. purchase the shoe shop building and did at a tax sale October 17, 1941, for approximately come, the church voted to purchase other lots to square the property. New song books were $350.00. In 1941, The Women's Missionary Society, also purchased. of Main Street. They decided to try to made a quilt for the campground, bed spread for the Missionary Cottage, two dresses and a blouse for a Missionary family. The wallboard petitions were taken out of the building to make room for services. With the help of the Stratton Church and Mrs. Howell of Vona, the church was soon ready for public worship. Two rooms in the back were living quarters for the pastors. The celotex wallboard was given to Rev. Vogf, for two stoves. In February 1948, after Rev. Fraley had In April 1951, it was decided to buy some seats from the county for the church. Sister Lorraine Ripper and Sister Berneice Markey came to serve the church from August 1954 to July 1956. In August 1956, Rev. Helsel came. Permission was given to his Pastor Johnson resigned May 30, 1942, due request to lower the ceilings in the parsonage at his own expense. Discussed telephone for parsonage; prices to be checked. Sometime before the end of 1956 an overheated stove has caused a fire in the church, and asphalt shingles were put on December 1957. Rev. Helsel left for a calling to Manzanola on to his health. Miss Anna Nuter, of Broadwater, Nebraska, came as pastor to assist Pastor Johnson a while. Rev. Anna Nutter left the following notes, in part: "I arrived in Seibert, June 20, 1942, were here in November 1959-1960. Restrooms were put in the church at this time and that night a hail storm damaged the church roof and broke a west window out of the church. Oil stove purchased $5.00, a heater $1.50, and a bookcase $1.00 for parsonage (Mrs. Combs of Hastings, Nebraska, gave a rug for the church, Mrs. Johnson donated an organ stool.) As offerings increased the board decided the salary to be $5.00 per week. The entry way January 12, 1958, and Rev. Guy, of Burlington, filled the pulpit until another pastor could be gotten. Rev. Floyd Totten and wife also. October 1967, the church was cleaned and floors varnished. In September 1968, a gas stove was purchased for the basement. Rev. and Mrs. Walden returned in November 1960, to serve the Seibert Church. Membership having gone downhill, due to people moving away, transferring of member- ship and deaths, had made it financially on the north was built before winter and made the parsonage more comfortable and unfeasible to maintain the church any longer. by Floyd Clevenger. The church paid Mrs. closed. warmer. Coal and cobs for fuel were furnished Johnson for the linoleum on the kitchen floor. April 4, 1943, five members were taken in. Six children were dedicated to God. On May 13, little Betty Noel's funeral was held. A stove was purchased for the church for $12.50. The minister was recalled and accepted, salary was increased to $6.00 per week by a vote of members to increase the salary a $1.00. The pulpit, altar and piano was varnished and the church roof repainted. Brother Ben Sawhill furnished over half of the expenses and did most of the painting. Mr. Perrine was hired to help and also donated part of his time. Attendance average was 15. (End of notes). At the annual meeting in 1943 it was voted to get Brother Ben Sawhill a preacher license for the coming year, this was granted' and was also granted for the following year. Rev. Howard and Anna Howetter carne in 1944' 1945. Brother Walden came as pastor in 1945. It was agreed to have Pastor Walden see about having the Elphis Church, north of Vona, moved into Seibert. A motion made at the request of the Seibert Church, that through the courtesy of District Superintendant So due to failing health, Brother Walden retired on July 1971, and the church was Brother Walden and Mrs. Walden are making their home in Seibert, CO, where they purchased the parsonage building and prop- erty in approximately L972. The church property was sold approximately the same year to Edie and Carol Reed. by Twila Gorton ..WIIITE ELEPHANT'' COMMUNITY BUILDING' T345 The "White Elephant" as it became known for its size after being built as a WPA (Works Progress Administration) project about 1934 or 35 was never completely finished until the VFW was formed in Seibert, Colo. It had a finished stage floor and one of the meeting rooms on the side had flooring finished, but the other one and the main floor had a sub floor in it with a little flooring laid. However, when the veterans tried to lease it, they had to wait for sometime to start work as the Moser Grain elevator had wheat stored in it for a couple years prior to that, which had to be gotten out. The VFW. John Maurice Wren Post # 6492, Ieased it in Jan. 1947, and held every kind of a project to help make money to complete the building as the school, needing a bigger gymnasium wanted to lease it, so the veterans borrowed money from the bank to finish the building. The school used it for several years until the new school was built in 1952, and the veterans lost their lease. A mortgage burning ceremony was held March 14, 1953 for the debt incurred on the hall. The veterans had a 99 year lease on the hall with the town. But due to the dwindling of active members and various things through the years the expenses became too hard to meet so the veterans bought the old small Post Office building on the east side of main street in 1963, and the big hall was turned back to the town. The building housed the Civil Defense emergency hospital unit for about 25 years, beginning in the 50's. This unit included everything necessary for a good hospital in a disaster, including an operating room which was stored in crates, stacked 4 feet out from the wall and to the ceiling, and a generator, cots for 200 patients. But all this equipment was disposed of about 9 years ago by the civil defense director Agnes Loutzenhiser. During the years the VFW had the hall, the building was used for roller skating weekly and in later years as it started to go down in activities, it was used only through the summer months for the skating due to heating the building. Early years activities were regular Saturday night dances, men and women town team basket ball games and town team leagues being formed, and many town team tournaments. About 1982 the town board made a financial commitment to maintenance of the building and repaired the roof. The community started suggesting the necessity of a nice community building perhaps in the city park, where some beautiful sod had been placed and some new buildings for a picnic area and barbecue pit had been erected. After the state highway department had some loads of dirt to be placed somewhere (more than was needed on the streets), Dale Murphy suggested to Mayor Ralph Gorton, that they dump it into the northwest corner ofthe park area, and try to fix it into a nice area for uee. Thus it was taken before the town council and the park project was soon begun about 1982. So once again Dale Murphy, being on the town council, suggested that there were great possibilities of the "White Elephant" being renovated into a nice community building, since it was already sitting there and of no use and deteriorating. He drew some blue prints which were presented to the town board with favorable reactions and the possibilities of checking into grants was suggested. The search for money in the emount of $65,000.00 for the work that was planned began. Murphy Construction submitted the low bid for the remodeling work on the building of about $48,000 to lower the ceilings, build walls, partitions, heating, laying carpets for the new town office, kitchen and dining room area, and rest �rooms, which had to meet specifications for the State Health Department for preparing meals for Project Srnile for local senior citizens. These appliances were purchased separately by the town, councilman Jeny Many people prefer the hall now be called the Community Hall instead of "White Elephant". I still think "The White Elephant" holds a distinction for Seibert, Colorado. Guy said. The rear of the building was also renovated by taking out the old rest rooms, two rneeting rooms and a storage room and shower rooms and the stage to make the skating area about equal to the previous area plus the bleachers on the north side were removed. by Twila Gorton DAYS OF THE OLD WEST Renovations came about from grants received with the help of the East Central Council of Governments, with Mary Jo Downey's help. Ten thousand dollars each The "sqauws": Anna Guy, Minerva Stone, Elnora T346 Yti:J,J:'irt|;rs plav their roles well at the "Davs came from Coors Foundation and Baughman Farms, which had formerly had large farm holdings in the Seibert Area. The Arthur E. Johnson foundation in Denver and Gates Foundation contributed $15,000 each. With the renovation finished in 1987, the outside was ready for a coat of paint. Jerry Guy town councilman was visiting with County Commissioner Bill Hornung and was told of the program offered by the army. Bill had a nephew, Lt. Col. Michael Pendergast, who had told Bill about the battalion and cities participating in an adoption program where local communities "Adopt" Fort Car- Y;;"'.. 'lri::ili.,irr,., :ill *),,,,;... The 1939 enactment of "Old West Days" begins. son units, and the soldiers have and will continue to do volunteer civic projects, such as painting the town hall. Units and their cities also exchange invitations to social, athletic and entertainment events. Carol Levin, city clerk, was instructed to contact Lt. Col. Pendergast and soon the bond was made and Seibert adopted the 68th Transportation Battalion. July 13th, 1987 Capt. Anthony Swain and four other soldiers flew to Seibert in a large Army Red Cross helicopter and landed on the school grounds near the ball field. A survey was made of the building as to the facilities to accommodate the crew to come (there were some ladies) and to what would be necessary for the job. While the 'chopper was landed the The wagon train prepares to make camp while Indians are at their tepees in the background. ehief White Eagle the only real Indian in the Indian raid enactment. I children and adults were invited to inspect the chopper, go aboard and even sit in the pilots seat. What thrills! A bus load of 27 soldiers of the 68th Transportation Battalion arrived Friday, July 27th and the project began, in spitc of high winds. Dinner was served by the community for volunteers who helped. Again supper, breakfast and dinner on Saturday was pre- pared and served before they departed for their base in Colorado Springs, the job finished. The association with the soldiers was a very enjoyable one. The Indians attack the settler's camp. Soldiers from the 50th Ordanance Co. participated in the bed race on Seibert Day July 25, 1987, and kept their record of winning by defeating over 8 other teams, and being known locally famous as winners. Other members of the 68th transportation and 50th Ordnance Company enlivened the parade with the Battalion color guard and company guidons, and also participation in other events of the day. The Battalion Commander and Sergent Major acted as targets in the town dunking booth. Another highlight of Seibert Day was when Lt. Col. Michale Pendergast flew in, in the big Army Red Cross helicopter, landing at the school first, then taking the chopper to the vacant land south of the city park where the day's events were taking place, and people could look at it and visit if thev wished. The flurry of gunsmoke and dust obscures the view as the battle rages. The old "prospector", John Peterson, 1939. �not. A large beef barbecue lasting for hours awaited the hungry actors and observers. Later, there were parades, trained horses exhibitions with a set of four putting on 'i ftr. "rn-ai*." mounted for the attack. interest the other business men in staging a re-enactment of that massacre. Some of the "settlers" in the Old West Days: Fosha Gorton Jr and Sr. with Dorothy Lundey and Elfie Gorton. "Most of those businessmen had a thousand reasons not to do it. They voted it down, 10 to 1. "It'd be a nice thing," they said, "but people are to hard up ." But a few including Fitz, went ahead and did it anyway. The result was open air theatre which would rival Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show in excitement and authenticity. Featuring more than 400 local people, the show highlighted a full day of activity that became nationally known in its three year existence, 1938-40. Preparations began long before the big day, which was Labor Day each year, with creation of props and costumes, and with development of the script. The day before, truck loads of horses and riders would move into town from as far away as Loveland, and one Aurora man would bring his wagon and four %--j head of trained oxen. About two dozen cowboys would ride in from the south country, Second Central south ofFlagler, and east of there, on horse back, and bed down in a local barn. Early the next morning, the "Indians" went into makeup. Their skin color was darkened with liberal doses of brick dust (which didn't come off very easy, especially if you had wrinkles), and they were decked out in Indian garb crafted from burlap bags and bows and arrows built by local Boy Scouts. At 9 a.m. the large crowd of observers gathered on a hillside, to watch the show. A long prospector, with long whiskers and an old burrow, wandered into view, and as he slowly made his way across the basin, under the watchful eye of the audience, the "Indians" quietly slipped out of sight behind the hill, to await their moment. As the prospector left the basin, a train of about 40 covered wagons entered and formed a circle. The horses were unhitched and taken behind the hill to avoid scaring them. Then came the Indians over the hill, in single style. Roughly 140 of the Indians were mounted: others were on foot. The Indians { George Simon, another "settler", perhaps. t attacked, dragging the settlers and their families from the wagons, "killing and scal- ,1 r2 t:,. ti tr d$ ping" them, or riding off with a few as prisoners. But the Indians didn't have it all their own way, either. The settlers fought "\. "Indian" Warren Kemp . . . Old West Days. In 1859, Indians attacked a wagon train of settlers near the site of present day Seibert, killing most of them. In the late 1930's a few of Seibert's merchants, led by former news- paper publisher V.S. Fitzpatrick, tried to back, firing black powder blanks, and "dead" Indians fell from their horses to lie in the dust. True to their roles, the "dead" men lay still as a hundred horses continued to race back and forth, but never stepping on anyone. And then it was over, with the surviving Indians racing back to their tepees, leaving scores of massacred settlers, and at least one burning wagon, in their wake. The squaws and the maidens entered the battle- field only long enough to "finish off' the crippled. But while the show was over. the dav was square dancing on horse back, prize fights, rodeos and horse races, culminating with a square dance in the street, which lasted to 3 or 4 a.m. During the first year, as the Highway 24 ran through the town, patrolman directed traffic and many people upon being stopped, would be amazed at the bustling busy little town, and when told would immediately pull off the highway and take the days activities and the word passed fast to other parts of the nation, and in 1939 the Iocal promoters sold nearly 2,100 tickets for 25 cents each, and when the show started, there were 748 cars registered in 34 states among those parked on the hill. In 1940 all 48 states were represented. Two of those out-of-state visitors were in the motion picture business, and they almost had the Seibert celebration on the film for posterity. In 1940, a movie producer and five crew members were coming to film the show. When they didn't show up on time, the show was delayed for an hour or more, but as the crowd grew impatient, the show went on without the film crew. Later, they received the word that the airplane carrying the movie crew crashed somewhere near Deer Trail, enroute from Hollywood, killing all aboard. An end came to the show in 1941 when the United States entered World War II. Men of fighting age joined up or were drafted, and there no longer were enough cast members to stage the massacre. It never was staged again, although a rodeo and barbecue continued for several years. During all three years, with hundreds of people on the ground in the field, with horses running and milling about, with cowboys and "Indians" lying "dead" onthe ground. . . no one was seriously injured. One man was burned by the direct hit with a wadding from a blackpowder pistol, and Fitzpatrick was kicked in the leg by a horse. "But at the end of the show, I offered up a prayer of thanks, that nobody got hurt," said Fitzpatrick. AII in all, things pretty well came off without a hitch. There were riders, horses, mules, warriors, gquaws, Indian maids, oxen, wagons, cattle and herders whiskered oldtimers, emigrant women, and old-fashioned boys and girls. Yet, by use of the timed script, the show proceeded like the real thing, with only one rehearsal. "Nobody had a dime, coming out of the thirties," but they gave a lot of themselves. One of the years a true Indian Chief was here and took park in the celebration. He was Joe Davis, "Chief White Eagle." There are many fond memories of these celebrations. It is impossible to write the excitement in put into your blood stream at the time. by Twila Gorton THE SEIBERT BOY'S BAND T347 The Seibert Boys Band from Seibert, Colorado, composed of boys ranging in age from 8 to 15 years, gave a serenade in front of the News and Times office vesterdav �August 27, L889 from C.F. Jilson Trustee of the county of Shawnee, Kansas to School District # 37 of Kit Carson county, Colorado, all of lots 1 thru 18 block 27 in the town of Seibert. A deed made May 2, 1918 went from the school to J.L McNeill, the school board members were: Pres. A.C. Tinsley, Sec. Frank D. Allen, Treas. Elmer Everett. Later Oct. 6, 1919 it went from McNeill to Felix A.C. Schmitt April 18, 1921 from Schmitt to J. Henry Tihan, Bishop in Denver, - then onto Bishop Urban J. Vehr. The property is cunently owned by Louise L. Gamble of Seibert. All transactions ofthis deed are not included just some to tie the school and church into this story. Apparently there was a little white building used for the school for a short time prior to the building of the two story frame school. Dwight Frankfather said the first school was a single story white frame building located in Ted Cruickshank, 7 year old drummer, was the youngest member when the Seibert band started. In 1916 Mr. G.W. Klockenteger organized the trained the band. afternoon. The band, in company with the five Seibert business men who financed the enterprise, is on a tour of the state in five automobiles, and for the last few days has been camped in the tourist camping grounds in city park. The band was organized two years ago by it's director G.W. Klockenteger, a Seibert banker, and is primarily a character building plan. While it is founded on a somewhat similar basis as the Boy Scout the National Guard - El Paso Countv Democrat. by Twila Gorton SEIBERT SCHOOL T348 movement, it is independent. But tho it would seem that the music is only incidental, too much cannot be said in praise of the boys and their directors as regards to their playing. Scorning ragtime and "easy pieces", the Khaki-clad kids rendered different overtures and marches with all the ease of seasonal musicians. When one considers the ages of the boys, he can realize in a degree the credit due Mr. Klokenteger for their performances. The present trip is an educational one H.L. Cated, C.D. Frankfather, E.L. Smith, Dick Hendricks and their director - the founders of the organization - furnishing the cars and meeting the expenses. They have visited so far Colorado Springs, Seibert school built in 1893. given by the Seibert Boys Band, an organization ofthe boy scouts from a little town of300 population on the Rock Island in the eastern part of Colorado. The boys are on a tour of the state, traveling in automobiles furnished by the vice president of the Seibert State Bank, Mr. G.W. Klokenteger. Mr. Klokenteger organized the band last September at his own expenses and trained the boys himself. Seibert is the little town in eastern Colorado that within three days after the call of President Wilson, furnished a Company for Martha Abbott (Boggs - Allen) says she went to school in the one story building starting in 1918, and went three years of her high school years, while three grades were combined to each of the four rooms, grades L-2-3- 4-5-67-8-9 and 10-11-12 being together. Her senior year she attended school in the second story which had been built and finished so in 1921 fall classes began in it. This addition was being done in 1921 at a cost of925,000. Their class being the first to graduate from the top addition, they also had given the first Junior - Senior banquet in 1921, was the first class to organize and have a class sponsor. An excerpt for the annual says, "We also had the went to school in Seibert School in 1910 in the white two story frame building. A copy of the "first High School Annual - One of the big features of the Mask Ball last Thursday night was the band concert deeded to the school District all of block 13 and 14 in Seibert, July 17, 1917, and on this property the large red brick school house (a half basement and one story) was erected. honor of naming the Seibert High School Annual "The Yucca". which name shall be carried through all the forth coming years." A note from Maxine Messinger (Radcliff) is: A note per "Reminiscence" by Della Hendricks is that Elaine and Bill Hendricks Canon City and Cripple Creek, traveling .slowly enough to take in all places of interest and to inspect all interesting features. Yesterday they visited the rifle range and gave the guardsman a concert. They will remain in Denver till Thursday in order to view the circus today, leaving then for Estes Park Denver (Daily) News, August 23, 1916. the southeast edge of town, and was built by the Rock Island railroad in the late 1880's. The picture included shows the white frame building after the second story had been added about four years later, making it a grade and High school. The picture says it was built in 1893 and was the first grade and high school. The first graduating class of 1919 including Reva Sawhill - Florence Muck Lida Cruickshank and Elizabeth Schauffler graduated from this building, but no exercises were held, Paul R. Veeder the Supt. Records in Book 7 4 page 581 at the county clerks office shows that G.W. Klockenteger "1922" in the hands of Maxine, which was Seibert School built in 1917, top floor added in 1921. dedicated to The Seibert High School shows; Faculty: V.E. Worley, Mrs. W.I. Conley, Marie Farquahar, Mrs Avis Simmons, Lora Mae Moore, Ora Cruickshank (Maxine's 2nd After much researching there isn't much to be found on the history of the early schools of Seibert. However after many phone calls to a few of the old timers who are living that attended the first Seibert school and the Red Brick school, I will try to piece together a bit there was a consolidationin1922 with several other districts, and many new students joined of history. their ranks from these districts, which was Records from the Abstract Office in Burlington, shows a warranty deed record # 6260 from C.F. Jilson to school District # 37 was recorded at 3:15 PM January 9, 19 893 by R.G. Cambell. recorder. The deed was made apparently when students began coming to town to attend high school to graduate. The two story white frame building in block 27 was torn down and twin houses built from the lumber according to Dwight Frank- grade teacher) and Agnes Beedy, her 1920-21 year. From the annual the information is that �of the building and stopped and reported it. It was in the early pre-sun-up hours. The fire was extinguished and kept contained mainly in the northeast class room of the middle section, and the evidence was discovered. Some typewriters and other articles were missing from the building. The gymnasium is the three story red brick building, being to small for regulation basketball games was condemned for the league games, the school district leased the V.F.W. Hall (The White Elephant) from the veterans for their basketball, proms and other activi- ties from 1948 to 1953. In the 1940's a small frame building, the old Progress country school was moved from 12 miles north and 3 Vz east of Seibert to town and was located to just the north east of the brick building and was used for some Jr High classes and a shop. Later this building was sold and it once again returned to the country to the Denis Stahlecker farm. The fall of 1950 brought about another Hi Plains High School, Seibert, 1988. furter. These houses are now owned by Ervin Jones and Gladys Tovrea, and were built approximately 1918 to 1920. I have received much help from many people and wish I could include all the remarks but it is impossible, but I wish to thank them for the help, for without it, it would not be possible to put this information together for an almost lost history. Thanks to John (Jack) Messinger, Dwight Frankfath- er, Martha Abbott (Allen), Vernis Boger, Myrna and Meryl Haynes, Dwight and Pete Guy, the telephone visit was great. &:r',. ., ' $i ,,' -.;l $ View from south west part of Library and Home Ec section after the fire. There was a fire in the Red Brick school in 1948 during school vacation, which had been deliberately set, as inflammable soaked rags were found under each fire hose at each flight of stairs in the building. A trucker coming from the east on Highway 24 (The only highway then) saw flames in the east windows .:at:: ..,....:,. .r:i:,\i..a.,.:r,:i:',,:, consolidation, this time bringing the remaining country pupils to town, ending the area of most small country schools. The Seibert School then became Seibert Centralized School R-2. After the high school and gymnasium had been built and in service for several years the need for a new and safer elementary facility began to be discussed among the patrons and a committee of: Luthur Tatkenhorst, Chairman; Marvin Burr, Orlen Reid, Lloyd Short, and Fay Knapp started checking into the possibilities of a new addition, in Oct 1959. In addition to the road for a safer elementary school building it was brought out that other school needs included. a well on the school property, landscaping, a lighted baseball and football field, a kindergarten, and elementary teachers salary closer to the line with High School teachers salaries. A bond Vote in February 1960 carried 5 to 1 in favor ofthe above proposed. This would also help with the accreditation ofthe school, as it seems that prior to this accreditation requirements were on the High school. A multi purpose room, lunchroom combina- tion, new administration offices, teachers lounge, and the seven class rooms for elementary were added. Later some landscaping and lights were put up for the baseball field. The Addition had been added to the west side of the gymnasium and high school unit, and stretched to the south. The year of 1960-61 was the first kindergarten class in Seibert, with Ollie Taton being the teacher, this was held in the basement of the old red brick 3 story building. The pupils were: Mike McElroy, Nila Niles, Charles McCaffrey, Deborah Hughes, Theresa Bancroft, Michael Mitchell, Connie Livingston, Charles Pelser, Terri Taton, Kenneth Viken and Doyle Atkins. After the new elementary was built the first Kindergarten class to attend were: Johanna Atkins. Sheree Mitchell, Jo Ann Miller, Kathryn Webb, Janice Knapp, Marilyn McCaffrey, Fred Bloom, Seibert School in the 1950's which burned on April 1' 1971. Rodney Smith, John Levin, Randy Gorton, Joseph Marx, and Cordell Atkins in 1961-62. June Short the teacher. April 1, 1971 brought disaster to the Seibert community when by-passers out on I-70 spotted flames in the windows of the gymnasium area of the school at 3:45 AM and once again came in to town to report it. The previous day had been one ofvery high winds and dusty conditions with the winds continu- �ing through the night and into the next day. The fire had evidently started in or near the g'ym area, from something caused by the high winds. The gym and the complete high school addition of the building were destroyed, but with the help of fire fighting equipment from Vona, Flagler, Stratton, and I believe Burlington was bringing a water truck, the elementary wing of the school was saved. The high winds at this point were a contributing factor in saving the part of the building that was saved, because it was blowing so hard from the northwest that it helped to keep the flame away from the west wing. The rest of the school term was finished in the local churches, VFW Hall, Elementary Classrooms. Mr. Hardy's home (a teacher), and the multi-purpose room, and kitchen, which the fire protection safety commission had okayed as being safe for use. The graduation ceremonies were held on the church yard of the Re-organized Latter Day Saints Church in Seibert. C.L. Stiverson a former Supt. giving the address. by Twila Gorton Year 1929 - *Albert Bell - *Ben Wrenn *Bonny Gaunt (Clay Gould) - *Bruce Jones - Cecil Boren - Goldie Mae Lambert (Cox) - Richard Plecker) - Robert Edwards - *Robert McBride - Shirley Short (John Matthews) - Vivian Smith (Murl Mayberry) - *Virgil Short - Voyle Larson*Lila - Claude Ingram - Inez Jones (Melton) Johnson (Reginald Allen). Year 1930 - Herbert Shults - Joe Campbell Doris Stewart (Baum) - Ada Brower -(Clarence Scheidegger) - *Marguerite Bonham (Heber) - Madeline Ott (Leander Becker) - Gwendolyn Eaton (Elmar Kerl). Year 1931 - *Harley Greenlee - *Viola Sheets (Seal) - Wayne Jones - Loretta Bonham (Collins) *Duane Oldson - Floyd McCart - Norma Johnson (Conoly) - John (Jack) Messinger - *Lucille Rose (Chris Peterson - George) - Shirley Bonham (Tay- scHooL Year 1919 - Reva Sawhill (Ed C. Wolfe) *Florence Muck (Anderson) * Lida Cruicksh- ank (J.B. Richardson) - *Elizabeth Schauffler (Green Dwight Cruickshank). Supt. Paul R. Veeder. Year 1920 -Zelma Probasco (Bridge) Supt. A.B. Cook. Year 1921 - Gladys Messing (Anderson) - *Grace Minter (Joe McCannon) - Marie McMulkin (Deutsch) - Charles Conley (first Male Graduate). Year L922 - *Olive Johnston (Herk Hill) - *Elmer Everett Martha Abbott (Boggs Allen) *Ralph W. Burden - Royal Reul Ellouise Allen (Pearson) - Supt. Homer Bishop. Year 1923 - *Mavis Leao (Maitland Helderman) - *Mabel Zimmerman - *Lillian Schermerhorn (Lewis Reid) - *Walter Burden - *Lindley Cates. Yeat 1924 *Julia J. Howard (Clayton Kivett) - Ruth Beckman (R.8. Elder) Vaughn L. McKenzie - *Ted Albert Cruickshank - Dorothy Burden (Everett Beckman) - Supt. James P. gttit. Year 1925 - Hazel Holton (Don Stewart) Myrna McKenzie (Meryl Haynes) - *Murl Mayberry - *Zella Sawhill (Lester Yonts) *Clio Huff Iva Ross Paul Reul Mary - Huff. Year 1926 - *Zelma McKenzie - *Maurice Wrenn - *Ruth Minter - Evelyn Duncan (Blythe Allen). Years 1927 - *Wayne Gesner - Robert Bancoft - Mary McCart (Martin - Blodgett) - *Francis Reul - Jerome Hinshaw - *Aubrey Edwards - *Velma Campbell (Miller) *Effie Priest Cogswell). Year 1928 - Nelta Cates (W.8. Copeland) Yarnell - *Velma Manion (Stewart) - *Edna*Murray (Williams) - Clara Yarnell (Ritch) *Robert Walker - Short - Lloyd S. Roberts - George Van Der Koi - Charles Boren. Year 1938 - Earl Allen - Lorene Miller (Scott) - Evelyn Johnson (Rabou - Smith) Russell Goodwin - Don Parrott - Eugene Perrine - *Paul Short - John D. Martin Christine Johnson (Bill Simmons) - Eugene Edler - Supt. E.G. Bjornstad. Year 1939 - Wayne Peterson - Lois Jones (Kenneth Smith) - *Doris Copley (Baker) Dorothy Gillispie (Berger) - *Katherine Clark (Crabbe) - Cecil H. McCormick Delbert Rowley - Robert Miller - Raymond Cox - Eloise Ruth Livingston (John Martin) - Maxine Smith (Wayne Peterson) - *Cecelia Ruth McCormick (Sterling Johnson) - Dorothy Rasmussen (Cribbs) - John Aegerter *George Thomas Winkler) Supt. E.G. Bjornstad. - Year 1940 - Juanita Perrine (Chester Jackson) - *Irene Aumiller (Eddie Thweatt) - Pearl Martin (Geo. Pfalzgraff) - Asa Faye Johnson (Ernie Bancroft - Savage) - Ralph Year 1932 - Garland Guy - Viola Short Edward Miyoshi) - Supt. E.G. Bjornstad. Year 1941 - Robert Guy - Burleigh Sharp *John Atkins Donald Hamilton - Jacqueline Olmstead (James McKee) - Esther Simon (Cecil McCormick) - Winifred Kemp (Thaine Ingram) - *Leila Gillispie (Hicks) Twila Murphy (Ralph Gorton) - Supt. E.G. Bjornstad. Year 1942 - George Simon - Leonard Watson) - Vernis Boger. Oleta Gillispie (Eide - Hollman) - Harley Short - Leroy Guy - Dougal Robbinson - T349 E.G. Bjornstad. lor) - Robert Andre - Gladys Andre (Kerl) Melvin Shipman - *Dan Oldson - Bernice Harmon (McBlair) - Pearl Minter (Bert Floman) - Dorothy Short (Lt. Col. James (Earl Pursley) - Roland Shults - Emily Jones (Ervin) - Bertha Larson - Ralph Schekel - GRADUATES OF SEIBERT HIGII (Don Parrott) - Ray Stewart - Viva Livings- ton (Vernis Boger) - Eugene Oliver - Supt. *Ruth Sperry Orville Larson Fannie Boger (Robinson) - Lila Jenkins - Kenneth Eaton. Year 1933 - Albert Larson - *Alice Alexander (Oldson) - Lloyd Edwards - *Glen Newton - Marjory Manion (Miller) - Vera Livingston (Wallace Gattshall) - Arvetta Shipman (Mauldin) - *Paul Scheidegger Elwyn Hays - *Ray Sperry - Homer Killalay - *Minnie Anderson (Walter Eastin) d Merl Ingram (Baker) - Gerald Shults - Lavon Eaton (Roland Shults) - Clem Patrick McCart - Supt. M.H. Brown. Year 1934 - Frederick Lyle Aegerter *Nita Elaine Mason (Paul Miller - Frank) Sterling Johnson - Marjory Edweards (Lammerman) - Gertie Vera Sears (Pat Shea) Gerald Max Roller - Leona Irene Scheidegger (Peters - Earl Cowgill - *Birney Eugene Short - Fosha Sheldon Gorton Jr. - Eva Rowley (Murray Walker) - Fern Lavinia Gardener (H.J. Martin) - Rodella Henrietta Hase (Chas. Boren) - *Pearl Faye McCart (Art Gaines) - *Mark Garrett Stewart Frank Marion Allen - *Leora Mae Andre (Phil Garlick) - *Gordon Erskine Clark Ruby Letitia Perrine (Murphy - Murphy) Supt. M.H. Brown. Year 1935 - Jane Simpson (Gearhart) Marion Simpson - Clyde Jones - Florence Sheets (Harold Adair) - Viola Perrine (Baxter - Gettman) - *Leroy Newton - *Tom Holland - *Marie Jones (Frank Smith) *Thurman Shipman *Leigh Short *Leigh - - Short - *Jay O. Guy - Thaine Ingram Robert Brown - Mildred Woltkamp (Lyle Eagerter) - Donald Everett - Supt. Richardson. Year 1936 - *Lucille Bonham (Weiser) *Edwin Cox) Judson McCormick *Ralph Gorton - Norvin Gillispie - Weldon Parker *Dale M. Schekel *Rose Rassmussen - *Lucille -(Barstad) Knowland - Alta Sessler (John Pulver) - Supt E.G. Bjornstad. Year 1937 - Alice Short (Burr Keller) Hope Smith (Virgil Hase) - Troy Murphy Norma Brown (Gerald Brown) - Max Parker Marcella Sawhill (Ground) Las Perrine -*Helen Jo-es (Reynolds) - Fern Aumiller Aegerter - *Norma Olmstead (Daily - Kemp - Betty Aegerter (Bob Miller) - nGerald Cox Darlene Akers (Zuckelwoski) - Illa Mae Jones (Hojara) - Donald Clark Loyd R. Moore Jr. - Supt. Art Watson. Year 1943 - Dixie Belle Sawhill (Gouge) - Marvin Taylor - *Eva Rose Livingston (Leonard Kemp) - Doris Rose (Crum Gagnon - Loyd Murphy) - Eleanor Scheidegger (John Atkins - Flood) - Betty Jo Stittsworth (Ray Schroeder) - Arthena Aumiller (Dick O'Neill - Ruby Wood (Flageolle - Van Winkle) - *Dale Taylor - Supt C.W. Lanning. Year 1944 - Jack Chew - Elbert E, Akers - Vivian Radebaugh (Morford) - Ma"y Christie (Earl Allen) - Martha Lou Ricks (Lloyd) - Gene Clifford - Maryld Edmunds - Supt. C.W. Lanning. Year 1945 - Robert T. Sawhill - Orline Reid - Wayne Aumiller - *James Boren Dorothy Johnson (Gene Cummings) - Dale Bartlett - Supt. W.G. Brandstetter. Year 1946 - Josephine Atkins (Joe Mazella) - Ira Cooper - Ruth Laffoon (Cline David Reid - Neville Dunnan Jr. - Jo Anne Bancroft (Bob Waldron) - Juanita Winfrey (Adrewjeski) - Louise Johnson (Azel Dorsey) - Supt. A. O. White. Year 1947 - Wm. Earl Livingston Jr. Joyce Aumiller (Bob Austin) - Betty Lou Cox (Orville Monroe) - Edna Blanche Aumiller (Akin - Gerald Duncan) - James William Akers - Dorothy McCart (Ray Atkins) - Supt L.W. Mortenson. Year 1948 - Marjory Aumiller (Merrill Amsberry) - Ruth Lange (Ruhter - John Stewart) - Norma Cruickshank (Arthur Nisson - Hunter) - Katherine Jackson (Paul Short) - Ruby Lange (Kunkel) - Betty Paxson (Jones) - Eleanor McGriff (Harley Short) - Rogene Boren (Bill Livingston) Supt. Chas. Berhens. Year 1949 - Betty Lou Hughes (David Reid) - Donna Rae Paxon (Hawley) - John Graham - Gale Corwin - Dorothy Cox (Virgil �Schwartz). Supt. George B. Guy. Year 1950 - *Vera Barnes - Dorothy Akers (Claude Rogers - Noel) - Jeanne Malm (Pursley - Bosley) - Barbara Boyd (Wm. Snow) - Bonnie Boren (Clifford Hughes) Floyd Reid - *Paul Eugene Bramlett Jr. - Supt. George B. Guy. Year 1951 - Dale Steele - Vern Miller Doyle Atkins - Erma Fulton (Jim Boren) Supt Geo. B. Guy. Year 1952 - Duane E. Miller - Esther Bramlett (Lawrence Taylor) - Sam Brewer Mary Lou Miller (Dusty Henderson) -*Irene Fuller (Orlen Reid) - *Shirley Hartley (Elbert Akers) - Melvin Levin - Betty Malm (Berelue) - Bob Kramer - Supt. George G. Guy. Year 1953 - Joan Boyd (Donald Finken) Sharon Linder (Leonard Mullen) - Myrna Belle Clifford (Brecheisen) - Carol Ann Wold (Malm - Rothgeb) - *Patty Boren (Richard Baker) - Virginia Kelley (Duane Miller) Gary Tagtmeyer - Phyliss Levin (Bob - Fox) - Thomas Weaver - Colleen Oliver (Ira Cooper) - Charles Boren Jr. - Wilma Bloder (Angel) - Supt. Ray Bartlett. Year 1954 - Marilyn Kay Malm (Norma Kent) - Clinton Lee Jones - Roger London Reid - Ruth Marie Bramlett (Sylvia Pierce) - Jacque Kae Boren (Melvin Levin) - Arnold Duane Kelley - Carol Imogene Hase (Melvin Mullen) - Ray White - Ethel Arlene Taylor (Goin - French) - Patricia Ann Harmon (Weihmuller) - *Harvey Leroy Bowser Alice Brewer (Don Burch) - Frank Lee Miller - Nylen Bruce Bartlett - Marjorie Lee Boren (Leon Blackwell) - Irvin Leon Blackwell Supt. Ray Bartlett. Year 1955 - Bonnie Peters (Dick Wharry) Blackwell (Thomas Sims) - Doris - Arliss(Bowser Fuller - Randall - Vernon Pelser) Sonja Viken (Al Randall) - Warren Golliher - Richard Herman - Annabel Oliver (Steinke Jr.) - Koenig) - Margaret Weaver (Ken Potter) - Barbara Cruickshank (Jack Scheidegger - Smith) - Marjorie Smith (Norman Crabb) - Doyle Fulton - Ronnie Hartley Supt. George B. Cukro. Year 1956 - Janet White (Jacoby) - Mary Golliher (Wayne Weaver) - La Vada Reid (Hefner - Britt) - Marlyn Hase (Don Herman) - Edith Malm (Stough) - Shirley Cowgill (Roy Tatkenhorst) - Tom Sims Donald Herman - Junior Kelley - Eugene Hase - Harold Dykstra - Roy Tatkenhorst Jim Miller - Floyd Taylor - Donald Levin Supt. O.B. Lauth. Year 1957 - Robert Hase - Alma Tatkenhorst (Marvin Dove) - Verda Maloney (Don Weaver) - Marvin Dove - Leo Thorson Beverly Harmon (Claude Robinson - Tom Miller) - Helen Hase (Bruce Colyer) - Al Leo Leoffler - Patty Martin (McFarland - Herman) - Bill Oliver - Supt. C.L. Stiverson. Year 1958 - Meredyth Hargrove (Richard Herman) - Iris Hargrove (Lynn Fisher) Dallas Weaver - Helena Hase (Jim Milller) - Lloyd Kelley - Barbara Harmon (Harry Lee) - Gene Miller - Ralph Zrubek - Bonnie O'Neill (Lloyd Kelly) - Grace Levin (Robin- son - Jagger) - Darlene Herman (Larry Fadenrecht) - Florence Pelser (Delmar McGriff) - Raenita Monroe (Artzer) Shirley Smith (Ray Daily) - Supt. C.L. Stiverson. Year 1959 - Carlos Eugene Arnold - Ethel Kay Cruickshank (Vern Miller) - Aileen Faye Hase (Dhooge - Leroy Lamb) - Gordon Lesley Hatfield - Ronald L. Kelley - James A. Levin - LaNell Mason (Harold Dykstra - Dunn) - Benny L. Noel - Don L. Ray - Jerry Ray Short - Jacque Marie Taton (Saunders) Roberta M. Thorson (Lee Miller) - Donald L. Wanczyk. Supt. C.L. Stiverson - Neil W. Patty Eastin (Dennis Hickman) - Supt. Hulon Webb. ty Twila Gorton Williams (last 10 weeks). Year 1960 - Larry Leoffler - Larry Hase - Larry Schnell - Vernon Tovrea - Sue Short (Gerald - Maloney) - Gerald Maloney - SEIBERT HISTORY T360 Ralph Atkins - Donna Herman (Corky Patterson) - Dixie Herman (Delmar Mullen) - Peggy Martin (Hamm-Rick Eckroth) Supt. Neil W. Williams. Year 1961 - Myra Tovrea (Elrod) - James Harmon - Virgil Taylor - Margaret McElroy - Everett Urie - Ardis Jones (Ronald Kelly) - Deborah Murray (Joe Balweg) - Supt. Neil W. Williams. Year 1962 - Dee Ann Gorton (Donald Felker) - Paul Pitts - *Sidney B. Hedgecoke - Barbara Graffis (Dewey Staatz) - Margaret Ward - Patricia Weaver (Larry Leoffler) - Ronnie Tovrea - Bonnie L. Tatkenhorst (Paul Pitts - Miers - Larsen) - Marvin Kelley - Supt. William W. Welsh. Year 1963 Stanley Scherr - Mike Hatfield - Stanley Graffis - Fred Bloder - Gary Atkins - Dick McAuley - Faith Hase - Myrna Jones (Roger Gosnell) - Sharon Tovrea (Jarnagin - Jolly) - Charlotte Santala (Lonnie Polzin - Marvin Thomas) - Supt. William W. Welsh. Year 1964 - Ralph Francis Gorton Jr. - Merikay Erck - Donna Eastin (Horton) Keith Taton - Joe Tatkenhorst - Bob Stevens - Margaret Conarty (Earl Hedge- coke) - Jacqueline Phillips (Kalb - Anderson - Wise) - Allen Niles - Ernie Noel - Rex Reid - Supt. William W. Welsh. Year 1965 - Glenna White (Terry Clapper) Betty -(DennisTaylor (Wilkins) - Ardath Pitman Fowler) - Pamela Joan Gorton (Dwight Young) - LeRoy Miller - John Phillips - Larry Kemp - Charles Ward Larry Hostetler - Supt. William W. Welsh. Year 1966 - William Cowgill - Ervin Jones Seibert Community building. T - Hazel Stahlecker (Lengel) - Jeanette Kay Gorton (Larry Kemp) - Jerry Eastin - James D. Smith - Carol Atkins (James Smith) Steven Santala Supt. Wayne Lorance. Year 1967 - Cheryl Conarty (Bill Reese) Linda Kemp (Dan Denke) - Linda Johnston (Gilley - Wahl) - Barbara O'Neill (Rick Young) - Jerry Millsap - Beverly Hase - .. -r,..:*i-. ,-1: ' ' t'*-.: ;,;:/;Xf),,; l',::;* The old depot moved to the west side of town in 1959 is now Nile's Restaurant and Gas Station. 1980's. Darice Pitman (Larry Hostetler) - James Gorton - Ron Phillips - *Dean Short - Supt. Wayne Lorance. Year 1968 - Kelly Burr - Melva Stahlecker Bowser (Ron Towea) - Cathy - Margaret Short (Leroy Miller) - Merla White (Ron Oneal) - Tom Taylor - Keith Specht - Terry Tagtmeyer - Maxine Hill (Scott) - Sup t David MacKaye. Year 1969 - Marilyn Atkins (Kenny McCaffrey) - *Robert Graham - David Hostetler - Mickey Livingston - Meredith Murphy (Bezdek - Slocum) - Rodney Murray - Larry Newman - Vickey Reid (Norman Eagleton) - Gary Short - Barbara Turner (Schaffer) Supt David S, MacKaye. Year 1970 - Marlis Jean Conarty (Hamm) - Ronnie Lee Hase - Roger Lynn McCaffrey - Denis Stahlecker - Ralph Lynn Specht Mary Jo Tagtmeyer - (Stan Ravencamp) Mary Ann Turner (Sebert Morgen) - Supt. David S. MacKaye. Year 1971 - Fred Niles - Kenneth Lynn McCaffrey - Doris Graham (Jim Leoffler) Original bank Building as seen today 1988. �STRATTON T35l To tell the story of the development of the Town of Stratton is a formidable task. $m Everyone sees and recalls things differently; tgoo Jro; N.H. Fuller's Store before 1908. This store burned in 1908. Seibert Days, 1986. i r', r;,:.',:9 Interior of Fuller Store after the restoration ltll following the fire. r,.l1.' ':a, ft.l ,,9, 'l :i.14 few remain who were here even in the 191015 period who were old enough to be sure of their memories, and so constant is the evolvement of any city or town that it is difficult to explain in an accurate, meaningful manner. With these realizations in mind we L:3 ?; have written the story of Stratton. When the town of Claremont was laid out by R.J. Newell at Frankfort, Kansas, and G.F. , :l Seibert Days, 1986. J'ct ry Jilson of Topeka, Kansas had the town of Claremont site surveyed on July 13, 1888, the stage was set for two other prairie early day towns to cease existing and another one to assume their place. The location the men platted and surveyed was Section 36 in Township 8, south of Range 47. This site we know today as "Stratton", a warm and friendly community, located in a richly endowed farming area in central Kit Carson County, Colorado. The year this book is published marks the centennial year of the town of Stratton. Records indicate that on May 6, 1888, the Chicago Rock Island Railway Company had laid its roadbed and tracks to a point on the sand creek three miles west of what is now Stratton. A small town called "Columbia" had been laid out previously three and one half miles south and east of the site where the railroad finally passed. When it became Seibert Equity Coperative Association. 1976 - Seibert Park. obvious that the railroad was bypassing Columbia, reality had to be faced. With the railroad built and a depot erected and well drilled, the town of Columbia was moved to the railroad site and the name of the new settlement and post office became "Claremont". Among those moving establishments there the fall of 1888 with four good teams and wagons was a Mr. Bell who moved his store �office located in part of their store. Dr. Tripp, M.D. was Claremont's first physician. Mrs. J.W. Borders recalled those times and how her father, Mr. Fuller, sold his blacksmith shop and bought the general store from Mr. Bell. She told of very trying times when her father would travel to Benkelman, Nebraska, for supplies for the store, leaving her at home alone. Once three or four gaunt and bedraggled Indian braves came into the yard and looked things over before they started walking round and round the house. She tried to keep completely hidden, thinking they would finally go away. They peeked in the windows and stomped about but did nothing menacing and in a few hours trailed off across the prairie much to her relief. Five farmers lived around Claremont Wellman and Kern east of town along the railroad, Fuller on the north and Hobart and Chalmers northeast of town. Otherwise the expanse was open prairie. People became discouraged with farming for the years of the '90'g were less than favorable for crops. Records reveal that many soon moved away. s Cleaning up after the October 6, 1908 fire that destroyed the whole block where N.H. Fuller Store stood. and all its stock from Columbia. (It is known he had a post office in his store as he was a postmaster, but whether it was Columbia or Claremont post office no one is certain.) Mail was delivered from Claremont to Beloit and also to Tuttle, an inland post office located about eighteen or twenty miles northeast of Claremont. Then J.T. Roberts moved his store located in Beloit to the new town of Claremont. Mr. Roberts was paralyzed in both legs and had to handle his business from a wheelchair. Sam Schaal, Sr. wrote in the Norrotiues of Stratton Dessie Cassity compiled in 1967 that Jim Roberts had "dry goods, drugs, groceries and a little hardware. He sat in a wheelchair, as he could not walk, but his head was all business. To get trade he would pay one or two cents per dozen more for eggs, and sell a sack of flour five cents cheaper than Burlington, and that would do it. He got around pretty good in the store. At noon his wife would come after him for dinner and bring him back, and the same morning and evening." They built a board sidewalk wide enough to accommodate his wheelchair from his home to the store. In a few years Claremont consisted of a railroad depot, the two stores owned by Mr. Bell and Mr. Roberts, a blacksmith shop operated by N.H. Fuller; a saloon; a hotel operated by Miss Smith located on the lots across the street south of today's Stratton Equity Coop Hardware store; a printing shop; the Claremont Leader edited by A.V. Griggs; the Claremont State Bank, Mr. Root, presi- dent; a drug store; and a hardware store owned by the Hobart brothers with the post A Stratton Day Float in 1912, probably a first; Mrs. Fuller at left, Children: Floyd, Hazel, and Hal. Roy Jones driving and his son to the right. Then the saloon, bank, and drug store closed. Mr. Roberts purchased Miss Smith's hotel and made it into a residence, where he lived many years, until he sold his store to his nephew, S.O. Otis Roberts and moved to Rogers, Arkansas. by Dorothy C. Smith �the Roberts store which had become a general store handling everything from groceries and hardware to patent medicines and anything one would choose to order. "Order farm implements, plows, wagons, and in two weeks you would have it and you paid for it when you got it. I got two John Deere plows and a Moline Wagon from him, and saved ten dollars each on them," Sam Schaal, Sr. related. The first school had Charlie Dickinson as teacher to seven pupils in a small frame building on the spot where D.G. Liquor now stands. This building became too small and in 1895 a two story school building was erected on the ground where the school building stood the next 15 years. Teacher in 1896 was Miss Ruth McCoulogby, pronounced McCalby. Her students included Hazel, Inez, and Susie Roberts, Manda Fuller, Clara and Billie Lindford, and Albert Bradshaw. In 1900 Jennie Wellman was the teacher. About 1904 the Rock Island Railroad decided to change the nnme of Claremont to Interior of N.H. Fuller Store, with Mr. Fuller on right rear. Note the gas lights before the fire. STRATTON T362 At some time in this span of years the post office had been moved to Hobart Bros. Hardware, so that when Hobart Bros. elected to close their hardware store and go into the sheep business, the post office was moved to something else because of many mixups caused by express and freight being sent to Claremont, California. The abbreviations Cal. and Col. were making mail and express a mess. A daughter of one of the pioneers ordered white fabric for a July 4th celebration dress. but it didn't come and didn't come. After waiting many months, authorities put a tracer on it and found the material in California. So with this and other dissatisfaction and complaints the United States Postal Department changed the office's name to "Machias" there was one like it in Maine, but they didn't think this would cause problems. But the Rock Island would not permit that name to be used for their station, so after lengthy negotiating the name "Stratton" was compromised upon. (The young Iady got her dress material for Christ- mas.) At that time the legendary Winfield Scott Stratton, a millionaire created by the discovery ofColorado gold, was scattering his monies prodigiously among colleges and other state institutions and some one must have thought this gesture might bring something to the town. No one has recorded any recognition of this man's response, but it is a plausible idea. And the name "Stratton" stuck, Winfield S. Stratton notwithstanding. In 1906 Stratton grew very rapidly. The Foster Lumber Yard was opened and another lumber yard known as the Square Deal was The firgt elevator in Stratton, Floyd Border's dad in picture. Stratton Friends! ,r t "{rF {{ '\.. I L lr ?41t & built on the block occupied today by the Twin Oaks Motel. When this yard closed in 1917 Joe Collins bought their lumber sheds and converted them into the Collins Hotel. The south half of the south wing of present day Twin Oaks Motel was that lumber yard. On October 1908 there was a disastrous fire along the east side of the main street of Stratton which consumed the general store operated by Mr. Fuller, a hotel, the land office, and the J.W. Borders residence which they had lived in only a few days. All were soon replaced except the hotel. From 1908 to 1910 the town experienced a real building boom at which time several impressive business houses were erected ,r.l .....,r;;?cl1i': ' tlq The hotel which bore many names. "West Side", "Farquahr", and "Commercial" about 1908 or 1909 operated by a Miss Smith and others. Some folk called it the Stratton Hotel. including the Stratton State Bank on the east side of Colorado Avenue in the building now occupied by the D.G. Liquors and the Linford Building in 1910 which is now the Someplace Special site. The Linford Building was built with a large hall on the second floor for use of lodge meetings, public meetings, dances, �STRATTON T353 The oldest building in Stratton, the "State Bank Building" built in the 1980-1910 era. The interior and dining room of Stratton Hotel when owned and operated by Mr. and Mrs. Amos L. Ryun. who owned and operated the store. Later the building was used as the post office. After the post office was moved, Logan Woodson, Jr. purchased the building and operated a dry goods store there for many years, living in the apartment overhead converted from what was once the community meeting hall. In intervening years this store housed a variety of businesses among them an interior decora- and picture shows. One can yet read the faded Spotlight published by Rick and Beverly original "W.H. Linford - 1910" sign in bold Ietters and numbers high above the Some- news. Currently it is the location of Someplace Wiley Baker and his father A.J. were also land agents at this time with their land office located on the west side of Main Street (Colorado Avenue) south of the Linford Building. Joe Collins and a Mr. Blair later bought the building and continued the land Special, a clothing store. In June of 1909 Hugo Stedman completed a large cement building on the west side of Stratton's main business street which housed a meat-market, a cafe, and a drug store with a hotel located on the second floor. A.B. Combs was the druggist. Later he sold the store to H.E. Janeway, who in turn after some years of operation sold it to Tom Harpham. Ivan Houtz purchased the drug store later and in the 1940's sold it to J.C. Bradshaw II and III, with J.C. ilI the acting pharmacist. The store became known as B & B Drug. Today the store is owned and operated by Charles and Julie Nelson who purchased the building and business in February 1967, and it is now known in business circles as B & B Drug, Inc. place Special marquee. The first Stratton newspaper was owned and operated by a man named Sharp, but it soon died as did the next one that was started. The "Stratton Democrat" was founded and edited by Wiley Baker in 1908 and on April 30, 1919 the name was changed to the "Stratton Press", a name which continued for the local newspaper for many years through numerous changes in ownership and editing. Roy and Gladys Herburger published the paper for many, many years, selling it to J.C. Carnathan in 1959. J.C. continued publication ofthe Stratton Press until 1979 when he sold it to Bill Schweitzer who ran the paper until November 11, 1982, Today the Stratton Gaddy appears weekly with local and area business. For many years Ready and Linford operated a blacksmith shop west of the Linford Building approximately where the William Cure home is today. D.O. Beahm and Eden Wade operated a store in the Linford Building for some years, then sold it to J.C. Bradshaw, Sr. by Dorothy C. Smith tor and two or more dry goods stores. Church in early times was held in school houses in the country. In Stratton the first known church service was held in Mr. Dryer's grocery store. In 1908 the Congregational Church built the first church building in Stratton. Later this site was purchased by the Evangelical Church which later became known as the Evangelical United Brethren Church. Today this church is the Stratton United Methodist Church at the corner of Kansas and Third Avenue. The first service of the Catholic congregation was held in the Woodman Hall in 1910. Originally "Robertson & Watt" Grain Company about 1910; Iater part of Snell Milling and grain, located west of main street. By Tuesday, September 22,L910, St. Charles Congregation dedicated the ground for the first building and conducted the cornerstone laying on November 17, 1910. During the intervening years the congregation has made many building changes and additions. Today the beautiful St. Charles rectory, church, and hall are outstanding structures one sees upon entering Stratton from I-70. The Seventh Day Adventist Church was built in 1913 and many faithful members kept it in operation until so few remained to attend that it was unfeasible to continue. Then the church was closed and remained empty for some years. In 1985 this historic �building is gone from Colorado Avenue and the old grade school houses the local bowling alley and a popular eating establishment. In 1912 Snell Grain Company of Clay Center, Kansas built a grain elevator in Stratton, and J.W. Borders became its manager. About the same time Robinson and Watt Grain Company built another elevator west of the Stratton main street which was purchased in later years by Snell Grain and in turn by Stratton Equity Co-op. In recent years this land mark was razed. By 1913 Stratton's population had reached 350 persons. The newspaper was The Enter- prise, formerly the Vona newspaper. by Dorothy C. Smith Ed Davis Ford Garage. landmark in the community located at 331 New York Avenue was purchased by the town of Stratton and remodeled to house the town library. Although the first service of the Church of God was held at a country site, the original church building was built in 1920 and St. Paul Lutheran Church also built within the next year. A few years later the Nazarene Church was erected, but this congregation closed services in 1949. St. Paul Lutheran then purchased this building and remodeled it. In the following years St. Paul's congregation diminished so that they sold the building which was then converted into a lovely, modern home. School had enlarged by 1910 to such a point that a two story brick building was built to replace the two story frame building used prior. Then in 1935 this building became too small and another cement building located north of the original building to be used for the grades one through eight was constructed as a WPA project. Part of this building was a large gymnasium, one of only a few adequate in its time. In 1951 additional construction joined the two buildings in such a way as to create areas for school shop classes, a music department, and a lun- chroom and kitchen. Since that time further changes have located the high school on Illinois Avenue in a structure dedicated in March, 1961. In 1976 a fine elementary buiding was completed in the vicinity of the high school building forming a small campuslike arrangement with the playgrounds, football and athletic fields between the two school buildings. Today the old high school -6char*{ " ,i 8&-A ! ,i i: ]i t:1 ,:t::,,,& :?1;a A I I I lT:l: The original St. Charles Catholic Church with old Stratton School in background. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource History of Kit Carson County Description An account of the resource Brief historical stories and elements from the founding and recent history of Kit Carson County, Colorado. Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Book Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Seibert Date Created Date of creation of the resource. 1988 Subject The topic of the resource history Description An account of the resource A history of the town of Seibert as recorded in the book History of Kit Carson County Type The nature or genre of the resource text Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Salmons, Janice Hasart, Marlyn Smith, Dorothy Language A language of the resource English Is Part Of A related resource in which the described resource is physically or logically included. History of Kit Carson County Volume 1 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource text/pdf Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Curtis Media Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/</a> https://kccarchives.cvlcollections.org/files/original/16/424/Post_Offices_and_General_Stores.pdf 9ccb8a0da9da24d82816c883b7a4eb9e PDF Text Text were children. Many of us made our first purchases at these stores. Most items were staples such as coffee, flour, sugar, bread, lard, and other sundry items. Most of us will never forget the glass candy jars and the containers holding crackers, one of which is now my bread box with the words "National Biscuit Co" on the front above the glass POST OFFICES AND GENERAL STORES T98 Many of us can remember the little "Pa and Ma" grocery stores in our towns when we K IT I -r-r-----]--T; I I I tLCnt: o talley CARSOIi COUIJTY N o ioCarey I i-:. 9Cnapin i i oTu i: lel €.lAVea6a re oYa le G =#t - Lrvsial ofoyt r - 5 ia. 1r I can feel the excitement of going and Ct.''r i )l ll o 3:a. i2l 3e io i l I c c',a.': Poin I I o ,o.o o pest . preSent insert. These same stores were found on the prairie to provide the "necessities" for the growing rural population in a community. We must remember that transportation was by walking, riding a horse or taking the buggy to get the mail and make a purchase or two. I I inch = 10.6 mil-es The Colorado Prospeetor l;Xl:r tl c't \t!,t possibly meeting a neighbor and hearing "the news" filling the social needs of people who were rather isolated on their farms. Today finds us deep in the search for these small etores and post offices tucked away in the corner of someone's home or maybe in it's own building with a hitching post out front. From several maps and written sources we have been able to gather biLs and pieces of this puzzle and hope that you will find a new name to add to our amazing history of Kit Carson County. We know that some of these Post Offices and General Stores are missing from the material that we have including "Valley" and Eastonville southwest of Seibert which was a Post Office and Store. The map is incomplete but it is included so that you may have an idea where these places were located to help serve the people living in Kit Carson County at the time. Name, County, Established, Discontinued. Ashland, Kit Carson, Jan 14, 1890, May 15, 1909. Baltzer, Kit Carson, June 4, 190?, Dec 14,L907. Beaverton, Kit Carson, Oct 17, 1910, Nov 28, 1915. Berry, Kit Carson, Apr 13, 1911, Apr L5,tglz. Bethune, Kit Carson, Jan 19, 1889, May 15, 1.905. Bonny, Kit Carson, Jun 3, 1915, Feb 29, L924. Burlington, Kit Carson (Elbert), Apr 29, 1887. Cary, Kit Carson, Dec 12, 1910, Dec 30, 1916. Carlisle, Kit Carson (Elbert), Jul 21, 1887, Jun 9, 1890. Chapin, Kit Carson, Feb 15, 1890, Nov 10, 1894. Claremont (Stratton), Kit Carson (Elbert), Sep 11, 1888, Apr 24,L906. Cole, Kit Carson, Mar 7, 1907, Dec 31, 1919. Dodgeville, Kit Carson, Sep 14, 1907, Dec 14, 1907. Elphis, Kit Carson, Dec 8, 1916, Dec 14, 1923. Farley, Kit Carson, Mar 8, 1908, Oct 15, 1908. Flagler (Bowser), Kit Carson (Elbert), Oct 12, 1888. Goff, Kit Carson (Elbert), Apr 23, 1888, Jun 15, 1910. Hanover, Kit Carson, Jul 7, 1908, Jul 7, 1908. Hermes, Kit Carson (Yuma), Sep 11, 1908, Nov 15, 1919. Kukkuk, Kit Carson, Lpr 24, 1907, Apr 15, 1908. Landsman, Elbert-Arapahoe-Kit Carson, ".".r'':'1 ...1 ; I {1. r iL "..rrq.i Piolo co[rtcry Denvcr Publle Ubriry, WcJtcr! lllrtory. Old County Mep Nell's l8t9- mep of Colgrado show towns In Klt Cerson County that have long slnee faded from the scene. requent relerenees !o these pleces ln eerly newspapers lead one to belleve that al on€ tlme they served ite a populatlon. Mar 27,1883, May 31, 1908. Lansing, Yuma, Sep 17, 1886, Feb 28, 1910. Loco, Kit Carson, Mar 11, 1903, May 3L, 1922. Morris, Kit Carson, Mar 18, 190?, Mar 15, 1914. Oriska, Kit Carson, Dec 22, 1910, Dec 31, 1917. Seibert, Kit Carson (Elbert), Oct 17, 1888. Stratton, Kit Carson, Mar 24, 1906. Tuttle, Kit Carson (Elbert), Mar 27,1883, Mar 31, 1918. Valley, Kit Carson, Jun 2, 1898, Aug 15, �1901. Vona, Kit Carson (Elbert), Jan 19, 1889. Wallet, Kit Carson, Apr 8, 1890, May 15, 1907. Yale, Kit Carson, Sep 10, 1891, Nov 30, 1905. by Marlyn Hasart Beaverton (rural post office) was located about 12 miles southwest of Bethune or 12 miles south and 3 east of Stratton, and was in operation from about 1906 to 1920. It was on the correction line east of Paul Lowe and the Werner places. It was on the south side of the road and a windmill is still there. In 1906 Jim McPheters bought and ran the store ASIILAND T99 Ashland (rural post office) was located about twenty miles northeast of Burlington, and the Ashland post office was in operation from 1890 to 1909. AVENDALE T100 Avendale (rural post office) was located about ten miles northeast of Seibert. The Avendale post office was in operation from 1889 to 1890. at what was later known as the Dave Megel place. In 1916, John and Libby Higgons were the next operators. They sold groceries and notions. Then, they built a new sod building and moved the store to the corner just west of the Megel place, which is known as the Art Lowe place. About 1919, Mr. and Mrs. George Church bought out the Higgons goods, built a frame house for a store with living quarters in the back, just about a block east of the First Central School in Sec. 3-2-46. Mr. Church had to haul all supplie5 from Stratton about 15 miles, and at first by wagon. Later, he bought a truck with solid rubber tires. They kept a general store with a nice supply of items and I think they bought eggs and creom. When people got more cars, the business got unprofitable and they closed the store. After there was no longer a Beaverton, (sometime in the 20's) this building was used by some of the teachers at First Central for BEAVERTON Tlol housing. When the acreage was lost, someone moved the building and so closes another chapter of one of our pioneer towns. Sally (Church) Bauder (whose parents were once the owners of the Beaverton Post office) was one of Burlington's teachers for a number of years. by Isaphene Dunlap Lesher and Mrs. Gertrude (Sally) Church Bauder BELOIT Tl02 The Beloit Post Office was located about nine miles southwest of Bethune and was in Beaverton Poet Office and Store dated 1911, note cream cans and adobe brick or sod brick construc- tion. operation from 1888 to 1894. Mail was originally brought from Cheyenne Wells. When the route for the new railroad was first surveyed in 1886, it was announced that it would go west from Colby to Colorado Springs. Acting on this information and the information that the B & M railroad was going to build between St. Francis and Pueblo, the founders thought that their town would become the biggest town in the eastern part of the state. The men interested in the townsite were: the Roberts Brothers, J.T. Marion, D.H.Lem, Frank Durland, Shelby W. Betzer, M.F.L. Bezinge and Clement L.V. Sampson. Posters in red and white, 4 ft. long and 2 ft. high were put up all over central Nebraska. These posters invited settlers to come to Beloit, the future site ofthe county seat ofeastern Elbert County. Beloit was the voting precinct 12 and the elections were held there and at the Hoskins ranch until 1894. This did not come about because the railroad went west from Goodland and the B & M stopped in St. Francis. They were a full 8 miles off. Some of the organizers had been at the birth of Seward, Nebr., and they felt that they could duplicate the success of the city in eastern Colo. Beloit was laid out with this in mind. The townsite was in a tract of 44 acres at the points of Sec.'s 7, 8, 17, and 18, in township 10, range 45. 11 and onefourth acres were taken from each section in such a way that the section lines ran through the townsite center. A well, 200 ft. deep, was dug at the intersection and the buildings were placed in a square about 300'back and facing the well. This well furnished water for the entire countryside for a number of years. W.M. Hollowell of Columbia surveyed the Beloit-Cheyenne Wells stage road, Feb. 11, 1888. Parts of this road can still be seen running as straight as the crow flies across country. Where it crossed the Imoky, a barrel for water was sunk for wa5rfarers. Following excerpts were from the Cheyenne Wells Gazette: Feb. 11, 1888 "Already a store is in operation; a printing office is being built and two young men from Nebraska will publish a paper; a blacksmith is preparing to open a shop and a butcher shop will follow soon." April 28, 1888: "A mail stage will be put on between Beloit and Wells next week", May 5, 1888 "Beloit mail is now being carried between that office and this three times a week. The route will be extended to Floyd". The J.T. Roberts General Store and the Townsite Office were located southwest of the well. To the southeast was the sod residence of Marton Roberts which was afterwards used as the office of the Beloit Weekly Bugle. The Editor was named Betzer, then later Frank Gregoire (who died of typhoid fever). To the southeast was the Ed Hoskins blacksmith shop and the sod residence of C.L.V. Sampeon, which was also used as a school house. The Matthies Bro. Hardware store building and stock of the J.T. Roberts were later moved to Claremont. The Ed Hogkins blacksmith shop was moved to his ranch, two mileg east of Beloit. The Beloit Weekly Bugle outfit was sold to one of the Burlington papers and a special Beloit edition was printed for a few weeks and then ceased. Cattle rubbed down the sod buildings, the windmill and pump were sold and the well Beaverton P.O. and General Store dated 1914. filled up. In 1894, the county commissioners established a public road where Main Street should have been, but the dry years of 1893 and 1894 were too much for the community. The settlers moved away until there were �only one or two families left, and in 1894, Beloit ceased to exist. CAREY by Editors BOWSER (BOWSERVTLLE) CLAREMONT Tl06 Carey post office was established 16 miles north and 3 % east of Vona in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Carey, in 1910. Postmaster Carey was a farmer and ran the general store in one of the two rooms of his house. Mr. N.D. Guley Tl03 The town of Bowser, better known as Bowserville, was named for the dog of a settler in the area. It was a promising town until the coming of the railroad. At that time, Flagler developed at the site of the siding. For the next several months, Bowser provided was appointed mail carrier from Carey to Tuttle, located nine miles east of his home. He made the trip by buggy, three times weekly by using his faithful team, Sampson and Dolly. About 1915, the Vona mail route was extended into that community and the route from Carey to Tuttle discontinued, so the Carey post office ceased to exist. T109 Claremont was laid out by R.S. Newell from Frankfort, Kansas and G.P. Wilson of Topeka, Ks. In May 1888, the Chicago Rock Island Railway Co. had completed construction of their tracks to a point 3 miles east of present day Stratton on the Sand Creek. Claremont consisted of a railroad depot; store, owned by Mr. Bell; blacksmith shop, operated by N.H. Fuller; a saloon; hotel, operated by Miss Smith; printing shop; the Claremont State Bank, Mr. Root, President; drug store; hardware store, owned by Hobart Bros., with the post office located in part of their store; and Dr. Tripp, M.D. was Claremont's first physician. J.T. Roberts store (moved from Beloit) was the only store on Main Street, at first. A Mr. mail service for Flagler until Flagler was able to obtain a post office. Bowser was eventually absorbed by the developing of Flagler. CARLISLE TroT Fuller sold his blacksmith shop and he BONNY Carlisle (railroad post office) was located about eight miles northeast of Burlington. It was originally Lansing but was changed to Claremont. About 1904. the Rock Island Tlo4 Bonny (rural post office) was located about eighteen miles north of Burlington, and the Bonny post office was in operation from 1915 to L924. THE BROWNWOOD STORE TroS In the spring of 1916, the cement building that became known as the Brownwood Store was erected by Nick Brownwood and Charlie Davis. It was built on Brownwood'g property, 15 miles north and 1 west of Vona. The Brownwood Store carried groceries, as well as a line of general merchandise. It served quite a large area and customers came from quite a distance to bring in their eggs and milk and to do their trading. The store building also contained the Elphis Post Office. Elphis was the official name for the community but, most just called it the Brownwood Store. In about l922,the Brownwoods sold out to 'Mr. and Mrs. Dick Roorda and family. After Mrs. Roorda's death, Mr. Roorda's sister, Mrs. Rena Loopstra, came to help in the store. She was later joined by her husband, Fred. It was at this time that the Loopstras took over the store. During the early 30's, the store was a popular gathering place on Saturday afternoons. The people of the community enjoyed Carlisle so they could secure a post office box. This post office, in 188?, provided most of the mail for eastern Kit Carson County. There is no record of the platting of the town of Carlisle in the Burlington Platt Book. But apparently it was platted somewhere else because it was supposed to have had a total Mr. Bell was the first post master in decided to change the town name to Machias, due to the fact that so much freight was being sent to Claremont, California. The post office retained the name of Claremont. This was found unsatisfactory, and after much discussion the railroad and the Post Office Dept., agreed upon the name of Stratton, Colo. of 43 or 45 blocks. The town was established long before the coming of the railroad and was the point to which supplies were freighted from the B&M and the Kansas Pacific Railroad. It was located I % miles east of Peconic or in the S.E. %, sec.29-8-42 and was for 3 or 4 years a busy trading post that included several storeg, newspaper and even a school. It was later absorbed by the development of Kanarado and Burlington. The store was foreclosed in favor of the Wholesale Company. Frances E. Chaney, Elbert L. Callinger, William Hoyt and Armond Winn were associated with the early town. One person from Wallet neighborhood would go to Carlise on Tuesdays, pick up the mail, leave it at his home and the people would come get it. Mr. Elmer Fasse has farmed the Southeast l/t sec. of 29-8-42 for 30 years and in the center of this quarter is where the town of Carlisle was. Mr. Dara Hines told me he and his uncle used to deliver produce to Carlisle coming from Almena, Kansas using oxen to deliver potatoes, flour, beans and other groceries. When Elmer started farming this quarter there was a spot where the store stood and a deep dug pit no doubt what was left of the cellar where we found lots of pieces of stone crock ware and broken pieces of dishes. A person can still find the spot but due to farming over the area there is just a little depression there now. visiting and ball games. It was during one of these ball games, that Ralph Flageolle was killed and Burt Smit seriously injured when they collided while running after a ball. The Loopstras ran the store throughout the 1930's. In the early 1940's they moved to Englewood and sold the store to the Bill Weisshaars. The Weisshaars operated the store for only a short time before moving the contents to Idalia. The building, which is still standing, has about six miles northwest of Avendale, and the Chapin post office was in operation from been used as a granary since then. 1890 to 1894. by Ilorace Boger bought the Roberts store, then a few years later sold it to Fred Matthies. CHAPIN COLE T110 Cole (rural post office) and town was located about fifteen miles south of Burlington, in the residence of the family living east of the school about a half mile, on the Cole and Thompansen ranches. But was later moved to a location 13 miles south of the east side of Burlington. The family also kept some groceries for the convenience of the people that were always stormed in during the winters. Lee Moore said during the winter of 1918 (a WWI year) the snow was very deep. George Movis was one of the early postmasters in the town. The Cole post office was in operation from 1907 to 1919. COLUMBIA Tlll Columbia was platted next to the Rock Island and the platwas filed on May 28, 1888; however, Columbia never obtained a post office by the name Columbia and was little more than a plat. July 21, 1888, according to the Cheyenne Wells Gazette: "a post office has been established at Columbia under the name of Oranola. The old name was not permitted by the department owing to there being a Columbia in California" In the late 1930's. a Mrs. A.H. Fuller writes: TtoS "We came to Old Columbia and it was not Chapin (rural post office) was located known then where the depot would be built. When it was built, it was four miles west of where we were, and the nnme changed to by Janice Salmans Claremont, then Machias, and then later Stratton." Claremont vied with Burlington for the sit€ of the county seat, Burlington received 451 votes and Claremont 170 votes. �i1..li{ia August 18, 1888, "The contractfor carrying the mail from Cheyenne Wells to Tuttle has been awarded to Latham A. Smith of Columbia, at eight hundred and sixty seven dollars a year. It was a cheap bid." ullrEs. I lr9 uwv Duvry uuuuruE, wdD uquL uJ W.A. Richards. The first story had rock walls which housed the post office, creamery and store. William Richards carried mail with team and buggy every third day up and down the river. The supplies for the store were ordered and came by train to Burlington. Mr. E.E. Harrison distributed them to the small CRYSTAL SPRINGS Ttt2 On July 3 and 4, 1888, Lloyd Gross first surveyed the town. Crystal Springs was laid out on the NW %, of Sec. 9, south of range 50, and consisting of a tract of 1,902 ft. from east to west and 1,930 ft. north to south, in the SE corner of quarter section. Presumably the railroad was to pass through the center of the section, but to get a better river crossing and grade, it swung half a mile further south. Carilla M. Strode proved up on this piece of land and sold it to Stephen S. Strode, who laid out the townsite. The town had twenty blocks, part of them being 300 by 400 feet and the remainder 300 by 410 feet. Main street was 100 feet wide and the others 80 feet wide. Rather a unique plan for naming the streets was adopted. The first four streets running north and south were called: Chicago, Rock Island, Colorado and Railway. The other streets were named Spring, First, Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth. In 1889. Mr. Strode filed in the office of the county clerk an affidavit to the effect that none ofthe lots in the townsite had been sold and vacated the survey, by Janice Salmans ELPHIS TrrS Elphis (rural post office) was located near the site of Carey; the Elphis post office operated from 1916 to 1923. by Janice Salmans FLOYD T114 December 31, 1887, "Mr. Lewis Dyer of Floyd, a new town just located fifteen miles west of Burlington on the Rock Island survey, was in Cheyenne Wells today." Mr. Dyer was a member of the Floyd Town Company. May 19, 1888, The Beloit hack made regular trips to Columbia, Floyd and Tuttle. by Cheyenne WeIIs Gazette Today, Goff Store on the Spring Valley Ranch, 1988, formerly the McCriIIis Ranch. a post office located at the Lee Yount Ranch on the Republican River, then on to Hermes post office at W.A. Richards, then on to Yale post office located at the Sam Schaal Sr. Ranch and then back to Burlington a distance of 45 miles. He would make the trip three times a week, using horses and a spring wagon and sometimes a top buggy. by llarry & Ruth Richards WARNER STORE the Spring Valley Ranch 18 miles north of Burlington. Mr. E.E. Harrison, an uncle of Ruth Bauder's mother, carried the mail for several years. He would leave Burlington and go to Bonny post office located at the Harvey Runge Ranch, then to Goff, then to Lansing, Earlv 1900's. Art and Sarah Warner built the Warner Store in the early 1920's. It was located 16 miles northwest of Burlington. This store was built along the road on their farmstead by Art and Cecil Warner. It had a tall square "store front" with a gas pump in front. The merchandise that was carried consisted of groceries and other general store items along with overalls and men's work shirts. The people who traded there came from quite a distance along with the close neighbors. Sunday afternoons were special as the community gathered and had ball games each week and of course the store was always open with all the family helping to run it. The Warner's son, Warden died at the age of29 in 1933 and their father, Art died in 1934 leaving Sarah and Leila to care for the store. Leila married Ray Plummer and they moved to Burlington when he was elected sheriff. Sarah remained on the farm and ran the store until 1946 when she sold the place to Ed Knodel. Sarah died in 1968 and Ray Plummer died in L974. Leila now makes her home in Burlington. Leila's sister Elma burned to death at the age of 7 years. GOFF POST OFFICE The post office known as Goff, from 18971905 was located at the McCrillis Ranch; it's the big square house on the hill, which is now Richards, WiIIiam Richards, Edna Morrisey, May'rne Richards and man with gun unknown. T116 by Leila Plummer TllS Hermes Post Office, L. to R.; Unknown, John HERMES POST OFFICE TllT About 1908 Mr. Richards started a general store known as the Ranch Supply Company and a creamery and post office known as Hermes. On Section 35 Range 5 South 45, west and south of Old ldalia. Colorado 10 Hermes Post Office, now a barn on the Homm Ranch 1988. post offices and stores around the country going first to Bonny, Goff, Lansing, Hermes and Yale by team and buggy. Dances were held at Hermes for several years. On one occasion, December 25, tgl4, a group of young men, cheerfully celebrating Christmas, dared one of the men to ride his horse up the outside stairway which led into the dance hall. He did just that! How the horse got down I do not know. William Richards had some seven or eight of the young men arrested and brought into John Gerber's Justice of the Peace Court on December 26. Each one pleaded guilty as charged. All were charged with disturbing the peace, using boisterous and profane language and all had to pay fines and court costs. The post office and store were discontinued about 1917 or 1918. Mr. Richards sold the place in 1919 to Elmer Scherrer in Denver. Part of the building is still being used on the Homm Hereford Ranch as a barn. by llarry and Ruth Richards �YALE The paper was later sold to Mr. Robert Henry TllS Yale Post office was established in 1891 about 18 miles northwest of Burlington on what is now the Martha Schaal place. Sherman Yale was the first mail carrier and his wife was the postmastcr having the post office in their home. He carried the mail for 12 years and made the trip on his long route from Burlington to Goff to Landsman and then Yale three times a week with horse and brggy, some feat for the roads of that day. Mrs. yale was the postmaster until 1908. In the later years they had a little store in the home for the neighborhood's convenience. After he quit carrying mail, Mr. Yale was a county commissioner. In 1909 the first daily mail came into this area served by Yale post office out of Bethune and Yale ceased. Sam Schaal bought the Yale property. IIOYT T1r9 $ x Patterson. Later he moved the paper to Seibert and called itthe Seibert Freee Press. This plant was then later moved to Burlington and run as the Kit Carson County Record, by Frank D. Mann. When the railroad came through in 1888, it was located five miles to the south, so it missed the town of Hoyt and it folded up. The last business to move to Seibert was the restaurEmt. LANDSMAN Tl20 Landsman (rural post office) was Iocated near Landsman Creek and about twentv miles northwest of Burlington. There was always quite an argument over just how the Landsman Creek got its name, but as to the words of one old-timer: "A trapper named Dutch Jake had a camp on the creek where he shot buffalo for their hides and trapped the smaller fur animals. When a few packs of fur were ready he would trail down the creek to Indianola, Nebraska, and trade his hides for supplies. He usually stopped at ranches along the way, and his invariable greeting was, 'Wie Gehts Landsman'." The last word ceme to be applied to the creek on which he had his camp. The creek has been known by the name of Launchman, Landsman, Lostmans, and Lonemans Creek, but the United States Geographic Board officially named it Landsman Creek on October 3, 1928, and so answer was received: "On October 3, 1928, the United States Geographic Board rendered this decision regarding the name of the creek about which you inquire: "Landsman, a creek rising in south west corner of Kit Carson county, tributary to the was built. Hoyt (rural post office) was located about 5 miles north of the present day Seibert, about on the farm formerly occupied by Flory Jones. This was the stopping place between McCook, Nebr. and Hugo, Colo. for emigrant and supply trains. All mail was addressed to "Hoyt, via Hugo, Colorado, El Paso Co." Hoyt was also a few miles east of Station #22, at the meeting place of the South Fork and Sandy Creeks. The town of Hoyt had been nn-ed for Dr. J.S. Hoyt, a very early settler and first Doctor in that area and on whose land the town was situated. When the town reached its peak, it had several places of business including a saloon started by Jnmes H. Priest in 1887. Jim Priest filed on a homestead south of Hoyt in April 1887. A man by the name of Schieb had the first store in Hoyt. It was a two story frame building and apparently he used it for a drug store. Bert Hendricks also started a drug store. Mr. and Mrs. Lee Hutchens kept a general merchandise store in Hoyt. They kept the Post Office also. T.G. Oles moved a Bond printing press here in 1887, and put outthe Hoyt Free Press. Tt22 Jim Short and four sons, Oscar, Marion, However, to eettle all arguments on the matter, a letter of inquiry was sent to the Federal Board of Geographic n'mes, this buildings were moved to Seibert when the railroad LOCO POST OFFICE AND STORE Millard and Sam, came out to Flagler, Colorado in a covered wagon. His wife it remains. Hoyt 4t/z miles North of Seibert. The original 4 Carson county, to a J.C. Markle, who held it until his death. Republican river from the southwest. (Not Lastmans, Lostmans, Launchmans, nor Lonemans.)" This would make the neme of the creek on the highest authority: Landsman Creek." by Janice Salmans LARSEN Tl21 Larsen was originally platted on land homesteaded by James Stuart. The town was laid out on the southwest quarter ofSec. 298-42, a mile and a half east of Peconic by the Elbert County Townsite Company. The Company consisted of J.S. Markle, President; J.F. Keller, Vice Pres.' H.W. Clement, Sec.; L.C. Morris, Treas.; and N.L. and J.W. Clement were Burlington lawyers. Larsen was laid out on a large scale having 53 blocks and covering the entire quarter section. Among the lot owners were Lee Ramsey, County Clerk ofElbert county; Leo and Lucy Thomann, H.G. Stout, M. Doneland, W.S. Wagner and others who afterwards became prominent in Burlington history. Larsen died so rapidly that in 1890, it sold for taxes at the first tax sale held in Kit Martha and three daughters, Minnie, Pearle and Lena, came out on the Rock Island train several months later. Jim and sons left Colbv Kansas January 1, 1910. There were no roads or fences at that time. Jim and two sons. Oscar and Marion, each had a homestead south of Flagler. Marion's land was about 18 miles south and a mile east of Flagler. Marion built a house on his land and about 1911 he built on to his house and started a countrv store, which he called "Loco" after the loco weed that was so prevalent there. It affected horses and cattle, they acted crazy, stood around by themselves and would not eat much but the loco weed. Naturallv thev became very thin. There was a post office called Loco also. but I do not know where it was located. This post office was established March 11, 1902 with Charles D. Davis appointed as the first postmaster. About 1912 Marion Short moved the Loco post office into one corner of his store and he became postmaster there. Marion ordered some groceries for the store from Montgomery Ward and bought some in Flagler. Fish, pickled and smoked, came in small barrels as did crackers, pickles and other things. Candy came in bulk, he put it in glass jars. He stocked coffee beans. everyone had a coffee grinder. Then there was Prince Albert tobacco, with papers so you could roll your own. Later a cigarette roller came out and if used they looked almost as uniform as the packaged cigarettes. The cigarette holder was popular for awhile, it kept the brown stains off your fingers. Marion also sold shoe soles as people mended their own shoes at that time. Sleeve holders for men were popular, they were round elastic bands covered with colored rayon thread. He sold shoes and some clothing. I remember the ladies dress shoes. They were high topped and buttoned all the way up, you needed a button hook to fasten them. The store kept kerosene for the lamps and lanterns. In the fall everyone who raised corn bought a lot of shucking mittens. Since it was so far to Flagler, Marion often went on his saddle horse, unless he needed supplies. One thing about horses, if it came up a storm and you did not know which way was home, you just loosened the reins and the trusty horse always brought you home. They also watched for rattlesnakes. If they heard one rattle they would pivot on their hind legs and start back the way the had come. The country was quite thickly settled at this time, so there were many cowboys and farmers who traded at the store and made use of the post office. Loco was a busy place much of the time. The post office and store were really appreciated by the community. Marion married Susan Laws; they had one son, Howard. Sue enjoyed helping in the store. They began buying cream and eggs. Or �rs the farmers said, traded them for groceries, lhus the phrase, going to the store to "trade". Ihere were no flies here until settlers brought them here in their belongings. About 1918 Marion sold his farm and went ho the Army in World War I. I am not sure of the date he sold his store to Alvin B. ORISKA "jl..,1,:.', t. t:..'ltt':..,, Tt26 i!,,i:::iiliir:t::i:: :l.i.,,,, Radebaugh. Alvin lived one mile east and one mile south of Loco. He moved the Loco store and post office to his home, which was a sod house. In a year or so, Alvin built a frame building next door for the post office and store. He began selling gasoline as more people were buying cars. The two mail carriers I remember were Dick Burris and Lewis Clark. Mr. Burris lived on a farm and Mr. Clark lived in Flagler' When Marion came back from the ArmY, he and his family moved to Ft. Collins, Colorado. I believe Mr. Radebaugh was the Iast postmaster at Loco. The Loco post office was discontinued May 3L, L922. Loco (rural post office) was located about fifteen miles northeast of Wildhorse. The Loco post office was in operation from 1903 to 1922. Loco remained on the map into the 1940's. by Lena (Short) TYeatherlY LOWELL From 1910 through 191? Oriska was a thriving small community south of Stratton' T123 The Lowell Townsite Company with A.J. Senter as the president had the town of Lowell surveyed by T.P. Chamber on the S.W. % of Sec. 31-8-43. The date was April 20, 1887. On May 20, 1887, Lowell consolidated with Burlington. The agreement was as follows, Burlington came over from its original site on S.E. % Sec 34-8-44, and taking in the site of Lowell but retaining its original name of Burlington. The site of Lowell was originally an Indian Oriska (rural post office) was located about 22 miles north of Kit Carson, somewhere in the south part of Township 11, Range 47. Oriska had a store run by Ted Martin and a post office in operation from 1910 to 1917. There was a place called Mount Pearl on south of Oriska. Mail was brought to Van's The government erected a number of bins there for grain storage and later sold them off. We want to give thanks to Winifred James, TL27 A siding on the Rock Island Railroad, now September 1, 1888 "The name of the new town of Malow in Elbert County has been In 1919, right after World War I, Joe by Cheyenne WeIIs Gazette MORRIS T125 Morris (rural post office) was located about sixteen miles northeast of Burlington, and the Morris post office was in operation from 1907 to 1914. Morris was also called "Cottage House." by Janice Salmans became a hog buyer for Hugh Baker. Later on in the 1930's Highway 24 was oiled PECONIC the Kyle Railroad, is six miles east of changed to Flagler." and Lowell Boger. Later Herman Dane picked up. Then the homesteaders picked up their mail at the Oriska store. Noble Bradshaw was the last mail carrier. Carl Harrison was the last teacher of the Oriska School. MALOW (FLAGLER) Tr24 grain shed. It was operated by Herman Dane and this took the traffic from Highway 40 Iocated one mile north of Peconic. The Colorado Courtesy Patrol had an office there at Peconic in 1934. lnL927 Harry Vallin managed the elevator and Roy Martin helped him. In the late 1930's and early 40's Jay Duffy ran the elevator. Rabbit drives were held around there and many bands of sheep were unloaded there. Point from Stratton and Ieft at Oriska to be Campground. by Janice Salmans A dance hall was located at Peconic for a while, the hall was not much more than a Burlington, Colorado and is six miles west of Kanorado, Kansas on Highway 24. Elmer Fasse, Glade Larsen, Roy Martin, Millie Hines and Don Teman for this information. by Chet James Swenson and A.W. Winegar were instrumen- tal in bringing a lot of land buyers to Kit Carson County and to Eastern Colorado. In 1923 there was Postal service at Peconic and it was operated by a man named Loyal Brown and his wife Lena (Young) Royer. Following a blizzard one time a nine year old Glade Larsen, son of E.J. Larsen, who lived four and one half miles north of Peconic, remembers getting on his saddle horse with a flour sack and going to Peconic for supplies. About 1924 or 25 aman, Ross Tucker, and the Swenson Land and Cattle Co., built the elevator at Peconic. It was after World War I and the price of wheat was high-the people just knew that wheat would hit $5.00 a bushel and it was over $4.00 then-but it never did-the thirties and the depression set in with prices dropping to unbelievable lows. Joe Swenson was killed while rabbit hunting. He was crossing a barbwire fence and his gun discharged. PERRY'S CORNER T128 Peny's Corner (place name) is shown about fourteen miles southeast of Seibert on a 1916 map. PIKES STORE Tt29 The old frame building that stood as a landmark for so many years was swept into a mass ofbroken boards and scattered debris as a tornado swept across the prairie Sunday evening, Oct. 17, 1971. The roof of the building was lifted off as if gentle hands had picked it up and carried it nearly a quarter �-il:,':,.]l]l 1880's. Herman Tuttle was the first postmaster and several others followed. In 1909, Alma Root became the postmistress. This was the year that my father and r,,4..:at:lr,;: ..r,tr,irr,u: mother, N.O. and Bertha Gulley, homesteaded 16 miles north and 4 east of Vona. The next year my father was appointed mail carrier. His route was from post office Carcy, Yz mile west of his home, to Tuttle. He carried the mail three times a week with a team and buggy. It was a round trip of 18 miles. He remained the carrier until Carey was discontinued when the Vona mail route was extended to our community. This little rock building remains a landmark to those who remember it as it was in 1910-1920. Going to Tuttle meant a long ride on the hot days of summer and the cold days of winter. My mother was substitute carrier and often took me along. I always looked forward to getting our mail, as there was often a post card for me from my Grandmother Gulley or some cousins in Missouri. I have those cards still, and others, badly worn and the corners bent or missing, but the addresses of Carey and Tuttle are still clear. Social gatherings were sometimes held at Tuttle. I remember well one July 4th. We went by wagon to attend a picnic there. It was very hot and there was little shade at Tuttle, but a few tents gave some shelter from the sun. There was a merry-go-round, the first I had ever seen. It was owned and operated by Pike Store after tornado in 1971. mile away and set it down in one piece, the boards unbroken and still intact. The steel windmill was bent over flat on the ground by a mighty wind. general store; they are now used for storage. Mr. Culberson carried the mail in his 1913 Ford. building when I first went there with my parents. We did not often go to Pike's Store as there were stores nearer our home. Sometimes though, my parents, N.O. and Bertha Gulley, would go there to buy groceries. We went in from the west and I still remember the hills and valleys we passed through with the horses and buggy. Pike's remained a store until sometime in the 30's. After the store closed, the building was a house, but at the time of the tornado the building had been empty for a number of years. The out buildings had fallen down and the old cottonwood tree had died but it was laid down by the wind. Though Pike's Store no longer stands, the site will be remembered by those of us who knew it in the early 1900's. Pike's seemed a lonely place, even an ugly place some would say and yet it was a source of security, for within it's walls were stored the necessities of the homestead families. and a basket dinner. Fireworks were planned for the evening, but a rain storm came in the late afternoon. It settled into a slow steady rain that lasted several hours. My mother herded my sister, Velma, my brother, Nolan and I into a canvas covered dance platform. There we waited for Memories Of Tuttle Pike's store was built 12 miles north and 6 miles east of present day Stratton a few years after World War I. It was still a new a Mr. Clair. There were races and horseshoes This is a story that my mother, Opal Boger, sent to a local paper. After the story appeared in the paper she received the Ietter that follows this from Mrs. Mettie Sisson of the rain to cease. There was music and Stratton. dancing but, I crawled under the bench where some ladies were sitting, and to the beat of the music and many moving feet, I fell asleep "Tuttle, today would hardly be recognized as a place that was once the general store and post office of the community, 17 miles north and,4Yz east of Stratton, though the main part of the post office is still standing. Tuttle post office was established in the on the cold damp floor. It was still raining lightly when we climbed into the rain drenched wagon and started on our journey home with nine miles of muddy - w: &,',. by Opal Boger TUTTLE Tr30 Tuttle was located about 20 miles northeast of Stratton, adjacent to the Messenger homestead, and was in operation from 1883 to 1918. Tuttlb was one of the earliest post offices in this county. For several years it was a growing center of trade until the coming of the railroad. The early town boasted of one of the first regular church services taught by Mary Beiver. Three of the original buildings are standing, these include the post office and r.,,;,rg;t| i r *t Tuttle Store and Post Office in 1913. L. to R.: Aaron Burkart, The Root family, "Mother Flora", Alma, Doyne, Greta, Albert the father holding baby Carl, little boy Edgar, Vern, Eva, and Mr. Culberson the mail carrier. �:oads to go. We, who were small children that long ago Iuly 4th, remember Tuttle as a place where ile met and played with our friends. We :emember our parents taking time from their rork filled days to take us there. Most of all, I remember my father. That his lamily might have clothing and food, he drove rut each mail day morning, in all kinds of reather, with his open buggy and faithful, iast stepping team, Dolly and Sampson down ;hat long wagon trail to Tuttle." Mrs. Opal Boger Dear Mrs. Boger, "I enjoyed your article on the early days very much. The circumstances in our lives ilere very much the same. My father, Roy E. trones, canied the mail from Stratton to Iuttle for six months on a sub-lease, the winter of 1909-1910. He got $50.00 a month and used three beams. We lived 13 miles from Stratton on the lirect route to Tuttle. My brother and I would have a fresh team fed and harnessed, ready for him, when he arrived from Stratton rnd then again when he returned from Tuttle rbout two o'clock in the afternoon. He carried bhe mail six days a week. The snow was about two feet deep that winter. He made a little sled about 6 ft. long with a box about 2 ft. deep. With a lantern and a heavy comforter, covered with denim, he kept fairly comfortable. He often had passengers. One morning he new homesteaders. On had two ladies . this trip father stood on a ledge on the back of his sled and it happened that he had his most flighty team. The ladies were driving, a scarf fluttered and scared the team. They started to run. Father was a man who liked jokes so it was fun to see the ladies'excitement. He let them run a ways before taking the reins and bringing them to a halt. The ladies wouldn't drive anymore. One Saturday morning, father told Mr. Root he had a sick baby at home. Mr. Root said we will fix that so he held the mail in Tuttle until two o'clock. too late to take it to Stratton, so father could stay home that night and took the mail in the next day. I remember attending a Fourth of July celebration in Tuttle but don't remember any of the details. However, I remember the skating rink and dance hall in Tuttle. We went to just a few of the dances. I remember the Clark twins. They were so nice and were identical. The skating rink . . . I only remember going once. I thought I wanted to learn to skate. My brother got me the skates and put one on for me then I lost my nerve and wouldn't let him put the other one on. However he put them on, skated down the hall, came back quite speedily, and out of control. The stove was at this end of the hall and red hot. He had no control, hit the red hot stove with his hands and pushed himself back and landed in the laps of Mrs. Carl Root and another lady. They looked daggers at him. However he got to be a good skater and spent a good many Saturday nights in Tuttle. Good clean fun. A lot more crazy incidents but enough said." Sincerely, Mrs. Mettie Sisson by Joyce Miller VAN'S POINT TlSl known Missouri Freighter, Alexander Majors, also a Methodist lay preacher, and formed the R.M.W. Partnership, to fill government contracts to supply the Western Van's Point (place name) is shown about 11 miles southwest of Bethune on a 1916 map. WALLET POST OFFICE Tt32 The Cattlemen's Association of Kit Carson county asked me, Belle Winter, to recall events and history of early days, and especially the Wallet Post Office, of which my father, Alfred Wallet, was the post master during its entirety. The Post Office was opened on April 8, 1890, and discontinued on May 15, 1909. Before this date of April 8, my older brother, Fred carried mail from our community to Carlisle, south, and back twice a week on horseback. Peconic is now near where Carlisle stood; it was later absorbed by Kanarado and Burlington, after the Railroad came through. Later, the mail route was formed and another office was added, Ashland, northeast of Wallet. A Mr. Seifert carried the mail for awhile, when Mr. Teaman father of Henry and the late Charles Teaman of Burlington and Mrs. Lester Sheldon of Kanarado, carried the mail for several years with horses and buggy. All our neighbors always gathered at our home on Tuesday and Friday afternoons to visit and wait for the mail. The Ashland Post Office was later moved to the George Pratt home and I believe was discontinued at the same time as was the Wallet P.O. Fred Wallet also took care of the cemetery records for a good many years. Rev. Willis homesteaded in the Wallet vicinity and also Mike Higgins. The Huff family lived 2 miles w. of Wallet. by Janice Salmans LEAVENWORTH AND PIKES PEAK TRAIL, THE PONY EXPRESS Tr33 The earliest history we have of what is now Kit Carson county was when the great Army posts. In March 1859, they employed E.L. Boyd, to survey the Leavenworth and Pikes Peak Trail. For the lines in the Kansas Territory to the gold fields, they purchased; 52 of the famous Concord coaches, at $800 each and 800 of the finest Kentucky mules; each coach requiring 4 to 6 mules. Boyd was to survey the most direct route to Denver's gold fields, and place the stations as close as 25 miles apart or as water could be found. The freighting firm was stationed at Leavenworth, at the junction of the Republican and Soloman rivers. The stage line shortened the trip to the gold fields by keeping to the high divide between the rivers until the Republican veered northward and the route went 60 miles north to where Benkelman is now. to find Station #18. The stations were known entirely by number. Station #19, followed up the river to a point near Jacqua, Kansas, entering Colorado at that point, and the next station was #20 near the town of Hale. Station #21 was at the Arthur Pugh ranch. Station #22 was NW of Kipling, riding west out of Seibert and North to the Republican river, near "Rose" school. Station #23 was near the KP Ranch headquarters on the edge of Lincoln Co. At Station #22,Horace Greeley was known to have written dispatches and sent them east to the Neru York Tribune, , on the next stage. " . . stayed overnight at #21, and next day reached #22 about 5% miles northwest of Seibert . . traveled 35 miles since seeing water. At #22, therc was water bubbling up in the bed of the river." Here they, (Horace and companion; Albert D. Richardson, whom Greeley referred to as "My companion", in his book An Ouerland Journey, in 1859.), were met by the Butterfield stage, which had left the early Smokey Hill trail at Big Springs, located three miles east and 20 miles south of Seibert). Coaches traveled in pairs some distance apart but close enough to give protection or help if needed. All the way the L. and P. Trail was on the south of the Republican River until Southwest of Flagler, where there is a curve in the river. It crossed and went to the springs at the "KP Ranch" then on to Limon, and on into Denver on 13th Street. They traveled from Station #21 to #22 on June 3, 1859. They arrived in Denver the night of June 6, where Greeley and Richardson met Villars, who had to take the coach over the Northern route via Julesburg, then down to Denver. freighting firm of Russell, Majors and Wad- The partnership suffered important losses dell decided to have as direct a route as could be found from Junction City, to the Denver gold fields where there was sufficient water to supply the stations. when the freight trains were attacked by the Mormon's in the Mormon War of 1857-58. On April 3, 1860, Russell persuaded his partners The "silent partner" William Bradford Waddell, was a prosperous Lexington, Mo. merchant. He was a descendent of Gov. William Bradford of Plymouth Colony. His thriving wholesale and retail businesses led him into a host of other enterprises. In 1853, he and William Hepburn Russell contracted to send several freight trains of military supplies to Fort Riley. This venture making a profit that led them, in 1854, to send another freight train to California. In 1855, Waddell and Russell got together with a well- to launch the colorful, romantic, but financially unsuccessful Pony Express. The Pony Express maintained some 190 way stations along nearly 2,000 miles between St. Joseph, Mo. and Sacramento Calif. Eight lightweight, strong 14-15 year old riders, using 200 tough horses (to start), changing mounts every 10-12 miles. The riders covered about 100 miles before being relieved. Messages were written on half ounce tissue for $5.00 each dispatch, with elapsed time 10 days to lines end. As events proved, the price in money, horses, and men was too high and �Janice Salmans ale, cofo. Stalion 2 0 Vona, colo. 1885-1887 JAMES E. KNAPP, McCrilLis Horse Ranch Stations were on Lhe Leavenworlh and Pr.kes Feak Line in 1859. This line had the first Bar T Ranch mail contracl. year he-ce and moved north to Julesburg, rlc -^rLdgtrr ..)vpr nrnrprtrnn f lrei Station 2 0.Id Tuttle Ranch Burlhgton, Colo. R&!gc, 8&nd Cr€ek. The ]ine ran l 1 nlintihd ri'L!LY p1ed (Lovu.Lu '-l-hr" P!uJJ ^racc fOute rn nrirc Uent NUTEEAFOR,D BBOS. Boruntlont Colo. fnr Lhe Rrrnle. cil S;nok?. +h^ +h.! LrLdL PL ^r;-l^4 firsL rssue of the Rocky Mountain Nens, ApriI 22, 1859 rn Denver, Colorado. Selbert. Colo. goitls, left slde, r&nre. bottveaD RoDub hora€s loft slroulder. llcai rlvcr& Hell ofeet.. t- A'&-J. C, BR*DFEAW.', A Where Doc Hoyl shot Lhe lasl Buffalo in the summer of 1887. olerenoirt. Cclo. RrDge, lear Clarorboqt, AT JOIINl IIEDDINCI-A: co'I, Colo. ronge. ncal eofi. tz, HoyL, Colo slation 22 IJRA}I}TEIEII, BROF. Burllngtou. C.clo. T rouLbwert of BurllrgtoD. C. IY. FULIJMER,. F BuruDston' coro' EI d, c w nortltwert Bowser Col,orado u, *(o o 0ld K-P Ranch or Bu{:nston. rengo. StaLion 23 7 F Fl I I u 3 T|EIi,DBAMESBERGER, iurllngtoo.Colo. range, LortEa,q'r cieek. D. H, JONES, JTB old rtoct 01 BullDaton, Colo. rsuso,6outh or younl rtock. Wi.Llow Springs YVr|r. L'LAUSSEI{i Station at Iugo Co-1o. the Pony Express ended in financial failure after only 18 months of existence in 1861. As told by Eatinger, an early resident of Kit Carson County, "There was no trail up the North Smokey and mail was carried from Cheyenne Wells via Tuttle to Wray. Tom Reed who took a spring wagon and 3 men, traveling by camps, made a trail (by throwing up sod with a spade at short intervals) to Cheyenne Wells. The price for hauling was 25 cents per hundred. The Kit Carson Trail was another very early trail, extending from Bent's Fort, south near the Arkansas River, and north past the west side of Seibert to Cope Via Fort Morgan and on to Ft. Laramie near Cheyenne, Wyo. Addison W. Rogers'homestead was 11 miles North of Seibert (on the west side of Highway #59) known as Kit Carson Trail. A. W. Rogers'youngest daughter was the first white child born on the Kit Carson Trail. by Janice Salmans I Nowton, (lolo. ronge, soutb o! &sDublicau rlver. GEORGE &OSE: S6r.bert, Colo. Ranse. R€Dubllea,n nhd Dutll creel:, or left, sldo a&r nratE. crdD leftI undsrbl', ilsht Jc J. OAIIIP, tsurllngtonr eolo. r&pg€i Dortb of RurUDCiop. .r I 1 | F. J. HACHENBEIiCIER. uurlhgtolr, Colo. rriltc. 6 rnlles nortltgost of Burllurton u'"1eJ,T''"o,.,. 'oon [$hi:i r&nge, l.oEtmens creek. :f __ . R. 0. npsrEAD B3lbprt, colo. faDiae,.{Z rllllgs portheasl ol SeiP€rt. q, v - J. w. YA',rE8, St. Josepu, Mo. RaDge. Dear Fla.cl€r. Colp. C. W. gtDlttr, atent. Fl,rtler, Colo, rIFE E. T. EiEkrro, old dpttls, on ellilcr srde l oalves, on lrorEec, oD h:p shoulder Vona, Coip, IreDge sorrtb ol Yone' ! I � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource History of Kit Carson County Description An account of the resource Brief historical stories and elements from the founding and recent history of Kit Carson County, Colorado. Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Book Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Post Offices and General Stores Date Created Date of creation of the resource. 1988 Subject The topic of the resource history Description An account of the resource A record of the Post Offices and General Stores in Kit Carson County as recorded in the book History of Kit Carson County Type The nature or genre of the resource text Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Salmons, Janice Hasart, Marlyn Smith, Dorothy Language A language of the resource English Is Part Of A related resource in which the described resource is physically or logically included. History of Kit Carson County Volume 1 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource text/pdf Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Curtis Media Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/</a> https://kccarchives.cvlcollections.org/files/original/16/421/Memories.pdf 184ea68e01942c9373c7ac51b265e5ba PDF Text Text ON BEING AN O.I.C. T447 I was so pleased (to put it mildly) when they told me I could be an Officer-in-Charge. The fact that I'd never heard ofthe place or had any idea of where it was located didn't bother me at all. As it turned out, the little town (Stratton) is about 25 miles from the Kansas border, and a friend kept teasing me by saying such things aB "you better take groceries with you 'cuz they might not have stores out there in "Kansas". Other alleged friends recounted horror stories ofwinters on the Eastern plains and told me how desolate and windswept it was. By the time I left home, I had the car piled full with things I would need for camping out; planning on no electricity, running water or inside plumbing. The last things I strapped on were a wash tub, my grandma's gcrub board and my little dog. As I headed east, my car turned into a Conestoga wagon. The land was so flat that the level ground seemed higher than the road. I felt like I needed to stand up to "see". There was a momentof apprehension as Pike's Peak faded from view but then a spirit of adven- ture swept over me and I could hardly wait to begin my new job. The first day I was at the new office, the local newspaper man came over. He was also the owner, the photographer, the pressman, and the delivery boy. He wanted to photograph the dear, departed REAL Postmaster and the "new lady". The next evening, I went to the one and only restaurant in town, the Golden Prairie. An oldtimer, wanting to show hospitality to the "new lady" put a rattlegnake's rattle on the table near my plate. Gleefully, with missing front teeth, he told me "old George caught 500 of these just outside of town last summer". I touched it gingerly with a fork handle and being careful of the inflection in my voice asked why old George "caught" them. He gave me a look that seemed to marvel at my stupidity and said, "Why, lady, he sells the meat to fancy restaurants . . . tastes just like chicken, ya know". He ambled off before I could ask if the Golden Prairie was on the snake hunter's client list. I spent a few days rearranging the furniture in the office. It was one of those "open" offices where you couldn't even sneeze with- out a customer saying "gesundheit". They would come into the lobby at 8, watch us scurrying around and say "The REAL Post' master always had the mail boxed out by now", or "Ain't ya done yet?", or "Whatcha been doin' all morning?" My days were also filled with running back and forth between the front counter and the bor section. No one in town used their P.O. box keys. In the mornings, the older folk would come in and say "Let me have my mail and Gertie's too (some ancient or infirmed neighbor) and then "No, I don't know what her box number is. . . it's around the corner there, kinda high up. The REAL Postmaster always gave it to me". In the afternoons, the children would come in'kin I have my dad's mail, please" standing on tiptoe, big eyes beseeching, and my heart would melt. In the meantime, Dad had already been and asked for his own mail, and mom and grandad's too. Duringthe third week, people were beginning to say, "Oh, I forgot my key". By the fourth week, we had put the Postal Service in the red with a booming business in key sales. The office has two clerks, both of whom It was suspected that he had killed Allen, who was the foreman of the Bar T Ranch, which have been with the Service for several years. covered several miles along the Republican River. He supposedly hid in the ditch and shot Allen as he rode by. "They can do everything the REAL Postmaster can", I was told. Try as I might to be decisive and assertive and convince them I was no dummy, they knew I was in deep . . water. . when I spent hours up to my ears in the Account Book, Stamp Ledger, DMM, F1 and the FOM. There was also the spasmodic hiccuping of the calculator and the waste basket filled with reams of tape that gave me away. But they are so helpful and I appreciate them more than I can express. In one week's time, we had three major storms, one of which was the worst of the entire winter. My friends were right; the wind roared and howled and blew for a solid 48 hours with gusts up to 70 miles per hour. When I opened my front door the next morning, I discovered two feet of snow against it and there was a four-foot drift behind my 4-wheel-drive vehicle. I shoveled a path out to it, walked around it, looked under it and behind it and walked back inside, shaking my head because I knew I couldn't get it out. I looked wistfully at my fuL\ Club card but knew that even if I had a 'phone, there was no tow service to call in this small town. Finally, my determination and not-to-bedaunted spirit took over and I lunged back out to my car. After all, had I not survived past winters in a place often called the coldest spot in the Nation? I wasn't about to let a little ole eastern plains "blow" get me down. I rocked it back and forth and then with a mighty roar, when over and out of that drift, amid cheers and smiles of watching neigh- bors. I lurched and lumped away over the frozen, drifted road to open the Post Office for another day ofbusiness. All the roads into town were closed and no mail trucks could get in, but we were there to sell a stamp or commiserate about the weather. By the next morning, the snow was piled even higher, but someone had plowed the Post Office parking lot and had even shoveled a little path to the rear door near where I parked my car. These people take pride in "their" Post Office, and that day especially, I felt really proud to be part of it. I look forward to the day when I can be a REAL Postmaster. Written while Interim Postmaster at Strat- ton, 1984 by Michele McHenry THE MUNSINGER STORY T448 When Anna and Herman Homm and children came to Colorado in 1892 they rented some land on the ledge where the Launchman and Republican Rivers meet, just above the Bonny Dam is now located. To the northwest of them lived the Hracheck's. He went to Denver and worked in the brick yards for months at a time. Southwest of the Homm's lived the Munsingers. Mr. Munsinger was a locator, who hated all cattlemen. There was much friction in those days between the cattlemen and homesteaders. Munsinger was notliked in the community. The Hracheck's hogs had wandered over to Munsingers and when Mrs. Hracheck went after them, Munsinger beat her up. One night Munsinger went to Herman Homm's to get some medicine for one of his children who was sick. Munsinger was wearing a pistol which was not unusual for men in those days. The Homm's oldest daughter, Lena, went outside to get a bucket of water from the pump.When she came back inside, she said she had seen August Meyer, a bachelor, who worked for several of the ranchers, and Mr. Hracheck coming from Burlington in a spring wagon. They had gone to town to swear out a warrant for Munsinger's arrest. Abruptly, Munsinger said he had to leave. Right after he went out, they heard a shot. August Meyer came hurrying into the house and blew out the kerosene lemp. He was carrying a rifle. Herman Homm lit the lamp again. He wanted to be able to see what was going on since he did not trust Munsinger. A little later Hracheck pounded on the door, then ca-e in and said, "I killed him and I had a right to". That night Munsingers body was covered and left just outside the door where he had fallen. They had to wait for the coroner to come. During the night it snowed and the body couldn't be seen. Gutting, another neighbor, who lived about 2 miles west of Herman Homm's, nearly stumbled over the body when he came the next morning. Gutting said in German, "Turn the swine out". He hadn't liked Munsinger either because Munsinger had burned his house down. The inquest was held the next day at Herman Homm's house. The body was brought into the kitchen and laid on a bench. Since it was winter, and the only heat in the house was in the kitchen, the children, Lena, Kate, Minnie, Alma, Mary, George and possibly Tillie and John had to go to bed in the other room to keep warm since they weren't allowed at the inquest. At the inquest, Meyer and Hracheck testified that Munsinger was wearing a pistol, had called them names and had threatened to kill them. Later August Meyer told Anna Homm that Hracheck had suggested to him that since he was a bachelor, he should say that he had killed Munsinger, then skip the country before the trial. Anna told him she thought he shouldn't confess to the murder if he hadn't committed it, just to make it easier for Hracheck. He said he guessed he shouldn't either. No one ever went to jail for the murder. Munsinger was buried in the southeast corner of his place and was later moved to a cemetery. At the inquest, Mr. Dangberg, the consta- ble, who lived northeast of Idalia, told Herman Homm, "If you had done it, it would have been alright, but the ones that did kill him were no better than Munsinger". This territory was then Arapahoe County and Denver was the County Seat. by Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Homm �RATTLESNAKE TALES T44S An early day resident recalls an incident of about the year 1895, which happened to him at an old ranch about five miles west of Arlington, around 20 miles north of Rocky Ford, Colorado. This boy was still a lad in his teens when he had this experience. He was in charge of caring for some cattle and horses for Charley McCabe, during the owner's absence. The adobe was a large, oneroom house. The lad blanketed down on the floor in a corner of the room. There were no bedsteads. After going to bed, yet not asleep, he heard a noise which he thought might be a bug. He heard the noise as it passed by the head ofhis bed where he lay and went on toward the northwest corner of the room. He raised up to get a match to see what it was. He said, "Behold, it was a big rattle snake!" Being kid-like, he was so excited that he tried to hold a match in one hand for light while trying to put a boot on with the other hand. By the time he had his boots on and the old lantern lit, he threw a few sticks at it. The sticks were the kindling he stored to cook his coffee and biscuits next morning. Then by the dim light of the lantern he watched the snake crawl along until it crept into an old cupboard secured from the back of an old chuck wagon. Those old cupboards also were called a mess box. The door to the cupboard was off; therefore, it made a good place for the rattler to seek refuge. The lad said he was at a loss knowing how to get the snake out so he could kill it. Finally he took a piece of paper and set it afire and threw it back into the box, thus warming up the rattler. At this point, my friend began laughing so hard it was difficult for him to relate the story! When the rattlesnake retreated from his lair, the lad was standing near the side of the cupboard for protection and struck the gnake's head with a small piece of firewood. He thought, perhaps, the rattler had entered through a mouse hole near the door. Next question was, would there be another; so, being sort of squenmish about going back to hia original bed, he decided he would change his corner. There was a heavy table in the room, made from 2 x 6lumber. He decided he would be safe there, so he rolled up his bed quilts and placed them on the table where he slept soundly the rest of the night. Another tale of horror comes from my friend . . . There was a shack on the Smoky and he resided there for awhile. It was wonderful to have some company in early days as it was rather lonesome living alone. There was a man who came along at dusk in the evening; rather it was really dark by the time this young fellow and his company entered the shack. The man planned to eat supper and stay overnight. They were really enjoying a good conversation and visiting when the young man reached over and picked up a piece of wood to make some shaving with which to start a fire in the stove. Their only light was from an old lantern. By experience, we who have used kerosene lanterns know their feeble light is very inadequate to light a room. Deep shadows shroud the corners. Since the first piece ofwood was too hard to cut for shavings, he reached for another. He heard the frightening rattle of a snake. The visitor grabbed the lantern so the snake could be seen more clearly. By that time the snake had started to crawl back into the corner. The young man pinned the rattler to the floor by using another piece of wood; the snake then backed up, pulling its head out of the hole and they finally succeeded in hitting it on the head. My friend, who was the young man in this story, laughs a lot as he tells these tales and remarked "that was one time I was glad I had company to whip the 'snake's tail'." by Grace Corliss 4.H YEARS T450 4-H was a happy time when I was growing up. Many young people belonged to 4-H. We had a club in our neighborhood, and north of us was a very large number of young people in 4-H club work. There was also a large club south of Vona. One year all the clubs met at Vona, and we went on the train to Burlington to stay three days at the fair. The girls stayed in a tent, and the boys stayed in the barns with their animals. In remember Bertha (Boger) Wear stayed in the tent with us. I thought if I lived in town I sure wouldn't stay in that tent! We were about out of food our last meal and Bertha made us pork and bean sandwiches. They were plenty good. One summer the 4-H clubs canped for two days at what was called Davis Lakes - towhat the is now Bonny Dam. I remember going Art Boese home south of Vona to a 4-H club picnic. One time after a big rain we girls were walking to our leader's home. The ponds were full of big frogs, so we took off our long Elbert Co. Republicon", though I'm not sure except that it was, the 'Republican'. Cunningham moued upon the site of the uillage soon after. After about d year, Cunningham left and the 'Republicon'ceased to be. On my pre-emption claim southwest of town, and later on the northwest quarter of Sec. 25 south of town, I printed a small religious paper,'The Messenger of Loue'.In early Oct. '91', W.H. Lavington and David Swayzee induced me to begin a local paper and I named it'The Flagler Aduance'. Atthe Jan., 1892, session of the Co. Commissioners, the Aduance was given the contract for all the county printing for that year. Perhaps the only time it all went out of Burlington. As I remember, in Jan., '93', the commissioners gave the printing to the Burlington Republican and the Aduance, but I do not remember what share to each. (In 1894, the Aduance was given an even smaller share and finally expired of starvation in Dec. of that year.) I failed to say that the Ad.uance was moved from the country to the home I built for it in a story and a half building, north of the section house, which I sold in '96'to Fry. It may be ofinterest that one ofthe earliest church services held in the Flagler neighborhood, I held in a shack or vacated saloon building in the bottom some 40 rods northwest of the Republican railroad bridge, perhaps July 25, 1888. Malowe, as we tried to call Flagler first, was mostly a village or camp of tents, W.H. Lavington had just opened a grocery store in a tent. I was a customer of his. The post office was in a god shack a mile farther east, and the eccentric postmaster had it named Bowser in honor of this canine companion. My homestead was the NE quarter of Sec. 35-9-51, which with my tree claim aCjoining it on the south, I sold in the late '90's'to Edley T. Epperson for $400. The editor of the Ad,uance taught a four months school at Cope, carried the Star Route mail six months to Arickaree and to Thurman, then taught 8 months at Vona. Part of this time I was driving to Cope twice stockings and filled them with frogs. When y€s, you have we got to our leader's house guessed, we had fried frog legs. a month to conduct services for the Congrega- by Fern Summers (then Claremont) 24 members and Arriba, 10. Flagler paid 960, Claremont, $60, Seibert $25, and Arriba, $30, and the Missionary Society C.IV. SMITII T45l A Flagler pioneer corrects history of the town, by a letter to the editor of the Neurs, on Oct. 25.1934. tional people. In 1896, I was called to take charge as home missionary of the Flagler field, Flagler with 20 members, Stratton paid the remainder. This will show the cause of mv interest in Kit Carson Co. Sincerely yours, C.W. Smith by C.W. Snith Dear Mr. Guard. I read with interest Bessie Guthrie's "History of Flagler" in your issue of the 18th. There were one or two inaccuracies quite natural for one not on the scene in those olden days. In July, 1888, I started from Decatur co., Kans., for Elbert Co., Colo. I am quite DEATII OF PIONEER'S BABY T462 sure it was July 23 ofthat year, that I entered Colo. and Elbert CO. at Kanarado, and reached Crystal Springs the next day. The 25th I started to look for a claim in the Valley of Mud Spring Draw, southwestof "Malowe". We stopped at a shack on a ridge, a quarter of a mile east of the present town limits. In that shack a young man, Arch Cunningham, was printing what I think was the second I believe "The issue of the Republican, - "Februar5/ 12, and 15, 1887, were clear warm days and we newcomers thought we were going to have several days of good weather. Three of the neighbors took advantage ofthis and started to town for hay, grain and provisions. One of my neatest neighbors went, also another neighbor who lived nine miles farther, making him forty-four miles from town. His child had what he though was �a cold with some fever. He said to his wife: 'I will go to town today and will be back tomorrow night and will bring medicine for the child.'Kissing his wife and baby good-bye he start€d on the longjourney before daylight on the morning of February 15 with a team that had lived on half rations all winter as the grass for miles and miles around had burned off early in the fall. Late that evening the little child died. The young mother was all alone in the dugout. She started across the prairie about eight o'clock to a neighbor about three miles away, carrying the dead child in her arms. This man lived alone as his wife was to join him on the homestead in the spring. Between sobs she asked him to go about nine miles to a friend's home and bring her back with him. This friend was our nearest neighbor. The man stafed on his errand and the heartbroken young mother trudged back to her dugout hugging her dead child close to her breast. The reader will understand that we left our buggies and spring wagons back east and had only heavy wagons. The mode of travel was slow and tedious. The man arrived at our neighbor's home about midnight and related his sad story. This woman said: 'My husband has gone to town and I am afraid to take the children with me as it might be diphtheria or scarlet fever.' She told him there was a young man living on the claim south of them, but that she did not like to take her children to him so late at night, but if he would stay until morning she would get the neighbor to take care of the children and go to the sorrowing mother. piece of fat meat from which he seemed to derive much pleasure, especially if we were generous with sugar. While we were out doing chores the little girl came running out, yelling that the baby was choking. We ran to the house and, locating the trouble, jerked the meat out of his throat. Later he cried some more and we gave him more meat, but this time tied a string to it and after fastening it to the foot of the bed, charged the little girls to pull on it if the baby showed signs of choking. About sundown we saw a dark object far off on the prairie which we were sure was the children's mother. Bundling up the children we started to meet her. How glad the mother was to see her little ones safe; so were we, to know that the responsibility was off our Peaches .25, Eggs .25, Meat 1.80, Coal L.?5, Apples .25, Beans .25, Rice .25, Soap .25, Sugar.50, Coffee.25, Tea.25, Raisins.20, Lye .10, Blueing .05, Wash tub 1.25, Broom .2b, Starch .10, Coal oil .25, Pepper .10, Thread .10, Gingham 1% yds. .10, Wash board .25, Water pail .50, Grain 1.17, Postage Stamps .20. Total amt. for March $21.15 by Joyce Miller 1959 BLIZZARD HITS STRATTON T454 shoulders. The neighbors who had gone to town on the 15th had been delayed by the blizzard and did not arrive home until the morning of the 18th, shortly before sunrise, and with them the father of the dead child. By this time others had come. We failed to find a loose w board to make a coffin, but pulled one off the side of the stable. We laid a pillow in the little box, but when the young mother saw it she cried bitterly. She said that it was more than she could bear to see her baby put away in that rough box. She brought a black dress and asked that it be cut up and used to trim the coffin. Soon two feminine hands had made a wonderful change in the appearance of the little box. The funeral was held'that afternoon. We were all a bunch of inexperienced young Toward morning it had snowed about two inches, but when daylight ssme it qrss snlm with a heavy black cloud in the south west which soon spread toward the northwest. Soon the wind whipped to the northwest and between the snow that was already on the ground and what was coming down, we were in the midst of one of the worst blizzards that we ever went through, and have seen a good many of them. The storm was terrific until about nine o'clock in the evening. The morning of the 17th was bright, clear and crisp with long drifts of snow here and there. We could not help feeling out of sorts with the elements which one day play such havoc and the next morning turn around and ask the first child buried in what is now Yuma County, then Arapahoe County. This gives the reader some faint idea of the heroism of those young wives who came to Colorado in the days when the land was forgiveness. young, leaving comfort, friends and relatives Soon after sunrige we saw a team and wagon approaching with several people in it. They proved to be our neighbor's wife and three children. She told the sad story and asked us to take care of her three children far behind to stand beside stalwart young husband who fought to wrest eastern Colo- people so there was no funeral service beyond an attempt on our part to sing a hymn, repeat the Lord's Prayer in concert and sing another song. While singing at the grave, which was a little distance from the dugout, we heard the mournful howling of three coyotes on a little hill nearby. We quickly placed ourselves FuIl corrals face ranchers between them and the young mother and the children and frightened them away." This eightcen month old child was perhaps rado from the desert. by Mary E. Evans that day. We felt we could take care of the two little girls, but were not sure about the three month old baby boy. However, we were willing to do our best. She said she had just given him a good breakfast and he would probably sleep until noon, but ifhe awakened and cried very hard, we should give him a FRANK BOGER LEDGER piece of fat meat to suck. With these instructions they started on their way, for we all realized that the young mother and been all alone in her dugout with her dead child two nights and a day through the blizzard. When they arrived the young mother was putting a pretty ribbon on a little dress. With the three children we had in charge all went well until about eleven o'clock when the baby boy opened his big blue eyes and looked around for his rDirnmo, We allowed him to cry until the little girls said he might get spasms, then we hurried and gave him a T453 The following was taken from an old ledger of Frank and Flora Boger. Shows expenses of :::i::r;iii :r..'{1''i Snow, snow, snow! the month. Frank brought his bride to Colorado: March, 1896 Stove Pipe $.60, Stove 1.00, Tobacco .20, Meat .35, Crackers .25, Apples .10, Overshoes 1.00, Lodging 1.00, Horse Collar 1.00, Candy .10, Corn .30, Crackers .25, Coffee .25, Matches.05, Meat.30, Sausage .25,Beef. .20, Bread .50, Corn .50, Sugar .20, Bread .25, Canned Fruit .48, Flour .90, Potatoes .45, The season's first snowfall of the year came in the form of a paralyzing blizzard that whipped across Eastern Colorado closing traffic on all highways - but best of all brought welcome moisture to relieve the several year drought condition. All highways in Eastern Colorado were closed beginning early Friday morning and because of the huge snow drifts many side �roads were still closed Wednesday and will be blocked for a number of days yet. The moisture began falling Thursday evening about 7 p.m. in the form of a very wet snow and as the night proceeded the wind velocity increased. By early Friday morning the wind velocity was at least 70 miles per hour whipping the west snow into huge snow banks. The velocity of the wind did not begin to diminish until the middle of Friday afternoon; however, the blizzard did not abate until late Friday night. According to the local weather man 1.13 inches of moisture fell in the Stratton vicinity. Drifts of at least ten feet were seen about town, inundating cars. Schools at Vona, Stratton, Burlington and Seibert were closed until Wednesday because of the blocked roads. Even then much Stratton until about 6 a.m. Saturday, having worked through the night to open the 18 miles of highway. John Buol of Burlington lost five cattle when they drifted onto the railroad tracks near Peconic switch station between Burlington and Stratton, and were killed by the railroad snow plow. A number were reported to have lost livestock in the storm. Ernest Cure lost ten head of cattle when the animals took refuge in a ditch and were covered by the drifting snow. Tom and Jim McCormick lost a number of sheep in the storm. Other rumors of stock dying in the storm could not be confirmed at until today, Thursday. Although the snow drifted badly the temperature never fell below 20 degrees so that much of the snow melted where it fell or drifted. This storm covered a large area including Wyoming, northeast and eastern Colorado, parts of Nebraska and Kansas. Much concern was in evidence about the town of Stratton all day Friday, during the storm. because of the K.C. Electric maintenance crew, James Hansen, Albert Gwynn, Max Toland and Sam Crocker, who had left in their trucks about 2 a.m. Friday morning when the storm interrupted power distribu- tion in this area. About 3:30 a.m. Max Toland and Sam Crocker became storm bound when their truck slid off Highway 24 about 800 feet east of the driveway at the Jack Luebbers farm home. But since they did not see the farm home or could tell otherwise where they were located because of the dense, fogging wet snow, they remained in their truck until 1:30 p.m. Friday when they made their way to the Luebbers home. James Hansen and Albert Gwynn bucked the blizzard until their truck became stalled in a huge drift on highway 24 about three fourths mile west of Bethune. They stayed in their truck until the blizzard let up enough so that they could make their way to the Eugene Taylor home in Bethune. Each of the crew had radio facilities on their trucks but because of the storm could not contact the Hugo central station but a few times. In the meantime, the wives of the crew and friends made preparations to look for the men. They knew the approximate places the trucks had become stalled because of the radio contact. About 7 p.m. eleven men with two cars and a tractor left Stratton in search of the linemen. The men, J. Oscar Smith and son Richard, Lee Carpenter, Vic Carpenter, Tom, Gene and John Clark, Bob Best and Mike Lewis found Max Toland and Sam Crocker safe at the Jack Luebbers home about 8:30 p.m. All the men then went on from there battling the drifts and arrived at the second stalled K.C. Electric truck about midnight. Hansen and Gwynn had left their truck but a note in the car informed the searching party all was well. The highway snow plow left Burlington about 5:30 p.m. Friday and never reached as overalls 55 cents and rope 40 cents. At round up time in the spring and fall, representatives ofall the outfits were present to handle the cattle and identify their own. About 1896, when he was working for Met, he was with a round up group camped at the Limon Breaks after a big blizzard. While night herding the cattle, the cowboys listened all night to the wolves howling from nearby. The boys in the round up crew slept cold in their tarpaulin beds. Mrs. Fisher, the former Stella D. Strode, came to this county by covered wagon also in 1887. She was born at Mason, Texas, and her this writing. by local newspaper difficulty will be encountered by school bus drivers when they pick up and deliver the school children for some time because of the depth of the snow. Seibert schools opened Tuesday while Stratton schools did not open the account book showing expense when he was out working were; dinner at Hugo 25 cents, horse shoeing 75 cents, bed and breakfast 50 cents and personal items such FISHER T466 Mr. Fisher, who passed away January 10, 1959, at the age of 83, had spent 72 years in this part of Colorado, and had the rare privilege of seeing this area change from the prairie that had known little change for centuries into our present day world. The days of the big cattle outfits whose cattle ranged over thousands of acres were already numbered when he came here. Homesteaders were beginning to settle the land and a few years later Mr. Fisher, himself, located on a homestead and began ranching on his own. Mr. Fisher was like other young men of his day, a working cowboy, working for the big cattle outfits in the area. He took part in many round ups and was known at that time as one of the best bronco busters. Although Colorado had become a state in 1876, about ten years later when Mr. Fisher and Mrs. Fisher (who was then Stella Strode) came here, this part of the state was mostly prairie with only a few inhabitants. Large cattle outfits were located here and there where there was water and ran their stock over many thousands of acres. Mr. Fisher worked for numerous cattle outfits, one of them being the Quarter Circle. The Quarter Circle worked from the Fort Morgan area to the Arkansas River with headquarters where Sugar City is now. At the time Mr. Fisher worked for them they had 425head of mares from which to raise their saddle strings. In speaking of the early days, he recalled the last buffalo hunt which occurred in 1887. The last two buffalo ever seen in this area were railed to the flats north of Seibert after being flushed from gullies northeast of Hugo and were shot close to Hell Creek. Mr. Fisher also recalled the big Texas cattle drives, the last two of which were in the springs of 1892 and 1893. The big herds of cattle were being moved from Texas to Montana when ranching was begun there. Later Mr. Fisher told his family he wished that he had gone along on those drives. At that time he was employed by W.N. Leeper on a ranch southwest of Flagler. A family keepsake is a small account book put out by a livestock commission firm, Blachard, Shelly and Rogers of Omaha, Nebraska and Kansas City. In it he noted that he began work for the Met Cattle outfit in December 1896. The late C.J. Farr, father of Duncan Farr, was the foreman. Items in father had migrated to Missouri, then to Colorado where he took up a homestead on the Republican River. It was known for a long time as the Ranney place. The Fishers and the Strodes were among the first settlers to arrive and their houses were mostly dugouts and sod houses. They recalled that near what is now Flagler the Pugsley Brothers of Hugo had a small cabin and some corrals. At that time the railroad had not been built so settlers had to go to Akron or Haigler, Nebraska, or to Hugo for supplies; the trips taking several days depending on the distance traveled and the means of transportation which was usually a horse and wagon. The Fishers were married in Flagler on May 6, 1903, and moved to her homestead where they went into the cattle business. Mr. Fisher was the first in this area to breed up a herd of Aberdeen Angus cattle. Another highlight of the cattle business which occurred about 1918 was the building of a community dipping vat at the Fisher place. At that time it was a great improv- ement over anything that had been used. This was a cage-type affair into which the animal was loaded and dipped in the vat with power furnished by a team of horses. It was built at the Fisher place due to the central location. and the number of corrals available. It was in use for several years with ten or twelve men there every day working with the stock during the dipping season. The Fishers retired in the mid 1940s. moving into the town of Flagler. Copied from the Flagler Nears, February 12, 1959. by Editors RATTLESNAKES T456 Not many years in the past, Orval Monroe, who lived ten miles north and one and a half east of Vona, found a den of rattlesnakes on his farm. He was driving his car and saw a snake. While killing it, he saw another. His brother came to help, and in two hours they killed eighty. Within the space of five acres and with the help of other men, that day and the next, they killed a total of one hundred and twenty-five. They now knew why the little Monroe girl had been bitten by a rattlesnake a few days earlier. South of Stratton we also had a den of rattlesnakes. This was near the Herb Griffith �fields and all fields had to be fenced to keep range stock out of crops. Framing was done with horses and mules. A few homesteaders LIFE FOR THE HOMESTEADERS T467 A new day dawns on the prairie, a quite undisturbed land with its own familiar sounds - the song of a meadow lark and a turtle dove as they greet each new day, the yapping of the coyote as they prowl the prairies at night; sounds that remain unchanged with the passing of time. By the time the homesteaders came, the Indian camps were gone, the large herds of buffalo, once so numerous in this area, had disappeared - all that was left as a reminder of their presence were buffalo chips and bleached bones of buffalo carcanses that dotted the prairies. farm. Tom Holm, Bob Piper, Bill Ferhenbach, Ray Schlichenmayer, Bill and Herb Griffith, were some of the men who helped in that vicinity. They would hunt in the spring and in the fall. Results one time: twenty-five, fifty-five, sixty-eight. They never failed to get good results. Dead rattlesnakes are good results! Mrs. Harvey Wood found a four-foot rattlesnake in her garden about the time of the Monroe killing. Mrs. Nick Stoffel also killed one in her garden here in Stratton. In earlier years, Leo Klotzbach was bitten by one. No hospital, no serum! Dr. Beechley was the resident physician here then. Leo has not verified, as it was rumored, that Dr. Beechley knew herbs, as did our grand- parents, and picked a prairie herb that helped in the healing of Leo. Even then he was sick for a long time, but did reeover. Mrs. Leiber and Mrs. Cecil Eisenbart, both from south of Stratton. were bitten while in their gardens, but there was serum available drifted too farm, they worked them back closer to home. Blocks of salt were kept out for stock. There was lots of hard work, but communities found time for pleasures, too. Neighbors were neighbors - always ready to lend a helping hand with extra work or in times of and wagon, drove around looking for bones. The bones were sold and shipped to a place where they were ground and used as fertilizer. wagons with barrels of water and head in the undulating buffalo grass. There were soapweeds, pancake and pin cushion cactus, plus a variety of wild flowers that bloomed each spring. There were birds that nested on the ground, prairie dogs, prairie owls and rattle soaked gunny sacks in water to beat the fire out. They sometimes plowed a ditch as a fire guard to stop a fire. People exchanged work at harvest and threshing times, or when ever any extra help was required such as laying up sod, building buildings and fences. Commu- snakes, as well as bull snakes, hog snakes. There were ground squinels, jack rabbits, cotton tails, badgers and coyotes. All this and the prairie was still treeless. The homesteaders had many hardships to contend with coming to a virgin buffalo grass prairie - to an unmarked piece of ground that was to be their new home, with no buildings, no water, no trees, no fences -just a vast open prairie land with nothing as far as the eye could see. Brave, courageous, pioneers of Kit Carson County - Homesteaders. The first and most important things to be done were to provide something to live in and a well and windmill. The building material available was sod, so that is what most homesteaders first buildings were made of. It was an open country with free range for cattle and horses. It was not free range for sheep. Sheep could graze on the buffalo grass, but only with a herder. Sod was broken for trouble. Prairie fires were not uncommon. and any and all who saw smoke would load direction of the smoke to fight fire. They nity basket dinners were a time of getting together to pitch horse shoes, play ball and visit - everyone was welcome. Everyone was welcome at the country dances. Dances were held in homes - people would move furniture out of a couple rooms and have a dance - or in barns or hay lofts or in school houses. John Bloomquist and Lee Raines had nice barns for dances. Smokey Hill had dances in the school house and it was also used for church and Sunday School. by Isophene D. Lesher CHRISTMAS AT CAMP LEWIS T458 Camp Lewis, Washington at that time. A rattlesnake does not have to be coiled to strike. I saw one strike two feet in the air while uncoiled and flat. One Sunday Boots Wilson killed a rattlesnake and out of the wound crawled sixteen little snakes. The local papet, The Stratton Press, carried the picture. The story of the rattlesnake still continues as late as 1983. It was in the fall of the year. Jim McConnell was getting ready to wean his calves, when his son Raymond ran upon a rattlesnake, but it ran in a hole before he could kill it. A few days later, on a rather warm day, LeRoy Herndon and Leonard Beese went to Jim's pasture known as the "Fred Wagner place" to get one of their calves. In a low bottom along the sand creek they ran upon snakes and started killed them and they killed about thirty-five snakes. LeRoy's dog was helping and got bitten and they had to rush the dog to the vet or they might have killed more. by Florence Mcconnell Central Community, used oxen. The weather was the deciding factor in raising a crop. There had to be summer rains to grow a crop. There was no irrigation in these early days. Rains would fill ponds and lagoons that provided range water for stock, otherwise stock had to go back home or to a watering place. Good stockmen rode to check on cattle and horses and if the stock had roamed or And these, too, would soon disappear, gathered up by the bone pickers who, with team The land was a prairie carpeted with Boots Wilson killed this rattler with her young. even had oxen. The Griggs, in the First Rodeo at the o'c' Dunlap Ranch �don't know whether Grandpa Sam Schaal had it published in the Record,the CalI or . Our Dad, Jake Schaal, trained as a medic with Field Hospital Company 252 of the 13th Sanitary Train Regiment. World War ended before his outfit was shipped to Europe, and Dad wae discharged on Apr. 5, 1919 at Ft. D.A. Russell (near Cheyenne), Wyoming. Dad learned many useful things in his field hospital training and was adept at giving first aid, doing special and "pressure" bandaging, setting broken bones, applying and wrapping splints, etc. He was always grateful that he had been trained to help the injured and bind rather than having to up the wounded maim and kill the-enemy. by The Rev. Herbert Schaal way back east and do a little shooting once in a while so the dudes would have something to talk about after they went back home. These dudes, or tenderfeet as we called them, were our best sport. We just had to pretend a little and their imagination would do the rest. A few shots and a wild dash past the ranch house after dark was about all they could stand. They liked to ride and just had to do it. It was the most fun when you slip them a horse that was gentle in the corral but became a bronco as soon as he cleared the gate. I have seen them come to a gate and struggle around to get it open and closed and then find they had the horse on the wrong side of the fence or maybe they would be. We did not milk any of those wild cows, but once there was a fellow there who had to have some milk. Well we told him of a homesteader TOM DILLON AND THE BAR T. T459 I was born in Springfield, New York, in 1885, just one year before this part of the west Jake Schaal in his World War I uniform. Enlisted in U.S. Army on Aug. 27, I9L8. was opened for homesteaders. I did not come here until 1906, but there was still some homesteads to be taken so I took one, 15 miles north and one east ofBethune. I did not come to homestead though, I just saw the opportunity in taking one and saw that it would not interfere with what I really came for, and that was to sell draft stallions. We knew in New York State that they January 1, 1919 Dear Folks: I will try and write a few liens to let you know that I am all O.K. yet. hope you are the same, I received your letter, (Christmas) cards and check. Thank you very much for the same; was very glad to hear from home again. Well, I hope you (had) an opportunity to go to the program on New Year's eve. We had a nice Christmas program. Had a tree about 25 feet high, strung with red, yellow and green with one big white light at electric lights the top of the -tree which looked like a star it from a distance. The tree is (outdoors) sure is a pretty one. - We got pretty good treats and a fine Christmas dinner from the "Y" (YMCA). Last night we had a big New Year's program, and got treats again this afternoon. The band furnished the music for both programs. Well, I suppose it is quite cold back there now. We are having ice and heavy frosts the past three or four mornings. We did not have to drill from December 24 until January 2, but we will start to do something tomorrow again. I see the other boys (from home) quite often here lately. They are all O.K., too. Did any of you folks see Jake Weisshaar since he came home? The way they talk around here, we won't get out of here for several months. Well, this is about all I can think of now. Church services will start pretty soon now, so I will close. I wish you all a happy, brightNew Year and best wishes. Goodbye 'till we meet again. From your son and brother, Jacob Schaal We have the above letter on an old BurlingSon newspaper clipping which has no masthead or further notation on it. So we needed horse power in opening up the west, so my uncle persuaded me to come out here somewhere and form companies to buy a stallion. I recall that Henry Goebel, Posie Chandler, Lee Woodcock and Henry Johnson were in the first company. I was equipped to teach school and I took the school known as the Tuttle School. It was made of rock and I taught John Richards, his brother Harry, sister Edna and another sister, Cora; Ethel and Bertie Ragan, Clay and Hazel Yount and others. I do not remember any church close, but we held services at the school house and when a minister came through we had a sermon. Here is something that happened while I was teaching. John Richards and his two sisters were coming to school one morning, driving an old mare and the girls were picking on John. John tried to take care ofhimselfbut they were getting the best of him, so he hit the old mare a good one and threw out the lines and said, "There you are girls, I hope that old mare runs off and I hope we are all killed." But the old mare had too much rheumatism. They were not killed and John lived to raise a nice family. Yes, I worked on the old Bar T and I guess that was one of the most popular ranches of the day. Its big days were before I came. Burt Ragan came there as a poor boy and later became the manager. They never owned much land. They did not need to, they just turned the cattle loose as there were no obstructions in the first days. The cattle would drift in the storms clear to the Arkansas River and then fall in and drown. I did not hear much of the killing that took place out there. We had guns, but it was not necessary to wear them and there was plenty of n-munition. We had to wear our guns when the ranch was entertaining guests from who lived down the trail about five miles who milked a cow, so he got on a horse and started out. This man was pretty hard on a horse and he bounced so much that when the horse's back was going up he was coming down. Well he made the trip alright, but the milk must have been a little rich and sour for he had a little paddy of butter and some whey when he got back. I married in 1909 to Jessie L. Kellogg from my old hometown. Her father was out here before that buying buffalo hides. He was down in Kansas near Norton one day and there were just two little stores there. One of these men must have been new to the region for a large group of Indians came through and he was really scared. They were loaded with buffalo hides. Well, in a quick transaction Mr. Kellogg bought out the store and the same day traded the entire stock to the Indians for the hides. Those were great days that I spent at the Bar T, but it is better now. I would not want to go back to them. Mostly I helped put up hay and then went back to teaching school in the winter months. Burt Ragan, the manager then, was about ready to start out on his own as he had about 200 head of cattle. Henry Goebel was managing the Spring Valley and he traded and bought a lot. He was an accommodating man and you could always sell an animal to Henry. You could drive in a cow, calf, or even a hog and Henry would buy it for a fair price. by KCCC RATTLESNAKES MOVE IN T460 Our sandy ground is covered with a variety of grasses, sagebrush, soap weed and cactus. It is home for our cattle, horses, the coyotes, rabbits, pheasants, gophers and a few snakes. The snakes have a free range unless I discover them in my yard or we see a rattler. In October 1983, we began seeing more rattlesnakes that normal on the roads. Lyle Garner owns property to the east of us with rock cliffs facing south. We presume several rattlers were scouts, then passed the word that they had found a nice sunny location to hibernate for the winter. Lyle and Theo Borden went to these rocks looking for something to shoot at. They found �were going to get some rocks or not, but you could take a rock claim with another claim if you could find one and you could also take what you called a desert claim the same way. A desert claim was one that the government thought was too sandy and hilly to support a family. Anyway, they were on their way to this rock claim and were intending to go through the Bar T, as was the custom, and the Bar T was liking Mr. Munsinger less all the time, for one more homesteader meant a little less grass for the Bar T. Before they came to the Bar T Rattle Snakes Move In! (photo from Rich Gaddy) more than their wildest imagination would let them believe. They ca-e to get Garold and Tony to bring more guns and shovels to help them kill snakeg. They had killed 250 in just the few hours before sundown. The hunt went on for six weeks before the first snow. Each step was chosen with care. A live snake would be right beside a dead one. I was thankful for the sport of getting themselves a trophy of the skin or rattles. We kept a count from people that reported to us the number they had killed. I didn't want to know how many were taken out live in ten gallon cans. The dead ones totaled eleven hundred ninety five. Had there been this many rattlesnakes in the area for the summer, we would have seen them competing with the bullsnakes for the bird eggs. We would have been doctoring noses of curious horses all summer. Any that escaped probably decided not to trust that scout the next winter! It turned out to be an extra cold winter with lots of snow. We haven't seen many since. by Jean Paintin WE CAME FROM RUSSIA T461 This is the story of Fred Bauder as told by his wife Minnie on Januar5r 12, 1958. Fred was born in the area of Odessa in Russia in 1877 but, of course, he was not really Russian but German, as his grandfather had migrated from Germany to Russia. Fred and his parents arrived here in America in 1888 and took a homestead upon arrival, seven miles north of Bethune and just a little east. When Fred was 16 and his brother, Andrew, a little older, they were out looking for work. At first they worked on ranches as far away as north of Denver, Fred was back here working on the famous Bar T before he was 20. Most of the things that were typical ofoutfits like this happened before Fred went to work there. I have heard my father speak of some of them. One was about the time when the farm hand shot down the Mexican, when it was just a misunderstanding about a pair of gloves. Then there was another story about a man from Denver by the name of Munsinger who was making a living by locating homesteads and charging for it. He also did suweying. I do not know if he was qualified as a surveyor but someone had to do it. One day my father and Mr. Muneinger were going north to the Bar T to a rock claim. I don't know if they gate, one of the ranch wagons fell in just ahead of my father and Mr. Munsinger and told them not to come in. When the Bar T men produced three guns, Papa and Mr. Munsinger had to withdraw, but Mr. Munsinger was mad and turned around to go arm himself. I guess it had to come to showdown sometime to see if this land could be homesteaded, and the Bar T fenced in. Papa kept trying to get him to change his mind, but he kept right on going and did get a gun and come back, but he finally gave up and went the long way around to get to the rock claim. Later on they clashed again southwest of the Bar T headquarters. I think that Mr. Munsinger was surveying; he could have been as they kept getting closer with this work and Munsinger was armed this time and they shot it out. Munsinger killed the foreman and shot the heel off another man's boot. Someone asked Munsinger why he got one shot so low and he said he aimed low and did not want to kill the second man. Yes, Fred had some experiences while working on the Bar T, but they were the kind that fell the lot of all ranch hands at that time. There was lots of saddle work for they rode for miles and miles. There were lots of other things to do that the boys who think they would like to be cowboys never connect with ranch work. There was the time that he had to go to Lamar with two other men and get a trainload of Southern steers that were coming in. The train had been held up on the line by something they could not help. It may have been a washout or a wreck, I cannot remember anJrmore, but the steers cnme in in terrible shape. They were in the cars so long their hips were raw and they were awfully weak. Then they had to be branded before they left the yards, for as soon as they got them out of town they might mix with other cattle or some would stray away. There were a lot of them. I think it was 1,000. They got them branded and then started out with them through Lamar to the ranch north.Three of them were so weak that they dropped in the etreet before they got out of town and few more after that, but it was way after dark before they got them out far enough to let them bed down. Then the men were ready to try and get themselves something to eat, but before they had started, here came an official from Lsmar and said that they had to move those dead cattle out of town. They did just that with nothing to do it with but their ropes and the tired saddle horses. The year that they got this big shipment ofsteers from Lamar the ranch said that they had not made any money and Fred did not get paid his wages. They were supposed to give him $5.00 extra for every horse he broke and I think he received that. Water was sometimes the biggest problem. There was always plenty at the main ranch on the river but the cattle were many miles from there at times and wells were few and those old mills that they had then were not what we have now. Fred had to work on windmills and wells a lot and the help he had was not always good. He was working on one when the pipes slipped and came down on his hand. He had two fingers that were just dangling, so they rode into town and the doctor sewed them back on. Then the doctor left town, but not for good, just for a while. Well, this did not turn out very good, and Fred's hand startcd to mortify. They were afraid he might even lost his life. It did not seem that there was anything that could be done. But someone told him to go see a man by the name of Allen who was selling drugs in Burlington. This man had served in the Army and had been in the Hospital Medical Corps, as an assistant. He looked at Fred's hand and swore. and said "such a doctor." He removed the fingers, did some cutting and stitching, and the hand got well. Fred and I got married in 1907 and took a homestead 7 miles north of Bethune. It was not easy to establish and keep a home then, but then it was much better than when my folks started. We worked hard and we finally did get a nice ranch for ourselves totaling 1,319 acres. We raised four children and gave all a good education. Fred always did all he could to help in the community in whatever way he could. He suffered out the dry years like everyone else but hung on. Age and health forced him to give up the farm and move to town in 1946 where he could take life easier. He passed away in the spring of 1957. bv K.C.C.C. CHILDHOOD MEMORIES T462 As a child I cannot remember any special hardships. Now my parents are both deceased. We were just a short way from the South Dakota border which was then an Indian reservation. The Indians used to start prairie fires which the settlers spent many days control- ling. At present, this country is a fine ranching and farming area. When the time came for the government to ope-n the country for settlement, many people lived in sod houses. The sod houses were always cool in the summer and warm in winter. In our sod house, we used a topsy stove one winter for heat. This had what was called a drum oven on the pipe for baking. My mother baked many loaves of bread and other goodies in it. My mother had many beautiful flowers in the windows. In early days, there were no churches but there was a family who had moved into our neighborhood who organized a Sunday school. The father of this family had been Governor of the State of Nebraska. He was a fine man and worthy to be our Sunday school superintendent. This Sunday school was held in our little school house. Many are the happy memories of those days when I attended a rural school. To me, it is doubtful if anything can ever replace the rural school for children. To me. that is one �of the reasons for a strong America. The following poem recalls many blessed feelings. brothers considerable trouble. The wild stallions would come into their horse herds Our kitchen seems to be the place Where all the family gather. Round the table they will sit, Because they say, they'd rather. Our kitchen seems to be the place Which makes our house a home. and steal many of their mares and drive them miles away from the Wagner's range. The brothers at last got permission from the State Government of Colorado to shoot the wild stallions whenever they were caught stealing mares. Most of the stallions were smaller and not nearly as valuable as the Here we dance and sing and play And have no thoughts to ronm. by Grace Corliss LINCOLN HIGHWAY 19 13 the cities where there is a cattle market today. There were a good many wild horses in this area at that time and they caused the Wagner T463 According to the Cappers Weekly on Oct. 29, 1963, Halloween of 1963 was the Fiftieth Anniversary of a celebration dedicating the first proposed route of the Lincoln Highway which passed through Kit Carson County about where Highway 24 is now. I well remember Burlington's part in the celebration. The town folks had received advance word from members of a thirty car caravan of eastern people who planned to make the first transcontinental trip by car on the new Lincoln Highway that would pass through Burlington on a certain date. So the Burlington town folks, wishing to give those eastern tenderfeet a taste of western hospitality and wild west entertainment, arranged in an old fashioned chuck wagon feed and a small rodeo at the fair grounds. The caravan arrived on schedule with probably the most automobiles that had ever been in Burlington at one time; thirty four autos. The chuck wagon feed was a grand success. My brother Millard, and I, had ridden forty miles from our ranch to bring in some bucking horses. Apparently the visitors had never seen a cowboy and a bronco in action together before. They had cameras of all kinds, shooting us from all directions. For something special and different, my brother Millard put his saddle on his bronco backwards, then mounted, and rode backwards. The four cowboys that took part in the bronc riding that day were: Jim Jones of Kanorado, Bert Townes of Burlington, Millard Harrison and myself, Carl Harrison of Vona. by J. Carl Ilarrieon IIORSE RANCHING T46'4 Wagner's domesticated horses. The brothers were also given permission to catch, brand and break any of these wild ponies that they desired. So one winter they made quite a project of catching wild horses. They chose winter time when the wild horses were thin and not very strong. They would ride until they found a wild herd, then with their well fed and strong saddle horses they would be able to rope the wild horses on the prairie. They would then put a rope hobble on their catch, turn it loose and rope another, proceeding in that way until they had spent their saddle horses or caught what they wanted. In doing this the hobbled horses could be herded together and driven to their ranch headquarters without too much more trouble. Corraling a loose wild horse with a saddle horse is about like trying to corral a jack rabbit or a coyote. Since these horses had never known or learned to respect a barbed wire fence, it was almost impossible to keep them in a corral or a pasture. Keeping the horses gave them more trouble than catching them. Fred Wagner told me that they tried some horse steaks from some of the wild horses that they killed. They never relished horse steak as it always seemed to have a sweet sweaty horse like the smell of a sweaty horse. I have heard it said many times in the old days that John Wagner was a real wizard in his handling and breaking of wild horses. He seemingly cast a spell over extremely wild horses. He could then accomplish things in their handling and breaking that no one else could. The brothers had a horseman friend and neighbor in Cheyenne County, Colorado by the name of Pinky Henderson. Pinky came to them with a hard luck story. It seemed he had sold, loose on the range, about fifty head ofhorses, to a New York buyer to be rounded up, loaded and shipped at a certain time. When the time came to deliver them. he found that he was unable to corral them. There were some wild horses running his, and some ofhis horses had never been in a corral. When he was crowding them near a corral, the wildest horses in the herd would break back like jack rabbits in all directions and while he was trying to stop one critter the rest would break and run and soon the herd was scattered and gone beyond hope of stopping Two brothers, Fred and John Wagner, moved into Kit Carson County from Cheyenne County, Nebraska in 1903. They them that day. Henderson knew Fred and John were excellent horsemen with a good string of broughtwith them about seven hundred head extra good saddle horses. He had come to ask them to come down into Cheyenne County and help him corral the horses that he had ofhorses. John took a homestead about eight miles south of Stratton where they made their headquarters for some time. The government land was all open so their horse pasture qr6s elmssf, boundless. There was a fair market for horses in thoge days to the Army for cavalry horses. Many were shipped to the eastern United States and a great many were shipped to Europe. There was a good horse market at about all sold. Fred and John moved down near Henderson's place. They took with them a chuckwagon and a string of good strong saddle horses to help Henderson corral his horses. The next day the three of them went out and spent a good share ofthe day getting the horses rounded up and back near the home corral. As they neared the corral a few of the wild "quitters" as Fred called them, began to get nervous and tried to break out and leave the herd. With strong fast mounts the men managed to hold them together almost to the corral gate. A wild stallion broke back between the horsemen. In trying to stop him, they left other gaps open and a few seconds later horses were scattered and running in every direction. They let the wild horses go for that day and tried again the next day with the seme results. On the third day the wild stallions, that had succeeded in escaping twice before taking the rest of the herd with them, repeated the performance. Fred and John were pretty badly disgusted with their failures. When Henderson wanted them to try it again, they told him that they were tired running their saddle horses for nothing. They said they wouldn't help to try to corral the horses again unless he, Henderson, would allow them to shoot the quitters whenever one started to break out of the herd. Since Henderson wouldn't think of letting them shoot any ofhis horses, Fred and John packed up their chuckwagon, took their saddle horses and went home. After a week or ten days of unsuccessful attempts to corral his horses or to get other efficient help to do the job, Henderson again appealed to the Wagner brothers to help him. In the deal, he would allow them to shoot the quitters. Their next attempt at corraling the herd proceeded about as usual until they were nearing the corral gates. A big beautiful sorrel stallion broke back. Fred said that he thought, as he saw that big beautiful horse breaking for safety, "I would sure hate to kill that horse if he were mine, but he has got to be stopped." He took aim and let him have it. By the time the smoke had cleared away, he and John had killed four or five quitters. They were then able to corral the remainder of the herd without much trouble. When the gates were closed securely, Fred said, "I rode out to take a look at the big sorrel stallion that I had just killed. I turned him over to see if he was branded and dnmned if he wasn't my own hoss," by .I. Carl Harrigon CHRISTMAS ON THE PLAINS 1930 STYLE T465 The weeks before Christmas were filled with much preparation for the school program. Our school never had more than seven students enrolled in all eight grades but we always had a program that would last about 2 hours many skits, memorized solos, duets, groups. We "readings", songs - by their hems to form would hang sheets dressing rooms and curtains to draw. If the pupils had younger brothers or sisters at home they were encouraged to "speak a piece". This was always looked forward to and enjoyed because you never knew for sure what would happen. My sisters and I always had new dresses for the program that my mother had made usually out of used fabric that some of the family had given her. I remember especially a beautiful tan colored dress trimmed with a �pretty bright plaid. I had put it on to wear for the very first time and in the hurry and commotion to get ready a bottle of hair oil that one of my brothers had out to use got tipped over and spilled down the front of my new dress. Of course I had to wear something old and since the fabric was not washable (wool) the dress had to be discarded. We always had a church program to take part in also however since it served a much larger area there were alot more people to share the responsibility. I remember the church Christmag tree looked huge to me and since no one had trees in their homes it was a real sight. Real candles were placed on the tree and were lit during the program. One of the men of the congregation would stand close by to put out the fire should one occur. Santa made his appearance at the end of the progrrm with treats for all the children. I remember getting a package in the mail from Grandma Jameg (she died when I was five or six so it must have been her last Christmas.) It sat in the unheated "parlor" until Christmas morning. No present was ever opened around our house until that magical morning. In the mail also would come a box from an uncle who had a goodjob in the Oklahoma oilfieldg. We didn't open it either but we knew it would be a 5 pound box of a luxurious gift! chocolates - What I remember the year when I was about six years old my parents had given me some chickens to raiee. They told me if I took good care of them I could sell them at Chrigtmas time and I would have some money to buy presents with. When December came I asked my Dad if he would take my five hens to town and sell them for me. Realizing that the effort of catching them and taking them to town was going to be more trouble than they were worth he got out his pencil and paper and proceeded to make me a business deal. He figured out what each would probably weigh and what the going rate per pound was at the time and wrote me a check for the amount. I was very proud ofthat traneaction and altho the check was a few cents less than a dollar (this was during the depression) I managed to buy something for everyone - Mother, Dad, three brothers, and three sisters. Christmas Eve was always a very special partly because we were excited about time Santa- coming and presents waiting to be opened next morning but mostly because of the tradition of the white tablecloth and the light€d candles while we ate our bowls of steaming oyster soup. Before we started to eat however we listened to the reading of the Christmas Story. I always wanted to go to bed right after supper so morning would come faster. My sisters and I would be up in the morning long before daylight to see what Santa left in our stockings. Dad would hear us up and he would get up also to get a warm fire going in the heating stove. Our presents from Santa were usually small enough to fit into our long cotton stockings (the kind we wore daily). The foot of the sock was always filled with candy and nuts. On the table would be all the pretty bowls that we never used any other time of year and they would be heaped high with peanut brittle, hard candy, peanut clusters, nuts of all kinde. Compared to the 1980s our presents in those days were really nothing at all but I cannot ever remember being dieappointed with what I got in fact I always felt like a very lucky little girl as indeed I was. by Reta James Lounge herding cattle and horses on the free range, milking cows and delivering the cream and eggs into Vona seventeen miles away by team and buggy. by J. Carl Harrison 65 YEARS A FARMER. RANCHER T466 As I heard and saw our 1979 cattle selling at record high prices I wondered how many of our 1979 cattlemen remember or have heard their father or grandfather recall the cattle price situation back in the 1930's when there wae a surplus of cattle and a shortage of feed. There would be a fair crop of thistles on land where the planted crop had failed. The thistles were mowed and raked and stacked where, in some areas, that was the prevailing cow feed. In some instances, the stalks of the thistles were so had and stiff that a cow couldn't eat them so in a good many instances a farmer with an old type thrashing machine would make the rounds in the neighborhood and the etacks of thistles were run through the machine which ground them up fine enough that a cow could eat them. The winter weather wae hard and people were losing cattle from starvation. F.D. Roosevelt put a law through suggesting the killing of surplus cattle, and in return the government would pay the owner for what was killed. It was either that or let them starve, so I called for government assistance. At last the government crew anived. It was a hard pill to take to etand in your cattle corral and watch those government riflemen stand and shoot your cow herd down one at a time, but it was either that or see them starve. We were paid twelve dollars per head for our cows and four dollars for calves. Several of our neighbors were present at the time and I told them to butcher out anything that had any meat on them and they did. I bought corn for twenty-five cents per bushel for supplemental feed for the few cattle that I had left and bought replacement calves the next year for $1.00 per head. I have seen hundreds of head of horses on the free range of which very few were claimed by any one, almost like the old wild horse days. All that a cowboy had to do was to pick out the horse that he wanted and help himself. It used o be said that a well-mounted cowboy had a $10.00 horse and a $50.00 saddle. I fed out a carload of gteers in the early twenties on 25 cent corn and delivered them to Kansas City by rail for $6.15 per hundred pounds. And along about that time a license tag wasn't required on a car and no brake and light inspection. There was no income tax and in L924, the tax on our half-section homestead was just $12.00. About that time, I taught a country school, and was bus driver and janitor for $50.00 per month. At least it kept me off W.P.A. In the summer of 1926, I rode a horse from our homestead south of Vona to Colorado Springs to attend a summer session of a teacherg review course at Colorado College for six weeks. During that time, my wife, Winnie, and our two small boys ran the ranch alone; raising chickens, caring for the hogs, CORN HARVEST SIXTY YEARS AGO T487 Back in 1916, corn was the main cash crop in Kit Carson County, especially north of the Rock Island Railroad. There was no deep well irrigation in those days, so corn was a dry land crop. All was picked by hand as the corn picker had not yet been invented. Thirty or forty bushel per acre was considered a good yield. In those days, a corn picker was one man with a team of horses hitched to a lumber wagon. The wagon had two or three sets of side boards and a high bump board on the off side to stop the ears of corn as the shucker threw them at the wagon. A good corn shucker in getting to the field by day light and staying at it steady till dark could shuck between seventy five and a hundred bushels, depending on the quality of the corn and the general size of the ears. When a farmer hired a corn shucker, he was paid about three or four cents per bushel for his work, which amounted to somewhere from $2.00 to $4.00 per day. This depended on his speed and staying power. The shucker generally furnished his own team and wagon for which he would receive feed for his tenm and his own board and room. The boss would measure the corn that the shucker brought in as one bushel for every inch high filled in a standard wagon box. Then he had to scoop his load off after dark. A great deal of the corn raised north of Stratton was hauled directly into Stratton and sold to the Stratton Equity Coop. The Co-op bought thousands of bushels of corn by wagon box measure, which was one bushel to the inch. This was ag accurate as weighing a load and paying for one half of the weight as corn and the other half of the weight as the cob for which they received nothing. Around .500 per bushel was a fair price in those days. During the rush of corn picking season on most any day you could see a continual line of horse drawn wagons loaded with ear corn coming into Stratton from the road running straight north. There would be a solid line of wagons as far as you could see. The Co-op would have the corn unloaded in long ricks on the open land just north of the Rock Island Railroad where Miller's car wrecking yards are now. The Co-op then shelled the corn and left the cobs in long ricks which they sold back to the formers and town people for $1.00 a load. They used the cobs as fuel for cook stoves and heaters. There was a time during the 1920s when corn was so cheap that many families, mine included, didn't bother to shell the corn off the cob. Instead they used ear corn for fuel in place of wood, wood, or cow chips. by J. Carl llarrison �THE LAST ROUNDUP T468 Probably the last old style cowboy-chuck wagon roundup to take place in Kit Carson county was brought about by an odd group of circumstances back in the early twenties. But before getting to the story proper, a little back ground material is necessary. A good many residents will remember a couple of good old dry land farmers, who settled northeast of Stratton, brothers-inlaw, H.H. Woods and F.P. Powers. They decided to spread out a little in a partnership cattle venture. They went to some southern market and bought around 400 head of aged southern steers. Now for someone who had always handled gentle docile native cows, there was quite a bit to learn about handling a herd of aged southern gteers on the open range. But not knowing anything of the wild roving nature of their newly purchased herd, they decided to make use of the open range that was pretty plentiful yet in the southern part of the county. They made a deal with a farmer about 14 miles south of Stratton, Herb Ellis, to furnish water at his windmills and ride herd on the bunch. Ellis let them know that he would be pretty busy farming, but that they had a little cow pony mare that his wife could ride and that she could keep an eye on the steers in her spare time. Eventually the cattle arrived by rail. They were unloaded in Stratton, and driven out to the Herb Ellis farm. They arrived at the watering place about a half mile from the Ellis home, but just out of sight of it, about sundown. The cattle took a good drink and laid down to rest. The three men, Woods, Powers and Ellis, thought that it looked like the end ofa perfect day and from then on all they needed to do was to watch those nice gentle steers eat, drink and get fat. So they all retired to their homes without the least thought of worry. But little did they realize what was in the minds of "those nice gentle steers". The next morning at the Ellis farm, after the chores were done and breakfast over, Ellis and his wife cranked up the Model T, deciding they would drive over the hill to the herd, check the water, and perhaps make a count. But to their bewildering surprise as they crested the hill in view of the watering tanks, not a single steer was to be seen in any direction. "Oh, well", Herb says, "they likely just moved over the next hill. We will find them right there". But What!! No steers over the next hill. At that turn of events, Herb decided to drive back home, get the old saddle mare, lead her behind the car until they found the cattle and then the Mrs. could drive them back near the home place. They acted on that decision. They drove till they played the old mare out leading her behind the car and never found but 30-40 head. Then they tied the old mare to a fence, as she slowed them down too much. and drove on into the afternoon. I might mention here that what Woods, Powers and Ellis didn't know about this particular breed of long-legged steers, was they were accustomed to moving 6 to 8 miles at a time, or if they should become frightened by a dog or car they would stampede. It was nothing for them to run 8 or 10 miles without stopping. So before the day was over, Ellis and his wife decided to go home and send word to Woods and Powers of the developments and ask their advice. Early the next morning the owners, Woods and Powers, drove to the Ellis farm themselves, visibly disgruntled at the Ellis'carelessness and disability to effectively ride herd and keep tabs on a bunch of"nice old steers", and immediately took off in their car to find, round up and return those "nice old steers", to the home stomping ground. They drove a good share of the day, back and forth, round and about, and to their surprise found very few of their cattle. They did locate a small bunch near the Buzz Dunlap ranch, where they stopped and talked tn Buzz, telling him of their dilemma and asking his advice as to how best to get their wayward steers located and gathered. Wher- eupon, Buzz advised them to get an old fashioned chuck wagon, hire a crew of cowboys and conduct a real old time roundup. So, that is what they proceeded to do, and inside of a few days had secured a horse dravm chuck wagon, and hired a few cowboys and a few extra saddle horses. The cowboys that were hired were: Maynard Dunham, Buzz Dunlap, Roy Chamberlin, and myself Carl Harrison. Also helping was H.H. Woods sixteen year old son, ding snort and the stampede was on. The drivers barely escaped with their lives, as that 200 head of steers turned in fright, as one solid mass and thundered off into the night. They had done it again, only this time the bosses had seen how it happened. They learned quite a lot in those few short moments about the temperament and disposition of those nice old southern steers. They realized that it wan an impossible task to try to stop them or to bring them back in the dark. We cowboys knew nothing of the episode until we returned Monday morning, only to find our last week's work had come undone in a few fateful minutes. The bosses were out in their automobile frantically scouring the range for their wayward steers. Before noon the bosses were back in camp empty-handed, looking rather sheepish. We soon got organized and were on our way again. We tracked the herd to a sand creek about 2 miles south of Dunlaps, where we counted about 200 fresh tracks, where they crossed the sand creek still at a trot. The rest of the roundup was somewhatuneventful. We found some of the steers within 10 miles of Cheyenne Wells and First View. We spent almost another week before we found them all and delivered them back to the home range. Woods and Powers had learned through some costly experience that the farmer's wife Harvey. The two bosses manned the chuck wagon, took the extra saddle horses in tow, in her spare time with one little old pony mare was no match for that bunch of long prepared the riders three meals a day, and set up camp at night, any place night happened with a good tight fence. That is where our to overtake us. With the accumulation of steers that we found each day and added to the herd, we took turns night herding for fear of losing them all again. We started covering an area about 20 miles in diameter around the Ellis farm. At the end of 4 or 5 days we had found only about half of the herd. With Saturday night coming up, the cowboys decided they wanted to go home and rest over Sunday. Powers made the remark to us before we left, that he didn't understand why anyone should have any trouble holding that bunch of cattle. "Why," he said, "A ten year old boy with a threelegged horse should be able to keep track of that herd of steers." Oh!! What he didn't know, but was soon to learn after his help was gone and before the night was over. The bosses watched the cattle for an hour. some grazing, some lying down, so they decided to pitch their tent a few rods south of Dunlap's corrals. Just before dark, the two men had some misgivings. Powers said to Woods, "Just suppose we should sleep too soundly and those cattle should decide to move again tonight, don't you believe it would be the wise thing to do, to put them in Dunlap's corral?" They agreed that that was best. So, shortly they were out around the legged steers. So the owners rented a pasture roundup terminated. But before the cowboys left for home that last night, one of them admonished Powers, that he should get that "10 year old boy with the three legged horse", on the job for safety.!! by J. Carl Harrison BIG ROUNDUP T469 In the early 1900's the land in Kit Carson and Cheyenne Counties was principally devoted to stock raising. Most of the land was not fenced as yet, and the ranchers let their herds of horses and cattle graze for miles in any direction almost without limit over the open and unfenced prairie. Most ranchers employed range riders or cowboys who rode the range almost constantly for the sake of keeping tab on the whereabouts of the loose cattle, checking to find how far from the home ranch they were ranging, and turning some bunches back in toward the home place that had wandered too far off their home range. Some large outfits that allowed their cattle herd bunching them and driving them toward to range for many miles in all directions the corral. There wae one more thing these men hadn't realized and that was these cattle hadn't been raised around the habitats of civilized men. Namely; houses, barns, autos, men on foot, and last, but not least, as they would conduct a round up in the fall for the attempted to drive them during the time that dusk turns to darkness, past the camp tent, in which a lighted lantern had been left. At that particular instant a playful puff of wind co-e along, flapped the sides of and the entrance flaps of the already spooky looking tent. A dozen leader steers let out a resoun- sake of sorting out the sellable stock for market, branding and weaning calves, and keeping the herd near the winter feed supply. I attended one of these big roundups in Cheyenne County in 1913. It was conducted by two brothers, Bret and Ike Grey who were large operators in that area. The Grey brothers employed about 15 cowboys for the roundup. Some ofthe boys brought their own saddle horses, and with those that the boss supplied, there must have been 35 saddle horses in the remount supply string. It was �one cowboy's job to ride herd on the saddle horse herd, and follow up with the chuck wagon whenever it moved. This cowboy was cdled the horse wrangler. He would also bring the horse herd into camp, usually in the morning, or any time of day when fresh mounts were required. The cowboys would make a corral of lariat ropes, the boys themselves acting as poets in the fence. Then each cowboy in his turn would go in and catch the mount he wanted. Meals were served at the chuck wagon, I DROVE TIIE STAGES T470 Yes, I drove the stage coaches and I am not surprised that you are surprised for there are not many of us left. I do not know of any of the men that I drove with that are living. Stage coach driving had its incidents and some of them would seem precarious today, but at the time it was just a way of life and the fastest transportation that we had. It prepared by the roundup cook. Those meals were certainly relished after a day of hard riding. We each had our bedroll and slept on the softest place we could find on the ground would get you there and just about anywhere that you wanted to go. You have come a little late to get the story that I could have told you 50 years ago when drifting too far at night and also to keep them from stampeding. We never experienced a stampede on the Grey roundups, but I have seen real stampedes of herds of wild cattle who becn'ne frightened by a noise or a light at night and from any experience that was no use trying to stop a stampede of wild frightened cattle at night. I have known them could have told you of several single trips that under the stars. We took turns at night herding to keep the gathered herd from to run and travel for eight or ten mileg before stopping. Since the roundup was a good time and place to break in a green bronco there were generally a few in the remount string. Most every morning, some cowboy would draw a wild one and we would have a little exhibition. The wild horse, after being roped, would be snubbed to the saddle horn of a gentle horse, then blindfolded and eared down by a man on the gentle horse until the bronco was saddle and bridled. Then the rider got on, the blindfolds were taken off, and the horse turned loose to do his worst. This particular roundup was in process for about three weeks, and the country covered pretty thoroughly from the U.P. Railroad to the north line ofCheyenne County north and south, and from about even with Cheyenne Wells to Wild Horse east and west, moving the chuck wagon headquarters in a big circle, adding the cattle that were gathered each day to the holding herd was was moved alongwith the chuck wagon each time it changed snmping places. Several of the smaller ranchers in the areajoined the roundup for the sake of gathering their own cattle that might be scattered somewhere in the area. The cowboys were told to pick up all cattle carrying the brands of the several helping ranchers. This was my case, as I was gathering for my father, A.W. Harrison, who was located about 20 miles southwest of Stratton. Some of the old timers may remember some of the nnmss of the helping ranchers: Billy Lang, Mustache Barber, Al Hungerford, Win Cotton, Ben Brown, and Mr, Freeman. The roundup ended near an old cow camp about 20 miles NW of Kit Carson, known then as "Lost Springs", and we had nearly 2,000 head of cattle. We held them there several days working the herd, cutting out the cattle of each of the small ranchers in turn and holding them some distance from the main herd, until each was sure he had all of his brand, I then headed for home with about 30 head of my father's cattle. My time with the roundup had been well spent. by J. Carl Harrison my memory served me better. When I climbed off the lagt coach on my last drive I would have made a good story, but today I cannot remember the towns I went through. I can remember, though, some of the hills, especially coming down them. Going up a hill was of little notice when the horses had something to pull on but going down took skill and courage more than once. The passengers never knew how many times I have felt my heart up high in my throat. There is one thing that I have often wished I could do, and that is to have 4 "4-up" or "6up" of some of the horses I used to drive on one of the old stages on the same old road filled with some of the kids here in Flagler. It would be something they would never forget. This is as I remember it. Our state route was 365 miles long and it ran between Schanico and Corvallis, Oregon. My run was from Prineville to Schancio, or anyway I can remember climbing off at the end of the run in those towns. I well remember those wonderful horses. I do not see how a company could put together such a string of animals. They were of various colors but much of the same built; tall, good bodies and muscular with stamina to spare. You could not keep them from running, no matter howyoupulled they went, but just a mere whoa that they could hear and they would stop. I crossed several streams and hills and the hills were where I had to be real careful. There was one bridge of a sort and it was a $500 fine to run a horse over it. I could pull the horses down so that they were going slow, but they pranced and still shook the old bridge. I had to come down quite a hill just before going on this bridge and one day, pull as I could, the horses kept gaining speed and I noticed that the coach was pushing on the tongue team. I looked at the brakes that were on the back wheels and one of the shoes was gone. The other one was not effective for the shoes were on a benm that was hung under the coach and when I pushed on them with my foot it applied pressured to the center of the beam. This equalized them. I could not slow them down nor stop them and they acted like they really were having a time at last, but the bridge stood it and I was not caught but I thought I might be for one of the passengers knew the bridge and told me at the next stop that I was supposed to walk the horses over it. If she only knew how close they came to losing their driver on the curve leading on to the bridge. I was satisfied. We hit the bridge with dl four wheels on the planking and I was thinking as we approached it that two of them might not fit. I have a soft spot in my heart for the days I drove the stages and I think of them a lot. We came in to the station on a tear, dust fogging. That was the only way the horses would do it. I had to use the brakes, for the stop was sudden and if I did not use the brakes the coach would push the tongue tesm and tongue into the lead tenm. I climbed down and attended the baggage and passen- gers. I was through with the horses for someone else took over that. Sometimes I drove six horses, but mostly four. I carried up to 1,550 pounds of baggage and mail. This took very little time. The fresh horges were already out and hitched when we arrived. On some coaches the tongue clipped onto the coach so all you needed to do was unclip it, drive the foamy horses offand back the fresh ones in and clip their tongue on, but on most of them you had to drop the tugs on the tongue team. That was the most the servicemen ever did. They hitched the lead teams. They clipped on and off and, no matter how, changing horses never took one minute. I always looked around and usually hailed someone I knew. Conversation was loud and fast. Sometimes there were orders for me that were hard to hear. I climbed up, and on the way saw that the baggage was hard fast. I picked up the lines and released the brakes and we were off right then and just like we came in. These horses always cnme in fast and left the same way. Passengers in the back seat faced the front and more than once the start caught one of them leaning forward and I would hear their back clump against the back of the seat. At one stage stop I had to drop the mail bags off at the post office, turn a corner and then stop at the stage depot. It was at this place that I had a lead team that I well remember. This team had been passed up by several drivers because they were so hard to control. Some thought they had been used on a fire engine somewhere for they never wanted to slow up until you were ready to stop. They pulled harder on the bits than some 6-ups. I drove these horses out one day and outside of the pulling that I had to do on the lines I did not have any trouble. I will never forget though the sudden stops and quick starts. They always stopped, too, when they were supposed to. They knew we stopped at the post office and they always did, and they knew, too, that it was just a little ways and around the corner where we stopped again, but would they take it easy? No! We came into the second stop on the double. The service had a cooling offstop where they stood for awhile and they knew where that was, too, so that just as soon as they were unclipped from the stage they slid the attendant to their cooling offplace. I wish you could have driven that tenm. I rather expect that stage stops were different than most people picture them. There was lots of interest in the stage aniving. Anyone who was not in town too often made it a point to be there when the stage came in. There was more interest in the stage than in the trains. News was so valuable and more carelessly given, as it was not authenticated like it is now and, ofcourse, the isolated areas were more eager to get it and repeat it. There was no style in dress except that it seemed the more the ladies could put on the more in style they were. The bigger and wider the hat also. It looked like some of the men coming from the east had worn all the clothes �they had. These were the men coming in to make it their home and somehow get their living in this new land. They were the dandies, too, who dressed the part and told the tallest stories. I was in full charge of the coach on the road. The passengers were in my care and if I gave them an order it was to be obeyed. They were wonderful days; very, very wonderful for a young man like me. Some of the drivers were well known for only old timer's store in Flagler and probably in the county. My wife and I are enjoying good health. We hire no help and have not thought of retiring. Some of our slowest moving items have been here for some time. Anna and I saw Flagler born and have seen it grow and it has been a happy experience, a happy life being a part of it. by Roy Bader, deceased one reason or other. The stories oftheir deeds that made them known were told and retold around the stage stops. I was born July 30, 1881, and was named Earl Brown. We came to Flagler in '88 after living three years at Brewster, Kansas, and took a homestead, the northeast quarter of section 12, township 9, range 50. My wife Anna, coms for the same reason, to take a homestead, only she came later and alone and I soon changed her nnme which was Boethin to Brown. We were married September 1, 1913. We had two children that did not survive us, as one lived just for a short time and we lost the other in the 'flu epidemic of 1918. We saw the rails laid into town and it eure had a big meaning for all of us. Before this we had freighted everything from the railroad that was south of us and had gotten our mail from Bowserville. Merchandise of a minor nature was also sold at the post office and the new road came close to this and it was built fast as so many crews worked at different places. They were near Bowserville on July 4th, 1888, and the crews got in bad shape from celebrating with some kind of liquor. They said they got it at the post office and there was trouble about this as you could not dispense liquor from such. Federal trouble was trouble then, as now,as there were forts here and there. The closest one here was on the Arickaree River north of here. I was here to see some of the last cattle drives and while I understand lots of them watered at Crystal Springs, the ones I saw were west of the town of Flager. They were large droves and I think 25 or 30 men were with each drive. They powdered the earth and drank the river dry. They were not always steers, in fact, lots of times they were nearly all cows. I was pretty young and maybe that was why I was always late in getting there to see the whole thing, but I never did get over there and mingle with the punchers like I would now if I just had the chance. There was one homesteader who built the wall for his barn out of ties and that was when they were building the railroad. Well, a man from the Flagler headquarters went out and told him that he would have to return them as they were building a railroad and not barns. Well, the fellow told the railroad official that he could not make him return Union Pacific ties and they had to leave it that way. The ties stayed in the barn wall. We had our fling at the cattle business, but my father liked business better and entered it early. The homesteaders start€d raising grain just as soon as they could get it planted and about that time Dad started buying it. Everything then had to be sacked and he loaded out two cars one night after supper and that was in the early nineties. There were about a dozen farmers helping him and each car held about 500 bushels. I think I have have established a record in Kit Carson County in one respect. We have been in the some store since 1903. It is the Corn shucks were used for bed ticks (mattresses). There were also feather ticks, but that took lots of feathers. Pillows were also made of feathers. Chicken was a summer time meat and the soft feathers and down were always saved from the fowls. Kerosene lamps were used for lights and kerosene lanterns were carried for any out door chores or anything after dark. The cave (cellar) was a cool place to keep things. It was a place for potatoes, winter vegetables, fruit and all kinds of canned goods. LIFE AS A EARLY FARMERS T47l Saturday was 'town day' for the farmers a day to take in the cream and eggs and do the trading. All farmers had milk cows. Milking was one of many regular morning by Isaphene Dunlap Leeher JOIIN WILLIAM BORDERS and evening chores. The milk also had to be separated (hand-powered separator) and by Saturday, creom and eggs needed to be taken to town. Cream was kept in a cool place in five or ten gallon cans and had to be stirred with a long special stirrer during the week. Eggs were carried in egg cases (twelve, six or three dozen size) or in a bucket with grain (barley, wheat or milled) poured over them to keep them from breaking. Farmers did their weekly trading, visited neighbors (who were also in town) and on Saturday evening in Burlington, the Bandstand was pulled to the intersection of Senter and 14th Street (Main Street) and there, local talent played various band instruments. It was good entertainment. All farm wives raised big gardens, set incubators or hens and raised baby chicks. Roosters were used for fryers. Oh, how good that first 'fryer tasted about the 4th of July! Pullets were raised for the next years'layers'. Incubators cnme in 500 - 250 - 110 - 50 egg size with a kerosene heater underneath. A thermometer was placed on the eggs in hopes of keeping the heat regulated. Each egg had to be turned over every day by hand. It took three weeks from the time of setting to the hatch. Butchering was done in the fall after the weather became cool because there was no John William Borders. refrigeration. Pork meat was cured with liquid smoke and hot pepper rubbed well on the meat, or fried down. After the meat was fried and put in large stone jars, hot lard was poured over it to cover and seal the meat. Sausage was especially good prepared this way. Pork was also smoked. Beef, pork and chicken were also canned in mason jars. The fat was trimmed off the pork meat, cut into pieces and cooked in a large container, then lard was rendered off. The cracklings were used to make soap. Lye and water were added and cooked to the right consistency, then left to cool. Later it was cut into chunks and put on a board to dry. Fuels for stoves (both cooking and heating) were corn cobs, coal and cow chips. Cow chips made a good quick hot fire, but Oh - the ashes! However nothing went to waste. The ashes were put in a barrel resting on a sloping board and water was added which leached the lye from the ashes. Shoes were shined by turning a stove lid upside down, using a little water with the soot, and this was applied to shoes with a cloth or brush, then rubbed to polish. Manda I. Borders T472 �J.W. Borders was born to Mr. and Mrs. James Borders on December 3, 1881, in Reedsburg, Wisconsin. His mother was the former Miss Sarah Tabitha Musselman. J.W. was educat€d in the grade schools of Wiscon- sin and graduated from high school in Stratton, Colorado. Although he held a teacher's certificate, he never taught. He cnme to Stratton, Colotado in 1897 where there were only thirteen people in the settlement and worked with a railroad sec- tion crew for 13.5 cents per hour. About 1905 he took out a tree claim locatpd three miles north west of Stratton and fatmed for several years. He then becnrne a partner of Nason Fuller in the operation of a grocery store. After a week of this partnership, the store burned down, but was rebuilt. Later Mr. Borders went into the grain business. J.W. Borders was a widely known grain dealer throughout Kit Carson County, Colorado and also in Lincoln County, Colorado. He was the manager and main stockholder of the Snell Grain Company in Stratton for many years. The Snell Grain Company had six branches, located in Stratton, Vona, Genoa, Hugo, Flagler, and Arriba, Colorado. Mr. Borders became a grain buyer for Snell Milling and Grain Company of Clay Center, Kansas in 1911. In 1912 he bought out Mr. Snell and built a grain elevator that was added onto many times. The Snell Grain Company was reorganized and incorporated and its n'me was changed to the Snell Grain Company. It was also a closed family corpora- tion. Although the Borders Family is no longer involved with Snell Grain Company the company is still in existence in Arriba, his farming operations and through general merchandising with the development of Stratton and that section of Kit Carson County. He lived a busy, useful, active, clean and honorable life and left to his family the priceless heritage of an untarnished name. Nason Fuller was born in Canada February 6, 1846, and there pursued his education until he was sixteen years of age, when he moved to Piatt County, Illinois. He was quite small when his father died. At a young age he began work upon the home farm and when the family moved to lllinois he assisted his mother with the farm work. The family consisted of six sons and two daughters. Mr. Fuller and his brothers carried on the farm in Piatt County until he was twenty-four years old. The family then moved to Mcdonough County, Illinois, where Nason secured employment in a wood shop. He assisted in the building of wagons and in other wood County, Illinois, the daughter of George Gregg and Lydia (Majors) Ingre-. George Gregg Ingram was a stonemason and farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Nason H. Fuller moved in September, L872,to Iowa, where they resided for eleven years. Mr. Fuller worked at various occupations, but mainly did blacksmith work and farming during the period. He was successful in almost everything he undertook throughout his life. He was a man of sound judgment and discrimination and thus his named Ira D. He married Bertha Arnold and lived in Vona, where he conducted a general store. Ira and Bertha had two children, Hoyt and Susan. In 1884 a second child, Manda Iva was born from Burlington. The railroad was completed in May of 1888. Mr. and Mrs. J.W. Borders becn-e the parents of four children: Floyd, who married Rena Mae Hartwig of Vona, Colorado; Halbert (deceased), married Olive Cozine; Hazel who married Hershel C. Harrison; and Marion who married Eleanor De Walt of Longmont, Colorado. There were five grandchildren: Richard Lee, married to Pa.tricia Lowe; Donald Dee, married to Sandra Simson; Robert, who married Zulma McDermott; Diane, married to Tom Moore of Santa Fe, New Mexico; and John Wilson, married to Margaret Schwall. Robert is now married to Emma Jean Sewell. Halbert Borders passed away in 1946. Mrs. J.W. Borders passed away on March 29,L962. J.W. Borders passed away on October 29, L970. by Marion Borders T474 February, 1872, Angeline was born in Warren daughter of Nason H. and Angeline (Ingram) Fuller, on April 19, 1901, at Stratton, Colorado. Manda cqme to Stratton with her parents in a covered wagon in April of 1888. Her father, Nason Fuller, rode the first train and returned on the first passenger train SAILING AND GOOSE HUNTING were united in marriage on the 22nd, of opinions were often sought on points of law. On the 3oth of December, 1875 a son was out of the Stratton to Burlington, Colorado by Marion Borders work for three years. During this time he net his future wife. Nason H. Fuller and Miss Angeline Ingram Genoa, and Hugo, Colorado. J.W. Borders married Manda I. Fuller, Congregational Church. He served for two years as county commissioner of Kit Carson County and was recognized as a valued and progressive citizen. born to Mr. and Mrs. Fuller whom they Dennis Orth, Burlington, CO. 2 geese shot around HaIe, CO. Dec. 12, 1985. Weight 10% lbs.,9% lbs. to Mr. and Mrs. Nason Fuller. Manda I. became the wife of J.W. Borders in April of 1902. J.W. Borders managed the elevator at Stratton and was in partnership with Angeline Fuller, Manda lva's mother. Mr. and Mrs. J.W. Borders had four children, Floyd, Halbert, Hazel and Marion. Mr. Nason Fuller and his family began farming on the homestead at Stratton. His health became impaired and moved into Stratton, where he conducted a general merchandise store for two years. Mr. Fuller then sold out and engaged in the cattle business, living on the old homestead. He remained there for thirteen years and was successful but again found the work too hard for him and again left the farm. He and his wife moved to Burlington, where he worked at the carpenter's trade. After two years in Burlington they returned to Stratton at the request of their children. Mr. Fuller once more conducted a general merchandising store, but a year later his store was destroyed by fire. He was entering his store with a NASON HOYT FULLER T473 Mr. and Mrs. Nason Hoyt Fuller and family moved to Colorado in the year 1888 and homesteaded at Stratton. Mr. Fuller was closely identified through lighted lamp when he suffered a heart attack and the lamp fell, breaking, starting the fire. His friends rescued him from the burning building. Mr. Fuller sold his farm in order to obtain ready money to resume business. Nason Hoyt Fuller remained active in business until his death. which occurred on the 27th of December, 1917. Mr. Fuller belonged to the Masonic Fraternity and was a faithful member of the Dennis and Jean Orth, Bonny Dam, 198?. Local sailors have returned from a variety of late-summer regattas. Physical manifestations of their struggles are worn like badges. Many are noticed favoring aching limbs, lame shoulders or knees. Others are repairing chapped lips, exemining bruises or treating cuts, abrasions, blisters, nicks and scrapes to the skin referred to in sailing circles as "boat �bites". In spite of the inherent risks in the sport, area sailors entered and placed in two major races held recently by the Ogallala Yacht club on Lake McConaughy near Ogallala, Nebr. First place in the Trane Mac went to Sam Schreiner of Stratton sailing a Sun Juan 23. Crewing for Sam were Dennis Orth and Glen Veihmeyer of Burlington. There were 78 in the off-shore and 128 entered in one-design. Competing in the offshore division were skippers: Sa- Schreiner, Hugh Balkwill and Glen Veihmeyer. Crewing of Veihmeyer's Eagle was Bob Cook from Grant, Neb. Sa- Schreiner placed first in the off-shore "Open 2" fleet of 20 boats. In August 1987, Glen Veihmeyer also participated in a regatta out of North Platte in his Eagle trimaran on Lake Maloney. Curt Veihmeyer crewed for his father in these events. by Dennis Orth THE LARGEST AND TIIE SMALLEST T476 been the smallest man in the service, but it is upon the variation in the size of these two men that the Burlington post makes its claim. Pratt's clothing is especially made, his trouser measurements being 66 by 38. Magee takes a 32by 24 trouser and wears a size five shoe. by Marlyn Hasart THE SHORT NIGHT OF A COWBOY T476 "When you ask me to recall the by gone days when I was a young cowpoke, the one thing that came to my mind are the short nights. I know that I'll never forget them. They stand out in my mind so vividly and were so much a part of my youth, that it has always been a wonder to me the short time that a cowboy could spend in that wonderful bedroll. About the only thing that I would know was that I had been asleep and I would feel the boss kicking me, and it seemed that I had hardly closed my eyes. I cannot ever remember awakening in the night except a couple of times when the cattle went on a stampede and then I expect I got the usual kick to get me going." "Yes, the ground was hard and sometimes it was cold and sometimes it was wet and raining or snowing, but it was always the same - I rolled up and that was the last thing I knew until it was morning." These words were spoken by Emil Stalgren. We found Emil playing poker that afternoon of May 18, 1958, with his brother, Roy and two friends. We might have known it would be poker or craps, for the horses were all gone from his place and his life was made up about equally of the three. Many times we have seen him in days gone by, on his knees rolling dice with a blanket spread out on the prairie and a complete circle of cowpokes around the blanket, winning a little and losing a little with Emil and ueually losing just a little more than they were winning. These ga-es were a regular Sunday event. The boys started gathering about ten in the Rube Pratt of Kirk and C.L. "Jack" Magee of Burlington, members of The American Legion, Post No. 60 of Burlington, Colorado. morning and the dice were soon warming up. They took time out to eat a sandwich that was on the back of their eaddle or to drink a cup of coffee that was on the fire, and sometimes a drink of something a little stronger. Then about one in the afternoon a few of them would ride off over the prairie and bring in a bunch of broncoe and the rest of the day would be spent in riding these animals - not to break them to ride, but to see how hard The largest and the smallest members of they could make them buck. These same the American Legion bece-e the challenge of the Arthur Evans Post No. 60 of Burlington, horses were sold like any other horse with not Colorado. The challenge went to all other Anerican Legion Posts in the United States to match the variation in the size of it's two members. The members upon whom the Burlington post bases its claim are Rube Pratt, farmer living near Kirk, Colorado and Clarence L. Magee, local attorney. Pratt, who it is claimed as the largest marine in service during World War I, stands six feet ten inches in height and weighs 375 pounds. Magee, who is five feet one inch tall weighs 125 pounds, does not claim to have a word eaid about how they had been used, to anyone coming along wanting to buy horses. Emil Stalgren was born September 29, 1882, in Stockholm Sweden. He arrived in this country with his parents, Charles Alfred and Hannah Sophia Stalgren in 1884, along with his brother Gus and sister Hannah. Seven other children were born here: Herman, Ida, Josephine, Pearl, Maude and Anna. They stopped first at York, Nebraska, but in a short time went on to Cheyenne, Wyoming. Here Emil's father opened a tailor shop. As there was not too much business, the Stalgrens moved again. This time to Wallace, Kansas. Emil did not say just how long they remained at Wallace, but there he learned much about how to care for himself and how to mix with the outfits and cowpunchere. He learned a lot about horses, too, and decided he liked them. He was roping, branding, herding and doing many other things when he should have been going to school. He did not like the pay and so he decided to go back to Wyoming. He was about 17 at that time. He ceme to a Settlement called Pine Bluffs and was soon working for a man by the nnme of Parker, but he could not remember the name of the outfit. He was to get 930.00 per month, meals included. As he was youngest man in the outfit he was called "Kid" or "Slim". Wild horses were not much to Emil's liking and he did not try to tane any, but his brother Gus broke a few and some of them gentled down about as well as any other horse. Emil said he just did not like them and you did not have much of a horse after you went to all that trouble. They were mostly too small. Emil had to mention again here how short those nights were and we asked him how short they were, and he said he thought that in summer they were about 5 or 6 hours put in in the bedroll. One man had to stay up all night. That was always done so as to keep an eye on things and the horses that were kept close by in a bunch. If there were seven working cowboys that meant there were ?5 or 80 horses for them; four well broke horses to pull the chuck wagon, and an old skate that the cook rode and a few good ones for the boss to ride. Sometimes they would not get a bunch of cattle finished that they had rounded up that morning, and that meant that someone had to hold them together and away from the other cattle. So many were the nights that some of the cowboys were up all night. A horse and rider, moseying around after dark, always seemed to have a quieting affect on the cattle. An occasional cough, a little singing, and always that shuffling around was all that was needed, but it had to be done. The first thing the boys did when they were kicked out in the morning, was to drink coffee that was always on the fire. Biscuits of a sort were always on the bill o'fare, the rest varied a little. Fresh beef was a standby, although when they used the last of the beef they usually waited a few days before another was prepared. The other things were salt pork, prunes and raisins. Emil spent nearly all of one winter rounding up stray horses. Horses could get around pretty fast and when they got 75 miles from the home ranch that was considered far enough and they shooed them back always. He had a partner most of the time. He would be someone representing another outfit. Emil could not remember any of them that he rode with that wintcr except Emil Foreling, who later became sheriff of one of the wegtern Nebraska counties. He even saw him in later years when he went back to see his old time stomping grounds. Well, they just rode and rode and looked and looked. One thing of note was that in all that riding that winter no one asked them where they came from, where they were going or what they were doing. Emil said that you did not agk questions, you waited until information was given or you �went without it. They did stop in at places, eat and stay overnight or longer if it was necessar5r', such as storms, etc. They were on legitimate business and were not reluctant to tell who they were, whom they were working for and what they were in the vicinity for. No place was locked and they went in and stayed just the same as if someone was there. No one thought anything of doing this. They all did it. We knew Emil when he bought cattle from people far and near and he was a fair and square dealer. He just took a little time to look them over and then made a bid. He never dickered. The bid was always just a little under what he thought he could ship them for and still make a little profit. People who did not have a carload to sell liked to sell to Emil. You could buy from him also if you wanted cattle. The old Texas Trail went though Emil's stomping ground and he thought he was on the last drive. This was a drove of 5,000 that were being taken to Montana and they were moving and grazing slowly along. This trail meandered over a trail that was about 20 miles wide so there would be a little grass to eat on the way. This one went close to Pine Bluffs, Wyoming, and all the boys that were on the drive got drunk and things were held up until they got over it. He left Wyoming in 1906 and came to Kit Carson County, Colorado, to homestpad. There were not many people for neighbors as most of the first homest€aders had left and the grass had come back pretty well where they had tried farming. Emil got into the cattle business right away and soon built up a herd that numbered 400 at the peak. He thought that as soon as he had acquired the same number as his father had, he could be considered a rancher. His father had already come to Kit Careon County. He was hurt seriously out on the range when he was riding a horse that wanted to act mean all the time. The horse seemed to hate people. He had a fit when Emil was in the saddle and fell and pinned one of Emil's legs under its side, and also that foot was still in the stirrup. He had to maneuver so ae to get the horse to slide over and yet not get up, becawe if the horse did get up and his foot was still in the stirrup he would be drug to death. After some time he decided he was free, so he let the onery horse get up. His ankle was broken and the knee that was .wheeled around on the ground under the horse bothered him all the reet of his life and he never could seem to get it into a comfortable position. The cowpunchers were always welcome at the Stalgrens and they liked to step in. Everyone behaved. It seemed no one ever doubted Emil's ability to keep order. Just a little remark from him and everything wan right again. He had a way with people of any caliber or mentality or character. There never was another man like Emil. him to. One time when Reuben was elsewhere and not watching Archie, he tried it. It turned out alright. He pulled leather and asked why he did it, he said that he was not going to be thrown off the first time. They all had a lot of good clean fun. Emil regretted somewhat that some folks thought that pioneer life was lived like barbarians and heathens lived. He informed us that it was just a mile and a half west of his place to the Wallet Post Office. The minister stopped there at times and people could get married, baptized or have a funeral preached. Emil was a little on the rough side and we never saw or heard of him being in a church, but it wasjust on the surface for there was a lot of charity in his heart for anyone that needed it, the church or anyone. He was always ready to help. It was Emil's thinking that it was time someone was writing about the early cattlemen, for he said there were so many twisted ideas about the days gone by. They had no chutes in those days but they worked the cattle with horses and got the job done just as well. They did not have the cattle diseases that they have now. Cattle used to lay down outhouse were erected. The sod blocks were cut from a thick rooted grassy low place on the land and hauled by team and wagon to the building site. I was a small girl at the time but remember helping Dad with all but the first part of the house and barn. He made a sod cutt€r, a sort of sled drawn by a team of horses. Dad, being a blacksmith, fashioned the cutter; the sod was cut twelve inches wide, four inches thick, in long strips and then Dad took a sharp spade and cut the strips into 18-inch lengths and turned the sod out upside down to cure. The blocks were hauled on planks, laid on the running gears of a wagon. The blocks were laid up brick style and reinforced every so often through the wall with a twelve-inch board, with windows and doors being allowed for. A plate was put on top the walls for the roof rafters and 12 inch boards laid, covered with tar paper and sod was then put on the roof grass side up. The inside of the house could be plastered to keep out mice, sparrows and snakes. Our floors were 12 inch boards also. The doors were homemade. About 1914, Dad dug a tions in the pasture that there is today. Emil sweat€d many a horse until they were cellar under the kitchen and bailed the dirt out with a box sled with one horse hitched on a chain. It was my job to lead the horse. In 1915. I started school in a sod school house and completed all eight grades here. My two sisters and one brother also attended school here until the school was abandoned. and we moved to Limon. Colorado. in a lather and panting to get a doctor to help a person in need. The first doctor who was a by Margaret Berry Slise in a different place very night. The more separated they were the healthier they were. Black leg was bad but it seldom struck for they did not have the reasons for getting it that they do now. There was not the varia- good doctor in his way of thinking, was old Doc Fergeson and they were all pretty fair after that. He has seen a lot of improvement in the way of doctoring, but none of them had ever helped his bad leg and now it was his whole side. On June 21, 1958, Emil's brother, Roy, with whom he lived, went to town to get groceries and returned home and not finding Emil in the kitchen as usual, looked in the bedroom, He was lying on the bed. Emil Stalgren was dead. He was buried in the Beaver Valley Cemetery, the cemetery he had helped start and helped care for since he was a young mErn. Many of his relatives lay there waiting for him. by Roy Bader SOD IIOUSE LIVING T477 I will give you a brief description of our homestead northwest of Flagler, Colorado. In 1907, my father homesteaded the SW % Sec. 7-6-51 in Kit Carson Co. and in March 1908, he cnme out from Goff, Kansas to erect sod buildings. He stayed with a bachelor neigh- bor, Mr. Guhr. DIGGIN'UP OLD BONES T478 When Glass Davis was a young boy, he and his brothers recall gathering buffalo bones to sell. At one time, hunters slaughtered the buffalo very indiscriminately, leaving the meat . . just slaughtering for the hides. After a number of years, the early settlers began to arrive and there was a market for loads of buffalo bones at Haigler, Nebraska. The grandfather of the Davis children would drive the team, hitched to a wagon, while the youngsters gathered the bones, which brought $8.00 in cash or $9.00 in trade. One evening, several carcases were found close together up the South Fork of the Republican River. There were large bullet slugs under each carcass and also a whet rock, or as we call it today, a whet stone. No doubt the skinner who lost it must have had quite a loss, as it would have been a long distance to a settlement where one could have been purchased. The Davis children gathered many piles of buffalo horns and they were considered of Dad put up a two-roomed sod dwelling at the Stalgren's every Sunday afternoon. first, with rooms 14 X 16 feet. Mom and I value. One day a couple of eowboys came up the Dee and Carl Dillon were two of the main riders. Frank Barnett was there just learning. arrived May 1, 1908, after having spent a few Reuben Andereon took on one just once in a while, but he was just a kid and did not try to tough ones until the rodeo moved over the the Frnmer Ranch, which was the last place they were held. Reuben's kid brother, Archie, was always wanting to ride, but it was not river; one stayed and talked with the Davis children. He admired a pile of buffalo horns which were becoming very scarce or might Indiana. There wae a period when there was a rodeo anything for kids and Reuben did not want weekg with my Probst grandparents in Later, in 1916, Dad erected an addition to the soddy making a nice three room home which was quite comfortable through the severe wint€rs. Other buildings consisted of a tar-roofed barn, a granary and a garage in 1917. Also a small chicken house and an have been considered antiques, since there were no more buffalo roaming the prairies. This fellow admired the horns and selected several pair ofthe beauties. Buffalo horns are somewhat of a "kin" to ivory tusks. Soon the other cowboy returned from his errand to the Tuttle Ranch. The cowbovs had about a �gunny sack and a half of beautifully matched horns, and all of a sudden they spurred their horses and took off at a gallop, leaving the children with their mouths open over such an outrageous trick. In later years, Glass accompanied a man to the foothills where one of these fellows was retired in a small shack among the cedars, and was in very poor health. The visitor, who was acquainted with the buffalo horn thief, was amazed at the number of cigarettes the man was smoking. Cigarettes apparently were a new commodity. He remarked to the old cowboy, "You will kill yourself smoking those darn thing", whereupon Glass remarked, "Let him alone, he is getting just what he deserved", recollecting the high-handed thieving deal of the nice buffalo horns. Today, buffalo heads and other parts ofthe animal are often found along the South Fork of the Republican River after flood waters have receded. Many are washed out of the soil, from 10 to 12 feet deep. Many Indian relics also are found, but are becoming more scarce each year since there are so many seekers. Large Iimestone bluffs, located north of Bethune on the South Fork ofthe Republican River, have yielded large fossilized remains of giant sea turtles which have been estimated to have weighed over a thousand pounds. claimed to have originated from beautiful Arabian horses brought over by the Spaniards to ride while on their conquests. Enemies of the wild herds of horses in Kit Carson County, in early days, were ferocious wolves of the plains. The means used by early-day ranchers to protect their horses in the corrals at night were by hanging lanterns around the corral to frighten the wolves. Mountain lions are known to have been killed in this part of the country in early history. Glass Davis relates that an old horse wrangler dieclaims the stories about wild stallions having a large herd of mares. He declared that a stallion noses out (runs away) the young colts and keeps his original band. It was quite a thrill and much enjoyment to see the little bands of frolicking mustangs appear, working their way across the verdant prairie, finally making a wild and thunderous dash for their favorite watering place in the river. The river skirted the south hills of what by Grace Corliss SIM T480 now is known as the Corliss Ranch. Of course, the Wood and Corliss places had not been homesteaded at that time. All land around the Tuttle and Davis places were virgin prairie of buffalo grass with no fences. This little band of mustangs roamed the river valley and adjoining hills. My parents, Sim and Dolly Hudson, with me (Georgeanna Hudson Grusing) at the wheel on Lake Mead, Nevada, Summer 1938. If it were a hot day, Davis recalls, occasionally some mustangs would lie down in the cool, historical things that are held privately, as many are becoming lost and scattered. spring-fed waters and wallow. After their thirst was quenched, they would loiter off toward the south prairie. In those early days of history in Eastern by Grace Corliss their range hands out to round up all cattle There should be a large museum built in Kit Carson County to gather in the many with a gate and not much extra. It was located on a ranch owned bv McCrillis. Colorado, large cattle companies would send THE LAST HORSE ROUND UP T47g According to a bit of historical knowledge given by Lewis Glass Davis, Burlington, Co., about what he considers was the last round up of wild horses in this part of the country around the "Old Tuttle Ranch," and Elias Davis Ranch, located on the upper part of the South Fork of the Republican River, about 15 to 23 mileg northeast of Stratton, Co. The Davis family arived here in the spring of 1887. At present, the "Old Tuttle Ranch" is owned by Tom Price. The Davis ranch was abandoned after the big flood of 1935 and later annexed to the Harvey Wood Ranch. This part of the country in Kit Carson County was the range where a band of 11 mustangs roamed the river valley and hille to the south. According to history, mustangs lead a carefree, playful life, loafing along whenever they felt like it. Mustangs were noted to be the speediest horses for travel on the western prairies. Bands of horses are reputed to operate a form of protection to keep the herd from danger, by having one or more as an advanced guard to give an alarm at the approach of danger. This alarm is expressed by a sudden snorting, at which the body of horses gallops off with the most surprising swiftness, with their heads high and tails in the air. When the mustang got a "man-Bmell" he was off like a shot and the rest of the herd ran with him. Mustangs had a keen senee of smell and could smell men from a long distance, on a breeze. The first wild horses in North America are they could find between the Platte River and the South Fork of the Republican River. Then they would divide the cattle by brands. It is claimed also that from the Republican River, south to the Cimmarron River, large roundups in like fashion took place. When these large ranches wanted extra horses, according to what is told by histo- rians, they would send a group of horse wranglers, otherwise cow-hands, with a chuck Slqmpa George Barker and my stepmother, Hazel Hudson, stirring a "mud pot" while I (Georgeanna Grusing) look on. Later Summer 1939 in Yellowstone Park. wagon to carry their food and bed rolls. At night the cowboys would bed down on the prairie. One day, around the last of May, Davis recalls seeing such a round up in progress in the river valley, south and west of the Davis homestead buildings. Glass recalls seeing the herd of mustangs coming down the valley from the west, from the direction of the Tuttle Ranch. Some of the herd cut through a bunch of cattle rounded up while a rider appeared hazing part of the herd eastward in the vicinity of the present Wood ranch buildings. Evidently the rider had been Qhasing the horses since early morning, as his horse looked very worn. Eventually, the mustangs joined in the wild running and crossed the prairie southwest of the Davis buildings. They ran across the river by the Davis place and disappeared into the south hills where Glass says no doubt there were fresh riders waiting. After that, Glass says he never saw them again. In later years, Glass says he heard reports ofwild horses southwest ofSeibert and on the Smoky, but those were the last in this neighborhood. Glass recalls in early days that he saw ruins of a wild horse corral on the Launchman River northwest of Burlington. The corral was in fair shape but not usable. According to information, it was a dry-wash Not only did my dad, Sim Hudson, get a picture of me (Georgeanna Grusing) feeding the bears, but he also caught a better photo of Hazel, his wife, feeding a bear while Grampa George Barker and I watched. You can see I was about ready to jump out of my skin! Late summer 1939 in Yellowstone Park. Sim Hudson wasn't always an easy man to live with since he had an energetic drive that sometimes mowed people down he - but certainly was an interesting man! Long before he shot the head off of a large rattlesnake about to strike me (when I was a baby playing in a sandpile) to long after he brought my 15th birthday present (a live, full grown horse) into the house in order to surprise me, �we never knew what to expect from him! He wouldn't allow me to call him Dad, he *@LqT'1Y:,,'r":i3'i I'i:r41'rtf8lv1liYf'. man came to the lumber yard and said, "I didn't ' sleep last night because of what you said, so I got up this morning and had breakfast and decided you called me a liar and that you will have to take it back." According to Dad, he replied "Well, I slept wouldn't let me ride a bicycle, he wouldn't teach me how to drive (and he, a car dealer!) yet when I was only 10-11 and scared, he ingisted that Mother and I each ride a mule with him down to the bottom of the Grand all right, but I haven't had any breakfast, so because what was good for the goose was- good for the gander, and the gosling ae well. Sure enough, we all had a fantastic experience! He wanted photos of me feeding the bearg in Yellowstone, and of mystepmother, Hazel, we are about even." The other man was about Canyon fifteen to twenty years younger than my father, who was already well along in his thirties. They decided the place to have the fight was in the intersection by the lurnber yard and they hadjust started when I arrived and sat down on my wagon load of papers. It was a bare knuckles fight and an unusually and of Qlnmpa stirring the mud-pots and geysers, and he got them! Due tothe beef shortage duringWWII, Sim shipped Mexican oxen in by rail, driving clean fight. We later learned that Dad's opponent had been a boxer at Kansas State University and considered pretty good. Coyote Hounds them on foot from the depot on the north side of Burlington (across lawns, through rosebushes and once-clean laundry hanging on clotheslines) to a pasture 11 milee south of and where town, where they were fattened - catching a Sim conned my Iowa cousin into Once when Dad struck his opponent on the left shoulder, he went down. It was not a knock-out blow but it was a powerful blow and he went completely down. When he got up he rushed my father and grabbed him big ol' bullsnake and getting him drunk. Thereafter, for several months, the snake ehowed up regularly at the stock tank for hig "happy hour." Sim hunted and we 6f,e nlmqst, everything: bear, possum, pheasants, jack rabbits, elk, deer and antelope, to say nothing of the frog legs that kept jumping around in the frying around the body and legs. Dad hooked his left arm around his head and I heard him ask "Do you want to break clean?" Evidently he did for they did break clean and resumed the fight. Every so often I would look up the pan. Coyote Hounds Sim had a vast variety of friends, and interests, becauge he liked people for what water. I returned quickly to see the hound eat they were, not who they were. Coneequently, he hosted many a person at our dinner table (with Hazel and me doing the cooking and cleanup): old and young doctors, artists, cowboys, farmers, sportsmen, mentally retarded, business men, physically handicapped, hitch-hikers and goldminers. Sim wanted me to know dl kinds of people, but he aleo wanted me to "grow up right" and saw to it that I regularly went to Sunday School and Church, even if he did not. Although Sim and I were as different as bacon and eggs, I nm both pleased and o-uged whenever someone says I'm getting more like him every day. He was a character! He had character! He was not a hypocrite: he said what he thought; he was what he was. He provided well and loyally for his family, especially his mother; he was honest, made many loans to people down on their luck, had a good sense of humor and was a great story-teller. If I can do as well with my life as he did with his, the world will be a better place to live in. by Georgeanna Hudson Grusing COYOTE HOUNDS T48r My father-in-law, George Paintin, was proud of the hounds he kept to hunt coyotes. He rode a good horse that didn't mind carrying his catch on the saddle. He tried to convince me of the merits of keeping hounds. He may have succeeded had the hound not eaten the chicken I was preparing to clean. I placed the chicken on the doorstep while I ran in to get the scalding the last bite. by Jean Paintin THE GREATEST FIGHT I EVER SAW T4a2 Back in the forties, I saw Sonny Liston in a prize fight in Denver. Liston was in his prime and at that time he was not afraid of anyone. He was a power man and it was a real demonstration of his strength and power. But the greatest fight t ever saw was in Burlington at the corner by the Foster Lumber yard, just one block east of Winegar block on Main Street. So far as I know, there were only two spectators. I had a ringside seat (on a coaster) wagon) and Hugh Baker - the Sheriff of Kit Carson county, saw it from one block away. I was twelve or thirteen at the time. It was elmsst, six a.m. on a Sunday morning. I had been to the depot to get the Sunday papers. I had them on the wagon, as they were too much of a load to handle on a bicycle. My Dad had talked to a customer about his bill the day before as it was way over-due. The man had promised many times, but no payment had been paid. He again promised to make a payment in three weeks and my Dad said "You lied to me the last time - how can I believe you this time?" I don't know what the man said, but he did promise to pay in three weeks and it was left at that. Dad was also up before six and went down to the lumber office to work on the books. It was the end of the month and he wanted to bring his "list of accounts" up to date. That was the list of accounts payable to the lumber yard. Shortly before I arived at the corner, the street and I would see a man in a cowboy hat (HuSh Baker) looking around the corner of the First National Bank. About every ten minutes the other man would stop and ask, "Have you had enough?" Dad always replied, "You have as much to fight for as when you began." Finally, after about one hour of really heavy fighting, excellent boxing - both men still on their feet and only one knock-down, I heard my father give his seme reply to the question, "Have you had enough"? I didn't'hear what the other said. My Dad said lat€r that he said "Yes, but I think I understand you a lot better." That afternoon we went for a ride - I remember how terribly bruised my father's face was. His upper lip was swollen and I couldn't take my eyes off it. The other man canied his left arm in a sling for two or three weeks because ofa "cracked" bone. The fight was in the news service in about five minutes. Evidently, HUGH Baker went to the telephone immediately and called someone in Norton, Kansas, because Dad got a call from his boss in Norton before the day was over. The man never did pay his bill! by Carl Sr. Bruner I PUNCIIED COWS ON TIIE CHICAGO RANCII T483 The Cattlemen's Association knew that when they wentto talk to Joe Boyles he would take them back agood manyyears and he did, back to 18&t when his father, Andrew Jackson Boyles, had come to this country in a covered wagon. Joe did not remember much about that early day in Colorado thought, as he was not born until his father had left for the fulfillment of an appointment as U.S. Marshal in the Oklahoma Territory. Andrew did not stay long in Oklahoma after the strip was opened up, but returned to Colorado, where Joe grew up. In 1904 the Rutherford family had sold out �to a company from Chicago that had recently of how it had been brought up from Cheyenne come from Denmark. There was A.L. Ander- Wells in the very beginning and placed in Old Burlington, then the main part of Burlinet. ,.. Then later, how it wag moved to its present sen, Lars Larsen and Nels Nelsen. These men had connections in Chicago and called them- selves the Chicago Cooperative Livestock Conmission Co. And it was here that Joe got his firet job, and he thinks he was about 16. He was to etay with one farnily and was to get $15.00 a month and all the oatmeal he could eat. They had it boiled for breakfast, warmed over for dinner and fried for supper. Joe cannot eat oatmeal yet today. The Chicago Ranch had from 600 to 1,000 head of cattle and they ran on the wide open spaces. Joe was on the range most of the time. There was a large sheep ranch farther south and Joe found himself down there many times and he always managed to be near a sheep shack at meal time eo as to get a little variation from his oatmeal diet. Farther east from the Chicago Ranch was a big horse ranch operated by a Mr. Eversol. The Chicago Ranch was supposed to get several hundred horses from Kansas City but they never showed up. About seventy head was all that they ever had. The Chicago Ranch lost plenty of cattle that were never found and just a few horses. They all carried a 4 slash T on the right hip. There were a lot ofbutcher shops around and it was thought that here was where most of the missing cattle went. Joe's rougheet winter on the Chicago was a wintpr following a drouth and there was lots of snow. Cattle could not get through the enow to find what little feed was shipped into Burlington. He used a teqm of horses and a tenm of mulee on two sleds and would go after a load one day, stay overnight in Burlington, and on home the next day. He did this day in and day out all winter and he thought the winter would never end. Joe remained at the ranch several years and must have been a fair cowhand because he received severd raises. He gaved his money and in due time thought it was time he was getting married. Thee was a girl by the name of Vera Coad who had come to Burlington in 1906. Her parents had heard of the nice climate here so had come from Wieconsin, to take a homestead. They were married in 1914. Joe and his father saw a lot of changes take place around the Burlington area. They saw all the livery stables come and go in Burlington. Joe remembers the time his Uncle Billie's stable burned down and how 16 tenms perished in the flames. The days ofthe boots and saddles were into a slow decline when the Andersens left the Chicago Ranch. Mr. Andersen got Joe to drive his last horses into Burlington to be sold. He delivered them to the Livery Stable that stood where C.D. Reed was selling tractors. One was a horee that Joe will always remember, a good horse, strong and true, with a mild manner, eorrel in color with a white mane and tail. The last owner of the Chicago Ranch, while it could be called a ranch, wag Wm. Mead. It contained about 2,000 acres and wag all fenced. During the depression years, he went broke and the ranch was sold and was cut up into small parcels of land. So ended the historical and friendly daye of the Chicago Ranch, with not one incident to mar the good character it always carried. Joe laughed when he got to talking about the Montezuma Hotel. He recalled the story location by the use of eighteen teams of horses and mules. It seemed that it was the ambition of all its owners to keep pace with the growing Burlington. It was refaeed again and again and added onto'and remodeled. They never wanted to turn away any guests. Finally after a few years with business on a decline and the taxes much too high, they gtarted to make it smaller. Then in later years what did it do but burn to the ground. But the hotel did not die. It was rebuilt and carried on as before. Joe saw the Lester Beveridge Ranch develop and become one of the leading rancheg. They brought in registered cattle to help improve the quality of the cattle in the county. Joe was always known throughout the area for his horsemanship. He rode in the first rodeo ever held in Burlington. He never lost interest in good horses. He had many pictures of them in his home. by Roy Bader Anyway it was a lot of fun and created quite a stir. by Henry Y.Iloskin ADOBE HOMES T485 George and Agnes Paintin cnme to Colorado in 1912. Their first home was a two room sod house. It was warm in the winter and cool in the summer. The roof would always leak when it rained. One leak was sure to be over the bed, regardless where they moved the bed. Occasionally a mouse found a way in and a large bull snake tried to take up residence on a pile ofcozy quilts. It had a short life once discovered. One of Dad's philosophies of life was "it is never to expensive, if you do it yourself'. With this in mind, he and mother decided to build a bigger and better home for their growing family in 1919. Their preference was Oregon l'-ber but money was scarce so they chose the native adobe dirt that could be made into blocks. This was plentiful south of the William HOOTCH MELON STORY T484 A story worthy of mention is the "Hootch Melon Story". This was probably conceived by a number of persons. The story that ran in the Roc&y Mountain Nea.rs is as follows: "A contract which is unique is recorded to have been signed here yesterday between V.H. Chandler and three of the leading real estate firms of Burlington. Mr. Chandler, who is one of the oldest settlers in the area and one of the most successful watermelon growers in eastern Colorado, had contracted to plant and care for one acre of watermelons for each firm. In the middle of August, when the melons will be about half grown, Mr. Chandler plans to plug each melon and to plant in the cavity from which the plug comes a special yeast of his own invention. The outer part of the plug ig them replaced, and the whole covered with adhesive strips. Not only does the yeast, acting on the natural sugar content of the melon immediately begin to develop alcohol Among the tissues, but it stimulates the growoth of the fruit to a tremendow degree. Within a week the place where the melon was plugged is marked only by a brownish scar and within a month from the date of the operation ninety-six out of a hundred melons will show at least 10 percent alcohol and will exceed 30 pounds in weight. These real estate men who are, A.W. Winegar, J.A. Swenson, and E.L. Powell, are to pay Mr. Chandler $1.00 for every melon that exceeds of equals 10 percent alcohol or 30 pounds weight, and payment to be made on tests oft€n average melons from each acre. Mr. Chandler estimates that there will be from 900 to 1000 melons on each acre that will meet the test, and plans are being made for one of the most extensive real estate campaigns ever canied on in the United States." This article appeared April 1921. Thyne place just two miles south. Uncle Joe and Aunt Susie Garnerwould build oneatthe same time. Aunt Susie's father, Clark Hampton, was the engineer for the project. They built forms from wood to shape the adobe blocks and dug a round pit about a foot deep. This was the east part. To get the project underway they drove the teems of horses pulling wagons to the site ofthe adobe dirt, loaded them by hand shoveling, hauling this dirt back to their pit and unloaded, again by hand shoveling. Straw and water was added to the adobe in the pit. The mixing was done by tying a rope to the tail of one horse and the bridle or a horse behind. Several were tied in this fashion and as they walked around and around in the pit, being led by one person, their feet did the mixing. This process made the straw and adobe stick together. Once again, the shoveling began to fill the forms which were placed on a flat, level area of ground. The mud was mixed and formed at the Paintins one day and at the Garners the next. This gave time for the mud to set and shrink so the forms could be lifted off. The blocks were allowed to dry before they were laid on a concrete foundation to build the walls. The original Paintin home had four rooms and the Garners had five. The Paintins made an addition to theirs in 1929. It had a steep roof that formed a flat area on top which was covered with tin. The chimneys came thru this area. The tin was used as a fire prevention measure from sparks coming out of the chimneys. The steep roof provided a loft area above the ground floor making extra living space available. This was warm in the winter by the chimney coming thru but it was like an oven in the summer unless a shade tree was in the right spot. The stairways were built to accomodate feather beds or mattresses that would bend. The modern mattress and box springs of today proved to be a problem going up or down. Both of theee homes stand today. The Paintin home needed new replacement windows that were no longer available. Over the years the yellow jacket wasps carried the adobe away from the ceiling joists. The �knowledge for these repairs went with our pioneer parents. With the s'me philosophy as Dad's in mind, Garold and Jean buift a new wood frnms hm. in Lg77. Tbo generations of children grew to adulthood-in the adobe !oa9, \,Iarilrn and Tony wilt bring their familiee back to enjoy the new home. The old adobe home will be preserved for our collection of articles of the past. The history will be there for our grandchildren to eee. ;ouch and wonder about the etoriee behind them. by Jean Paintin THE LAST BUFFALO HUNT T486 Ae told in the 'Burlington Call,, by H.G. Hoekin, Feb. 21, 1985. When the -Union P-99ifc Railway was completed in 1g?0, it divided the vast number of buffalo oo ihe plains into two herds, the northern and the eouthern. It likewise brought facilitiee for the easy ehipment of buffalo hides and start€d the industry of hide hunting, ultimately exterminating the buffalo as a wild animal. By the early 80's the extermination was almost complete and only small scattered bunches exist€d over the west€rn plains. In the region now called Kit Carson countv. these buffalo passed through Burlington, in the summer of 188?. At this time Burlington was locat€d about where the John Lueken farm house was, and many of the businesses houses were only tents. Among the businegs tents, was the drus store of Maynard E. Cook. (Mr. Cook later moved hie stock of drugs to the present site of_B_url, about where the Dunn garage stood.) Mr. Cook's story of the hunfstated ,, . . . Remember it was quite warm, when someone gave a ehout, "buffalo!!" Only a few ofus had transportation of any kind, but managed to get somethiag to ride horses, ponies, wagons, buggies and carts. Everybodf that codd goi away on the chase. One cow, her calf and a bd -: and how they could run. Howdy! It w-aq a lonrg chase for many miles across open plains. Talk about rought riding . . . It was the most erciting race I ever saw, except the time we chased the deputy gheriff wiitr ota man Baker, to Cheyenne Wells, where he was 6rrng to a coal chute. I don,t remember now who helped-kill the buffato, but we captured the cow and the calf and the bull wa.g killed !V manV shots fired. Dr. Biehop claimed the bull and he got the hide which-he had made into a big fine coat, which I purchased from him when he left Burlington. Mr. T.G. price got the head and had it mounted. I kept the ".-oat until about six years ago (lg27), when the moths got into it and ruined it." John Anderson got the calf and sold it to Elitch's Gardens. The mounted bull's head was kept in Mr. Prices office in the court house until around 1900's when he sold it for $250, to Mr. S.B. Hovev. I! wag later said a Hoyt and Cole of Oxford, -_ Nebraska were the last of the professionai b-uffalo hunters to operate in this county, and that Dr. Hoyt was really the one who kiiled the bull. by Janice Salnans BUFFALO SKULL PROVIDES MYSTERY T487 "When the Kit Carson County Courthouse in Burlington was remodeled, ihe commis_ sioners found they had the skull of a buffal<r (supposedly the last buffalo to be killed in the area.) on their handg. They decided to take it down but eo many citizens put up a fuss. they decided to clean it and a rr-riii-U""t rpl Now comes the mystery: When Shirlev Fundingsland started to remove the dust ani accumulation of grime, a picture of an Indian spearing a buffalo was painted on it alone with the inscription; ,We were monarchs o? the Plains.' The comm. and Fundingsland were started and wanted to know who painted it?" wrote a Denuer posf article. We haven't been able to find out who painted it but the history ofthe buffalo head r1_wgll_known by the Burlington Garden CLul. The story dates back to 198g, upon receipt of a letter from a Mrs. Durineer. daughter of S.B. Hovey, one-time R"oc{ Island agent here. Inthe-letter, Mrs. Duringer explained that the skull originally hung in the o?fice of T.G. Price, Burl. real estate and insurance man. for many years. Upon his death, Mr. Hovev acquired the skull, and it followed him in his many transfers along the Rock Island. Even_ tuallV, the skullpassed along to Mr. Hovey's son-in-law, Mr. Duringer. Upon Mr. Durine_ er's death, his wife offered to send the skjl here, knowing the history of the last buffalo hunt in Kit Carson counrv. Members of the Garden club accepted the skull, and it was decided to hand it in th" court house. Harley Rhoades, H.G. Hoskin. Mrs. Bessie Wilson, and Mrs. pearl Scheli chose the spot. The skull remained in the court house until the remodeling project, when it was taken down to be cleaned and rehung. Apparentlv. the origin of the painting goei bacl severai years. Members of the Garden club believe now that the painting was always on it, but was o-nly discovered when Fundingsland started to clean the skull. by Janice Salmans FULLER MEMORIES T488 I was born in 18bb, in Warren Countv. Illinois, and cnme to Colorado in April, lgdd with husband and two children in a covered wagon. We lived in our wagon until our sod house was built, which wasin June. We were advised to come west because of my hus_ band'g health. Our household goodJ were shipped to Haigler, and later weie freighted across to our homestead, which was loiated at "Old Columbia". There was nothing in sight when we came, just stretches of prairie. dug a hole in the ground, cut a piece -We o! s-tove pipe in half and laid it over the top of the hole and built our fire there. We used no mattresses, pillows or sheets. Imagine how thrilled I was when we got our sod hdme built and had our furniture again. We had slept in our clothes-so long that it seemed queer to undress and go to bed. We also appieciated eating on a table and having a cupboard for our dishes, instead of putting them awrv in a box. We brought corn meal-and bea"s;iih us and that is what we lived on for a month. We would have fried mush for Ureamasi ana supper and bean soup for dinner. When we got some flour I made biscuits and baked them on top of the ,.stove". Si"ce we coJJ get no milk, eggs, meat, or potatoes, we had. to be content with fried mush and bean soup with biscuits, but we enjoyed this as we trai healthy appetites by not overeatine. I remember the first Sunday aftJr we had o-ur habitation, that my husband said. iokin_ gly, that he would invite the Cnmps over tor dinner. (The Qnmps were people *e l"e* i" lowa.) 8ut since he couldn't invite them, he broqsht home two lady school teachers anJ the Methodist minister, Rev. F.F. fhomas; we had bean soup for dinner and a happv afternoon. When we first located on our homestead, the- greatest problem was to get water. We had to go four miles east to h;ul ,rt", froa well, but oftcn there would be so manv ahead of us that my husband would have 6 get up at 2 o'clock and get in line so he could get home before night. When this well woJd get out of order, we had to haul water from a water hole about B miles west of here. Often times we would find pollywogs and othei things in the water, but we siraiied it throush a cloth two or three times, then boil it to mafe it fit for use. Later we got water from the railroad well dug in this vicinity. On Sept. g. our own well was finished and we drew water with a windlass. We felt that we *"r. lli" richest of people. We were never sick and mv hueband was gaining in health everv dav. " -*a Mr. Fuller built a blacksmith .irop operated it for B years and then sold it and opened a grocery store and general merchan_ drse business. We built a two_story frame house and lived upstairs and had tire ,to.e downetairs. One evening Mr. Fuller went down to the store and fainted. I hard the thud and went downstairs to find the store in flames and I pulled Mr. Fuller to the outside. I called for help. A neighbor came to n"m lui we lost everything. _ W!"" the town, Claremont, was estab_ lished, everyone moved to the new to; and that is where we started another store. _ In the fall of 1888, Mr. Fuller went back to Iowa to help harvest a corn crop ana wnen tre returned to Colorado, he cami thru on the trrst passenger train that went over the new railroad to Colorado Springs. by Angelina Fuller PAINTIN BARN BURNED T489 20, 1968. We had gone to the - It wasinJune funeral Stratton for Henry Ledpp. O" ou, we-saw heavy smoke norih of town. lly 'l ne lome trre truck was ahead of us but we had no idea where it was headed. We were only two ttfles from home when we discovered just where the smoke was coming from. We weie frantic.not knowing whethei our son, Tony, and his McGriff, were safl. 'I IIey hacl-grandfather, planned to fix fence in the pasture. We were relieved to see Tony run"irig to "s. �His Grandfather had told him to stay on the doorstep at the house while he went to see if he could save the horse that was in the barn' Garold ran to find my Dad and turned off the electricity on the waY. Once we knew everyone was safe, we looked around us. The large barn was completely burned. This was a heavy loss to us' All of our milking equipment was gone. Twenty five trundrJd bales offeed in the loft were burning and one horse was lost. Once the fire got started, it exploded and threw fire in every direction. Anything in the area that was wooden or didn't have a tin roof burned. All feed bunks, trailers, corrals, buildings, trees and the pasture were on fire' The neighbors and everyone frlm the surrounding areas helped to control the fire' Dwight Lewis turned his ir-rigation puPp.ol to sirpply water. Ernest Cure brought his water truck in close to the house to water down the roof. The feed bales would form pockets of gas and explode repeatedly. ParL- Malone broughtlhe County bulldozer out from town and d'ugtwobigtrenches attwo A.M' the next morning when they saw there was no way to control-the blaze. He pushed all the burning feed in the trench and covered it with dirt' The neighbor ladies helped serve -the huge amount-of food they prepared and brought in along with the plentiful supply that- Ed DischnJr sent out. Lots of the neighbors helped us walk the area to cover chunks of smoldering debris and get our milking facili- ties back into operation. They came back several weeks lat€r to help build the new barn. We lost a lot of material things. We only had one pitcMork left. To this day, we don't know what start€d the fire. by Jean Paintin A MODERN PIONEER T490 I emigrated to Colorado in 1957 - not in a but in a 195? Buick. I had "ou"r"d-*"gon, been further West than New York, never married only two days, and all of my belongings were in the backseat ofthat car. I am sure I ielt like a real "pioneer" at that time' especially after everyone had convinced me that ttreie were still Indian uprisings West of the MississipPi! I recall that tears flowed profusely as we drove, and drove, and drove some more over the vast "wastelandg" of Kansas' Was love really worth this? When we finally arrived in East€rn Colorado, I was greeted warmly in a home that even had electricity, a phone, and indoor plumbing - those people were-wr-ong after all - and fhadn't even seen an Indian for 1500 miles! I was very impressed by the vastnees ofthe plains and when someone said we were just going down the road a bit, I wae-not prepared Ior the 30-mile drive. At "social gatherings", people all talked about the weather and a new recipe they had tried. I thought this -was rather dull, but have since found outjust how important these two topics are to a farmer's wife; especially the recipes - I never knew people expected three full-course meals a day! th" l*gouge bewildered me and it took awhile to learn what all of this meant' Needless to say, I was the brunt of many a snicker! Where I grew up everyone went right or left, not North or South; in fact, ! don-'! recall ever knowing which way was Northl Dinner was our evening meal and I learned the hard way that this is the "noon meal" here after several people showed up for "lunch" when they had been invited for "dinner". If you use your imagination, you may be able [o visualile the thoughts I had when told of the "barrow pit" - we only had ditches in the East. A cattle guard must be a person standing at the gates!! What a boring job' We pioceeded West to California where we remained for 13 years, returning to Colorado in 19?0; this time in a station wagon loaded down with our belongings plus two children and another due anY moment. At this time, I beceme a full-time farm wife (and this is someone who would not even date an Ag School student in college). I lel:ned some more new expressions, such as "How could you have let all those pigs get ayay, I TOLD :you to hold them there" (exit for the i'You drive the pickup across the house); river and the"aocows WILL follow you' no problem" (as they take off on a run in the opposite direction); "ANYONE can drive a tiactor, could you disc the corn field?" (so how did I get caught in the fence row with the disc implanted in the back tire); "Could you take the jeep and check on the cows, there's NO WAY to get stuck in the river" (Help! The jeep is stuck, the tractor I got to pull it out is iuried and I a- running out of options); "Willyou take a load of hogs to the salelan:r" (he diin'ttell me I would have to BACK UP); and the most dreaded of all requests "Would you run to town for some repairs" (for some reason I can have every number in itt" U*t and the part WITH me and still come home with the wrong thing). Perhaps the most traumatic of all my experienies has been dressing-chickens' Ttre ottiy t*y I had ever seen a chicken was under saran wrap in the market. I can now pick feathers in less than three hours, but what as I to do when my mother-in-law can no longer pull off the heids! To this day it is a familv eame to trv and decide what part of the ihi"k"tt they are eating since my skills in this endeavor leave much to be desired. After being a "Westerner" for over 30 years, -*d I can now say that I love the country the horse collar was responsible for the phenomenal glowth of America during the 18th and t9th centuries. This unhearled implement harnessed the horsepower and fed, built and transported our youog nation. Although it was invented by the Chinese in 300 A.D., the horse collar was not widely used until European settlers brought it to America in the late 1600's. Tlie ox cart was the most common form of labor in Europe. But American settlers soon learned that the slow and dumb ox is no match for horse power. A horse can pull five times more weight than an ox. A collared horse can be easily managed through the use of a bit in his mouth, something an ox cannot wear. A horse's feet can be protected and his footing improved by iron shoes. The ox's split hooves make shoes imPractical. Finally an ox cannot wear a collar because of the formation of his neck- A collar chokes him. Instead, he must be harnessed by a large and cumbersome yoke fastened to the top of his neck and shoulder. The building of America can truly be said to be the horse collar age. Every industry and distribution system depended on the horse's collar for production and transportation. The tree in ihe forest couldn't become the building or bridge or boat until the horse in his collar, traniported it. The ore in the mine wag weless until the horse hauled it out' It was the horse with his collar that plowed the field and cultivated the grain. The horse collar enabled horses and mules to harvest the crop and carry it to market or storage. The great wagon roads and railroads that united our growing nation were graded and filled by collared horses. And who can think of the Old West without remembering the stage coach - powered by collared horses. The horse collar played an important role in the CivilWar because the armymoved in sections where there were no railroads or waterways to transport soldiers and equipment, -dug trenches, built embankments, and carried the wounded to safetY. One might say that the horse collar won the West. After carrying thousands of settlers to the new western territories, horses and mules provided the vital link between East and West. Roads leading west were streaming with freight wagons creaking and groaning, piled high with food and supplies, and being pulled by 10- or 20-mule teams slowly across h"u" even changed mY mind about Kansas - that "wast€land" is really an lhe desert or mountains. A whole years lf6, but in a different way -- You - will triins returned loaded with hides, to be expanse of growing corn and wheat! Regardini the "Indians", they still play a part in my frequently find me walkingthe rocks with my head down looking for artifacts. I have never recretted my trek "West" and would advise *"yott" whoasked that "Love" IS worth it! bY BeverlY McArthur supply of sugar, salt, coffee and other gtoceries-, clbthing and tools were delivered to the big western ranches by wagon- The waggn processed and made into clothing, harnesses, and other suPPlies. The 19th century was the age of animal power. Better plows, combines, tillage tools, drills, planters and harvesting equipment were designed to be drawn by collared horses and mules. Horse power remained important until after World War I. THE UNHEARLED HORSE COLLAR T491 The greatest invention since the wheel, the horse collar was written about in the Farrn' land News, 1972, by Ben Millikan, of Parnell, Mo. Perhaps more than any other invention, by Jin llasart �the _K.C.C. carousel. It took nine months for the Hasarts to complete th" _-tlui, ancl hours of delicate work over """o"."t a workbench and palette. "We hid in the basem""i-Ju-r-iin HASART'S MINIATURE CAROUSEL T492 While attending a showing of the Kit ^ uarson_ County Carousel Bob McClelland asked Jim what he was carving o" mentioned that he was thinkinlg of makinel ";;:;; miniature carousel and Bob ."ltiea ;,i;;; would like to see that". Jim went t o-" start€d on what is now a very rare piece"rrJ of artistry. in August of 19g8, Jim and - -Beginning Marlyn started working on their fascimile of most of the winter working on the as thq! winter was very coid and had-f,ot^s ""iou.j ; snow," said Marlvn. .. {hat began as a fascimile evolved into their own interpretation of the ;i;; only two rows of animals on "*";J the H;;;;;; carousel compared to the origin"t .""o,r."i'. thrge.- no chariots (the origiial ilA;;t: and the paintings on the center piece of the sl:uclur9. were changed by Marlyn, in an enort to "do her own thing.', But for the most parJ, the Hasart reproduition ,esembles the K.U-L;. prototype. There's actual horsehair used as the tails on certain to..". i"1i"ii ] common in both carousels) and the brieht colors used were mixed to imitate the;;ii; carousels color schemes. Throughout the winter, asJim would finish carving each animal, Marlyn *o"fJ o"i"t using oils as her medium p"vi"e ,J""i"l attention to detail in the smali ;f ""]_ir. had a lot of trouble painting tfr" said, in reference to the shar*p black ""Ur".r;.fr" arrd stripes-.J-im _agrees that detail i., wliite or"tJii" more difficult things to consider when car_ vrng. 'l'o nelp highlight details, he uses basswood fbr all of his cawings. Taken the Linde_n tree, basswood i. t[" roft".t hardwoods according to Jim. from of ifiu M*ly"-!"gan painting with the help of ^ urace Uorliss and studied under Daryl Elliot in the 1920's and she."o" b"g* t"i"t-iie"; fcw kids on her ovm. Jim l"i* .*"i"e"ii 1972.when Mgl1. bought t id ,o." supplies as a Christmas present. "*ing As.you walk through the Hasart household you'ct sweru the ducks, pheasants and prairie chicken scattered through the liri;;;;;; genuine. "We,ve had a lot of peopleiell us our prairie chicken looks real," ^."ia ff,f""-iv" ;if, the detail that makes tt Jiff"i*"".; 'jl-qnting on wooden decoys "i, ;;;h-;;;" painting a picture,,, .h;;;d. {ifficult.than rrecrse details in the carving and painting of a {e_coy are necessary to mike ii;;i-rtii.* MaryJo,Downey, it"i.-"" oi ir," iild.c. ^ uarousel Association supplied them with beautiful colored photographs ofth; apmaf from which patterns were drawn """ou"ej to stz,e whtch proved to be a difficult task. It took the Hasarts nine months to inish - their carousel, from the first stagls oi;;r_ out animal forms from t""S-e Uto"kr;? basswood, to the final screw"f"t;;th" stand on which the carousel ,"r't* Wh;;;; p.rojec-t was finished, a private .t o*irrs-*", neighbors and friend. oI th" 9lageo t'or flasarts. 'l'hese few were able to witness the unv_eiling of the second mostfamous;;; in Kit Carson County. They were t".* f,ne mtnrature carousel spin into action, "li" with The Hasart'e carousel from a different view. the help from a rotisserie moto. fo""l"Ji"ifru base of the stand which also h;;;;h;;;; reco-rder which plays recorded -"Uai". fi"'the, Monster Millitary Band Organ, a music matrtng machine located at the original carousel. The miniature carousel has been displaved at the National Carousel Co"u""tio" ti"ii ii S""p5+lgt of 1984, Stratton D"y ild;;l;; or ryu4, the preview showing ofthe television p.logram of the National Geographic Society "Treasuree From the pagt"" f"-"t*irs'thi p.T.c. No. o,lr,L sii?tt {.p,_c._cgrousel, Public Library in the spring is8i,. ;Ji-; " "r Just been shown at the reception center of Coor's- Brewery, Golden, Cotor"ao--i"oil December L2, lg87 through January 6, lggg 1fo-ng with other carousel a"ti"t"s i"ilfi; ih; H-;*t,; Miniature carousel in the ;;;J carved from wood ""ly C_olorado Carousel Society. in the stat€ and one of five in the nation "i CJ"i"a. by Marlyn Haeart The miniature carousel hand made by Jim and Marlyn Hasart, winter of rggg-g4. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource History of Kit Carson County Description An account of the resource Brief historical stories and elements from the founding and recent history of Kit Carson County, Colorado. Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Book Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Memories Date Created Date of creation of the resource. 1988 Subject The topic of the resource History Description An account of the resource Various memories from citizens about important events or places in Kit Carson County as recorded in the book History of Kit Carson County Type The nature or genre of the resource text Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Salmons, Janice Hasart, Marlyn Smith, Dorothy Language A language of the resource English Is Part Of A related resource in which the described resource is physically or logically included. History of Kit Carson County Volume 1 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource text/pdf Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Curtis Media Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/</a> https://kccarchives.cvlcollections.org/files/original/16/417/History_Part_1.pdf dfd02cb896237e06d48793d036ae4c94 PDF Text Text IJ tL-i lt the county history, we were ^,^P:o-oiting able to secure manv stories ;;";;;;; that were writren and- compil"d "rd bt-ii:C fl IIo_._k!1, Delta Hendricks, Bessie id;;. H.Y. Hoskin, Bonnv C""fa *J ,";r";;#:: We chose to publisl ihese stories ual segments for vorrr reading as individ_ t*=i**r r*T*--l ff\t I d il.fi You will notice that some of ""r"*;. these refer to "" their own ,.current" framework of ti;;.' In ptacing these stories .hr;;;ld;;f;, . taken the liberty have categorically, so that suDJect "f l\i L**I**, L**i**___J tffil-*r tt lf.-f t\.'-' lii # '"--*"*i ---"{ ," pt".iig -#"r. : matter is more meaningful. It is impossibl, i I\ i****t-**-*".j i*T*-*l I-**f'***i iJ ,d | ;'** *'*{ *J i,l l' t{ If -*-**.-, I f**-r ;';;;";;'; capabilities prevent it. Ir is ;;; ffi;;# you will find. some new uits i"r""'Il"ii.li atong with what has already "i b"";;;bil#: We. are gratefully inalui"J' -;"ii;;.; compiling una putri.it;;"il,. I:-1kin..Ig' bo.oks, ..Memories" ,,Otii.;l compl.ete.d history as time, iq{l events and human **y*ry*,".$ r*L**"iJ *iii;fi *find in your tocal Kit-diril"d;t";; and t { Louisiana purchase lg03 ]:,jt] Irbraries- Colorado from 1540 to 1g6l protection from Indians, ELBERT - KIT were poor, and suppl. ** ti{i. .tt.i"ij""T#::f il: Jl,ffi jJ; Jj CARSON COUNTY begin attempts to push rhe T2 *": really about l.gb9 when the first _.*lr. . whrte, settlers came to what Elb;;; uounty, Colorado. The great .o_."tt"al,JJtj was then had brought hundreds to Auraria, -n-oJ 1ush" Lrenver- of increasing numbers of __T,: to ,..Ting the area prompted tt ry:y" oI stage, pony€xpress, ind freighiiil;;.-"'^ "a".-igr"ii# r ne maln Smokev Hill or Butterfield Ml.#;,;;ffi; from I|_11r".**t was St. Joseph, r,rancrsco routed via Kansas ti, f,"1" Station (near Limon), on to Denver. r"prd growth of the territory ^rl_1 many problems. Settlers aDout communications brought were withiut area. Iniia; f;;;'il; assignment of Iand (from south of the ^.TLir pig Sandy Creek to north'of t-h-e"ffi;;.; meant the r"ai*. *"rfr Ill::lbytrno.means ::::j: giving up rheir buffalo l;;;il; grounds. 1864, a band ofArapahoes, led bv L;hief. ^,Il/1n., Roman_ Nose ttunning Creek. murderJ;l;iil ;i .In November, 1g64, Colonel Chivineton with a detachment of men -";;t"i i;;;F;; .i-p e,"p li"o' til lioif, I "i "T".," 400_500 llri* # :;;, reservation). Some i";i;; women, Lyon and completelv r and children Ju;;#i"; ffi :, f; ijiffil"ri Arapahoes; emong th; Map ol i.rt Larson County. White Antelope and y"ii;;"w;i; Ccl:rri.i c Nebraska and Kansas Territory 1gb4 Chief Black Kettle of the lt ll."^_a_!:""nnes. escaped. The massacr", l;nelenle: kno*r tl? Sa,nd. Creek Affair, *". l;;;J;'b;;;;il; ", g,t,l:T.d discussion in the pages of CJ;.;;; rlrstorv. Following this Col. Chivington was sev_ .t.pl1*"nded and ruli"";- ;f hf;f;i;; "tilt Naturally, the Indians were infuriatJ a-s a result of such treatment. Th"fi-"c* ;;; open attacks ers, on the settlers, f";_;;;-;;;;1 freighters. Many attempt. t. _"f," -and were treaties to no avaii. G";;i"S#ff;; was. prevailed upon to make lndians. He consented. ;;';;T; by Janice Salmans Railroad map - 1gg?-1ggg. Note Muskoka, a railroad switch. �3s:<aat- -=a>/ n Ju;, 1.,"1,. rr r,";1\Y #"+ Itd. ^? ,7'+,,^.' --tF, i ,. x /l* 'z(f'l G.rFt '9--(. tt' ..:.-.-.---r4/ cq ii'--i-'*"'"n ,,--.(fr; .aT .:" g I -;17 \] A ,tu!i /' "'-.i'r --"f, S*.'h*+' R,A 1885 Map showing Elbert CountY ORIGINAL COUNTY ORGANIZATION T3 The present site of Kit Carson was first incorporated into the United States, in the u""r i803. This small area was a part of the iast Louisiana Purchase which consisted of all the ground drained by the Mississippi River. T'his piece of land was purchased by the United States govetnment from France' The small area known as Kit Carson County was located in the mid-western section of the furchase at approximately 39 30 longitude and 103 30 latitude. As the land was broken up into territories, the boundaries were changed, and this area became part of the Missouri Territory' The MissouriTerritory existed from 1819 to 1821' when it become an unorganized U.S' Territorv and then from 1854 to 1859 Colorado was part of the Kansas TerritorY' In a three day convention in Oct. of 1859' a constitution was drawn up for the Jefferson Territory. The territorial boundaries took in all of prlsent Colo. and large strips of -Utah and Wyo. Quick action was taken to ratify the territoiial constitution, and only two weeks later, the constitution was ratified by popular vote. R.W. Steele was elected Governor in Colorado counties as they appeared at the time of Statehood - z 1876 �The first mentior oiS'io."do is now made. As counties were formed, this was first situated in Arapahoe County. Denver was the county seat of this very large county. In lg?b, the western part of Douglas County, the northern part of Arapahoe County, the C-heyenne Reservations, and part of norihern Herfano County were incorporated to form Elbert County. 'Ihe area was not as large as Arapahoe County was previously and the county seat was at Kiowa. by Janice Salmans MORTON COUNTY T4 "Formation of Kit Carson County (first called Morton County)." The followine ex_ cerpts were taken from issues of the Cheyenne Wells Gazette as notated. Febru_ ary 16, 1889: "We will give a premium to the residents of towns, 12 and 18 that would rather be in Morton County than in Cheyenne." (Note townships ld and 18 of present day Cheyenne County were in Elbert County prior to the new county formations in 1889.) Iebruary 16, 1889: ,,It was only through selfish motives that the projectors of tf,e Morton County bill included towns 12 and 13. and not for the benefit of the settlers in the two towns." "The Blade of Feb. 8, says: .The people ne cnargeq ruu pounds ot potatoes and a gallon of whiskey. During the Post Civil War era, from 1gZ0 to 1885, large herds of cattle were driven from Texas through this area and delivered to the miners near Denver. There were also herds ylrAn some were pastured here, and still otheis driven to the east to railroad terminals as well Patent for , ,W as to the west. Before the 1880's, two ranches settled in the Republican River valley. They were known as the McCrillis and the Bar T Ranches. They were both horse ranches and ranged their stock from the Republican to the Arkansas Rivers. The balance of county land was dry divide land on which water couli onlv be obtained by dug wells, some of over 100 fi. in depth. This land was not all settled until the construction of the Rock Island Railroad in 1887 and attention of landseekers was called to the homesteads. The Homestead era of 1886 to 1906 brought flocks ofsettlers in and each filed on 160 acres. There are still todav marks of habitation on almost every quarte"r section of land. The United States hada land office in Hugo, Colorado, and every settler made ttre trip to file his claim. Laier, laws were changed to allow the planting of a timber claim. A timber claim was the pLnting of ten (10) acres of trees. A few sisns of thes! still remain but many have long since van_ ,r , (?""t qi' :lr r ,n - - Entry No .. -d 111.h.? , is in this office, and will be deliveted to you {rpon ssender of the Registels Duplicate Certificate. Where the Register's Grti{icarc is lost, separ3t€ aflidavit must be made {or the tract embraccd in each entty 6y the pieseot bona fide owner of the land, accosnting for the loss oI the Certi{katq and also showing ownenhip ofthe traitqlor a' portion thacof, embr,aced in.the patcnt, and that the affidavit is ma& for the ptrpose of obtaining ths pat€ot. ished. by Janice Salmans Morton County will not consent to tef ttrat portion of their territory go at present at least, as there is a great amount of taxable railroad land in the two towns.' DEoARTfv1HNT OF THE INTERIOR UNITED STATFS LAND OFFICE "February 16, 1889, Bur lington Blade said: "The Cheyenne chiefs are bold, but their raid fo-r the purpose of securing territory from Morton County will fail." February 16, 1889 Cheyenne Wells Ga- thiefs" to secure any territory from M-orton !l t"iStl, iltrr. i:;r;, driven to the Indians in Montana territorv. of zette: "We wish to inform the Blade that there has been no effort whatever bv the UNI'€D ATATES LAND OFFIC€. .,;;o iol o . Il*;e,T!?r .?6ir, if i'-, 3iile1 i1.l.1r'rrk, County. Our bill. The question as to which county is justly entitled to the strip in controversy, will be determined bv the Legislature." , .-February 23, 1889: "The Morton County bill was amended so as not to includl Cheyenne County territory, and passed. Burlington is the temporary county seat. After the bill passed, the name of the countv was changed to Kit Carson." Mgdi:q: - fn reply lo y6r;1, l,ett*r sf tire ??d,,1ns.vant :.ou s,!s lniore*i thari your noflc* ?r&s sgnt No :hs $slbsrt ssttler fo, sdvsrtlaanent .rnd ohould ba corLp).eieittilsre aE your proof r* set for thc a6il',Of tals month.Yorr irsd beit€r e;;,]1 :rnil s's rf ths .fdv*rij.ec$lent has b93n sun the proper tfune,you carn o$nre &n;, rrialrs KIT CARSON COUNTY BEGINNINGS pub)'1cat1"on brrg aot b$dn ntrde trie prooi rr11]. t1'l'1 the :{i.dvertifro,*ent hes bere conEiietorr.rf you h3.ys not'U*pen,i.;c payed: fo.r ihF adverllearlenrl Jrou had b*tter &ttenii to sans,r f111 ,rrttell . T5 From 1859 to 1870 was a gold rush era. A time when Gold Miners rushed to the Rocky Mountains. The area that was to become Kit Carson County was first settled in the T0's when a_ cowboy named Joe Miskelly located a small .ranch at Crystal Springs. Crystal Spnngs rs a branch of the Republican River and is about 3 miles east of Flagler. Joe traded at the Robidoux Store in F6rt Wal- t:ie;:{uof :-nd tf t& h;v* to bs thep:,perfs1irtiv,tpN]rlg*jvel|tgen:$n'i.' F'c*l*ctlutrr, ,, �_ Be it enacted the General Assembly of the State of Colorado: Section I. That the county of Kit Carson PICTURES T6 {.{o \Er -J*t' {1tc,rrr" ."'j' * ttre **'---'-r'."V-"f," bnrr +{+82"*n lflolgito. 'fr:"r!,rP ? a t ?3 a c a q.tsc f lnt 8o4en ,4ot _._---._za[fev ,p ar(w ,t' '{ t. .t!'6sn^y",,r' ftkPsnwwo' lto ? t:"'*no.n A*reo '.'g g.rt Fo aa ;:ltJliliti:oute 7fr{rLX tf Urh*rvi*iyiiladrre l7oaufuSifu - +a, Yt!f rr'c' t.r q/ca tD illo * F,' was traced in the 1840's bv one of the group of 10 KIT CARSON COUNTY T7 (S.8.48) An Act , To Establish The County Of Kit Carson, And The County Seat Thereof; providin* 'Lhe Appointment Of The precinct Foi And County Officers;Fixing The Terms OiC*J is hereby established at burlingto;, *t it shall remain until changed a"c6rai"e;ii* "r" and until such time all iourts of ,u"J"JrfrJi be held there and the county offices ,"-uin there. S,ection IV. There shall be held annuallv in said county of Kit Carso" fou" ter-* oiitr" 9guqty Court, commencing on the--firJ Monday in January, April, J"iv, *a'O"t"U"i, respectively; one term of the District Court 6;;t;;: Section V. All suits, civil and pe-nding in District and County "ii-i"J, ""* C;;i.;i "+ *- lu be le_gal officers of Kit Carso""C"r"tvi""a commencin_g on the third Mo"d"yi; ,.w)9 f0o t;: to lhey ar9 elected, and are hereby au"U""Jio the Governor shall appoint,u"f, oit"r-ofii_ cers as may be necessary to carry on the government of the said county, or until their s-uccessors.aredulv electgd and qualified by law. Uounty officers shall be elecled in said county at the next general election. Section III. The county seat ofsaid county + Nebr, therr respectrve ottrces lor f,ne f,erms wnrcn ., stat€ Historians. Trail traced by is hereby established, with the legal capacity anq runcttons of other counties in the State. And the boundaries are as follows,B"si""i"; at the north-east corner of Elbert Cointvi6 the west along the north line of said Elb"; lounty to the west line of range fifty.L"" (51), west of the sixth principa"l *"iiai*; thence south on said west line of fifty;; (51) to-the townships 11 and 12 south; t[";;; east along said township line to where it intersects the state line of Kansas; thence north on the east boundary line oi Elbert Co^unt1,to_the place of the beginning.- ---Section II. All county and piecinciofficers \ Elbert Qounty wherein the case of occurred in the tenitory embraced in the ""ti* new c_ounty of Kit Carson, or wherein the defen_ dant or defendants reside therei", .fr"fil", as soon as the officers of said Kit Carson County shall have been appoin;"J;e qualified, transferred by the clerks, tt order of the judges thereof, to ttre cJurtgoi "po" " the seme jurisdiction in the said county. Section VI. All county records and other county pr-oqglty, heretofore belonging to the county of Elbert, shall be ana ,6miin tt prgperty of said county of Elbert. " Section VII. The county commissioners of the said Kit Carson County shAf caure ; transcript to be made of all the records of ali property situated in the county of Kit Carson as provided by la1 and such iranscript strJi be entered, upon the records of said countv. and when so entered, shall be d"u;;J;;A held to be good and legal records.Section VIII. The present indebtedness and funds of Elbert County statt Ue appoi_ tioned between the county of Elbert ;-d-th" county of Kit Carson, in proportion to the ration which is now incfuaed within the boundaries of Kit Carson County, t;;r-; the ta-xable property of Elbert b;""t; ;; snown by assegsment rolls for the year lggg. . Section IX. The boards of courrty co--i._ sioners of said counties of Elberi a"a Xit Cglso.n shall have fult power ana a"tf,oiitv to acljust and settle all matters of revenue proper to be done on account ofthe formation of saidcounty of Kit Carson, a"a to apporiion the indebtedness of said county El[;J:;; specified in section vii ofthis aci, "f and for such purpose the said commissioners shall meet at Kiowa, in said Elbert County, upo" t* aavt notice in writing being given bv tfr" .o--i._ sioners of the other county, at any other time after the officers of Kit C-arson Co""ty .t have been duly appointed and qualifi"ll, ;;; "tt a-majority of the United Board of Commis_ sioners of said counties shall be " legal qqoJym- t9 adjust said revenue and apporti-on said indebtedness. In case there .t iufa be a quorum present at such meetint, oi-in "oi ca.e said commissioners fail to agree"on the adjustment of the revenu" a"a ""pp*Uo"_ ment thereof, and the apportionmerrt of tn" indebtedness, and the bbard of county com_ missioners of the county of Elbert -"V *"G sucn adJustment of revenue and apportion- �order and decision the county of Kit C-arson' of any person aggrieved, may appeal allowed from'the board of county commissioners-to the District Court, and upon such appeal a change of revenue may be taken, upon goott by either party to such proceed- the county was awarded to the "Colorado S-i"n. dazzette". Bids for transcribing i""o.d'. from Elbert County to Kit Carson County was awarded to Edwin McCrillis' giar tot county printing was awarded to the 'Burlincton Blade' which was also chosen as ""t.""ttto* ings. the offi-cial paper for the county'" lishing the fees of the county' preclncl ano assessor was ordered to place the valuation 'section X. That, for the purpose of estab- The first'as--sessment was made, and the said county of Kit Carson shall of land from $1.50 per acre for pasture,land XI. fn" county hereby attached to the Tenth Senatorial District, and for representative purposes 'American'horses were assessed at $30'00 head and'half-breeds'assessed from $8'00 to head. The abstract of assessments $13.00 per t""a" 'o" September 5, 1889, shows - the items: 246.560.731100 acres of lancl following""t "-itr"i"offi."t., a countY of the third class' be --section of Kit Carson is shaii be attached to the county of Elbert, and .ftJi U" attached to the Fourth Judicial District for all judicial purposes' Section XII. In the opinion of the General Assembly and emergency exists; ^therefore this act shall take effect and be in force from and after its Passage. Approved APril 11' 1889' bY Janice Salmans THE COUNTY T8 Kit Carson county was organized in 1889' io g11.00, an acie for cultivated land' per u.fo.a $eZ,gZO.O0; 60 11/10 miles of ."itto"a $508,323.58; Improvements on land $9,535.00; on public lands $24,050'00; town anJ city' lots $58,745.00; public .utilities gSf,SSO.-00; Amount of Capital emploYed in manufacture $5,500.00; 1,904 Horses gia,ioz.oo; 217 Mules $?,909.00; 2,239 Cattle izs,goa.ooi 5 Sheep $8.00; 548 SYTU $f,dAz.Oo; 5? Musical instruments $940'00; i8i Clocks and watches $914'00; 743 Carriages and vehicles $?,886'00' Witfr the introduction of the horseless carriage the people of the county expressed a desiie for good roads. Six scrapers were ordered to be distributed, to the different from a portion of the eastern end of Elbert Couttty. The county is rectangular in-outline road districts' The road fund was $43'11, ;;h;"i fund $48.00, ordinarv countv fund from north to south. ihe first county officers were appointed by by Janice Salmane *a it-OO miles from east to west and 36 miles the Governor of Colo., Job A' CooPer, throueh the influence of the Populist paper publis'hed by J.F' Murray, in Burlington' the ii*o.t all the appointees were people in the Co.l. atea, which rightfully infuriated towns in the western part of the county-' were: Judge, John Rose; Clerl(, James,rnesu; Tres. M.R-. McCauley; Assessor, A'N' Corliss; Sheriff, Jos. Smith; Supt. of Schools, II'E' Carmicheal Surveyor, Wm. Hollowell; Coroner, M.E. Cook; Commissioners, Jeremiah Lee, R.G. Campbell and Alfred Wallett' In f89b. to serve in 1900-1901: James T' Jones, Burt Ragan, J.W. Penfold, L.J' Neff, B'D' Rogers, G.H. Hobart, (there was no coroner elelted after M.E. Cook left until Dr' Blumberg was elected in 1904), C.L. Chase, N'H' Fuller, and W.G. Hargis. Elected in 1902, Judge, T.G' Price; Clerk, Wyatt Boger; Tres.' W.P. Flaming; Assesso-r, Shet-a.t Yale; Surveyor, Wm' M. Hollowell; Supt. of Schools, John F. Stott; Comm', E'T' Epperson, C.G. Burr and W.H. Hargis' There **. tto election in 1903. Officers held over until after the 1904 election. 1904: Walter Gliaster, Geo. O. Gates, Fred Flexar, James Knapp, Wm. Smith, Wm. Hollowell, Etta noee.s, lst Dist. - Conrad Gephart, 3rd Dist' - C.W- Huntley, 2nd Dist. - G'G' Burr was elected, Coroner, Dr. A.M. Blumberg' In 1906. elected commissioners for the lst and 3rd Districts were Huntley and Gephart' IIOMESTEAD PUBLICATION $594.00. Tlo dtrm*eir ar it{. ntrrm. RELINOUISHMENT. COUNTY ELECTIONST9 ,/ tr,,4 -t r-,;t /" x 4/"*t *Le .A 2 rik r,fr. t^a\ ,/,--' ;, -a a a. /"/L-t-a-tt -.,/ Most of the appointed officers were det'eata few montis later in the Nov' election' "d E.G. Davis and D.S' Harris were the exceptions. Burlington was designated as the county seat. l;,,,iL'V First Commissioners District, Burlington; . '4t-,t. .:,....-:.-....,..........,...,..,-....-.,I". Second Commissioners District, Stratton; Third Commissioners District, Flagler' Appointments were: April 1889: Co' Judg-e' p".f!-fittg; Co. Clerk and Recordet, E'y' M.Ctittit;'bo. Treasurer, H'F': N99]; .C-9' l..e.to., n.a,. Vanderpool; Co' Sheriff, A'N' Wilcox; Co. Sup't of Schools, D'S' Harris;.Co' Surveyor, Wm. Hollowell; Co' Commission- ers, Elias G. Davis, L.B. Deckjr, Jacob Brammeier. Elected: Nov' 1889: Co' Judge' F.g. Coat-*; Co. Clerk and Recorder, Dan t<auaoarlgtt; Co. Treasurer, George B.e3tiCo' e..u.tot,-O.9. McDonald; Co' Sheriff, Sam S"ia"h*; Co. Sup't of Schools, D'S' Harris; Co.- Co*-i.sioneis, E.W' Morgan; E'G' Davis; D.C. Walton. One commissioner was elected in one and two in the next election' election - Thu tt"* officials were given new offices in the west rooms of the Bank of Burlington' *tti.tt *". erected by the Townsite Co' in iA8S, tttu first building on the present site of Burlington, as there was no court house yet' The county commissioners held their first meeting in May, 1889 and the records show the foll-owing business transacted: "Official bonds of all county officers were approved. The seal ofKit Carson was approvfn" Hquor fee was fixed at $300'00 per Relinquishment form from a general land office' Disbursement of county funds, 1889-1896' Elected Nov., 1891: Judge, P'B' Godsman; Clerk, R.B. Campbell; Treasurer, John uor- ti.t, 1i.."..ot, C.W. Milleson; Sheriff, Mike Supt. of Schools, J'W'-Aug-u*ine; ftieeins; -Co"rimi=sioners, D.C. Walton, C'R' McCabe' n* Jones- Elected 1893: Wm' H' Long' "tta Ci. f"t.itt, B.F. Kaiser, J'S' Casey, Sam Porter, Wm. Burnett, E.E' Brown, !'i'G' -O"ui.,'and ;;"; W.H. Lavington' The commiselected in 1895 wJre: E'G' Davis, E'E' The following is a copy of a homestead entry publication: Notice of Publication Department of the Interior; U'S' Land Office, Hugo, Colorado, October 23, l9L2 -- Notice i-s hereby given that Harvey N' Jensen of Bethune Colorado, who on May 27, 190? made Homestead Entry ?125 Serial No' 052?9 for W%NE%, SE%NE% Section 11, �;;;;;d;; ;;-d;;;;fi hi; ." "",tr,"i quarter section under the Homestead law. This gave many of the settlers three quarter sections or 480 acres. A large part of the people who proved up on their claims borrow- ed the money on their farms from loan companies who were making loans of gl00 to $500 on quarter sections. They, then, left and turned the farms over to the lenders. Practically all of these loan companies failed in 1898 and 1894. The first rush of settlers began to quiet, when an extreme drought drove out all Homestead Entry dated May 22, 1899, signed by President William McKinley for Charley J. Farr. but the hardiest and left the countv thinlv settled. Small ranchers were running-from bb to 100 head of cattle on ranches from three to seven miles apart. To the old timers, this seems to have been the most prosperous and successful era in the history of the county as everyone was fairly well to do and debts were small. This situation continued until about 1905, when a second rush ofland buyers from Iowa, Eastern Kansas and Eastern Nebraska began to buy up all the lands which were being placed on the market at low prices. From this time on land prices began to rise, with occasional periods of recession, until at the height of the land boom, 987.50 an acre was paid for Kit Carson County lands. Wheat SW%NW% Sec. 12, Twp. 8, S-R45 west of the 6th Principle Meridian, and on July 14, 1908 made additional Homestead Entry No. 98471 for SW%NW7a Sec. 12. E1/zNWVt Sec. 11, SW% SEtl Sec. 2, Twp 8S-R 45 west of the 6th Principle Meridian has filed Notice of Intention to make final five and three year proof, to establish the claim of land above described before the County Judge in and for the Kit Carson County, Colorado at Bur- lington, Colorado on December 3, 1912. Claimant names as witnesses: George Powers, Hans P. Jensen, C.E. Mills, all of Bethune, Colorado. P.O. Hedlund, Register Late comers also purchased a relinquishment from a homesteader, which gave them the privilege of finishing the terms of the homestead. Perhaps the relinquishment was filed with the land office and a new homestead entry made. crops were good and every available acre that could be planted was plowed up and seeded. Tractor machinery was introduced and as large acreages could be easily handled, it seemed that there was no limit that could be taken from the fields. Large schools, and other public improvements were saddled on the communities and valuations were raised all over the county and when drought and by Henry Y. Hoskin wind erosion struck, and the wheat crops PRE.EMPTION failed to come in, farmers found themselves unable to meet the high taxes. The land boom Trl had ruined the countv. The Pre-emption law allowed a settler to live on the land six months then "prove up" Timbe-Critlc Cedificate Na l. 1. ,1 . . APPL'CAT|0N .t / )'I I ... .. 1. , by Jan Salmans THg UNITIID STATES OF A}IERICA, ' 8811i.fmg Tkft las lr.n &psikal ir th ourlxur rArr orrrrcli uf lh uilitr{r srar* x (irrr!:ri or rn, tr0jMm .t lrt L.s &oc - --1. L '. sha-b\ ,, .,rpr,. rr,..,. ja,,.l.u,r ,.* .\, ,;,,*.;;:,., ;.;;;; {r(lrn. liia,ril ,un.14.$ia."Toen*lragtlheOrow..hoi Tim.@ronlhclilqeiernprqirLes.,,itorlrln,rzt'-1 , t.;, . r' ili r]rrodi tjr.r lotl itr 3firct or ir.:iid r,,jrn. {ir.!rd ,^;;1,;:;-V!::, "^u it . ,,, ,a - , }:,';""i1]-.T ,.1L , ,, ,,,, hnrcut..dllr'Nr.r!,tlEs,nrIrotft.ardrhseliftt.c!r\r0r,Ln!,orrllt,!eb.r.0rt";;.,"",, !S*d. GtvENrrn.rsytirn.dlh.tr.'r,\r'^sd'rcr.r.tt.cl.:.-...:::.,...,t",.ri)*v,r,ndt,,.,hrh.t;;!f.urrrd,eftnil{F,l tri..ru!dfed,.,--7r,.1-. ,'rt ,retdS.Jrt+hbMdlt.lliilSrNl*ilja.!.tr"l"a*t,tlitx!<:... ]hr'D|!!'1,o\1.l.'..'.-.],..,{/0,'.a'i.'-,.a, ,.,-..,6"4-.L ,. ,u. j,, p,...Jt- / ./- ,y''/,'^.^ t /.. homestead guides. For a fee they would show where a homestead could be located. I will quote from parts of the pamphlet. "Citizenship: When an entry of any kind is to be made, evidence of citizenship will be required. If the applicant is native born, his own affidavit of that will be sufficient. But if he is not born in the United States. in addition to his own affidavit, he must furnish a copy of his declaration of intention to become a citizen or his certificate of full citizenship. Land can be purchased at Public sale or under the Timber and Stone Land Act. entered with script of any kind, or final proof can be made on a pre-emption or homestead can be commuted by an alien who has declared his intention to become a citizen: but he must have taken out his full citizenship papers before he can make final proof on a homestead or desert land entry." "Reservoirs and Ditches: Under the act of March 31, 1891, any person or company could locate a reservoir or ditches on public lands for the purpose of irrigation and could obtain a right to the snme, and 50 feet each side thereof that could not be disturbed by any person afterwards." there were vacant public lands within three miles of such city or town, an entry of 160 acres or less, could be made for park, cemetery or other public purposes." "Timber Claims: A person living on and improving a homestead or p.e-empiion, may cut so much timber as is necessary to make his improvements. If there is more timber on ements, he may sell the surplus." "l''*' :l "-":l:"1"*'*l To ha\,. arC io hojd n( sil ber 4i tud, !* ,*rr*o"q ,rlroru*t ,. i;.{',*."'..jtit. The following was taken from a pamphlet from Daniel Witter and Co.. who were land cleared in good faith for cultivation, than is necessary to make such improv- rt uf ritj\ehlr, LrxD ofncE rt [. iLnrrr.,r (iri.'rtu$ IUIOU ga, Ttdl ir.r. ij. rl.rtr€- !.rnr.il,! 0f Unitcd g!a!e3 ur. u* unknown, "Incorporated Cities and Towns: Where ilo all to mhon thsr gr.6rn15 shrll (omr, (6rcc.lin!: .t r!16r&rg Typical home on the prairie. The family is -. ... '",.):",,. ;.1t. "_-,.-,, " Tree Culture Claim Certificate for William P. Davis signed by President Theodore Roosevelt on the Thirtieth day of Decernber 1901. "Unsurveyed Lands: Such lands could be secured by settlement under the pre-emption or the homestead law, by entry under the desert lands act, or by location with some high priced land script. Settlers on unsurveyed lands must file on such or enter the tract within three months after plat of the survey had been filed in the land office." "Expired Entries: Homestead entries would expire by limitation in seven years after date of entry. As a rule, soon after an entry expired the claimant was notified to show cause why it shouldn't be cancelled, and if he failed to respond, it would be reported to the general land office, for cancellation and in due time be cancelled." �ryrdfJ darlE Drlrurr Lry Juslrce oI reace J.I . The first homesteaders were: Henry P. Oats, Lots L,3,4,5, and 6 of Sec. L-6-44, McCrillis, puncher; Warren J. Adams, Lot 2 of Sec. l-6-44, McCrillis, puncher; Edwin McCrillis. SW% lL-6-44, Feb. 13, 1884; Nathanial McCrillis, part of Sec. 33-6-44, Oct.25,1884; James M. Wyman, Lot 3 of Sec. 2-6-45,Bar T puncher; Mellan G. Jordan, SE SE 3-6-45, and NW SW 3-6-45, Bar T, puncher; John A. Brent, Jan. 3, 1882; Woodard, land in 23-6-46, Aprll 22, 1883, Tuttle Ranch; Riley land in Sec. 33-6-46, Jan. 16, 1882, Tuttle Ranch. The first to file on a homestead within the present limits of Kit Carson Co. were: 1. Jo Miskelly, Iand in 3-9-50, Mar. 21, 1885' Crystal Springs,2. William Matthias,3. Dick Moore, 4. Simmon Rumming, Homestead No. 15, Penelope Burr (Gordon Burr's mother,) on the Rep. river near Tuttle. Vona was settled by Perl King and E.H. Haynes, then came the Howell's, Ferris' and the Linford families. N. of Stratton were the E.G. Davis, Pugh, and W.A. Richards families. The Tuttle Ranch, established about 1876, by Dr. Tuttle of Denver, was sold to J. Austin. Dr. Tuttle was a surgeon in the confederate Army. He never lived on the ranch. J. Austin sold the upper ranch to J.J. Pugh' The lower ranch - 6 mi. down the Rep. river was sold to Harry Cox of Colo. Springs, whose mother though blind operated a hotel in Colo. Spgs. The blind Mrs. Cox when visiting the ranch gave it the sobriquet of 'Rock Haven'. She "saw" the ranch through feeling the side of the bluff with her fingers, - the rocky ledge of the bluff on the N. suggesting Rock Haven to her sensitive hands. Each week in the early '90's there were items published in the Burlington papers about the visitors and events at Rock Haven and another column from Tuttle P.O. J.W. Austin's daughter married Burt Ragan, who at that time and over a period of years was foreman for the Sherrer owned Bar T (-T) Ranch. In 1879 E.W. McCrillis obtained what is known as Spring Valley Ranch, from the fur trappers (Reecks Bros.)' The fur trappers owned "squatters" rights to that area. They had built a cozy log cabin, burned down by Indians in 1878. and rebuilt' FIRSTS OF THE COUNTY Keller. May 27, 1889 Elmer Castor and MarY - Wellis, Burlington M.E. E. Rice by Rev. J.N. Church Casper F. Fetters and June 5, 1889 - by Justice of Peace J.F. Jerusha Ann Fetters Fetters Charles W. Bennett and Aug. 19, 1889 - by Rev. J.N. Wellis Carrie B. Kimball Paul B. Godsman and Sept. 4, 1889 - Rev. Mead. Charlotte Rose by Anderson J. Pugh and Sept. 25, 1889 Marie E. Shumanand Sept. 26, 1889 - Edward W. Cain Belle V. Kyle. Long and Etta Dec. 22, 1889 - William Van Horn. by Janice Salmane Answer from the Dept. of the Interior, Dec. 9, 1916. iiI i rl,:,, ,if'rlll FINAL HOMESTEAD PROCESS T14 t tn-o.Ilr- l..,nt, rOel io lf, [f'',,,crl- \; ) ( " *'J^ 15 ,-'-,"q '!. 1', t\ \r,,r- \,*4 , ,- o,1t S'*l rr I I y. . \ t ,!-,cr-,.-^ i,s lf-c lJf r.al 4 ,{ i ..f i-lr9 * l/ -56 .' i^.\ "'lf.{r,-\ o'^ '';'\yn')'l -17/3 '" .' .-o : r'f o. a I ')'b t' / . '! 1''-.r- ,Jo J,,. a. .frr & ,'-l ,* ,-oLtt.l c,r-,,-d {a La...r.r.-. i \ -r1.,,-, '\- o\!, t,, t ^ 'do t )Y o" ,\^.rr,,r (r-,-. r.{ .,n,1 rtn! 'i-rr. -.rr.irtr ,-, u .-., t ]'^ o (( ,url'["*l;, ' ,,,' , 1 .io d^--*rAo Oa;^rVo^zt, i *-[,{^J ?O,.tn-oJl 'S"q io**, 'r; .r !,t.,,* ln ,t{r-,"ao Y VX. C. C tn^Y, '\-I .nlto^ 0,,{n. \*w,-.-"-:'.t 4 .(.yyr.,c'^tt\,'\'lrl. 1r b1^,. ,rrr,'l* , \ .' ..i,i',.r. .a..a- . ',ii:l.."l .i ,:r.l:rr'i":.:;Illlli Notice of hearing of final proof of homestead. 'E$*!l'1*','*:-' ' b4 R lie EI PT "! $,a:iit:rT4rl *,'"",., d&r' 4 :drA ' .uu^@, [":M,e;d'z'.a-q. Correspondence to apply for a land claim. T13 by Flo McConnell First child born, Mabel Parks at Walter, 1885. First boy born, Leon Lavington at Flagler, 1888. First doctor in county was Dr. Hoyt, 1886. First town in the county was Burlington, 1886. First school was in Burlington, December 26, 1886. First country school was located south of Burlington 3 miles. First marriages recorded at the Court House Mav 16. 1889 - Owen W. Small and Final three year homestead proof, Dec. 28, 1916. �@l1r l,{nilel $lntrr uf Anrpriru, O! rll h !ilpn rt.@ ,nfult{ ,h hd oil- il The ballot case for the county seat election ,hdll ilu,., 6rdh, in Precinct 12, (Beloit) in Kit Carson Cou"ty, Nov. 5, 1889: Claremont received f2 votes Hu8o, Colorado, Ith.l l!, 11.rk .".,h rest hdf of .j6ciio! t*6Dty_four in Toinshll orolon so!rh of tanfle fifty v.st of ibe Sixth kinoipai |:eridie, :olor,:Co, cort ,iDin,j three hDdred ttr6nty !cres, and Burlington received 18. county seat was located in Burlington .byThe election: Burlington 4b1 votes; Claredoni 170 votes. The Burlington Boornerang was selected as-the-official paper May 2, lggg; Assessed valuation of the county in iSSg was $440,482.00. ' ::' ' iroodro{ ]!tsoh COURT HOUSE BURNS :iytNItt{ ;;, ; "") . ; .,,) 1, o,_ . . ;, .) ,, o,. r' ",,,l./1 '2,, -J:!/ti.Ji.'t.,r., ,,.,,,,,..,.",,,",.,...:ril,i,l ", "..: "":",,,, the old settlers. In.the County Sheriffs office and that of the Assessor but little if anything r", ."*a. Fortunately the tax booke for ttr-e year 1SOZ were not in the Assessor's office. In the County Commissioners'room little of anything was saved. County Recorder, Q9o.-G.- Gates, fortunately had Lort, if all of the important records, either'in lhe "oj Woodrow Wilson, June 6. 1g1?. Tf b being adjoining the County Judges i; fare4 far worse as the Clerli Wyatl noger "fd;,wa; "private unable to enter his office to save the vault or in the large safe, and while the sJe is warped with the intense heat, it is hoped that the records will be .""ur"d. Thu lu;;; court room upstairs with all its contents wis doomed to destruction, not a thing could be land deed for Ethel M. Clark signed by president VOTING ON THE NEW COUNTY SEAT of his big safe. The office of the District Courl be. hard to duplicate. The valuable County School records were almost entirely med and the early history of the schools "orrarr"_ in this county will largely exist in the minds of T16 :;,:,,",):,: demon fire and black pall of smoke stifled and strangled the rescuers to such an exteni that they were compelled to leave the room but not until Mr. Price cooly locked the doors and court records unless the safe snouta prove resistant to the fearful heat. Mr. Boger lost sonre valuable private records wtrich iiil ,""^ii"lJl:;iJiirl::;:::r"J:"fl1;,,ti;t"1ill::.:1ll::,:lt';t,i;l;.:1.,,,:.1t;til.,lti::;l:::t.,1 j.;:,,, ,i 1,..;;;l; ,i:;:. " , ,...,,.,, ,, ,t. .;,, ;.. ,;;.;, ; ;; :;.-.:;,,1. ti 1j"i:li,tl. 'lt:. :. .,:ilr, l :; three men were in the office passing out such movables as was possible to get ouI until ihe Kit Car.son County Court _ Built in 190g, 'lne orrgrnal structure was House destroyed by fire. saved. A handsome piano which naa U"en i" use in that room for public gatherings was destroyed. The court house was a frnme building and was built by subscription,Ee Rock Island Railroad Leing one of ' ;h; heaviest contributors, .o-e 6ight""n y;; ago. In fifty minutes the flames that lit up the surrounding country with lurid light; had destroyed this ancient landmark. Fortuna_ tely,,the building was insured for about two_ thirds of its value. From such .ecords as we could get, it is learned that there was in the neiglborhood of $2,500.00, insurance on the Duudrng and contents. There was little doubt that the structure could have been saved with its contents ifthe city had possessed even a moderate sized water system. Original Kit Carson County Court Houee burned Two men were arrested Sunday night as Dec. 23, 1907. "The voters of Kit Carson County are to Rebuilding of the courthouse after the fire. Boger house and barn in background. will locate the permanent county seat ai Burlington or to remove it to Chr;mont." If the county seat was to be moved the o'clock, the startling cry of fire, fire, was decide on November 5, 1889, whether thev county would have to cover the cost of moving the records, and furniture which would cosl flom 9200 to $300 at the least. Then the first thing to be done would be to build or rent offices for the next two vears. Claremont claimed it had $2,000 in securities deposited with the Columbia Banking 9o.pqry for the purpose of building house for the use of the countv. " "ouri Burlington submitted house erect_ "o.rri ed on Block 44 consisting " of 40Xb0 ft. in size with22 ft. posts, seven finished offices on the lower floor to be occupied by the county o{{c9r9, a large 36Xx40 ft. court ,oo-, t*l adjoining jury rooms, (4'X16') on the second floor. Said building was to be constructed at a cost of $4,500 and deeded to the countv at a cost of One Dollar ($1.00). The deed was deposited inescrow, with the county commis_ sioners, to be placed on record after the election. On Saturday night shortly after seven heard and echoed from street to street and house to house; soon the bell of the Montezu_ qa HoteJ began to clang, arousing the whole city to the knowledge that a disistrous fire was in progress. Great throngs of people began to rush to the scene of tf,e conilagra_ tion and the word was passed the cotinty court house was on fire, Those persons who had been at the fire at its incipiency stated that the blaze appeared to be located under the floor of the office occupied by County Judge Glaister. How the fire could have start€d in that part of the building is a mystery as the Judge left town Saturday night for his place of business at Seibert and so far as known no one had been at.the office during the day. The writer (of th1. lytp"per article, a Burlington paper, dated Friday, Dec. 2g, 1g0Z) arrived on'the scene just as the fire came bursting out t!ryugh, the window of the Judge's piivate office. County Treasurer price with i*o o. suspicious characters and placed in ttrelait as there is little doubt that the fire was of an incendiary character. Our County Commissioners should at once arrange to build a Court House commensu_ rate with the present condition ofthis countv. It should be built ofbrick not to cost less tha'n sixty thousand dollars. The population and wealth which has been and is pouring into this county will fairly justify the-expeniiture tor a commodious and up to date court house that will be a credit to our county and our city. by Janice Salmans NEW COURT HOUSE 1950 Tt7 Carson County has a new court house! _,Kit lnls, oI course, rs not a startling announce_ ment at this time when the new building has been in use for some months. In factl the move from the old to the new building has �and Harley Rhoades of Burlington. Abstracts of assessment since then show a building fund levy of 1.0 mill was made in 1945, 1.5 mills in L945,47 and 48, 2.0 mills in 1949 and 50 and 1.874 mills in 1951. The architect, Chas. A. Kellogg of Denver was instructed to begin work on building plans early in 1949, and construction got under way the following summer. The com- missioners served as general contractors and took bids on such work as electrical, plumb- ing and heating, cement, and installing the elevator. Wm. McKinley of Burlington served as supervisor and Elmer Kerl of Vona served as foleman. The final cost exceeded the original figure due to the increase in cost of the steel strike which occurred after the construction had begun' The total cost of the new court house has been broken down by the commissioners: Wages, $?9,631.13; Materials and freight, $78,606.12; Architect's fee, $3,835.00; Electrical contract' $6'689'48; Plumbing and heating contract, $11'787'88; Elevator contract, $9,850'00; with the total cost being $190'399.61. Kit Carson County's Court House, above photo shows east entrance' been so gradual during the past three yerrs' that it has almost escaped formal notice' The new cornerstone reads that the building was reconstructed in 1950, but construction was not completed until the spring of 1952' The new building is a four story structure, finished in Carnegie marble veneer' It is situated in the center ofthe block, two blocks west of Main Street in Burlington' It's total cost of $190,000.00 has all been paid by small mill levies during the past several years' In fact. since there is about $10,000 remaining in tire building fund, no further levy will be necessary. Commissioners Reuben Anderson, (Burlington)' Ernest McArthur (Stratton) and Earl Boren (Seibert). The idea of establishing a "building fund" which would be built up for several years to finance the conversion of the new building came from the commissioners in office in 1945. They were the late George Baxter of Flagler; the late Tom Kennedy of Stratton Officials and employees carried on their work many times under very trying conditions. A public meeting room is a feature of the building. It is Iocated on the first floor and is available for all types of public meetings' Also on the first floor are the offices of the County Superintendent and the Assessor, the welfare office, and the furnace room. Formerly it was necessary to house the welfare office in another building. On the second floor are the offices of the County Clerk, the County Treasurer' the County Commissioners and the County Aeent. Law enforcement and judicial offices ar-e grouped on the third floor. These are offic-es of the Sheriff and the County Judge, the jury room and the District Clerk's office. On tite fourth floor are the county jail and modern, complete living quarters for the iailer. There is also additional storage space on the fourth floor. Formerly the jail was housed in a separate building on the court house grounds. Sam Travis, CountY Treasurer, 1956 County Treasurer's office. �recovered Bar T cattle. When we set the old chuck wagon down and the remuda of mustangs were settled to grazing nearby, the boys had to fan out and work for miles around bringing the cattle in. When the Rock Island Railroad was built we tried pretty hard to keep our cattle north of it but we still had round ups, but smaller ones. District Court room; adjoining are Judge's chambers and jury room. COUNTY SHERIFFS T18 there were instances that a buffalo cow mated to one of the Bar T bulls it was known. and while this would probably have been born A listing of the County Sheriffs as known: 1884-1888, A.N. Wilcox; 1889-1890, Sam Beidelman; 1891-1899, unknown; 1899-1900, B.D. Roger; 11901-1902, Frank Fleming; 1903-1908, James Knapp; 1909-1917, un- known; 1917-1918, E.E. Hoskin; 1919-1923, R. Lee Worley; 1923-1928, John G. Davis; 1929-1930, Walt H. Conarty; 1931-1932, Hugh Baker; 1933-1936, C.C. Gates; 19371947, Ray W. Plummer;1947-L955, Oliver C. Dunlap; 1955-1963, E.B. Ormsbee, (1st 4 year term); 1963-1967, Ed Mills; 1967-1971, Jack Heid; 1971-1984, George R. Hubbard; 1984 Sharon Heinz. and would have lived it would have been a hybrid like the mule and would not have reproduced. In a few years the buffalo entirely disappeared for there were those that would try so hard to get one. For years we had to go to Benkelman, Nebraska, for supplies and a four horse team made this trip late in the fall for we did not like to have to go during the winter if we could get by without it. We had to have round ups too, for it just had to be done to collect our cattle. We went as far south as the Arkansas River and still Then, when the homesteaders started coming in 1866, we had to keep them even closer and watch them better. We also started to put up hay for winter feed for the first time and by 1898 we had cut down cattle numbers so much that we only had 2,500 left. Then a little later we fenced in what we claimed as our ranch and we kept this grass to grow over the summer and would put out cattle inside this fence during the winter, and we just had 1,000 cattle left. We fed them hay during the winter too in this pasture. Then the homesteaders started coming on our property and filing claims and we started having trouble with them. There was a Mr. Munsinger who was locating most of them and he would come right in and lay out a claim. My father had filed on a homestead also that lay just south of the old Fleer place. Mr. Minsinger located a homesteader on this land and started to put a fence around it. There was trouble and Mr. Munsinger shot and killed our ranch foreman, Mr. Allen. Cattle were not worth very much. In 1912 we just got $3.50 for good steers. Shortly afte' 1880 we had taken out water rights on the river. The old Tuttle Ranch, 12 miles up the river, was our closest neighbor. Then later on there was the Pugh, Davis and Pugh ranches and a Harry Cox bought part of the Tuttle Spread, and Burt Ragan took a homestead close to our ranch house but he was working for us. Bill Mace took a homestead just north of Mr. Ragan. ll t6'/67a THE BAR T STORY T19 \n 1872, my father, Jacob Scherrer, and Tom Ireland teamed up to form the Republican Cattle Company and the ranch carried the name of the Bar T. This nnme came about as a result of the brand they used which was a bar over a letter "T", put on the left hip. Indians were seen often and while they had just recently been hostile there were no incidents of a serious nature. There were plenty of guns and ammunition at the ranch but there was never an attack. The Indians etole some things but nothing was done about it. They also stole a cow or steer once in awhile and it was thought these were eaten and, as cattle were cheap and the ranch had lots of them, it would have been foolish to have made an incident of such a small thing as losing a few cattle. To my knowledge there was never a band of cattle or horses driven away. If there was it would have been just small groups. It was better to get along with the Indians if you could. Buffalo were here yet, too, in 1872 but not in numbers that hindered with cattle raising. They were scattered in small bunches and on the few occasions that a cow became mated to a buffalo bull, the cow died in calving. If n7 t.l J++,^., t u4t r+n /Iv./fl.lJ,ltllnill.ltl.tn0tl// '3( edfr"^-r L vdr "-4flttlttl,lt\lfttJ Al A u^/L'N'lliftf-fN &rt{.ta $' 7 c, nnnll ,/ &,6a j 71ry *TT1 ii I j t. &3 rii lr rl I Record taken from Burt Ragan's account ledger, accounting of cattle delivered to O.P. Hughes. HT rc,-t �ri? le &o bA/. ,r_"2 utq"a*, %),!,t rl, ,,4,^zV,, l^bu ur,.,'9,1 l, | fuu Nql t, ,, to&iullt*'at ', /,fi't he camped out under the stars on ground that he was later to own. He got a job on the Bar 4w{n T Ranch working for the Republican Cattle Co. His job was to help fix fences, haul supplies or any other job that happened to ''f'E:, )l come along. He went on many a long cattle drive and round up. He helped in the driving ti of the Texas Cattle that the Republican Cattle Co. had shipped as far as Lamar. He also saw buffalo at different times. After working there for five years, he became the manager. He was for making more pay, so he started to put together a small herd of cattle for himself. He also took a homestead close by and proved up on it while working at the Bar T. In those early days as a cowboy he did not have many clothes nor did he need many. A couple of pair of pants, two shirts, boots, a good hat and a blanket was about all he ar ,4It.l ..r,,t, .:i \*r 'u {./., L' ,t., "i "t ,,eA ),,J r'.ri L ({ 'c,u cqc'- .'Ed 7 possessed. But they had good times in those days anyway. Dancing was the main amusement. There always seemed to be a good fiddler ':41t'r. I lna , U-z€ /tt *1 or two at the Bar T. Whenever they could, a good crowd would gather for a night of ,:,ttft'r, t0 il, '.. :)i.t ' enjoyment. He would never forget the big round ups. The dust was terrible and they were bothered so much with flies and sand gnats. The last big round up on the range in this part of the 8,6 b,0 , aa country was in 1888. Fred Bauder $20 per month, 1899 water. It swallowed them up. There were lots of rattlesnakes and coyotes, but the prairie dogs came in greater numbers after the settlers came in. J.G. Scherrer Denver, Colorado April 26, In 1911 the Kit Carson Land Company was med and they moved in lots of people ;ween the river and Burlington and anothplace that they settled in numbers was of rn on what they called the Idalia These people on the Idalia Flats had ir success with wheat. We were bottled up. 1957 Burt Ragan was born on March 31, 1868, at Lancaster, Iowa. He came west to western Kansas sin 1885. The next year he decided to come to Colorado, so he walked. He was then eighteen years old. His first night in Colorado big cattle days were over. We had lost lots them in a blizzard in 1905 when thev rifted over the river bank after it was filled with snow and they perished in the snow and Burt was well acquainted with Dr. Tuttle, who owned the Tuttle Ranch, and who was formerly a surgeon in the Confederate Army and was then living at Littleton, Colorado. He also knew the rancher and cattleman George Benkelman, Sr., who had cattle all up and down the Republican River. He later founded the Colorado Packing Company in Denver. He also knew Ed McCrillis who later built the "Sears" Hotel in Denver. He also knew Ed McCrillis who later became the Cattle Brand Inspector of Colorado. McCrillis at that time was connected with the Spring Valley Ranch. by Myra L. Davis t3 /1-t-<.LA-L 'i | )t y',t- , g '6 r0 E'^/A- Q r;- J./u''ar.\-/htl m At t (,, I W Eu I 1' tt'1 / D t\o I I Expenses for moving cattle tt tt pf^"11*' ,t q.nt ar:w1,. ,, *oa-ctD ^"^r.A r-(p+1 /7o1'^ / ,r '1,/ Kit Cargon County Memorial Hospital, 1950s. �Orderlies: Emergency Medical Trainees: Scott Beethe, Rnmon Cortinas, Glen Grotegeers and JFmes Timme and John Wilson. CRT. Ward clerks: Dorendo Harrel. Melanie 9eelhoof and Marjorie Sloan. Dietary: Wave McNeill, Pauline Hayden, Leola Isom, Sandra Webb, Loraine Wood and Hilda Zeigler. I,,aboratory: and X-Ray: James Jordan, ASCP; Joanne Jones and Bruce Gross. Central supply: Ardith Gulden, LpN; Iona McBlfresh and Martha Carter. Housekeeping: Anita Sandoval, Esther Perez, Marla Trevino and Maxine White. Consulting Pharmacist: Linda Hayden. Respiratory Therapy: Carl Curtis, AART. Five personnel serving on the staff for 2b years were honored at a service and presented a brick from the original hospitaf with the words engraved on them "For 2b years of Community Service, 1948-1gZB." PIONEER LIFE ON THE PRAIRIE B_ar T cowboys ready to start-roundup, carnping on the weet side of 14th St. at the north end. L. to R.; Mac Bevier, Frank Mann, unknown, chris stahlecker, b unknown, Burt Ragan, Fred Bauder. KIT CARSON COUNTY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL T20 The Kit Carson County Memorial Hospital opened its doors on June 23, L948. Construc- tion on the facility was start€d Feb. 1947, with W.M. McKinley (Supt. of Schools), accepting the responsibility of the general contractor. The project was sponsored by the Burlington Rotary Club. The hospital was built with funds received only from contributions and donations. Allotment of federal funds were held up by delays, red tape and tough breaks. Eventually the hospital board decided to build with only local funds. Donations cnme in as cash, from a few dollars to several hundred. from donated labor, from a "lO-acre wheat club" (which farmers organized and contributed all proceeds from 10 acres oftheir crop, with the rest being piled on the ground at the site of the now occupied Medical Clinic.). On hand with "the first load of bricks" so to speak, was J.S. (Steve) Rockwell, who resigned his position as county treasurer to ffrsume responsibilities as hospital adminis- trator. Rockwell and the board accumulated a surplus of approximately 9150,000 during his first 20 years to help with the construction of the new wing of the hospital, which had open house festivities Sunday, April 21, 1968. Guy Ancell was contractor for the new south wing project, which he operated on a cost-plus basis, which saved the county an estimated $50,000. This increased the 32 bed hospital to 45 beds. In addition all facilities were improved or new ones added. The staff of 44 persons represented one of the larger payrolls in the county. Cost of the new wing and improved facilities was about $350,000. Landscaping of the original grounds was a project of the Burlington Garden Club with the committee of Mrs. W.W. McKinley and Mrs. Arthur Wilson heading the effort. Another help team of the hospital has been the Hospital Auxiliary, composed of commu- nity volunteers, who met each first Mondav of the month to mend, and sew various garments and hospital supplies. Anna Buol was a charter member and first president of the auxiliary which began with seven members: Mrs. J.C. Coleman, Vice-Pres.; Mrs. C.D. Reed, Sec.-Treas; Mrs. John Revert, Mrs. Lyle James, Mrs. Alice Travis, Shannon and Alice Adams, Superintendent of Nurses. A remodeling project of the original part of the hospital was completed for occupancy in Aug. of 1972, bringing the capacity of the hospital to 51. This included two beds for intensive and cardiac care; five for maternity patients; L0 in the skilled nursing facility and 34 medical surgical beds. Rockwell resigned as administrator in 1967, at which time he assumed responsibili- ties as purchasing agent and maintenance supt. He then joined administrator Robert H. Robb as assistant administrator. Robb joined the staff Sept., 1970, after having retired as an Army major after 20 years of service. The board members were: Harold McArthur, chairman; Leo Kindsvater, vice chairman; Russ Wilcox, Sec.; and members; Dale Har- grove, Seibert; Louis Pickard, Vona; Max Toland, Stratton; and David Rowland, Flagler. Personnel consisted of 70 persons. Administration: Robb, Administrator, Rockwell, Agent, Assnt. Adminis. Business office: Thelma Mayhan, Thelma Rockwell, Virginia Williams, Bernice Rudnick and Theresa Knapp. Medical records: Eileen Stewart, Art; and Patricia Stewart. Nursing Staff: registered nurses: Dorothy Crow, director; Iva Crist, Doris Crouse, Debbie Cure, Ruth Haugey, Patricia Herrmann, Dorothea Homm, Dora Knapp, Carol McCulloch, Virginia Peterson, Nancy Roark, Hazel Stahlecker and Sara Veselik. L.P.N.'s: Alice Cichanski, Mildred Hines, Norma Lindholm nd Helen Schaal. Nurses Aides: Louise Barnhart, Bessie Boyd, Dixie Burrows, Mildred Copley, Beverly Critch- field, Jean Haines, Karol Haines, Faith Hase, Joyce Knodel, Kathy Kramer, Mabel McAr- thur, Cass Minter, Vera Perkins, Betty Smith, Debbie Smith, Mardean Stewart, Elva Mae Wall, Leah Woods, Grace Wooley and Eunice Twomey. T2r Where we now live encircled with all the embellishments of modern civilized life. our intrepid forbears knew a far different type of existence. Those who blazed the trails through Eastern Colorado, endured untold hardships and privations as great as those suffered in colonizing America. Yet many of their graves are on the plains, unmarked, and the deeds of their daring unsung. _. Kit Carson County, the crossroads of many historic trails, has not one marker or monument to perpetuate the memory of those whose courage and fortitude led to the settlement of this County and helped to make this a beautiful gateway to the beauty and grandeur of the Rockies. To answer the question of who passed this way first, we would pay tribute to the Indian tribes who chased the buffalo and antelope over the plains and left the relics of their tribal lives on most every hilltop in this County. The dust storms of 1934-198b uncovered the campfire sites of these early inhabitants. Trained eyes may read the secrets of broken pottery and fragmentary implements; experienced hands may piece together the story of their tribal lives and customs; history written not in formal documents, but in the result of their occupation. Their trails have been almost obliterated by white man, and their burial grounds despoiled by the curious settlers. The bold Cheyennes, their allies, the Arapahoes, and the more hostile Kiowas. all have left traces of their nomadic life on the plains. Today we enjoy visiting the bared camp sites and find pleasurable avocation in the study of the different types of tools, and the tribe each type represents. Stone needles, grinding stones, knives, spear heads and arrow heads in abundance are to be found. Old Indian Cemetery: Eleven miles north and four west. on the bluffs of the Landsman Creek is an old Indian burial place (sec. 33-6-44). Here is an old Indian cemetery, a pyramid of stones, several feet in height, marked graves of some chieftain or warriors. This marking was despoiled, unknowingly of course, by an early homes- teader looking for stone to build a dwelling house on his homestead. The house, now long �vacant, stands as a protest to the desecration of the ancient cemeterY. An Old Legend: After the battle of Beecher Island, survivors tell us that the Indians gathered up their dead and withdrew, going in a southwesterly direction. In a direct line of their travel are very high bluffs on the Republican River, which would be their nearest watering place, and where live springs keep the water flowing at all times. On one ofthese high elevations is a circular layer of stones which is supposed to mark the tomb of the great Cheyenne warrior, Roman Nose, killed in the battle of Beecher lsland. The site corresponds to the tribal burial customs of the Cheyenne Indians. Changes in the river's course and the great floods have uncovered several skeletons from the lower bluffs where the waters have cut away what seems to have been a cave sealed in the long ago. The Mystery Grave: The former old "Tuttle Ranch" on the Republican river and Landsman Creek holds the site of what has been a legendary treasure hunt. As this land wag crossed by the old Leavenworth and Pike's Peak Trail, many interesting stories are told of events transpiring along this trail. One is told by L.N. Corliss oi St. Atbans, Vermont. "A miner who traveled this route was dying in Chicago and tried to give directions to a point on Lands- man Creek. The directions were: "Go to Landsman, follow to a spring, southeast from the spring you will find a mound. In that He died leaving the mound you will find -" rest ofthe story untold. Hundreds visited the cave expecting to find a miner's cache of gold, but only a few Indian trinkets were revealed. The Corliss family still own the old ranch, and the younger generation has often sear- ched for the "miner's gold", but without success, although some small Indian relics were uncovered. Several graves have been found and opened, but the secret lies buried. Cowboys who rode the plains with the "KP", the "Bar-T" and the "77" cattle herds tell us of many interesting incidents of the early trails and the trading posts set up enroute. At least two of these were in Kit Carson County, and another was located just over the line in Yuma County, near what is now the Newton school; another on the Arthur Pugh ranch, and a third one north of Kipling, a railway siding, and on the south side of the Republican River. This trail was still visible in 1908 when an "old timer" called my attcntion to it. The trail was also visible on the south bank of the Republican river where it crossed U.S. Highway No. 244. This trail was pointed out to me by one who freighted from Denver with an ox-team before the advent of the Rock Island Rail- road. This trail is near the old Indian caves and in the region where a wagon train of one hundred white people were attacked by the Indians. The story of this battle was published in "The Seibert Settler", a county newspaper. The writer was from Topeka, Kansas and was visiting relation living near the battle ground. There is another old trail in the vicinity of Seibert that I traveled for many miles from 1908 to 1910 when living on a homestead located on this trail. The Kit Carson Trail leads from Bent's Fort on the Arkansas River ,o trsramie Fort in Wyoming, and passed the west side of Seibert and on to the Arickaree Creek near Cope. I saw the trail over most of this territory, but today it is most obliterated by plough shares. These early trails did not stay within the scope of boundaries ofpresent highways, but varied over considerable terrain as circumstances necessitated, sometimes to avoid low marshy ground in wet weather, sometimes, if guided by scouts, to avoid hostile Indian tribes when they were on hunting trips over the plains. Occasionally there would be a variance of several miles between the trail and various detours, but Kit Carson Trail through this county is very direct. The Smoky Hill Trail followed the South Fork of the Smoky Hill river as far as Big Springs where the Kit Carson Trail crosses it, but old settlers on the North Fork of Smoky Hill river show us a distinct trail along the south bluff of Smoky Hill river just south of the First Central School, and it appears again further west until it was obliterated by cultivated fields. The trail led onward in the direction of the "KP Ranch". In road grading in the southwest part of the County, workers have uncovered skeletons along this route. Wild Horse Corral Many western Kansas pioneers chased wild horses over this atea, according to the history of many pioneers in the late 1870's. One of their traps for catching horses was Wild Horse Corral on the Landsman or Launchman, for Dutch Jake was not distinct in the pronunciation of his home's name' These wild horse hunters also found refuge in the dugouts in the bluff. One early day trapper in Colby told of being caught in several blizzards. one in Colorado. While following a stream, he saw vapor rising from the bank at the water's edge, and investigating, he and a companion found a beaver's nesting place large enough for them to crawl in to keep snug and warm. Early Trapper's Residence The Spring Valley Ranch is the site of the Reeks Brothers' log cabin home, which was burned by the Indians in 1878, but was rebuilt in 1879. These men were trappers and their home was open to some of the older roving cowboys, such as Jimmie Gray, early foreman on the Bar T Ranch before the feuds with homesteaders. In his declining years, Jimmy often spent his winters at the Reeks' cabin. Jimmy was still riding at the age of 82. The Reeks soon after rebuilding, sold their camp site to Edward McCrillis, who had a ranch on the Republican River. The Reeks brothers settled near Beecher Island and later went to Elizabeth and are buried there. Their camp site is now known as "Spring Valley Ranch". The first man known to have his home in the Burlington locality was known as "Dutch Jake" (his surname is Harbison)' a German trapper who had a camp on the creek which crossed U.S. Highway No. 24 just west of Bethune and joins the Republican River just east of State Highway No. 51, about twenty mile north of Burlington. He lived in one of the six or seven dugouts in the bluffs of "Wild Horse Canyon, Sec. 4-7-44. Other dugouts or caves were used by buffalo hunters, then later by bone haulers. These bluffs or caves are on the Landsman Creek, designated by U.S. Survey as the proper name. This creek origin dates back to the days of "Dutch Jake" who, it is said, purchased his supplies and shipped his pelts from the old "Benkelman Ranch" on the Republican River, and not far from Colorado-Kansas line. When he would visit the ranch "Old man Benkelman" would greet him with - "Wie ghets Landsman". The word "Landsman" being used in the sense of farmer, hayseed or backwoodsman. The cowboy soon began calling the creek on which he lived the "Landsman". Early Cattle Ranches: At a time when this State was full of wild adventure, a few of the more daring men with some capital assumed the risk of establishing cattle ranches where water comes to the surface and forms living springs. Three such ranches were established in the present territory of Kit Carson County. Tuttle Ranch (TT-) This ranch was owned by Dr. Tuttle of Denver and located as early as 1876. The first building was comprised of one large room built of sod with walls three feet thick to protect the inmates from Indian attacks. Many turbulent times were encountered during the years intervening between the establishing of the early ranches and the coming of the settlers in 1886. On Hell Creek north of Seibert was the scene of an Indian attack on cowboys, in which two cowboys were killed and their bodies interred near the old Kit Carson Trail. Erosion revealed the victims of this tragedy in later years, and they were reinterred on higher ground. The bunkhouses, which were the living quarters of the cowhands, were the scenes of unsavory episodes that were always common in the early days of the West. On Tuttle Ranch reposes the earthly remains of at least one cowboy killed in a bunkhouse brawl, the result of cheating at cards. Scherrer Ranch (-T) (T) The Bar T Ranch is better known to us, as our present State Senator, Burt Ragan, was a former foreman on this ranch' Like all early day ranches, it went through many phases of western history. We are told that attacks on homesteaders, in order to discourage them, were frequent. After crops were destroyed by the range cattle, ranchers often retaliated by butchering beeves; quarrels and shootings occurred, and sometimes one or two persons were killed. Such was life on the Republican River in the vicinity of homesteader Munsinger's home and the Bar T Ranch. Munsinger did not scare, so when he was warned by the Foreman Allen and a cowboy, the former was killed and the heel shot off the cowboy's boot as he scurried for his horse. Later Munsinger was killed by another homesteader who claimed self defense. Nothing was done about either case as there were sympathizers for both parties concerned. Later L.R. Baker shot and killed a prospective homesteader who was coming over the trail from Haigler, Nebraska to Burlington, and as the trail crossed the homestead rights of Baker, he objected to the trespassing. Baker was arested and hurried to the nearest in order Cheyenne Wells railway station - violence. Relays-of horses to prevent mob were arranged along the route and the trip was made with the greatest speed in order to catch the next train. But upon arrival at Cheyenne Wells, a grim and armed crowd of men took Baker from the Sheriff and hanged him to the water tower. As the train pulled into the station, a few minutes late, the place was deserted, not a human being in sight. A lone passenger, alighting from the train, both hands filled with luggage, looked askance at the deserted village. Scott Vititow, coming to �visit his brother Tom at the latter's horse ranch, was disappointed that no one wag there to greet him, but his disappointment changed to terror as he saw the gruesome sight at the water tower. The train was receding in the distance. Impossible to catch it an-d hop aboard, he wanted to get away, but how? At last a sombrero emerged over the top of a barrel, then a face, and a voice asked. "Lookin' for somebody?" Scott then explained who he was and that he had written his brother Tom to meet him. Residents of the West knew that ranchers out on round-up received mail belatedly, so Scott was loaned a horse to ride to his brother's ranch where he had a full week alone to meditate on the scene of his arrival before his brother rode in from round-up. In the same village of Cheyenne Wells was enacted another drama which again made the populace gasp in horror. In the graying dawn of early morning a drifting breeze stirred two indistinct forms suspended from the arm of the water tower that had served as a gibbet in eking out justice to L.R. Baker for the murder of McConnell. An earlyrisingwoman, emerging from her home to look after her cows, gave a sudden gasp, then with frenzied screams brought the scantily clad citizens to their windows and doorways, where their gaze was directed by the gesticulating and pain stricken woman to the lengthy forms dangling by ropes from the erstwhile gibbet. After the first shock was dispelled, citizens hurried to learn who were the victims of the latest tragedy. They found two well known villains who, by their many forays on the scant larders of the citizens, had made themselves obnoxious to the entire village two long, lank greyhounds. A vast sigh -of relief was wafted on the early morning breeze. Ho5rt was a prosperous village established by Dr, Hoyt, who was also a surveyor, trail blazer and locator. By turning up sod along the route, he marked the trail which the emigrants were to follow to this land of opportunity. Hoyt had a hardware store, two groceries, a drygoods store operated by the I,eellutchens fanily, and a hotel, opeiated by Mrs. Wivinis, mother of Mrs. Bertie Tucker, who is well remembered as a charming resident of Seibert. A little sod school house was built, and Mrs. E.P. Trull was the first teacher. Mrs. Paul B. Godsman. who was the second teacher in this school, was for many years later Principal of the Montclair school in Denver. When I came to Colorado in 1908, I was shown a trail about one and one half miles northwest of Seibert, and which was called the "Santa Fe Trail", or the trail from St. Joseph, Mo., to Santa Fe, New Mexico. I asked Mrs. Priest about this trail. and she stated that local residents knew it as the "Santa Fe Trail" and that it was used by the emigrant wagons and freighters. This trail passed along the south bank of the Republican River and on via Hugo to New Mexico. Among the emigrants of 1886-1882 were Lee Hutchens and family from Harrison County, Mo., who were among the most prominent pioneers of the later town of Seibert. Mrs. Priest also mentioned Charles and William Blake, brothers, who were early settlers, and freighted with an ox team from the town of Hoyt. She doubted if Charles Blake, who operates a small store in Seibert, would give any information about pioneer days and doings, as he had refused to talk on the subject to her or to others who were compiling historical data. However, I like adventure, so asked Mrs. Millisack to drive to the Blake store, but to keep the engine running for a quick exit in case f was to meet a reception that had been accorded others who had met with the ',old timer's" disap- proval. Although I have known Mr. Blake fbr many years, he would not acknowledge acquaintance nor give any information whatever. I tried in various ways to get some response to recall events, but had to be gratified with a smile when I spoke of a certain event of the old times. Finally, Mr. Blake curtly arose and left the storeroom bv a back door, so after visiting a few moment-s with customers, we left Seibert. _ With my companions, we journeyed to the Collins House in Stratton, where we were graciously received by our good friend, Mrs. John J. Pugh, (Mrs. Jane E. pugh) who interestingly told us about the old Tuttle ranch, their home. I further inquired about the Indian burial ground. Mrs. Pugh told that she had seen skeletons of Indians, one of a chief, evidenced by the articles included in his grave, and also the remains of a Civil War soldier, recognized by his uniform. A musket of Civil War days was uncovered in the field. Mrs. Pugh mentioned "six Mile point" as a part of the Tuttle ranch, a site that was familiar to me, as I had passed there often in visiting schools while County Superintendent. Six Mile Point is the region I recognized as the supposed resting place of Roman Nose, the Cheyenne warrior. Mrs. Pugh is a lady of charm and culture. and has a very alert mind and retentive memory. Her daughter, Leona, was born on the "Divide" on December 22, L886, at that time part of Arapahoe County, now the south edge of Yuma County. Leona was the first child born in this vicinity. After making final proof on their pre-emption claim, they homesteaded within the present boundary line of Kit Carson County, and have been Thomas County, one in Sheridan Countv. and four in Greeley County, all in Kansasi also seven met death in Wichita, two in Scoti and four in Sherman County, Kansas. At least one died in the storm in Kit Carson County. Fred Boyd, aged twenty, and Jocab Koen_ ingheim, a_ge twenty two, left Gandy, Kansas, in a one horse sleigh to go to Voltaire, a distance of six miles. Returning in the evening, they were overtaken by the storm. They stopped at a house of a Mrs. Douglas, not far from Gandy, and were urged to turn the horse loose and stay overnight. But they refused to do this, and after obtaining a lantern, proceeded on their way. They w"ere lost in the storm and their bodies found later. The horse was found frozen in a upright position where he had broken through ihe ice in a creek. The other two men wlre from Voltaire, a man named Kerns and a bov named Harper, about fourteen years of age. Kerns was from Missouri, and the boy frJm Atwood, Kansas. Three others, who left Voltaire t_he dqy before New year's to go to Colby had not been heard from, and (at"that time) fears were entertained that they too were lost. They were Bert Hendricks. Monte Brashear and John Vandeveer. (Sherman County Herald). These three men were safe. but had a gruelling experience. Bert Hendricks, my uncle, now deceased, described his experiences in this storm to me some years ago. James Priest of Seibert told of a man who was found frozen to death under his wagon in the vicinity of Hoyt. Bert Hendricks and O.H. Hendricks were early locators in the town of Siebert. Colorado. The grove oftrees north ofSeibert were planted by O.H. Hendricks. by Della Gamble Hendricks among the county's most prominent citizens. BEECHER ISLAND and Elias G. Davis were also pioneers in tlat BATTLE {llliam_nicnards (brother of Mrs. pugh) territory and prominent in the early days on the plains. Mr. Davis and Mr. Pugh came west together, lived and worked for manv years together, and both passed to the Great Beyond within a period of three months. Ed Davis, a son of E,G. Davis, possesses an heirloom mattress brought from Illinois by an early settler. The Great Blizzard, of 1886 The blizzard of January 2nd to 6th, 1g96, is still referred to as "The Great Blizzard..,, And well it may be, for in no storm of record was the loss of human life so great, or of livestock so general. Nothing comparable to it has been experienced in the history ofthe west except the storm of March 26 and 27th. 1931, the year of the "Towner Tragedy." On Saturday, January 2nd, 18g6;the first snow gtorm of the season made its appear- ance, and continued for about twentv-four hours. Some four or five inches of snow fell. and drifted badly in the accompanying heavy wind. The weather settled somewhat on Monday, and remained pleasant until Wed- nesday night, when another storm more raging than the first, began to blow. This storm was general over most of the West and great suffering was endured. Railway trains were stalled and many tragedies occurred. Four people were frozen to death in T22 There had been a raid on a freighter's train about 13 miles east of Ft. Walale, Kansas. The Battle of Beechers Island ensued. Col. George A. Forsyth led his troops ofb0 scouts in pursuit of the Indians. They saw no signs until they arrived at the Arickaree or Middle Fork of the Republican river. At this point of the river and valley there is an island-. It was here that the Indians in countless numbers rushed at the troops. Col. Forsyth ordered his troops to take refuge. Chief Roman Nose of the Cheyenne, in war paint and headdress and riding his large spotted horse, led his men in wave after wave of furious charges. The Chief and his Medicine man were finally killed. Toward evening Lieutenant Beecher received his fatal wound. After dark. two scouts: Jack Stilwell and pierre Trudeau. v_olunteered to try to get through to Ft. Wallace. They dressed in Indian clothing to avoid being intercepted by the Indians. When the soldier's food supply becpme exhausted, they cut steaks from their dead horses, and ate without salt. It is said. after nine days the meat became putrid, so they put gun powder on it and ate it. The evening of the third day came with no word of the two scouts. Two more offered to �and the of morning The island. ieturned to the ninth day the Indians made a charge, then *itnat"*. Evidently the Indian lookouts had spotted the U.S. Cavalrymen-from Ft' Wallace. The two scouts, at risk ofbeing captured and scalped, had been successful' Scout eo but could not make it through the lines Klt Car son' s Trail Janice Salmans Vona, Colorado 183 4 To Sainl Franc-1s KANSA S trudeau'returned with the Cavalry, but Stilwell was unable to on account of having stepped barefooted on a cacti on the trek to Ft. Wallace. Upon arriving at the scene of the battle, thosl in need of 'medical attention were Hal- e immediately taken care of. Food was prepared and heartily enjoyed amid exultations at their deliverance. A monument was erected in memory of the heroes killed during battle. It was a fitting marker, placed there in 1898, but was later destroyed by the flood of 1935' The main of the river was completely changed "tt""""t by the turbulent waters, thus the-stone marking their final resting place and the site of the Eattle is forever lost to posterity' by Janice Salmans OCCURRENCES WE HAVE HEARD BUT NOT READ ABOUT T23 old Tuttle Str atton . Lilt]e Rin --Kit carson s 1834 PosL Kit Carson Co.lorado cnrinac One pioneer said there is one grave-on the prairie ior every two miles of space and began io enumerate ltto*n burial sites as West of Smokv Hill school, south of Peconic, on the prairie northwest of Burlington, -where a covered wagon was seen standing for some- time and a rider who after watching a short time to see if someone was in need of assistance, rode over to ask if they were-in need of help. He found an open grave and a woman trying to pull a stiffened body of a man from-the wagon for burial. This story is said to have been in one of the Burlington Papers in mid Pioneer Years. Four miles west and three miles south of Burlington is the grave of one of the earliest pioneeis, Frank Aldrich, whose brother Heniy's name is prominent in the earliest paper -- The Blade. The brothers had adjoining homesteads, when Frank died and was buried on the line between the southwest and southeast quarter of Sec. t8-9-44' by Myra L. David KIT CARSON T24 Christopher "Kit" Catson was one of the createst olthe "Mountain Men" and was one 6f tn" most romantic figures in Western American History. Kit Carson County, Colorado has the honor of being na-ed after him. In 1925 the county commissioners were able to purchase a fine old oil Painting of Kit Carsoni the noted scout and pioneer for whom the county had been named' It was olaced in the Court House. ' Kit Carson was born December 24, 1809' in Madison County, Kentucky (Daniel Boone's rf z4oo county). He moved to Missouri with his par"ttts when he was one year old. At 15 he was apprenticed to a saddler to learn to make saddlis, harnegses and moccasins for the mountain men. At 16, he heard tales of the west and became restless and ran away. He joined a wagon train bound for Santa Fe' There he Ieained to speak Spanish and trapped in the mountains and learned all the trails' In 1835, at the age of 26, he manied an Arapahoe Indian girl, named Prairie Flower (or Singing Grass) and they lived at. Fort ilent. Shelied in the fall of 1838 and was buried in the same robes that she was married in, at Big Timbers about 20 miles from Fort Bent. Tiey had one child, a girl -naq'ed Adeline. Aiter her mother's death, Kit Carson took the child to St. Louis, Missouri, to his relatives where she lived and received her education. She later married an army officer, a lieutenant. Kit Carson became the best known of the trappers, and was a good Indian fighter' He tu". itt" chief Indian scout and was a good friend of most of the Indians. He moved around a lot as he was never happy settled down in one place. In 1843, he married again, a 15 year old Mexican girl, Senora Josepha Jarimilla, in the church at Taos, New Mexico. They had seven children, four boys and three girls. He had a ranch home in New Mexico where his wife and children stayed when he was away' It was one of the most comfortable homes around there. In 1853 he was appointed as a Government Indian Agent for the Ute, Apache and Pueblo tribes and held that post until 1861' He organized a regiment when the Civil War br-oke out. He fought his cavalry in battles and skirmishes in New Mexico during the war. Kit and Mrs. Carson came to Boggsville iustbefore Christmas in 1867 in awagon from Taos. New Mexico. Kit Carson had just come back from Washington, D.C., on business with the government. Here they lived in a large house that his brother in law had built for him. His health was failing so that he was able to do very little work. He was suffering from an old injurY. On April 1t, 1868, Mrs. Carson died in childbirih. And on May 23, 1868, Kit Carson died in the government hospital at Fort Lyon' Both were buried near Boggsville, but later �the bodies were removed and were taken to Taos, New Mexico, for permanent burial. His brother in law took care of the children and saw them raised. Some of the children followed their fatherrs sanmpl€ in their marriages, down to the fourth generation, by being married in the same church at Taos.In November, 1858, Ed Baldwin of Anchorage, Alaska, a great great grandson of Kit Carson, visited in Burlington for a short time. He was interested in the county as it has been named for his pioneer predecessor and was seeking information of a historical nature. Taken from "The Life of Kit Carson". ,& ,dli wf b. '&:.',.' by Myra L. Davis RAILROAD INFORMATION -&*. i T26 1927 train wreck east of Vona, lifting train cars. The following items were extracted from F .ru: g{ the Cheyenne Wells Gazette asl listed. The newspaper was issued on days. Union Pacific - November 12. 1gg7 "Burlington citizens are elated over prospects of securing the Colby branch of thr Union Pacific to their town in a short time Burlington is a good town and in a country, and we congratulate them on thei prospects." November 19, 1882, "Burlington early in the week forwarded a petition contai containing the names of of all business men and many farmers int in prosperous locality to the general agent of the Union Pacific, asking that ihr night trains be stopped at Cheyenne Wells We trust that the work will bear fruit. Union Pacific should look to the Burli '1||' trade." Rock Island - January 28, 1888, ,,A Island surveyor went through town last-en route to Burlington to join a party road locators." February 18, 1888, "The country north us between Burlington and the Kanr &{*ll:,f&} Pacific railroads is full of railroad surve It seems certain that two of the routes will make a strong fight for teriitory, viz: the Union Pacific and the Rock Island. The building of even one of these li through the section this coming summer will be a great blessing to that portion of eastern Colorado. Burlington is on one or two survevs $ and is assured of one of them before the * natural trading point of this country at summer is ended. As Cheyenne Wells is the present, no small share of Burlington's boom will fall to our lot for a season. We are pleased that the towns above will catch theii roads. i, . 11. '. f']],r '. ,,&11&....,' ,t,:. :41", '.':,':. ' 11:,tf 'r1,-1' ,,f ':, ';' ' 't,t r' The old Milk Train of the Rock Island R.R. knowing there is room for all in this greai country, and would like to see them all _ Hoyt, Floyd, Beloit and Burlington shake - boom the atmosphere with an eighiy ton each." .. .Ap_ri! 14, 1888, From the State News report: "At Kit Carson another outfit of graders made their appearance on Thursday last with a trainload of mules, horses and tools. Thev are going to work on the grade of the RocL Island railroad forty miles north of that town. Graders are at work all along the line from the state line to Colorado Springs." �Mav 5. 1888, "Work on the Rock Island grade is being pushed at a splendid -rate' burlington fofuJ expect to see the headlight about the lst of November"' May 12, 1888, From the State News report: "The Rock Island railroad promises to reach Burlington by the 15th of JulY." June 2, 1888, From the State News report: aqtp:, ',,/;'L{)a ,;.:.ta:: 'itJ.ttt)il,:: {rit. ::.:1:t4' "The construction of the Rock Island we- $l,i|:At stward is making excellent progress and in a few days the road will be completed as far as Burlinston, this state. It is now estimated that t[e line i'ill reach Colorado Springs sometime in November, but probably too late for the fall traffic. Grading outfits are scattered all along the line of the new route' and the earthwork is advancing at a satisfactory pace." iune 30. 1888, "The Rock Island will reach Burlington about JulY 25th." .lutv Zt, 1888, "The Rock Island reached Burlinglon last Thursday night." February 16, 1888, "The Burlington merchants are complaining because freight rates pay 35 cents per hundred in trade for freight from here, than_ gay the extra -cents in cash to the Rock Island." ? Laying of the railroad line, 188?-88, Kit Carson County' sas was the announcement that the Chicago' Kansas and Nebraska railroad would extend their main line, which had already reached BUILDING THE ROCK ISLAND RAILROAD.,U Before the coming of che railroad, the was entirely free of fences and l herds of cattle roamed at will. one thing that gave the greatest mpetus to the settlement of government ands in eastern Colorado and western Kan- Fairbury, Neb., on through Kansas and Colorado to Colorado SPrings. In 1938, B.M. Barndollar recalled the buitding of the Rock Island and brought to the following original account: tight ""There had been a series of dry years in central and north-western Kansas starting in 1880, and the thousands of settlers who rushed in there were discouraged. Many had been impoverished to the point of want' Their horses and dairy cattle were none too good, and their wagons and farm implements r:t:'tll!,:rl: were only such as could be salvaged after severe dry years on lands in other places. All that was needed by these settlers to induce them to move into Colorado was assurance that a railroad would be built through the section where they could get'free land'." In those days there was' in the west an army of men, who for years had done nothing but railroad labor; building the great transcontinental lines that were threading their way west of the Mississippi and Miqsouri rivers. They were a sturdy lot of men, happy in hard work and hardships and only responsive to the laws and rules which they had set up for their own government, and by which tfiey [ved. They were pretty much -alik--e, mostly from Irish parentage, free from faaily responsibilities and when it came to drinking - whatever was to be had - the record has never been equalled' "First came the graders and their thousands of mules who moved the dirt by grader method. It sometimes required several weeks or months to complete the cuts and fill on a single stretch of right-of-way. Today a single slsAm shovel would do it in a short time." "The mule-skinners lived in bunk wagons' and had a big mess tent where plenty of good food was served. It was just too bad if a grade contractor happened to draw a poor cook, or if he tried to cut the quality or quantity of the chuck he served. The best skinners would leave in droves if this happened, and it meant disaster for the snmp; for only experienced men had the ability to take care of the animals and keep them in shape from sunup 'til dark. Yes, and it took plenty of grain and hay that had to be hauled great distances by wagon." "Barndollar, when 13 years old, was a water Section crew working west of Vona, 1896. Roy Leaper (foreman) with foot on rail' boy for the Kerrigan outfit. It was his duty to have a plentiful supply of clean water handy where the workers could get it quickly without interrupting the never ending train of scrapers that was passing. Water for all purposes had to be hauled in tank wagons, in .oroe .".". about 20 miles. And talk about �there was serious drinking to be done in a wet state where one could stand at a bar and call for his choice. To the last man they headed for one of the various saloons that were prepared and waiting. By l0 o'clock practi_ cally every one of those boys were howling. roaring, fi-ghting, pie-eyed stiff, singinl, swearing drunk. These two-fisted rail-roa-d builders had been in ,dry' Kansas and Colorado was'wet'." "The peace officer was one-armed Jerrv Barnes. The only thing he could do and dii do was to go to every house and advise everyone he met to stay in their homes and off the street." Lrnes ond Projects in €oster,, Colo. saloons were wreckg, but by some p.e-_ arrangement the liquor kept flowing. Stores remained closed and no women or children rt? lt.onSr..lin9 & 7 tlorrl*en ./ "By daylight many were laid out and the streets resembled a battleground. The flimsv were to be seen." "After the first few days the money ran out and the reetaurants started to do a little i | business and things assumed a more orderlv trend. But it was 2 weeks before the railroai gathered enough men to finish and B weeks before the rails were completed to Burlington." The railroad continued for many years to bring service to the farming and business communities along it's rails. _ On-October 10, 1962, the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad Comp-any was 110 years old. i-t:'' -lst!b-ail!r!s It was on October 10, 1852, that the first train chugged over the newly laid b7-pound ri- ---f I I iron rails, between Chicago and Joliet, Ill. a distance of 40 miles. This was the first fiocket train of the Rock Island lines. The first Rocket was made up of six new yellow coaches and was pulled by a tiny American-type Q-a-\ wood burning, steam locomotive. Eighty five years later the railroad introduced the first of its diesel-powered fleet of Rocket strenmliners. Significant technological advancements have made, by the Rock Island during _b-een ilg 110 years of operation. A long list o? "firsts" can rightfully be claimed by the company tlrrough the years. Among the more notable is the first use of microwavJin its vast communications network; introduction of swearing at those poor mules by their drivers, why those animals knew every word in the oath vocabulary with all the variations." "But a good 'skinner' always looked out for his team and it was a disgrace to allow an animal to develop a sore shoulder or any other ailment that was within the power of the driver to prevent." "When the grade was finished, crrne the bridge gang, who built temporary bridges so that the steel gang would not be delayed. Remember that all this material had to be hauled by wagon trains from the nearest point of the line, which at that time was Colby, Kan." "But the sensational event came after the tie and steel gang headed west out of Goodland. A train load of flat cars, each weighted down with steel and ties, with the engine on the rear, acting as a pusher. As the steel and ties were passed or rolled forward to the head of the train, the rail lavers grabbed the ties and laid them in posiiion. While others picked 'Jerrys' nailed the spikes. The spike men were the pride of the gang for they never missed a stroke. It was claimed that from the time the train left Goodland until it crossed the state line at what is new Kanarado, the steel train was never allowed to stop. The cars were passing over the newly laid rails practically as soon as they touched the ties. The rail from Goodland to Kanarado was laid in an all-time record." "When the last rail was in place across the state line, every man on the steel gang dropped his tools and quit the job. The railroad rules were if a man quit or was fired, !e would immediately get his pay check. Otherwise there would be a delay in getting all the pay that was coming." "Word had leaked out to the paymaster department ofwhat was going to happen and pay checks to that hour were soon given to each man. None were left but the engineer who had to take his engine back to Goodland without a fireman." "The tieup happened about noon and bv evening a strange, determined a"my com-menced arriving on foot. By 9 o'clock that summer evening, (1888), all had got into town. There was no time taken out to eat: L especially adapted electronic computers in its I automated yards at Silvis, Ill. and at Armour| dale, Kans., as well as its administrative functions. Says R. Ellis Johnson, president: ,,In 1962 we are convinced that the ll0 year old youngster is capable of accommodating on its own system, and through its multi_int€r_ change arrangements with other railroads. the transportation needs of all its customers. "We are proud of our high-speed Rocket freights, piggyback hotshots and our fleet of Rocket passenger trains. Our railroad is imbued with a progressive spirit and it is our proud boast that no finer employees can be found anywhere." Then in 1964, a newspaper article states: "Rock Island Post-Mortems, by Willard Haselbush, Denver Post Businels Editor. The 11 year financial illness of the Rock Island Railroad has ended in death for the carrier serving 13 states of America's heartland over 7,500 miles of track. Spokesmen for major railroads, includine the Denver and Rio Grande Western. havi advanced various proposals to dispose of the estate. Most suggested the best way would be �for the ICC to let competing railroads whose trackage duplicates that of the Rock Island in about 80% of the territory involved, take over for the Railroad." The railroad was virtually unused or little used for about the next 20 years or so, and finally went into complete bankruptcy. -The Kyle Railroad company took over in about 1985-36 and the rails are now used to transport wheat, and other farm products from our countY. on the Republican ticket in the 1920's after serving as County Treasurer for 3 years. He served for 2 - 2 year terms and ran for the third term and was defeated by the influence of the Ku-Klux-Klan which was active throughout the State during that period of time. In 1934 Bert Ragan of Burlington ran for the office of State Senator and was elected from this area. He served one term. Louis Vogt, a Democrat, served in the State Legislature. Louis was from Burlington bY Janice Salmans STATE LEGISLATORS T27 where he practiced law and also was a great thespian in the community staging many Shakespearian plays in the 1920's. William H. Yersin was elected to the Colorado House of Representatives in 1948 EARLY LAWYERS T29 T.G. Price was an early day lawyer whose name was Treverious Glorianus Price. He had a brother called Realto Executo Price and two sisters, whose names were reportedly, When In and .In The. (When in the course of events, the start of the constitution and In the, the first two words of the Bible). He was here at the start of Burlington, and erected the building where Mel Mullin had his TV shop. He homesteaded neat town, but later moved to town and practiced law. He was very prominent in the history of Burlington' P.B. Godsman, who first settled at Hoyt, had a law office just east of Rasmusgen's barber shop. He moved to Denver, where he died. He had a son, Sidney P. Godsman, who also practiced law in Burlington and later in Denver. He dways kePt in touch with Burlington, and owned property here. He was also a doctor as well as an attorney. Louis Vogt, or "Louie", was a prominent lawyer who erected the Midway Theatre and had a large house on the corner of 13th and Senter Streets. Louie was the father of Mike Vogt, local resident. He was elected to the 1935. State Senator Burt B0th General Assembly of the Colorado State Senate, Denver, Colorado January Ragan from Kit Carson County stands third from left, front row' Christopher Buchannan of Burlington w-as elected State Representative before the and served three terms. He was minority leader of the House during his last two terms. 1920's. John Boggs ran for State Representative .. ir.:,.:.,,. ;1.'.: .,.',-.,:;.,, -: ",,':, :,.,,',, : .;.. . . ,', a .'.. -, r. .:.,:,.,, ...,,\.t,,, ..r-.ri,,.,,,,.,'.-..,. I, r':.,.. MAIL CONTRACTS AWARDED T28 2/8/L902 - The following Star Route Mail contracts have been awarded by the post office department for the period from July 1, 1902 to June 30, 1906 for Kit Carson county. The contract prices per annum range from five to forty per cent higher than heretofore paid. The route, names of contractors, and iates per annum are as follows: From Cope to Seibert, Peter C. Dill $500; from Hale to Landsman, David S. Custer, $299; from Haigler to Idalia, George F. Conrad $740; From Henderson to U.P. railroad station, John Anderson $150; from Kirk to Tuttle, Frank A. Cline $159.99; from Littleton to Lamb, Stanley Dudley $300; from Thurman to Arickaree, James W. Clement $208; from Watkins to Salem, P. Peterson $200; from Ashland to Lnmborn, F.H. Odell $130; from Burlington to Burlington, E.E. Harrison, $400; from Claremont to Tuttle, Archie Dargrove, $450; from Flagler to Thurman, Edw. F. Miller $600. rVilliam H. Yersin. State Legislature, (as a Democrat) and was prominent in state politics. He was a Thespian of the first order and was the instigator of many Shakespearean plays that were produced in Burlington. These plays were put on with the help of local residents. His plays received state renown and were always well attended. Louis was a real dramatician in the court room also and won many trials by his dramatic abilitY. A.P. Tone Wilson, who came much later was a real sharp lawyer and somewhat of a prankster. I can remember that when I was a boy almost every farm with a For Sale sign Tone on it had the name "For Sale by - A.P. Wilson. Jr.". He built the building just north of the First National Bank where Percy Lounge had his shop. Mr. Newbury was a lawyer who settled on the river north east of Stratton near the Pugh Place. His homestead is now the Harvey Wood place. Newbury moved to town and never practiced law in Burlington. He had been a brilliant lawyer, but had a nervous breakdown, and never recovered' He lived in a dirt hovel just north of the Railroad station. bY HenrY Y. Iloskins EARLY DAY WATER SYSTEM T30 Most places in the early days did not have water piped in to the house. I suppose that the towns people started in the 20's and the farm people a little later. We had a cistern in the yard which was cemented and which had a PumP with buckets that picked up the water and dumped it out when turned. The buckets were about 6 inches wide and 2 inches deep. Most places in the country had a windmill with a well house. In the well house was a barrel into which the water from the well was pumped. It flowed through the barrel and probably into another barrel from which it �HINTS REGARDING THE 1916 BURLINGTON DISTRICT T311 I I q- '.*t&& +*:-' Bert and Roxie Kvestad drilling a water well on their farm in 1928. Frank Dinsmore is the well driller' Looking east at the Colorado-Kansas line, 1916. ribbons runs the purest of nature's life giving Crops Raised Wheat is one of the principal crops and produces on an average of at Ieast twenty bushels to the acre in general. Oats and barley do exceptionally well, yielding from thirty to sixty bushels to the flowed into a stock tank. One barrel was used for the house. A bucketful at a time. It was always a cool place to stop to get a drink from a dipper which hung there. Latir everyone had a supply tank through which the water ran before being used, this way a person could store up quite a bit of waier. Everything ran good until a real cold day when the well house froze up. Tlre Seilman family had a supply tank in the basement of their house and always had warm water for the cattle. This was a big item. Of course, all the water systems gave way to the submersible pump which is connected to a 50 gal., tank for storage. The air pressure keeps the water running. Each pasture had to have a windmill to furnish water for the cattle. Usually there was a tank near the mitl which had to be checked every day or so to see that there was water in it. Most windmills were Aermotors by make and every farmer had to have a knowledge of how to fix them. Not everyone would climb a windmill. Each motor haC to have oil in it and that was a yearly job to climb up and fill it with oil. When a well stoPPed PumPing it was usually because there were worn out leathers. This meant that the pipe would have to be pulled up. A large block and tackle anchored in the tower was used, there were well tools 'to facilitate separating the pipe and sucker rod. A large block with a "dog" on it was used to keep the pipe from falling back into the hole. When the cylinder came up it would be taken apart and new leathers put back in and then replaced and reconnected. It was also a practice to use a small one cylinder stationary engine and a pump jqck to get water when the wind did not blow. This was attached to a sucker rod and the jack was driven by belt. There are those who know much more about this than I but I have written it as far as my knowledge goes' It seems that through the ages, when the need becomes great enough, some genius with foresight and vision meets the need in spite of all criticisms and all other obstacles. So it is that pump irrigation came into being. Viewed from the air, the picture of this flat land, formerly a vast prairie of buffalo grass for miles and miles now turns into a panorama of growing corn, milo, or maize, even wheat. while down the furrows like silver water. Pioneer in this field was Mr. E.L. Powell of Burlington. As far back as 1938, Mr. Powell began to advocate pump irrigation. In 1948' E.L. (Earl), and his brother Floyd G. Powell, put in their first irrigation well. This proved to be a curiosity and people drove from miles around to see the sight. Kenny Wilcox drilled the first well. Finally in about 1955, there were about 100 irrigation pumps in the county' Mr. Powell alone had about four wells. And what is this pump irrigation? Without going into technical detail, it seems that under this prairie is a water bearing formation called the Ogallala formation. A drill is put down through this formation to the Fierro shale or floor. The pump is installed, powered by an L-P gas or diesel engine and lhe pu-p brings the life giving water. The farmer then directs the flow of water to the crops. Some wells were pumping 860 gal. to 1,035 gal. of water Per minute' Among those trying out the irrigation were: Jack Chalfant, Loutzenhiser Bros., Sydney V. Huntzinger, Dr. R.C' Beethe, C.D. Reed' Floyd Whitmore, Lloyd Pugh and others. Two types of irrigation were being used; ditch and sprinkler. In 1957, the crop Sugar Beet was introduced into the county, and growing was made possible because of the irrigation. The growth of sugar beets from a test plot in 1956 grew to 13,000 acres in 1965. Mr. Fowell passed away in 1958, but he lived long enough to see his dream come true with the irrigation. According to the office of the county agent' Bob Croissant, as ofApril 30, 1965 the official number of irrigation wells was 506. by Henry Y. Iloskin acre. Kaffir corn, milo maize and different kinds of cane EIre grown more or less in all parts of this country, but do best in our soil. Alfalfa does exceptionally well, both on upland and in the valley lands. A season and three cuttings will generally average five tons per acre. Watermelons and cantaloupes do well, and our product has a fine flavor and is much in demand. Mail Service Rural routes are in existence everywhere and the towns are so close together that most every farmer is served in this way. Telephone lines connect every town and rural lines are beginning to run into the country fast. The Dairy Business The dairy business is gradually assuming larger proportions. I The cream checks to our farmers amounf to a goodly sum each year. Come and Settle In This CountrY. Man, beast and field all do well in this country. What more can You ask? Come you also and live among us. We want and need more farmers, morc business enterprises and more industrier here, and we have the right country t< support them. Many have succeeded here and few havt failed. What mining and stock raising meant t( the prosperity of the state in the early da5 Colorado, the continued development of thr agricultural resources of the state means t< the prosperity of the state todaY. Where a section of the barren prairie lan< in the old days would not suppod fifty hea< of cattle, often now you will see when visitinl our country a rich, productive farm. The same land used for cattle wortl perhaps no more than $1,500 will todaj produce 15,000 bushels ofwheat valued at { ieast $1 per bushel. This is good evidence th{ through our agricultural development, prad ticed early to a greater extent' greate �prosperity than we have yet experienced is yet to come to eastern Colorado. Come to Eastern Colorado Hints regarding the 1916 Burlington District July 1916 Those who were here before you have prospered with worse conditions to meet and overcome than you will have should you decide to settle here. When you come you cannot help but by Myra Davis THE GREAT LAND , And so in turn will the man that comes SALE prosper also. trfter you. No one is leaving here, but the town and country is gaining in wealth and population yearly. Interest yourself in the country and take advantage of the opportunities we have to offer. Territory tributary to Rock Island lines in Eastern Colorado offers a splendid field to the dry farmer. The days of brilliant sunshine, the crisp dry air, and the invigorating atmosphere bring a healthful contentment that makes the farmer in Eastern Colorado take a keener joy in his work and in his living. In eastern Colorado the homeseeker is offered opportunities for substantial returns for agriculture, under ideal climatic conditions. The years have worked a revolution in farming the plains under light rainfall, soil, wind movements, length of growing season, crop varieties and tillage methods before he sets his stakes in a new communitv. The system of agriculture that brings permanent success in Eastern Colorado is ,based on livestock. Under this heading dairy fiarming furnishes the most dependable and constant source of revenue. Winter wheat and Mexican beans are the two cash crops. Corn, with kafir sorghum, Sudan grass, alfalfa and sweet clover furnish ample forage and grain for feeding and the farmer here, as in other localities, must make his first business provisions for his table out of the farm garden, poultry flock and pigs, which can be done as easily and economically as regions of greater rainfall. In Eastern Colorado good dairy cows will feturn $50 to 975 each, every year, and you pan grow every pound of feed they need. The lreat markets of Denver, Colorado Springs, pnd Pueblo, with the nearby mining districts, pan use everything raised and strong prices [revail from strong competition with Eastern parkets at Omaha, St. Joseph and Kalsas Ditv. I Eastern Colorado has every condition lavorable for making money with poultry. lhe dry climate is particularly favorable for ;urkeys. Every four or five years the rainfall s just right for seeding wheat and you can 'aise a crop of wheat that will sell for as much rs the land on which it is raised is worth. With vast areas of tillable land ready for he plow ranging in price from g7 to 915 per .cre, every acre capable of producing somehing needed to sustain life, Eastern Coloado presents an open door to health wealth nd contentment in return for intelligent ffort, packed by experience and moderate leans. We want successful farmers, for the more ,rccessful you become the more we benefit. 'here's lots of land, lots of opportunity. We ave a well organized Commercial Club that ready and glad to give impartial informaon and advice about the country. Write us rlly just what you want - Write today. from The Booster Edition was present at the great land sale held here some weeks ago and his opinion in his home paper will be given more credence than anything appearing in a home paper here. The sale was without a doubt the greatest undertaking of its kind ever attempted T32 On Tuesday, June twenty-first, 1910, the people from the Dakotas, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois and many other states began to arrive and on Tuesday night, a room and bed brought high class rates, cots and quilts were brought into use and almost every sleeping and eating accommodation were fully utilized. A number of people were compelled to sleep in automobiles or on the ground. On Wednesday morning, the crowds were augmented by hundreds of excursionists, brought in over the great Rock Island system and the streets of Burlington resembled one of the greatest fourth of July celebrations ever seen in our city. A coronet band made the air ring with melody; the hot screeching of the automobiles here and there along the streets was a terror to pedestrians; while the hoarse bark ofspeakerJin the white city were heard; where every kind of attraction was present to interest the visitors and lure the filthy lecre. Tainted money was in demand and found many patrons. The darkies quaint songs in harmony with stringed instruments. The expert ttapeze performers, the smooth juggler of various fine arts, was out in force to amuse and instruct the people. Upon Wednesday and Thursday morning, more than sixty automobiles loaded with people drove over the country, viewing the best laying land on earth. Hundreds and hundreds of miles was made by the automobilist and only words of praise was heard for our beautiful landscape. Unfortunately for the promoters of this great land sale, June month in Kit Carson county had experienced the same wretched drought which had prevailed outside of the government drawing and the men who engineered the feat certainly deserve credit for their enterprise. Below we quote what the editor Howard says: "At Burlington, Colorado last week. C.M. Guenther sold nearly a quarter million dollars worth of land in one day, in his capacity as trustee. It was a sure bargain day for buyers. The extreme hot weather fright- ened many of the timid. More than a thousand reservations for berths on a special train were cancelled when the hot winds began to blow over all the Missouri valley, with the result that the sale attendance was less than 500, where as, three thousand had been expected. It was a real bargain day in the land business. Two weeks before the date of the sale, it had been estimated that the average price ofthe land would be 912.00 per acre but the weather conditions cut lhe average down to $9.00 per acre. It is a beautiful country in Eastern Colo., much of the land lies as level as the Platte Valley. The altitude is too high for a sure corn crop, record reads that every man in the country has been maklng big money if he has been farming intelligently. Many of the farmers have grown as high as 40 bushels of wheat per acre, and all other small grains in proportion. About the only grass is buffalo and grama grass. It is not fit for hay, but it is a great producer of butter fat with the result that the cream industry is now one of the most profitable. Henry Grotelueschen, of the Platte countrv secured a half section at the Burl. sale. Thi Denver papers contained descriptions of the big sale. The feature which they said was most noteable was the remarkable physical endurance of trustee Guenther, whose task would have sent an average man to the hospital or to the grave. He began the sale in the auditorium at nine o'clock in the morning, talking 16 hours with only brief intermis- in South Dakota, western Iowa, portions of Nebraska, Kansas and other states. The small grain crops, which had made great sions for dinner and supper. Burlington Records - July 1, 1910. promise during May for an abundant harvest, had been affected. But in a lesser manner, the crops of other states, had been stricken with by Myra Davis the unusual dry spell in June. Although conditions were against the sale of lands at this time, we are informed that not a single piece of land was offered for sale out of 240 farms but what there was someone present in the auditorium that made a fairlv reasonable bid for the property. The highest bid for a farm ofraw land was thirteen dollars per acre, and this bid would probably have doubled had the usual weather conditions prevailed. The promoters, Messrs McKillip and Swallow were every inch gentlemen of the highest type and the great land sale was carried out from start to finish in a honest and up to date business way that denotes the highest skill in selling vast land acreages. Land Buyer's Bargain - Kit Carson County Record The following is from the Columbus, Nebraska Telegram and is reproduced for the express purpose ofgiving our readers an idea of what people from a distance think of conditions in Eastern Colorado. Editor Howard of the Columbus Telegram AGRICULTURE T33 Part 1 In researching for information for this section on agriculture, I came across the following editorials from the ',Blade". We must remember that these "editorials" were really promotions to bring people to this area and many ca-e seeking their fortune and a clance of obtaining land of their own. Many of these people were not skilled "farmers" but were ordinary people with a dream and lots of hope and courage that resulted in many failures and several success stories. What is amazing, that there are still descendants living here today of those hardy and skilled farmers, ranchers, and businessmen who persevered the many hardships of surviving those early years. "Editorial": No place astonishes the trav- �,'lr:':' ilit;ari l llli:llr:ia: i.:it: il r::l;lrii: : :.::llir, irlal:, lir:.'' tii::t. i; ,. ' .r::.,,]'l' iilr ... irti ::rlil: lir. t .1.: -,.. -iI lt:ir .r,:1i:1i ,1 r:i,r,,,r{ rt:itrl. i The grand age of farming, late 1930's and early 40's gaw the threshing machines still being used. The more men are gone but not forgotten. eler so much as Burlington. Only four weeks old and today almost every branch of business is represented, but still there is room for more. Travelers and land seekers crowd the hotels and eating houses and many have to undergo the painful task of standing up all night or holding down the soft side of a pine floor. Land is going fast and in a short time the area government land in this county will be of small proportions' The bounteous rainfall we have enjoyed this spring has virtually made the road to success on solid stone and the treach of progress more than sure. Labor and capital move hand in hand and their social union make everybody satisfied. No one is grumbling and east Elbert June 3' 1887. County's boom will continue it is not "Editorial": In coming to Colorado, going out of the world but coming among,a ilass of intelligent and industrious people and a country well settled. There is plenty of room for more and these vast alluvial prairies will produce enough of the necessities of life 15, 1887' to supply the state - JulY to Colorado! - If you "Editorial": Welcome are growing old with the fire and energy dying out of your life and the bouyancy of your youth leaving your limb, if you are looking fellowship of threshing crews, meals served to a dozen or with despairing gaze into the future and interesting advertisements were the onesl produced by A.W. Winegar who was a bigl away the remaining days of life in peace, promoter in this countY. longing for a quiet home where you can pass come to Colorado. If you are in search of health, wealth or happiness come to Colorado and come soon for before many months roll around every quarter section will have a house uponit and the hills that are barren will be filled with people, homes and livestock. A picture was taken in about 1910. Location is Main Street in Burlington. The large two-story building on the right is the Winegar building located on the corner of 14th Street and Martin, north of the present Bank of Burlington. Mr. Winegar was a real estate agent and he placed large ads in the Omaha, Nebraska papers and chartered special trains to bring prospective buyers from eastern T34 Nebraska to Burlington for the purpose of purchasing land in Kit Carson County. He would take them out to the country to look at the land and these Model T Fords were It is interesting to note that in 1890 the population of the county was 2,472. By this number, we see that manY PeoPle were coming west to take up homesteads' As the towns we e established along the railroad, the land agents set up office and began their big parents to this county. Many land companies bought up relinquishments from people whol did not finish proving up their homesteadl agreement for a very cheap price. They inl AGRICULTURE Patt 2 promotions by way of handbills and advertisements in newspapers in the east' The most used for transportation. Notice the large "HEADQUARTERS" sign in front of the Winegar building. A real land run in the Burlington area. Many people living today recall that these advertisements and schemes brought their, turn sold these farms later making goodl monev on the transactions. In an advertisem- �ent, in a 1920 paper, we find that the Bentley Land Co. was offering loans to purchase both improved and unimproved land and would also buy mortgages at a very reasonable discount. The real story of what agriculture was like in those early years comes from the stories of those who came here and made their homes here on the high plains. In the 1890's, one farmer planted 20 acres of wheat and his neighbors laughed at him for planting that many acres. He had to cut that wheat with a sc5rthe, then gather it up and bring it in and use a threshing rock to thresh the grain from the chaff, all hand labor. The straw was used for cattle feed and many times was sold to the cattle ranches after bad storms for g1 a load or the farmer would let them run cattle on the stack so that they would have use of the manure for fertilizer that spring. One record breaking winter, the cattle returned to the straw stacks and ate all remaining feed along with the dried manure. Such were the good old days. "Promotion" of agriculture in Kit Carson Countv $EMI-AI{I{UAI $tsokmott's il $tncftmenT $irodql $TAT[II[[IIT WJn ttrie ool,wm'm will puhl'i s lba d,,&, e br gad t' ina lurtluttotr, colo., Julv 7th.' lm, ToTba ll@onbL Eolrd ol Couur,y ooFml} ol ou mer, his r q'n'E e qryd rloloil ot lI'll CarDn Co. ' O.lor.do. !o youi goDombl€ ofi,ce adclress, dipnar is a' swbscriber ol Poopwbtiewrt. ETE ed 0 E ff J , i. t, trr&!gb!f, f,ttgrq, C{'lo, S4Dsqq6rFbalot' T F.SILI8, Eorliltto!, Colo. ru*q oltbvdt ot Bullalton, ."a.s. uoeq^N,.. sz u BuruDabD, 0oto. ,. Eaatl, ltdltr ln ' Un}INANY FIIND Doc. 3r, 190r, i318:i'. 8a g t4r € Bo, A na!g€, Br R, S,,SARAOUR; Burllngton,0olo, ot BurllEtt3D 36t3 aeAUp!I,\\{, A N ^. (:l&$Bor1, 0olo. Ba!{€, rqer (i:aagbor,t, ttrott BnuE., t-- c. w. eRUwELrr 'x.44 :s.00 90.!t tl i TrG. lrlro S0So, lgribest ot Burltlgtorr. ltrrllLKio!. Colq ' &lt btD. ! r IJ *""''^"Tii;'911'' -& . D uuo.ei1 m'e, colo. .:'-,, ,; ,,,, *r-*._**ttl1-, -a;;;6* CONTINGEN', FI;ND rbtrse suu(b ot ld.u,"Jo. u,u Hore!' le{r rhoukrdr' {:laEhoD'' (}olo' To vsrrota ouaslrldlls De, Bl. l8o2 -r.m I ,/' ntlrDra.lsuad 6 6d..4!dlDg ruYei:f&ff . ,"'IW '- L L *#&,.". Ctrcuft Ct drDo.ltcd 8.lTB{ T*t lr hraar co. tril 18.|51 g.Et J4s 90, lmd 30r.8d II " ratffico,t*roo"r,r* lv L, BIEGEL&B Rss6,NorthBesi,€r, Bu.llDlt6. eok -."_ --lffal;y iql ffiTr"rtff;t#"".1[""1,u t&-ora tlqh T o!l6nblr. --.-; DAvIs. D na <i @ : ldt:ffi! b'u& 9o 'tFN J!tr' ' (;rtfl€, let! lrip. tso$es lett iboulder. " t,T e ItosLIH E-H EDrl.lDl*4i, Crtd ftrDae, t! eua g. W ofburUDgto!, L-C """*H,lll$; -#if;ffi*#;*;ru'.1;1ffi **;Ifis,fflL:;,. li,frl, ffif;[{'mi",.sJD!0,0.,* 8, lrb.odtco, 1:rN. Jmes, l90t Is.l$a p,r:*so#-ro***',*,,*or*Hl\ =[';,1'.'il - t-, - *+..,"-.".+-ri* "',i*"Xj'*"".. RaUe. E$!o( BsrlrDttotr. B.urr5rto', qrb. POOR FUNI). --tiT:wrNirr&r1 *-* gulllDgt r, Colo, Roo8o Nodbgsi ol Eirllhgbn. "i*L:";, 't!se'|oot'bptBilrutr.to!' -*-n'lT "lwlJ ".-wrr.r<rn- --- LlaremoDt, Colo. RaBgo. cE halmn Crek. !.,I,,,, r,oNc, .! LU. a x.mlCzT -_. fl!:H LaBdlE*n, Calo. alrc w. w. PAISLEY' toi rcl - r :ty a&rBnu D q q ,los. €nalrDg Jutr. i uffi J' o ,f,r1oi''Jt-o.. o r*r Sl -.----'' farraut. oubBndlac JutrG *. Iffi. U,l.t.l{ "EdiogJur. Ra.n€d. Boutb tri,olk R€pubiloSt & '; 8€tboDr. Oolo. 8&uo. ecrb ot 8€ibEo, nCPUD',IOAN CAT.i LD Ct). o! 161t rtdo _'#*ilB-'P *--l"".lifirlff"1o, rror., .ru* 4 J ltal clu€uolt,cota -.-J.--._ 79,S1 Jgr 0o &bgy to Ky. ' .4. J F C.!t16, ioft tif,, nango, lorls ofSIflDS Crst EorlD. rlr,1r shguld(i Cori bahN l{o!go $'reor BurltsabE, Colo, Iarb@D. IJ ruc.6 Dil€ scutLrsl ' XlaF. Ilrs! 9t Bstttrg&m. A.{D88^a BALTZEB, _ E S'A !f, n:l1k^bu*sy: Efiwat". --- Itare, Ctortbei3t �These Model T Fords were used for the transportation of prospective purchasere of land in Kit Carson County. AGRICULTURE "Branding time" in the 1920's. T36 t!t., .':.]: t Ready for work. Cattle ranching in the early 1920's. North of Siebert. Real life "cowboy" Jess on Mack. .,,.. . .,t.tlft L,, Cattle struck by lightning - the cattle belonged to a George Kiefer. Location is in Section 32, township 9, Range 44, Kit Carson County. Date: Approximately 1915-1920. Herd bull with passenger - note wood tank. "Spectators" waiting for the fun to begin. �Part 3 The face of the earth seems to glow with health and beauty, and the people that live in this wonderful country go around congratulating each other due to the rise ofthe land and trying to analyze theirjoy. Even the dogs are so overcome with gladness that they catch hydrophobia and go into fits and die over it. There isn't a man idle who wants wor$. The banners of prosperity wave from every hill and the lean, hungry skeleton of starvation has gone on a tour to the cities of the east. Here the farmers pump water for their stock with windmills and do their plowing sitting on a spring seat with a box of cigars on one side and a bottle ofDenver beer on the other, while in the east they carry water from the nearest creek and walk behind a plow until they have no distinct idea whether they are shoving the plow or the horses are pulling it. The man who can't thrive, prosper and grow rich in Colorado would starve in a bakery. - AGRICULTURE r*"ll *'i::":-T36 "Afternoon break" while ehocking corn. Part 4 Breaking sod with "Horse power". "Editorial" March 29, 1888: Eastern Colorado is the place for the poor man, for the farmer, for the mechanic, for the merchant, August, 1887. "Editorial" November 1987: People living in the eastern states have no concept of our superior advantages, the vastness of our fertile prairies and our rapid improvements, unless they can see for themselves. To tell the truth of our products and our rapid settlements, seems incredible to them as their experience was so different in the early days of Ohio, Illinois and Iowa. Here whole counties almost as large as New England states, settle up in a year or so with families on nearly every quarter section while with them their settlements were confined along the streams in order that they might pasture stock for years upon the commons. The pioneer of Ohio and Indiana was considered a rustler if he opened a five or ten acre farm the first year and cared for hie family, but here there is less work opening 160 acres, each acre of which will more than remunerate one for the labor bestowed with a sod crop of corn, cane of miller, besides obtaining the title to 160 acres of choice land. If we speak of raising potatoes, cabbage or any vegetable product on sod with our irrigation they wonder if that is true or whether it isn't a scheme of the newspaper- Threshing with a handmade "threshing rock". Strobel farm. ,men to "catch a few suckers", while here on fexhibition are potatoes that weigh from two fto three pounds raised in this county. But just llet a man come out from the east, (if he dare venture) look around and see for himself the energy of our people. The improvement of our lands and new towns all clean and nice, oftimes with waterworks, elegant hotels, churches, school houses, with a genial, intelligent class ofpeople as you will find anywhere, and he begins to look around as Rip Van Winkle, to see if he hasn't been asleep for twenty years in the sleepy hollows of some of lhe eastern states. About one more year the people back east who contemplate coming rest will realize they have slept upon their rars, if they wish government land east of the Rockies, in the localities for corn and wheat. Binding oats. �Harvesting flax in the early 1900's. East of Burlington. for the laboring man, for the dispeptic and consumptive rich man, and for the balance of creation. A country of beautiful rolling prairie, black loam soil of surprising depth and durability, fine water in abundance, fresh One must remember, that to live here meant that some source of income was needed in order to start their farm. Many men left for months at a time and went to Denver to work in the smelters and railroad Zone, with markets for the abundant surplus yards; others worked in the truck garden farms along the front range and lived in tents with their families during the growing season and returning in the fall with food supplies of agricultural products almost at the door, with cheap fuel and home manufactured to last them through the winter. It was tough going for everyone. and pure air that strikes at the consumptive germ and vanquishes it like an August sun does of the principal product of the Frigid farming implements, magical towns and burroughs that might be called cities teaming with life, activity, business and substantial growth, railroads building in every direction and a class of energetic settlers who seem determined to improve the advantages nature has bestowed upon the country. With all the above grandios language in these "editorials" one wonders what people really thought when they arrived and found these barren plains with no trees, few sources "Great looking horses" Bert Kvaestad. AGRICULTURE T37 of water and the new railroad that was crossing this county in 1888. They forgot to inform the public that water wells had to be dug to the depth of 150 feet or more and many were hand dug, no easy job. Some wells were dug along the railroad by the railroad companies so that the steam engines could fill at regular intervals along the track. They were instructed not to give the settlers water but the local foreman or their wives would not agree to this as they knew that water must be shared if a populace was to be obtained. The "mortgage lifters" Strobel farm - ready to go to the field and plant wheat, "Beauty" carries wheat and water pail. Part 5 In 1908, Mr. A.N. Corliss was given a Sugar Beet Growers Contract signed by a Mr. M.K. Dunbar. The sugar company was planning on making the Republican River valley into a viable sugar producing area similar to the Platte River valley north and east of here. Breaking sod on the "High plains" with a steamer Plans were to build a sugar beet processing plant at St. Francis, Kansas. He signed a 5 year agreement with 50 acres to be planted the first year increasing to 100 acres. This project never came into fruition. According to one early homesteader it took several years before many acres were broken for farm use. It took lots ofhard work to plow up the sod and at first it was walking behind a hand plow with one or two horses pulling the plow. Lots of shoe leather was worn away during this process. Montgomery Ward had work shoes with the guarantee that if they wore out within 6 months time you would receive a new pair free. Many homesteaders received their free shoes. From one story we find that in 1907, Bb acres were broke; 1908 he farmed 45 acres; 1909 he farmed 80; 1910 he farmed 90 and in 1911 he farmed 95 acres. That probably was a very normal average for most farms. They planted feed cane for animals, wheat, barley, �.;:, l,;r;a Work horses used on the Berrv homestead from 1918 to 1925. millet and corn. Many experimented with on the homesteads because of the water new crops such as flax and beans. shortages. Gardens came first and even those were difficult to keep growing in hot weather. It took a lot of their acreage just to feed livestock as a milk cow or more plus pigs, chickens and the necessary horses had to be provided for. Living was very simple and if you had a chance to work out and receive some cash you took advantage of this when possible. Many worked for the large cattle ranches in the summer. Some took butter and eggs to town to trade for groceries and perhaps to sell directly to someone who lived in town. Of course, many in town had their AGRICULTURE Horace and Joyce loading the pickup with wheat. T38 own cow and chickens even up into the 1940's or whenever the town ordinances prohibited animals from being kept within the city limits. Life was more of a struggle for existence than one of making a living. .*" ,.i,,"ffi Water was very hard to come by at first as most early wells were hand dug or if you lived by a creek water was hauled in barrels with the horses. No wonder every drop of it was used before any was discarded. The first Hauling to town, the last job. order of business was shelter and a water well. ,It is noted that very few trees were planted I I Loading the truck, Horace and Gus Schreiner, July 4th. tr Part 6 r '1'1"1"t, dd .:t,.,,, rl,; Chow time" - note field of corn in background. John Berry feeding pigs 1926. Model T truck which Mr. lerry purchased from the Lavington Motor Co. in Flagler. Marketing cream and eggs kept many farm families alive by providing cash for groceries and clothes from the period between 1910 and 1950. The creem separator really helped this method of providing income to these farm families. The cream separator was patented in the late 1890's and it was several years before they were purchased and came into common usage. Before that cream was skimmed off with the ladle, a very slow and sometimes smelly process. Chickens were the mainstay of everyone. They were raised for fresh meat, eggs, and even feathers were used. A hog or a cow was butchered only in the winter so that it would not spoil and could be processed without refrigeration. Most meat was cooked up and sealed in fat or cured and smoked for preservation. The advent of �Heading wheat 1920's. Threshing in the 1930's and 40's. Boger family. canning equipment especially the pressure cooker, was a blessing. In 1920, under the guidance of Miss Amelia Alexander the All Star Canning Club won fame and recognition from all over the country for winning the State Fair championship at Pueblo with-their canning demonstration. The girls, Vivien Worley, Elaine Hendricks and Bertha Boger competed with well trained teams from all over the state. Miss Hendricks and Miss Boger won a trip to Europe to help teach the women how to preserve food as the families were trying to reorganize their lives from the devastation of World War I. Tarming during the 1920's required much labor and the families within the local neighborhoods helped each other by exchanging machinery and labor. The days of the threshing crews that went all over the countrv rue now a thing of the past. We hope rhat the pictures included in this agriculture section will bring back memories of that period of time. The large crews of men gathering to work and then the immense task of feeding these men took the efforts of everyone, evei children who kept the water jugs filled to shooing the flies out of the house with waving dish towels. The men working with the horses or the new huge tractors will be remembered as the giants of those days. One can hardly believe that they were capable of all the physical work that they endured. The attachment of man and beast is recorded in the relationship the farmer had with his favorite team oi horses. So many hours were spent in joint effort to provide for the necessities ofhfe. Maybe they all survived because both man and animal had to rest at midday providing a refreshing period of time for all. It is interesting to note that in the records of the Extension Office we found that extension work began in late 19lb with the organization of districts or communities for the betterment of crop, Iivestock and poultrv production along with the formation of So". and Girls clubs. These boys and girls cluLs were the forerunner of the 4-H Clubs of today. There were Boys Corn Clubs, Girls AGRICULTURE T39 Part 7 The 1920's were prosperous and times were booming and land values were climbing. Farms were growing in size and equipmerit and machinery were larger so the manbn the farm would see a future full of hope and possible financial improvement. Rumley "Oil Pull" tractor with Carl Schaal, 1920's. Sewing Clubs, Boys Bean Clubs, and Canning Clubs. Other activities for the adults werE sped improvement projects, pit silo project, livestock_ improvement, farm -"rr"g"rrr"rri and rural organization in the variou's com_ munities. Many interesting activities came from these efforts such as the drive to poison t-!e jack rabbits because of the damage they did to the growing crops. Recipes for"rabbii sausage, rabbit loaf, fried and creamed rabbit, baked and dried rabbit, chili con carne, chop suey and rabbit mincemeat were ii listed. The need to improve corn seed varieties and livestock by introducing pure bred stock for cattle and hog production were started. Families were encouraged to plant wind_ breaks around the farmsiead using trees, lilac bushes and flags for beauty. Farmirs feli that they needed help in marketing and record keeping. Plans were obtainJd b make "iceless" refrigerators available to farm fami_ lies. Grasshopper control was very important in the 1930's. By the 1940's the fbcus was on crops, s_oils, pest, forestry, poultry, dairy, husb-andry, ag economy, .rntritiorr, development, clothing, home management, "hiid and a motron picture projector was purchased plus a generator to provide electricitv at community meetings. During the 1g40's, an e_mnhasis was on the war effort and many ol the same projects. In the 1950's we find information on irrigation introduced and ir Combining wheat in the 1940's with pull combine. 1960 we see the program very similar to whal we have today. In 1935, Farm Census statistics were nol very favorable for Kit Carson Countv br figures released by the Department of Com I I I �Lindberg Here It was the custom in the early years to hold the fair in October, and often the cold, snow, rain, or sleet would darnpen the euents. :. However, one fall the weather was ideal, and prior to his history-rnaking trip to Paris in 1927, Charles Lindberg took up passengers here t'or three days during the fair. He stayed at the Montezurla Hotel, unheralded, unhnown except as just another barnstormer pilot to get paEsengers at $10 per ride. {, iitd'*&',"Mr. Hull's threshing outfit north of Burlington' Diseases of Old "The Grippe" -A uirus disease - Inf luenza Sore throat - Swelling of glands "Quinsy" - Feuer - "Lumbago" - Painful rhumatism of lower back - affecting Siatic nerue "Consumtion" - Tuburculosis - wasting awoy of the body "Catarrh" - Inflamation of nasal passages "Dropsy" - Edema - collection of water in the feet and legs "Flux" - Diarrhea - wdttery flow from the bowell "Rheumatism" - Inflamation of muscle, joints, or fibrous tissue "Gout" Inflamation of joints - excess uric acid in the blood [Jncontrollable tremor of body "Palsy" part - "St. Vitus's Dance" - Chorea - a neruous disorder - spasmatic tnouen"Lent and in' coordination Stroke of the neruous system "Epilepsy" - Schaal threshing wheat in the Settlement' Notice steam tractor' merce. Bureau of the Census. They tell a rathetic story of farming in eastern Colorado' ]uoting the report in 1934 we find land, ]18,000 acres from which no crops were rarvested due to failure (drought). Mitchel and Ada Christie with babv Virginia "Sod House Collection." �many people are hurt in the end and manv farms are sold. On the other hand this opens the door for someone to purchase land at a value that may be profitable in time. The ca-pital required for acquiring and operating a farm is huge making one wonder if the ris[ is worth it but there is such a love affair between the farmer and the land we know that there will always be someone willing to take the risk. The 1920's were difficult times on the farms due to the war effort and the unavailability of farm machinery and repairs. If you had not purchased any new equipment piior to the war it was almost impossible to do so until after 1945. There were good growing conditions during the 40's; along with the -. t:' plentiful rain came lots of hail which is typical of this country. 1945 saw the greatest grain crop in many years. Kit Carson County became the wheat and barley center of the middle west. Two davs after the harvest began the elevators at Stratton were overflowing with wheat run- Boger's corn sheller north of Vona. AGRICULTURE T40 Part 8 For purposes of comparison using figures from 1929 as a base, corn acreage was reduced 8t%; wheat 75%; oats threshed, g5%; rye 69%;bafley 90%; andhay 6Vo. The value of farms, lands and buildings for 193b, is given at $8,261,026, while in 1930 it was $14,396,018. Horses and colts for lgBE,g,725, while in 1930 it was 12,157. Mule and mule colts shrunk from 1,317 in 1930 to 52b in 193b. Cattle on January 1st. 1935 number ed.42,282, against 25,5L9 in 1930. Hogs slumped from 26,723 in 1930 to 8.518 in 1935. Wheat in the spring, towing sprinkler to irrigate the corn. The report statcs that wheat suffered severely in both acreage and yield. In 1929 wheat was threshed from 99,71G acres and produced 700,721bushels. In 1984 wheat was threshed from 25,167 acres with a yield of 93,156 bushels. The loss in farms and livestock in the state is about the same ratio. The value of hogs and pigs dropped from 462,801 to 248,770:. and wheat threshed from 17,332,160 to 6,169,685 bushels. This gives us a picture of the economic loss that was absorbed during this period of time ning as high as 55 bushels an acre and winter barley to more than 95 bushels an acre. The following article taken from the Rockv Mountain News gives a very good account oi the county's bumper crop: "With the rich prairies soil yielding better than for many years past, the only sour note in the harvest picture is an inability to obtain railroad cars to move the heavy crops to the Kansas City market." "The lack of cars for shipping purposes can become very serious if rain comes," Mr. Woodfin said. "The weather is ideal for the harvest, but if it rains there will be losses in the wheat piles on the ground." "A few years ago people were calling this a dust bowl area", Mayor Zurcher said. "I wish everyone in Colorado could see this harvest. you have to see it to believe it." Many grain storage facilities were constructed after this. Many of us today remember those years and after the war was over and machinery was manufactured again farmers purchased new tractors that were larger and wheat was still king ofthis area. Livestock production began to modernize with emphasis on larger animals finally coming popular and farm storage for grain has been built on most farms. resulting of people leaving the land in large numbers. Some left never to return but manv did come back and again ventured into farming and ranching. To give us some indication of the ups and downs in this county the following list gives July, wheat harvest, 1980. AGRICULTURE T4r the population of Kit Carson County through the years. Year: 1890 2,472;1900 1,580; 1910 7,483; 1920 - 8,915; 1930 - 9,725; tg40 7,512; L950 - 8,600; 1960 - 6,952; 19?0 7,100; 1988 - 7,668 - with today from the 1g70's In comparison to date, 1988 we find that in the mid ?0's drv land farm ground was selling for g8b - $12b per acre; Irrigated land $356 per acre and pasture land was selling for 940 - $b0 per acre. The 80's saw dry land selling for g2T8 - $400 per acre; irrigated land 9800 - $1200 per acre and pasture land brings $100 - $120 per acre. In 1988 land prices are down due to the recession of the early 80' in agriculture with dry land bringing $225 - 9275 per acre; 1986, Gleaner L2 combine, Hasart farm. Irrigated land 9325 - $500 per acre and pasture land bringing $70 - $100 per acre. It reminds us of the old rule that what goes up must also come down but the sad part is that Finishing up, waiting for the last loads of corn �made their place in this area and other crops such as truck garden vegetables have been tried. What the future brings in this area can not be imagined as of now but there will always be something new to be tried. Feed grains have made a large impact on the economy allowing the formation of large cattle feeding operations in the county. This has really been a boon for the cattle raised here providing a local market that has been very good and stable. The feedlots in this area would not have been possible without the water systems of today using electricity which powers the ever present submersible pumps that bring us the gallons of water needed for domestic and livestock needs. Can you imagine windmills providing this im- mense source of water? The 50's had the setting aside of land out of production called the "Soil Bank" and today in the 80's we see the problem of overproduction being dealt with by the "Congervation Reserve Program". The longer we live the more we see things return to the same cycles of over production or scarcity. The sugar beet industry has come and gone and many farmsteads are long gone from the peak population years ofthe 20's. The day of farm houses on nearly every quarter of ground are a thing of the past. The mechanization offarms and ranches has brought about changes that our great grandfathers wouldn't have believed. Livestock statistics for Kit Carson County; 19?5 cattle on feed, 29,000; all cattle and calves, 137,000. 1981, cattle on feed,37,000; all cattle and calves, 116,000; and cows and heifers that have calved, 34,000. 1986, cattle on feed,40,000; All cattle and calves, 113,000 and cows and heifers that have calved, 27,500. Corn harvest 198?. These figures include 1,000 to 1,300 milk cows and were obtained from the Kit Carson County Extension Office. Statistics on winter wheat, dry beans and corn for grain for Kit Carson County are as Corn in August. lCedar Rose Dairy, owned and operated by Tom I Dobler northwest of Burlington. follows. 1980 winter wheat show 332,000 acres harvested totaling 10,733,000 bushels; 1983 winter wheat harvested shows 368,000 acres with 15,164,000 bushels produced; 1985 the peak year for production shows 385,000 acres planted with 17,595,000 bushels harvested and in 1986 310,000 acres were harvested with 10,841,000 bushels produced. In 1980 7,000 acres of drY beans were harvested with total production on 119,000 l*. hundred wt. and in 1885 11,000 acres were harvested with 205,500 hundred wt. Corn for grain, 57,000 acres were harvested producing 5,669,000 bushels of corn in 1980. In 1982, 62,500 acres harvested with 7,890,000 bushels produced; 1984, 41'000 Spring is lsnbing time on the Dean and Bonnie Witzel farm, FebruarY 1988. just got on your feet financially and had- a good start in the cattle business and then the Irrigating corn with gated PiPe' Part 9 The return of the dust storms and dry years luring the 1950's forced many farmers to ,hink about drilling irrigation wells and the lry years forced the rancher and farmer who lwned cattle to sell their herds at low prices rnd then buy back at high prices. This cycle vas always devastating as it seemed that you bottom fell out. By putting down an irriga- tion well you were assured ofraising feed and grain for your livestock enterprise. Many farmers did drill wells and the age of irrigation on the high plains began. Iirigation made a large impact on th9 agriculture industry in this county. The old stand by crops of corn, milo and wheat now had the potential of producing much larger yields and new crops were introduced such as sugar beets which became a huge source of revenue for many years. Pinto beans have acres harvested with 5,916,000 bushels and in 1986,48,000 acres produces 7,056,000 bushels of corn. These figures do not include corn silage figures. The corn silage figures are; 1980, 10,500 acres harvested at 184,000 tons and 1985, 4,100 acres harvested 97,000 tons of silage. This gives us a good comparison of acres planted in the 1930's and the 1980's. What a story they tel.' With the new markets for grain such as corn sweeteners and ethanol for fuel and other products being researched and tried we hope to see a healthy future for our grain production. Wheat has always been the mainstay for this area due to the climatic conditions. �Agriculture AGRICULTURE T42 Part lO Included in this agriculture history are many pictures showing the changes in farm_ rng practices and equipment over the years and it is hoped that you will be able to paint your own picture of your life and timeJwith these photo essays. Pictures have a wav of saying more than words can ever do ,o it is with this thought that brings the close of this section of our Kit Carson County,s agricul_ ture historv. 1988 Population and Altitude of Towns in the County . _B^ethune: 152,4,257 feet; Burlington: B,2gb, 4,.L65 feet; Flagler: 574, 4,575 feet; SeiLerti 4,710 feet; Stratton: 6b4, 4,AL4 feet; Vona: 120, 4,504 feet. The Kit Carson County Extension Service _1_95, has provided a wealth of informatior, services to this county that has been irreola_ "rri cible. The following are listed in order fhat they were serving in this countv. 1915. Agent RN. Flint; 1918 H.O Strange; 1919 Adelia Alexander, Ass't agent; fSS4 bick Wooan" with S.H. Stolte Ass't and Logan Morton Ass't in 1938; 1944 Bertha WJar came as Home Agent with Nellie patterson Assit: 1947. Albert Brown, Agent; 1952, Don uhactwlck Agent with Ass't Agents Vernon Howard Enos, WarreriMauch, anJ I"r."9 Berl Stedwell in the late b0's. R.L. Croissani came in 1961 with Ass't Agent Leon Stanton; 1966 Norma Pankratz, Home Agent with C;j scracca and Bill Bennett as Ass't Agents; 1969 Darrel Schafer, Agent and .I. froee. Wolfskill Ass't Agent; R.L. Croissant, &;;; until 1979 when Larry Henry came. Noima Pankratz left in 1980 and Bonnie Sherman, Carol Fitzsimmons, Carol pfaffly we.eHome Agents; 1987 Colleen Simon, Home ege"U l^e11v D. Brewer, Jr. came as Ass't Ag"ifiri 1981. w AI,FnfD YTTILLET f Wellet, polo. 8aoge, no:ttte&t oi Bur.tiagtoD.. .['rect lYallett, f... { w ou rtshr, htp. lVallett, i;olo. 'L R&nge near 1y&nett, Colo. W4L w, II. LavINOtoN. tDd halt crop Range, gculb Fdik n€Dubllcsl 'ln laltcar'; Ftaelei. Colo. ilw Is GSV/ rt,IdANSIILAU, Da:rge, Lostmen\Cr€6k. C. 3, WELIJMAN, Llght htp, cyer slrloin. - or, Renge, 8. E, otOlareppelr Cfaremont. DAl0, C' S -J_(- E. MCORILLIA, JL Budlu gtonr Co!e. Known a,s illl double-wrench breDd. Re;ngs, Iaadsmba. _ &ryo John Buol feedlot, 1982. North of Burlington. >t< LCA Left side. U, A, I'}MB. rnge, vtclnlty ot BUrllDgtoo, Burliagtdn. ColO. --J, 0. McNAItir llf Klrt, uolo. ti$gte. z miles oast ot Klrk. Alro li3btDr*; rod braDd on l€tt std€. c H H (rEoReEEEr{DRrOKE. A. ADdreas Adotl, R BurllngtoD, Colo. Range, gand Oreek. yale, Oohb. r&ng€, rreor Tele. Mrs. M. A. B€vler, EurIafton, Colo. rgffiEESEE eU.btDd| oa Ettildo. fisrchornaW. range, eourh srid loutbw€rtb(,goDen, 5 Star Feedlot owned and o^perated by the Cure Family and feedlot in background is operated by the Hornung family northeast of Stratton. � https://kccarchives.cvlcollections.org/files/original/16/417/History_Part_2.pdf 52894eed6aabdbae23d7bd7fbe8f08e3 PDF Text Text Cutting silage with a Field Queen on the Cure farm' Livingston Simmentals, 1987. IRRIGATION BEGINS T43 :lriiija.:'r: Feb. 29, 1940. Work will start immediately on the construction of the first major irrigation dam project to be undertaken in eastern Kit Carson County. C.H. Parke, who owns ' From field to silage pile, Hasart farm, 1987' land along the Beaver Creekjust east oftown, has taken the necessary steps and made proper filings as to water and ditch rights and ihe-engineering has progressed to-a point where ionstruction will be started at any time. The dam will be of earthen construction, a center core being constructed of clay and the fills both front and back of earth and the front rip rapped with rock, wire and posts' The blui prints call for an excavation 10 ft. deep into which the base of the clay core will be sunk and this core will be built to the Baling hay, Hasart farm. Cutting cane for silage, 1986. height of the dam which is to be 25 ft. above the bed of the stream. The base of the dam, when finished, will be 141 ft. through, with a crest of 14 ft. In length, the dam will be 515 ft. and will be of sufficient height to allow use of a natural sPillwaY. The dam is to be located on what is known as the Ryan place, about 1 mi. east and 1 south of burl, on the NW% 8-9-43. Ditches will carry the water to the Parke place. There has been much talk of well irrigation and some contracts for drilling test wells in Kit Carson County. These and Mr' Parkes' dam project will be watched closely by interested parties as their success would mean a new era for Kit Carson County. Irrigation activity began in the early 1950's with the drilling of wells throughout the county. As of July 1, 1957, there were Pome tlS wlils in the area with more wells being drilled and put into production. The depth of the wells range from 200 to 325 feet, and capacities are generally 1000 to 1600 gallons pei minute, with some wells having a capacity of *ot" than 2000 gallons. Most of the wells are pumped by electric motors, Diesel, Propani, and Natural gas engines, and the cost of pumping is not as great as one would expict. the excellent soil structure, its de-pth and water retention capabilities go hand in hand with economical pumping of the amounts of water required for crop produc- acking silage, Cure farm 1980's. tion. The local soil is a silt loam which is very �easily handled. Seed bed preparation is readily accomplished by a limited number of operations because of the excellent soil structure. The soil ranges in depth from b to 40 feet before any formation such as sand, gravel or shale is encountered. At present, there seems to be no drainage problem. As of July, 1964, it was estimated there were about 730 irrigation wells on 415 farms in the tri-county area, with 400 of these wells located in Kit Carson County. The wells deliver water to about 107,000 acres of highly fertile land. Since the report was made, additional wells have been drilled. Irrigation methods used are open ditch with siphon tubes, gated pipe and sprinkler systems. In 1988 approximately 1150 wells have been drilled and put into operation providing the county with the base of grain and feed production for the livestock industrv. Supplies are more than adequate to suppiy the cattle feedlots within the county at the present time. During the 1970's and early 1980's the farm economy was booming caused by inflated prices and increased land values. This came to a halt and severe declines in land prices prompted the recession for the agriculture community that has severely effected all businesses and communities within the county at the present time. The agri-business sector is restructuring its business practices and lowering its base debt load to position itself in a better financial frame. Two questions pose to be dealt with in the future and they are the declining water levels in the Ogallala aquifer and the cost of pumping the wells in relation to the price of the commodities produced. If the figure amounts to more than what thev would receive in soil bank pa5rments, plus the 50 pct. penalty for non-compliance, they will harvest and thereby break contract with the government. What soil bank payments will mean to the eastern counties is shown by figures compiled by Warren Myers, program specialist in the Denver offices of the Federal Agriculture Stabilization and Conservation Agency. The County which will reap the largest benefit is Kit Carson, for which 94,2b4,268 is ear-marked. The money will be paid out at county level from ASC offices in the form of certificates which are negotiable as sight drafts. Before payments are made, however, it is incumbent upon the county ASC committees to determine if the farmers are in compliance with the soil bank law. The payment program, Meyers has estimated, may run into August. Although it was not the intent of the U.S. Department of Agriculture to put the soil bank _program into effect for the 19b6 crop year, because the law was passed too late tb affect a lot of basic crops, political pressures were such that the progrem was inaugurated then. As a result, Colorado farmers last year were allowed to put some of their wheat acreage into the soil bank, even though the land hid been planted and lacked promise of any crop because of the drought. The acreage reserve payments in the state in 1956 amounted to approximately $4,472,000. Average rate of payment was g6 an acre. The national average on wheat for the 1957 crop year is expected to be g20.04 an acre. Whether there will be an acreage reserve section in the soil bank in 1958 still is a matter of conjecture. Members of both political SOIL BANK parties have condemned it as a failure in what is,was designed to do - reduce surpluses by T44 In the year of 1956 on June 28, the Soil Bank Act was passed. The bill went into effect in Kit Carson County retroactively for the 1956 crop year. The bill is still in effect as far as any contracts which are not termina- ted are concerned. However, as of March 1960 no new land could be placed under contract. The general program was designed to take a certain nmount ofcropland out ofproduction ofcrops, putting it to a conservation use. This was used in order to help reduce the surplus of crops which was plagueing our agriculture economy at the time. Uncle Sam's treasury on about June 10 will start pumping $22,217,736 into the agricultural economy of Colorado all of it - almost into the eastern plains counties long-smitten by drought. This bonanza will be paymentto more than 8,000 farmers who placed a total of 1,318,826 taking land out of production Last year it cost 9200 million, and still U.S. farm production set new records. Estimated cost this year is more than $700 million. The Lg57 - 1gg4 146 Eldon Shive starts first beet irrigation on the Ben Rudy farm just east of Burlington. f House has refused to appropriate gb00 million for the bank's operation in 1958. For 1957 wheat acreage alone the govern- ment signed up 233,453 farmers in the commercial growing states to take a total of L2,784,968 acres out of production in return for an aggregate of9230,975,4?b in payments. Economists estimated that this should have reduced wheat production by 20 pct. But now the high yields in prospect indiiate another bumper, surplus-producing crop. Thinning beets with a mechanical beet thinner. of the alloted wheat acres into the 19b? acreage reserve of the soil bank. Average payment per acre so put into idleness is expected to be 916.80. Total amount paid to Colorado farmers, however, may be somewhat reduced. Some landowners planted wheat on their soil bank land. Under law, that wheat may neither be grazed nor harvested. Some of these farmers will estimate the wheat yield and multiply it by market price. THE RISE AND FALL OF THE SUGAR BEET INDUSTRY IN EASTERN KIT CARSON COUNTY Loading beets into the railroad cars. �TIIE GREAT STONE FACE CAPER T46 Mt. Rushmore you say? Miss Bonny Gaunt, now Mrs. C.G. Gould of Burlington, posed with the wives of a camera crew from the Alexander Film Studios, Colorado Springs. The carvings were done about 1923, by Philip Smith of Ttentynine Palms, California and the late Clyde Roberts, both residents of Flagler at the time. Edmund L. Smith, Flagler businessman related that as a younger brother of Philip he didn't get in on the fun. The site of Buffalo Creek is six miles north and three miles east of Flagler on the Weston Fisher ranch. Between erosion and target practice not a great deal is left of The Great Stone Faces. After a lapse of many years, 3/L/L935 Stone Face," has again Seibert's "Great sprung into the limelight. This time through a newspaper story, written by Mrs. M.H. Brown, formerly of Seibert, the mysterious The first beets in the new area were plantcd by Gene Penny (center) on April 26, and on August 16 Earl iowe1 (inset) could be proud of beeti displayed at the fair. Mr. Powell, left and Carl Luft right of Gene Penny. Ben Rudy, Melvin Sall, Conarty Bros., O.E. Powell, Wayne Barber, Earl Powell, and C.D. Reed. From that humble beginning in 1957 the industry grew slowly but steadily each year with more acres and new growers added each year. In the early 60's, when the Cuban sugar import quota was cancelled, because of Stone Face, where a cameraman "shot" more than 200 feet of scenes, those who accompan- early 70's 50,000 acres were being grown here; visiting the relic. These films will likely be shown at some theater in Eastern Colorado, but it is not yet known. probably 25,000 actes was the most Kit Carson County produced. Up until the new sugar factory at Goodland was put into production in 1968 all the beets grown here were shipped by rail to the Great Western factories at Brighton, Loveland, and Longmont, Colorado for processing. Even after the new factory was built, nearly half of the crop was shipped west for processing. By the late ?0's, after the Hunt Brothers had gained control of the Great Western Sugar Company and also because oflow sugar prices, the industry started a slow but steady decline. The crop of 1984 were the last beets planted in the county. The Great Western Sugar Company took out bankruptcy in 1984 and the growers who planted beets that year did not get paid fully for their crop' The West€rn Sugar Company who purchased the northern factories from the Great Western Bankruptcy Trustee chose not to buy the Peconic Station in 1966, piling beets. The birth of the Sugar Beet industry here in Kit Carson County came in the spring of 1957. This was due largely to the efforts of Mr. Earl Powell who had also pioneered deep well irrigation here in our area. He, along with several other influential people of the area, no-ely C.D. Reed and Jack Hines of the county ASCS committee, were able to get a 300 acre Beet allotment for the county for new growers. The first growers to grow beets for the Great Western Sugar Co. in 1957 were Gene Penny, Fred Plautz, Leonard Pieper, E.K. Edwards, Western representative of Universal Films, wired a friend at the Seibert Settler office, that he would be here to make news reels of the freak. He would need some person thoroughly familiar with the location of the cliffs where the sphynx-like object is situated. M.N. Rasmussen is such a person and his help was enlisted. On Saturday, Mr. and Mrs. Edwards, Mr. Rasmussen, his daughter, Miss Rose, Miss Bonny Gaunt and a Siebert Settler reporter visited The Great Castro, sugar beet acreage controls were lifted and the industry grew by leaps and bounds here in earltern Kit Carson County and in nearby western Kansas as well. By the Beet field in Kit Carson County, 1960's. stone attracted attention. factory at Goodland. Consequently this factory was sold to the Two State Equity CoOp to be used as a grain storage terminal for the Goodland, Kanarado and Burlington Co- op's. by Russ Davis ied him taking the part of "sightseers," The excitement caused by the "rediscovery" of this unusual example of stone carving recalls a bit of history. In August, 1923, the Seibert Settler carved a column and a half of a story devoted to the Great Stone Face. M.D. Haynes, now deputy postmaster, had visited the spot and made pictures. At that time, old-timers claimed that the Great Stone Face had antedated their earliest recollections. Others claimed that the work was more recent, some even claimed to have done the work a few months previous to the appearance ofthe article. But although there has, indeed, been some cement work done by way of repair and preservation quite recently, at that time it nevertheless was pretty well established that the work had an early historic origin. The Great Stone Face does not measure up quite to the gigantic measurements attributed to it in the Denver newspaper story, but it is nevertheless of no mean proportions. About nine feet in height, it is caryed on the solid face of a huge boulder which must weigh close to 100 tons. The work is more or less rough, but modeling and expression show a degree of skill not to have been expected among the early cowboys or hunters to whom the work is credited by some. That it is of Indian Origin seems doubtful, too, and the Indian usually expressed his artistic urge in line drawings. The profile, however, is distinctly Indian. Exactly who was the creator of this image will likely always remain a �Saturday afternoon from Denver for a visit with his mother, Mrs. Myrta Christopher' Thev returned to Denver on Monday' V.S. FitzPatrick, well known former editor of the Seibert Newspaper, is now an instructor in the United States Air Corps' He attended a Denver school for several months recently, having first learned flying in 1919' He sold his newspaper in Craig last summer' John Chalfant is stationed at Camp Bennins. near Farragut, Idaho. He is in the meJhanical branch of the service and likes it .it *' T{ very much. iee Bruner is locat€d with the aviation cadet detachment at Scott Field, III' This is not far from St. Louis. A letter to Mr. and Mrs. John Buol from W.A. Robertson, Colonel of Army Air Forces, brings the news that Kermit Buol has been seleJted by the classification board for training as a navigator. He stresses the importance oi thit woik and sends congratulations' Kermit, who is now at Santa Ana, California will be transferred soon to a west coast school for intensive training. Harry and Vernon-Dalke have volunteered for U.S. service and reported at Fort Logan, .': t, { 'r*&'la,'. &':g ' .,tif The Great Stone Face \ Bonnie Gaunt Gould with the wives of the film crew of Alexander Films' Colorado Creek 6 miles north prtifrip Snilrt ana Clyde Roberts' Buffalo Springs. Faceg were ."rr"a""r"""i-G-zil Uv and 3 miles west of Flager' mvsterv. as he would likely find few believers if he should present his claim to distinction' OUR SOLDIER BOYS ARMY TIISTORY T47 Bud Boyles is stationed at San Diego' California. Word from Mrs. Steve Stransky states that her husband has enlisted and is stationed at the Great Lakes Training station,- near These three day passes sure help in seeing the country. Gas rationing is going to put a o.t hitch hiking, at which I am gettilg "ti-o Jong pretty good. Ye Old Pal, Tb John B' Aurner Pvt. Ralph Brunemeier of Rice, California' ** horr" last week on furlough' He returned Mo"d"v. He is in a tank division, being in the service since last month. Mrs. H.B. Morgan writes from San Diego ttrai ttreir son, Lee B' Morgan, is in the U'S' service in Hawaii. He likes it there and says pineapple juice, tropical fruits and ihev ""jov coconuts. W;. Bowker has been in the hosPital practically ever gince his induction in the Colorado November lst. Leigh Short, son of Judge E.V. Short' has been tlransferred from Buckley Field' Denver to St. Petersburg, Florida. He left for there Saturday. A letter from Harold Pearce to his parents came this week. It brings the news that he is stationed in Honolulu and is in training in a motion picture school. Harold was operator at the Mid*"y theater here before being inducted into the armY. Word from Harold W. Thomason of Strat- ton states that he is with the medical battalion in Camp Edwards, Mass', but s-ays tt" ioet.t't know what kind of work he will do as yet. Mt. and Mrs. A.F. Romberg received word last week from their son Donald telling that he had been commissioned Ensign in the Naval SupPlY CorPs on August 26r lt reported for Lctive duty at the Naval Air Station, Alameda, Calif. In November he will be sent to the Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration in Boston, Mass', for advanced study. Donald is a graduate of the University of Colorado and has been in the offices of the Naval Net Depot at Tiburon, Calif., since his enlistment last dtti."go. Mrs. Stransky is the former Maxine Lynn. This office is in receipt of the following from John Aurner: The army and I are getting along just fine' armv. i""n., ato-.alled just plain Corpor"l:-I -1- "--fi""t. sargeant. and Mrs. Bernard Litty arrived Wells, Texas, visited here Sunday at the J'W' Larsen and Mrs. R.C. Yarnell homes' Lieut' and friends. He left on Tuesday tor ! t' Leonatd Wood, Mo. Mrs. Litty will remain nephew of Mrs. Yarnell. Have finaliy made Tech. First Grade, Corp' having a swell time with the stars in Holly*ooa."t have been a personal guest of Jagkie Coop"t, Kay Kayseiand Gene Autry'-H-ave Hattie McDaniels, Wallace -Lti".tv Colona, S""ty, iana Turner, Goldie Cantor, Bob H6;,'Dorothy Lamour, tt"94v L^amar and a few others' I have attended the urouman s Ctti"".u theatre, Lockheed aircraft, Douglas uii..uft, and the shipyards of Los A"qul"t' N"*l riU on seeing ihe naval yards of San Diego. -i"t"* Larry Tieman in L.A' Iast week' He is the only persott from Burlilgton I've seen g to March Field' I have been .it "o*it "" itrfo.-"d thit I might be placed in charge of all broadcasts from the field' I am now *otfi"e on a four panel mixer for the field' When completed it will not be necessary to have NBC, CBS, or Mutual to bring their eouipment'to the field for the pickup' I work i;t thil now, but their men have charge and I only helP. - N"*t has been received that Pvt' Frank E' Norton, son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Norton, has sraduated from an intensive course in aviaiion toechanics at Sheppard Field, Texas, and is now eligible to become crew chief on bo-b"t and win a rating as corporal or Saturday for a few days visit with relatives December. Lieut. Leslie Palmer and wife of Mineral F"m". is a grandson of the Larsens and a Louis Vogt returned Sunday night from has been transferred A.E' from Indiantown Gap, Pa., to Virginia' Dr. Gene Aten is stationed at the Naval Denver. He-has enlisted in the navy and will enroll at Marquettc University in Milwaukee' which oPens SePtember 16th' Verlin Kingsbury came home Friday on furlough. He is in the U.S' Navy and must ..poti"t San Francisco by September 17th' t". *u in Spokane, Washington, which-is is the Wins Commission son of F.L. Aten of Denver and spent his early boyhood days in Burlngton. Mrs' Atencame down from Denver Saturday anct hao Just a late picture of her son in uniform' received - Second Lieut. John W. Todd came down from Denver Monday for a short visit with his oarents. Mr. and Mrs. Delbert Todd' He had visit' for a longer here ---Capt. -Calvin Ttainine Station at Athol, Idaho' He is Lieutenint Commander' His wife and daughatout 50 to 6b miles from Athol' Gene Virgil Brown, who is stationed at -Ft' Deveis, Mass., was home recently o1 -fyr- tugn visited his parents, Mr' and Mrs' ""a H.O. - Brown. Sgt. R.S. Christopher and wife came down iust completed his training in the Artillery bffi..t iandidate School at Ft. Sill, Okla'' and received his commission as Second iieutenant. He has been assigned to It' Lewis, Washington and will leave for that �place soon. Vernon Dunn went to Colorado Springs Monday, then on to Denver, where he enlisted in the U.S. Marines. He leit there at nine o'clock Wednesday night for San Diego, Calif., where he wil Le iritraining for six or eight weeks. He will try to get intJthe marine air school. Burlington friends have heard from Dr. M.E. Robinson. Capt. Robinson left Denver 'I'uesday morning for Ft. Meade, Md. He is a member of Base Hospital No. 29 of the U.S. Armv. First Lieut. John C. Straub, also a member of Base_ Hospital No. 29, left Tuesday for the same destination. Dr. Straub is a former Flagler boy. Lee B. Morgan, son of Mr. and Mrs. H.B. Morgan, former Burlington boy is in the U.S. Army. He is stationed at Fort Lewis, Washington. Pvt. Earl McKinney and a friend, pvt. pete __ Hunter, crme down from Camp Carson, Colorado Springs, Friday night and spent the weekend with Mrs. McKinney and her parents Mr. and Mrs. R.L. Wilkinson. Alvin Barber who recently enlisted is stationed at Shepard Field, Texas. Mr. and Mrs. H.C. Schell received a card from Pvt. Clyde Melton. He is in the Armv Air Service and is stationed at Saint peters_ burg, Fla. He says he will be there fo" . i", weeks. George McNeill, who was home on fur_ lough, returned to camp in Missouri. Glenn Weaver, who is stationed at phoe_ nix, Ariz., came in on the Rockett Wednes_ *"v. U",lg: a lb day furlough. He is looking nne and llkes the Armv. by Myra L. Davis FRANKLIN BAKER MURDER CASE T48 State News: Franklin Baker, the murderer of two ranchmen near Burlington, was taken from the sheriff at Cheyenne Welis by a mob of infuriated men and hanged. Town and Country News: Judge Spere has gone to the county seat to make a rlport of the recent coroner case to the County Clerk. Rectus in Curia. A Murderer Hanged by Popular Justice. Last Saturday afternoon, as two voune men from Iowa were driving toward Burl Iington from Wano in company with a liveryman, and as they wer" p"rrirrj tne shanty of Franklin H. Baker five "Uimiles northeast of Burlington, they came upon a man with wagon and team stopped in front of a house and the man see-id to be in conversation with Baker and his wife. Nearbv the house ran a ravine or draw and the liverv tenm had started down the inclevity whei Baker hollered to the parties, ..Hold on.,;As the driver was checking his horses and loo_king back to see what *as wanted, he saw Baker's wife hand Ba-ker a gu.,'."yirrg, "Here's the gun, shoot the s- b--." ,titfrii the driver put whip to his horses and Baker threw the gun up and fired when the buggy was not over two rods from him. The gun liid been loaded with buck-shot and ptaled saJ havoc at that close range with the occupants of the vehicle. E.B. McConnel's bacf was mangled with seventeen balls, while his companion, John C. Morrison, received three shots-in the back, they piercing vital parts. The driver escaping uninjured,-whipped up nrs rcam and drove to a farm house a half mile away, where the injured men were cared for until taken to Burlington later in the evening. It has been learned that the *"r, -"ri_ tioned as in conversation with Baker and wife at the time the shooting was done had been halted by them and ordered to go back on his way and turn around the claim the road ran through. Baker had become incensed at the travel across his claim and had built breast works of sod at his place overlooking the traveled highway with the intention to" tratt or shoot any and all who passed on the road. There is no breaking and of course no .-". o_n th9 land, nor any sign to give warrrine ;i the_ closing of the road. It was pure and undefiled. deviltry, brutish hate of people at rarge, and a satanic hunger for a bloody row prompting the low born friend. . Arrest followed, the prisoners were guar_ ded out of reach of the citizens of gurli"";on. and a preliminary trial called for attemit to kill while the mutilated boys *rr" ininn between life and death, and o" IUo"a"i morning Deputy Sheriff Jerry Barnes. bv I strategic move, got his prisoner into a buesv and st611ed for Cheyenne Wells at a lightriii! speed, covering the ground to the firit relai of horse, seven miles in twenty minutes. When Burlington people caught on to the move., which they were not long in doing, the popular cry was, ,,Guns, horsei and teims!" and soon two hundred men and every horse in town was in hot pursuit of tne sheriff. fhe chase lasted for the thirty-five miles inter_ vening between the two towns, the pursuine party losing members as horses winded ani hopes weakened. Qeputy Barnes arrived here about one o'clock on Monday and an hour later the advance guard of the pursuers came. , Fate, coincidence, or as some people will have. it, in the-light of subsequent ."""t., providence had delayed the west bound passenger nearly two hours for the first time in months, else we would have closed this bv saying.that the p-risoner was safely lodged in Arapahoe's jail. But the delay allowed"num_ bers- of the- rescuing party to get in and precluded-the possibility of reriroving the prisoner from the depot, where he- was guarded, to the coach in safetv. From two o'clock in the iternoon until twelve that night, Deputy Sheriff Barnes and his deputy, Charles Lynde, guarded the prisoner at_the depot and resolitely bluffed ott a crowd of near fifty men from any and every attempt to relieve them oftheir charge. Guns were numerous and flourished silenil" now and t!en, and attempts were made by I free use of the pen's weapons to overpolier the guards and return the prisoner d Bu;_ lington. The sheriff parlayed the crowd by a clever rrree to telegraph to the governor for legal advice, seeking to gain time for the arrivJoi Sheriff Harper and reinforcements, and ryaking promises to bide the word, knowins that his assistance would come in ihe irrte.l val. The ruse worked well and held peace for several hours, but at twelve o'cloct a sand storm caml up and the crowd gathered determination. At a time least tt de_puties were nabbed by bystande..'"rrd "*p"It"a, " taken away, the excited prisonir rushed from the depot with a notary's seal held above his head with his manacled t ,""av lo L."i" ""a, ti. fir""t-ioi whoever__attempted to bar liberty. Hardly had he gained tt e ai. f"fore he was_ thrown, held and ,oo" *". l"i"i dragged across railroad tracks o"". .i"J"i"E ground and pretty roughly tranatea wtrite lusuy calling on the ,.Jerry" who himself was being hustled over the ground Uy fr"f?l dozen able bodied maskJrs. " The closing scene of the great tragedy was enacted about midway of tle t.essei work ol the west approach of the coal chute. Under a span ofthis was gathered a group ofmufflJ merr; and they in charge of the prisoner, Ji unknown, were irresistibly drawn toJ*d them. A rope ending in a noose was danslins trom over a cross tie in the tressel; under iI the-murderer was dragged and told d;r";. As-he was a pretender of a religion which tre defiled, he was not amiss at thiJand;ilh til; stereotyped form of prayer meetings began with: "Oh, Lord, we are glad that ie a"J i" the condition that we are. Forgive tfrese men: they know not what they do. C"unt -" " fitii" more time that I may explain to these men." At that a voice from the crowd reminded him that- he had given the boys ti-" io pray, and the rope was tightened"o about his neck, and the inanimate form fr.r"g less and was left alone while his sorll -oiiorr_ ;;;;; its maker.and will probably give *u.f, io exprarn. I'hree murders and other attempts to kill are recorded against him on this edth alone. A coroner's jury was summoned Tuesdav morning by C.I. Spere, Justice of the peace. the body cut down, an inquest held and the remains buried near town. The verdict of the jury was to the effect _ that the deceased met his death from hanei; at the hands of parties unknown laboiini -" un1t9r_qn epidemic of transitory f."rrv. Bird McConnell, one whose life waslken - by the murderer's bullets, was one ;i;h;;; whole-souled boys whom everybody and was glad to call a friend. it" *"."d-i*d to t"u" been married on the first of May to . Vo"n* lady in Kansas and had .orir" *".i-ti establish his home before going back for his bride. Before his death he made'a wiil leavine all his property to his affianced. Hi, i;h;; arrived from Iowa Tuesday morning to {o1 the remains. He was a membei of "aie the I.O.O.F., and the members of the order in these parts did all possible to care foi friwounded and dead. John C. Morrison was a stranger in this section and was making his firlt visit io Colorado. He had no .eLtirres -a UuJ former_ acquaintance at Burlington, """ b; ;;; none the less tenderly cared for. Above three items from Cheyenne Wells Gazette, April 21, 188g. Monday'sDenuer Republican had a photo_ graph of and an interview with Mrs. Harriet Baker regarding the murder committed-lv her husband near Burlington on the lbth of April. The reporter's emotions got him and he represents the acc'essory "*"y,ith io tfre murder as an innocent, intelligent and religious, motherly country *o-io, and gives her statemenLs credence. Nothing could be wider of the truth than the accoirnt olthe affair given, and any attempt to manufacture sympathy for the woman will hardlv be a-ppreciated by those who have heard her threats, oaths, and cold blooded ments to kill any and all who attempted """o""""_ to �cross the land as well as they who were instrumental in the gudden death of her husband. Great allowances will always be made for a female criminal, but the Republican's young man rather overdid the matter' Cheyinne Wells Gazette, May 5' 1888' A sensation was created Sunday by the discovery that the body of Franklin H' Baker, ttanged by a mob at this point on the 16th.of lprit. had been taken from the grave' An invesiisation showed that the corpse had been histily dragged from the buried coffin through an opening probably kickcd in the foot eid, dragged in the muddy soilfor-a few feet and ihrown into a vehicle which had been in waiting. From the signs, the body snatchers were-not particular in their care of the remains and ii could not have been friends ofthe deceased. It can safely be set down that some medical student has been taking lectures on strangulation with Burlington's murderer for a subject. State News: A sensation has been created at Cheyenne Wells over the discovery that the remains of F.H. Baker, hanged there by a mob two weeks ago, had been stolen from the grave. A hole had been kicked in the coffi"n, the body dragged out and carried away, possibly for the education of the coming generation of sawbones. Abo*vJ two items ftom Cheyenne WeIIs Gazette, MaY 12, 1888. A Graphic Account of An Early Necktie Party. Tire following article, taken-from the Burlington Coll of last week, we feel sure-will be of interest to all of the Neus readers' There are many people here now who are familiar with faCts as set forth, but the vounger generation scarcely rcalize the tranritioti ttt"t has taken place in Eastern Colorado. Mr. R.A. McConnell, special representative of the New York Mutual Life Insurance Company in San Diego, California, and W{' McC'onnill, president of the California Mutual Finance Corporation of Los Angeles, Calif., passed through Burlington on Monday morning. These gentlemen were in Burlington on April 16, i888, *h"tt their brother, who had been shot by Franklin H. Baker, died at the Montezuma Hotel. Mr. McConnell, Silas Fonts, Dave Spear and Wheeler had made pre-emption filings ott four corners where sectioni 22-23-26 and 27, in 9-45 come iogether. Each one had built a sod house and th"ey had dug a well in the middle of the road crossing for their joint use. After- filing on his land and building his house, Mr. McConnell had returned to Iowa to close up some business affairs and on his way back came by train to St. Francis, Kans' Thi mail for Burlington was at that time broueht bv horse conveyance from St' Francis ;rd young McConnell, with John C' Morrison, another homesteader, arranged for Dassase with the mail carrier. ' Siimiles north and two miles east of Burlington, Franklin H. Baker had pre-empted thJnorth half of the north half of section 4, township 8, range 43, which ls-just-north taken by Mrs' Martha oi ttt" t-d homestead. Mr. Baker had been Coakley as a"tt"rwards a scoul and buffalo hunter over Eastern Colorado during the ?0's and was the possessor of rather a trard reputation. He had stood trial at Holdrege, Neb. on two different occasions, once ?or assault with a gun and once for assault with intent to kill. In the last case he had slashed a butcher across the abdomen with a knife' In both cases he was acquitted on the grounds of self defense' He had brought several parties from Holdre-ge and that vicinity to this part of Colorado, locating them on tree claims and pre-emptions. His practice was to take the train from Holdrege to Wray and from there drive across the country. One party located by him included B.F. Kaiser, afterwards county treasurer of Kit Carson County, W.S. Ready of Stratton and Ed Hoskin. The traveled road from St. Francis to Burlington led across one corner of Baker's land, and he had ordered travelers to go around the corner. The mail carrier, either not knowing about this or not caring, drove across the corner on this Saturday, and Baker fired a shotgun loaded with buckshot into the party in the spring wagon. A trunk in the back of t-tte wagon protected the mail carrier' Morrison received some wounds that were not deemed serious but from which he died some three years later. McConnell, however, died from his wounds on the following Monday. When they reached Burlington, Jerry Barnes, deputy sheriff for Elbert County, accompanied by Frank Mann, drove out and arrested Baker. He was brought to town and kept in the old Bon Ton restaurant; and wh91 it was seen that McConnell was bound to die and that his friends were evidently making arrangements to take their revenge on Baker, Barnel sent Mann on the road to Cheyenne Wells to make arrangements for relays of horges to be ready in case of hurried flight' After the death of Mc0onnell, arrangements were made for the preliminary hearing before Justice of the Peace Page; but before the time of the hearing, Barnes decided that he better put Baker in a safer place and left behind a iast team for Cheyenne Wells. Cheyenne Wells was reached in record time, but the train they expected to take was ten minutes late; and before it arrived, the 4elggation from Burlington was in Cheyenne Wells' The deputy wal overpowered, and Baker washanged to the coal shute in the east part of towi. He asked the men not to bind him and said that he would take his medicine' The mob was orderlY but determined' Baker was buiied at the Wells and his his body afterwards found in the South Smoky tr.totot has it that it was brought to "rrdBurlington and the bones cleaned and wired as a coimplete skeleton' The whereabouts of the skeleton is a matter of speculation' While some of the detailstliven above may be somewhat incorrect, the story in the main is correct and the ColJ will be glad to have any further information concerning the affair that any one maY have. We aie enabled to print the above interest- ing story of early day history through the co"urtesy of Mr. H.G. Hoskin. Reprinted from the Builington Call in Cheyenne County Neu's, June 3, 1926. incident of little pride. It happened during a time of distressed conditions when treacher- ous dust clouds had claimed the land. A dwindling economy' short grass, drought and hot weather, forerunner of the "dirt days," had caused an exodus of many brave people in earlier years. This left vast acres of srassland untended south of the correction l-ine and southwest of Second Central School. In this day, a term for this vast expanse of vacant land was "Free Range." Little farms and ranches were left in limbo as hardy people left to find a better place to live' Some ieft-on foot with their few belongings on their back. No matter how the incident is viewed, basis for the trouble was greed. This unhealthy trait of men, has not subsided and is, no doubt, a single sickening source of man's problems today. For some, this incident was probably an indoctrination of how to use the iaw to further one's financial condition. Local livestock ranchers were aware of an abundance of grassy acreage and ran their herds in the area. Most were amicable, and in reality did no harm to anyone except, perhaps, those still living nearby. 11 1o--st instances, allowances were thoughtfully made to assure each could share in this windfall, providing a chance to succeed for those stili hanging on. Short grass and dry weather created a need for larger acreages to sustain animals on Pasture. There were cattle and sheep men in the area, solid citizens of the community, generally with their own land or land rented for their use, occupying a good share of the area' Local sheep men may have shared in this practice of using "Free Range" at times, without disfavor, owning and renting some of the grass land. The so-called war, was not a battle between those who ran different animals, but between the community, both sheep and cattlemen and a somewhat errant or greedy outsider running !!""P. J.S. Price occupied the old Sexton place on the north edge of this area, running cattle' Jim Kountz ran sheep and cattle to the west' "Billie" Vassios also ran sheep and cattle in this area. Ora Vawter lived southwest of our school using a portion for a cattle operation in the "range.'iConrad "Connie" Stone had bought a couple quarters out in the expanse of iI, intending to use a share for cattle' Robert McCurdy owned an 80 near Connie' West of Connie Stone was Tom Rowland who grazed some of the range on occasion' DoroIhy, hi. daughter, remembered herding cattle orl. it to keep them from eating weeds which grew in patches where the wind blew out and "go-back" fields had not yet g."s.y over. These weeds made milk taste ir".tld"t.". ierrible and Iowered salability of cream' Most of the remaining residents of the area milked cows and sold sour cream. Dorothy remem- bered a time when sheep were relocated' A'B' Radebaugh lived south of Connie Stone at a placed cilled Loco. Charley Smith lived north of Mr. Radebaugh. South and a little east of Charley was Cecil Baxter and his family, trying to grub out a living by milking i:"T'.ffi*l]y,-,*:j:,JiTi S:".?i,iL'$:u]l* srrEEp_cATTLE wAR T49 Wanczyk. Giibert Smith lived a few miles south in Cheyenne County. Fred Mort and Kenleth, had located north of wild A strange event, so named by He-nry son, The Bergman family was located in Horse. in o.."rred Hoskins, unique in the County,south of A'B' Radebaugh' "ou"lv, Cheyenne iftirties. It our community during tit" "#iV perhaps an There were others in Cheyenne County' This was seldom mentioned Jiur*u.d, �is not to say all these men used the .,range," but it was a possibility not denied them] - Though quite young, I knew most persons involved in the incident. Each was law abiding, each a good neighbor. Generally, ' , most attended church on Sunday and all took an active interest in their communities. Thev were good men and helped one another, a necessity required to remain in the countrv. Times were bad with few rains; an incessant dry wind took a toll of remaining grass and crops. As if this was not enough, to be oppressed by thousands of sheep, makes it easy to understand a situation forced on many of the local stockmen. It is amusing to find, as I searched records, few lines .ecJrding encroachment of sheep on private land. Most lines recorded wrong doing of a commu- nity and of legal maneuvers. __In a June 15, 19BB issue of the Flagler News, an article appears with the headline. "Cattle Men Opposed to Running of Sheep.'; This article tells of a proteJt meetins, reminiscent of the old battles between cattle and sheep men. It was held south of Flagler and attended by forty-two people. The shlep were owned by two brothers from a distancl west of Limon. The sheep had been driven here from this area. The sheep men had rented the old Jens Petersen place and had set up camp there. Several protests had been made to the owners when sheep had encroached on a large tract ofprivate land. This was caused in part by dried up water holes and insufficient grass. It was decided at the meeting to send a dozen or so men to make a final protest. These men informed the she-ep owners and herders that the sheep had to be removed that day. Nothing was done about moving the sheep so neig[bors gathered in body and proceeded to movJ the sheep themselves. Basket lunches were taken along and a regular picnic held at noon. No opposition was encountered as the sheep were taken eight miles back to their home grounds. There were about 1000 ewes together with their lambs in the flock. the Junl 29, 1983 issue of the Flagler -_In News, a headline appeared. ,,19 Arrested-For D-riving Sheep Off Range." The description of charges seemed ominous when I read them. Nineteen farmers were arrested on a Satur- day by Sheriff Hollander of Chevenne County on warrants charging them with unlawfully, willingly, maliciously and felo- niously driving a flock ofsheep lB00 head of ewes and lambs from their-usual range. They were owned by two prominent she"ep men, Rex and J.B. Hixon and valued at $5200.00. The Hixon brothers leased several sections of land north of Wild Horse and farmers in that vicinity decided to drive the sheep north to Kit Carson County. A crowd of some fifty men, women and children her4ed_the sheep out of the country. The Hixon brothers signed compiaints for their arrest and informations were prepared by the Deputy District Attorney, J.F. Death- erage. These were gent to the District Judge at Colorado Springs for signature. Since tf,e charges were gerious in nature, an early date of the trial was expected The item stated that warrants have been issued for the anest of the following farmers: C.W. Baxter, Gust Bergman, Donald Bergman, Alex Crouse, Win Cotton. Art Wiltse, Floyd Thompson, Fred Mort, Kenneth Mort, A.R. Farley, Arthur Tryon and son, Andrew Gwartney, Dave Jemmaka, Eugene Schumacher, Gilbert Smith. A.B. Radebaugh, Frank Wanczyk and Stanley Wanczyk. It was said a large trial was expected because of the n 'mber of men involved. At least a dozen witnesses were expected at the trial. The Hixon brothers allege that they lost some sheep and others were injured whiie the band of excited farmers drove their herd off the range land. The article from which information was taken was in the Flagler News and had appeared in the East"ern Colorado Plainsman. Those arrested were named in the article and, inthe opinion of this writer, were good men of high caliber. Memory dictates a reluctance of law officials to become involved in.the problem. It is difficult to proceed in this manner unless a law is broken and can be easily proved. I am told these intrusive sheep were watered during the drive, indicat_ on the range. The cow was fresh; they put her in the corral and milked her. The-rice was much better with a little milk! Mr. Hoskins worked only a few days after the move. There might have been L tocat recommendation that he quit the job. He drew his pay and left for home in Buriineton. He was arnazed, to read in the Flagle. N"*. a few weeks later about men who had entered the. sheep camp and drove off some sheep, intimidating the herder in the process. His short record said J.S. Price might have caused a delay,in the altercation, giving him time to leave. Since Mr. Hoskin's iamiiy was prominent in Burlington, it would not have been good for him to have been involved. He mentioned papers were served on two men from Flagler, five local residents and others from Cheyenne County. It was also men_ tioned land sheep were grazing was leased by some of these men, accounting for such a ing the community group was trying to care properly for them. Many incidents occurred at this time in the community which are not reflected by news media of the time. These are added from memory and interviews with fracas. There is no record that J.S. price had a part in the incident. He was also a law abiding man taking an active part in Sunday schoJl and Church in our community. This was true oi time. records. those who lived and experienced this unusual I was about 7 years old when all this happened, and I didn't really understand until some time in the '80's when I read a short record by Mr. Hoskins of Burlington, giving information about the affair. I reriem_ ber a lot of concern and worry my parents endured, and of nearly losing some of our milk cows. More than this, I remember lack of water when wind just wouldn,t blow to turn the windmills and cows were bawling for water. Water holes dried up, as did the grass and never did it seem so hot. When winl did blow, it was turbulent and screamed so hard we had to shut down the windmills or lose them. Cactus began to gain an edge on buffalo ancl gramma grass; it seemed to like drv times. Always, we were short of funds and mv folks had to do without and utilize what thev had to remain. When things seemed as bad as they could get, the grasshoppers came and cleaned out all vegetation. Caltle were sold to the government for a pittance; many were shot on the spot, to be buried by my father as part of the deal. This instilled in me a wariness of government programs I have never overcome. Apparently in 1938, Mr. Hoskins talked to C.M. Smith. Mr. Smith knew a man in Matheson who needed ranch help. Mr. Hoskins went to him and hired out to a couple brothers on a sheep ranch. He went to work in March, beginning his experience as a sheep rancher. He spent mornings feeding ensilaei from an upright silo and added to hii learniig experiences there, trying to drive a tea- o1 unruly horses. It was lambing season and afternoons w_ere spent trying to match up lambs with their mothers. A careful watcir was kept on the newborns when they were placed as small herds in pastures. As the lambing continued, the entire herd was moved to a ranch south of Flagler. (The lone sheep shed, 2 or 3 miles west of Second Central school). Newborns and mothers were placed in_ a special wagon accompanying a cook shack on the trip. The food wai "ota not very good; no one knew very much "rra about cooking anything. One day, Mr. Hoskins said the Boss brought a sack ofrice. It was not verv good by itself in any form. Mr. Hoskins continued that they tied up an old cow found most local men whose names appear in As I beean to research this happening, I was amazed how many remembered events seemed to fit into the incident of this time. The sheep outfit had leased some land in the area, I am told, but chose to graze the entire area with several thousand animals. This was not an acceptable act, considering previous arrangements. I was amused about the cow Mr. Hoskins mentioned, her milk being used to enhance the rice. I remember Ora Vawter looking hlgn and low for a missing milk cow. It is possible, Ora found the cow a-t last when hc visited the sheep camp after a few hundred sheep had trempled his field. I could be wrone about the cow, I think not; but it is a fact. Ori was assaulted violently at the camp. Hisson, Jim, reported to his school mates what had happened and that his dad had contacted the sh-e1if! charging one of the sheep men. I am told Jim said, "They charged him with assault-and battery!" Ora was a good neigh_ bor and highly respectcd in the Jommuniiv. Certainly, this was an inexcusable act. This Sheep-Cattle incident became verv serious and associated with this time ani event was at least one death. This involved a man killed at the sheep ranch headquarters and listed as accidental and may ,"ll hau" been. Strangely, no one talked with who remembered this incident was convinced the death was aceidental. I found no records of other deaths. One murder, often erroneouslv associated with this time was that of Joe Ruestle. His body was found in November. 1929 in his shack in this area, dead ofa bullei wound. The investigation contained rumors of trouble due to the Ku Klux Klan, religion, neighborhood enmities and other imphed motives. This was before the sheep incident in 1933. Coleman Murphy lived east of Rock Cliff and was engaged in raising horses, much in demand at this time. Al a round-up to prepare them for sale, an excess of 100 head were driven into the home pasture. This must have b-een a spectacular sight. Seventy head of his horses had strayed and were reported southwest of Flagler. Troy, his son, who had worked for Matt Simsenson in his cattle operation, was sent to find them and bring them home. �oerhaps wrong' seemed justifiable' To get fi; this unusual situation trom law fl:ii"?'i irelp in Hi.'?"T.",li""il#i;;T;"; popular pop-ular a not was ;Ht1:"ii$iiqil'iJffi"$'fi"niif"f_:*1? agenc-ies if':x',$,?';':'il":,$ enfbrcement agencres course' enforcement *3HH'ffi'#j which' i""iiJTJr-uv"?i-il"i""t*rence'of feelinss remained from feelings cxistirig Cxistirig ililt". ililt"' trte euerrt, animals *a *t"it"J-data was ;A;;;;i; b""o iilr^.""ia-ir"u" his own' of nls the ""u". ;;;ilr earlier days when one took care ol i'tt often, the unskined -igrrt -i.r. This it"Jia must i#, -"r"" one s,,In sought' sought,was e"t" he been " help ."y outside "uitiJiui.iog n* *tti"rt Had ""i fi"d-ffi;tT"Ti case with rroy. one unan fi;'#;;ii;q probablv probably "o,rrd were was i"r"rber, this area i"-"-b"., .9n .Yntune with the land.,, Troy,s thoughts rrt"'il;;-p#;;;rr""*,i."q1"a i"Jtffi investigation "ril'"i-*"rlo""t"a' an acllive, an conduct to and piace hors-es il;;hhv rrr" il;ilh;;i""e centered on missing and verv restless and As Troy ;"il;;ih; t,orrg .t""p residents very ir-"e"tu-v-t"tiaents *iin ir'"**v *i]t though silent landsc"pJ"uo,rit i-. [""r-rr."a il"n"J rnrq;;;i;';";;6;a anv any most at some bullets range_ " ", open spraving spraying someone rode west he *ossed i Il I I ffiil";F:+i-".r;;idP:i."* benefit' all -t! YT-a tilendlthoueh of little benefit'.all tilendlthough and one haif structure and ;il;;i'i" satisfaction satisfactlon and two room, story s""ai, Little again' easy tt"atrt" breathe could "e"i-tt' shot ["i*Jr.i"." " "oula outcome' Davs followin the p;ti*. ;;;.;;;i;"cedintheoutcome'Davsfollow;;;.;;;i;"ced ""liri"!'..n!E;t1*; -"t'i*.tt ""'v first with retaliations' filled him-the were arrests sig;aletio i"n ing and whining bullet "ligiiu"**"ireditwlii-por."irt"tosaveit' rr"a ri""tiiirt#.tt""p u"tr vr"" srr""o ii3 expectaany g*pecptotally and uncertainty of an-y u.. and uncertaintv ,,tirurinu* wa' no accident. N"I *-"a c"".u ol th" fir" was un- ,rtir..it the fact' tne ,^""if-iirr:ti.v. protection from the law' In tact' of tions iit"t unpreparedforsuchJ";;I";h"eredhis somJJpeculation. causrllq I I^am am r.ro*o, aspect' "r of lop-sided aware verv very was tie t'ook on a *"lt* ti"t sootted mount to tn" -dh;.1o"at Jh"ep -"i *"r" not immune to t"ttut one Une time' this "".i, at guns willing not euni toted *", several uJ ;;ilil;;;;;i-totedtold tension in the area, -t" t#".;;lbd *-.. r""i iJrJ or,'io"a rn""p ;;;il;;;" a cord ibout his neck with a sixremainaninnocenttarletwithnoweaponfor ii;"tr,'d; ;"ii ii*rtrt*ot"acordabouthisneckwithasix,*"t"r,.li* ;;ttb ;; gun with others carried rifles' just in returned tioy gi." day, p,ru"a rti. eit" reco'rse. Next ;il;;;;;; i"ir"il";r*gJ "tl""rtta; "tl""ft.a; with in hand aod cros.ej-ir," ,"r,g" ^no ""il"r, was the sheep-cattre plr or {it X*J;afil,ul":11'*#ffi,TEii$".il created bv greed' ;;G;;:shlnmen ;;#d i;t" rft;ii, ;J9;"ili-si""" ii caison countv, a" "it n:fllm*f*'*i"m*tn5** and acts of bravery of *"'u ih"t" ror. were watching 19ts were times of fear' Mv te*ove the posts-' a-new i'"r-itp.,'iuleto There Jim's r"*r"tt""tt' Icanstatethenextincidentasfactbecause young and ;"ll h;e; ug -{rg t" ;;;";ii;.-t-";1. pip" tittett' Jovce' D-orothv and I nearlv grew up irt" I lived it. As I have said, I was very (Jni#. ili;i"i"""t" ffi '''il*;v': ;f a horse thit ti*e' our saddle .*a j1 ." ;;;h;;;i poor did not understand all that was transpiring. ;;;, ;;;;ri,ig ai.tlir[1""", "t ridins was done bare dozen half a about "f verv ior was looked -rrti"gtt so mostyoung' Mv folks had rg""J;ilffiil;ilp1!1r ;;;i;;t6*. we roamed the My missing. very of our m'k cows *r,i"t,-*"r" for aiiowin! the errant sheei ilitrt' ;;;"t"rt.tilrn on our range one eye in watchful horse a keeping saddre prairie, our riding mother was ariu"o, tlil *T#"i"t rtlr l*r'". r""r" *rri"t and somecar, very Ford, was old voung the "'dil.".;uv, ro"i;;pi;-;;"lved. anl cattle"Dorothv area. Dad and I werl in the horse well' once command aia"'t ii-ur searchinginanother.w""*"overahillanq had io o"rl"J[""ff. ]ilrT";;d;;; mv grandfather's house us. several were shocked at ttre scene below prru"ur, had to pay 'a .ii"vi.tg "t*ost toBringing "r;;;;d, ;;;il;t back the uneasv cows our herd awav' to riil"t trying rorl on intent ";a diiJiliJrri-u..*"i,r;r, ^ men were of last Londing memories are had_been time which thisl"Ji"gr of checks ti into the bed of a .to"['ir-rr-"r ,"u"ra-..u"i;;.;story tiat"o-o*v. father My bottom. in-tire *i""f"i"ttt"ctionswhenwerodeoff'some wash a backed into ira'r"vi'g* .9.Tg;; his ;#ii9;;;i;lriomuiie"qirii" time were' "Don't go had an instant temper, cogin-g fromgun, #3"g, :'Thq; il"-"ruo from this when rirst ir,6 sent to bring in -i"a, ul """r ttt"ttt""p camo!" mother,s side of the fanily. He-\a{ To fi;";h;;-tigrrt il^#"il-i"-""-u"i.r leave the people' I_know sheep the gratefur. see "If vou for which I am now very " ;.rit" lr;". "Ir you.pt.n ;;;; l;;;"",igr', "o cows' home!" These for Luckily, straight head ;;;"""nt! ;; it ."**' use to -aird temptation do!" iiiiig ""a to "Keep an eye out --coirt*i"t rr! might'.ri"a were able to all men ran for *re tiucr little difficult to instructions were akin times!" ao.r-"rrt for rattle snakes at all I leavebefore*"-riu"a]itaveoflenwonderoo l,rorn"rr;uli rs, rssg, tlr" g1u.1"r Astimewent.on'thesheepoutfitdeparted ri.ttirt r ed what would have-liapp"o"a that day had "";;;t. ;;il;;J;ril rr,"T".ii,".ri"" "r ror"" ti*e later' a new man' Mr' Hutton' they remained! Th";H;;;;;ffi;;; is no b"iri,i"*tr, j"alia ili.i.fut" trri* ""J the land' This ended the there "o'tiiJttrougr, t""gtti-*t.of from the ,heep outr.it, xro.19*"q"t r"q,ru.tJd*bv-c.w. ;;;';." ;;nrJ" seem; R*tgu" in the area' Mr' Hutton was a way to prove this. ri"ir"", i&"dd ends of justice^ aii drivi to and was accepted well bv his trying i;iltt*;t# d"i];d"r l riri d;i;;; sheep outfit *u, u.touirli orh" coiue'i"r,"" io, a larse number of sheep in "o"J*ir"iv. people out of the cguntry. sg.t* ili.Rliir;;ri*i*ti"g t""l"d; ;;*ilil; ""iet'uott' about when he sold out' the to followed' talkld have tt'"t I c;;i v""?r Most older peopre d.r9d niri""lii""T?,i';il;;;;;J.'. pasture land for cattle ild "c"t; became co,rirqi" this subject remember cecil w. naTt€.r.ad #;;til;iLa i"-g, ;ffi;;J, Ranch' I do ii probably Harris-Davies piii the cows, to ;l;";il his loss of about five-m'k b4"r, Crg.1".^c1"ii"e)"5.e. land had ;;il this what pr"uioi"ry aig; IL;; not wish to-even mention disaster' also crea manner sucrr ure iile'i";id;t #ffiiiJi!;ei, ii"ir"ii"iJp. hi's pending a diffeiengg, ^r" todav' one i described. rhere was i*i"** r'u"tg,L"lr il;;";; ated bv greed! r cattre were loaded *a t t"o some distanci il"iiJi!;a"u"",igi, .ri"d. Troy distances south of the iooe'rr,""p rifle was shocked to hear trr" .'r""r of a second A bullet a of whizz the I south or the U.P' tracks!-rhe cows-wer: i:'"?]#::HF}"*il#ift',e**#:""" Gnar"a bo,""tl.Td-.ld"rph Martinez' times' XX*L$tH#5;#llfi:r'ifiG"n{iu; in foundinterribleshape.Beingmilkcotllthlv Eacir-time -'lpn@U1 a continuance was sranted and tTr#i::l had dried up and *";-lfii; and thirsty. 'f:ffitti'. 6eitaintv, tt e, *.,",,"iiffi"' one dav. ftff3"r1:'i"il*ttt# storrs Franf with happening )Xf-_:1".,:*tiJ"T*^I:ltl"; ;clt*t"t this bitmissed'Aeainst 19 Farmers'" We come to the .o""iuJJ'-tr'ut r"'tt'"' tttal3f t[e 19 defendants who tr," d;;r"ttu6;tdwith threats made to cecil """J"Jiiir" loi""* felonv and misdemeanor I ;;;;;;ged going to a place i" iir""-'*i'l bv Lvre w. stone t-"-Y:L:* held several $:ffi:$: area, ""itit*"JK;;. canremembertheirleaving.Leon,ason'wasoveramattercon-cerningthedrivingofsome IIENRY IIATCH MURDER rv'a v r-- T60 or F,agrer was thrown into rhe,itt,e town *i:i$:t^nTJ"llily",l'i1!#:'d"l,t!:,]i H'$ilq by thp discovery of Henry Tuesa on ##ftil*lrl*fl,'J,"r:y pi".ia"a. crr"rg"" *"r"-Ii.r"i..JJ north of "*"i;"-*""i at his homestead rt""g ii"i"it;t-ll"tli I cannot. I know it was not freely lnade and iay bv the court has telegra-d"ff;Jil""t" ;;;;:-Dt' Godsman' of siebert'the p""pr" Ivasuelyrememberaquestiono?theability ."vi"g ti',"'irir", il;;";.iiu"a i;" results of at investigation' an countiee prt"Jtt carson Kit -"t" of cheyenne or ii;;;;";[J"q'"g trr" public' rirr"s-a"-"! made since '1ry been i"hittt tt"u" not "o.r'ii time to cope wittr a bad situation. "'i-rti"""gtvbruiseshavebeenfoundonhis had been irr"iir*a,ira"o"vrrJ-*iliitli*""irt"it part of their eource or i#.;ift;fd;"t"il;ffi;;;il*il'"u "rirt"o"" one above the left iaken and no retaliatiin oir""ouery -"d", ilil",ip i", tri"r o" h";a;;;;;* onthe'temple' il;;;itb*w-ir," of the head' The going! back ^;;;;;;; 9"li the for them urane ;;;;J-;;; . .. t'ime it was one could hardly ;;'h fi; l,";ffi vividt{ a'stranger'laterfoundtobe wrriJh qi'J"i-"ttio"tof There were otrrer events of *iir"r" the deceasid' is exerting consiremain in my memorv-aUo,rt ?0. tonswas "o'tir,,rua.wondered ::-:#:;; why these m^en were "r "";"prr"* and suspicion' and he will father, prairie hay, belongirri'to -y "it"n pr"g,r"a w i cloud of uncer- d"tu'bt" comment ;a to explain his to burned opportunitv *iri"t an given tir" prairie be large Lurned in a "p;;;;d ;fi;il#ru;;d;1h;;J;""J*.t""a"ur" theroadwestofseconJbentralschoor.To saturdav evening and the *r*htwnr;ft:ffuy*g, r,"* *lT-"",:'n*;*:^:l'*l;"?*:ii:'"?; ""ll:T;" to Fragrer �desiredtotakeaclaim..Hedroveoutoftown of KitCarsonCountyCoronerBobHendricks D;;;;. -i-h#;":Tom with the murder t,;il;;ffi;iil",n,ou,"ement .com home;;;"ft; ::ldfiti.i"lqp"a il;;l;;";;"t"i"i". rro* srories from made this not to go any further, and soon week by Thomas and charney. "ft"ll""ri"g would not-LJJ-.iil." court of taw. tvtite Jas ,,Theidentification of the other two bodies withJohnKesan,atandto".t";,;t;;;;ilu, officials charged and after being shown Hatch;s x;o i. or*i"Iir*_en;*. very happy with the llnif**l#if:ru'*l?ts"Tif;i $!;,f"*r;:i*$Till"Tfr{:[,T,1"": morning' and save ; il;;;;'"pi; I sundav "," N,r-"i..r.*"r,rir-ceme't age'cies in coro:tt5r:Tfiiyril"*Tt"lT##*:L, ;i*1";Hf;fiir:*:ril:Txj*r*r y;,hi;'d;;; i| :.1ti'T,f:$'{i"F[!i4ilil${ilf,}'; orriciars haie,,ir,o F,*r*, we ;;;"s ;,'il11",, c.,,,,,t] *:1.:3:,r*ti:;i;ri #j ;Tf'#:ffi.:5"*T."'""r101*:r:.f;*i,11 ry;q:j ,#e*-"*:t"fitn# 3fXT.'."fiji""Jil'1"{lL:*ti"f::.:S.i;;;;i Denver' Fe has beeriiocated i" ui.r'ig"" ilTflI,if:il"J'-Yruir*gliil:[tfff for his actions. and agents rrom Jerrerson ililfl.H*j::"''ffi.ft1,,]:*"f::;tjg H:,"h1],jtln;il:**"'en,orthetask focus on the ranch murders. M""v ;;;";;;?urt *"csr shourd rocus r#1"i"grffi:?f#:twru'#affi:: fii** H:"'.|:: ;ililffi ;xitiill p*r, J,i;;;',il,"si, McCORMT.K RANCH .",r.*#W.;rltAn;,.;;;;;; MURDERS rAsK p,,or FouND FoRcE possrBlE .':affH:$l!ili.!".tj,1,1,ff":'ff;. BURTAL ftT,:"",i,'"'ilffi lfi Jiffl l*":ffi:,,"ffillrt':::.**:illi:"::,r* T6r said-. .We asked for'helti;;;"th" ^iB;,";; we did get some initialty in tt One body identified . . . :J$:;.t think thev weie i""r*v "rirrl tr'"i (f " r'"rpr"ii" "e'v 162 gbg) Faced with a sma'budget-and rimited ,1$;f*r6#'ffj','.:l'"Tlf:,*.if;,1: fJ#'f,"",ixi,#*:l:ri{#i+""j:ilrf,"j t" r, reast threi'sker-Jto,,.. e,, examination F:11,":#?,trtlffffiSfilf"i,l""liT-}T fjqtt,i;;:rfrX."'."oi,.". orthe "1i.1 investigate the murders of-three men roirnd ...Thomas went on to. ".ui"i" he was ;-.8:n'H"ilit"j::*#ffiru:T:lX',;3t bv rom M"c;;: "disappointeii".,a 9ay "iu,t,,rbed; at til" crii. iliiTi:r.t:i*fyr ffi;: K.n"pp L-"gi,i't1,"- skeretons to t"ff:'*t;. "'*""u' Henry -_ rh";;''i# ;"' In a two-dav r;j,i:,.T; ai,".to. or pubric sarrry said he span colorado's newest.dirlctor-"f p"ilri'" wants to assign cBi agent David tt":?{1;;:Fyr1;1,:i:l# safetv has spearheaded the push rot dh*-f"I,i otcoior"Jorra-rr.r,r-,goda"r.Knappstated ii t"tt time.to trr"-?*]n; ;;ril force to help investieate theduril;t;;";-G'tHy'# that he.wourd preier to have the skeretons working *ilil iri'".tigators from^Kil or the bodies rouid has d;;-;";il;lv c;-;; remain in the riurlington museum. a;\,1!" \4;"#'Rii;"'1 identified. ngrige a"n"r;;;; . Anexplanati"""ir,i.rindingsisexprained eq:u:, i;'i:,,?"H#r#,1,;,"'$i:r Jefferson countv and now trt" trti"i"a-'i"il- *i*llfi:?l;ffd;fl"1d;"i::g yt r"u"*v';i'fi,6 *r. an'ou'c"d by ;;5;,:t;g#;;Tf"Htrg1ffi,; Lv'r retirrn tt em wittrin the next few davs. r,"- 6J",la" si",; " shourd eve.r.decide to parr Fi"i"T,bi:f;i""'3*t:iH:,:i+l'"*,*ii- k$#.lH"""J.' + d; #$::1n:"*::J::i':'JT:*:Hr:f*r ,",n'i['l{;,.lx::*i:,i;i:i$:lt:i!*T our society and I don't like to ;;L; unsolved." *rro *L-lolr,- .o1r?, 1?, rgzi, "i" -N.rifi with the rT:_1ry end simnlo li-o i. +L^+ rr ;;flti$t;.1}#ir:1;;iiilil;;ijr.ry __,,I have partiaily restored the one skull. ;*.*n::;1#J;:;rk: , or.':t*:'+'**f{:fff':,T:a".i6.? bilitv of forming a task foice-t" i""r.iig"L i;]itiffiJr4id+r$i",J:t"##J';; 1975. He would"il^;; b""." ,.In.anyeveritjiesearethethingslcante' the murders' The thoueht di; L;;il;ffiil 4! #;;;;; p*g9."a. H;ll"l?;;," u'"t rir"J i"i" r,i. " rhe builet pierced vou aroutlr,e iirli"ia"arhe sku' is male, age about s5-ad;ii"uth. rhe skur measure_ F:i'l'""T{5. ti:*Titffii,::il*ti":-il; ffif }i:::"jr,,HHii:' f'"'3i3,"ili*n'ffi,1,n::'ru,"::tli'*:i nnf,*fll,i'k:Tlffi.;.H.$f -:1. "': J,g#'ilf*it?i;"""J""fril:tJiffl?f3, tive trait, llt r."91 iii"'t".il?or"" ,^ or today,s livingj #JHHX1,:H'.%'*j3t"ffi":.t:lt:tj:: 20 vears . . - rtu *". pe9!e are "rii'3"gr'.-'ny ir."^very_good_idea,,, long well become realitv. hiaded. :j*r'r".x"r"il:: ;;.:'#rfl#,'ii"#'j:r:fi:::iJffrf'f';-f, *#iidtl'",1"'*: Lqfiffii'Jffi:tii#Jii;lti.t-;r";"fii see what he wants want-q dnno ltr/o 6i^ L^-.:-- --, done..we bones includef,il;";difl.tiliil'i:""T: iftt"X|f::liil:?: ili;;"; ongoing investigation on the murders ";; irioui ;ffi:iliilril31""i'h,"'"li*ffir'-1fli:'"# with and all the help we can get wiil appreciated." be "ra ;?"il'*"ii":fffJ;T,li f;ff:ijthatboth mon U"t I rtur" .,ynrr sh^,,r,r d^^ +L^* u- L r"* it in at lensr rwn nll,^- ;,,'".:***'#:.Te"tll,::x*ll,* *$f*#'d*il,i;::lH;',ffi "if,"; most #*a:*Hi#i:,*".rd*r;u"i:ff sofre startling stories -lv uitii""i'M;i;;: mick' 28' who is Tom's-son ;J;-ftt-"r _ " p.i{,1iii or"*. r,"-1""" er,rr;;fi;fi . ,,There I. ";thG I can teu you about the i#4["**rijfii?if':#iTr"]T rl fi[-ri,i,,:$]##t,$f",{iq,i},,fth pr"u nv *rooio ii"tir," t".t?or"e.ri"rii put together to investigat-e trr" a""irr. ilirr" i!:i1"{ifiit,-r:f,Hillf"'#fi"*,Tlj 5*#ff.*'i"',l,li'l; tr,","".n-.""ti""} ""Jlfi'ffii#'"":l?i5".{"r burial fuiniture is-a't.ait characteristic of the so-called uiaat" or Archaic period on the phins. ' tr,i. a"ti,,g is correct, the sku, ;$t'*tt**,,?n#i:13""Tff"i:?iiilxt ;*t{,ffg$';thu"r*'"';*;r.l* 'i*;;;;;;; i#:ilxllJ"#flff"u"e"tir,,gi"r,;''"'il; ,.r" one skurr, the bone |j'i3"'iil,{/"!*"*6,tih",:lP":l:lir3 ^ ranch in Kit carson county. ''lF;'i.?;Ts "aaitiofrJir," rt"g-"trt irr.r-"al p".t. of the lower jaws of were peoole. I dnn,r noro ir i+ t*,i"aaiii""Ji*J."., as weu the ;If:,11t'r:iliff1:*.iff:'::?['jjl ". cr'*g". r.'-tl"ii"iJ.n.,ii". round on ranch were never filed, but law enfoic;;;;; going to let this lay,,, Heinz said. ",i,,-u"i �of additional teeth. I can add nothing from these." by Jayne Hubbell THE L929 TRAIN WRECK WEST OF STRATTON T63 In 1929 I was working on the section when a wreck occurred on Spring Creek just west of Stratton. We were at that time called up there and helped where we could so I was i partial eye witness to the aftermath. The Rock Island train headed west in the early morning arriving at a bridge that was weakened by a flash flood and crashed over the bridge leaving the passenger cars in the bottom of the creek. Several people were Work completed, first test run over bridge. drowned and it was a terrible disaster. The Burlington Fire Truck was taken there to pump out the hole that the one car had fallen into and pumped steady for days. (It was an old Model T Ford Pumper). The following story ran in the Denver Post: "I have just come from the most frightful experience of my life awful tragedy - the which snuffed out a number of lives I dontt know how many when the Rock- Island,s - train went through a crack western bound fifty foot bridge over a dry wash three miles west of Stratton, Colorado. Never have I geen men and women behave so heroically. No hysteria, no screeming or weeping, only courage and grim determination to save as many lives as possible from the swirling waters of the wash. Among the heroes of this wreck, I am proud to say, is my assistant secretary, Able -. I have never known him by any othername and have known him for years. He rescued an elderly woman from the car in which I was riding. I was riding in the fifth car back of the Next day the repair crew and equipment started their job. engine, I was on my way to Denver to make km3/ry6*-r .g %tu ')of( / ,^/" ,/*a u &. w i& Ten people were taken from the wreckage who were drowned. Men indicated by arrows are County Sheriff, Bill Hendricks, Paw Penny, and Orin Penny. arrangements for the presentation of ,'The Miracle". I was sleeping in my stateroom in the rear of the car when the crash occurred. Mv wakening was rude. I was thrown out of m-v bunk and found myself kneeling on the sidl of the car, which somehow had become the floor. The car is on its left side. Above me are the windows, the early morning sun is streaming in. The glass has been smashed. Reaching up the edge of the sill, I pull myself and clnm[st out of the side of the car. The front end of the car is submerged in the wash, I see. My end is resting on the bank. The car is at an angle of forty five degrees. The car in front of mine has completely disappeared. The one in front of ihat is completely smashed. The one next to the baggage car is hanging on the opposite bank. The car back of mine is partially off the track, but it is still upright. My car is tilted on its end so that I am about even with the roof of the car back to me. Now the people are pouring out of the coaches. I climb over to the roof of the car behind me and lower myself to the ground. I wonder why I am not excited. I also �marvel an instant inwardly at my own feelings. My attitude is that of an observer rather than a participant in this fearful tragedy. Any minute now the screaming and hysteria will begin, I think to myself, but to my amazement I am mistaken. Where are Able and Thurman, my secretary? We should get busy to see what we can do for those in the front end of the car. The submerged. one in front is gone - completely like myself. He Here's Able in pajsmss rushes up to ask if I am alright. I'll send him back to save our luggage and the books of iiiriartfl ;rrr&rli "The Miracle". He lowers himself through a window. Now he is smashing a window further down in the car. He has found someone. Here is Thurman. tlt, ::1.,{,:t)a.,\aa. On-lookers watching the repair of the tresgel and track. Together we do what we can to help. The waters pour through another window Able i-'. , ::;i] has broken. He is struggling with a body, we help him and just in time, it seems, carry an elderly woman to safety. She is almost nude but is courage itself. She doesn't so much as sob. A fine boy, Able, I'm proud of him. Somehow everyone else seems to have escaped from our car but no one has seen the porter. He was probably in the front and drowned, poor fellow. For what seems like a few minutes, but !i,,: t }'i' actually is an hour, everyone helps take care which were of the injured - those in the cars derailed and smashed. At the end of the hour the water has gone down enough to make the submerged car visible. As fast as possible the injured are taken to Stratton in automobiles along the highway which parallels the railroad. Finally I leave for Stratton myself. Find a newspaper office and send in my story to the Denver Post." The above story was taken from the Denver Post. To heep in touch $rith ERIENDS View from highway 24, notn "guest car" center right. A TELEPHONE in your home is well worth the few cents it costs a day ft runs m&nY errands -handy in and is always emergencres. There is no su.bstltute for four teleDhone. The Mountain $tates Telephone & Telegreph Company Train wreck west of Stratton on Spring Creek. �THE GREAT FLOOD oF 1935 T64 A series of dry years, beginning in the late 1920's, culminated in the dryest of all years, 1934, when less than a five-inch total was recorded in much of the Great Plains area. The "Black Blizzards" of the Dust Bowl days darkened the skies at midday. The year 1935 began no less ominously. Up to the first of May little moisture had fallen. Then began three weeks of almost unceasing rains. The ground was soaked and county roads were like bogs. About May 25 the rains stopped. Up to the afternoon of May 30, mild and sunny days prevailed. Memorial services I Y were held under auspicious weather conditions, although in a few places light afternoon showers occurred. Towards evening, dwellers in the tri-corner of Colorado, Kansas and Nebraska described heavy cloud banks in the northeast. Similarly in the locality where Colorado and its three southern neighbors meet, thunder heads were observed at dusk, away to the southwest. How little those who idly noticed the cloud banks realized just what was taking place! For three days a ttemendous low pressure area had been developing along the Canadian border and moving eastward towards the Great Lakes. In like manner, a storm center had been generated in lower California and Arizona and was moving eastward into New Mexico. During the forenoon of May 29, the storm-center nearing the Great Lakes sud- denly halted, changed course and began Taking bodiee from submerged car, photo looking south. moving at accelerated speed to the southeast. It was as if the two storms foci, like two huge angry giants, had suddenly sighted each other and halting, moved forward to do battle. By evening of May 30, the one storm center was over Central Nebraska while the other was at the Southern Colorado border. The stage was set for the most terrifying clash of opposing aerial forces ever seen in this country! The center ofthat stage was a spotjust within the Colorado border, an area in northeast Colorado, between the Republican River and the Arickaree. where those streams cross the state line. There, was the focus of the lowpressure area and there, the two opposing storms met. From that whirling vortex the tempest spread in all directions for perhaps 150 miles. At the focal point of the cloudburst, twenty-four inches of water fell, and most of it in the forty minutes of the storm's greatest fury. Fifty miles away in the same period of less than an hour saw as much as twelve inches of rainfall. It staggers the imagination to picture two feet of water being laid down over hill and valley in less than an hour. The downpour was accompanied by the most incessant and vivid lightning, while the earth shook with the continual roll ofthunder. Over Pulling wreckage from water. most of the area the height of the storm came between 7:30 and 9:00 p.m., although it was a few hours later that the sweeping waters reached the area around what is now Bonny Dam. People huddled terrified in such groups as could get together. At the height of the cataclysm in the western part of Kit Carson County, Colorado, several earth tremors were distinctly felt. None tried to reason this out nor to account for it at the time, but the �green in the May sunshine were now onlv desolate patches of hot and glistening sand. The channels of streams had been altered: huge bowls torn in the rivers'beds revealed the bones of beasts that dwelt on this earth ages before the coming of man. A single leg bone measured nine feet, while a tooth from some prehistoric monster was found to weigh twenty-seven pounds. .&):W.ltt@,t&.& The deluge that drowned thousands of jackrabbits and birds on the plains also washed away millions of cubic yards of the rich topsoil requiring countless thousands of years to build up. Hundreds upon hundreds of old Indian cnmps were brought to light, and it was revealed that at one time this country had been covered by dense and huge timber. June 1, 1935, 11:00 a.m. Overlooking the flooded Republican river bottom, looking north across the river to the Harvey Wood ranch. explanation, or at least the result, was shown later. At last the rain settled to a mild drizzle. By mid-night most of the fury of the elements was spent. The day dawned clear, with fleecy clouds overhead and low valleys wrapped in feathery fog. By 10:00 a.m. the wind came up and from the rapidly drying surface of the ground, dust was whipped up in a few places to form miniature but growing "black blizzards". But what a scene of havoc and death greeted the eyes ofthe thousands ofsearchers who were out at daybreak along the valleys of the rivers and creeks. Word had spread that many who had retired early had been caught by the rushing walls of the water that swept down the unusually dry creeks and river beds, and carried away to die, in a hopeless battle against the icy waters, in darkness and alone. Scores of houses in the lower valleys had been quickly toppled from their foundations. Survivors who had escaped and fought their way to shore or to trees through the long night, had, when daylight came, found themselves surrounded by animals dead and dying. Often human beings were hard put to hold their places of safety against the approach of desperately swimming animals and snakes. For, struggling in the frigid flood, trying to avoid the debris of houses, fences, trees, hay and floating animals, the victims faced the added danger of venemous rattlesnakes, coral snakes and other vipers. Hay meadows that had been warm and Those who had believed they felt the earth tremble at the height of the storm had ample proof of their belief. All over the northwestern part of Kit Carson County and that part of southern Washington County huge cracks had been opened, leading into the bowels of the earth. Some ofthese cracks, extending for miles, were as much as six feet across, and in them, hundreds offeet below the surface. the roar of rushing water could be heard for days. Wind and farming operations have filled the upper parts or obliterated these crevices since, but there are plenty of creditable witnesses to testify to their reality. An earthquake? Well, with nature in such a convulsion. is it to be doubted? The storm was one of the major disasters in America's western history. More than 100 lives lost, and the loss in farm and town property, highway and railroad bridges and roadbeds was estimated conservatively at the fourteen million dollar figure. No one could guess nor calculate the loss caused by depleted soil; people had been made homeless and all the other products of this tragic class of the elements. Rivers more in name than in fact, that usually were dry water courses, ran a mile wide and twenty feet deep, carrying a wealth of property and topsoil into the sea. To most of us, Bonny Dam, and the many similar dams all over this plains country, are places of beauty, of rest and relaxation. But back of all this lies the comforting thought that should there come such another flood. or even any of the many that occur each year in lesser violence, Bonnie Dam stan6. as . bulwark of safety. Augmented by the practices of soil erosion prevention at the community and individual level, such structures guarantee us against another like disaster as that of the memorable night of May 30, 1935. For Bonny Dam indeed makes possible the slogan: Preservation of the soil saves death and loss and toil. by Bonny Gould lrees starting to fall in wake of the flood, note tree on far right. �Br,uo. { mrloN lortharsi of Ctcranotrg. RsEge, Dortbei,rt of ClaretDolt. :*.t' !9],:ntlti:..,;:r:*ali r1.r':":,,'.]". ' :',i;r. ..':i* .f ,:.r' J, P. Evans. *,** . : r,,.,.,ji:,3,.:, *.iJ Cloremont, Co:o. Rlnge, Lostolau's Creek. t.i TTG S, GAIEWO[D, Olsfemont, Colc. Ruge, southeast of Cls:smoDt. w1i.i6.,:... ACI ,ri$ ii*qY auGUsT l'DOLr, Burll!gton, Colo Rauge, neer Landsmen. YINOSN WISSBAUM, )l B Next sequence; tree tumbling down the river. BlrllDgtoD, Colo. range. southeest of BurllnAtoB. Fted llachenbergbr, Lanrborn, KeDs. rolge. nor;hc&st ot nrllngton F -T and rwallow- IOrK lll eactr 61r. BR \/ H. rr. KLIEII'ER, Flagler, Colo. Range, Dutk.Crock B:.'RT n.{.oAlJ, Yale. Colo. Ren{o. C-.i5. South !'o:k llepubltcan. Albeft Bur!s,ri, U Kh'k, Colo. P tlp tl lell, c&r oil g rleh& ear rDllt. raDse, i niltdi ioutheict o! Ktr'[. s.-*'-": * 3{*;dt re-.,.-- Goorgc (*, B&rDer. Newton, Co!o. jYld -- ronfs, h8ad .of :fiiliaw cre6k. m catu€ & hoiect JO Flenpv Scbmi.lt, yole, Oolo. range, wssi ol i,andllla,n. FLX Treee have vanished in flooding waters. INTEREST & PENALTY FIINN. fiSTD FIIN]}, Io Werraptsoutstsnding Dcc, 31,1902 A05.25 llo B€lr. ou iand Doc, u, 1002 "' Colloction.0 rilde, cedlllgtuouan, 32.?l _il waneq!! tilued 0 mo.. eudlrg JuDe !i5. tl6 E0. 1803: Serylger, liold Ov€lsoer Sup. R'd Dlslnctr 194.00 B.0l 6.q) Work on rood Irllllng wellr {i.00 I'o lnt p'd 6 nros, endiEg JuDe i-i.93 ... 6rl in ltands oo. 'l'red,8 JqDe 30,.1903 8{J, 190s 2tJ.{t pv Trens;ep lo cen'l (.o. Rov.uue Fund Be,l. or brnd Juqe 30, r" w&rr&Dt! p'dl fl' nros. end.faB '- June .lsc.il) 80, rrlg pldd Eo! ondrng JuEo 80, l9O3 5..o3 ,'l tnt " Bal. banqr Co. l'rea"s Jun€ ;t0; tgg_llll! 78 t.0r ADDIT}ONTI/ IIOII NTY X'IINI) ,.1'o B8l. handr Co. Treas. Dec. 31, ,18.01 r.' lJoll.ectlou 6 Eos endlng Juncl90U t0, 1903 zriS.sn Py Erl otr b&nd Co. Trear Junr 90, 1903 ??1.00 95.A1 -3108 c-N Cb&rl'it Neoilc/; Burllrrgton, Oolo. reDge, SendcrotE 80.65 FTltTE OF COLORAD(,. | ._^ NITCARSdN COUNTY: iDJ. I hereby celtify tbe tol.egolng . lo !e r truo aDd correci state6ent, of thU sev-. pral qqun-ty Fuuds, lor the rlx mouths endilrs .f uue @, 19C3, a! Bbowtr by the I^lecorda and re: pon8 rD Ery Ollce, Wltneqg py hand iDd seal lhle ?th day of re0q. Julr - (!r.aAL) Wr'..t.r'I BocErr. (lounty L'lerts. renli-atnuel lletemgnt war . 'lhg.fofeSolpg F-xalllrbeg lDd &pproved by tbe Bo&rd ot l;ogn[I_ UomlutsrtoDers of KiI Calson CouDtv. colord4o, !f',f ilsr. ott "[r,ilr',;ff,;.;;. -' v"H:titf'd 6 ttlos, erdlns Juns BurllngtoD, Colo. i?nCe, Dgfth oi Berhuno, Oblo, "+# ?.J3.61 y'y warrontsoutstardlog Junp80, lg0J 21,$ 1903 f,', S, IJle;er, 0halrmaD. J. i. W;rtppte, Ilrtrle, COlo, rriD$.9. RopBblipan r lver. �of the basin, causing local floods on many rivers in Nebraska and Kansas. The south fork of the Republican River and the Arickaree River were the principal sources ofthe flood and had the highest crest discharged in record feet per square mile of any river in the basin, the crest discharge of the South Fork of the Republican River at Newton being about 103,0fi) second feet : ::,":.-:,r t\ l *4x $t* occurring between C"mbridge and Arapahoe, "" Nebraska. Below this point the effect of channel and flood plain capacity in reducing the crest discharge were sufficient to off set the inflow from tributary streams, so that there was a flattening of the flood crest and a gradual reduction of the magnitude of the crest discharge to 170,000 second feet at Ogden, Kansas, and 120,000 second feet at the mouth of the Kansas River at Kansas City, Kansas. The loss of life was greatest in the upper parts ofthe valley in Colorado and Nebraska, where the flood occurred at night. A total of 110 lives were lost. The loss of livestock was 20,593. More than 2?0,000 acres of farm land was damaged, most of which contained growing crops of hay. Several hundred miles of highways and railroad were destroyed or Strobel family watches as Republican river rages away' damaged, also 515 highway bridges and railroad bridges. The number of homes destroyed or damaged was very large, especially in the upper part of the valley, where the water rose to unprecedented heights. In Kansas 1,485 homes and 1,552 buildings other than homes were flooded. The river measurement stations maintained by the Geological Survey and cooperating parties in Nebraska and Kansas were in operation through out the period ofthe flood with the exception of five stations that were destroyed or rendered inoperative. Determination ofdischarge at these five stations were made from flood marks and data obtained by :,' i'' ii i' :.::a.: ,. . - ir,,.. '3 'i.li, observers. It appears that other floods, especially that of 1903, have been greater than that of May and June of 1935 for the Kansas River below Junction City, although the flood of 1935 was the greatest flood that had occurred in upper part of the Republican - Kansas River Basin The Strobels could hear the roar of the water 4 miles south of the river - notice the waves. FLOOD ON THE REPUBLICAN AND KANSAS RrVE*S ,uu StorY 1 An unusually heavy storm of cloudburst intensity in Eastern Colorado and Western Nebraska during the night of May 30-31' 1935, which followed two periods of general rainfall over the Republican - Kansas River Basin earlier in the month, produced the 1935 Flood waters under Vona bridge (railroad). greatest flood on record in the upper part of the basin below Junction City, Kansas' The area of the greatest rainfall contained no precipitation stations of the United States Weather Bureau, but records obtained by local residents who measured the rainfall in miscellaneous receptacles indicate that the precipitation was 18 to 24 inches at some places in the upper part of the Republican Kansas River Basin during the night of May 30-31. During the period of May 26 to June 2. the storm extended over the greater part during the period of historical record' The flood that occurred in the spring of 1884 apparently exceeded the flood of 1903 in the lower part of the basin and is believed to be the maximum flood of record on the Kansas River, although no definite information is available as to its height or to its magnitude. The storm that caused the heavy rainfall on the Republican River Basin during the night of May 30-31, 1935, began just east of the mountains in the forenoon of May 30. In that area local residents measured, chiefly during the afternoon, as much as 20 inches, including some hail, in stock tanks. This storm followed general northeasterly direction across the headwaters of the Republican River and ended a few miles east of Curtis, Nebraska on May 31. The airline distance from the head of the Republican River in northeastern Colorado to Curtis is 215 miles. Within this area the rainfall was concentrated chiefly in the South fork of the Republi- can River but extended along the ridges dividing that basin from the basin of the Arickaree River nearly to Benkelman, Nebraska. Outside this concentrated area there were undoubtedly small areas of concentra- ted rainfall, as shown by the record of 11 inches in Section 24, Township 6, Range 55W, �but only 1 inch two miles farther south. Unfortunately the area of heaviest rainfall contained no Weather Bureau precipitation stations, and it was therefore necessary, in determining the location and approximate amount of rainfall, to obtain from local residents such information as could be furnished by those who had measured the rainfall in improvised rain gauges. Some list€d are on Sec 24, T6S, R 55W, 11 inches, measured in paint can; Sec 36, T65, R 55W, I inch, measured in paint can; Genoa Sec 12, T9, R 53W, 3 inches, rain and hail in can; Arriba Sec I T9S, R 53W, 00 inches, storm did not touch Arriba but there were black clouds all directions; Flagler, Sec 2 T9S, R 51W, 2.5 inches, measured in a glass tube; near Cope Sec 1, T4S, R 30W, 1.5 inches, Weather Bureau; Siebert Sec 34, T5S, R 49W, 7.0 inches, measured in glass tube gauge; near Siebert Sec 11, T8S, R49W, 13.0 inches, measured in concrete tank; near Joes Sec 5, T5S, R 47W ,7 .5 inches, measured in 3 gallon can; near Idalia Sec 22, T4S, R 44W, 5.5 inches, measured in vertical can; Stratton Sec 36, T8S, R 47W, .2 inches, Weather Bureau; Burlington Sec 33, T8S, R 44W .L inches, Do?; Newton Sec 10, T5, R 44, 12.8 inches, measured in stock tank. by Della Hendricks RESULTS OF THE FLOOD T66 Story II In Kit Carson County, the dsmage to farmers along the fertile valley from Flagler to the Kansas Colorado state line was massive. Many valuable alfalfa fields were covered home and caught a limb of the tree as he was swept by. Charles Farr, near Flagler, was rescued from the current by his son, Duncan. Wire fences were washed down stream with The estimated $14,000,000.00 damage to property can in no way reflect the real losses yet recalled by those who lived through that terror-filled time. The horrors of the initial shock, the learning to live with loss of human and animal life, the dreadful clean-up time, the terrible ravage in fields and the years of toil spent in trying to reclaim and restore the loved fields are very real in the memories of many. A statement was published, forbidding anyone to gather posts and wire until it was collected and allocated, so each would get a fair share of the amount recovered. Those who lost their homes in the torrential flood, sought vacated houses, where ever they could find them. Arthur Pugh, who lost his fine cattle, came to town, where he found work at an elevator and lived at the Winnegar building south of town. The barn across the road on the east is gone but the house still stands. Arthur told of his troubles, heavily in debt and nothing left except the two story stone house. which withstood the flood. He was such a fine example of manhood, he must have been demented when he hung himself in a barn. Many down the course of the flood had their homes washed from the foundation and sometimes onto another man's land. This flood caused the government to have the river surveyed and an engineer employed to build a do- across the river and land was purchased, which is known as Bonny Dam and reservoir, the latter is filled with water one mile wide and six miles in length with a depth capacity of 153 feet at the dam. At the C.C. Gates farm, eight miles northflood waters. The piece measured six and one half feet in length and was about twelve inches in diameter. Another bone was discovered, while two men were digging in the edge of the valley, eight miles north of Siebert, which seemed to be a tusk. Other unusual bones were found, so the men decided to let the Colorado water currents on each side of her, sweeping away all loose objects with its furious and divided currenLs. Dawn, to her, was never so welcome. Other down river residents had similar and more harrowing experiences. Frank Chase, who lived north ofthe river saw a boy in a tree some distance across the rolling current. He got someone to help him and rescued the lad. The boy was swept down stream from his T67 Story 4 Rev. Tyner had charge of a memorial service held at the Evangelical Church, Siebert, at 11:00 a.m. Monday for Wayne Gessner, Frances Gessner and Clarence H. Lothian. They all drowned when their house was swept away in the flood the night of May 30th. Mrs. Lothian was away on a visit to friends in Kansas and escaped the fate of the others. Senator Hill of Greeley, a brother of Mrs. Lothian was present for the service, as was another brother, who resides at Flagler. Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Gessner maried last January. by Della Ilendricks THE FLOOD IN 1935 T58 east of Siebert a huge bone from some prehistoric animal was washed out by the Mortuary of Burlington. A night ofsleepless terror was described by Mettie Love, alone at her deceased mother's home, with the river flowing on both sides of the house. The rush and roar of the river and elements of the sky were never more chilling, but there was no route of escape, with the VICTIMS posts attached. livestock swept away; fences swept to another man's property, many lives endangered and in one case a whole family swept down stream. The Wayne Gessner family, who lived two and a half miles west of Siebert were victims. Wayne, his wife and father-in-law, Mr. Lothian, were swept away. The bodies of the men were found and buried at Siebert. Months passed; then it was discovered that Nebraska bore the description of Mrs. Gessner. Investigation was made and positive identity made by a ring on a finger. The body was interred at Siebert by the O.P. Penny SERVICES FOR THREE FLOOD Arthur Pugh, who liked to show his pure bred cattle, lost them all in the flood. by six to ten feet of sand, cattle and other a body found and interred at Mc0ook, MEMORIAL University Museum Archeologist examine the bones and dig up the remains. One ofthe peculiar things noticed after the flood, was the presence of mud balls left in the river bed. These range in size from two or four inches to a foot in diameter, some much larger. Some object started rolling by the force of raging water, gathering mud on its journey and the result is an almost perfect sphere. by Myra Davis Hell Creek north of Vona. The water is from melting snow. An interview with my mother. This was a report for history that I wrote as an assignment when in the eighth grade at Liberty School. Regina Whipple Oldham. We lived on the Republican River when I was a kid, John Homm owns the place where we lived. I have some vivid memories of that flood and some people now wonder if we who lived then aren't exaggerating a bit. No, words cannot tell it how it was. We date our lives by before or after the flood because it made such a change in our lives. We had had several years of extreme drought. In the spring of 1935, we had had fierce dust storms too. But on May 30 to June 1. we had water. Momma had a hot bed with tomato and cabbage plants, north of the house, in the fenced lot with the cherry tree. This evening she sent Joe (my brother) and me out to put the frames over the bed as she �feared the threatening storm. Both of us became so fascinated by the clouds that we forgot what we were doing and were startled when Dad shouted to hurry. The sky was all black, whirling, clouds. Such furious energy and churning! The clouds were darker and denser than any we'd ever seen and were all moving to the south west as if driven by a high wind. Dad and all the family were hurrying to secure the livestock and give them protec- tion. I can remember the rains after - itandstarted dark and was just a down pour it was still raining when I went to bed. We were awakened at dawn with a distant roaring sound and my older brothers who slept in the bunkhouse calling for us to come look at the flood. We did. It was just getting daylight and I can remember how frightened and awe struck I was, there was water everywhere. All of the bottom land was under water. Our usual river of about L2 feet wide and at most 10 inches deep was now a mile wide. Dirty, muddy water rolling huge cottonwood trees end over end, making waves as high as a two story house. But Mom and Dad didn't let us look long as they made ready to leave ifnecessary. We dressed warmly and packed food and clothing and bedding. We didn't have to move to higher ground. We were protected by a natural dam or hill which was south of the small spring fed stream which flowed close to our door. In a few hours, it seemed that the water wouldn't come any higher so we children just watched. Later, we learned much about the cause of the flood. What had happened was that a rain, measuring anywhere from 12 inches to 25 inches, fell over a large area. It started above the head ofthe rivers flowing northeast and just followed the water shed down stream. Since it covered such a large area all the draws and fields and sand creeks flooded and converged into the river channel at the proper time to swell the flood. We had about 15 inches at home. Rosser Davis, up river, had an empty cow tank which was full after the rain, depth of 24 inches. Mr. Hershberger, who printed the Stratton Press, had printed an ad he meant as funny. It ran: Wanted: Rain. He said later the he regretted it as they had 17 inches there and he wondered if the Good Lord was reprimanding him. We watched the rolling waters for hours but the older people were busy saving what animals they could. Cattle and horses floated by but sometimes some would be swimming and the men would try to rescue them. My older brothers, Alex and Bob, rode the saddle horses and hurried to cut a fence as some cattle and horses were washed against it and would have drowned; they were saved. Our work horses had gone down stream but were stranded on a high piece of ground. Old Mr. Chase went out with a bucket of oats and coaxed them over to land. They just made it. A big wall of water with a tangle of wire and posts washed by just then and all that livestock would have been trapped and drowned by the tangle. Alex rode all day, channel changed and all the beautiful hay meadows were sand bars. The trees were washed away. Any machinery left on the bottom land was lost. We believe it sunk in the sand. We found an old horse drawn mower because the tongue was sticking up a foot above the sand. Lots of machinery was never found. During the preceding winter and spring Dad had sold or given hay to poor farmers who were desperate for feed for their remaining cattle. He was a frugal man and believed he should keep hay over from year to year in case of a crop failure but often said how thankful that he had not let that hay be washed away in the flood. The aftermath of the flood was severe. We needed supplies. We had no access for several days to a town but did finally make a way to Kirk, mail went out from Kirk. The county road past our place was a route for people north to get to Burlington. People built their own roads, there was at least a mile or more of impassable sand bar from our house to the other side of the river. A trail was broken or planned outand then the men hauled manure and trash to make a solid base so a car could travel across. But the wind would blow that trail full and they would have to haul more manure and eventually built up an elevated track and people could carefully drive over it. They often had to pull travelers across and especially across the stream bed as a car would bog down in the loose sand. We had a miserable time getting to church in Bur- lington, didn't go very often as it took a team to get us across the river and one to get us home. We had to help many people over that sandbar that summer, fall, and winter and summer again. It struck me as odd, the way some people act when faced with a hardship. Some people who needed to cross on the trail would apologize for the inconvenience they caused. Some offered to pay, others would help shovel the sand away or push their vehicle, some acted as if itwas our doings that there had been a flood which left blowing, drifting piles of dirty sand. Many a time our men would have to unhitch the team from whatever they were doing and rescue someone who needed help. Sundays were especially trying as people like to visit or supplies were needed and so they attempted to travel, it was no better at any of the other river crossings all along the length of the river. Once or twice I saw my brothers hurt or angry or just plain disgusted at the treatment they received and other times they felt well rewarded for a difficult job done. One especially trying day we all laugh about now, Alex took a four horse teem to pull a car back on to the track after it had churned until it became stuck. The woman pansenger heaped verbal abuse on his head, yelling for him to hurry, and accusing him of not knowing how to drive horses, etc. Finally, without saying a word, Alex unhitched his steam and started for home. The man begged him not to leave them stranded and Alex agreed to help him but only if she kept quiet. One day that summer while out helping hunt calves I found an iris in bloom. It sat all the leader towards safety and the rest alone in a pile of mud and rubbish and I wondered about the woman who had planted it. Mom told me that if that flower could live and bloom that we could find courage to go on living too. In 1938 we left the river place and moved followed. to a farm on the hills east of Kirk. Those were cattle would be washed to shallow water and would be so exhausted they couldn't get on to dry solid land. He'd help them. Once he turned a herd of horses that were so frightened they were unmanageable but he headed After the water receded. we found the trying times and the 1935 flood changed our way of life. by Regina Whipple Oldham CATASTROPIIES AND BAD STORMS THAT HAVE HIT THE COUNTY T69 aa::.aa ,:,*, Over 200 head ofcattle were found dead in the road ditches and fencerows northeast of Stratton after the 1977 late March blizzard,, the worst storm on record. Some cattle were pulled from the ditches and were still alive two days after the storm. 1886 - January 8, a blizzard 1886 - March 25-26-27, probably one of the worst to ever hit the county. Many cattle drifted away and were lost and frozen to death. Some people even lost their lives. 1888 - January 12, ablizzard. 1890 - A blizzard that caused many cattle to drift. Many wandered to the banks of Hell Gate Creek and were pushed over and were found smothered in the deep snow as they were unable to get out. 1895 - A blizzard in the first part of April. 1905 In April a storm which raged over - for sixty hours caused cattle this region ranging 100 miles from here to make their way to the shelter of buildings and fences with many dying in the streets. Thousands of cattle perished throughout eastern Colorado. Trains were twenty-four to thirty hours behind schedule. 1906 - A bad blizzard that came in March. 1913 - March 13-14, blizzard L924 - August, a tornado struck north of Flagler killing 10 persons. 1935 - May 30 - June 1. Heavy rains fell all over the county and the flood on the Republican River followed, destroying property and causing death to people and livestock. 1938 - Spring. Another Blizzard. Towner tragedy. 1939 In June, Kit Carson county was invaded-by a plague of grasshoppers. There were over 6,000,000 pounds of a combination ofbran, poison and sawdust used to try to kill them. As the plague beco-e worse they had to start to import sawdust from Wyoming and South Dakota. There were over 500 men employed from both Federal and county employees. At one time during the plague it was so bad that the trains couldn't get up the �his home place. There was no other loss to the Shaw and Walters ranches. I The men were away from the Dunham ranch, and three stacks of feed were burned. By the most heroic efforts of Mrs. Dunham, Bessie and Arnold Thomann, and Will Dunham, who came to their aid, the buildings which were on fire were saved. Mr. Little, who had recently moved on his place, lost a new barn, 150 bu. ofcorn, 50 bu. of oats, a stack of feed, hogs, a colt and chickens. Mr. Hudson lost his barn containing harness, seed and everything. Only a few reported losses among whom are E.E. Houseman, who lost his automobile, feed, pasture and five hundred dollars; Joseph Anderson lost his barn, feed and four hundred dollars; J.H. Houseman, lost his feed, a buggy and two hundred seventy-five dollars; Williem Byers lost 75 tons of feed and several horses; Mrs. M. Kelley lost a windmill, tank, lumber and one hundred dollars; Alfred Sandage lost his barn, feed and two hundred dollars; Bert Towers lost feed, a barn, wagon and other losses plus three hundred dollars; Alfred Leander lost barley, a barn. and an unknown amount of feed: May 10, 1936 dust storm with the town of Vona in background. grade outside Hugo because of grasshopperg Lowest rainfall in the county - 1894 had on the tracks. 8.43 inches; 1934-35 had 7.66 inches; 1954 had Smoky Hill. No deaths. heavy weight of the gnow L942 - The limbs from the trees and it is a broke many wonder the damage was not greater. The heavy snow bent the trees clear to the ground. The snow stopped about noon Friday and it was almost clear that night. 1948 - November 19-20. A bad blizzard, followed by two more later in the winter. t957 - March 23-24.The worst blizzard in Highest rainfall in the county - 1904 had 26.90 inches; 1915 had 27.45 inc\es; 1930 had l94l - June 8. a tornado struck around years. 1960 - January - March. Continued heavy snows with no let up. The Drought of 1893-1895 was the worst drought recorded, but no dirt blew. The Dust Bowl years came in the middle 1930's, following a drought. The Drought of L952-L957 was the longest drought recorded but no dirt blew. 6.13 inches. 26.61 inches: 1957-1958 had 26.20 inches. 1910 PRAIRIE FIRE Lewis Chapin sustained a loss of two hundred dollars; Melvill Rogers lost a good barn and a new buggy, in addition to four hundred dollars; John McCracken lost his house and barn; John Armstrong lost his barn and feed; Ed Harbour lost a barn and windmill; Ingeveld Stangiland lost a barn and feed; and many other poor settlers lost all, but we were unable to learn their names from our infor- mant. The bridge across Big Sand Creek south of town was burned; in one instance, a life was T60 in peril as the fire almost overcame a The prairie fire of Saturday, March 26, 1910, was the most destructive that ever passed over this vicinity. The dust was so every obstacle. It traveled faster than the thick and the velocity of the wind was so great that one could see no distance. The smell of smoke gave the first warning. At two o'clock the fire csme sweeping the prairie from the southwest, first striking the pastures belonging to Albert Walters, half a mile south of horseman. The awful furnace of fire rose in majestic form and leaped rods, roads and swiftest race horse! by Grace Corliss PRAIRIE FIRES T61 The old Tuttle ranch on the Republican River northeast of Stratton was owned by the John Pugh family in early days and later the Lloyd Pugh family resided there for many years. At present, the ranch is owned by Tom Price and covers quite a territory in the Spring Creek, South Fork and Hell Creek valleys. It was north of this ranch, in the hills north of the river, where a fire took place. It wasn't a big fire, but costly and did its dn'nage in a hurry. In those days, ranchers kept fire guards, which were about five plowed furrows, then 20 or 30 steps ofgrassland, then another five furrows. It was the custom to keep the grass burned out between the furrows to protect the homesteads, hay stacks and rangeland, because cattle had no feed on a range, once burned. Someone decided to burn the land off that was contained in the fire guard, without doing new plowing. There was a brisk west wind blowing. Gorden Burr, who lived on the homestead which presently is the Harvey Wood ranch, was loading hay onto a wagon A 1958 snow bank on the Clapper homegite east of Vona and was being assisted by Glass Davis. When they saw the fire sweeping toward them at a �high rate of speed, they hurried and jumped on the horses, though harnessed, and planned to help fight the blaze. However, one of the old mares had previously been hurt and if things didn't go right she would lie down and refuse to budge, which she did at this time. Glass is still laughing about the incident; however, it was no laughing matter at the time. The embers were caught up in the high wind and set the stack afire on the top instead of burning it from the bottom. Glass related that the fire did a lot of damage as it burned the haystack and wagon, plus a straw-roofed barn. Rosser Davis, a younger brother of Glass, was at home and becorne excited. There was a pond east of the Davis residence and as the fire swept on, Rosser placed some harness and other items in a cart and pushed it into the pond where it couldn't burn. There is much merriment today in retelling of these stories. However, in the days of yore, homesteaders had so little and everything was so precious, that losing small things was tragic. Glass relates that many times at night, one could see a rosy arc in the skies from fires up the Hell Creek valley, and since there was no wind, the fires would eventually burn themselves out or reach water and be quenched thusly. Mrs. Spoonemore and her daughter Judith swam out of the ditch to dry land. Spoonemore and his daughter, Corinne were washed away and were drowned, McNeill said. The bodies were recovered the next morning on the left shore of the lagoon, not too far apart, and were taken to Hendricks Mortuarv. by Grace Corliss T62 August 22, 1969 - Flash Flood Claims Lives of 2 Persons. Two people perished and two other members of the snme family escaped when they swam to safety at midnight Friday, Aug.22, when they were swept by high water off the top of their car at the side of Highway 24 two miles east of Stratton. The high waters and heavy runoff resulted from a cloudburst which fell in the area Friday, up to eight inches of rainfall being reported in the neighborhood east of Stratton. The drowning victims were identified by the Colorado State Patrol as Kenneth Spoonemore, 39, Newton, Ks,, and his daughter, Corinne,6. Swimming to safety were Spoonemore's wife, Priscilla, 38, and their daughter, Judith, 16. After reaching the shore of the lagoon into which they were swept, the two women spent the night at the Louis Husler farm home, which is adjacent to the scene of the tragedy. They were brought to Memorial Hospital in Burlington early the next morning and were treated for shock and exposure. They were dismissed and left for their home Sunday. Patrolman George McNeill investigated the accident. He reported that Spoonemore was driving west on Highway 24 in a heavy rain when his car came to an area where water was running across the road. As Spoonemore drove his car into the water the vehicle was washed off the roadway into a ditch. Spoonemore, his wife and two daughters managed to get on top of the car. They remained there for some time, but the rising, flooding dry creek water washed them off, the patrolman said. exaggerated, but there were many stranded vehicles in that area. 'We hauled people to the community BLTZZARD BLITZES AREA T63 shift to the Kit Carson County Memorial Hospital. He also stated the storm would be terriblv hard on young cattle. 'I'm anticipating i terrible death loss in young cattle shipped in,' Hubbard stated. 'The old, native cattle probably made it, but as yet we don't have a single report.' An estimated 5,000 people in this area of the state were without power for extended periods. As temperatures hovered above freezing Spring blizzard inside the garage Excerpts with graphic clarity tell the story of a harrowing blizzard time in 1979: "One of history's worst October blizzards howled into Eastern Colorado in the earlv morning hours of Tuesday, Oct. 30, deposi- ting t2 inches of snow, closing all roads and 1969 FLASH FLOOD the truck Wednesday morning and that estimates of its occupants may have been center all night,'said Hubbard, who was also called qpott 1or transportation of the morning I recall a number of stories of homesteaders burning off a piece of ground upon which to build a new home, only to lose the lumber stacked on the plot in the process. warmed it up to 70 degrees for the folk who had to spend the night in it.' The sheriff said crews had hoped to reach highways, causing widespread power outages and stranding hundreds of motorists as 60mile-per-hour winds whipped the wet snow into high drifts over a 24-hour period. "Reports of outages, injuries to stranded motorists, emergency situations and overall dnmage were still spotty and unconfirmed at press time Wednesday morning but city, county and state maintenance officials were hoping to clear up major problems throughout the day. Burlington Police Chief Carroll Johnston reported close to 100 stranded motorists had been taken to the Burlington Community Center for shelter after all available lodging in the town was filled. 'It's a mess.' said Johnston Wednesday morning. 'All the streets are blocked and we even have strav cattle in the east end of town, but most of the power is back on now.' Kit Carson County Sheriff George Hubbard called the blizzard a'real paralyzer, one of the really bad one's because of the snow's depth and lack of visibility. 'Our people are exhausted,'he said Wednesday. 'We were out in four-wheel vehicles trying to reach stranded motorists on I-70 but it was impossible to see. We couldn't get anywhere because people were stuck in cars, trucks were jack-knifed, interchanges blocked and even the snow plows couldn't get around all that stuck traffic.' Hubbard said rescue vehicles were still reaching stranded motorists east of Bethune Wednesday morning including a reported 30 motorists who took refuge in a refrigerator truck near Bethune Tuesday night. 'One of the women motorists broke her leg and they put her in the refrigerated truck with a bunch of other stranded motorists,' said Sheriff Hubbard.'They can reverse the refrigerating process in those trucks and the driver just and the strong north winds whipped the snow into drifts, worry mounted for two young men who were reported lost in the blizzard south of Bethune. Doug Beeson and Bill Gramm were reported found at 7 a.m. Wednesday morning after spending close to 24 hours in a field where they had gone to check cattle Tuesday morning. The young men were out in a pasture looking for cattle when their pickup fell into a hole completely obscured by the blizzard, according to Duane Beeson, Doug's father, who was out on horseback when he found the young men Wednesday morning. 'They stayed in the pickup and used the heater until the exhaust plugged up,'the elder Beeson reported. 'After that, they just got cold.' Blizzard damage reports continued Wednesday morning, but local people involved in the monumental work of opening roads and highways to restore service to the area were frustrated by the stranded motorists who were handicapping progress. Sheriff Hubbard also said roads were blocked with eager motorists Wednesday morning. 'It really irks you,' he said, 'the number of people who don't have brains enough to know to get out of the way of maintenance equipment. But people are that way; ifyou tell them they can't, they'll do their best to prove you wtong."' COUNTY FAIR T6,4 Old timers had small street fairs several times in the eighties, but it was not until 1908 that a "real" Fair was held. It was organized by a group of private citizens: J.K. Rouze, Wyatt Boger, A.S. King, Louis Vogt, and G.G. Burr. It was held in the new Auditorium. which had its grand opening the March before, and which stood on Fourteenth Street where the present armory is now located. The Auditorium, which was built and operated by Mrs. Martha J. Coakley and her daughter Pearl, who is now Mrs. H.C. Schell of Burlington, held the exhibits, including the first one to go to the State Fair at Pueblo. The first exhibit went from here to the Interstate Fair at Denver, with a total sum of $238 being gladly spent to show the rest ofthe state that there was more to eastern Colorado than prairie chickens, buffalo and wolves. �..l.,.i* ,?ti .,i.l']'li:., ':i:ll: ,,:llt,,l': Friday - Third Day Free for all pace or trot, purse gl00; One g-ile noveltyrace, purse g20 at each quarter, 980; two and one half mile relay raie, five horses, three to enter, two to start, purse $?b. Saturday - Fourth Day Miscellaneous Matched races, bronco bus- ting etc. 1. All harness mile heats unless otherwise stated will be governed by the rules of the American Trotting Association. 2. Running according to the American running rules. 3. Five entries required to fill and three to start all races. 4. Entry fee of 5 per cent of purses to accompany entry and b per cent additional to be charged against all money winners. 5. Horses will be called at I p.m. each day. Early picture of the Kit carson county Fair grounds, Floral Hall in foreground, 1g20's. The exhibit consisted of frames 3 ft. wide and 6 feet in length that held shocks of wheat, millet and kaffir. a period of eight or nine years to finance the Fairs. Although one pumpkin at the first fair was as large as a bushel basket, the corn was so short that many believed that crop would never be a success here. Not to be forgotten in 1908's big doings wa8 the race progrAm the holiday part. So horse scrapers were -taken to the edge oftown (then two blocks west of the present munici- pal swimming pool), and a circular track made, around which were parked several Stanley Steamers, all the buggy brigade, the surry set and lumber wagons from as far away as twelve or thirteen miles. Best winner that year was a man who was to have horses in this Fair for over a quarter ofcentury, Joe Boyles. A few years later the only world's record made here to stand, as far as is known, was captured by Joe. A pulling gauge, known as a "dynamo meter", was brought to Bur- lington and a team of his own, weighing only 1990 pounds, pulled L7/z ton 27 feet in LL seconds. In its class, this was such a phenomenal feat that offers were made from the Chicago exposition, the Purina company, and a leading beer firm for this team. Immediate- ly after the pulling exploit, the team was attached to a Roman chariot and took a blue ribbon for speed. None of the offers were accepted and the team, ag well as other winners by Boyles, was a feature ofFairs year COUNTY FAIR 1910 T65 a a r r t a lr r t a l a r r t a t rr !ta lrr I t I lt a tt I I r l .rrr!llrrrlrrrrtllrtll.r.rltlrrtriiiriiiiiiii lr r at One Hundred Dollars CASH To a Kit Carson Couaty Couple to be narried at the Kit Carson County Fair on Saturday September 27 at 1:00 P. M. lltany otber handrome gifts fron Kit Carson County Business men. Namer will be kept secret until moment of wedding. Communicate with E. C. Baker, Burlington, Colorario. after year. A need was seen for a new home for the Fair and forty acres, legally described as SEZz of NW% of Sec.36-8-44, where the present Kit Carson County Fair is held today was purchased. However thirty years had to elapse before the county could really own the Fairgrounds. T.G. Price, helped organize the Farmers and Stockmans Fair Association. This was a group of progressive local men who bought the Fair site, functioned from 1909 to 1gl?, incorporated and exists to put on county fairs. The first president was Louis Vogt, with J.K. Rouze secretary. Beautiful gold-encrusted bonds, eize 8y2Xll inches, were sold as shares in the organization at $5.00 each. Rosser B. Davis possessed No. 98 bought Oct. 10, 1910 and H.C. Schell bought No. 200 in 1917, so evidently these bonds were sold over ta | !a tI I tt I I I I I tt I a r t a t I t t I t I I I I l a l I l at I t l a a a rrrirlrrrltrrtlr.lrttr.lrrrtlrr----i--iii-iii 'fHfr |! nr,t\{;Toi.' cAr_1, 6. AJrorse distancing the field or any part thereof shall be entitled to first -or"v.' 7. If owing to bad weather or any other unavoidable cause, the society shall be unable to start one or more of its races on or before I p.m. of the last day such race or races mav be declared "off'and entrance monev shail be refunded. 8. No premium to ruled out horses. 9. Stall rents shall be $8.00 including strain. 10. The society reserves the right to trot or run races between heats. The right also is claimed to change the order of any of these events, should it be to their convenience to further the interests of the contestants. 11. Money divided 60, S0 and 10 per cent unless otherwise stated. 12. A horse may be entered in two or three races and held for the entrance fee in races started. Records made after July 20th no bar. Entries in all races close at 8 p.m. the night before the race. J.K. Rouze Sec. Burlington, Co. To the People of Kit Carson County In announcing this the second County Fair - many years in Kit Carson for Counti. We first want to heartily thank the citizens of this cgunty for their support and help given in 1909, whereby, that fair made the best record ever made in Eastern Colorado. The stock holders of this year's fair have already spent much time and money expecting to make it deserving of the great county it represents. We want in this connection to repeat our declaration of last year when we said the Fair will be open to the entire countv. The citizens of the several railroad towns in the county will have no privileges not extended to those in the remotest corners of the county. We earnestly solicit the cooperation of all the people to make this, the second Annual Fair better, if possible than the Fair of 1909. We would like a good showing of the stock of Kit Carson County, together with the Kit Carson County Fair Burlington, Colorado October b, 6, 7 and 8, l91O Speed Program Wednesday - First Day Green Harness race, purse '50; One half running race, purse 940; One half mile boys pony race (56 inches), purse $20. Thursday - Second Day 2:25 Pace or trot, purse g?5; 7e mile running race, purse $50; t7n mile free for all running race, purse $50. products of the farm and garden. We wish to make this Fair a reunion of all the people in the county. Our motto shall be to build greater, better and broader, and to make this fair a permanent feature of the countv to which our people can look forward to with increasing interest each year. J.K. Rouz, Sec. September 17, 1910 � https://kccarchives.cvlcollections.org/files/original/16/417/History_Part_3.pdf 0fca309c074a7fa07c7b1db33cfb04a3 PDF Text Text 1915 COUNTY FAIRT66 In June of 1916, a County Agriculturalist (later to be called County Agent) was firsl hired to begin duties August 1. He was P.N. Flint. who served until ill health forced him to resign in April, 1928, when H.O. Strange began. 6ne of his first duties was to help with the 1915 Fair, then to locate a market for all the counties surplus Potatoes. The following commissioners: Wyatt Boger, F.D. Mann George Gates and J.K' Rouz ippeared, at the Oct. 22, L9l.5 mee-ting with a- iequest that the county purchase the Fairgrounds, buildings, and appurtenances for the county, at the cost of $2845'61' from The Farmers and Stockmens Fair Association. In 1917, Mrs. Della Hendricks brought the first 4-H club girls. On July 20, 1918, an advertisement went out for bids for a more elaborate building' to be 38x80 ft., with 8 ft. side walls of concrete, with a hip roof. The first mill levy was partially to pay for this construction, fixed that year at .005 to raise $1'059.15. As far as can be determined, the first premium book was printed in 1919 by Arthur Wilson of the Burlington Call. In 1920' a county club leader, Miss Amelia Alexander, was hired at $2,100 per year to help the boys and girls clubs. The new grandstand was first used in 1921. With it came the first telephone service to the fair. There were improved race track facilities while the poultry building made that year, featured the first big turkey, ducks, and geese displays. The most expensive Fair to date, the grandstand got insured for $2,000 and hail damaged the roof almost at once. The Siebert band entertained the three days of the 1923 Fair, receiving $100 and much praise. FAIR PREMIUMS T67 Beard growing contest for the Kit Carson County Fair in 1948. Winners are center front. They are; I. to i j""t"tnt"g""] second place; Fred Byer, third place; Red Lindsey, first place. L.L. Reinecker in the right in announcers stand. Claude Irwin is on the left. Some true signs of the times appear in a comparison of the premium lists of 1918 and 1958. Dept. A, in 1918 was Horses. In 1958 it was Beef Cattle and Dairy Cattle B. and the horse relegated to third place. In 1918' registered Herefords taking the first prize brought $8.00, second $4, and ribbons were given. In 1958, first place takes $12.50, second $ro, ttrira $7.50 with ribbons for champions and reserve champions, while the junior raiser looked forward to upwards of 30 cents per pound for his fat steer. Still Dept. D, (now termed swine) hog, went up only 50 cents on first place - now $5.00 (1958). Sheep first place gets $3.00, and poultry got $1.00 to 1958 $1'50. Floral and Educational Departments were begun and premiums were about the same. There was a silver cup given for the farmers organization having the best booth displaying agricultural products. A fascinating category was listed in 1918-19 departments In this category, a dollar - "Monstrosities". given for the largest ear of corn, onion, was sunflower, cornstalk, beet, turnip, etc. The wet year of 1938, marked the first free fair. Always before tickets had been bought for entrance, usually at $1.00 each, but in 1928 and afterwards no fee was charged excepting to the grandstand. In 1928, came the affair of the carousel, which has been written about in great detail. August 1,1931, the question ofwhether or not to hold a County Fair was considered, and after discussion it was unanimously agreed that owing to the financial depression which had hit the county along with the nation, the Fair would be dispensed with for one year. But it was not until 1938, however, that the Fair was revived. A feature of the 1948 high jinks was a wonderful fireworks display, and in that year and several subsequent ones, it was obligatory that the men grow beards or suffer a horse tank dipping. They could avoid penalty by purchasing a smooth-shaven permit. The biggest 4-H entry to date was in 1950 and a 4-H style show become a regular feature. An entertainment agency in Denver began to supply good Friday night variety shows, which have become traditional. Right after the 1957 Fair' work went undeiway to furnish the county with a brand new grandstand. Barely finished for the 1958 fair, seating, 2,500, and costing between $50,000 and $60,000. The structure is 250 feet long and 60 feet deep. There are two front entrances, two offices, lounges, six booths in the lower front. A new ticket office and reserved seats for 225. One thing is certain, the solid institution of this County's Fair is an unique, calendar- marked occasion. September 1930 Kit Carson County Fair. �.. :rlil .:r' ,.1'.:..r:rrl.:' .,:,:: coyote while riding his horse on a dead run. .,. r .:,:, ',.r "i.,:r'',ilt: There were eight runs previously in the i: ,ir:tr, Stratton territory. At a drive nearer Kirk, .. , 4200 rabbits were killed. At the nine drives a total of about 24,000 rabbits had been ' slaughtered. One hunt was staged with the following lines: West line, 6 miles west of the Kirk and Stratton road; east line, 3 miles west of Kirk; north line, 2 miles north of the county line and the south line, one mile south of the countv line. Hunters were to be barred from catching any coyotes in the ring. These hunts beco-e very popular, with women as well as men entering into the excitement. It was likewise very beneficial to the farmers because of the great damage . these pests did to growing crops. Several farmers south of Stratton as well organized for similar hunts. In the 1950's rabbit hunts were held as the rabbit population had increased and were 1e30, Note the old wooden grandstand and open bleachers behind the beef barn with the machinery displayed by the Burlington Equitv publican river. Men were dropped o'ff around i:lf?""1*l:,itx,ti#1'l-[]ffiu1f"H'": Exchange. RABBIT IIUNTS *:T:ilI".ISIl3::l?:TJffJ::H:J::: :|;Ir',llY'r"#".:',ll;,:??ti:::fl "li:',li: they were shooting away from each other. The women of the community provided a lunch at noon. The dead rabbits were put in the truck being retrieved by the person who shot them as each man was paid so much per rabbit with the tally being kept by the truck driver. At the end ofthe hunt the count was totaled and was paid for each rabbit helping to pay for the '€ - *,t, An afternoon of rabbit hunting in 1920. .€ aE&8: 1935 rabbit drive on the L.L. Pugh ranch north Stratton. of shot shells. It provided some sporting fun and sharp skills for the participants besides getting rid of unwanted pests. In tgOg the State of Colorado allotted Kit wire netting near the center. As men neared Carson County $678.00 to pay wolf and Around 1935, rabbits became so numerous the corral, the ground seemed to move with coyote bounties. This practice was continued that the farmers and stockmen north of rabbitsandwentintotheopeningofthetrap off and on for many years relating to the populations of the coyotes at the time. On Strattonarrangedhuntingpartiestotrapand two deep. It was estimated that several thousand August 12, 1908 Mr. Ed Boger of Seibert kill them. As Ripley would say "Believe it or not", but'10,000 rabbits were killed with clubs in one drive", which centered just two milesnorthof theMortonDavisfarm. Itwas escapedthroughaweakspotinthelineatthe receivedthefollowingletterfromtheAuditor final windup. It was a sight too strange to of the State: Deartsir: I beg to acknowledge believe. Those present said they had never receipt of yours of the ?th Inst., enclosing seen more excitement. As far as can be found, scalp bounty certificate. We have placed the biggest of nine drives held. Men, in the usual manner, carried clubs, thisdrivewasthelargestofitskindinhistory. sAme on file as there are no funds available cave man style, driving herds of rabbits Seven coyotes were also killed at this drive. for their payment. Yours truly, George D. Statler, Auditor of State. Chris Seal had the distinction of roping a within a four mile square to a corral made of In the 1920's and 30's the fur market kept *lit?'Tlfl{#T{i$*ril*{n'jlili population rose again and the $1 an ear bounty was reinstated. The bounty was discontinued again and due to the loss of livestock both sheep and calves (chickens and etc.) the state came out with the program using 10-80 to poison the coyotes. Today the fur market is active with the very best pale western coyote pelf. bringing $100 each. ffiil;';*; uT:*.-' 'l ommunity rabbit hunt in the 1920's around Seibert. �i& Rabbits being corraled in the pen. GRADING ROADS T69 Commissioner John Lueken of Kit Carson County looking over the new Galion 1-30 maintainer just purchased in the 1940's. s'lAalt (fF col()li^lx, cou*".../4,1'/rr,r',' i i SoAo DrsrRrgr No. -6- ,1.,1,' i" t ,. o ..1 ' , fleccircb tt.' r,,",'" t.,u",'J,:,1.\1.:'i.-- (l.l.a,o ,atu,.nti,! t. ... tist: /o' t/,c yar tq '*1 ,. ,i,!r .' t- :], ,,, ii,::i;.:" Receipt to Frank Boger, April 4, 1898 for $2.00 for labor with team for one day in payment of road tax. by Joyce Miller Getting ready to grade roads in 1925. 1960's OIL IN KIT CARSON COUNTY T70 The Reitman No. 1 test well, 13 miles southwest of Stratton, proved to be a producer Tuesday of this week. However, testing is still underway at the well and according to word received Wednesday night, oil recovery was about 25 barrels per day, which means under some conditions this well could turn out to be a real producer after it has been thoroughly swabbed out. According to information received the well which is being drilled by Harry Royster, Denver, an independent, and the new Drilling Co., was drilled to a depth of 5,732 feet for production testing in Pennsylvania. The oil perforations were placed, however, at the 5,507 to 5,519 foot mark, in the LansingKansas City formation. Since this well had been brought in, no doubt it will be the forerunner of considerable drilling activity in the Stratton area in the very near future, and substantiates the Machinery for elevating and grading roads in 1929. belief of certain local people who have always claimed, and for very good reason, no doubt, that central Kit Carson County would some �qay De the center ofconsiderable oil activity. Ever since this well showed signs it might be a producer, leasing has taken a sudden jump in this part of Kit Careon County. Recovery of 270 feet of oil on a test of Honolulu Oil Company, Kit Carson County, Colorado. Wildcat highlights the oil news for Eastern Colorado this week. The wildcat, in Section 20, 10 south, 47 west, about seven miles southwest of the town of Stratton. is about 40 miles south of the nearest production and is attracting widespread attention in the oil industry. The drill-stem test was made in the Pennsylvania formation at 5510 to 5526 feet. Several previous drill-stem tests were made in the test well, the No. 1 McConnell, and one, made at 1718 feet, recovered a slight gas show. Honolulu Oil, San Francisco-based independent, plans to drill the wildcat to granite at around 6000 feet. The new oil show, coupled with recent discoveries in extreme Western Kansas, is focusing more and more attention on this The Indian Territory Illuminating Oil Company deserves the major credit for starting the play. It entered the area late in 1934, and throughout 1935 operated exten- sively on a well-laid plan of seismic surveying and the subsequent taking of large drilling blocks. The Gypsy Oil Company made one of the largest land deals in the history of the petroleum industry when it contracted with the Union Pacific Railroad Company for all of the road's mineral rights in east-central Colorado. The deal involved more than 900,000 acres of land on which the railroad company had paid taxes and equity in approximately 200,000 acres more on which the railroad had failed to pay taxes. To appreciate the significance of the deal, it gave the Gypsy Oil Company virtually every odd section in an area of forty miles wide and nearly 100 miles long, running from the Kansas border to the west boundary of Lincoln County, Colorado. section of the state where there has been but little exploratory drilling. About 65 miles south of the Kit Carson County wildcat, Pan American Petroleum recovered slight gas shows in the No. 1 Nevius wildcat. This test is in Section 8, 22 south, 45 west, Prowers County, six and a half miles northeast of Lnmar. A drill-stem test of the Des Moines formation at 3992 to 4030 feet recovered 15 feet of gas-cut mud. in the dust storm last Friday at their farm home along Highway 24 two miles west of Burlington. About noon the storm was at its peak, and several persons taking refuge in their home were served dinner, while others who had already eaten were served tea and coffee. Mrs. Rudy drove in to the school to get their daughter, Karen, and on arriving home was not able to see the driveway into their farm. She was stalled on the highway for about 10 minutes before she could find her way. She had been in the house only a short time when traffic began to stop. One carload of travelers were from Vincennes, Ind. on their way home from Denver where they had attended a funeral. Another carload of people were from Burns, Ore. while another car loaded with passengers were enroute to the stock show in Denver from Arnold, Kan. Another vehicle was a truck, the driver being from Kansas City. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Rudy, who had been in Goodland, returned to the Ben Rudy home to pick up their son, Randy, who had been staying there in the morning. Harvey Lambert, who had been visiting with Mr. Rudy, and Mr. and Mrs. Melton Rudy and daughter of Syracuse, Kan., ar- TAKING REFUGE FROM DUSTSTORM T7l Mr. and Mrs. Ben Rudy accommodated 20 persons whose cars were stalled or wrecked rived during the storm. By mid-afternoon the weather cleared and everyone from out of town left for their homes, being wished a safe journey to their destinations. $IO,OOO,OOO Oil Operation Start- ed in East Colorado Big Companies Seeking Leases and Royalties Expenditure by major oil companies of between 10 and 12 million dollars for geological and geophysical surveys and for oil leases and royalties in eastern Colorado presages one of the biggest wildcat oil "plags" in the west, in the opinion of Charles W. Henderson, supervising engineer of western field offices of the United States Bureau of Mines. Henderson, in a comprehensive analysis of Colorado mineral resources published Saturday in the September issue of the Mines magazine, described the recent leasing of Dust clouds in eastern Colorado. 1930's. nearly 4 million acres of land for future drilling as of tremendous importance to Colorado and the West. The blocks of leases are mostly in Cheyenne, Kit Carson, Washington, Yuma, Lincoln, Kiowa, Prowers, Bent and Otero counties. Reviewing the history of the development, Henderson said the oil play in 1935, with the exception of the drilling of two wells, was entirely concentrated on the making of seismic suryeys, and the subsequent leasing of large drilling blocks and the procuring of protection acreage. In February 1936, he said, there were at least twenty blocks of leases of sufficient size in this area to justify the drilling of test wells. By June, 1936, there were approximately 635,000 acres within thirty-one separate blocks leased golid and of sufficient size to warrant the drilling of a test on each. Much of the rest is held in rather compact form and ultimately will be converted into drilling blocks. A composite picture of dust storm and rabbils being driven on a rabbit drive in the 30's. �of all citizens of the county. It is a pastorar spot many of us have watched from its days of construction when its potential was scarcely envisioned by any of us to this time when it has become the mecca of fishermen and families seeking recreation on its shady banks and beaches, or boating, fishing, swimming and skiing upon and in its shining waters. Burlington, raging dirt storm coming in from the northwest in 1934. POLIO NAMING BONNY DAM T73 T72 In August 1955 Colorado received $286,000 of federal funds to purchase vaccine and administer the cost of the program. A Polio Vaccine Advisory Committee was appointed to decide how Colorado's plan would be operated as specified in the federal regulations. It was decided by this group that the government funds purchase 25% of vaccine allocated to Colorado and that the remaining 75% be distributed to practicing physicians through commercial pharmacy channels. At another meeting of the Vaccine Advisory Committee. a recommendation was made that the Health Department purchase 100% of the vaccine released. The vaccine was to be administered by Public vaccination clinics and/or by practicing physician's offices. The requested appropriation of $221,330 will be used to provide vaccine for 30 % of the estimated population unvaccinated under the age of 20, and to complete vaccinations with third shots of those in the same age group. It should be noted at this time that the original allotment of vaccine was distributed on the basis of population. Since many areas did not utilize the amount allotted to them, the allotment system was changed to one of supply and demand. Immunization in the school was strongly recommended so that as high a percentage of the children under twenty years of age could receive two shots before the beginning of the polio season on or about June 15. The third shot should be administered about seven months after the second shot. On March 1957, the National Foundation, the State Medical Society and The State Health Department began an intensive polio immunization educational program. The June 1952 Bonny Dam dedication souvenir book has a story of the 1935 flood and the role this catastrophic event had in providing the catalyst that brought about the construction of Bonny Dam after many years of dreaming, wishing, and trying ineffectual modes of water control. But that story makes no reference to the origin of the name. Old timers know that there was once a town called "Bonny". Materials from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation indicate the fact that this settlement, located about 25 miles north of Burlington, once contained 110 people. When a new Burlington post office was dedicated in 1959, Postmaster Dale Pralle indicated in a history he wrote for the post office that Bonny was listed first among the names of nine offices once supplied their mail by Burlington post office. Other offices listed were Beloit, Cole, Hale, Hermes, Morford, Newton, Wallett, and Yale. How long Bonny remained a post office is debatable but his family knows that Charles Barnhart bought the store there and handled the postoffice duties also for about two years. So regardless of how the name was chosen and logical as this choice for the site seems to be, all who frequent the now well-loved recreational setting would say that the name was well chosen. "Bonny" means attractive, cheerful, pleasant, healthful, pleasing to the eye. All ofthese and more are the background offeelings a day at "Bonny" brings forth. So most visitors would acclaim the choice of that name, and rejoice in the wisdom of those who chose the name for the delightful recreational area which is not in Kit Carson County but certainly contributes very much to life in the atea. by Dorothy Smith When the flood of 1935 ravished the surrounding area for many miles and many homesites on the banks ofthe tributaries and the South Fork of the Republican River were swept away with great loss of human and animal life as well as destruction of rich soil and devastation of fields by sand deposits, the role such a structure could play in the eastern Colorado - western Kansas area was clear. That some years elapsed between the 1935 disaster and completion of the structure we know, but it was built and assumed its many roles in changing life in the area. Bonny Dam is about six miles west of the Colorado-Kansas state line on the South Fork of the Republican River near the little town of Hale, Colorado. When it was dedicated on Sunday, June L, t952, with great festivity and ceremony, the program for the days of that celebration was filled with commentary and acclaim for those who had been involved in the huge project. In that program, N. Beth Woodin wrote, "Bonny Dam . . this is the story of a bargain . . . the story of how four million dollars and a year and a half of time were saved in building a dam for the people of the United States." Originally estimated to cost $17,047,000, the completion cost of Bonny Dam was $13,000,000! We would certainly agree that it was a real bargain. How that bargain is utilized is a wondrous thing, too. People from all over Colorado telephone their reservations for holiday weekends; families trail their boat and paraphernalia to the spot with high expectations of leisurely enjoying the facilities; the fisherman dons his gear and casts a line to snag a goodly fish; the water skiiers glide over the glistening waters with joyous abandon; and the farmers down the way from the dam treasure the irrigation process it provides. How much the dam and its impounded waters have contributed to a fuller life in this county as well as others cannot be overevaluated. How we do appreciate the engineering genius and the cooperation between states and the United States government that made it a realitv. RAINFALL REPORT T75 From the Burlington Record owned by Mabel Parke. The following table gives the rainfall for Burlington, Colo. for a period of 13 years, 1895 to 1907 inclusive: 1895, 20.81 inches; 1896, 16.81 inches; 1897, 1920 inches; 1898, 18.14 inches; 1899, 11.11 inches; 1900, 16.23 inches; L90L,L7.23 inches;1902, 19.86 by Agnes Rudy BONNY DAM T74 Mention of Bonny Dam cannot be omitted from the stories in this book. Although Bonny Dam lies outside the confines of Kit Carson County, that site looms largely in the minds inches; 1903, 12.39 inches; 1904, 26.90 inches; 1905, 23.71 inches; 1906, 16.36 inches and 1907, 12.16 inches. 1893-1894 were drought years. In 1894 nothing was raised on the Hi-Plains. The year 1873 was the driest that has been known on the plains. In the year 1908, very little rain fell. Only the farmers who had lived here for �deveran years and had learned dry land methods in farming raised even feed for stock. It was a bad sight to see the homest€aders selling their stock and household goods for enough money to get away. This was the 55Yeqr HistorJ Ollilonthly Cf Annus, Preeipitttion In Stratton condition around Seibert, Colo. Relinquishments on homesteads could be bought for very little, and in many cases they were abandoned when there were no buyers. The year was said to be the driest since 1873. The spring of 1909 was marked by plenty of rainfall. Crops were good in the year 1909, and 1910 was marked as a good corn raising year. Potatoes were so plentiful there was little market for them. T 1.23 0.04 0.13 0.39 0.61 0.17 0.38 0.27 1.00 0.24 0.23 Early Weather ....... The winter of 1885 and 1886 was the .. .... . .. ..... stormiest winter on record in the early history of the plains region that is now Kit Carson County. Extreme cold and one blizzard after another all winter, is told by descendants of the pioneers of the Crystal Springs Commu- ....... ....... .. .... . .. ... ...... ......... ,.,,...,, u..t/ ,........ 0.28 ......... 0.75 ......... 0.37 ......... 0.43 . . ....... 0.50 nity. WEATHERMAN I 0.94 0.32 0.49 0.39 0.87 0.10 0.25 0.13 0.20 Ll0 ......... T76 T 0.76 ..... 0.38 ..,.. 0.m ..... ..... ..... ..... l. Climate A. Nunrb.r oi drr\ in \err: 0.41 0.44 0.18 0.03 T ( lear 15l Prrrl! LLoud\ 108 d.\\ ( lord\ I d!\. . ... 0.00 ..... 0.25 ... . 0.18 ..... .... 0.it0 .. ..... .. 0.15 ... .... .. 0.20 ... .. .... 0.17 ......... 0.r0 ......... 0.19 ......... 0.€ I lh. roral rnnual !\rrigf Drccipir.rion r\ t6.51 inchc\ I Thc rr.rrge trt.inrr!riof n.r monrh. in Ln.h.'_ n: lrrrrr\ N|rrh \tr\ .lun. i.rrrnrbrr 1 7............9.23 TOTALS 19.05 55YEAn 0.35 \ (ioir\ llrgh ll .rth Ar.fu!. I nrnh l). Thr a\era8. numbc! of drt! ber$.en killins too\rs is I40 t A\.rig. d.iil\ leNncrrroru Nlr\imrm 55 58 8: 8t !ln\ 90 98 104 rm 92 9t E8 65 AVENACE Vr{n :8 50 rl APN. MAY JUNE JULY AUG. 2.6 l.0l 0.68 4.70 1.09 1.03 2.94 r.21 SEPT 2.M ocT. 3.m 1.49 0.91 5.70 1.65 0.76 1.69 0.06 0.30 5.41 1.30 0.47 0.95 2.32 1.13 0.93 2.21 2.t7 2.63 0.u 2.8 o.u 1.04 t.92 3.61 0.61 1.07 1.38 1.90 r.04 3.19 0.56 2.57 2.34 0.67 2.39 2.70 2.10 2.36 0.67 0.04 0.18 0.33 2.31 l.m 1.80 1.24 1.07 0.46 0.27 0.50 1.86 4.08 3.07 1.76 6.57 3.05 2.21 1.69 4.08 3.€ 2 I 0.r3 o.t2 2.07 3.02 2.U t.74 o.@ 1.39 5.gz 1.74 0.31 1.81 0.37 0.69 4.29' 0.34 0.67 0.70 0.41 0.35 0.32 r.0l 4.68 3.32 3.04 0.29 1.68 2.55 3.60 0.14 0.62 0.41 0.55 0.46 0.50 0.83 0.rr 1.68 1.36 t.94 1.57 1.60 0.25 1.48 6.24 4.08 3.18 2.43 3.52 1.03 0. 18 1.73 2.14 0.17 0.09 0.19 0.62 0.87 0.65 Lt8 t.t2 0.88 0.33 0.16 r.33 0.04 1.16 0.63 019 0.97 2.32 2.02 2. 0.35 0.38 2.02 0.58 o.27 0.52 2.53 \.71 0.37 28 l0 rt.5 Art Pautler, a farmer like many others in this area, for the last 18 years he had served the Stratton vicinity as the official government weather recorder. For those years he recorded many interesting happenings. Like the time he recorded an eight inch rain that fell overnight on Aug. 23, 1969. The highest temperature recorded these 18 years was 103 degrees occurring July 2, 197 4. The lowest temp. was 22 degrees below zero on Jan. 12, 1963. Also for the month of Jan. 1963, there were 17 days of below zero readings. Lowest barometer reading in these [ears was a 28.95, March L4, L973. Art said that in those years since 1958, he 6.t9 2.n 0.41 1.72 1.67 1.73 1.89 2.@ 0.92 2.43 2.48 1.56 2.t6 4.90 3.47 3.09 0.75 ?.00 0.98 2.46 0.56 0.46 0.15 3.83 l. l3 2.03 0.87 o.o2 0.84 0.26 L& t.49 0.30 0.14 2.03 5.49 0.52 0.24 o.o2 0.61 0.37 0.34 0.03 0.35 0.03 T 4.41 3.31 Lr0 0.56 3.86 2.80 3.81 2.65 0.25 0.34 0.70 0.65 0.56 0.17 3.62 1.70 2.37 0.54 0.34 0.22 0.32 2.34 1.80 1.93 25.39 0.46 l.1l t.99 2.48 9.43 2.58 0.42 4.46 0.08 2.07 0.98 0.62 4.05 1.60 2.37 2.02 r.26 3.i0 0.53 4.20 5.59 1.95 t.12 0.90 2.U 0.15 0.19 2.65 0.28 0.s7 0.49 0.59 0.04 0.70 0.89 0.82 3.39 2.50 4.31 3.s2 2.27 0.78 4.70 ?.t5 0.61 r.23 2.91 2.6 1.98 r.54 3.n 2.fi 4.U o.n 5.46 t.76 0.@ 0.69 0.58 t.72 0.47 o.67 1.71 1.03 4.42 3.74 3.19 4.71 0.54 2. 0.&r 2.\7 1.91 2.74 4.76 4.57 1.81 1.ll 0.n 0.65 0.73 o.28 2.SS 41.6S 2.57 53 2.77 13.48 .7.53 12.58 0.20........15.77 o.t2 0.'l8 t. l6 0.53 0.29 0.35 0.86 1.96 0.02 0.00 0.67 0.05 0.20 1.03 0.43 1.06 0.10. 3.03 1.43 1.86 0.5r t90 0.65 3.43 0.73 t.20 1.02 1.38 L& 0.53........,!5.OO 0.75 0.56 8.48 2.08 3.25 3.08 0.16........18.85 2.tl 0.92 3.78 1.60 2.82 0.62 2.37 4.55 1.44 1.39 0.13........15.21 0.23. .. . 0.29 0.08 3.43 0.75 0.27 0.20 2.@ 0.% 15.44 0.87 r.77 1.40 4.9 15..U1 0.01 1.33 3.31 0.07 1.42 2.67 0.51 0.56 0.71........18,94 0.32 1.58 0.73 0.m T........ 20.03 0.04..,..... 23.21 2.33 2.44 |.21 3.55 3.65 3.45 0.20 4.12 0.30 o.28 1.90 0.50 29.t3 0.58........ 16.39 0.26........ 29.36 0.35 0.91 3.m 1.73 0.9 0.40........10.82 2.2A 0.66 1s.a.t 25.78 l.6t o.u 'r.37 1.84 17.OO 't 3.53 0.53 t.u) 0.49 3.85 t.2l 0.70 0.7 I T 2.21 1.41 1.07 14.'t7 0.48 1.88 087 0.90 0.59 0.07 0.25 0.26 0.69 0.22 2.05 0.55 3.68 0.49 0.53 0.'t2 0.18 0.w........17,02 0.24 0.26 0.04 0.31 0.61 t.46 0.69........ 13.64 1.05 t.19 1.87 0.'15 0.12..... ... . .9.31 0.6 l.16 1.12 has enjoyed doing his "pant" for the weather servrce. Art was born July 4, 1909, has been a farmer stockman for 37 plus years. In 1976 at the age of 67 he planned to ease his way out of farming and turn the chores over to his sons, Gary, Tim, and Leon. They run the farm consisting of a hereford cow calf operation, irrigation, and dryland farming. Art and his wife, Sue, who he refers to as a "Superb House Wife", were blessed with three other children, too: Paul; Angela Beaner, Billings, Montana; and Betty Meierotto, of Denver. by Allen Ilurley 1r.ul 0.57 o.t2 1.93 125 ANIUUAL 0.20 0.58 0.40 0.04 1.08 0.46 0.44 0. l0 L36 ilov. DEC. l.l8 3.32 2.57 6.'t4 3.40 0.02 0.0'r 0.12 0.00 1.73 4.73 0.05 Precipitation record Climate of Kit Carson Countv 0.96 7.20 4.6 0.47 3.E2 ]N tt: 7.'11 2. 0.98 t8 [. Arinual n\c.aar r.drp.rrrLr.. it ] 1.27 4.34 r.8l 0.26 3.30 5.99 4.18 0.22 0.95 r.63 2.89 r4.5 60.5 J9 2.m 2.05 3.63 0.88 4.45 1.52 0.20 0.37 0.54 3.39 0.65 2.43 1.3r 2.20 2.28 3.43 r.5l 0.45 r.32 1.99 2.96 0.56 48 (r4 t.24 2.03 0.4{) 0.46 0.62 T T 1.33 1 17.90 2.14 T 0.36 T 0.60 0.55 0.62 0.55 o.79 1.96 0.26 0.59 1.65 0.55 0.65 0.44 0.64 0.35 t.8 0.10 0.90 0.80 2.05 0.18 0.84 0.40 0.58 79.74 1.45 50.57 0.92 36.85 0.67 0.@ 2.6 0.77 r.3l .... 25.59 0.46........14.37 14.54 15.51 15.31 't5.,t2 . 4.15 e2.o8 0.11 15.54 033........ 16.3a 0.u 0.29........14.60 ...... 23.52 T........ .t3.4a 0.10. . 0.09........16.20 0-33........20.41 r.26.... ... . 18.35 0.33........12.31 0.11........12.90 T........12.Op 0.40...,.....t4.59 ,...... 13.26 0.2s. _...... 26.04 0.99. 0.i0 ,t6.4.1 1e.38 ....... tO.5E 0.s8 22.57 .... g2g,2g o.4't ta.a4 NEqONDS FUNNISHEI' BY ART PAT'TITR Ilate 3lnGG t Tt .ta not offtclel but wcre recorded wlth tlrc .8nc squlDmcnt utGd prlor to gm. :l 41.5 57.5 0.74 0.58 0.75 0.38 �#5, could not stop in time when the bridge across Spring Creek was washed out by a flood. Calvary Cemetery: 1 mrle easf, or Dlrrruuw' north side of U.S. 24 (31-8-46). Claremont Cemetery: Northeast of Stratton % mile north on Colo. 57, 1/z mile east on gravel road. (Sec. 31-8-46). Fairview Cemetery: Northern edge of Burlington (Sec.36-8-44). CEMETERIES Flagler Cenetery: 172 miles east of Flagler T78 Rural Cemetery: Southwest of Burlington, take U.S. 385, tLl/z miles south, then 9 miles west on gravel road, (Sec. 33-10-45), established in connection with Nazarene church; all graves moved to Fairview. Rural Cemetery: L7 miles north of Flagler 4 miles east, 1 mi south and 1 mile east (Sec. (Sec. 6-9-50). Immanuel Lutheran Church: 10 miles north of Bethune, 2 miles southeast of Settlement Cemetery (Sec. 15-7-45). New Friedenburg Cemetery: 7 mi. south of Yona,2Vz miles west (Sec.8-10-48) by Janice Salmans 10-6-50). Seibert Cemetery: Northeast of Seibert, 1 mile north on Colo. 59, then 1 mile east (Sec. 34-8-49). Established 1917. Shiloh Cemetery: North of Flagler. Smit Cemetery: Northeast of Seibert, 15 miles on Colo. 59, east 4 miles then % mile Sue and Art Pautler. Art was weatherman from 1958 to the present. 1986 TRAIN WRECK T77 south (Sec. 20-6-48). Vona Cemetery: ca l/t mile north of town of Vona (Sec. 35-8-48). Grave: Go 14 mi. north of Flagler then 4Vz mile east (Sec. 21-6-50). Beaver Valley: Northeast of Burlington ca 9 miles north of I-70, ca 9 miles. Cemetery: east of U.S. 385, (Sec. 10-7-42), Established in 1919. Private church affiliated. Prairie Home: unknown. Hope United Church of Christ Congrega- tional Cemetery: (Sec. 3-6-45), 11 miles north and I mile east of Bethune. Beloit Cemetery: Southwest of Burlington on U.S. 385 callVz miles south, 10 miles west on gravel road, then 2 miles north, (Sec. 29- 10-45), Established about 1888, with the town of Beloit, some of the graves are identified by the stones. Bethune Cemetery: (Sec. 34-8-45). rli:r,,,,: Train wreck west of Stratton, Aug. 25, 1986. I llil .',,,,, ,::a.::::::,: i.{r: )3,:t). t. Authorities had determined that railroad cars loaded with wheat in Arriba, entered the main track and traveled eastbound at high *::: rates of speed before an untimely collision with a westbound train about two miles west of Stratton, in Aug., 1986. The collision left two crewmen dead. Both were employed by the Kyle Railroad. The accident is speculated to have occurred around 9 A.M. on the 25th, but was not discovered until the early morning hours of the 26th, by Bob Krason, who lived near where the wreck happened. As the runaway 14 car train passed Spring Creek, the west bound train, with two locomotives and 33 cars in line was approaching a cut in a hill. That cut is also a location of a slight bend in the track, which made it impossible for the approaching crew members to see the oncoming train. The impact of the collision was massive. The force of the impact "stacked" cars on top of each other in a chain reaction effect. Speculation as to how the cars started rolling from Arriba ranged from negligence, intentional, and simple gravity however no official statement was yet released. The location of the August 25th accident is only several hundred yards from a train accident that left 14 people dead in 1929. On July 18, 1929, Rock Island passenger train Republican River, Wood Ranch in the 1980's. REPUBLICAN RIVER VALLEY T7S �'- BurttDgtoD, Colo. BrrAe. NOrII! gEof.v. A+ ll B. MccAPLliI, Flaglcr, Colo, RrrnAe. Dtlck Creek GErIBGE AMMAN' Tale. colo. eJr, - A 93 Ranre, southwest of Ysle, t * !r 8. r,'. FLEtrrNc, z L _ LarnborD,I(anc. 3an8e, €ast of BurtlngtoE Coto. :.-=: vF lV. V. Erlckeon, BqrlingtoF, Coio. r+nge. squtboa8i ol BnrllogtoD. A -D AUGUST DEITEGO\VSI(I, BurllngtoD, Colo. nenge, * rolle Dorlh ol BurllDqtoo. slrEltrtAli r' YALE, I H Y yale 1,. O., Cqlo. Range, vlplnity ol Yalo, Y/rc (,. r,, NOIiT0N, tsurlinglon, Uolq. Range, coutlrpast of LtuillDgton. A. B. YARNDLL, Lt 4,f Y on left blp. t- Ylle Colo. Iiange, LosCnlap, n6er Yale, Colo. ___ fJ F e.'n. cnaFine\, Burhngton, Colo llenge. Soutb Beayer. J7 -+ , M. B. IIENDNICKS, _ Seibert, Colo. Renge. near Solbert. RS \J w. R. sltITIi, Clarenrobt, Colo. RaBge, ne&r 0lareuront. J. 'r'. JnNE$. r If .t- uotr, Colo Raxce. Cofl. Colo, A. E. (}RIS\YOLD, rt Bethure.Colo. - raDge, nolth ot Bethqile. HENR,Y ARITKNECET. , 7C A-U Ne$.ton, c0r0. Range, Republican River. .r tr{ tg L . Republican River in the late summer on the Corliss Ranch in the 1970's. l."rr t'ETIitt, J. ToN.DltE. t,rop. Fairbury,-Nebr. srd6 r, c. sHAF'r's1'..3l,irollii.r, R3pge. mouth ol Sand Cro€i(. peer Jaqua. nc A. B. CANT..IELD, _ BurllngtoD, Colo. Il&Dse.9 mller nortlr of Burliugtob. MII.O CR'APITTA\. Burllngto!, Colo. 4 5J ' Balgo. south ol Burllogtou. lo O D' LANGE' NeptoD. Colo. Ren8e. near NevtoD, 1F c. r.. PsaRcE. BorlllElou, Colo. Itenge, eoutb of Burllngton- F -1 r' P' LITrr{E' Bqtllnqton, Colo Boogp. rcqtlrcit d burdo! s' G' gpcny, E D H bnibn ur. r-1q u*ffil$fdllur. Jome cowboys prefer the "Jack Rabbit." �KIT CARSON COUNTY 4-IJ T81 May 8, 1914 marked the passage of the Smith-Lever Act which created the Federal Extension Service and which charged State Land-Grant Colleges with the responsibilities of providing extension work in agriculture and home economics. In Colorado the Land Grant College was the Colorado Agricultural College (now known as Colorado State University). Part of extension work which CSU was responsible for was the development of boys and girls club work (later known a 4-H) within the state. The first established boys and girls club was in Logan County (Sterling) under the leadership of D.C. Bascom, county agent. The projects offered to these young men and women were gardening, canning, sewing, cooking, corn and sugar beet production, woodwork and pig production. Kit Carson County began its boys and girls club work in 1915 under the leadership of R.N. Flint, county agent and by 1919 boys and girls clubs were located in the major communities of the county. Communities such as Plainview, Mizpah, Hermes, Golden Rule, Idlewild, Calvary, Progress, Shiloh, Republican River after the 1935 flood with Gordon Hitchcock and Merton on the Corliss Ranch northeast of Stratton. KIT CARSON COUNTY MAP 1988 Second Central, Rockcliff, Pleasant Meadow, T80 Bethel, Fairview, Jewell, Flagler, Seibert, norttl 4la9IS GENEFAL NIGHWAJ MAP Ol2 34 .: ti II t5: r 5 !! (K -llo JJ i: l2 22 3 r12 HH l,.t t! r- .L. 23 i i'. .i . --1 i20 l22 al i i .i I z2 ao f , , :. 420 t$ l'. ii- ira tro!/lr ! r. i. I, ri L l'l xi.-lt. r'i20 Jl 2a g l. r. ::*-.i-: 23.i T;- .. '" i"J --r .. rof-lr : 16 j r. .nr. 20 *i lt :, ' ti!2 I 2.i i l 12 t'i" .-.:-i 22 | 134 I . 2a i"" 'r" 'i4 1' *err t'"": .2/ i' i36 ," *-i iro 3oi 2a t... 3: 36 i' ,. l, r---. ,l:il.i i;'-'- irl iro v!4 i.,' i, iroi I i.:;'" r_ f_--t--_ lrr i20 | "o ;.: 22 23 2a N. t_ I l";-" I isz to, i.1: a -, rrill 22 iq*r!.., r lI j'o 14 *i !--i': i - . i : Itzfl * l iro .ti ra r51 20 ,2 to ro i--- 2 -.. -l :. 32i i. 14 2.i i r.'l izci i ;;tt-- . I i r5 ..j r. 2a '2? i .."i. 1,'. -h 2.1 I 2t 2! t "'i--i"T :2 :121 26 i.zi irol :':r2 ill'-*ts3ii lr.:. t16 ' e'i ri i I i a i rai ;16i r* t+-t-l 2gi. 221 2. "ro i 'la I " i^ i*:1 1""" i-"..i i30 :-] Ll 321 !.1 33: I 1a i:t. ao 22 izt lr" I' i 22 ---tT--i-- .t: I 2.1 -r i , 'oi ro ire i_l : z2 2a € a & f, -.o 2a -::-J:, t6 io 1iziii! 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F-.r...!..ri .it2itI ! t ,11";; ta ro.i i . ro lt r. tl tt \r. rr,i ,. isl '.i'.,22 '1r,ro i irri 20 zzi 2. 2a i 20 :22 i+--t-:-lj...1 .t.. aozl' ioi l2r izel i," -----?'.1 i'l -\ gt rcl .l ili ..i li 6 i -i .i --=i-: -: 6 .[ 2 3 a j,.,t---'.--1 i,,l . _r'_ 'l-_i '-.t.:.i-'; u ire ;; t! i13 i'.i T|-'f'-1 '-"'r20 i* ,oi t22i ,20 221 | z.) ..'.-_J_.,i:./_i._:. 2aL i:,,--*a?. i -'t"'-i-1 ro ira- i26 j! ..o i r.i "lr"-"-l- i' 1 !2 l3i i32: isi I I i ..r if--' 1,. irrI ttt -..i zal i t20 ,.oi zl to! ll9'J. s, 2.1irr "o.,a2, "i si i'i-'i!6 .-l ta a ;;i -i;; '---1." i ' i' l" i 12 __f_"---- il5?5354 I. 'i."'';''r-r ^1 i lo_2a .".+- \''.', tz.-.Fiz< T t(: o L. "o 1i*-,. 1:i'a .!;: "'l'i iro .', l* . I i,o a. 16i ,al !.i . it: te i., J1--.i zzi iz, l---ii---.-.-;. t t"', ttl i 20 i22i I r-._t-i i ," ,".-. 2ai 30 -. ,.ti i" * l]'o i i tl; i' '-!'-ill 'l I l' i:'i-, i;1:",fuir.-r"i 3l' 2 ZEgO -"--r--rr-r_----_---fl t2,i fla &$4617 3t 32333{ ,,..""". a r-f,__"-'---- zoi a2 2a 26 Z, tl Itr I irT-];t-T r. It I t H . 21;i ,o'. ? r' " .i,..-t?i --v_-!____l: -,- -'"i ,:'irtH r----, u 2r2L232475 lgFO lo a l" .j.'oi l'.1 ;-" '"i -i 1". r"i ,.N ^? i;-i i;.ll t2 '-1-' l2 i J. I ,o r21 Ito i. r.r '[ 16 t l rai ta. It. ta .f' x I ..\!1 1 i i, r------.'f__i 2 , I ta rot rt 'irr' !a la I 22i 2a 20 .I s2a irc i r. lat ... r' r1 I ta i*i ta ! , oo lr I T cc ll " l. -"r-1 ; i-i. roi ..i: OG ' | 1.. r. la . 12 t3 t415j!6lZ ""^"'i".., rz..r,.re ,rtrf-l-..,-1."*---..rL ..-.,*.;: .,.,,. l.' ,t" . :.1 tro 9 F ll 6 z I KIT CARSON COUNTY 35 s37 s t rc al a? 6 ro l I /2.1 I 30 20 --l 22- i 2. ^ 26 I .l 12! 54 srfl & co. lltt �The first of these was the catch-it-calf progrnm, sponsored by the Kit Carson County Cattlemen's Association. This pro- t grnm, the first of its kind in Colorado, provides ten members annually the opportunity to catch a calf at the county fair and raise a calf the next year for exhibit at the fair. During the course of the year, members involved in this program learn good manage- ment and husbandry practices which they can apply to other projects. Each member involved is assigned a sponsor who helps defray some of the costs of the project. by Perry Brewer BILL CHANCE !a,t MURDER T82 From the Flagler News Issue Jan. lB, 1g48 President Harvey Korbelik is placing Green Valley's 4-H club seal on the Charter in the basement of Green Valley school in 1951. Jessee Miller Receives Sentence Stratton, Vona, Bethune and Burlington contributed young men and women to the fledgling "4-H" clubs. Jessee Miller 79, of Seibert was sentenced in Colorado Springs last week to 10 months in Kit Carson County jail, by Judge G. Russel Miller in District Court. Since 1915 there have been many changes in boys and girls club work. Currently there are twelve 4-H clubs in the county. Willing Workers serves Flagler, Go-Getters, Seibert; Merry Mixers, Vonal 4-Leaf Clover and Country serves Stratton; Busy Bee, Bethune; and River, Plainview, Smoky Hill, Green Valley, Rural Route and Sunshine serves Burlington and the surrounding area. On the average each year there are over 250 4-H members enrolled in the 4-H program in Kit Carson County. Providing club leadership are over 150 adult volunteer leaders who teach project skills and administer over the alternating years gives 4-H members who are 9-11 years old an opportunity to experience outdoor recreation and to learn about wildlife and soil conservation. Since 1914 well over 4,000 people have either been a member of or provided leader- ship to the 4-H program in Kit Carson County. 4-H has a long and successful tradition in this county. In the 73 years since its establishment,4-H has contributed manv leaders to the community. 4-H has been an important part of this county, and as long as the traditional values it represents continues to be reflected in the people of Kit Carson County, the 4-H program will continue to be successful. From the clubs in the early 1900's who local 4-H clubs. Seventy-three years has seen vast changes in the types of projects offered to 4-H members. The second event established in the 1940's emphasized only one project, today each 4-H club offers a broad range of projects. Projects ranging from beefenterprise to childcare, and was the Annual Friends of 4-H and Achieve- course the projects which were offered over 70 years ago are still provided today, but with ment Banquet. The two fold purpose of this supper was and is to recognize and thank sponsors and supporters of the 4-H program who have donated either their time, money lor knowledge to the members and to recognize 4-H members and clubs for outstanding performance during the year. Yearly this event draws a crowd of over 300 members, leaders, parents and supporters and ranks second only to county fair as being the largest 4-H event held during the year. The late 1960's and early 70's saw the establishment of the Kit Carson County 4-H Jnmboree. A showcase for talented 4-H members. This event provides an opportunity for 4-H'ers to sing, dance, play musical instruments, perform in theatrical skits and plays and to show their skill in presenting lemonstrations and illustrated talks. In 1969 Kit Carson County 4-H joined with Yuma County, Washington County and Phillips County to form the Golden Plains \rea 4-H Program. With the joining of these :ounties developed an opportunity to share deas across the county lines. As a result of his sharing, the Golden Plains Area 4-H )Fmp was created. The Camp located at the )eecher Island Battle Grounds, The State ,akes (Hale Ponds) and the Flagler Lake, in from foods to nutrition to electricity. Of modern techniques included in the projects. Being a traditional rural county, members locally lean toward more traditional projects such as livestock production and home economics subjects. The basic premise of 4-H has remained the same from 1914 until today. To educate youth in specific life skills, leadership and citizenship. Fun is emphasized, as well, with 4-H club trips, tours and parties, occurring year around. 4-H is a family organization, parents and family members are encouraged to become involved with the 4-H'er to provide encouragement and support for the member. There are many activities associated with the 4-H program. As with most county 4-H programs the culmination of the 4-H year is the county fair. In Kit Carson County the fair tradition has existed for over 70 years. For one week during the year 4-H'ers from across the county are in the limelight as they exhibit their projects before the general public. Cattle, horses, sheep, swine, as well as general and home economics 4-H projects are judged and ribbons and awards are given to the top projects. During the early 1940's two events were established, which have survived until todav. Mr. Miller was convicted of involuntarv manslaughter last October 2 for the fatal shooting of William Eugene Chance, also of Seibert. Judge Miller granted Jessee Miller 20 days to file a motion for probation, but said that he must go to jail at once to begin serving his gentence. From the Rocky Mountain News issue Sunday Aug. 2, 1949 Jess Miller, Who Killed to Keep His Mustache, Will Soon be Free Colorado Springs, Aug. 20. Miller, - Jess 80, who shot and killed Willie Chance, 4b when Chance offered to alter Miller's handlebar mustache with a pocket knife, walks out of jail this week-end. He walks out with his famous mustache, which formerly sprayed out in wild array from beneath his nose, neatly trimmed. Sheriff O.C. Dunlap of Burlington, in whose jail Miller has been since Jan. ?, revealed here today that only last week, when Jess was taken down for his weekly shave, the spry old man suggested that his prize mustache be "trimmed up a little". There will be no fanfare when Jess walks out of the Kit Carson County Jail from a term observers here thought meant a "Life" sentence. "His term is actually up Monday, but I have a Texas trip pending and if it comes through I'll let him out Sunday night," Dunlap said today. No special meal will be served to observe his departure since the jail cook goes on vacation Saturday, Dunlap continued. "He is as pert as a rabbit and had been getting spryer every day he has been in jail," the sheriff reported. Feared He'd Die. When Jess was sentenced to 11 months in jail for involuntary manslaughter on a cold January day last winter, it was feared the aged man, used to an active life and already pacing and aching with the confinement of jail, would not live out the sentence. Taken to Burlington to serve his sentence, �Jess has taken charge of the prison yard, he has worked hard and steadily, been not a bit of the Loom and Apple Computer, and its staff spent up to 18 hours a day on location of trouble, abandoned his cane, and is really in good shape, Dunlap said. during the production which began June 14, and was expected to end June 29. every Friday, and either Sunday or Monday she will come and pick him up . . . and that's resulted in a one-day delay of shooting, by slowing production, restricting movement of vehicles to and from the set, forcing a team of horses to pull a stage coach through mud six inches deep, (in this usually extremely dry country), they had to use fake dust, and as one crew member put it, "giving us an outrageous cleaning bill." Approximately 10,000 feet of film was expected to be shot. His faithful wife has come to visit him all the celebration there will be, the sheriff continued. "I undergtand he and his wife plan to return to Seibert, where Jess has his gas station and home. at least for a short time," Dunlap said. "I have advised him to move away from there as soon as he can since feeling is still running pretty high over the shooting of Willie Chance." to court Threatened Him - According shot after having testimony, Chance was made threats to cut off the old man's mustache with a pocket knife. Evidence was introduced that Chance was walking toward Miller and that his last words were "You haven't got the guts to shoot me." "People are split over 50-50 on the ques- tion. and I think it would be best if Jess moved away from Seibert," Dunlap continued. "The Old man already has disposed of some of his property to pay some $1000 worth of court costs and I understand that he has the balance of his Seibert holdings up for Heavy rains which fell in the county The focus of attention was centered around four shots which showed the history of the farm house progressing from the buffalo on the prairie, to the stage coach, to the steam engine, to the airlane. At the completion of filming in Stratton, the staff will transfer to Dallas where it will shoot the Texas City's skyline which would be electronically impossible behind the farmhouse. After two days of filming, an actor from Los Angeles arrived for the close up shots, but producer Jim Peters decided to add a woman to the commercial. "We didn't want him to look like some old drunkwho lived by himself on the prairie." To fill that void, he turned to the local community and selected Julie Scruby of Kirk to make a brief appearance in the commercial. sale." "He's talked some of coming to Burlington SEAGRAM'S COMMERCIAL THE EAST CENTRAL COUNCIL OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS T83 lington. The COG has established a transportation system for the elderly throughout the area, and have assisted in purchasing minibuses for Burlington, Stratton, Flagler and Vona/Seibert. It also administers s 4sels program for the elderly and has been instru- mental in the formation and funding for senior centers and/or community centers in Flagler, Seibert, Stratton and Burlington. The East Central COG has established a Revolving Loan Fund to assist with the expansion and creation ofnew businesses and thus new jobs in the county, and has been awarded designation as an Enterprise Zone which establishes special tax benefits for new businesses in the county. COG also continues to promote its Other Colorado program . i.e,, Colorado' mountains are wonderful, but so are the prairies, plains and plateaus!!! Kit Carson County residents that were full- time staff of the East Central Council of Governments in 1987 included Jo Downey, Executive Director (Stratton), Virginia Hubbell, Executive Assistant (Vona), Elizabeth Whipple, Senior Services Director (Burlington), Treva Henry, Project SMILE Manager (Burlington), Maudella Reynolds, Bookkeeper (Stratton), and Del Polly, Revol- ving Loan Fund Coordinator (Burlington). Part-time Kit Carson County staff working with the COG's Senior Services and Meals Programs include Betty Bredehoft (Flagler), Bessie Walden (Seibert), Isabell Monroe (Vona), June Pottorff (Stratton), Emma to stay." by Twila Gorton ement plans including Stratton and Bur- Mullis (Burlington), Janet Davis (Bur- lington), Helen Robbins (Burlington), and Debbie Adams (Burlington). by Maryjo Downey T84 Organized in 1973, the East Central Council of Governments is a voluntary association of the town and county governments in Elbert, Lincoln, Cheyenne and Kit Carson Counties. Its central offices have always been located in Stratton. Formed under authority of state legislation which allows for intergovernmental cooperation, the COG is governed COLORADO WELCOME CENTER T86 Research has proven that a warm welcome and high quality information enhances the by an eight-member board of directors comprised of one county commissioner and one municipal representative from each of the four counties. Kit Carson County commissioners serving on that board duing the past years include: Ted Wickham, Ralph Conrad and Doug Becker. Municipal representatives from Kit Carson County who have Home hastily built in a wheat field to depict early days to be used for a TV commercial, in Louis and Margaret Leoffler's field. Nearly 100 people buzzed around the farm of Louis and Margaret Leoffler of Stratton this week, (1987), working on the filming of two commercials for Seagram's Four Roses Whiskey. Polestar Film and Photography Production of Hollywood was in charge of producing the pair of commercials, one of approximately 60 seconds to be shown in theatres and another of about 45 seconds to be shown on television outside of the United States. Polestar spokesman Brigette Peters reported, previously had been involved with production of commercials for Porsche, Mer- cedes Benz, Puegeot, BMW, Winston, Fruit served as board members include Nyla Loutzenhiser (Flagler), Les Hase (Seibert), Zeke Kerl (Stratton) and Don Clemp (Bur- lington). Dean Stevens, county commissioner from Flagler, and Ken Yersin, city councilman from Burlington, are current board members. The Council of Governments has worked on numerous projects over the years, many ofwhich have benefited the entire region and others that have impacted Kit Carson County and its municipalities. Projects include the Colorado Welcome Center at Burlington; grants for Old Town and the Burlington Indugtrial Park; the Stratton baseball field; and the Flagler downtown revitalization project. The COG has also assisted Bethune and Seibert in developing financial packages for new sewer systems and has worked with various communities on mainstreet improv' Colorado Welcome Center located on I-70 near Burlington �experience and extends the length of a visitor's stay by an average of 2.74 days. This extended stay means the expenditure of additional dollars in not only Kit Carson County, but throughout Colorado by trav- elers coming into the State on I-70. To capitalize on these dollars, the Colorado Tourism Board, Cityof Burlington, Colorado Department of Highways and the East Central Council of Governments worked for several years to develop a Colorado Welcome Center on I-70 near Old Town at Burlington. The new center opens May of 1988 on a 10.5 acre site that was donated by the City of Burlington. The Tourism Board will pay $340,000 for building construction and landscaping, and the Colorado Department of Highways has contributed $1 million for construction of interchange, signage, parking areas, lights and related tourist facilities. The new center will be open year round and staffed by a manager and local volunteers. The Welcome Center's contribution to the area's economy ie anticipated to be quite high as it will assist in promoting Old Town, the Carousel, and local businesses that cater to the traveler. Kit Carson County Executive Manager is Kendra Rhoades; Marge Jones is Agsistant Manager. Volunteers working the : Notice the carving behind the saddle on the Zebra and the painting on back of the "sleigh seat". first quarter of 1988 included Don Beethe, Dot Beethe, Dovie Brown, Olen Brown, Part 1 Margaret Collette, Don Clnmp, Irma Clamp, Valorie Enfield, Torrie Haines, Peggy Hubbell, Winifred Jn-es, Elva Powell, Vel Pickard, Mary Richendifer, Oscarena Schreivogel, Georgia Seabert, Sally Smith, Lois Stevens, Stacie Stewart, Cherie Treib, Elizabeth Whipple and Anita Wood. by Jo Downey The Kit Carson County Carousel is a beautifully restored and fully operating carousel located at the County Fairgrounds in Burlington, Colorado. It is a 3-row stationary (the animals do not move up and down) machine housed in a dodecagonal (l2-sided) building. Manufactured by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company in 1905, it was the sixth of 89 carousels built by that company between 1904 and 1934. The Kit Carson County TIIE KIT CARSON Carousel is the only known carousel in the COUNTY CAROUSEL T86 ..:,,.1:.a:a ,i:, nation which still has full original paint. In 1979, PTC No. 6 was designated a National Historic Site by the U.S. Department of the Interior and in 1987 it was awarded National Landmark Status, making it the thirteenth National Landmark in Colorado and the only one east of Denver. Forty-six hand-carved wooden animals including a hippocampus (seahorse), a lion, a tiger, a dog, zebras, cemels, goats, deer, giraffes, and many magnificent horses march counterclockwise on the Kit Carson County Carousel. These elaborately detailed figures are mounted on a 45-foot diameter platform in rows of three. The 16 outside row animals are the largest figures and most intricately carved. Carvings adorning the saddles or the animals, themselves, include full-blown roses, Cupids, a cat with a mouse in its mouth, a goat's head, a cornucopia, and a wooden medallion with a sculpture of an Arab sheik. A giraffe has a snake twined around its neck and on the neck of a deer is a woodpecker. Behind the saddle of the zebra is a gnome sitting in a shell aiming a spear at the rider's seat. The texture of the individual animals' coats had been faithfully detailed and teeth, slathering tongues, and hooves have been carefully included. Toed animals have dewclaws and hooved animals are shod (even the Indian pony). There are real antlers on the deer and real horsetails on many of the horses. All of the figures have glass eyes of a color and expression suitable to the tempera- ment of the animal. Hand-painted decorations can be found on each of the PTC No. 6 figures. An iron cross is painted on the chest of the war horse, a rising sun appears on the cnmel's saddle and intricate flowers of varying design adorn many of the inside row animals. The saddle trappings are reminiscent of cavalry mounts used in the eighteenth century Napoleonic Wars. Housed in the carousel is a 1912 Wurlitzer Monster Military Band Organ. The organ has Beautiful grey prancing horses three abreast, notice the paintings. been fully restored and is very large, very loud, and very wonderful to hear. The "Monster Military Band Organ", or as it was more mundanely known in later years, the "Style 155", is a 100-key instrument which �measures 6'10y2" high by 8'9" wide by 3'8" deep. This large almost cubic box of brass and wooden pipes used a music roll and sold for 93,250.00 in 1912. This style is known as "The Monster" and its musical results are equal to a band of from 12 to L5 pieces. The leaded glass panels which admit a view of the numerous brass horns inside may be opened, thus making the organ sound much louder. There are 30 pipes for basses, 22 pipes for accompaniments, 100 pipes for violin, violoncello, stopped and open pipes and clarionets, and 72 pipes for piccolos and flutes. The band organ's brass instruments include 51 brass trumpets and 10 brass trombones. There are eight stops; 2 for piccolo and flutes, 1 for clarionets, 1 for trumpets, 1 for trombones, 1 for stopped basses, 1 for open basses, and 1 for bass octavo. The band organ has two drums - a snare and a bass. by Maryjo Downey THE KIT CARSON COUNTY CAROUSEL T87 Part 2 The drive machinery and center of the carousel are enclosed by 45 oil paintings mounted in tiers of three. The paintings range in size from approximately 21/z x 31/z feet to \Vz x7 feet and are representative of the lifestyle and interests of the American Victorian middle class. The artists of this delightful collection of American genre paintings and European romantic scenes are unknown. These paintings are thought to have been completed in an average of hours rather than days and are done with varying degrees of skill. Subject matter ranges from landscapes to fullJength portraits such as the "goose girl" and the Tom Sawyer-type boy Armored horse in all its splendor. teasing a cat. Styles vary from Post Impressionist to Realist. There are four chariots on the Kit Carson County Carousel. The two red chariots have elaborately carved sides but the blue ones are Huntley and I.D. Messinger, met with widespread disapproval over the $1,250, a sum considered an extravagant expenditure in hard times. Huntley and Buchanan chose not to run for re-election in 1928 because of this simply painted to look as though they are carved. Each chariot has two seats and can carry six riders. The back of each seat has a painted landscape. This carousel was originally manufactured in 1905 by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company for Elitch Gardens, an amusement park in Denver. The carousel was operated at Elitch's every summer until 1928 when it and the Wurlitzer Band Organ were sold to Kit Carson County for $1,250.00. The county commissioners who approved sentiment. the carousel's purchase, C.J. Buchanan, G.W. In 1931, the Great Depression forced Kit Carson County officials to temporarily discontinue holding the annual fair. The fairgrounds and the carousel were neglected. Cornstalks and hay for feed, made available to local farmers through a government assistance program, were stored in the carousel building and other available spaces on the unused fairgrounds. Mice, snakes and pigeons infested the building and piles of waste accumulated. In 1937, the county fair was finally resumed. The old feed was removed from the buildings and burned. The carousel was scrubbed with soapy water, re-varnished and operated once again. According to Harley Rhoades, the commissioner who was perhaps the most responsible for resuming the fair, the carousel was such a mess that there was much sentiment for burning it up with the old cornstalks! The mice had devastated the band organ, so Western and popular music was played on phonographs or tape machines for several generations offairgoers - about 45 years - until the organ was restored in 1976. PTC No. 6 is unique because it appears that each animal was individually chosen by an Elitch's representative. At the time of the original purchase, the animals intended for No. 6 were finished and in the studio, waiting to be mounted on the turntable, along with animals destined for placement on machines No. 7 and No. 8. The Elitch's agent, instead ofaccepting the order as it stood, handpicked the animals that pleased him from all of those on the factory shelves, even though several The beautiful dog with "Identification" on collar. were not part of the Elitch Garden order. PTC carvers traditionally stamped the underneath of each animal with the number of its machine and row. During restoration of the animals in 1979-1980. it was discovered that several animals bore machine No.'s 7 and 8. It also became obvious after inventorying the row numbers that the animals had not �Deen put back in the seme order as thev had been on the carousel when it was at Elilch's. by Maryjo Downey THE KIT CARSON COUNTY CAROUSEL T88 Part 3 In 1975, a committee of county citizens was formed to develop a project and join with the rest of the nation in the celebration of America's Bicentennial by choosing to begin restoration of PTC No. 6 as the countv's Bicentennial project. Art Reblitz of Colorado Springs was contracted to restore the old band organ, which after the many years of disuse, was literally a "basket case'i. It was returned, fully restored, just in time for the county fair of 1976. Although the Bicentennial was over, the project continued, as did the committee now called the Kit Carson Carousel Association which today still is responsible for the overall re,.qtq1"triott, maintenance and operations. Members include Bette Bailly, Irine Bancroft, Kathy Blakeslee, Don Clamp, Jo Downey, Robbie Fearon, Jim Knox, Bob McClelland, Joyce Miller, Will Morton. Norma Pankratz, Edgar Pratt, Iris Roth, A seaple of the artistic paintings to be found around the center of the carousel. Mabel Scheierman, Jean Schlichenmayer, Dorothy Smith, Ted Wickham, and Wiima Notice the fabulous detail on the saddle on the camel. Woller. - Grant money and donations were sought to further the restoration. John Pogzeba, an art conservator from Denver, was contacted regarding restoration of the 4b oil paintings. In 1979, Morton was given a contract to restore the original painted animals, the four chariots, and the outer rim. This project was eompleted LVz yearc later. Discovered during the restoration was a great amount of th6 original gold leaf and painted decoration. making -this a priceless treasure among America's carousels. The building which houses the carousel is a l2-sided structure with a l2-sided cupola. It was built in 1928 when the catousel- wa. brought to the Kit Carson Countv Fair- grounds. Some of the materials ,r."d in the building were salvaged from early poultry sheds on the fairgrounds. With the iZ large doors lifted, the building becomes completely open. In 1976, the building was refaced with steel siding. Lottery funds from Kit Carson County and the City of Burlington have been contributed to establish a park around the carousel. A 6-sided ticket booth with cupola was constructed in 1986 and contains a large leaded glass window of the Armored Horse. The park is lit by Victorian street lsmps and ornate park benches have been placed around the outside of the carousel building. On May 2, 1981, shortly after the balance of the restoration of the animals was completed, the carousel building was broken into and four inside-row animals stolen. The theft he trade mark shown on the Donkey's saddle. took place during a heavy rainstorm when no one was at the fairgrounds, and at a time when the burglar alarm was not functioning properly. The theft of the three small horsei and one donkey shocked not only the citizens of Kit Carson County but carousel lovers all over the countrv. �Kit Carson County Carousel Association members tied yellow ribbons around the empty poles and then initiated a nationwide awareness program to make potential purchasers aware ofthe rightful ownership ofthe missing steeds. Five months later, the animals were located by the Salina police and the FBI in a warehouse in Salina, Kangas. The PTC figure had proved too "hot" to eell. It was determined that their theft was but one of several by a large Midweet€rn theft ring specializing in antiques. Itte tttt"" horses and small donkey had received only slight dnmage during the "Great Carousel Caper". They were returned to their rightful places on the carousel after a parade through downtown Burlington on Oitober 31, 1981. The damage on the stolen figures has long been repaired, the yellow ribbons have been replaced by commemorative markers and the alarm system has since been substantially upgraded. The Carousel Aseociation will open the carousel on a daily basis during the summer as a museum beginning in 1988. Of the three to four thousand wooden carousels that were carved in America in the late 1800s and early 1900s, less than 225 remain today. The Kit Carson County Carousel and the Carousel Association have received numerous state and national awards for the preservation of what ig viewed by much of the nation as the "Jewel of American Carousels"' In 1987, the carousel was featured as one of five subjects in a National Georgraphic special, Treasures From The Past. The carousel has brought national and international recognition to Kit Carson County and its restoration and preservation is now an example to many rural communities and counties as to what can be done to preserve an area's heritage when everyo-n-e works together. The catousel's restorer, Will Morton, states, "But a carousel is more than just machine . . ' it has been called magical -by a a friend of mine. I think of it as a spiritual dimension more than just experience, more than just memories." The Kit Carson County Carousel is indeed Kit Carson County. by Maryjo Downey KIT CARSON COUNTY IIEREFORD BREEDERS ASSOCIATION Hines. he held the office for seven years. The late F.E. Kneedler served for 16 years. Lowell W. Corliss started as president in 1968 and served until 19?3. Larry Homm took the position in 1974 and is the current president of the association. During the years of the association, an emblem was designed by the mother of C.L. Hines. The emblem is a frontiersman riding a horse, carrying a rifle, traveling across a map of Kit Carson County. The emblem is still being used by the association today. In 1946, the association sponsored the first Catch-It Keep-It Contest, during the Kit Carson County Fair. The little wranglers caught young steers and then took them home to bring back to the fair next year as In 1944, the first sale was held and they have had a spring bull sale every year since then at the Kit Carson County Fairgrounds with the Bank of Burlington as the clerk. During those years the Kit Carson County Hereford Breeders Association has sold over 2600 bulls and females. A few herds in the area were actually started through the sale. The association's first president was C.L' lington, CO; Vice-President, Lowell W. Corliss, Stratton, CO; Secretary-Treasurer, Clinton Schlepp, Idalia, CO; Director, Dave Reid, Seibert, CO; Sales Manager, Susan Corliss, Burlington, CO; Members: Thad J. Douthit, St. Francis, KS; Earl Hedgecoke, Aurora, CO; Moberly Hereford Ranch, St. Francis, KS- by Susan Corliss FAIRVIEW GRANGE #2e7 T90 until 19?2 when the Kit Carson County Cattlemen's Association staded sponsoring the present day Catch-It-Calf program. During the 26 years, the 4-Hers caught 260 steers. Promotion of the 4-H Herefords has been important over the years. The association started by a money award for the Champion and Reserve Qftnmpion Herefords at the County Fair. In 1966, trophies and plaques were given out instead of money. Today, trophies are sponsored for the Open Class Champion Bull and Heifer, and a $200 award is sponsored if the Overall Champion 4-H Breeding Animal is a Hereford. On the first Hereford tour, the ranches visited were those of Cliff Hines, Ernest Notz, Jesse Jnmes, Rell Morrow, Reuben Rhoades, George D. Young, Jr., and John Homm and Sons. Approximately 400 head of registered Herefords were exhibited on the tour' In the fall of 1981, a state tour was co-sponsored by the Kit Carson County Hereford Breeders Asgociation. Ranches visited include the following: Reids Dez D Hereford Ranch, Lowell W. Corliss, Homm Ranches, Inc., Fairview Grange Hall. The former schoolhouse, 11 miles south of Bethune. Known as Midway #50. Purchased in October 1944. World War 1 was in the offing, transportation was poor, and farm prices were much too low, when 33 charter members met at the Knapp School house on JulY 8, 1916 to organize Fairview Grange #297 ' The charter 40th Annual Show and Sale in true style. members were George and Mayne Keifer, John Bloomquist, Floyd Richardson, Charles and Grace Elder, Fred and Maggie Dodd, Liltian Dodd, Lee and Lottie Raines, George and Emily Loper, O.C. and Lizzie Dunlap, Bert and Mary Loper, Alva and Anna Bacon, There was a banquet on Thursday, February 2. at the Ramada Inn in Burlington. About 100 people enjoyed the meal. Everyone ders, John and Lizzie Armstrong, L. Morgan, Robert Gottbehuet and Sons' and Schlepp Herefords. Approximately 600 Herefords were exhibited on the tour. In 1984, the association celebrated their moved to the high school for the special entertainment. Baxter Black, D.V.M., the cowboy poet, entertained for two hours for Sherman and Clara Ellsworth, Fred Matthies. T.R. and Mrs. Penfold, Martin Lan- Mr. and Mrs. O. Forster, C.E. and Blanche Nickerson. Soon there were seven Granges in Kit the audience of 200 plus. Since our banquet, Baxter Black's column is now featured in the Burlington Record each week. An open house Carson County and alljoined together to buy carloads of coal, feed and fruit at reasonable prices. The seven community Granges were: everyone viewed the cattle and enjoyed coffee and beef jerky. Champion Female was MISS TITANESS Rule #281, Burlington, 1916; Fairview #297, Burlington, 1916; Mizpah #305, Burlington' 1916; Pairview #341, Cole, 1917; Jewell #344' Burlington, 1917; Hermes #346, Hermes, 1917; Milestone #418, Burlington, 1935. By 191? we had 108 members. Depression days hit the Grangers hard. Grange dues, always low, were dropped to one dollar a year, just enough to meet the annual commitment to the State Grange. For several years Grange meetings were conducted at members homes, then as membership picked up, they moved to what the Grangers affectionately called "the Crackerbox Schoolhouse" West Faiwiew #20. This Catherine's Altar and Rosary Society did a fine job. The association is looking forward to many frequently collected blue ribbon honors for their displays of beautiful crops and garden As usual the Kit Carson County Fair- The Kit Carson County Hereford Breeders Association was formed by a group of Hereford breeders in Eastern Colorado and Northwestern Kansas in the early 1940's. The main function in the first years was a tour of the members'herds. tion are: President, LarrY Homm, But- a 4-H project. The association sponsored this was held at the livestock pavilion, where T89 County. The present officers of the associa- grounds was the sight of the Show and Sale on Friday, February 3. The show has become a trade mark of our sale. The judge, Roger Evans of Elizabeth, Colorado, started the show promptly at 10:00 a.m. The Champion Bull was 2M Ll BANNER 254 and the Reserve Champion Bull was 2M L1 SELKIRK 1?4, both were consigned by Morgan and Marcotte Cattle Co. The Champion Female was H MISS METRIC 8322 consigned by Homm Ranches, Inc. and the Reserve 473 consigned by Lowell W. Corliss. As in the past lunch was served on the grounds. Th9 $t. more years of being active in Kit Carson Grand Union #183, Tuttle, 1910; Golden building was used until July 2, 1944. Throughout this period, Grangers had a booth at the Kit Carson County Fair and vegetables. �Fairview Grange organized two 4-H Clubs in 1937 and the youngsters won many honors including several major awards during the next eight years. In 1939, a Fairview Grange girl was named the outstanding girl in the county and won a trip to Chicago, Illinois. In 1944, two boys were lucky enough to win calves in the County Fair "Catch-it-keep it" contest. The 4-H activities continued until 1972 when there were not enough children of the proper age in the Grange to sustain 4-H work. The Grange held many dances and its female contingent served many lunches to raise money for a variety of worthy community projects. Several Grange members served in the armed forces during World War II and those who remained at home strove for food production records. The Grange war bond drives went over their quota. The Grange also staged coyote and rabbit hunts and gave all the proceeds to the Red Cross. Fairview Grange moved into its own building, a former schoolhouse eleven miles south of Bethune, Midway School #50, on October 8, 1944. Every Grange meeting included social activities. In 1949 the Grange furnished Room #1 in the new Kit Carson County Hospital and helped to landscape the grounds. Grange members were active in the Young Farmers and Homemaking clubs during the fifties. In 1964, the Grange hall was sold. Then meetings were held in various community rooms in Burlington. The Grange had always been interested in civic affairs and good education. Grangers have always tried to combine social and business affairs in the best interest of the community as well as the Grange. Many residents of the area will always remember the Grange's annual oyster and vegetable soup suppers every Januar5l and its summer picnics in the park with ice cream and watermelon. The Colorado State Grange was organized in 1874. by Shirley Matthies KIT CARSON COUNTY FARM BUREAU red Jack Rabbit drives as rabbits were a real problem in those years; they even dug out roots of the winter wheat causing the fields to blow as these years were also very dry with small plant growth. Another problem was the grasshoppers which moved in and ate everything in sight. The Farm Bureau and the Extension Service built a grasshopper bait mixing machine. Shipped in sawdust and poison were mixed and sold to farmers at cost to spread on their fields. The 1941 records show H.M. Hines, President and Roy Bader as Secretary and in 1942 the insurance program got started through the Kansas Farm Bureau. In 1943 Kit Carson County had the largest Farm Bureau Membership in the state with Rio Grande County close behind. Membership was 306 with a goal of 500. Dues were 95.50 at that time. In 1945 REA was being talked about and Farm Bureau contacted farmers to sign up. 250 members were recruited for the REA that year and grasshopper mixing equipment was purchased to replace existing equipment. In 1946, Mrs. C.D. Pottorff,beceme the first president of the Association Women (later Farm Bureau Womens Committee) receiving 25 cents from each Farm Bureau membership. A large paint sprayer was also purchased as there seemed to be a need for this in the county. ln L947 the Farm Bureau organized the 10 acre wheat club which was formed for the purpose of signing up farmers who would donate L0 acres of harvested wheat to the county for the new hospital. This was a successful venture. Also a National REA representative met with the county Farm Bureau board to survey the County to approve or reject application for the REA loan. In 1949, the County Farm Bureau office opened with Irene Morrow, Secretary and Miss Bucholtz as assistant. Herb Klusman of Flagler was president. In 1955 Eddie Fuller becnme President and Orvel Aeschlimann secretary. Hildegarde Aeschlimann becnme Womens Chairman in 1956 following Mrs. Luther Tatkenhorst. 1957 shows Art Gaines of Flagler on the REA board. He reported that the REA will rent electric hot water heaters for $2.00 a month and electric stoves for $5.00 a month to be paid with the regular bill and will belong to the owner when paid for at that rate. The office secretary was paid $100.00 a month at that time with hours of f-5 PM. Truman Hooker was President and Mrs. Busby was office secretary. In 1959 our film projector was getting bad T91 The State Farm Bureau organization first began in the early 1930's in Kit Carson and Washington Counties. According to the and it was decided to let the County Commissioners trade it in on a new machine. They would purchase it as the County Farm Bureau had furnished the projector for the County Agents to use for many years. It was records of the Extension Service this organization resulted as the result of trying to form agreed that we could etill use the new machine if we needed it and the county agent county and community organization for the betterment of life on the farms and ranches. In the records of 1917 through 1920 of this county we find that reference was made of organizing community Farm Bureau and Boys and Girls clubs. Minutes found back to 1935 show C.A. Buetell, President, and S.T. Janett Vice President, both of Kit Carson County. The Bureau worked closely with the Extension Service seeking how it could would operate it. 1960 saw Dewey Jackson as President. The office was moved to the Courtney Building and started selling Blue Cross and Blue Shield health insurance. Mrs. Bill Ford was office secretary. Jack Hines retired ag insurance agent in 1961 and Gary Long was our new agent. Eddie Fuller beca-e District 3 Farm Bureau board member. In 1962 the National Farm Bureau Convention wae held in Denver with Paul Harvey as one of the speakers. Gary Long resigned as insurance agent to go and finish his college education. Bill Ford filled in and also Norm Travis sold hail insurance improve living conditions for the farming community. Community Farm Bureaus were formed and often the County Farm Bureau meetings were held at the local community. The local Community Farm Bureaus sponso- temporarily. Truman Hooker helped until the new agent Dick Bartell became our permanent agent. We also cancelled Blue Cross Blue Shield and joined the Zurick American Insurance Co. Sonny Wright from Flagler entertained us at the Annual Banquet. Dr. Ray was our speaker at our annual meeting in 1965. He also spoke to all the high schools in the County the following day urging more patriotism in our great country. Through the balance ofthe 1960's and the 70's and now in the 80's Farm Bureau has helped accomplish many things that would have been almost impossible for any one of us to do alone. One event that stands out concerned our sugar beet growers from Kit Carson County and our county Farm Bureau board ofdirectors. They were subpoened and had to go to Denver for a hearing when Rural Legal Services wanted to sue our beet growers and have the hearing out of our county, claiming prejudice, but not realizing our Farm Bureau was a state organization having petitions signed all over the state including Denver. The judge dismissed the case. Farm Bureau is a strong organization in our county. They have sponsored a Crop and Gardens Booth at the Kit Carson County Fair for many years featuring many beautiful displays of garden vegetables and field crops grown within the county. The present office building was purchased 10 years ago and we are debt free. We have grown to where we have 2 full time agents. Our county is represented by Hildegarde Aeschliman as Womens Chairman of the Colorado Farm Bureau, District 3 Womens Chairman, Dee Cure of Stratton. and also a number of our board members who serve on the District B Commodity groups of the State Farm Bur- eau. At the present time our board of directors include Orvel Aeschliman, President; Jim Whitmore, Vice President; Florence Fuller, Womens Chairman; Dee Cure, Secretary; Eddie Fuller, Gen,. Nichols, Dean Wigton, Randy Gorton, William Cure, Bob Cure, Eddie Herndon, Leland Strobel, Ted Schaal, Bruce Unruh, Allan Pizel, Dennis Coryell, directors. by Orvel Aeschlimann KIT CARSON COUNTY CATTLEMEN'S ASSOCIATION T92 ATTLEMEN'5 StocrAre The emblem was designed by Janie Stahlecker in 1985 for a contest the association held. �The Kit Carson County Livestock Associa- tion was formed on or before 1898 as they were holding meetings in the Claremont School in 1899, with J.J. Pugh as president, C.S. Wellman as secretary, and Chas. Farr as treasurer. In June, 1901, an annual meeting was held at Claremont. The Kit Carson County Record was designated as the official paper of the Kit Carson County Livestock Association in the year of 1903 in order that the paper could keep the ranchers and stockmen well informed about their livestock problems. The overcrowding of the ranges seemed more apparent all the time. Loco had sprung up and had made a rapid growth everywhere. Pink eye and black leg seemed to spread out among the cattle at this time, causing great losses to the settlers and to the cattlemen and decreasing the number of cattle on the range for a while. In the spring of 1901, it was noted that a new disease seemed to be affecting the cattle, notjust the poor weak ones, but also the best and strongest of the young cows contracted it. No one knew what it was or what to do about it. In every case the disease was fatal. All were anxious for any information about it. One of the heaviest losers of cattle was W.W. Brinkley who lost between 60 and 70 head. Then the next year there was an outbreak of the "Texas Itch". In order to cure this the cattle had to be dipped. Ranchers Parks and Wellman of Claremont had dipping plants and they were kept busy most of the time. This dipping was a move in the right direction as the disease was doing the infected herds a good deal of harm and the only cure was in application of some sort of germicide. The "Texas Itch" or "Mange" as it was later called spread so fast among the cattle that many ranchers became so alarmed that the Kit Carson County Livestock Assn. tried to do something about it. W.W. Brinkley was appointed as Stock Inspector to check on the herds. C.S. Wellman, Secretary of the Kit Carson County Livestock Assn., issued the following notice to the stockmen in June of 1903: "The stockmen should remember that the Annual Meeting of the association will be held at Claremont, June 6, 1903. Mr. F.P. Johnson, Secretary of Cole Cattle and Horse Growers Assn., has promised to attend and give a talk on organization and the State Board of Inspection Commissioners would be there and give a talk about mange and brand inspections. Tell everyone interested in stock raising to be present and enjoy the rich treat that will be given by these gentlemen. The business meeting will be at 10:00 sharp. The speaking 1:00 sharp. Cattle infected with the mange or itch could be detected in the following way: The animal would show a constant desire to scratch or rub. The coat would be rough and bald spots would become encrusted with a scaly scab. If one or more animals were infected the whole herd would be considered infected. The "Mange" finally ran its courge and was completely eradicated due to the combined efforts of all concerned. The number of cattlemen attending the Kit Carson Livestock Association meetings started to fall off and before too many years no meetings were held at all as there seemed to be nothing of vital importance to come that affected cattlemen. The association became inactive. In the early 1900's the cattlemen were trying to improve the quality of their cattle. Harry Cox, one of the big ranchers, went east to get some good blooded stock to add to his herd. Cattle at this time were selling at $3.75 to $4.00 a head for calves and that was consider- ed a fair price. Many were contracted for future delivery around the Flagler area at that price. Some were contracted at an even lower price. Good yearling calves from a registered bull were selling at $12.00 a head. Cattle would be pastured for $1.00 a head for the entire season, May 1 to October 15. Salt and good water and good care would be given them. The shipping prices at this time were very high in comparison for what the cattleman received for his cattle after they reached market. Some declared that they hardly brought enough to pay the shipping bill. The association was active off and on through the next several years. On December 15, 1941, a group of men, composed of George Baxter, Fred Page, C.E. Murphy, B.H. Short, Claude Erwin, A. Pugh, George Ohrman, H.J. Geiken, George Bancroft, Rosser Davis, A.W. Adolf, Harley Rhoades, O.C. Dunlap and Charlie Peterson, met at Stratton, Colorado, at a Farm Bureau Meeting to consider reviving the Livestock Assn., with O.C. Dunlap as the president and Rosser Davis as the secretary. They agreed to affiliate with the Colorado Stockgrowers and Feeders Association. The purpose of this Association was to improve the quality of cattle raised in Kit Carson County, and to study their diseases and cure. Also to work on the tax assessments and laws on legislation concerning the cattle too. Years ago a plastic steer was purchased for a promotional tool in the county. [t was used in some parades and then sat for several years unused. In 1981, it was suggested to make a special platform for the steer and put on official display. The steer can now be seen on Highway 385 next to the John Buol Feedlot. The cattlemen's association sponsored a Light Cattle Management Seminar held in Stratton. In 1982, Colorado State University was doing this seminar throughout the state. The cattlemen in the area really benefited from it. The CSU Extension Office in the county has helped the association so much during the years, a thank you just isn't enough. With the changing years, the office was in need of a computer. When brought to the cattlemen's attention in 1983, they were glad to donate $1,000 to the computer fund. The Extension Office has been a great help in preparing for the 1986 Colorado Cattlemen's State Convention. The computer saved many hours of work and frustration. It has also helped update our membership list for the regular mailings and the annual membership drive. Besides all the help the Extension Office does with the Feedlot Performance Contest, without them it would almost be impossible to get everything done on time. The Futures are always a concern of the cattlemen and the farmers. Lots of discussion has been held on the Futures, in private and public. November of 1983 found Lowell Corliss and Ralph Conrad attending a Fu- tures Meeting in Denver. There were 11 states represented and at the end of the day it was agreed that the Futures are detrimen- tal to the cattle industry. Resolutions from the associations were sent to the different state associations encouraging that something be done about the Futures. Through industry. In L944, they started sponsoring "The the state associations or the National Cattlemen's Association, today this is an issue Catchit" calf contest at the County Fair and that is still being worked on. kept this practice for a number of years, until the Kit Carson County Hereford Breeders took it over. For several years they held a The Kit Carson County Fair is one of the biggest events in the county. The fair queen has lots of responsibilities during that week cattle grading demonstration at individual and all during the year representing the farms. county at other events statewide. The cattlemen and cowbelles were approached to sponsor new leather banners for the queen and her attendant. In 1984, the first leather In 1953, the Cattlemen's Association sponsored a stocker and feeder sale. Buyers from far distances came to these sales because of the good quality of cattle offered for sale, most of them being raised right here in Kit Carson County, These sales went on for many years. Kit Carson County has been an "Accredited T.B. Free" area for cattle since in the 1930's, when all herds had been tested and all T.B. cattle disposed of. In 1958, the cattlemen started working to get the county a "Certified Brucellosis (Bangs) Free" area. The neighboring coun- ties were doing likewise. 1962 saw the comple- tion of this project. The cattlemen have been busy during the last few years in many ways. In 1979, the Kit Carson County Cattlemen's Association continued its support of the 4-H Livestock Judging Team. Youth in the county is very important to the association, they are our leaders and future in the cattle industry. Our beautiful landmark at the fairgrounds is a pride throughout the county. A donation to the restoration of the Carousel was definitely in line from the cattlemen in 1979. The ending result will be the pride of the future, banners were made which the girls would be able to keep after their reign. Shandra Adolf, 1984 Kit Carson County Fair Queen, wore the banner sponsored by the Kit Carson County Cattlemen's Association, The association also sponsored the banner for Becky Corliss, 1986 Kit Carson County Fair Queen. The association also works hard at continu- ing the Catch-It-Calf program during the county fair. Russell Corliss is the chairman and fair superintendent over this event. The cattlemen enjoy working with the community. They have served two barbeques, one in 1984, for the dedication of the new county airport. In 1985, for the Mike Lounge Day - to celebrate the communities own astronaut! The cattlemen continue with their Feedlot Performance Contest as a fun and learning experience. The contest also provides the funds to annually give out a scholarship to each school for a senior that will be going into an agriculture major. Hopefully encouraging the growth of the industry. The present officers and board of directors �make the association strong and able to continue, they are: 1986-1987 President Charles Clapper; Vice President - John Nichols; Secretary - Lowell W. Corliss; Recording Secretary - Susan Corliss, Board of Directors, District 1, Jim Dobler, Rolland Nider, Gary Rhoades, District 2, Roger Kliesen, Patrick Hornung, Ron Gramm, District 3, Gregg Loutzenhiser, Eddie Fuller and Ervin Jones. by Susan Corliss KIT CARSON COUNTY COWBELLES T93 On October L4, 1954, the cattlemen and their wives had a dinner meeting in the Montezuma Party Room in Burlington. The purpose of this meeting was to organize a Cowbelle group in Kit Carson County. The Cattlemen attended to their business and Marguerite Klamm from the State Office explained the work of the Cowbelles. The Kit Carson County Cowbelles was then organized, with Burdine Homm elected to serve as president, and Avis Bader elected as secretary. The Cowbelles metwiththe Cattlemen and arranged for the social and entertainment part of the meeting, and had charge of the refreshments. The first year they were organized, they gave cookbooks (Beef recipes) to most of the new brides in the county. To take care of their finances, they would serve at the various cattle sales in the countv. They affiliated with the State Cowbelie Association. The Cowbelles have been active during the past twenty years plus, on their own and by working with the Kit Carson County Cattlemen's Association. During these years, they have had several presidents. The years were unavailable which they served. Mabel Parke, Mabel Scheierman, Florence Fuller, Anita Price, Nancy Pratt, and presently Virginia Corliss have been the presidents to keep the association alive. Years ago the Cowbelles worked together to make a beautiful brand quilt. Hazel Mitchum embroidered the quilt and Nettie Hasart quilted it. The quilt was then raffled off and won by Mabel Parke. The Kit Carson County Cattlemen's and Cowbelles'Annual Banquet is held in April each year. The Cowbelles furnish their brand nepkins, placemats, and table decorations. The table decorations are always given away as the Cowbelles' doorprizes. Most years feature a raffle for a leather tooled clock, telephone book cover, album, hanging lamp, or many other leather items. The Cowbelles created a brand napkin years ago. The napkins are used at the Annual Banquet every year and for many years at the Hoof and Horn Restaurant. In 1985, with many of the brands outdated, the Cowbelles revised their napkin. The napkins were really appreciated during the Colorado Cattlemen's State Convention in 1986. To help promote the beef industry, the Cowbelles have entered several floats into the Little Britches Parade. In 1982, the Cowbelles float followed the theme, "Now and Then" on how to cook beef (from the sampfire to the outdoor barbeque). The Cowbelles took first in their division. For three years, the Cowbelles gave the Kit Carson County Memorial Hospital beef to serve to its patients on Father's Day. This project was cnlled Beef for Father's Dav. Later, the Cowbelles continued the Beef for Father's Day. Something new for Father's Day? Yes, they surprised one "Expecting" father. The first baby born on or after Father's Day won his/her new Daddy a beef certificate at a local grocery store. Iris Roths was the chairman for the Beef for Father's Day for several years. The June Beef Month continued in 1982 with all the June brides receiving a Cowbelle Cookbook from the Kit Carson Countv Cowbelles. Gay Cure was the chairman of the June Bride Committee. The Kit Carson County Fair is always a big event in the county. The Cowbelles have offered their support in several ways. The past six years the Kit Carson County Cowbelles have put up an informational booth with all kinds of beef tips and also offering the Cowbelles Cookbook for sale. In 1984 and 1986, the Cowbelles have sponsored the Kit Carson County Fair Attendant's banner. During the Beef Round-Up in lg82 at Digchner's IGA, the Cowbelles lent a hand. One day during the promotion Marcia Kliesen handed out packets of literature. During the rest of the two weeks, the customers sampled Beef Brownies, Beef Candy, and a couple more of the recipes from the Cowbelles Cookbook which were made bv Virginia Corliss. Dischner's IGA placed in the Beef Round-Up Contest. In 1984, the Cowbelles again helped by passing out beef samples. The Kit Carson County Hereford Breeders Association celebrated their 40th Annual Sale. The Cowbelles had a booth il1d gnmples of Beef Jerky made by Susan Corliss. The Cowbelles gave a donation to the 1g84 Cattle Drive for Hunger campaign. The drive was to help the less fortunate through organizations such as the Salvation Army. The Career Days in the Stratton High School found the Kit Carson Countv Cowbelles promoting beef. With lots of litlrature and the Colorado Cowbelles Beef Buzzer Board, the Cowbelles were kept busy by juniors and seniors from all over the local area. Marcia Kliesen,, Dee Cure, and Virginia Corliss worked during the Career Days. The Cowbelle Beef Cook-Off is a big event at the State and National levels. In 1984 and 1986, Kit Carson County has had entries. The Colorado Cowbelles have started a new cookoff. The Beef Bash is designed for Home Economics students in the state. The Beef Bash was held on March 28, 1986, in Greeley, Colorado. The Kit Carson County Cowbelles put an added incentive for the schools in the county. One entrant from each school would receive 925 and show their display at the 1986 Annual Banquet. The student participating was from Stratton - Patsy Miltenberger. She received Honorable Mention in the contest. Officers for 1986-1987: President - Virginia Corliss; Vice President - Marcia Kliesen and Secretary - Sharon Powell. by Susan Corliss EASTERN PLAINS ANGUS ASSOCIATION T94 The Eastern Plains Angus Association was formed in 1952 to market Registered Angos cattle. The Colorado Angus Association asked that districts be formed to help market Registered Angus. The districts and associations did not stop at the county or even the state line. Many members were from different counties and the edge of different states. These sales were held annually at the Kit Carson County Fair Grounds cattle barn. One sale was held at Producers Sale Barn. Eastern Plains Angus Association had a sifting committee that went around and checked the cattle at the different consigners, this kept the quality of the cattle offeied in the sales high. The first president was A.W. Adolf from Bethune, Colorado. Some of the directors and officers were: Marvin James, Burlington; A.W. Lambert, Yuma; Floyd Witmore, Burlington; W.R. Rehfeld, Arapahoe; Paul pollreis, Kit Carson; Chester James, Burlington; Jim Redfield, Arapahoe; Bill Lambert, Yuma; Terry James, Burlington; Carlyle James, Burlington; Doren Whitmore. Burlington; Bill Koeller, Vona; all from Colorado and William A. Davis, Goodland; Edwin Rainbolt, Kanarado; Ted Eberhart, Kanarado; all from Kansas. In 1944 A.W. Adolf bought approximately 20-25 head of registered Angus cattle from Mr. T.A. Smart from Missouri. He became a lifetime member of the Aberdeen Angus Association in May of 1949. Other Angus breeders and commercial Angus breederJ of Kit Carson County are: Lyle James, Burlington; Joe Garner, Stratton; Jacob Smit, Vona; Ray Plummer, Burlington; A.W. Adolf, Bethune; Buck Fisher, Flagler; Sidney Hunt- zinger, Flagler; Al Kitten, Stratton; Dave Richards, Burlington; Harry Smit, Vona; Burton Smit, Vona; Eddie Fuller, Flagler; Roy Johnson, Burlington; George Paintin, Stratton; Guy Paintin, Stratton; Wayne Davis, Burlington; LeRoyJones, Flagler; Gus Schreiner, Vona; Rueben Schreiner, Vona; John Smith, Vona; Benny Schreiner, Vona, all of Colorado. This is only a partial list. by Chet James DYNAMIC DIMENSIONS, rNC. T95 Dynamic Dimensions, Inc. was originally incorporated as the East Central Colorado Regional Board for Developmental Disabilities in November 1974. Following the com- munity centered program concept its purpose is to provide services for those with developmental disabilities in east central Colorado. The board's first program was the adult life enrichment class that began in July lg7b in Burlington. This activity skills and vocational training center used the current administration building at 1778 Martin Avenue from February 1977 to August 1g80 and moved adult programming to a new facility �educational program. at 1776r/z Martin Avenue. On February 24' 1986 the ECCRBDD officiallY became James Leoffler published the Kit Carson County Chapter's "Moment of Thought" with the initial edition being written on Dynamic Dimensions, Inc. (DDI). The DDI workshop provides vocational training for about 2? adults and features the manufacture of items that are aseembled primarily with the use of indugtrial sewing machines and we recycle aluminum cans. Work evaluation to identify job potential for December 5, 1961. This was an informationfilled letter mailed to every box holder in Kit Carson County and in surrounding areas (approximately 3000). "Moment of Thought" was frequently published during the year and discussed many topics quoting the "Congressional Record", J. Edgar Hoover, community placement as well as work activity for individuals in the workshop setting is also included. The life enrichment area allows clients to gain skills in minimum academic, work idjustment and socialization. Special education studenta between 16 to 21 years of age are also placed at DDI if the staffing process Jim Leoffler and Charlie Turner, Charlies 2 children. and many other authoritative sources. The "Moment of Thought" was the leader in opposing the wheat referendum. The wheat referendum offered government controls of wheat farming. The referendum was defeated in Kit Carson County by a two to one vote. identifies needs appropriate for vocational training there. Developmentally disabled people have potential for growth, development and learning. In order to realize this potential' they muit have the opportunity to make decisions, experience normal daily living, take normal risks and cope with normal consequences' exercise rights and freedoms, and take responsibility for as much of their own lives as pbssible. Our living situations are intended to provide training, guidance counseling and normal life experience to facilitate the developmentally disabled persons growth toqard more independence and self-reliance. This assumes that individuals entering our progrqm have the potential for and in fact will be moved into more independent situations. We do recognize, however, that not everyone will progress at the same pace' nor will everyone always reach a level of independence where they will not need some supervi- and Country. The information from the "Moment of member on March 18, 1962. The local chapter of The John Birch Society was organized in Kit Carson County on October 16, 1961. Don the truth again prevailed. ual needs. national defense only. All other responsibilities are reserved for the states and individ- sion and assistance to accommodate individ- The residential program began in January 19?7 with the opening of one co-educational group home for six adults at 1776 Martin Avenue. This home is currently a residence for eight females, focusing on personal and domestic skill training. A new home at 212 Marion opened in January, 1981, and provides independent living skill training for six males. These homes prepare residents for the semi-independent apartment next step living in the- community. Residential courtselors are available to work with these adults on personal skills and adjusting to community living. As these adults move into total independent living in the community, follow along counselors are available to assist them as needed. by Douglas S. Deines THE JOIIN BIRCH SOCIETY T96 The John Birch Society was founded by Robert Welch, a successful candy manufacturer. The Society was founded in Indianapolis, Indiana during a two-day presentation on December 8 and 9, 1958. Robert Welch chose John Birch as the name of his organization from a Baptist missionary in China who was murdered by the communists a few days after WW II ended. John Birch's beliefs and ideals very much embodied what the John Birch Society supports: Loyalty to God, Family, James Leoffler joined the John Birch Society on May 8, 1961 and becane a life Vondra from Boulder, Colo. was the first state coordinator. The first presentation of The John Birch Society was held a month earlier at the Leoffler home where nine members joined. All but two members continue to live in the community and still are active in The John Birch Society. The chapter membership slowly but steadily grew. The John Birch Society's goal is to return the responsibility of running our lives to each individual by returning to the very limited government that is allowed in the U.S. Constitution. The Constitution sets up a Republic, not a Democracy. Our Founding Fathers realized that a Democracy is a very dangerous form of government. Our Constitutional Republic is limited basically to uals. The John Birch Society is non partisan and functions only as an educational organization. Its sole goal is to educate the American people to the dangers of big government. The quantity of government is more dangerous lhan the quality of government. This is done through meetings, handouts, expert speak- ers, billboards, books, films, videos, letters, and many other lawful means. The Society endured some turbulent years during the 60's. The troubles started when members decided to put up along U.S. 24 a large "Impeach Earl Warren" sign in early December 1962. Earl Warren was the U.S' Supreme Court Chief Justice at that time. The decisions made by the Warren Supreme Court were unconstitutional and destroyed those freedoms guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution. This large sign was burned down, the poles were chopped down, and many other attempts were made to destroy Thought" snowballed until the referendum was soundly defeated nationally two years later. Everyone said it could not be done but Every year the local members traveled with books, brochures, and other educational materials to the National Western Stockshow, Cheyenne Frontier Days, Colorado State Fair, and Kansas State Fair. The members visited many county fairs presenting information to interested Americans. "Get U.S. Out of the U.N." billboards have also been an integral part ofthe JBS progrnm to inform the American people to the dangers of World Government. The billboards are today there warning how the United Nations is designed to destroy America's sovereignty and, therefore, abolishing the freedom we enjoy. JBS members went from door to door having citizens sign petitions demanding that the United States get out of the United Nations. Today the JBS declares that the United States must get out of the United Nations and the United Nations must get out of the United States. Americans are awakening to the dangers of the United Nations. "strike for Less Government" was published in two editions to counter the American Agriculture Movement's demands for more government involvement in agriculture. The demand for parity was asking for total government. "Strike for Less Government" proved that the government is the "middle man" who is charging the consumer the high prices. The local chapter stated that returning to the competitive free enterprise system was the only solution, the government had to be removed. "Tax Reform Immediately" fliers are distributed to inform the American people about how the U.S. Congress is spending America into debt and thus charging our posterity for our expensive spending programs today. These fliers help show the American people how most of this spending is unconstitutional. Also, it shows how each this sign. The members rebuilt the sign after each attempt. Our freedom of speech and private property was under attack. James Leoffler was interviewed in front of the sign by a Denver television station. "The Denver Congressman and Senator votes on spending bills and how much it costs each of us. Today The John Birch Society also publishes every three months the "Larry McDo- published many articles and pictures concerning these signs. A "Newsweek" reporter with the communists is suicidal for America. Why do we spend $300 billion a year to protect ourselves from the communist countries but then give them loans, technology, Post" and "The Rocky Mountain News" interviewed James Leoffler but the "Newsweek" editors only published a picture of the sign. Some of the people who were misled and helped to destroy the signs came back later and helped put the signs up again. Some even apologized for being deceived and thanked the John Birch members for their nald Crusade to Stop Financing Communism." This flier shows how aid and trading material, and foodstuffs so they can continue to threaten us? This flier algo shows how each congressman and senator votes on bills dealing with aiding and trading with the communists. �John Birch Society members vigorously promoted "Stop Aid and Trade" petitions to send to the United States President, Colorado and United States Senators, and this area's United States Representatives to stop any further aid and trade to the communist countries. Approximately two-thirds of the Kit Carson County residents signed these petitions. The local chapter ofthe John Birch Society sponsors expert speakers for presentation in the area. They mail books, magazine reprints, and any other pertinent material to local residents. Local Chapter members take part in local parades advocating the importance of less government and how powerful groups of people are trying to direct America towards a World totalitarian government. This World government would offer no freedoms to the people of the world and would be operated closely along the same framework as that of communist countries. The John Birch Society follows its slogan: Truth is our only weapon and education is our only strategy. The truth always proves just and the American people are beginning to realize that America is in trouble and what the Society is presenting is being proven correct. The John Birch Society is the voluntary association of individuals whose ultimate goal and belief is that with "less government, more responsibility, and - with God's help - a better world." by James Leoffler ELECTRIC ASSOCIATION TS7 Blomendahl, Roy Bader, and C.L. Hines of Burlington, Elmer Kueker and Art Gaines of Flagler, John Schritter of Bethune and Earl Livingston of Seibert. The first officers elected were Art Gaines, president, Earl Livingston, vice-president, and Elmer Kueker, secretary-treasurer. Trips to Washington, D.C. followed a formal application to REA, but the proposed unit was not considered feasible by REA in view of the high cost of power in this area. Changes in an application plan were turned down a second and third time, but the board persevered despite the grim prospects for REA coming to this area of Colorado. In March, 1948 the board began negotiating with Inland Utilities with offices in Hugo. In May final arrangements were made for purchase at a meeting in Kansas City attended by board members, Inland officials and REA officials. In the summer of 1948 the first loan of $3,875,000 was approved by REA. This loan was to cover the purchase oflnland properties in this area and defray the expense of building the distribution system into Kit Carson County and a generating plant. Hugo, Bovina, Arriba, Seibert, Vona, Stratton, Bethune and Cheyenne Wells were being served by Inland Utilities and the Town of Flagler was purchasing power from Inland on a wholesale basis and retailing to its consumers. On September 10, 1948, Elmer Kueker as treadurer ofthe new REA unit wrote and gave a check for 955,000 to Inland officials at Hugo. The new organization had already been incorporated under the name of K.C. Electric Association. John Rose, who had served as manager for Inland Utilities, was retained as manager for K.C. Electric, as well as all other Inland employees. The first major project was construction of 108 miles of main lines and the construction of distribution system lines throughout Kit Carson County. Completed in 1951, the first rural installation occurred on Thursday, April 26, 1951, at the home of Herbert Klusman, southwest of Flagler. By July the west half of Kit Carson County was mostly energized. The Korean conflict caused shortages of aluminum and copper materials but in general construction proceeded fairly close to schedule. On May 5, 1951, KC Electric began taking power directly from the Bureau of Reclamation Big Thompson project over lines that came to Limon; from there KC took .C. Electric Association original board of direcrs elected in 1945. L. to R.: George Blomendahl, the power. L. Hines, Elmer Kueker, Earl Livingston, Art nes, Thornton H. Thomas (attorney), John systems in the towns served by KC Electric began in spring 1952 with Hugo; Flagler and Arriba in 1953; and later Seibert, Vona and Schritter Records indicate that the first formal action in organizing an REA cooperative in this area of Colorado was in 1942 at a Flagler fiarm Bureau meeting, when Art Gainesjsr. pas appointed to look into the matter. Some palk had gone on in the'30's around Flagler, put nothing transpired in that regard until [he fall of 1943 when a committee appointed py the Kit Carson County Farm Bureau pomposed of Art Gaines and Elmer Kueker pf Flagler and Roy Bader of Burlington began pork to obtain an REA unit for the Kit parson County area. Following meetings with from influential groups late 1944, the up" for REA began in "sign fn [,he county in January of 1945. During 1945 Jnany representatives h meeting of interested persons in the county elected the initial board of directors: George The rebuilding of electric distributions Kit Carson, closing with the rebuilding in Stratton in fall 1954. Subsequent loans were approved which enlarged the area served into rural Cheyenne County. KC now serves 4,236 consumers with 2,201 miles of line in Kit Carson, Cheyenne and Lincoln counties. Annual operating revenue exceeds gl million. 'r-+ I rl � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource History of Kit Carson County Description An account of the resource Brief historical stories and elements from the founding and recent history of Kit Carson County, Colorado. Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Book Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Kit Carson County Date Created Date of creation of the resource. 1988 Subject The topic of the resource history Description An account of the resource A history of Kit Carson County as record in the book History of Kit Carson County. Type The nature or genre of the resource text Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Salmons, Janice Hasart, Marlyn Smith, Dorothy Language A language of the resource English Is Part Of A related resource in which the described resource is physically or logically included. History of Kit Carson County Volume 1 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource text/pdf Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Curtis Media Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/</a> https://kccarchives.cvlcollections.org/files/original/16/415/Flagler.pdf 928934c534abb4d80a58fe631cefdca4 PDF Text Text see if the barn could be put there to compliment the Carousel. After some consideration they decided that the fairgrounds was too small for the barn. Ernest knew that Harold McArthur was going to erect a steel building on some ground that he owned just south of Rose Avenue in Burlington so they talked to Harold about it and of course the first thing that came up was that Harold did not have enough ground to house both his building and the barn. At this time they went to see the barn. Ernest McArthur and Edgar Pratt were sold on having it moved to Burlington. Douglas Hillman owned the barn and had offered to give it to the city or the county if they would move it. Edgar and Ernest then went to the city and found that there would be some ground there for the barn. Rol Hudler, the mayor, did not think that Harold McArthur would cooperate enough to move the building to the barn site, council in Burlington. The work by Ernest McArthur was primary to the conception of "OId Town". Henry Hoskin said that this is the way that he remembers how the idea was born regardIess of whatever anyone else says. Signed Henry Hoskin, board member. Old Town was built to offer the residents in this part of the country a look back at their heritage. With that in mind, the following buildings were either moved to the Old Town location at 480 South 14th Street or they were built as close to 'the way it was' as possible. The main Museum building is known as "The McArthur Building". This building houses most of the unusual antiques. It is a mixture of furniture, paintings, equipment and many, many other items. In this building you will also find the gift shop. In this building you will find a replica of Burlington as it was when it became a town (Incorporated) in the year 1888. Since Old Town is based on eastern Colorado history, a lot of informa- tion and pictures will be available to the viewer. Other buildings in the Old Town complex area as follows: The original Bethune depot; a law office constructed to show a wonderful old Wooten desk and leatherbound law books; a combination bank and land office; a barber shop; an old cream station fully equipped; a wonderful old general store; a blacksmith shop; a large two-story barn where melodramas are held during the summer months; There is an old farm house; a vintage school house; a two-room sod house; a L92l Methodist Episcopal Church from Armel, Colorado; a little frame building full of dolls, a large two-story house built in the early 1900's which is furnished with items dating back to the late 1800's; a drugstore; a saloon; a leather shop; a woodworking shop; a printing office and a research room. There is a brick town square, a wooden windmill and outhouses. You will also find many old-style street lights and boardwalks. The Old Town Board has endeavored to keep these buildings as realistic as possible. Old Town is a community project that was put together to tell the story about Bur- lington and the surrounding area. It is the hope of all involved that this facility will provide jobs as well as promote interest in \ 'l researching our heritage. We also hope this look into the past will bring back fond memories to the older folks and a realization of 'how far we have come'to the young people. -A' r 1 1. I l by Elaine Taylor d,*."'*d^ ..^..". TOWN OF FLAGLER TSll Like many other settlements along the Rock Island Railroad Line, a town's location was determined by the railroad. About every eleven miles, more or less, there was a need to replenish water in boilers of thirsty steamers of that day. Little regard for wishes of early settlers or small existing villages was given by railroad men. This is certainly evident in the location of the town of Flagler. Old Town, 198?, before completion of first phases of construction. but of course Harold was all for it so at this time the city offered to purchase the ground from Kenneth Yersin to place the barn on and Harold offered to put his steel building on the site. They both told Ernest that if he would see that the building was moved they would cooperate. Ernest McArthur contacted the mover from Colby, Kansas and arrangements were made to have the barn moved right ; j i ..*iuio .& ia. 14t' 'l " il':.illl; away, Ernest McArthur was informed that there was a church at Armel that would be donated so Ernest had the church moved to the site. Harold McArthur volunteered to move a small schoolhouse from Cope and Russell McArthur volunteered to erect a blacksmith shop on the site. At this time the city received word that the State of Colorado would build a tourist information center along I-70 at Burlington. The idea of building an "Old Town" similar to the one at Minden, Nebraska was being born and could be a tourist attraction for ELrrlinrrtnn 'fhio irlao aqmo frnm thp nifw a The oldest building and store in Flagler, built in 1890-92, owned by W.H. Lavington. Prior to this his store was housed in a "tent". �of the Rock Island depot and of a new town in the community. While these acts were transpiring, very few noticed a Mr. McGonigal from Colby, Kansas who was very busy a short distance away. He arranged for land and quietly platted a town site about a mile west of Mr. Robinson; this was recorded to have been done in 188? bv one old timer. There is little doubt some beneficial knowledge had taken him to this spot beyond the rail head. The rail head reached Bowser, a good reason for celebration and they did celebrate! Mr. Strode probably found little reason for this as the trackage continued west with no stop near Crystal Springs. Next day, Mr. Robinson wasn't celebrating either as work progressed on west a mile or so and the crew began digging a well which always accompanies a depot. Strangely, the site of well digging was right beside the land and town site Mr. McGonigal had platted! An only structure in the area was a corral, built by the Pubsley brothers, living near Hugo, who ran cattle in the area. School building in 1893, upper right. As the rail head moved westward, progress was closely watched by a few early locals who were hoping for some prosperity in its coming. There was, no doubt, considerable disappointment when the track missed Hoyt by several miles and a new town site named Seibert was established. This occurred about August, 1888. Farther west along a supposed path for the railway was a perfect place to obtain water, an excellent site for a town, near Crystal Springs and quite near the Republican River. Stephen S. Strode had settled there in 1887 and in anticipation of coming trackage, he and a few neighbors platted a town site. Streets were laid out as Chicago, Rock Island, Colorado and Railway going east-west. North-south streets were designated as Front, First, Second and so on. Hopes were high and at this time, Mr. Strode registered a bid for Crystal Springs to become the county seat ofan expected formation ofa new county. Moves were being made to divide Elbert County into several smaller counties in the territory. About this time, Bennet Robinson came to the area flrd samped at the Strode place while he constructed a residence a couple miles west. When he had finished. he established at this location a general store. In honor of a prized dog named Bowser, which had disappeared, he named his site, "Bowser." (referred to by many as "Bowserville"). Mr. Robinson received an appointment as postmaster at Bowser before July, 1888. With an established store and post-office, hopefully along right of way, he felt there would be no doubt as to the location One of the earliest church services held in the neighborhood was conducted by C.W. Smith on July 25th, 1888. Mr. Smith stated it was held in a shack or saloon building, on flat bottom land, about 40 rods northwest of the railroad bridge at the Republican River. The saloon was for convenience of railroad workers there. At a small meeting of railway officials, a name was given the new depot location. They decided to call it Malowe, to honor a railroad attorney, Mr. M.A. Lowell (spelled Mallowin some records). by Lyle W. Stone * * * * *{€ {c rf rlr * * {€ {€ * :l€ The Weekly Register No territory on earth can surpass Eastern Colorado for soil climate and prosperity. Crystal Springs is the least advertised place for its size and age of any place in Colorado. Our numerous springs of pure water is inexhaustible quantities are famous all over the east and when immigrants once reached Elbert County, they are not content until they see Crystal Springs. An abundance of water is appreciated in Colorado and a place so finely favored is certain to fill up in the course of a very short time. Preaching services were held at the S.S. Strode residence last Wednesday evening. Quite a number were present and were well pleased with the service. The track of the Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska is within sixty miles of us and coming at a rate of two miles and one furlong per day. If the track layers continue at this gait, they will reach us by the first of August. Mr. M.A. Lowe, President (?) of the Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska and Mr. W.F. Parker, Chiefengineer ofthe railroad, passed through here last week enroute to Colorado Springs. The party stopped here and had their photos taken and continued their Flagler, looking north toward railroad; Lavington Dry Goods, Williams Drug Store, Rock Island Hotel and water tank visible. overland trip to the Springs, inspecting the work between here and there. The Weekly Register of Crystal Springs, Elbert County, Colorado, July 4th, 1888. by Arch Cunningham �t II TOWN OF FLAGLER l, tiny settlement. First reported structures T3r2 In a matter of days, activity began in the were the railroad section house and water tank. Soon, soddie walls began to appear and other structures began, almost frantically, to take shape. A town well was hand dug northeast of the present municipal maintenance shop. A windlass was used to wind out water for locals and their livestock from the well. Mr. W.H. Lavington and John W. Augustine erected in partnership, a large horse tent. In this tent they operated the settlement's first general store. A fall chill arrived and tents used by railroad gangs gave little protcction from chilly nights. These tents would be little protection from winter's bitter cold. This may be the reason for frantic building in the beginning of settlement history. It is possible some distaste for the nnme given the settlement existed among its Smith Evans Land Company and the I.O.O.F. Hall' built in 1906. residents. After all, railroad men had named it. An opportunity to change this appeared with a reported visit to the rail head of an investor interested in checking on progtess of the railroad. His name was Henry Flagler and reports of his empire in Florida preceded him. A city had been named to honor him. He had just built a fine hotel, the "Ponce De Leon" and he proposed to build a rail line down through the keys. He had performed miracles in transforming part of Florida into a garden spot. To commemoratc his visit, a plan to rename the settlement and afford him a proper welcome was devised. A new name, Flagler, was acceptable; a very new hotel, hastily erected by Mr. Keegan, was renamed "Ponce De Leon," with an appropriate sign affixed to be visible from the depot. An additiond sign was painted and placed near the section - house to asgure recognition of the hotel's name. A gala celebration was January 20, 1909, "spring Fever" on Main St. Third from left is Frank Gibson' Kneeling with fishing pole i. C"tt i.t"tron. Bila Lavirigton in white blouse near "Colby Flour" seat and Bill Heiserman with long fishing pole and straw hat. -1 planned. A 1918 Progress Edition of The Flagler News and The Flagler Progress newspapers record the events of this visit. It was stated Mr. Flagler was quietly pleased with the honors bestowed upon him. (His character did not generally allow him to enjoy celebrations of this sort). Some time later, a banquet was given by Mr. Flagler for people of the area. It was held in Colorado Springs and records tell of nearly 1000 attending. There exists a question of accuracy of this account by one who has researched the life of Henry Flagler. Since the presented data was published in 1918 and should have been prepared with first hand accounts, the story has been presented as described. Postal record date more accurately a change in location of the post - office. The Bowser record has mitten on one of its pages, "Changed sit€ and name to Flagler by order of the Postmaster General, October 13, 1888. Date of communication November 6, 1888." This record marked the end of the existence of a post-office in Bowser. A very early postoffice within the new town was located across the street north of the present Otteman building. (situated in the house once occu- A quiet day in Flagler, 1908, "a one-cow town!" pied by Mrs. Nora Wright, later used as a parsonage). From here the post-office was moved to the John White store building and later to a more permanent location just north �* {c rlc * * rf€ * {€ * * ** rf€ * * FLAGLER EARLY POSTMASTERS At Bowser - Bennett Robinson The Bowser Post Office was moved to the town called Malowe, Jan. 19, 188g - 1st Flagler Postmaster Jelsche Olthoff - to Apr. 30, 1889; May 1, 1889 - 2nd Flagler Postmaster Joseph S. Whitney - to Nov. 30, 1889; Dec. 1, 1889 - 3rd Flagler Postmaster W. H. The Hotel Watters. Lavington - to ? The first Congregational minister was Rev. M. H. Meade. The first instrument filed in the County Clerk and Records office was the bond of County Clerk and Recorder, Edward R. McCrillig. The first warranty deed filed was a deed from J. B. McGonigal to the trustees of the Congregational Church in Flagler. The trustees were: W. Brown, John W. Hunt and W. Landen. Rev. Meade's residence was presumably in Seibert. The first marriage license was issued to Owen S. Small and Zippora Bryant. Marriage rite performed by Rev. M. R. Meade of Seibert. ,1.**{€{€********** Depot, Pump House and Water Tank, first buildings built in the new town of Flagler, Sept. 1988. of the present Williams Pharmacy Store. (it is possible other locations may have existed). A move much later was made to its present location. Under the name, Flagler, the small community began to grow. Mr. Wm. Schuler established a store where later the Flagler Hotel would be built. He served as postmaster, according to his recollection, following Mr. Lavington. A first frame home was built by Mr. Henry Brown. In 1889 Mr. Lavington built a new frame house about two blocks north and one west. by Lyle W. Stone �****rl€tl€********* On Thursday, George O. Gates purchased the F.E. Barnett abstract business books. This set of books is said to be the most complete accord of lands in Kit Carson County either of land tracts or city lots. Mr. Gates is one of the best qualified in this line of work as he serued with credit for four years as county recorder and was deputy recorder Smith - Bernard, 1908-1914. for two years, and possesses a thorough hnowledge of Kit Carson County titLes. The First Congregational minister was Reu. M.H. Meade. The first instrument filed in the County Clerk and Records office was the bond of County Clerk and Recorder, Edward R. McCrillig. The first warranty deed filed was a deed frorn J.B. McGonigaL to the trustees of the Congregational Church in Flagler. The trustees were: W. Brown, John W. Hunt and W. Landen. Reu. Meade's residence was presumabLy in Seibert. The first matiage license was issued to Owen S. Small and Zippora Bryant. Marriage rite perforrned by Reu. M.R. Meade of Seibert. *tf *t*{€***tlc**{c** *fut The Flagler Hotel built 1910-11, later was the Flagler Hospital run by Dr. McBride and Dr. John Straub. Today is the city hall and library. _) r\, 'it 'l �. .. . .:.):::..: . down in 1901. Mr. Robinson moved his store from Bowser to Flagler but later sold out and 't::alii .. moved away. It is evident much activitv occurred in the town of Flagler at this time. In 1895 the first class to graduate in Kit Carson County under a recognized .orl.r" oi study was the eighth grade at Flagler. Thev were taught under the direction of Mrs. tt' Charlotte (Rose) Godsman. She later serveJ at Burlington as principal to establish this course-of study there. This same year Leon .' E. Lavington finished his first schotl year; he was the first child born in the town of irtagier. It is generg-lly accepted among ,".""r."h* that Freda Huntley (Robb) wasihe first child born in the Flagler neighborhood. She was a daughter fo Mr. and Mrs. George W. Huntley, very early homesteaders. A sbddie, located about a block west of the Odd-fellows HaI on the main avenue, served as the first school. -, A first recorded teacher was Miss Mary .,::;,::.tl,l; .: An elevator shot showing Flagler in the early days. Crofteri. School was then held in a buildini constructed for a Congregational Churcf, until a grade school building was completed about 1893. Mr. J.W. Augustine wtro naJ been in.partnership with Mr. Lavington was one of the early school teachers, latei becom_ ing Kit Carson County Superintendent of Schools. Mr. C.W. Smith seried the commu_ nity as a minister and also was an early school teacher. The first doctor recorded in the new village was Dr. P.B. Godsman and may not haie lived here permanently. A first doctor remembered by one old timer was Dr. Allen. s,aying he was the first to stay here. Dr. Godsman was present at an investigation of the first murder in Kit Carson Couity, that of Mr. Harry Hatch. Mr. Hatch livedabout three miles west of Flagler. Dr. O.S. Neff arrived early, a relative of Mrs. William (Mamie Neff) Strode. He arrived at the Neff homestead from Chicago. He was suffering from TB and came for health ,"".orr.] Apparently, the climate was beneficial to hip. A.Dr. Schroyer, physician and surgeon, sold his building and stock to Or. fr. L. C'W' Smith built this beautiful hotel in 1893. Mr. Fry later made his home and ran the Republican paper, "The Flagler Advance". the hotel as well as TOWN OF FLAGLER T313 Charles Bernard opened a hardware store where the present First National Bank is located. This store was later sold to Henrv W. Brown. Earl Brown, his son, operated this store in later years at a location across the street north, where his father had built in later years. A lumber yard was established bv George Cornell located north ofa unique new home. He hauled his first supplies from Hugo where the family also operated a lumberyar-cl. This lumber was hauled by tenm and wagon. Mr. Cornell built a residence which is nowlhe lr_orye o{ John Herzog and family. Colby Hefnew built the Cottage Hotel. Across thl street southwest of the Cornell lumber yard -and was a livery barn and corrals owned operated by Mr. J.A. Mahlsteh. (in the area f*,;'.-'-' of the present bird seed packaging plant). Mr. Keegan operated his "Ponce De Lion" hotel rlong wiht a very active livery stable. Records fell us this hotel was located where the 100F building was later erected. The hotel burned First Flagler Day in 1914. Williams who arrived later, almost by acci_ dent, in the little hamlet. Dr. Williams was impressed with the community in about 190g when he observed it during an unplanned stop over in Flagler. �x Langcamp, Ann-a-Lavington, Money-making project for christian Endeavor society; Left to right --pthe-t i. S"iln U"a."r*ood, Mr.. gilagett, Mrs. Young (thoBarber's wife), Mrs. Jennie Williams, Mrs. Heiney' The "Weekly Register" published an issue at Crystal Springs on July 4, 1888. The next igsue was pubhsned at Malowe; no records tell us of its demise. Arch Cunningham was the publisher. A first publication after this was a small religous paper, "The Messenger of Love," published at a homestead south- west of Flagler by C.W. Smith. Mr. Smith was persuaded- by Mr. Lavington and David S*"yr"" to begin publishing a new newspa- per, "The Flagler Advance," in October, iagr. U.. C.W. Smith then built a house in Flagler, publishing the Advance in the basement. He later sold the house to J.J. Fry' Mr. Smith said it was an unique time in history as all county publishing went outside of Builington with no paper located there. by Lyle W. Stone pill,l,i RnNT Early day Flagler restaurant. �The Flagler Drayman. ress," a first permanent newspaper in 1908. "The Flagler News" was established in l91B by Edward Krutchen. A large number of homesteaders and settlers arrived in the late 1800s and earlv 1900s. The National Bank was established in 1908, the oldest banking institution in Kit Carson County. W.H. Lavington bought a frame building on main street to house his Dry Goods and Grocery store near the k$i - *.,,' present location of the Stop and Shop Grocery. This store had been owned bv M.F. Roberts, established in 1900 and sold to Mr. Lavington in 1902. Dr. H.L. Williams established his office and drug store across the street south of the Lavington store where Don Jones now operates his dairy. W.H. Lavington built a grain elevator. Real estate offices appeared, one operated by C.M. Smith. Mr. Smith and Mr. Bernard operated a real estate office together for a time, located jlryt north of the present Municipal Building. The Flagler Hotel was built by W.H. Lavington and W.L. Price and operated by H.B. Blanken. This hotel was complete with a dining hall and kitchen. This building is the present Municipal Building. Just south of the Flagler Hotel was located the Straub building, a lumber and hardware outlet. South of the Straub building, an early 100F Hall was erected where the Ponce De Leon hotel had burned. This was the site of an improved building in later years. An April 26, 1915 edition of the Flagler News announces that the next issue will be ; Otis Messick & Son and Bob Kelley. TOWN OF FLAGLER T3l4 published by William A. Borland of Brush. Colo. Mr. Borland had visited previously and had looked at several newspapers in the area. He was impressed by the activity, wide main ff fr f /{/4' The advance "died of starvation" in 1894. Charles E. Gibson, a homesteader living south of town, started "The Flagler Prog- *.' FaIl Festival in Flagler, 1914. In center ie Livery Stable where homesteaders kept ;heir horses when coming to seek a homestead site. �**'T K,ffi ->' *{STE * Caravan of motorcycles in front of the Flagler Hotpl. 'i **,1 ',' Lavington's float in the parade. Looking north on Main Street in the Fall of 1910-11. using materials for a garage. Seal Hall was the center of local plays, movies and community events. The Watters Hotel was the scene of local elections and a good place to eat a meal. The growing town of Flagler was without recorded official government for some time. A Flagler Commercial Club existed and was instrumental in promoting the idea of incorporation. At one of their meetings, it was pointed out that side walks, electric plants, water systems, etc., were better handled by a municipal organization. It seems town affairs and financing for needed improv- The Farmers State Bank built in 1912-14 and Reed's Cash Store & Grocery. street and general pride in the community he found here. The Simpson Clothing Store opened February 20, 1915 in the old pool hall south of Dr. H.L. Williams Drug Store. Gromer Brothers opened a new lumber yard in 1915; bad weather hampered its winter construction. At a school election in May, 1915, plans were discussed for a bond issue to build a new high school in Flagler which was soon built. In October, Dr. F.M. Thomas of Macon, Mo. Iocated in Flagler. He began a practice of Osteopathy at the residence of G.W. Johnston. J.C. Straub sold his lumber yard to Gromer Brothers and E.S. Johnson Lumber Company, saying three years were too many for the town. He then bought the ements was accomplished with a poll tax imposed by agreement of its citizens. This continued for some time after incorporation of the town. by Lyle W. Stone TOWN OF FLAGLER T315 In early 1916 petitions were circulated to assess the feeling of residents of Flagler on the matter of incorporating. An official petition was submitted to H.L. Haynes, Judge of the County Court. The court approved the action and appointed a commit- Seal and Seal Hardware stock. E.A. Malbaff broke ground for a new blacksmith shop across the road from the Lemar livery barn. The building was 24 x 50 feet and built of concrete blocks. Mr. Malbaff was operating a shop near or where Lyle Plumb later operated a shoe shop, (Jim Toney Shop). In early 1915, Dr. H.L. Williams began construction of a new concrete and brick building south of the post office. The post office was then located just south of the W.E. Hall, (Ottomans) brick store where H.C. Carper operated his barber shop in later years. Dr. Williams sold his old store to the Beatrice Creamery Company and Wm. Knies, local manager. It is possible Dr. Williams bought the post office building later First black Angus cattle in this area owned by the Lucore's of Arriba, shown at the Flagler Fall Festival in 1914. Frank Gibson, first car owner in Flagler. tee to cause publication and notice of an election in the matter. On October 17, 1916, an election was held at the Watters Hotel, with 116 votes cast, 107 in favor ofincorporation and 9 against. A Certificate oflncorporation from the State of Colorado is dated November 22, 1916. The incorporation committee, H.B. Blanken, W.H. Lavington, E.T. Epperson, D.D. Buck and Elaine Briggs called for an election to be held December 12, 1916 to elect one mayor and six trustees. On that date, Leon E. Lavington was elected mayor, A.J. Lockwood, J.H. Seal, H.B. Blanken, W.W. Reynolds, I.N. Moberly and J.W. White were elected trustees. Since that time long ago, mayors serving the town of Flagler are listed, along with date of oath and some other information. Leon E. Lavington - Dec. 1916; Leon E. Lavington - March 1918; W.R. Heiserman April 1920; Dr. H.L. Williams - (chose not to qualify) - April 1922; R.M. Farquhar (retained office) - April 1922; Dr. H.L. Williams - April 1923;P.T. Bonham - April 1925; Dr. H.L. Williams - April 1927; M.P. Williams - April 1929; Robert S. Bryan April 1930. George P. Gibbs - April 1932, Second Term - April 1934;Will Kliewer - April 1936; J. A. Fruhling - April 1938, Second Term - April 1940, Third Term - April 1942, Fourth Term - April 1944; T. Guard - April 1946; Dan Schlagle - April 1948; Leon E. Lavington, Jr. Term - April 1952; - April 1950, Second Robert Snell - (resigned Jan 1955) - April 1954; Ira Ferrier - (Appointed) - Jan 1955; �., l,.Si!s Civil War veterans, 1906. Fall Festival parade. F. A. Ottoman - April 1956; Russell R. Goodwin - April 1958; H. C. Carper - April 1960; David Rowden - April 1962, Second Term - April 1964; F. A. Ottoman - April 1966; Lyle W. Stone - April 1968, Second Term - April 1970; Richard Peterson - April a first effort to change to electric lighting occurred in a local garage; plans to furnish power to business places on main street were considered. In 1916 the wooden water tank The men in the Modern woodman organization. 1972; Rynold Fager - April 1974; Richard D. Stevens - April 1976, Second Term - (Resigned Sept 1979) - April 1978; Donald L. Jones - (Appointed) - Sept 1979; Robert L. Eikerman - (four year term) - April 1980; Steven E. Goering - April 1984. by Lyle IV. Stone TOWN OF FLAGLER T316 On June 8, 1916, the first senior class graduated from Flagler High School. In 1916 The Royal Neighbors ladies 1. Ive Reynolds; 2. Marry Girvin; 3. Mrs. Monor; 4. Millie Gibbs; Sarah White; 6. Jennie Williams; 7. ElIa Lavington; 8. Loura Davison. Early day citizens of the Flagler area: L. to R.: Mr.Rich; Mr. Boyd; Mr. Quinn; Mr. Mottinger. belonging to the Rock Island Railroad was replaced with a new steel one located farther north of the tracks. A park was promised by the railroad at the time. (I wonder if it ever developed?). The Flagler Telephone Com- pany had lines in operation both north and south of Flagler in 1917. Ida Howland operated a Millinery Shop, probably just south of the building now occupied by Terry's (Cafe). W.R. Heiserman operated a Mortuary; a "motor hearse" was part of the equipment. Dr. F.M. Thomas practiced as an Osteopath. Gromer Brothers operated a lumber yard. J.W. White was proprieter of a Barber shop: "Bring in your laundry Mondays and your hair and whiskers an5rtime." S.A. D. Culbertson bought the Watters Bros Meat Market. Princess Theatre was operated by M.R. Gromer and was showing silent movies. E.A. Malbaff had installed a new disk rolling machine. In January, 191?, Dr. E.W. Reid came to Flagler; he was expected to practice in the Straub building, just south of the Hotel Flagler. Stock was being sold in The Flagler Oil and Gas Company, who were drilling for oil nearby. In 1917 a petition to create a new county, to be named Flagler, was circulated and presented to the state legislature. Reason given was a distance of 50 to 60 Afternoon, 1913 or 1914, Fourth of July celebration, man in black suit is Dr. Neff. miles to the county seat. This bill was defeated in the next session. �A progress edition of the Flagler Progress and Flagler News was published in early 1918. In December the two newspapers merged to become The Flagler News, owned and published by William Borland. Newspaper items in 1917 and 18 include the effects of World War I on the community. August, 1917, Dr. M.C. Traw, DDS passed the examinations for the dental reserve corps, subject to call by his country. He had been practicing in the community for some time. In January, 1918, a publication of members of a home guard appeared, listing prominent members of the community. Arlie Wilson bought the W.E. Hall building in 1918. During this year a flu epidemic was rampant in the community; business places were visited only by necessity and public meetings were banned at times. Many died of what was often termed "Spanish Influenza." In 1919 casing arrived for the new oil well; some time later, the hole was pronounce dry. A soda fountain with all the "fizzes" wag installed by H.H. Kliewer at Dr. Williams pharmacy. Supt. C.H. Allen continued his work at Flagler High School in 1919 and the Flagler News installed a new modern Li- notype. This year the Flagler Fire Depart- Early day baseball team. mentwas organized. Jesse Yocum was elected first fire chief. The Flagler Hotel changed management: P.P. Stromeyer to Gus Mayot. In April, Wm. I. Sutton purchased stock and fixtures of Pedergon's Cafe. H.G. Grey barber shop changed management to its original proprietor, John W. White. One Barber Shop was located just south of the Straub building, north of the 100F Hall. An election was held on September 23, 1919 to decide whether or not Flagler would have a water works. Before the end of this year, work on the system had commenced. A decision to install an electric light plant occurred in 1919. Bids for the power house were received in November. The'20s were busy years in the community with Flagler becoming a business hub of the area. In December, 1921, electric power from the Flagler plant was turned into a heavy line serving the town of Seibert. These were years of many people and most towns did well in Kit Carson County. In L927 a few of the business places were The Flagler Lumber This colt, named "Liberty" was donated by H.C. Jones to the Red Cross of Flagler and was raffled off on April 13, 1918. \ Yard operated by John R. Miller, Palace gs Meat Market and Grocery - Chas. Jackson, J.A. White Hardware, Flagler Garage Wright and Fruhling, Leon E. by Lyle W. Stone Bert and Agnes Soule. After a big snow. TOWN OF FLAGLER Lavington - (Fords), The Flagler Hardware Co. - G.H. Rice, First National Bank - W.H. Lavington, Sanitary Barber Shop - E.W. Conarty, The Farmers Union, W.L. O'Brian DDS, Shaw Mortuary - Hamer Shaw, B.L. Miller Dray and Transfer, Nels Jorgensen (International Harvestor - Atwat- T3r7 er Kent), Leroy E. Cuckow (auto parts, wagons - equipment) and The Flagler Mercantile Co. - H. B. Blanken. In 1928, some ofthe business places, a few may have been active earlier were Flagler Cash Store - C.E. Reavis, Flagler Cleaners O.A. Groves, Red and White Food Co. - Bob Bryan, Royal Theatre, Jackson's Store Chas. Jackson, Home Market (in Jackson's The fire was started by a coal heater in the depot, winter of 1931. All ready and no place to go? 1923. store) - Noah Wold. The shock of a national financial upset in late 1920s is apparent in local history when �ads for autos and equipment begged for a change in the system where loans and charge sales could again be used. In 1929 people of TOWN OF FLAGLER T318 Flagler turned down a bid from Rocky Mountain Utilities for purchase of the light plant. This was accomplished at a vote of the people in August. Sam Combs bought a barber shop from E.W. Conarty. Nels Jorgen- sen was selling Desotos and then Crystler cars. Chas. Jackson called his store the Golden Rule Cash Store. Arthur Robb was operating Flagler Variety Store. Some other business places were White Eagle Service Station - Delbert Todd, Fred Mosher Grain - Jay Roberts, Flagler Filling Station - Pearl Lord, S.E. Teeter (cream, poultry and eggs), Leech Hardware, Guthrie's Shoe Store, Farmers Union - G.M. Baxter, Flagler Bakery Joseph Werner, Hollywood Cream Station C.B. Dean, Williams Pharmacy - H.L. Williams, Earl Browns (stil in business from long ago), and others. Walter Conarty, Kit Carson County sheriff from this area, was faced with the Orville Lindberg murder near Burlington. Mrs. Straub received a recommendation for postmaster. The Royal Theater of Flagler was making plans for new Train wreck, not identified. Train wreck near Flagler in the early 1930's. Minar. The 1936 business places include Shaw Mortuary, Palacy Cafe - May and Jay Roberts, Martin Shoe Shop, Carpers Barber and Beauty Parlor - H.C. Carper Olivette - movies with sound! In April, 1930, Sam Sprague was repairing the Rock Island Hotel. Clarence Wright began building the Wright Building, (Grand Theater). In August, O.M. Olsen bought the Rock Island Hotel. After a question of showing movies on Sunday was resolved, the Grand Theater opened. T. Guard bought the Flagler News about 1933. Pearl Lord opened a large adobe building along Highway 24 in March, 1934. It was expected to house a restautant, garage, filling station and rooms for rent. The 1930s were the dusty and dry years; many left the area. Dr. O'Brian moved away to Las Animas and Dr. Austin of that place came to Flagler, leaving again in October for Eagle, Colorado. Survival became a problem in the area. It did rain but these usually cnme in torrents and run off due to dusty conditions caused unforgettable floods, one breaking all records in 1935. Many travelers were stranded in Flagler at this time; supplies for the town were terminated in both directions. Lives were lost along the Republican River. Marion Williams operated Williams Pharmacy and children of this time will remember when he traded an ice creem cone for an egg on special days! Mrs. Gibbs Fall of 1944 train wreck which happened in a terrible fog. operated a small candy store on the west eide of main avenue, visited often by the children with their weekly allowance of a nickel. C.M. Smith was serving as Kit Carson County Judge in Burlington. Flagler Hospital was opened in the remodeled Flagler Hotel building by Dr. W. L. McBride of Seibert. A few other 1930s businees places were Law Land Office - W.H. Law, The Palace Barber Shop - Mr. and Mrs. J.A. Embree (later Campbell). Oliver Blanken was selling Willys - Overland, Willys - Knight and Whippet cars in the early 30s, Diets Funeral Home, Andre Home Mortuary, G.W. Klokenteger, Atty. In 1933 Ruby's Market appeared - W.E. ;-1.:**"";,. Y. Ruby, Tony's Shoe and Harness Repair Shop - Jim Tony, Gladden's Garage - A.K. Glad- den, The Flagler Truck Line - Herron Bros, Deluxe Cleaners - M.E. Harris and Square Deal Garage - Geo. by Lyle W. Stone By the water tower. �and in the fall of 1951, a celebration was Train derailment. planned, centering around an air show. Near the beginning of the celebration, a plane craehed into a crowd of spectators. Twenty were killed and that many injured; most were local. There was never a complete recovery from the shock of this event. Later this same year, the Flagler High School building burned. Very soon a fine new twelve grade school was constructed under the direction of Wm. McKinley after a vote on a bond issue, a tussle over bonding, and a drive for necessary local funds. Lyle's TV & Radio Service was established in 1951 by Lyle and Laura Stone; they purchased T. Guard's refrigeration and electrical business later. In 1956 Flagler installed a modern sewer system with an associated disposal plant. On May 15, 1953, Flagler Hospital closed due to increasing operating costs and ever increasing regulations. Dr. Straub continued to maintain his medical office in the building for a time and then accepted a location, Plains Medical Center in Limon, to continue his practice. Plans were developed for a medical center and later a hospital for the community. A The Republican river bridge on highway 24 east of Flagler after the flood of 1935. medical center was built. Though a permanent doctor was not found. the center was seldom without medical use. In 1964 a strenuoug effort to create indus- Ellis, Bus's Service Station, Dr. C.W. Zink, DDS, Bryan's Red and White, T.H. Hill try in the town of Flagler met with some (Conoco Products), Dr. W.L. McBride, MD, Moffett's Dry Goods Store, Nels Jorgensen ed met failure, a bird seed packaging plant remained, spearheaded by Wayne Fagerlund with help of other local citizens. This bit of industry remains and is a welcome addition (International Harvestor, refrigeration, radio) and Pearl's Garage, Cafe and Rooms (all under one roof). Certainly, there were others. The 1940's held an improvement in weather and with it the second world war. All towns felt losses of young men and their absence from the communities. Dances were accompanied by sale of war stamps and bonds. Scrap drives to produce more iron and needed staples were held. Rationing of tires, gasoline and most commodities became a way of life. Dr. Zink, who had operated a dental office in the community, closed his office to leave for the service. A few cars were sold to very lucky people by Fruhling Motor Company and Lavington Motor Company. It was not unusual to see burnpers of 2 x 6 wood instead of a normal bumper. Jorgensen success. Although most of the projects start- to the business of the town. This plant has been in. by Lyle W. Stone TOWN OF FLAGLER T319 operation for over twenty years. Natural gas was added to the utilities of the town. Hal Borland, son of Wm. Borland, publisher of the Flagler News, wrote many books through the 50s to 70s. He became a distinguished Drilling for oil south of Flagler. author and in 1970 honored his home town with "Country Editor's Boy." A memorial room exists in the Municipal Hall in his honor. In this short paper, only a very small portion of the business places and other entities of the town are listed, space will not allow mention of all things. Certainly, a book could be written about the many facets and endeavors making up the town of Flagler. Businesses of 1987 are many, including The First National Bank, L.P. Gas Service, Ottomans Cash Store and Locker Plant. Creighton Agency, Inc, The Office Recrea- tion Center, Flagler Video USA, Williams Pharmacy, Conoco Bulk Plant, M & S Texaco, Dorsch Grain Company, Flagler Aerial Spraying, D & M Steiger, Flagler Farm Equipment, Coast To Coast, Moss Corner, Flagler Farmers Co-op, Airport Restaurant, Lyle's TV & Radio Service, Flagler Equity Co-op, Colorado Bird Seed Packaging, Colorado Tax Center, R-K Hedging Service, The Mane Event, Randy's Auto Body Shop, Smith Service, Stop and Shop Super Market, Daves Barber Shop, Ron Pottorff Insurance, Terry's (cafe), Don's Dairy, High Plains Wholesale, Lark's Welding, Tip Top Service, Witts Family Store, Rowe Motors, Shideler Electric, Ethel's Beauty Shop, Koch - Opera- tions, Inc, Mac Tools, Agtec Inc, Green Horizons, J & J Parts and Repair, American Legion Club, Don's Liquor, The Flagler News, Fager Sales, Thad-Russ Ceramics, Joels Design Painting, John Shulda Electric, V & L Locks Service, Corky's Sales and Implement Company delivered an occasional International tractor and other needed items. The M&S Garage opened about 1943, so named in a "naming" contest won by Lillian Lord, by Millard and Sylvia Petersen. Flagler installed a 5 HP fire siren near the Malbaff Garage in November, L947. Curtis Clark established a cement block factory. After the war was over, Dr. John C. Straub returned from service and began a practice at the Flagler Hospital. The hospital gained national recognition for its outstanding care and special medical family teem. Just one of many memorable feats at the hospital was saving the life of Ernest Verhoeff, who had been injured internally by a bucking horse, with a new drug called Penicillin. In 1948, The Flagler News was published by a new editor and owners, Clyde and Ruth Coulter. T. Guard retired from the paper and continued in a Refrigeration and Electrical business. Nelson Stake bought and began operating the Flagler Airport. A Rural Fire Protec- tion District, using Flagler firemen, was established in 1948-9. The 1950's held tragedies in store for the town of Flagler. Economy was near a normal Plowing sod with 2 four bottom plows, Roy Bryant equipment. �l,ir' * "-: Threshing bundles of wheat. Service, The Mile Saver Shopper (shopping service publication), Soil Conservation Ser- vice, Bogart Well Service, Fashion Corner and Winfrey & County CPA's. Sincere hope is that none have been missed. This long list of business endeavors is included with the thought that in another 100 years, it will be very interesting. Remembering the restless vitality and undying hopefulness ofthose earliest inhabitants of Flagler who tired so very hard to make a worthy town of their settlement, it is not unlikely they would smile on the place Flagler has become. Generally, it is a very clean town with a neat business section, many trees and parks. There is yet a stigma among inhabitants of Flagler which seems evident in all years from the beginning, to better their community. Often, the impossible has been accomplished at great odds, to create, organize and establish. The latest accomplishment, a new golf course is an example of this community effort. Yes, I believe those special people of the past would smile if they could walk the streets of Flagler today. Very soon, on or before October, 1988, the Town of Flagler will have crossed a milestone: 100 years since steel rails tied this place firmly to the rest of the country. It should be a time for celebration and for great hope for Flagler's future. This same stigma must have been felt by earliest residents and those who followed, to make it a great place. We of today must continue this same courage and effort to preserve and make it even better. by Lyle T[. Stone They just get big in this part of the countryl �FLAGLER T320 rrirr::1r.:ri. :f: r:::l.l li: ,i' : : t.1,,:t,; -' f!l$r.;,,fi!ti ;:,.,,;11 -: ri lli.::l'.il::r:ll dfr* -: ;aai': - "*c " ;'- 'l *'i3., :.' : l:ir,llrt.i$.$?tirs{9i.i!$!a$ rl r.L -t1.", ' -i fffi5 *l i{t J1 "€- �FLAGLER CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH T32r including the pulpit, lecturn, and altar still in use in the present church was completed in 1953, and in this same year plans for a new Sunday School building were made and these plans were fulfilled in the present education building in 1954. Rev. Don Meek followed Rev. Matheny in 1958, serving until June of 1961. During these years there was a noted growth in church membership and attendance, and increased activity of the youth gtoups. In 1960, it was voted to build a new church building, and in Feb. 1961, the church voted in favor of the union of the Congregational Christian Church and The Evangelical and Reformed Church to form the United Church of Christ. In July 1961, it was decided to raise funds for the proposed building, which was completed within a few months and dedicated with appropriate ceremonies on Nov. 12, 1961. In May 1962, Rev. Ernest Maedche was First Congregational Church at Flagler from 1915 until 1961 when the new church was built. On December 13, 1888, the Flagler Congregational Church warl organized by Reverend D.H. Minnich, a circuit rider from Arikaree, who also served as pastor to five other churches in the area. The charter members were: Rev. Minnich, H.W. Brown, William Hunt, E.M. Lyon, Florence Lyon, Mr. Hatch and Mrs. Hanna Strode. Within the year, plans were made to build a church which was completed a few years later with the assistance of a $300 laon from the Congregational State Committee. The new church was one of the first buildings in the pioneer Flagler settlement, and wag at the present location of what is known as the late C.M. Smith home at Fifth and Loveland. The building was also occupied by the school when it was moved from a soddy to the church building. The building was purchased by Mr. and Mrs. C.M. Smith in about 1915 called to the Flagler Church, serving until June 1966. In Nov. 1966, Rev Leslie R. Poeschel was called to minister and served until the fall of 1972. The Rev. Frank McCall of the Arriba First Congregational served as interim pastor until Nov. L, L973, when Rev. Harvey K. Griffith was called by the congregation. Rev. Griffith in co-operation with Rev. McCall in 1976, formed a Parish Planning Committee composed of the officers of the Arriba and Flagler churches for the purpose of forming a yoked ministry. This yoked field was voted into being in June 1976 when Rev Griffith was called by the Arriba Congrega- 1912. In 1912, Reverend George Gibbs was called to minister to the church. At this time. CATHOLIC CHURCH T322 First Congregational Church, two were united in marriage in the second building, and the Rev. Harvey Griffith and Bernita Challis were united in marriage in the new church building in Nov. 1976 with the Conference minister Rev. George Otto, presiding in a Thanksgiving Day Celebration that included a dinner serving for over 200 persons. the fall of 1988. Ministers of First Congregational Church, Flagler, Colo. are: Minnich, Dec. 13, 1888 Dec. 31, 1891; Jones, Jan. 1, 1892 - Mar. 1, 1892; Tuttle, Mar. 1, 1892 - Aug. 1, 1896; Smith, Aug. 1, 1896 - Jun. 1, 1903; Edgar, Jul, 1903 - Oct. 1, 1903; Faner, Oct., 1903 - May his leadership the church membership increased to fifty-four. Rev. E.H. Blodgett ministered to the church from 1905 to 1910, followed for one year by Rev. Hopkins, 1910 to 1911, and the Rev. E.P. Owens for one year from 1911 to ST. MARY'S Council until the present time. Two ministers were ordained in the Flagler The house which is the present parsonage was purchased by the church to serve as the minister's home in 1928. Reverend Phillip Pennington served the Flagler church from 1950 to 1954. During his ministry, the Youth Fellowship was revived, a church nursery instituted, a new chancel, and served the church until 1903. and under May, 1955; G.H. Underhill, Jun., 1961 - May, 1962; F.M. McCall, Nov., 1972 - Oct., 1973; Carla Gilbert, Jun., 1972 - Oct., 1987; Natelli, Nick, Oct., 1987. ly under the guidance ofthe Parish Executive plans were being made for a new church building. In 1913, a site was selected and on Oct, 4,1914, the new church was dedicated, a building which was to serve the congregation until Nov. 12. 1961. Christmas Day, 1892, uniting Edley T. Epperson and Nina M. Miller in marriage. Rev. C.W. Smith followed Reverend Tuttle 1966; Poeschel, Nov. 1, 1966 - Nov. 1,t972; Griffith, Nov. 1, 1973 - Jun. 1, 1986. Interims: Lester Sperberg, Oct., 1954 - tion to serve as their pastor, thereby establishing the hoked ministery, with 238 members and 94 students. It has operated smooth- From 1976 through 1978 the Board of Trustees worked on a renovation program in the church buildings and the pars.onage, with some painting, carpeting, new windows for the sanctuary, and with a new kitchen, bathroom and study, along with tree removal and landscaping. at the parsonage. The Ladies Aid Society has supported the renovation and general program of the church with both their time and funds, which were raised when they have an annual summer long Bargain Shop on Main Street. It must be told also that the effective work of the boards and committees of the church has continued to keep the congregation active in the ministry that serves well both its membership and the Flagler Community. A breezeway, joining the Education building and the church was completed in the early 1980's to make one complete building, a 100th anniversary celebration is planned for and remodeled for a home. Rev. Tuttle occupied the pulpit form 1892 to 1896, and during his ministry the first wedding was performed in the church on 16, 1905; Blodgett, Jun 4, 1905 - May 16, 1910; Hopkins, May 16, 1910 - Mar 1, 1911; Owens, Jun 1, 1911 - Jun. ,l,L9l2; Gibbs, Jul. L, 191.2 - Arg., 1, 1915; Marquardt, Dec. 1, 19f5 - Dec. 1, 1917; Moore, Aug. 1, 1919 Aug, 1925; Schwab, Nov., 1925 - May, 1928; Gibbs, May 1928 - Aug. 1929; Leach, Aug., 1929 - Aug., 1932; Read, Jun., 1932 - Sept. 1932; Gibbs, Sept. 1932 - Dec. 1943; Allingham, Jan 15, 1935 - Jun., 1937; Thomas, Jun., 1937 - Mar., 1942; Bryant, Sep. 7, 1942 - Aug. 1944; Macon, Jul., 8, Lg44 - Jul 1948; Hahn, Sep. 5, 1948 - Sep. 15, 1949; Pennington, Jan. 1, 1950 - Oct. 1, 1954; Matheny, May 1, 1955 - Jun., 1958; Meek, Jun., 1948 - Jun., 1961; Maedche, May, 1962 - Jun., St. Mary's Catholic Church, Flagler. I presume the first known Catholics in the Flagler area were the Michale Quinn family who arrived to work on the railroad on March 28, 1888. Other families arriving later in the area were the Andrewjeskys who came in 1907 and the Ostrowskis who arrived in 1909. Other names remembered were Miciejeski, Greek, Bakuski, Jasjievic, Gregel and the Krafts. Once a year a Polish priest from Denver would come out to the area to offer Mass in one of the homes and to baptize the new babies born that year. Some of these families only lived in the community for three years or less. In 1930 the Charles Keller family arrived, to be followed later by Chappla, Chivilicek, Naus, Selenke, Horning, Clark, Heinrick, Lueb, Grant, Eder, Paul Wimmer, Vince Wimmer, McCormick, Lowe, Hubbard, Kelly and Ford families. These Catholics as well as the previous Catholics now traveled to Strat- ton or Hugo to attend Sunday Masses, weather permitting. In 1947 Father Edward Dinan and Father Charles Salmon from the Stratton Church saw the need for a church in Flagler and offered to take turns coming to Flagler to say Mass. Their first Mass was in a back room of the Case Implement Building on Main Street owned by Vern Naus. (This is now Randy's �Body Shop). Plans were soon made for a church building and Father Dinan appointed Charles Keller, Andrew Selenke, and Vern Naus to purchase a school building from Idalia and have it moved to Flagler and remodeled into a church. These three men donated $500.00 each and other families quickly added to the building fund. Record show the 3O by 22 ft. school house was purchased for $1,750.00 and the 4 lots on 8th St. for $750.00. George Hubbard and Charles Keller went to Brighton for church pewe. On October 26, 1947, the first Mass was offered in Flagler's St. Mary's Catholic Church. Records show the following: first baptisms: Karen Janette Eder, April 11, 1948 and Rose Ellen Grant, April 22, 1948; first marriage: Jack McKay and Myrtle Dine, Sept. 5, 1959; first funerals: Georege Oscar Epperson, Feb. 26, 1951 and Margaret (Maggie) Epperson, Dec. 24, 1956. Other baptisms, marriages, first communions, the confirmations and funerals were in St. Charles Church at Stratton. The first meeting of the Altar & Rosary Society was October 6, 1949 in the home of Maggie Epperson. President was Kathryn Hubbard and sec./treas. was Maymie Lueb. On July 2, L959, Limon's Catholic Church building was purchased as they were building a new church. This building was moved to the former George Epperson property which had been willed to the church in 1956 by Maggie Epperson. On Oct. 25, 1959, we had our first Mass in our new location. The Epperson house was converted to our Parish House. Father Dinan was still our priest. Helen McCormick has been our organist most all of these years. We are grateful to Virginia Eder who has put together with pictures a beautiful and complete history book of the church. It lists families, priests, sacraments, funerals and other special events. We now have over 25 families in our church. Father Jerry Kelleher who is also the priest for Hugo and Limon is our priest. Our lecturers are Gayla Jones and Shelly Wieser. Kelly Wieser and Jesse Bezdek, are our altar boys. Eucharistic Ministers are Ron Wieser, Tom Arensdorf, Pat Ford, Don Jones, Ray ''.f :..r:*.Y) t I ffi;* :;m Flagler Baptist Church as it now stands with the original structure and the new addition. buildings in town before the church was constructed. Meetings were held in Seal's Hall (Wickham Hardware Building), the house that C.M. Smith lived in and, some- a dollar to join. From the nine women who started the society, three circles were later formed and still meet regularly. In the fall of 1947, the Women's Mission Society began time later, a school house was moved into town north of the present Baptist Church. giving a banquet for all the Flagler High Services continued there under the pastorate of Rev. Hill. On June 30, 1918 the Flagler Baptist Church was organized, with the Rev. W.F. Henry as pastor and fourteen members. This is still being continued. Charter members were: Mr. and Mrs. J.H. Reade, Mr. and Mrs. R.S. Bryan, Mr. and Mrs. C.W. Alexander, Mr. and Mrs. H. Pangborn, Mrs. Amelia Miller, Mrs. Alma Williams, Mrs. Amelia Alexander, Mrs. Ella Stone, Mrs. Eunice Hughes and Mrs. Ethel School graduates and eighth grade graduates. In 1948, girls guild was started and remained active until 1980. by Renee Loutzebhiser TIIURMAN CHURCH T324 Stutzman. The following summer, lots were secured "Thurman's Church of circa 1915, built to place ofworship until the upper structure was completed the later part of December 1927. Dedication services were held January 29, 1928. The approximate cost was $8000.00. replace one burned in a prairie fire, stands in spite ofa devastating tornado which killed 11 people nearby in the early 1920's." Adam's book does not state this north of Flagler denomination, but old timers here remember it was Mennonite. They bring to building were Fred Probasco, John Collier, came along one summer Sunday as all the E.B. Walker and R.S. Bryan. The pastor at that time was Rev. William Peterson. The First Thanksgiving service was held in the church in 1928 with a bountiful basket dinner. The first wedding held in the sanctuary was that of Rhynold Fager and Crystal Hale on March 6, 1938. In the spring of 1939, Mr. W.H. Lavington gave a house to the church for use as its parsonage. This house is now the home of the Glenn Saffers'. Also, about this time, Mrs. congregation had gathered at the home ofthe minister, Rev. Kuhn, for a basket dinner. The menfolk had gone about 100 feet from the house to the garage to admire the preacher's new fliwer. The women and some children were in the house cleaning up after the dinner when out of the blue the cyclone swept down from the southwest, missing the garage, but lifting up the house with all its occupants and slamming it down some distance away. Many were injured, the eleven losing their T323 John Hale painted the scene behind the baptistry in the sanctuary. lives. The minister's wife and also his two About the year 1911, Grace Chapel Car was moved onto a siding just west of the Flagler Depot. The Rev. and Mrs. A.C. Lintzenger were in charge in this car which, also, had living quarters for the minister and his family. The car seated forty to fifty people. It was from the interest in evangelism of people who attended services in the Chapel Car. that a decision was made to establish a Baptist Church in Flagler. Places of worship were held in different During the years, the church had its growth Hinman and Mary Ann Wimmer. Debbie Ford is our church treasurer. Altar and Rosary Society officers are Clara Hinman, Helen Keller and Virginia Eder. Lynda Jones is in charge of our religious education program. The teachers are Jeanne Wieser, Karn Arensdorf, Char Smith and Ceceila Blackwell. by Clara Hinman FLAGLER BAPTIST CHURCH and the basement was constructed at an approximate cost of $4000.00. This was the The main workmen on the new church strengthened by the addition of members from what had been the Shiloh Baptist Church and the Twin Lakes Church, later known as the Zion Baptist Church. This church was in the midst of the dust bowl area in the mid 30's and had a hard struggle to maintain itself. At the February 2L, t92l meeting of the church, it was voted to organize a missionary society with weekly dues of fifteen cents and mind the tragic story of how the tornado daughters were among the victims. One of the daughters was holding a baby which was uninjured. The windmill and all outbuildings were strewn along the flat countryside, which was populated by the pastor's chickens running naked since the wind blast had taken off their feathers. At the mass funeral, the caskets stood outside the church and the bodies are in the little cemetery where the church used to stand before it was moved to the present site near the Thurman Post Office. �l.K According to Mrs. M.!). !'erguson of Burlington, formerly Faye Zook - Pangborn, mother of Burlington pharmacist, William Pangborn, Thurman first had a church before the turn of the century. Its Amish congregation sat for services with no singing nor music of any kind with a division down the center on one side, women on the other. Born -in men the area, she was baptized in this white frame meetinghouse which was later consu- med in the devastating fire. The wind fanned blaze swept over the hill for the northeast in about the year 1914, narrowly missing the Pangborn and Zook farms. Zion Lutheran School in the 1920's, Mr. Daberkow, teacher. Tongues of flames flared skyward for miles, 1894, by Missionary Klettke of Burlington. fed by the "go - back" bushy grass, with scarcely a homesteader left in the area to get The first congregation was formed in February, 1909 northeast of Arriba, during the time of missionary Heinrich Schmidt, son-in-law of Mr. and Mrs. Diedrich P. Blancken. barrels of water and gunny sacks on a wagon to fight the fire. Go - back grass resulted when land was given up after sod had been broken and hard - pressed settlers fled elsewhere to make a living. Soon, plans began toward beginning a congregation at Flagler. Under the guidance of the pastor at Arriba, H. Stegemann, this goal was realized with the organization of the Evangelical Lutheran Zion Congregation of Flagler, on April 10, 1911. There were ZION LUTHERAN CHURCH T326 approximately twenty-eight souls and twenty-four communicants. Voting members were: Henry B. Blancken, D.F. Blancken, William Hohenstein, Henry Schwynn, John Krause, Henry Rabe, Martin Mueller, Ed Scholote, Henry Weidenhammer and Herman Blancken. Zion's first church building was a schoolhouse, purchased and moved in from northeast of Flagler. This building stood at the southwest corner of Pawnee and Seventh. Only a few services were held in it, as Zion, in 1917, was able to buy a building of the Iowa Lutheran Synod, on the main street of Flagler, acrogs from the present church. It doubled as a facility for the Christian day school, and served well until the new church building was dedicated in 1962. An interesting note in the early history of The old church and parsonage. Zion wae the seating arrangement for worship services. As was the custom in many German - Lutheran congregations, the men sat on one side of the room and the women on the other. The Christian day school children sat in their school desks, which for Sunday worship were pushed together towards the front of the room. This practice lasted into the early 1930's. Another interesting historical note regards the role of the German language in Zion's history. In the early years, worship and instruction were in German. Through the Zion Lutheran Church Flagler, built in 1962. The history of Flagler's Zion congregation arose out of the dedication and hard work of German Lutheran families who settled in the Arriba - Flagler area in the 1890's, and of the early missionaries who ministered among them. The first Lutheran services were held in the home of Henry B. Blancken, in May, years it gradually gave way more and more to English, with German services discontinued for good in 1942. A Christian day school was an important part of Zion's history for twenty-five years. The first parochial school was begun in 1913 by Pastor H. Stegemann. It had an enrollment of two, and was taught by the pastor. Sometime in the years following this school disintegrated, and so Pastor F.B. Bierwagen started it anew in 1921. It boasted six pupils at its opening. Pastor Bierwagen taught for the fust four years. He was succeeded by student Eugene Kuechle in 1925-26, and student A.G. Schneewind in L926-27. ln 1927 Ernst Daberkow, a graduate of Concordia Teachers College of Seward, Nebraska, came as teacher, and served through the end ofthe L944-45 school term. Mr. Daberkow also served as Sunday school superintendent and teacher, and as organist, during his professional service at Zion. He currentlv still lives in Flagler, and is a faithfully - attending member of the church. The highest enrollment of the Zion Christian day school was forty seven, in 1931-32. In the 1940's dwindling resources forced Flagler and Aniba to operate a joint parochial school. The 1943-44 school year was held in Arriba. with 1944-45 and 1945-46 back in Flagler. Paster William A. Steil was a teacher during the last term. Through the years of its existence Zion's Christian day school proved a great blessing, being instrumental in the molding of not a few fine churchmen and churchwomen. Zion was received into membership in the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod at the first convention of- the Colorado District of the synod in Colorado Springs on June 8-14, t921. Lay delegate to that convention was Diedrich Blancken; pastoral delegate was F. Bernard Bierwagen, who also represented Immanuel. Arriba. Zion had been a member congregation of the Missouri Synod ever since. In the period from 1925 to 1944 the congregation requested and received subsidy from the Colorado District from time to time. By the grace of God experienced in good crops in L944,Zion was able to return the last check from the district Mission Board, and has remained self-supporting ever since. Through the years she has, in fact, been able to increasingly support the work of the church at large, through district and synod. In 1961 Zion closed out its first halfcentury and began the next with a celebration of its 50th anniversary on Cantata Sunday, April 10, under the theme "What God Hath Wrought." Services were held morning and afternoon at Flagler High School, with more than 400 in attendance at each. Guest preachers for the occasion were first resident pastor F.B. Bierwagen, and Dr. John W. Behnken, president of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. - On Sunday, September 24, ground was broken for a new church building on lots across the street to the east. Construction began in October. Architect was John Y. Brown, Jr., of Lamar; the contractor W.C. Davis, also of Lamar. Serving on the building committee was Alvin Kasten, chairman; David Michal, Wilbur Haeseker, Walter Timm and LaVern Einspahr. February 25, 1962 broughtthe laying ofthe cornerstonel and the new facility was dedicated on May 27. Total building costs were $78,008.89. The old building was put up for sale by auction. It is now a residence on Navajo Avenue. On November 25, Zion hosted a special community memorial service for assassinated President John F. Kennedy. A high point was reached at the end of 1971, with the paying off of the debt on the church building. The mortgage was burned with proper ceremony in a special afternoon service of thanksgiving and praise on June 4. In 1975 a significant change was made in Zion's constitution. with Article VI amended to read "male voting members to be eighteen years of age," rather than twenty-one. In January of 1978 the congregation decided to trade the parsonage for the Dave Morris home, a large brick ranch style house, which then became the parsonage. The difference in price was approximately $38,500. The original parsonal still stands across the street as the Dave Morris home. �As it turned out, this home required considerable expense and time in repairs, and in August of 1980 it was sold for $85,000' In November it was decided to build a new parsonage. Lots were purchased at 315 Pawnee Avenue. and a Boise Bradford II home was chosen. It was completed the following May at a cost of $71,440.50, and is the present parsonage. Also in August 1980 another amendment was made to Article VI of the constitution, "Right of Suffrage," to allow all members eighteen years and older to vote and hold office, with women excluded from holding only the offices of president and elders, according to the requirements of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. A significant- decision was made in the autumn of 1983, increasing frequency of - 1943-1945: William A. Steil - 1945'L947; Gustav G. Kreft - 1948-1950; Leslie L. Ludwig - 1950-1955; Gilbert Busarow - 19551957: Franklin L.W. Hoffmann, Jr. - 19571964; Pete D. Pedersen - 1964-1971; John B. Luttman - 1971-1975; Paul Westerlund 1976-L977; Robert C. Rowland II - 1978- 1980; Mark Yates - 1980-1981; and James M. Elmshauser - 1982-. Teachers Who Served in the Christian Day School H. Stegemann (pastor) d 1913; F.B. Bierwagen (pastor) - l92l-L925; Eugen Kuechle (student) - L925-L926.; A.G. Schneewind (student) - L926-1927; Ernst Dakerkow L927-L945; William A. Steil (pastor) - 19451946. celebration of the sacrament of Holy Communion from the first Sunday of each month to the first, third, and fifth Sundays, and major festival days. This brought Zion's worship practice closer to the historic practice of the whole Christian Church, and to Lutheran practice following the Reformation in the 16th century. Beginning in November 1984 the congregation began use of the new worship book, the Lutheran Book of Worship on Sundays, in alternation with the old worship book, The Lutheran Hynnal. Use of the two books continues on an alternating basis, offering the best of two worlds for those who come to worship. Through the years, Zion has been served by seventeen pastors (listed below). Fourteen of them have been shared with Immanuel Lutheran Church ofArriba, Colorado, reflecting the close ties that have existed with that congregation since their common origins. During much of Zion's history, the two churches have had a dual parish arrangement, sharing a pastor, an arrangement continuing very successfully at the present. Among other things the two churches share are special worship services, junior high confirmation class, and an annual Rally Day celebration in the fall. On Saturday and Sunday, June 21, and22, bv Jim Elmshauser LSC CLUB HISTORY T326 Ladies Social Circle, LSC, is best recorded and remembered in quoting an item appearing in an August 12, 1965 item in the Flagler News, celebrating the 50th anniversary of this club. This item gives a welcome record of it's founding and of many of the persons who lived in a vast area south of Flagler. Although it's beginning was in the Albright neighborhood, it popularity spread through- out school district 19 and communities surrounding it. None of us, who lived in this community will forget wonderful pot luck meals we had, nor the enjoyment of these occasions when this club met at different homes in the community. Information included in this 50th anniversary follow as copied from the Flagler News. "The first record found ofthe Ladies Social Circle was dated February 25, 1915. This meeting was held at the home of Mrs. Sam Sloan. "It was voted to limit the club to 20 members and Mrs. Adam Pfiester was taken in as a member," were contents of first minutes. On April 15, 1915, the club met with Mrs. Melvina Brisbin. It was voted to put the club money in the bank on a certificate bearing 4 percent interest. Mrs. McDonald became a new member. At the next meeting in May, each member contributed to make up the cost of funeral flowers for one of their group, Mrs. Wickham, who was the daughter of Mrs. Brisbin. Irene Wickham, who is now Mrs. AIjy Stinton and Mrs. Wilson were voted in as new members. Mrs. Ackerman as appointed to buy flowers for sick members of the "Albright" community and Mrs. Strong for the "Sunny Side" area. It was voted to open membership to more ladies and to raise dues to 25 cents per year to be held in the treasury for an emergency fund. The dues remained at this figure until 1954. It is possible that the group had organized in August, 1914, held at the home of Mrs. Sexton. Those elected were Mrs. Tom Lewin as president, Mrs. Ackerman as vice president, Mrs. Art Strong (sister of Flo Baxter), secretary and Mrs. J.B. West as treasurer. The roll that year included Mrs. Albert Ackerman, Mrs. Melvina Brisbin (Bill Wickham's grandmother), Mrs. O.C. Cristopher, (Mrs. Sutton's mother), Mrs. Fred Cristopher (son of O.C.), Mrs. W. Davenport, Mrs. Claude Ervin, Mrs. Will Grove, Mrs. Anna Holson, Mrs. Hemerick, Mrs. Clyde McDonald, Mrs. E.S. McDonald, Mrs. Adaline A. Newby, Mrs. Adam Pfiester, Mrs. Emma Reade, Mrs. E. Reiger, Mrs. Richmond, Mrs. Sexton, Mrs. Sam Sloan, Mrs. Robert Stinton, Mrs. Sol Stone, Mrs. Art Strong, Mrs. Emma Sutton, Mrs. Schmidt, Mrs. B. F. Smith, Mrs. Emma Verhoeff, Mrs. Frank Wilson, Mrs. J.B. West, Mrs. Clarence West, Mrs. Susie Wickhe'n and Irene Wickham. It was about this time, black and white marbles were purchased for casting votes for new members, that members suggested and the president requested the secretary to keep and read minutes of all meetings, that work 1986, Zion celebrated with greatjoy seventy- five years of God's grace in Word and sacrament, under the theme "Rejoice in the Lord Always!" Former pastors Paul H. Scheer and John B. Luttman preached to large crowds in the Sunday morning and afternoon services, and Holy Communion was celebrated in the morning. As the congregation reached its three- quarter century mark, it numbered 134 -4: ,l t,] baptized members and 97 communing (con- firmed) members. Officers as 1988 begins are: LaVern Einspahr, president; Dovi Beal, secretary; Agnes Otteman, treasurer; Opal Einspahr, financial secretary. Serving on the board of elders are David Edwards, Mark Otteman and Jerry Guy. Trustees are Laurel Niemann, Connie Stone and Keith Einspahr. Sunday school superintendent is Debra Stone. To God alone be all the glorY! r.l11l:i,lir,. Pastors TYho Have Served Zion, 1911 - 1988 H. Stegemann - 1911-1913; F. Bernard Bierwagen - 1914-1927; Paul H. Scheer - 1928-1934; Norman Heimsoth - 1935; Herman C. Loesel - 1936-1942; Herman H. Heine Ladies Social Circle, 1940: Front row: Bess Short, Bess Jones, Gertrude Storrs, Sue Zebaugh, Ruth Short, MArtha Price, Ina Conarty. Middle row: Lorris Wickhnm, Irene Jones, Minta Goodwin, Minnie Blanken, Elizabeth Verhoeff Wood, Donna Verhoeff Irwin, Diana McCart, Carrie Baldwin, Zola Short. Back row: Florence Newton. Minerva Stone, Ida Rowland, Ethel McConnell, Ella Radebaugh. �done for the hostess was quite often sewing Canie Baldwin, Zola Short, Florence carpet rags, making aprons, making "waists" for boys in the family and dresses for girls, gowns and skirts or making quilt tops. "It is to be understood that members bring work of their own to meetings, then when our hostess'work is finished, or ifshe should have nothing for us to do, we need not be thinking of the old proverb of Satan and the idle hands." At each meeting, members enjoyed Newton, Minerva Stone, Ida Rowland, Ethel McConnel and Ella Radebaugh. A great deal of history of the community south ofFlagler is contained in the carefully written record of L.S.C. history. Thankfully, names and dates were included in some cases. It is commendable such a record was written. News Items found in early Flagler News editions give some clue to persons residing in musical selections by one of the group such as Edith Ervin at the piano or Mrs. Strong the community, concerning LSC meetings and activities. Leading dates are of Flagler with instrumental music. November 2, 1916, L.S.C. met at the home of Mrs. Anna Rose Wickham. Ladies from Flagler attended in the interest of the W.C.T.U. hoping to institute a new chapter. Present were Mrs. W.H. Lavington, Mrs. H.L. Williams (Marion Williams'mother), Mrs. Heiserman, Mrs. Langcamp, Mrs. Traw, Mrs. Anderson (Winnie Walker's mother), Mrs. Mullen, Mr. and Mrs. W. L. Price and children, Mrs. Reece, Mrs. Frank Miner and Rev. Marquardt. The climax of a wolf hunt interrupted one meeting when the men folks brought in two wolves. Some thought was given to changing the club to a Red Cross Chapter but was later abandoned and the club remained the same. The club sponsored bake sales, bazaals, oyster suppers, and in 1919, Mrs. Sprague from Burlington taught a class in nursing at the meetings. Enrolled were Ina, Irma and Opal Conarty, Effie Eaton, Roxie Grove, Florence Newton, Mable McDonald, Sue Pfiester, Rose and Zelia Stone, Jennie Sex- ton, Etta Smith, Maggie Stinton, Flora Strode, Susie Zebaugh and Daisy Vawter. Their final examination was March 17, L921. Attendance at meetings dwindled because of the influenza epidemic. Mrs. Ploper, a member and her daughter, Gladys were taken by the disease and the L.S.C. mended and made clothing for the family. This type service was done for the Wickham family when both Susie and Mrs. Anna Rose Wickhn- died, for the Hamilton family, Leo Gant and Frank Matzke families and others. Mrs. Alexander demonstrated culling chickens for increased egg production; a demonstration also was given in hat making and in making dress forms. There were wedding and stork showers. When a member moved away, they held a surprise party for her and her family, presenting her with a gift. In later years, if a member moved outside the boundary lines, returned to the community, then moved away again, she was not presented with another gift, there were other difficulties as usual with by-laws. When Mr. and Mrs. Sexton celebrated their golden wedding anniversary the club had a surprise party and presented them with a $5.00 gold piece. During the early'20's, the members embroidered their names on quilt blocks, one for eachmember. Theypieced and quilted a quilt for each member. Mrs. Robert Stinton still has hers." A picture accompanied the above article, taken in 1948. It included the following members of that time: Bess Short, Bess Jones, Gertrude Storrs, Sue Zebaugh, Ruth Short, Rose Stone, Martha Price, Ina Conarty, Loris Wickham, Irene Jones, Minta Goodwin, Minnie Blanken, Elizabeth Ver- hoeff, Donna Verhoeff, Diana Mc Cart, News issues. March 1916. Mesdams. J.H. Reade. Adam Phiester, W.Y. Grove, W.I. Sutton and daughters, Guy McDonald and son and Mrs. John Thompson were among those attending the Social Circle at Mrs. McDonalds in Flagler. Mrs. Fred Matz was voted in as a member. A News item dated Feb. 9, 1925, "L.S.C. Club Notes" is interesting. "Mrs. Sol Stone was hostess to the LSC Club Thursday. The club's first meeting since November 20th. Fourteen members and three visitors were present. The time was spent socially. Mrs. Cary was made a member of the club. The next meeting will be with Mrs. W.F. Stone, Feb. 19th. The entertaining program was especially enjoyable at the last meeting. Little Edith Fogg spoke several pieces and her mother, Mrs. Fogg's rendering of "The Madman" held the audience in awe at the moved to the Wheeler place, Chet and Maurine Wold moved to the old W.H. Lavington ranch. Zenelda and Maurine joi- ned LSC. Zenelda remembered drawing names for "peanut sisters," a method of gift giving to one another through the year, keeping names secret. Names of members were place inside peanut shells and these peanuts were drawn from a container. Through the year at special occasions, gifts were exchanged using the name found inside the peanut shell. Mrs. Joe McCart was Zenelda's peanut sister and she remembered giving her a beautiful pair of hand made pillow cases. Zenelda said at Christmas time they sent money to service boys in WWII. She said, "Van Goodwin's had the most boys in service, a total of five." As years passed, membership dwindled. This closely matched attendance at many country schools. Although an actual ending of LSC is not known by this writer, it is possible meetings continued on after the consolidation moves of the early 1950s. Certainly, memories of these very special club meetings, often the climax of entertainment for some in the community, will never be forgotten. In those days of short funds, dust storms and dry weather, it was no doubt the only anticipated enjoyment of the time. by Lyle W. Stone anticipation of the awful tragedy to be enacted, when it turned out he was only going to shave himself. Members are kindly requested to either bring to next meeting or sent to the secretary, the finished quilt blocks for Mrs. Sexton. Mrs. D. R. Zebaugh, Secretary. March, 1925, the LSC Club met with Mrs. George Vike. Thirteen members were present. A delicious dinner was served at noon. Three new members were taken in. Next meeting will be held a the home of Mrs. Wm Wickham on April 2nd. April, 1925. "The LSC was delightfully entertained at the home of Mrs. Walter Palmer Thursday, Fourteen members were present. Mrs. Ellsworth read a selection. The next meeting will be with Mrs. Mahoney June 4th when mesdames Gaines, Griffith and Lana will be on the progr4m. June, 1925, "Mrs. Mahoney was hostess at LSC Club Thursday. Thirteen members responded to roll call. Two guests were present. A good social time was enjoyed by all. Mrs. Lana read on household hints and jokes. Mrs. Gaines propounded a riddle. Opal Conarty gave a humorous recitation. Next meeting will be with Mrs. B.H. Short, June t8th. Mesdames McDonald, F. Newton, R. Newton and Pettis will be speakers of the day." June, 1925, "Mrs. B.H. Short was hostess to the LSC Club Thursday with eighteen members and five visitors present. A good social time was enjoyed while tying a comfort for the hostess. The next meeting will be with Mrs. Joe Short Thursday, July 2. The program was good and consisted of a song entitled, "Always Picking On Me," sung by Mrs. Fogg. Recitations: "The Blacksmiths' Story," by Mrs. Pettis and "St. Peter At The Gate," by Mrs. Floyd NewCon. A chorus of girls sang "Colorado" and "Catry Me Back To Old Virginny." Mesdames, Pheister, Reavis and Short have charge of the next meeting. In the early 1940's, Jack and Zenelda Heid FLAGLER AND ARRIBA - FLAGLER SCHOOL T327 Just less than a block south and a few feet east ofthe present new school building is the site of the first school house in the Flagler community. It was a "soddie" built as a place to provide an education for children of the new settlement. School was taught in this building by a young teacher, Miss Crofteri, daughter of one of the homesteaders in the area. From sod to steel, brick and concrete is a period now nearing 100 years. In fact, in the fall of this year, 1988, this centennial milestone will have been crossed. One of the first buildings in the new settlement was a church at the corner of 5th and Loveland streets, later belonging to C.M. Smith. This building was built about 1890 for use as a Congregational Church. The school was moved from the soddie to the new church building where it remained until 1893, when a frame grade school building was finished. By this time, eight grades were taught and the first eighth grade class was graduated in 1895. A recognized course of study had been introduced in the school by Mrs. Charlotte (Rose) Godsman, making that class the first eighth grade class to graduate in Kit Carson County under such a requirement. Mrs. Godsman was then hired as principal in the Burlington school to establish this course of study there. The community grew and high school grades were added, making it necessary to utilize another building, this being one on Main Street last used by Charles Jackson for a grocery store, (previously a mortuary). In 1915, much effort was expended in trying to consolidate districts; apparently these were �partially successful, and paved the way for a bonding election to allow building a new school building at the north end of Main Avenue. All this occurred in 1915 and this year, a new brick building was constructed. One architect for the building was H.L. Manning of Denver. In early 1916 the entire school of twelve grades was moved into what was considered the finest school building in this part of the state. In May of 1916 Flagler school graduated its first high school seniors. The process of growth had not stopped, however, and by 1920 the new building was becoming overcrowded. In 1921 twenty seniors were graduated, a larger class than any graduated after L942. By 1926 the situation Most every one would wish to return to former conditions, but it is a reality of our time. It is possible the pendulum could swing, as it has so many times in history and conditions will change. Our school is now known as Arriba-Flagler School. Our school is now at a point in time when years of work in education of students has nearly reached a sum of 100 years in the Flagler community and very near this milestone in the Arriba community. It should be a time for some celebration, a time for looking at history and recording it, and a time to look ahead, hopeful of the future. The August Klute farm northeast of Flagler. by Lyle W. Stone of overcrowding demanded a remedy. Very reluctantly, the school officials re-acquired the old 1893 frame building and installed the lower four grades there. Since then, depression and war prevented any changes in that stop-gap arrangement. FLAGLER FARMS T328 During the war-time half of the 1940s it became apparent Flagler schools would have to provide a new building for the lower six grades and that a new gym would have to be built. Shortly after the end of the war, a new and larger school district was organized through consolidation mandated by the state. Construction materials again became available, and the district approved a $2235,000.00 bond issue to finance the long overdue , .18 The old Crystal Springs Ranch east of Flagler. 'rf improvements. Meanwhile the Flagler American Legion built a new gymnasium which it leased to the school. Strangely, the long struggle to build a school adequate for needs of the community was not destined to end. In 1950, [tigation was commenced which questioned the validity of the law which the new Flagler school district was organized. This made it impossible to sell bonds previously voted. The final blow came in October of 1951 when the old brick building was gutted by fire. Unable to raise money by means of a bond issue and without a single adequate classroom, people of the community loaned the school district funds necessary to construct the present twelve-grade building. In the meantime, the school conducted classes in the American Legion building and in a church basement. In the fall of 1952 Flagler school was once again in adequate quarters. The Flagler School Annex was erected in 1964-65. Since that time an indoor swimming pool has been added, enhancing swimming abilities of students of the area. A remodeling program hinged on conservation of fuel, involving changing windows, adding insulation and carpeting floors has been successful, W.R. Heiserman Ranch near Flagler. Hard times and dust bowls days, 1929-30, to survive many used cow chips for fuel. HAL BORLAND 1915-16. A dwindling number of students was apparent in the 1970s and 80s. This loss of students is caused in part by a swing in agriculture to larger acreage and bigger equipment per operator, reducing the number of families who can live on the land in the district. This phenomena might be traced also to lower prices, but greater surplusses, rather a controversial situation. In the 1970s and '80s, a reduction of school students became so acute, since state funds are based on this number, additional consolidations were necessary. In the fall of 1984 consolidation of Arriba schools and Flagler schools was made to increase the number of students attending one school. This move is the result of economic conditions of our country. It is sad to experience losses of community facilities. T329 Farmstead of Henry Kleiwer northeast of Flagler, H.E. Rice homestead west of Flasler. Hal Borland was born May 4, 1900, at Sterling, Nebr., the only son of Will A. and Sarah Borland, and moved with his parents in 1910 to a homestead about thirty miles south ofBrush, Colorado. In 1915, his father bought one of the two small newspapers in Flagler, The Flagler Neus and the family moved here. From then on, Hal became involved in the printing business and in writing but he had gone through a year of college before he acknowledged that writing was his primary interest. After completing Flagler High School with the class of 1918, he enrolled in the University of Colorado at Boulder. That fall he covered a CU football game for the Denver Post for the regular sports writer from the school and continued covering sports events and writing for the university paper for the two years he attended. He then returned to Flagler for a year where he assisted his parents with The Flagler Nen,s and was correspondent for the Denver newspapers in eastern Colorado in the summer of 1921, he left for New York City and Columbia University in a Model T Ford. He enrolled as a special student at Columbia, �meanwhile working in various news reporting jobs in New York. He worked as a telegraph editor for the United Press, as a reporter for the Brooklyn Standard Union and as an assistant editor at King Features in their syndicated weekly magazine. In 1923, he was graduated from Columbia, and submitted a group of Indian stories to Doubleday, which were accepted. His first book called "Rocky Mountain Tipi Tales" was published early in 1947. After completing the book, Hal "Barnstormed" around the country for awhile, working various lengths of time in a variety of cities, receiving writing and editorial experience. Among the places he worked were: Salt Lake City, Utah; Wells and Carson City, Nevada; Fresno and San Diego, Calif; El Paso and Marshall, Texas; Atlanta, Georgia and Asheville, North Carolina, before returning to New York where he received some public relations experience. During his visit to Colorado, he learned the Stratton Press was for sale and bought it "on a shoestring", thinking he could work four days a week publishing the paper and have three days for writing. However, he soon learned he spent seven days a week on the paper and found no time for writing. So he sold it in the spring of 1926 and moved east with his fanily, settling in Philadelphia where he worked on papers in that city. It was during this period of time, that he began selling fiction. He sold his first short story in a slick paper magazine to the Ladies Home Journalin 1927 and was able to continue with his writing. His two juvenile novels, "Valor" and "Wapiti Pete" were published along with others. In 1937, he was offered a job on the Neu York Times magazine and accepted it working as a reporter which he enjoyed. During World War II, he had opportunities for writing experiences, some he termed painful and some exhilarating. In 1943, he resigned from the New York Times in order to devote his time entirely to writing. His first wife, whom he married in 1923 in New York. died in 1944 and he maried in Denver in 1945 to Barbara Ross Dodge, herself a writer and editor. Hal passed away in Salisbury, Conn. Feb. 22, L978. There is a Hall Borland Memorial Room in the Community Library, of the Town Hall in Flagler, Colorado. First editions of his books, awards, honors, and personal mementoes have been donated by Mrs. Barbara Borland. The Hal Borland Memorial Room was prepared by the Memorial Committee: Alex Creighton, chairman; with the generous support of friends wishing to honor the memory of Hal Borland. FLAGLER AIR DISASTER T330 20 Dead; 30 injured in worst air show accident in U.S. History Crash brings horror to peaceful Flagler as- stunt plane hits crowd at show; 20 dead, 17 hurt small town - are a few stunned by air show tragedy. These of the headlines that appeared in the different papers around the area. On September 15, 1951, what started out to be a gay harvest festival ended in a very tragic event. The sudden spectacular crash brought a tragic climax to what the Flagler Lions Club had planned as an afternoon of fun. William J. Barker, a Denver Post reporter SEIBERT T331 witnessed the sudden, tragic finale to the first air show ever to be staged in Flagler. At 2:40 p.m. by Barker's calculations just as Ruble set his glider down and just before Nelson Stake, manager of the field was to take off in a dive bombing exhibition, Jones buzzed in. He was forty minutes late for a briefing for pilots participating in the show. The briefing was to cover plans and safety procedure. He said Jones flew in from the south low over the crowd at a 45 degree angle trailing smoke from the plane's sky-writing generator. The plane was not more than 200 feet off the ground and upside down. He started to roll over and up . The plane went straight for the mass of shocked human beings standing or sprawling on the field or on their automobile hoods and tops since there were no grandstands. The plane shattered as it hit the First band in Seibert - 1890! ground and tore a swath in the crowd. According to Tom Creighton of Flagler the plane cut across three rows ofparked cars. He said it looked to him like the wheel assembly of the plane hit the first row, the engine the second row, and the tail assembly the third row of cars. The plane, a silver and blue Pimm Tardin Trainer, was completely demolished along with about eight cars. The tremendous force of the impact hurled some of the victims into the air and smashed some against the cars and the ground. Some of the victims were decapitated by the force and the crash area was litered with limbs, blood and flesh. The town's only ambulance was on stand-by duty, but the plane crashed into the ambulance and put it out commission. In the cab of the ambulance was Mrs. Verna Clapp, 30, and Sandra Clapp, 3 years old. Both of them narrowly escaped death. An early day Seibert Establishment! THs Setsenr Srrta BlNx""."" sEEEE.colo . /-2.:-€' l"3!n U" *3'?o-- The following list includes those twenty accident victims: Mrs. Cleve Heid - Flagler; Mrs. Charles Keller and daughter, Zenelda, and son, John - Flagler; Mrs. Ray Thompson - Flagler; Mrs. John Hall - Flagler; Gordon McEathron and sister Bebe - Arriba: James Brandenburg and son - Flagler; Illa Mae Harwood - Flagler; William Hughes - Flagler; Harford Asher - Flagler; Virginia Moss - Flagler; Jean Elizabeth Yocum - Flagler; Mardell Simonis - Flagler; Caroline Selenke - Flagler; Connie Jean Vogel - Flagler; Marlis Stahlecker - Seibert; Lt. Norman Jones - pilot of Denver. Eleven victims were still hospitalized by the next Sunday night and all recovered. The pilot, Norman Jones, violated two rules of the agreement between the CAA and the show's sponsors. The rules were against flying under 500 feet and the other against stunting near the spectators. Although the crash was termed an accident, the Civil Aeronautics Board in Washington blamed the crash on the pilot's "utter Tom Manion's home and garage built in 1915. -::.. - .-.,:.,,,,,.,,, i . r.',. . . disregard" for safety. The report put out by the CAB called Lieutenant Jones maneuver "improperly executed". It said the pilot's recent experience was in bombers and he had no record of small aircraft flying for "considerable time". It also said he did not have military permission to fly the plane. This tragic air accident, which took the lives of several friends and relatives. will never the forgotten. Another garage in Seibert in the 1915-20 period. � https://kccarchives.cvlcollections.org/files/original/16/415/flaglervol10053.jpg 63f3e3b7cb57d4bb7cab1cffa1cd952d Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource History of Kit Carson County Description An account of the resource Brief historical stories and elements from the founding and recent history of Kit Carson County, Colorado. Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Book Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Flagler Date Created Date of creation of the resource. 1988 Subject The topic of the resource history Description An account of the resource A record of the history of the Town of Flagler as recorded in the book History of Kit Carson County. Type The nature or genre of the resource text Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Salmons, Janice Hasart, Marlyn Smith, Dorothy Language A language of the resource English Is Part Of A related resource in which the described resource is physically or logically included. History of Kit Carson County Volume 1 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource text/pdf Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Curtis Media Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/</a> https://kccarchives.cvlcollections.org/files/original/16/412/Country_Schools_1.pdf d25ff98f58eae46fec12e77b33f3c37c PDF Text Text concerned back in the 1880's would offer the uee of their home until some site could be found, perhaps an old soddie which a settler had left after he proved up or where he had paid the required $1.25 per acre, obtained his patent and then decided to abandon. Above all, it is very clear that respect for education characterized the majority ofthe settlers, and they made great sacrifices and expended much effort in establishing some method of having educational experiences for every i i-, tJ 5J*' -" i Participating in the ride were Buster Jenkins, Dave Corliss, Shorty Hostetler, Betty Corliss, David Reid, Ernie Cure, George Hubbard. community's youth and children. From the beginning furnishings were no problem. A long plank could be transformed into a teacher's desk or made into seats for the students. Or someone's big table would be donated. The blackboard was black oilcloth tacked across the front of the room. A potbellied stove threw welcome radiance a few feet around its circumference on cold days, or one kept his coat on all day over the heavy clothing he always wore. Walking many miles, driving a little cart, or riding a horse or donkey, sometimes with brothers and sisters hanging on behind one another, were that day's transportation methods. A kind of shed out back for the animals, in conjunction with a couple of tiny leanto-like buildings for toiletg off in each corner made up the school yard. Water was brought from home in some fashion for few schools had wells. A common drinking ladle went from pupil to pupil and few drops were wasted. lrt* In the beginning the teacher was someone with sufficient education to teach, but no ."t -r!]. $ f- lr.l;i., certificate was required and sometimes the best educated person in the community was prevailed upon to take this added responsibility. In some communities this turned out to be the pastor ofthe church and the pay was almost non-existent. Book stand pencils and slates come with the students. Hungry for companionship and learning, the pupils in those school rooms transformed them into hives of activity and much learning took place. Probably no part offrontier life played as great a role in the lives of those who went to early day schools as those few months with companions each year in a frontier school house. And it was only a few months . perhaps six at most. For that school house was the center of the community. Its uses were multiple! Church, Sunday School, voting precinct, dance hall, funerals, literary programs, basket dinners, debates, preaching from an itinerant preacher, a place to meet for a rabbit drive or coyote hunt, and all the ball games were scheduled here. Provisions for providing more formal school settings progressed rapidly and by t;: ;'t ift;4 1910 the one-room school system was preva- Ient and teachers with a few months of Riders following the trail along the Republican River through Kit Carson County. Scouts of Flagler plan to place a marker at the Crystal Springs site. by Betty Reimer THE COUNTRY SCHOOL T138 "School" was a prime concern and focus of the early settlers of Kit Carson County. Stories from families of the earliest settlers indicate the great lengths to which those citizens went to provide some way for the children and young people of this frontier area to be exposed to education. Those most normal training were hired with the intent of instructing the pupils in the essential academic skills of arithmetic, reading, geography, spelling and grammar. This pattern of education continued for the next forty years basically, with modifications in offerings, number of teachers per school and other changes in individual localities. A typical day's experience for a student began with at home chores before school, followed by the walk or horse-related ride to school, and a short play period before the strident "ding-dong" of the 9:00 a.m. bell. Opening exercises started the school day: reading by the teacher from a favorite book or a singing session, plus the Pledge of �Arregrance ano mayDe a llag rarsrng quletect everyone down before a short study period. This was followed by a round of recitations. When "recitations" began, each class as called came to the long bench before the teacher's desk, presented the assignments they had finished for handing in, asked questions, talked of problems associated with new work, and got a new assignment. Simultaneously, in their desks the other pupils were supposedly studying and preparing for their turn at the recitation bench. Sometimes the absorbed teacher was unaware that chaos producing activity might be underway someplace in that school room. But the culprits would be embarrassed when it came their turn to recite, so things evened out. Eventually, recess time came and fifteen minutes outside with romping or running and games like "Black Man," "Dare Base," "Pumppump Pull Away" or baseball and a trip to the "toilet" brought refreshed children back to have another go at classes until 12 o'clock, when dinner pails came out of the cloakroom. Usually a syrup bucket or a fancier Union Leader tobacco box held each student's lunch of sandwiches, occasional cake, and maybe canned fruit or rarely a piece of fried rabbit or chicken. Trading one's boughten bread sandwich for a sandwich with a favorite filling was common. More play during that noon hour break and it was an hour and a chapter or two of a special book like "Black Beauty," "Girl of the Limberlost," or "Little Shepherd of Kingdom Come" made the long afternoon, punctuated by a recess break, endurable until 4:00 p.m. Then students were asked to "put away your books and pick up the floor." Whispered last minute talk with a loved teacher and furtive glances and last words with one's favorite of the week, with a merry scattering of "Good-byes" started pupils home for a night of rest and readiness for another day of school. In a school with all eight grades, a teacher might have thirty or more recitation periods each day, while trying to keep an eye on the total school room, so recitations were kept briefand to the point. Because ofthis heavy load each day, many teachers put two grades together for some subjects and one might study sixth grade arithmetic before he had fifth and that created problems, some of which might follow one all his life. Obviously the teacher could not supervise a reciting class and the diversionary tactics that might be going on elsewhere in the room, but there were benefits as well attached to this method of instruction. For instance, fascination with the subject being talked about in an advanced grade often led to complete absorption in this topic by someone who didn't seem to be at all ready to tackle the topic. One teacher taught Latin to her eighth graders and before long everyone in that room could converse to a point in Latin. And the adoration of a younger pupil for an older one who could help with his perplexing subjects at the discretion ofthe teacher developed into true friendships that last to this day. Letting a student look in the "answer book" helped many a distressed teacher get through a student's time of indecision and trial with a heady problem when the teacher had no time for interrupting a reciting class. Big ones helping little ones was a great learning experience of itself. The few resources to vary the routine and stimulate interest and motivate to new projects came from a set of encyclopedias if there was one, the dlctionary, and the dearly loved "reading circle" books the teacher got in a big trunk from the county superintendent who had procured them from the Colorado State Library. What excitement ensued when that trunk was opened! Usually the books could be kept for six weeks and getting to read as many as one wished often was most impossible. Drawing and coloring, ot having art, spelldowns or ciphering matches on Friday afternoons. . occasion- ally with a nearby school . . varied the routine and gave something to look toward. Practicing for the periodic programs given for parents at Thanksgiving and Christmas or other holidays was an added time of excitement. When the percale curtains which denoted a stage were placed on wires stretched from side to side across the front of the schoolroom, hearts beat just a little faster because a little dialogue or play, a recitation, a flag drill, some songs, and an exercise with several students involved would be practiced a few minutes each day and as perfection seemed near and the afternoon or evening of the performance drew close all knew thev would present a good show. As the years passed some things changed: merry-go-rounds, teeter-totters, and slides appeared in play grounds. The little ones were sometimes let out early all by themselves at recess and noon times so thev could have a short time to enjoy these unmtlested by the pesky big kids. And sometimes, but rarely, the big kids made life a bit miserable for a teacher, especially if that teacher had done something to indicate a "bearcat dispo- sition." Teachers were known to fail to show up on Mondays and forever after following such a hazing. Typical kinds of punishment from a teacher were a spanking on the bottom or a knuckle whacking with a big ruler or having to stay in at recess. Sometime in these years mothers began a sort of hot lunch program, taking turns sending soup in a gallon bucket to be heated on the stove all morning. One tale is told of a gallon of bean soup heating away when suddenly there was a great explosion with beans going everywhere, even up on the ceiling where they stuck. A lid on too tight! What a mess, and no hot soup that day. A World War II activity was saving all the foil off of any gum. Tin was needed and the source was cut off by the war in the Pacific. Everyone tried to do what was possible to help a little. Probably one custom that anyone who attended a country school remembers fondly was being given permission to dust the erasers by banging them on the front steps, side of the school house or on the footscraper near the front door. For today's students in our modern technically equipped schools who have no idea what the isolation and stark poverty of that day in a school room was, one can scarcely paint a realistic word picture. As the school year began, some families from the school district, probably the school board's, gathered to clean the school house, wash any curtains, dust the spiderwebs out of the toilets, stash a little kindling and some coal in the coal shed, chop any weeds in the yard and clean up the fence row if there was one around the school site. Sometimes there would be a new coat of kalsomine for the inside or the stovepipe needed repair and some new desks might have been purchased. From then on the custodial duties at the school belonged to the teacher, who stoked the fire at night in hope it would hold over and keep the building a bit warm so that getting to school late would pose no problems to complicate the firebuilding time needed. The chore of sweeping up with a little sweeping compound was the usual ending to a teacher's day. The smells of a typical schoolroom were compounded of odors of that sweeping compound, heavy, damp clothing, overshoes that had been in the barnlot earlier, plus any association with animals such as the farmyard cattle, dogs and cats and a skunk encountered on the wav to school, and the smells of many luncires, mingled with those of young bodies that had received no daily shower or bath. One must remember that there were town schools which had more to offer in numbers of teachers and larger buildings with possibly more materials with which to work. But much learning evolved in those rustic, rural settings and if and when any student went to high school in Flagler, Seibert, Vona, Stratton, Bethune or Burlington, he or she usually did well in competition with those who were town folks' kids. And country grade schools sometimes had a few ninth graders, too, who took examinations at six weeks time with the town school nearest them so that those students would be able to attend there without paying tuition later on. That education for some was a "catch as catch can" affair cannot be denied. Many of the boys old enough to work were kept out to pick corn, help with early spring farming or haying time, and lots of girls had to stay home to help cook or care for a new baby or someone who was ill. That many went to school in a haphazard way is true, and this led to much irregularity in organization and sequence of classes. But they learned . . . did they learn! This was the pattern ofschool organization into the mid-1940's. The quality of any given school was dependent upon the caliber of its individual teacher, guided to a degree by the county superintendent of schools. The county superintendent faithfully visited each school at least once each year. The following were the Kit Carson County Superintendents of schools from 1888 through 1979: 188&1890: D.S. Harris; 1892-1894: J.W. Augustine; 1894-1896: Wm. H. Bennett: 1896-1900: Susie Morgan; 1900-1902: G.H. Hobart; 1902-1904: John F. Stott; 1904-1908: Eva Rogers; 1908-1910: Dessie M. Bolt: 1910-1916: Jennie L. Tressel; LSLG-L922: Jessie C. McGee; L922-1926: Della Hen- dricks; 1926-1928: Lenore Johnson: 1928-1932: Della Hendricks; 1932-1984: Ora Cruickshank; 1934-1940: Laura Payne; 1940-1944: Virginia Welch; 1944-1948: Flor- ence Wigton; Ig44-1962: Willa Zick: 1962-197 9: Lucy Russmann. The education act which consolidated all the schools of Kit Carson County in the very late 1940's was the end of the individual one room schools in this part of Colorado. The problems that had begun for schools during World War I, stretching through the depression and dirty 1930's, and the teacher shortage during and after World War II, along with better roads and transportation methods, created the situation which culminated in consolidation and the creation ofonly the few districts in which all the young people of the county are now educated. The shifting of district boundaries, the drops in county population, the courthouse fire which destroyed all school records to that time. the �moving of more recent records to the State Archivis at the capital in Denver have made a confusing, intertwined skein of information which is almost beyond unraveling even by those who lived through the numerous events involved. That we can have stories of any kind which are at all factual and accurate is due entirely to those precious memories of folk who took the time to write a story of what they recall of their school experiences. So, enjoy each story and treasure each picture because the days ofone room schools gave the background for the wonderful schools which now accommodate our young citizens, and all of those who really remember the one room school days will soon be gone like the school itself. by DorothY C. Smith 1889 ANNUAL REPORT OF COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS DISTRICT 19, 1888-89 Tr40 The Colorado State Archives which house the old materials of the Kit Carson County Superintendent ofSchools has a recording for District 19, when this was yet Elbert County, that for the 1888-89 term from October 11, 1888 to March 29, 1889, teacher Julia Doughty recorded that she had 20 pupils, ages 5 to 1?. There wereT girls and 13 boys. Families represented included 3 Leynde, 6 Doughty, 4 Strode, 2 Stark, and one each from the Swazee, Landon, Stewart, Keeler, and Robinson families. The teacher's salary was $35.00 per month, and the expense for the whole term was her salary, $210.00. Colorado State Archives PAGES FROM TEACHERS DAILY REGISTER - 1891 Tl41 T139 Superintendent D. S. Hanis, Superintendent of Kit Carson County of Colorado, sent this report to the State Superintendent of Public Instruction on 28th day of September, 1889: Census Total: 745; Total pupils: 406; Total teachers: 43; Average Monthly Salary: $29.9?; Teachers in District 5: S'L. Chapman, Jennie Walters, Ira O Stucky, Myrtle Keller; ll-# District 16: Venessa D. Diltz; District 17: Winn Combs and C.H. Frost; District 18: Molly Doves and Lizzie Carmichal; District 19: Julia Doughty; District 20: Bill Kyle and Mary Shafer; District 21: John Scott and Mary Barr; District 22: J.W. Sutton and G.G. Sutton; District 23: Lottie Rose and Mrs' t#-/u [r.'- i't "t'; E.T. Trull; District 24: T.W. Correll and D.W. Correll; District 25: J.B. McFarland, Miss A.L. Smith and Fred N. Willis; District 26: E.E. Hubber: District 27t Lauta A. Gant; District 28: Maggie Sater and Susie E. Morgan; District 29r Jennie C. Finlayson, D.H. Roberts and Henry Hoskins; District 30: Minnie A. Smith, Hettie Howard, and Hettie Bedoratha; District 31: Mary R. Bates and Minnie Mesechre; District 32: Addie Miller; District 33: V.M. Campbell and Julia Doughty; District 34: Hattie Howard; District 35: Anna Crafton and Una E. Rhinehart; District 36: Chas. L. Dickinson and May Faurote; District 37: Mrs. Kindy and Mrs. Amy Corliss; District 38: Charles N' Cogswell; District 39: Clia Miller; District 41: J.C. Davis; District 42: Mary I. Howard; District 44: Harvey A. Goodin; District 45: Jennie L. Rice; District 46: Mabel F. Floris; District 47: Mabel Daskam; District 48: John J. Neal; District 49: Ida Kane; and District 49: May M. B. Salaries ranged from $15 to $51.50 per month and the total expenditures for year 1889: $4,896.63 for the Kit Carson County Schools. Microfilm, State Archives '-- -risa1:;:-.:.'.:f:-r-:--:::r -- *:: .---.' :.-' .$;':r--::;'j .:-::r #t Ifi GBIDEI SiSOOLS this nesister is to bo tted at the close of the iem with the Principal; N i$en,tp-Sn, with the District Secrctary. l TIIE SUPDRIN'|E\DENT OI1' PUIJLI(I ]]{STRUC1'ION 1a90- �-> lJ -ir.-r.l-v".l.-4-...E\,, I Nuusen. Bxexcsrs Sruonp, .If V-C\,, .L -.GL-laJ --L'-c1J.lxJ.jJ/A:. Sulnaery ol ENnor-rusx: lup Srertsrtcs. Taxr 8oors, Grxrnrt Menonlnoe. !l.lc. Algebra. (ten,reitrl!lli,l Geouretry t-4 . Whole No. ol pupils enrolled during tenn _a-- No. under r6 years eurolled during term . i-'-l-'-i-ii--*-.--r! ' l .* ...l-l -- f--"ii * -,,--,i Physiology i--d-l -6--',9,-t[--_-ll ii- iflf Philosoohv I}--l-iI Natural Philosophy i-- lPhysicai Geography l-Ll -L',--ZLl;,----i composition l- l-l.. l, No. cases of corporal punishrnent.. of suspension susbension ijli No. ""..t "".., No. visits by Co. Supt. of Schools i1 No. visits by parents and others :*tlT:,':" l-ll- ll---li Voc*lMusic|-l-|-ll--ili---||rdoso|emn!7swear.i.ha|thc Drawing ' :::--------- it-l-i i-i-li | -i- | I -l--t-_* l=''__i| lr ---ii-- ii . i-.-li-- . : -*16-,ii -lltos,,-,a;,huetoth'ebestolf mv - ,i Il The sclrool was tausht bv a*-tzA*{&4r ; il s"l",rort., r,*"....//=l'E ermoulh ls -' "n edsc and belief, and that f haz i " . -.-: \Vhole arrrount paid to the teacher for the _ __ Ths last month's wages ehould not be paid lhs Tsacher unti! lhis summary is flted out and filed with the Prlncipal or Secretary, a! tho caso may ho. T1-r n n rrr-n I l,AUl-11,f( I) n tt '''eiS'r v I tIJL Eit F'JR 'fI-IE .I'ENU I \ynIL /'h'. ,.1-. t l-< t. ,1['err-t:t. tuo ol �twelve blocks, you l(nowl" I TAUGHT IN A SODDY Tt42 I have no quarrel with modern schools, their breathtaking architecture, their Twelve city blocks! One mile of snow shoveled walks. And I thought of my early pupils trudging through snowdrifts up to their hips. In those days Colorado had a well defined course of study and a definite goal to meet nel. Their courses which touch upon every phase of present day living are in line with the and we met it. We had arithmetic, history, physiology, civics, geography,language, writing and spelling. There was no choice of study; like it or not, there was one course for march ofprogress. I know because I answered everyone. shsamlined efficiency, their trained person- the urgent call for teachers during the shortage in WWII. But sometimes I compare them with the first school I taught, a lowly soddy, hugging the prairie in eastern Colorado. I wonder then if, in the new approach to mass education, teachers as well as pupils have not grown soft. Perhaps they've lost, with the personal touch, some of the initiative, and teamwork as well as some of the fun of years ago. It was a golden day in September, 1908. I, Avis Moyer, stood, bell in hand, in the door of the Plainview school, 15 miles from the little town of Flagler. My stiff shirtwaist and even stiffer pompadoured hair made me look older, and I hoped, more dignified than my 23 years. The children had been gathering in the schoolyard. And now it was 9 o'clock and time to ring the bell. I cried to make it sound vigorous to hide my inward tremors as twenty boys and girls, ranging in age from 6 to 16, filed in and seated themselves at the double desks. Not on the same side! Heavens no! The boys, self-conscious in new suit pants orjeans and dark calico shirts, sat on one side; the girls, in clean wash dresses, their braids tied with bright ribbons, giggling and eyeing the boys, on the other. Incidentally, those seats that I spoke of were screwed firmly to the floor. "Learning" was serious business and there was no scraping or sliding of chairs as there is today. We had the quaint notion that a quiet room was conducive to study. We launched right into our lessons. Education wasn't something you took lightly, for the school "year" only lastcd until Christmas. After that the roads were almost impassable. There was no well on the school ground. That first recess two of the older girls volunteered to go to the nearest ranch more than a mile away to get a pail full. I let them take my horse and buggy, and every morning after that a huge jug of water, wrapped in a blanket to keep it cool or from freezing, as the case might be, was on the seat beside me as I drove to school. The early autumn days had been so warm and sunny that, tenderfoot that I was, I didn't realize winter was close at hand until one morning a raw wind bent the dry grass to the ground. I went to the adjoining shed to get fuel for the fire. The shed was filled with coal, but where was the kindling? One of the boys waved his arm toward the prairie, "Plenty out there," he said. "I don't see any wood," I said puzzled. "Not wood!" he laughed. "Chips! Buffalo chips! Cattle chips! We'll gather some for you!" My squeamishness in using chips vanished when I saw how dry and odorless they were and what a quick hot fire they made in the potbellied stove. One day years later I was calling on a friend in Denver when suddenly she looked at her watch and said, "Pardon me, but I'll have to run. It's time to pick up the children. It's Memory work was important. Years later I met one of my students on a city street, and the greetings over, I asked, "Minnie, can you still recite the names of the states and their capitols?" She began without a moment's hesitation: "Maine, Augusta, on the Kennebeck river; New Hampshire, Concord, on the Merrimack river," and so on down to the last state and capitol. "I can recite Lincoln's Gettysburg Address and the BilI of Riehts, and reams of poetry too," she said. Passersbys were looking at us curiously, two grayhaired women, one recitingThe Charge of the Light Brigade, and the other listening critically. I came back to the present with a start. For a moment I had been sitting at my desk in Plainview School and Minnie was still in pigtails. Educators today say that children retain only 5 percent of what they learn in school. Making allowance for the mellowing of my memory over the years, I'm still sure my pupils did much better than that. Perhaps it was because their minds were not distracted with radio, movies, funnies and television. We had no organized P.T.A. at our school, but that didn't mean that teachers, parents and children didn't get together. Our little sod school house was the meeting place for the entire community. We had box suppers and spelling bees and all sorts of social gettogethers. December came all too fast and school was over for the year. I went back to Kansas but the following year I returned to Colorado to teach one more year. Then I married a homesteader, Henry Simmons, and said goodby to my soddy schoolhouse. People used to look at me in amusement and pity when I told them of my early experiences in teaching. But I say it proudly: 'I taught in a soddy." by Avis Moyer Simmons SCHOOL TEACHERS 1913- L9L4 Tt43 Kit Carson County, Colorado JENNIE L. TRESSEL, County Superintendent District 1, Bethune School, F.B. Shumate, Bethune; District 2, Lowell School, Miss Nella Kean, Burlington; Emerson School, A.I. Tyler, Burlington; District 3, Mt. Pleasant School, Miss Annie Evans, Hermes;/ District 4, Miss Mary E. Bogart, Burlington; District 5, Peconic School, Mrs. Marguerite Hines, Kanorado, Kans.; District 6, Brammeier School, Miss Erma Pfaffly, Bethune; District 7. Pious Point School, Miss Ella Kenn, Df,raf,ton; ulsf,rrc! d, west -raunaven School, Mrs. M. Shanahan; East Fairhaven, Mrs. F. L. Perrine, Seibert; District 9, Byers School, Mrs. Clara Pollitt, Burlington; Holton School, H.E. Hayden, Cole; and Cole School, J.W. Murphy, Cole; District 10, North School, Gerald H. Rice, Flagler; Midway School M.G. Canada, Flagler; South School, F.S. Yewell Flagler. District 11, Gephardt School, Robert S. Gephardt, Kanorado, Kans.; South School, Miss Nellie Miser, Burlington; District 12, Hunter School, Miss Opal Chrisman, Kirk; Flageolle School, Mrs. Mary C. Watmore, Kirk; Boger School, August Carlstedt, Vona; and Plainview School, A.G. Thompson, Vona. District 13, Pond Creek School, Mrs. Eva Johnson, Kanorado, Kans; District 14, Thompson School, Mrs. Mary Larkin, Flagler; Hunt- zinger School, Mrs. Birdie McBride, Flagler; Grand View School, Miss Virgel LaRue, Flagler; Heid School, Miss Jennie V. Custine, Flagler; Dazzling Valley School, Miss Mabelle Jordan, Flagler; Ash Grove School, Miss Prudence Robinson, Flagler; Fisher School, Miss Lucy Muck, Flagler; Huntley School, R.L. Pendleton, Flagler; Eckert School, Will Inman, Thurman, and Mrs. W.E. Taylor, Flagler. District 15, Rose School, G.M. Baxter, Flagler; District 16, Miss Alta Shaeffer, Burlington; District 17, Beaver Valley School, Miss Esther Anderson Kanorado, Kans.; District 18, Burlington School, N.J. Rice and Mrs. M. J. Rice, both of Burlington; Miss Geraldine B. Case, Miss Katherine A. Kane and Miss Nellie M. Culver, all of Burlington; District 19, Karker School, Miss Abigail Harvey, of Loco; Sunny Slope School, Miss Frances Hyland, Seibert; Ackerman School, Miss Iva E. Reynolds, Flagler; Albright School, Miss Pheba Redding, Flagler; Progressive School, Miss Winnie Anderson, Flagler; District 20, North School, Miss Pearl Buchele, Burlington; Midway School, Mrs. Mayme Kiefer, Burlington; South School, Miss Clara V. Mills, Burlington; District 21, Miss Margaret Rafferty, Burlington; District 22, Dobler School, V.V. Vose, Bethune; District 22, Yale School, Thomas Dillon, Bethune; District 23, Murphy School, Miss Blanche Paul, Seibert; District 24, Blue View School, Miss Lea L. Wellman, Bethune; District 25, Shaw School, Mrs. Fern White, Kanorado, Kans.; District 26, Prairie View School, Miss Virginia Pemberton, Kanorado, Kans.; District 27, Miss Virginia Pemberton, Kanorado, Kans.; District 28, Union School, Miss Gladys Pugh, Stratton; District 29, Beaverton School, Miss Arline Harrington, Beaverton; Lone Star School, Miss Dollie Perkins, Beaverton; Webster School, Miss Susanne Throop, Stratton; Day School, Herbert J. Thomas, Stratton; Norton School, Mrs. Goldie Rich, Bethune; District 30, Golden Rule School, Miss Violet Munter, Burlington; District 31, Broadsword School, Grover Tyler, Burlington/ District 33, Wallet School, Miss Goldie Anderson, Kanorado, Kans.; District 34, Stamper School, Miss G. Vera Dillon, Burlington; District 35, Flagler School, N.W. Oakes, Mrs. Ethel Langcamp, Miss Myrtle Nies, and Miss Edna Kivett, all of Flagler;Texerado School, F.M. Yewell, Flagler; Sunnyside School, P.A. Lofstead, Flagler; Sunnyside School, P.A. Lofstead, Flagler; District 36, Stratton School, W.A. Hooper, Miss Beulah Bradshaw, and Miss Helen Murray, all of Stratton; Blakeman School, Miss Ellen R. Bradshaw, Stratton; �Spring Creek School, Miss Eva Reeves. Stratton; Nuttbrook School, Miss Alice Talbot, Stratton; Green Knoll School, Mrs. Tena Meracle, Stratton; Hansen School, Mrs. Meta Chandler, Stratton; Smelker School. Mrs. Verna Austin, Stratton; Ford School, Mrs. Olive Montgomery, Vona; and Jones School, S.G. McConnell, Stratton. District 3?. Seibert School, W.I. Conley, Miss Izetta Wrenn, and Mrs. W.L Conley, all of Seibert; Flint School, Miss Jessie Magee, Seibert; Mennefee School, Mrs. Mae Cates, Seibert; Rock Cliff School, A.L. Buller, Vona: Fair Mount School, E.M. Short, Seibert; District 88, Pleasant Hill School, Miss Elva C. Smith, Morris; District 39, Tuttle School, Miss Mabel Pugh, Stratton; District 40, Mount Pleasant School, John Husband, Seibert; Pleasant Valley School, Vivian E. Huff, Seibert; District 41, Sold Center School, Mrs. Lizzie Bigelow, Stratton; District 42, Kechter School, Miss lda Martin, Tuttle; District 48, Miss Agnes Pugh, Stratton; District 44, O.R. EIGHTH GRADE EXAMS AND DIPLOMA Van Syoc, Stratton; District 4b, Bassette School, Miss Myrtle Branen, Kanorado. Kans.; District 46, Bancroft School, Miss Grace Waugh, Seibert; District 42. Mrs. Ada Kepner, Vona; Vona School, Miss Sarah Richards, and Mrs. Laura Alexander. both of Vona; Pleasant Valley School, Henry U. Sc!m!dt, Vona; Lucky Point School, Sidney Tt44 A major milestone of every early year country school pupil's learning experiences was preparing for and taking the prescribed exercise of "eighth grade exams." Only if one E. Willis, Vona; Lucky Point School, Sidney E. Willis, Vona; Pleasant Meadow School. Floyd B. Allen, Vona; Rosedale School. Mrs. H.I. Jackson, Vona; and District 48. Miss Marguerite DeCloud, Hermes. passed this battery of tests which came to the county from the office of the Colorado State Superintendent of Public Instruction in Editors Denver was it possible to move on to ninth grade and high school. That tests were given in a central location, probably a town school, made them even more dreadful. Teachers and pupils alike were fearful. If a pupil failed and had to repeat a grade, not only was he "disgraced," but the teacher mighi be sev- liighth Gratle Examinations for thc St:rtc of l')ighth Orade Examinations for the State ot Colorado. IgZl Cclorado, l9Z3 Prepared by ltARY C. C. BRADFOND, State $uperintendent of Public lnstruction jrcnqred by MlnY C, C. 8RADFO3D, State Superintendent of Pubtic Instruction TH|II,SDAY, IIARCX 22, .{-, II. .il J, !l 5. IllTHil:Iltl't C of his ir:e:t,ne? \.v.ere corf€e il1. speiletl. ftow nlan) wolds rvere in the teFt if the. number correctly spelled was [0 per cent of th.e entir€ nnrtDP I'? Whut is nreant h) lbo cireurnfprence of a eirel€ ? Bt. the radius? Irinil the radius of a cirile wi.th a d ianretcr of I 1 inchrs Find the - selliug price nf a suit of clothe s bnui,.ht at wholesale for 924.00 and marked to sell at al adr.ance of 33 1-3 per cent, and then sold at a r:.isccunt of I0 per cent. I n.*a spelling test- fif teen rrords 8. lt. 1 li. }.IIIDAY, IIARCH 23, J). trI. If rre. r'i.:h.to B{id or rubt|act cigbts and thiriis, r* rvhat shall rr-( chanse thern? Write as a decintal palt o, a rlollar, four cents three and one,half mills. Tr.ll horv ta llnd the least eomnloll divisor, an<1 finsi LC. D. sf 3-4, 5-6, 2-9. _,the F r"rrrr I l-I5 tako 4-9; l'itrd thq riiffer.ence betxreen 8l-? anii ? ?-g. In. buyirrg a house for 94,500, I pay 12 per eent down. Wirat aurount do I pay down? -\.farruer bought 24 head of catile a.t g0.00 per head. .\Iter lcsing 2 of lhem, he sold the renai&der at $105.00 p€r head. What per cent of the cost r#a$ his xross proflt? Our .of g3r of gl25.00- per. rnonth a ).oung man ^i1c9mc. put $45.0{.,ir. the savings bank. }{ow nrueh nioney . does he ,de$cisit iri a year? This is wbat per ceat '..'* ('lt'lt's 1O. 1 l)xplain wh1' Governme-.lnsu'er nt is necessafy. 1.. Whf is e study of Gover.nnrent important to €vert eilizeu? .3 Ho.s did American Government come into bFirig? "t. What is nreant b.'. a "eitizen,,? 5. What ar.e rhe quillificafions for voting lhis State? ri. Doen the Lhited States own any land in in your s-tate? For what tlnpo€e is lt used? i. What is meant by the ,.short ballot,,? .-3. May a person wbo is a citizen of the United l3talrs beculll(' a eitizen of anolhpr eountry? 't. \1-ho i: the congrnssman in your district? 10. Wiro are Unitcd Stat*s Senators frsm your State? 1t. Give argurnente f or. and against municipal ovnere.hip of waterworks. "Eighth grade erams" I. ,r ,: cltaltr\r.{n f'rll itr llrr' follo\\,in$ €enrences u.ith lay, laid,.has .nr have laid: Did 1ou tho pieture on tho table? .:..,.No, ,1 it on the deskThe calperrte 'l ne.\ ha\ e..-.. the ,foundatjolr of a lDonumetrt. - ... _ nl). ;:_., hand on the booli. ^., unoose ille corr€et forru of thF pronoun in the follow_ itrgr Eentel ces: r ::: ii* that ii was (her eir she;. ' , ,l(;uess {who or }vhom} it is. , It is --,- -. : Is it --'---*--'? ilre differerrce betwtln ari adjective *a .** *"":.:;, alll t. an lnterjeetign? eenlloctjon? ,Giv6 exam- .{. pteF. ?ti,; , s. ' ll' 10. Wiii; a sent(nce with an independenl '--' clau*e. A de-. ' P€n-dent one. :-:: . ,Analyzi oi diagrarn the followine: . ... l he h€aral r-olces that -w"r" .,.o'|.1. coriowful.. -*luddenly, courplex senteRce anO,Oiaeram sa;reYJite.d w na t rs a pal agr.a ph ? Write:r lctter invitir)S a friend to spend Easlcr with -,-xlu' Write a letter of aceeptaneri' on above- letter. ,...' :l : PlIysilolocy : ' I 1 What is the aliuentary canal? 'J.0f--Igryniatt.t.bonesis'the.skeletonionrposeri?. _ Which ls the lon.qest? , --. ' , - ..:' is ilre workof__the red corpusele? Thr pblte? : What }-hat is a 4. spratn? . What treatmfni- _.ho"rO"L""iiJEnr , 5 Explain. how tJphoi,al f€yer is ulFeuss rts pt.et-ention. ""nirr.i&. 6, lVhy do boles of sld people break ,rarily &nd heal with 7. *ut:l difiicuttl be abundantly srrpprierl i;'ths' ;itT?;,,;r.iorru . . .l ? 8... lvhat are the rallres of the tubes that earyy blrroil to arid f r.o frorrr lhe heart ? the effect of tobacco on the bear t of the' ":1 ,ouns' 10. -D-_iseuss \\,{;;";[.;;'ta.r"'arc,,t,ot all. rhe h€6rt? �Eighth Grade Examinations for the State of Colorado, 1923 erely criticized or lose a teaching position as a result. No wonder it was a real accomplishment for all when a pupil received the beautiful diploma that indicated "You made it," l'r:elrare,tl btr i|I--\fiY C. O. RRADFOIiD, State SuPet'ir, telrrlerrt of Public Instluctiolr by Editors FRIDAY, MARCH 23' A. }I. IiETTDING ('outlast the foods of yesterday with the foods of (a) ' today. ar-rd how may their study help us in geoglaphy? foods and ttr)'Give a few exatnples of comrnonly usedare producdescribe their iourney from where they ed, to our table. o (a) Why are foods cantled and how? and methods- o.f Wtit. a short story on the history iiri '"unttittg, of Foods'" "Stor) in Ctiss"y's as described was a great man. Can you name other AmerLiucoln -icans to whorn that term rightly belongs? What burdens did Lincoln bear? Crn vou tuention any speeeh to illustrate Lineoln's J. "cuniiing with the Pen?" liscuss hIs Gettysburg address' On what oceasion rvas this address made ? rviote the Village Blacksmjth ? Evarrgeline? fVno' Snowbound? A Man Without A Countr-v? The IIerchant of Venice? Naure trvo books You have read in the Past }'e ar. Dii:8. cuss one of theur. Have you f ormed the dietionarY habit? Why ls tltis habit rrecessarY? grcal ( sl Anericant ? 10. Whom do You regard as the two 'why. TelI rl ,1 A(lItI(-flLTtlRE Arrnrrer' 10' (Choice of Li-sts) l.Whatissoil?Howdosoilsoriginate?Whatissoil good ior? What kinds Plow easily? good c^rops aud so-rr:e poor? 2. Why d,l .onr. .oil. produce llorv d o weeds water ? save cultivation Oou. ori' ff 5: damase crops in ]our vicinitv? 4. *il;tirJ::,ttll... of seeds? Nanre some seed germination tne Discuss 5. testing devices'. 6. Does the air earry enough moisture f or ge rmination ? 7. trVhY are rnost leaves flat? 8. What is the effect of continued darkuess on green plants ? ffo* ttrav perennial weeds be killecl? What are per9. 10. ennial weeds? Irfav ioif be fertile anrl ret not produetive? classes of horses ? 1. ( a ) What are the f our genet'al class? (b) What ur" =o*" of the leading.breeds of each points between the dairy type 2. Give tne distir:guishing cattle' and the beef tYPe of test of nrilk' 3. Describc the Babcockchicken house' Give a ration for 1. bescriUe a fresh-air daYs' eight first the chicks .voung the term poultry? What 5. What birds are included infor meat? What are genbreeds are raised mainly 6. i s. 9. 10. eral Purpose fowls? How sirould eggs be marketed? Wtrat are the tivo chief uses of sheep? Describe one breed of each tYPe. Give the chief differences between the common breeds of hbgs. Describe the bacon tYPe of hogs'' The lard type. What insects are useful? PROqRAN/lN4E Presenled by Students of St. Clrorles Acodemg Sundog Evening, June 1sf tr{ojestic Theolre, Slrof lon .(An fnterrupted Birfhdog Porfg" cII-\lalaTUlls ... tlr. IloDF.\ lietirql llcrchxnt -. Wlllinm-I]ls \eDhes'-.-..-...-..-. tlorrr-Snelont StrmIcl-sttclent,.-...--.-Arthrr--student IlteT*Tbo SeTTTnt nALPIt I'DLLE (iEOltGl; KLOCKER LoLIs KNOCIIEL - JOSEPII PAUTLEIT -...... lt-\LPII IVEIIIEL BERNARD S]IITH '(Esfher, The Beaufiful Queentt .{ Rlblictl Plcy in Throe.\cts CI I,\ II A CTDII S ()S\f.lLD I'-\UTL!IIi llorde(rl-Tbc I-lrdcr of tle JcNs . . I'E,\ltL FLIGEOLLE tlesheFlroster ltotber of Rsther -....- ..-. J(lsLl'II GILLISPIE Ilestrl-The liins's ChaDrlruirin ... ttl TII FL,\GHOLLE l;sth.r_Tlre l,.rshrn ()ueon .' IIAnOLI) I'DLLE .\hrsuerus-KlDg of Pexla III-il-\\OkIt l'r|l'l,Elt linzrrr-,\ l\.rsinD SiDger lIAltY l{L(('Klllt Koonh-Tha Khg'! Ftloritc tr.\(iD-\LE\E LUOtsIfLEIt o zooDr_:r I'crsitril Ladf tsYnn..E .-. LuiClltDT I'ersirn I-trdy Jiktrsla-l .-. . (;ltNIJI.l CRO(IKER Zu4cr-a I,eNiaD trjuccss I}llItNAllD OlLLlgI'lE l{rDrun-Tlc l(ing's Cotrnsell)r Zerosb-Ills Wife.--.-...,,,....-. ' .' JE.{N.\E DELAi..DY I]REI]I CH.\IIACTERS ANrTA BEnTn-{ND lvitch ol uDilor --..-.-.., .-.-..' C,\LLISTA SCHIFEnL Itob€cco,.-.-...-,..., LOlllt,UND l'ENf,-D .u'rlaDIIDLE\ 1VEINCARDT Judtth -- -.....-.,,- -.-...-...-,..,IONA I'ENNE . -' . .. , .,.,.., .... ,\dtrb ... - IltE\E I)ISCH\rR llorthn -.-.,-.,-.--..-.--...LDON'\ Ht l't'ERT Butn ..-.., ... LIIDIIILLA DYOIiAK Dleds ... Rose lloids Dancers aul -lltetrdaDts ]TL:SIC Bi TIIE IIUPILS {)F THE VUSIC DEPAIIT]IE\T �tsill Smith; tJill Mead; GIen schlosser;'l'om Knapp; John Bloomquist; Bucknell's; Dave Wright; Frank Kelley; Lee Raines; John Armstrong; L.B. Armstrong; Clarence Nicherson; Bill Schaal; Charles Perkins; C.B. Ouluruilu lfluhlir frilynnLx Ayers; George Baker; Penfold's; Wedmore's; Stanley's; A.A. Graves; Vic Mitchell; Alvin Bacon; Astracks; Okie Carpenter; Daddy Flanigan (Mrs. Caryenter's Father); Robison's; Frank Daly; O.C. Dunlap; Thomas Johnstone; Bert Loper; Ed Fanselau; Tom Taylor; Roy Taylor; Charlie Peterson; Eddie Peterson; Tom Schlosser; Clarence Schlosser; Fred Dodd; Roy Dodd; N.S. Rich; Keeverts; Art Wellman; Holsteins; Ed Beeson; Cliff Beeson; D.D. Swann; Willis Perkins; Charlie Perkins; Fred Storrer; A.J. Pfaffley; Charles Snelling; Herndon;s; G.F. McArthur; Maynard Dunham; Frank Lesher. People neighbored in those days working together and exchanging work. Entertainment was not lacking with basket dinners (now called potluck), ball games, rodeos, g'hi.) 9 g,rl'i fi *>' liy,r I ,";t,1"4*"/',-.^d//"/.2,./.t"r' _-:,_: 9,** .-t 8 -,t^ra-, 6" t", .2, .77;,/-t'* / t-y 4)u2z-, e -zz ru:U^"".4;/ u-.r*u, r-,'// literary, school programs, oyster suppers, home made ice cream socials, you were welcome, just bring a cake, and country dances. Musicians were: Tom Schlosser, a good fiddle player; Roy Schlosser on the --tr' ira(!#r;;;/":l= EICHIH CFADE DIPIOMA A'iI-A-!.DD TO MELVEN hEAWR. OI{ THN 15 th MAY, 19]1. FRoM ColORtDo P_gBLrC SCHoor,s, I(rT Crnsoll CoUNTY, COIiR-A1O..... guitar; Harold Perkins added variety at times with an accordion, rattle bones or mouth harp; Clarence Snyder was another good old time fiddler and Frank Whitmore played a guitar. An eighth grade diploma EARLY SCHOOL DAYS AND SOCIALS rr45 The Ellsworth School was located twelve and one half miles south and seven miles west of Burlington. It was a one room cement building that was torn down in the '20's and a one room frame school house was built one and one half miles south and one mile east of the Ellsworth School, whichwas one mile east of Fred Matthies place. Fairview Grange was organized July 8, 1916. Some of the charter members were: O.C. Dunlap; Fred Matthies; Bert Loper. At one time church was held in the old Norton School house near Charlie Perkins and for a short while at Midway School house. Near Ellsworth were the Roystins, Mrs. Fred Matthies' parents who lived a half mile north of Matthies. Joe Krolick, a Bohemian bachelor, lived a half mile west of Matthies. Then the Nazarene Church bought a piece of ground one mile west of the Bethune road on the correction line and dug a basement where they held church services. Mrs. Hoover was the preacher. The Hoover family also lived in Some neighbors in this community were: John Boggs; Sam Allen; Lester Pierson, Sr.; .- -^, , ,l::rr:]li: .':l.f:::, "The Doby": Columbine School in 1919-20 term' |.]r.;1.:,ll ":;ii Nancy Hartzler, teacher. Pupils: Isaphene Dunlap, ,::i{ Whitney in early part of Year. ,'l:,:: Loweil Dunlap, Mildred Whitney and Lloyd ffi First Central District 29 was a consolidated echool n'ith all twelve grades. It was located on the Correction line. There were two school 'buildings. There was one room building for .jt .. ,4&"* the lower grades and a larger, two plus rooms, building for the higher grades. The old sod Norton School, No. 50, Twnsp. 10' Kit Carson Co. 191? School Board: L.B. Armstrong, Pres.; O.C. Dunlap, Sec'y.; C.H. Carter, Treas.; Teacher: Bessie Kelley; PuPils??? Midway School, Dist. 50, Lg26-27 term: Back row, Left to right: Georgia Armstrong, Mildred ScNosser Isaphene Dunlap, Raymond Schlosser, Lloyd Perkins, Teacher: Thelma Nielson (Armstrong Lowe). Ho'*"ta Raines,'Verlin Dunlap; Middle rowt Clara Armstrong, Fredrick Schlosser, Helen Mitchell, and Co Supt, Mrs. Johnson. Front row: Mattie Armstrong, Carl Snelling, Kenneth Schlosser, Everetl Armstrong, Ray Snelling, Sarah Mitchell, Dorothy Schlosser, Margaret Schlosser, June Schlosser, Inez Perkins, Minta Keiwer �the basement. A nice building was later built over the basement and the church was dedicated April 29, 1928. Other preachers at the church were: Cochran; P.C. Norton; McKellips. The church stood vacant and unused for some time. Later the building was bought and moved to Burlington where it still is used as a church. A cemetery still remains there, however, most of the deceased were moved to the Burlington Cemetery. There is also an older small cemetery about two miles north of where the church stood. It may have been the Beloit cemetery. The "Cracker Box" school house, in the Fred Matthies district, was another place for dances, as well as the "Doby" in District 50. School was only held in the Doby for two terms; thereafter it was used for many activities such as basket dinners and quilting bees, also Fairview Grange met here. This "Doby," Columbine School, was built and ready for school in the fall of 1918. It was located one mile east of the Bethune Road and two miles south of the Conection line, and was set back L/2mile in the middle of the section, and it was only used for two terms. Bessie Kelly Pilling was the teacher for the first part of the first term. She resigned due to being pregnant and Mildred Penfold finished the term. Pupils the first year were: Lowell and Isaphene Dunlap; Lloyd and Mildred Whitney Ferris "Chub" Robison. The second term, 1919-1920, Nancy Hartzler was the teacher. She married Ed Fanselau at the end of school in June. 1920. Tom Schlossers had moved to Colorado from Missouri, by train, in the spring of 1919 and bought the M.S. Whitney place, which was originally the Frank homestead. Franks built a sod house. Whitneys built an adobe house and a large adobe barn. The Schlosser family added new kids to the school: Lucile, Mildred, Edna and Raymond. Roy did not go to school in Colorado and June was too young to go to the 'Doby.' Whitney's moved to the First Central District and lived on the place that the Maynard Dunham;s later lived on. The Midway School, District 50, was a frame school house built one mile north of the correction line on the Bethune road. It was ready for school in the fall of 1920. The district hired someone and paid so much a mile to haul school kids with their own car; there were no school busses. There was a north route and a south route. The north route included: Perkin, Stanley, Armstrong, Meyer, Wedmore, Penfold, Spratlin, Schaal, Raines, Keiver, Moss, Wolf, Ellis and Conkey families. The south route included: Tom Schlosser, Okie Carpenter, Dunlap, Clarence Schlosser, Dodd, Snelling and Mitchell. Back in the early school days, there were 'double'seats and desks, two kids to a desk. Don't you wonder how any studying got done? Usually you could choose who was to share your desk. Each desk had an ink well; no ball point pens then. A recitation bench was also part of school. It was up in front by the teacher's desk. She would call a class to recite a lesson and that class would go sit on the bench and review the assigned lesson. Blackboards were like painted heavy cardboard and what a joy and improvement when we got slate blackboards. Before the Midway school was built, the north route students went to the Norton school, a sod building on the Bethune road next to Charley Perkins. Later Prairie Star was built about five miles north of the Midway, which took some of the students out of District 50: Helen and Ottis Moss, Elva Wolf, Janice and Niel Ellis. Most of the country schools were one room and heated with a coal burning heating stove. One teacher taught all eight grades. All country schools had two'out houses,'one for the boys and one for the girls, plus a coal house. The teacher boarded with a family living near the school. Her job included getting to school early to build a fire and have a warm room when the students arrived. Usually one of the boys would fill the coal bucket the evening before. Pupils carried lunch from home in pails of various sizes and kinds. The most common was a gallon syrup pail with a tight fitting lid. A bench at the back of the school room held lunch buckets and a water fountain or water bucket. Friday afternoon was a 'fun' time. After Iast recess there was a spelling bee or a geography match or arithmetic (ciphering) match. Everyone chose up sides to see who came out ahead. Another activity that was fun on Friday afternoon was 'dusting the erasers.' The teacher would ask two of the students to take the blackboard erasers outside to pound out all the chalk dust they could by pounding them against the side of the school house. Each school day there was a fifteen minute recess mid forenoon and after noon. At noon there was 30 minutes to an hour for lunch. School houses were lighted with kerosene lamps and/or gasoline lanterns. School programs were held two or three times a year with the students singing songs and giving recitations and dialogues and usually finished off with some adults having a debate; then a box supper or pie social was held. The women decorated a box, such as a shoe box, with crepe paper, making flowers and frills, the fancier the better, and filled it with sandwiches, cake, fried chicken or other goodies. The boxes were then auctioned off with the money going to the school. The owner of the box (name inside) ate the lunch with the buyer. The same thing happened at the pie social; two people would eat a whole The county superintendent has visited all but 19 schools of the county so far this fall. The following districts and teachers have been visited: No. 2, Emerson Mrs. Elizabeth Conner: No. 3, Columbine, Ona Gillespie; No. 3, Prairieview, Mrs. Hazel Claussen; No. 4, Carmichael, Marjorie Guthrie; No. 5, Peconic, Mrs. Velma Ford; No. 11, Green Valley, Mrs. Mary Krueger; No. 12, Boger, Mrs. Betty Smith; No. 14, Mt Pleasant, Mrs. Lola Rillihan; No. 14 White Plains, Mrs. Charlene Statler; No. 15, Rose, Mrs. Lois Lee Fisher; No. 178, Beaver Valley, Mrs. Hallie Winfrey; No. 18, Liberty, Mamie Huntzinger; No. 19 Second Central, Mrs. Opal Joy and Mrs. Julia Dugan; No. 20, East Fairview, Mrs. Phillis Havlat; No. 25 Lone Star, Linadell Knapp; No.26, Prairie View, Mrs. Elsie Palmer; No. 27, Wilsonville, Mrs. Annabel Van Winkle: No. 28, Union, Mrs. Esther Kingsley; No. 29 First Central, Stasia Walsh; Senior High, Mrs. C.P. Heinrichs, Junior High, Mrs. Ida Boecker, Intermediate, Mrs. A. Marguerite Fox, Primaryi No. 31 Broadsword, Mrs. Florence Raines; No. 33 Plainview, Alton Olsen; No. 34, Jewell, Mary Isabelle Heid; No. 36, Nuttbrook, Mrs. Marie Greenwood; No. 38, Happy Hollow, Mrs. Elva Bartman; No. 41, Solid Center, Julia Berri; No. 44, Plainview, Gladys Quinn; No. 46, Progress, Mary Ward; No. 47, Pleasant Meadow, F.S. Carrington; No. 49, Idlewild, W.O. Seeley; No. 50, Midway, Elizabeth Jarrett; No. 51, Hook, Daisy Hewitt; No. 55, Shiloh, Edith Gering; No. 55, Smelker, Jennie L. Tressel: No. 58, Blakeman, Caroline Husenetter; No. 59, Rock Cliff, Mrs. Mary Allen; No. 60, Green Knoll, Mrs. Bertha Pautler; No. 64, Plainview, Mrs. Earl Henry; No.65, Midway, Mrs. Blanche Dove; No. 66, Tip Top, Mrs. Nan Hunter; No. 68, Pleasant Valley, Mrs. Grace Clark; No. 70, Victory Heights, Mrs. Alice Anderson; No. 71, North Flat, Mrs. Bernice McBlair; No. 72, Prairie View, Mrs. Ella E. Huntzinger; No. 73, Prairie Gem, A.L. Sawhill." Editors pie! by Catharine Dunlap and Isaphene Leher COUNTRY RURAL SCHOOL TEACHERS L942 T146 KIT CARSON COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICTS BEFORE REORGANIZATION IN 1950 This article taken from the Burlington Record of November 5, 1942, indicates that there were ovet 42 rural districts in the Kit Carson County coverage ofschools. That this list does not include the schools in Flagler, Seibert, Vona, Stratton, Bethune or Burlington is meaningful. This listing of rural teachers of that era is truly historical. "Registration for gas rationing will be handled by the superintendents and principals of the town schools in the county. Registration will last through Thursday, Friday and Saturday new wee, November 12, 13, 14. Arthur G. Hetler is the new superintendent at Vona. (See photo next page.) Tt47 �Sdool Ur{ctr. Kit Carson County School Districts Before Reorganization in 1gb0. SCHOOL DISTRICTS AFTER MAJOR REORGANIZATION Tl48 After the major reorganization of schools in Kit Carson County in the early 1950's these were the districts that remained as late as 1957-58: R1, Flagler; R2, Seibert; R3, Vona; R4, Stratton; R5, Bethune; Cl, Burlington; C2, Smoky Hill; No. 2, Emerson; No. 11, Green Valley; Ql7, Beaver Valley; CZ6, Prairie View; No. 31, Broad Sword; No. 38, Happy Hollow; No. 39, Tuttle; 48J, Rizius; 12J, Liberty; 74J, Idalia; and g3J, Newton. Gradually even the last ofthese were incorporated into the six major town district's areas and most recently Seibert and Vona formally became Hi-Plains District R23 in 1984. Today five school districts serve Kit Carson County patrons and their children. Box 13O26, State Archives ALBRIGHT SCHOOL Tr49 Albright School was located southeast of Flagler in the SE corner of Section 22. Township 9 S, Range 50 W. For convenience of those of these late years, this location was in the northwest corner ofan intersectionjust north of Bill Grimes and Kevin Jarnigan residences. Built of sod and in the image of many homes in the early community, it served not only as a place for education of children but a community meeting place for patrons of the early community. One of the teachers was Mary McCall who taught at a time when William "Bill" Wickham attended school here. Mettie Shanahan is remembered as a teacher of this school. Records show that Iva Reynolds of the Flagler area was teaching in district 19 in the 1913-14 and 1914-15 terms. Since Bill Wickham mentioned Miss Reynolds, a teacher at Albright, this is no doubt where she taught. Mrs. William Strode listed Forrest Heck. Dorris Keller and Miss Ford from Stratton (Vona?), as teachers. In 1916, it is recorded "Willie" Wickham transferred to Second Central, a consolidation of several small schools. In 1914-15, the Strode family children, living two miles east, attended this school for a time, no doubt including, Claude, Alta, Rethal and Gilbert. William "Bill" Sutton lived a mile south and a little over a half mile east of Albright in 1916. It would be logical to assume some of his children attended school here. He sold in 191? but returned to the Flagler area in 1918. Living nearby were other-families including Love, Grove, Hughes and Christopher, among others. Early published news items indicate that hail and rain in i916 damaged the building to an extent it was considered too expensive to repair. It is possible some students transferred earlier to Ackerman School. a short distance south west. At this time. some remaining students were transferred to Second Central of this district. In later years, sod was broken for farming and today the area is under extensive cultivation, erasing any trace of Albright. It had served the purpose for which it was intended and ensuing years reduced it again to dust from which it was made. by Lyle W. Stone ASHVIEW SCHOOL Tt50 Ashview School was located four miles west and about five miles north of Stratton. It was also known as the Fuhlendorf School since the Fuhlendorfs lived just one half mile west. This well-established pioneer family was here when family, the Chandlers, moved here in 1909. The picture taken in the spring of 1910 came from Mrs. Elizabeth Fuhlendorf-Bigelow who at age 97 lives in the Seibert community. Lizzie was teaching there at the time, but the picture was taken on Sundav qd is of young people attending Sunday School. The little schoolhouse served as thl center for many other community gatherings. Marie Greenwood and Mrs. Bigelow knew who the persons were although some of the ones at Sunday School went to Hansen school about four miles south of Ashview. Mrs. Daisy Young stated that she and Ira's children, Maxine, Nelson, Ella Mae, and Wilma, attended this school before thev moved into Stratton. Howard Reeder recalls that he and his brothers and sisters. children of the George Reeders, went to this school. �--f4l6"'."^.'#4" " Sunday School at Ashview School in 1910. Identified in the picture are Selena Husband, Neva Fuhlendorf, John Benezek, Walter Bridge, Henry Mohr, George Williamson, John Husband, Marie Chandler, LiIIie Husband, Homer Bridge, two Benezek boys, and GIen Bridge. Pickard, Paul Inman, James Ashview School in year 1936-3?: Left to right, back rows back to front: Kenneth Louis Pickard, Alice Inman, Frances Hugley, Klassen rrau" idiin Waller, Cailton ii""a"r, Elmer Reeder, WoIIer' Wilma Marv Reeder, Edwin Reeder, Howard row: Front fr,-"tt, Iytaritta Woller. iiil;;; J"-". Young, Doris Inman, Velma Pickard, Martin Woller, EIla Mae Young West Bethel, 1943-44: Back row: Shirley Scheierman, Melva Googe, Virgil Basinger, Lloyd B Borden. Front: Eleanor Scheierman, Carolyn Hernbloom, Donnie Hodge, Clifford Borden, Marian Maricle. ia-i'i1:.i',.,r,!llt,, .1:iirii.1r1. picture: Last day of School at Ashview in the late 1920's. Edna Doughty recognizes the following in the on are Edna, Grandma Rhoda Monroe, Anna and Raymond Monroe, Ott Maag. Sitting in front with hats Cora Monroe, Raymond Fuhlendorf, LeRoy and left end, far is on Woller Fred Mabel and Neva Monroe. and Bill Flynn were among the parents. Other families having children there were the Jim Pickards, Don Bowens, Alvin Monroes, Kendalls, Fred Wollers, and of course the Fuhlendorf children. Edith Mae Klassen Hugley remembers Ashview as a busy, busy school with all the daily classes as well as extra programs and entertainment. She expressed how much fun school was when she was attending' by Marie Greenwood BETHEL SCHOOLSTr6l The first Bethel school was a sod building, built in 1908, located on road M, between roads 34 and 35. (Ofcourse, the roads weren't numbered or named then, but the spot can be located today by using these markers.) Some of the teachers were Dora Jean Baird, Susanne Troupe, Lillian B. Hopkins, EIla Rehn, Sheck McConnell, Bert Thomas, Hildred Perry, Tena Rhen Maricle, Edna Campbell, Ray Dorothy. In 1918 school was discontinued at the sod schoolhouse and two new frame school Bethel located buildings were built - West at the corner of Rd. M and Rd 33, and East West Bethel. 1947-48: Back row: Max Mason, Clifford Borden, LeRoy Herndon and Altha Borden, teacher. The others: Dean Herndon, Paul Brown, Bruce Brown, LaneII Mason, Vivian Brown. Dale Mason, Theo Borden. �Bethel located between Rd. 36 and 37 on Rd. N. Sunday School was still held in the sod building until the wall fell in. Some of the teachers at West Bethel were Mrs. Sawhill, Averine Seaman, Edith Beeson, Loren Smith Whitmore, Leona Smith, Blanche Dove, Caroline Hussennetter, Win- nie Hooper, Mae Calvin Kellogg, Altha Borden, Daisy Hewitt. In 1948 the West Bethel building was moved to Walter Herndon's pasture on Rd. M between Roads 34 and 35 the road from the original - across sod building location. Some of the East Bethel teachers were: Mr. Sawhill, Roy Mc0ullock and Mr. Patterson. When the country school houses were sold, after consolidation in the fall of 1950, the West Bethel building was bought by Herb Scheierman and moved t/2 mile west of his home. It was later sold and moved away in 1964. The early history was told to me by my mother, Vena Scheierman and my aunts, Vic Whitmore, Wilora Waite/ and Wilsie Reeder who were the "Hughes Girls" who grew up in the Bethel community. My earliest memories of West Bethel were when I began my schooling there as a first grader in 1942. The students that year were myself (Eleanor Scheierman) grade 1, Shirley Scheierman, grade 5, Melva Googe, Virgil Basinger, Marion Maricle, Lloyd and Clifford Borden. Our teacher was Winnie Hooper. For the 1943-44 school year the teacher was Mae (Calvin) Kellogg. Students were Don Hgdge, Carolyn Hernbloom, Eleanor and Shirley Scheierman, Virgil Basinger, Marion Maricle, Lloyd and Clifford Borden and Melva Googe. At recess and noon we played "Fox and Googe," "Deer and Dog," or "Annie, Annie, Over." We'd have track events, play baseball and drown out ground squirrels with our drinking water. By the time school was out for the day, we were sometimes wondering about the advisability of using all the drinking water to drown out the ground squirrels. The teacher brought the water with her each morning, so when it was gone, it was all gone for that day. Shirley and I lived closest to the school (13/4 miles). We would walk 3/4 mi. to the corner and Mr. Hodge would pick us up, or we would ride our shetland pony. That was usually a disaster. We had a white flour sack we carried our lunches in when we rode the horse so we could hang onto the horse and the Iunches. One day Marion Maricle put his lunch in a white sack and waved it at Clarabelle, our horse, which scared her. Shirley and I fell off. I told Shirley, "I'm crippled for life," so she nn 3/4 of a mile home and got Mother. The only thing crippled was my pride. I liked walking to school; there was so much to see. A short side trip to Ida Wilson;s for a piece of burnt sugar cake was a real treat. Our extra curricular activities included: a Christmas program, a Valentines party at District 7d, Mrs. Hussennetter, teacher, sectional track meet at First Central, track meet at Vona, spelling contest at Bethune, and a last day of school picnic at the schoolhouse. Mrs. Kellogg made a keepsake photo and autograph book for each one ofus. One ofmy friends wrote in mine: "When you get old and out of shape, Remember there are gridles (their spelling) for $2.98." The 1944-45 school year was quite calm, with only Shirley (7th grade) and I (3rd) and Elsworth (7th) Pottorff in the school. The teacher was Winnie Hooper. The bomber pilots stationed at Lowery Air Force Base flew over often on their training missions. Mrs. Hooper always let us go outside and watch when we heard the planes. Shirley's and my cousin, Marion Reeder, was one of those pilots, so we always waved to him and he would "buzz" the school house. From this year on I attended school in Stratton. Some of the children who attended West Bethel between 1945 and 1950 were: LeRoy and Dean Herndon, Paul, Vivian, Bruce and Loren Brown, Max, Dale and LaNell Mason, Clifford, Theo and Lila Borden. I'm not sure of the exact years each family attended, though. Averine Seaman Henry wrote of her years as teacher at West Bethel inlg2l-22 that her pupils were Bernard and James Spratlen; Vivian, Elvin, Ruth and Clair Wilson: Vena and Vic Hughes; Charletta and Ruth Hoover; Jean, Helen and Hugh Deakin; Kenneth Kalb; and Floyd and Linadell Whitmore. Her Beeson, also from First Central, Each Thanksgiving Day, from the years of 1926 through 1939, a community dinner was held at the various homes in the community. Everyone came with well-filled baskets and big appetites. Although those years covered the Great Depression, the drought of 1934 and the ensuing dust storms of 1935, there were many things for which to be grateful. In the spring of 1909 a Sunday School was organized in the old soddy school house with about 40 members. Mrs. Mattie Hopkins was the first superintendent. The next fall, in 1910, Mrs. Lewis of Selden, Kansas, held revival meetings and a Baptist Church was organized with Rev. Ripley as pastor. Services were held in the old soddy until one of the walls caved in in about 1921. Then the membership divided, one-half going to West Bethel School and the other to South Pious Point. About 1926 South Pious Point disban- ded and again came to Bethel. In 1929, following a revival meeting by Rev. Pollock, an Evangelical Church was organized. by Virgiuia TYilson Foster school board members were R.O. Hoover, J.C. Wood, and Zelia Deakin. Jessie C.M. Gray was then county superintendent of schools by Eleanor Herndon and Averine Henry BLAKEMAN SCHOOL DISTRICT 58 T163 BETHEL COMMUNITY AND SCHOOL Tt62 The first school in the Bethel community was a soddy constructed in 1908 and named the Clift School. It was used for ten years. The first teacher was Ella Rehn. The first pupils were Wilsie, Raymond and Wilora Hughes; Hazel and Leonard Hamilton; Hobert, Hazen and Rasil Hopkins; Winona and Oris Sloan; Elbert, Merna, and Ezra Coad; Merle and Daigh Reader; Paul Webster, Edith Wilson, Imogene Clift, Thomas Wilcoxin and Kyle Walker. In 1918 the soddy was replaced by a ferame A solid reminder of the one room echool days: Blakemsn old District 58 south of Stratton. Still there. school called West Bethel. It was located one and one half miles west of the sod building, seven miles south and two and one-half east of Stratton. The first teacher in the new building was Mrs. Sawhill. The first pupils to attend West Bethel were Ruth and Alton Mericle, Edna Brown, Helen and Jean Deak- in, Elmer Howard, Charlotte and Ruth Hoover, Hildred Hopkins, Wilora, Vice and Vena Hughes. More people were following the advice of Horace Greeley to "Go West Young Man" and the school enrollment was growing. Those enrolled in the L92l-22 school year were Vic and Vena Hughes; Vivian, Elvin, Ruth and Clair Wilson; Floyd and Linadell Whitmore; Gleeta, Marvin, Melvin and James Everett Hall; Charlotte and Ruth Hoover; Kenneth and Walter Kalb; Jean, Blakeman School in the 1930s: Back row, I to r: Joe Green, Duane Kindred, BiII Bowker, Leo Kindred, Gerald Bowker, and teacher. Edith Powers. Front row: Harry Bowker, Dale Kindred, Earl Schniederwind, Helen Green and Bob Green. Hugh and Helen Deakin, and Lyle Hooper. I. Virginia Wilson Foster, started first The earliest recollection of the Blakeman grade in the fall of 1924. Darrell Barrett from School was the year 1915 when Meta Chand- the First Central area was the teacher. I completed the eighth grade in the spring of 1931. During these years the teachers were: Leona Smith, 2 years; Dale Baker (Wood); Donald E. Smith; Ethlyn Steele and Edith Ier, mother of Marie Greenwood, taught there. The Campbell children and others were going to school there at this time. I visited with one of theses early day teachers who taught at Blakeman School in the year �Blakeman school in 1948-49: left to right: Jimmy Thompson, Jerry Lucas, Glenn Lucas, Bernice Charles Mill's donkey at school: front to back: Oscar Knodel, Floyd Mills, Amanda Richards, Leona Hefner, Hilda Ziegler, (all AdoUgirls) Lydia (Stahlecker) Adolf and Ida Knodel Dunlap, Gerald Thompson, Gwendolyn Einspahr, Betty Einspahr, RonalC Einspahr. ::,ti 18 and 20 years old went to school for a couple I d Irene Neller, teacher, by the adobe school in 1917. Last Day of School gathering April 29, 1949: Front row of kids: Glenn Lucas, Gwendolyn Einspahr, Rasmussen boys, Jimmy Thompson, Cecilia Isenbart, WaIt Isenbart, Jerry Lucas, Leo Isenbart and Dwight Thompson with 2 boys. In the background: John Schulte, Orville Rasmussen, Elic Thompson, down, round and round, over and over. One teacher taught all eight grades. Few of the older children got to the 8th grade but later on most of them did. The teacher was responsible to keep the school house clean, and warm, fuel in to burn, help the smaller children take off wraps and dress again with overshoes and coats, etc. She supervised the playground. Most of the teachers boarded at the different homes, usually close to the school. They would walk to school some rode horse back or used a buggy and team. Later some had their own cars. Transportation for 1930 and 1931, Edith Powers Hasaft. Then she had to go back to school to renew her certificate. The year she was gone, Edith Beeson taught the school. Then Edith Hasart returned and taught three more years, 1932, '33 and '34. Erma Gerke also taught this rchool. In the late 1940's the Lucas boys and school children was walking; some came horseback or by horse and buggy. The Miller family had a donkey and cart. They went where the donkey wanted to go. Later the boys rode the donkey back. This was a lot of entertainment for all the children during others were attending this school. School was held there until they consolidated the county lchools in 1950. Part of the school's frame still recess and noon. Poor donkey! Some of the earlier school children were the :i;lli:, .,,t;:l: rlll:ilti u-. '. . '--:'.", Adobe school girls: Amanda Adolf Richards, Elsie Lofing Kramer, and Leona Adolf Hefner. (on the roof, Floyd Mills) by Eleanor Herndon SCHOOL DISTRTCT 24 Tr54 Blue View and Prairie Wylde were schools n District 24. The Blue View school house vas built in the very early nineteen hundreds br in 1902 when the William (Billy) Weber bmily settled along the Landsman Creek, it vas already built. It was a frame house ocated 9 miles north and 2 east of Bethune, md it soon was moved t/2mile farther south io as to be more centralized for the pupils as nore settlers came with more children for chool. An adobe school house was built in the with the school subjects which was hard to do. Some of the subjects taught were reading, grammar, geography, physics, history, and arithmetic. A lot of thinking and fast figuring was done. Penmanship, (the Palmer Method), was one of the main subjects: having to sit up straight, staying in the line, up and ?, Edith Isenbart, Ruby Rasmussen, ?, Dorothy Lucas, Bernice Dunlap, Leona Schulte and son, Emily Thompson and baby, Dwight Thompson, Cecil Isenbart. In the doorway: Jerry Thompson, ?, ?, Thelma Thompson and Ab Lucas. rtands at its original location. The picture which shows a peach tree brings to mind an rften told story of a young man who poked his peach pit under the school house in a lmall hole after lunch, squashed it with his boot heel, and after that the rain dripping lrom the eaves took over and the seed rprouted. Teachers in later years were Ted imith and Ella Dunlap. of months in a term. Then they had to help at home with farm work. The smaller children went through all the term of about 6 months. Most of the children were German so had to learn the English language along Chris Strobels, Dickmens; Webers, Bauders, Fanselau, Wahl, Bauers, August Adolfs, Knodels, Mills, Stahleckers; Schmidke, Weiss's. Later the Meyers came, Kloeckners, Ed Stohlechers, and Weisshaars. Each pupil carried their own lunch and for years their water, but later the board members got a water cooler with a spigot, some- thing the children liked, and they took turns keeping it filled. It was a good improvement as we had carried water 3Vz miles every west part of the district about 1910. This was 7 Vz miles north of Bethune and went by the name "Prairie Wylde." Each school had their own teacher except one term when for reasons unknown in 191415 one teacher was hired and held school half a term in Blue View and half a term in Prairie Wylde, which was fair to all the pupils to travel. This was not satisfactory and each school had their own teacher again after that. Some of the earlier teachers were Amanda Stott, Alice Moore, Vera Dillon Harvey Jensen, Victor Voss, Lea Wellman, May Long who married Christ Adolf, Irene Neller Alvina (Brown) Pickerll. In the early years the older children up to morning, if we didn't spill it before we got there. To raise money for things used in school, we had a program, ending with a pie or box supper. Billy Weber was the community auctioneer for the suppers; his children say he enjoyed every program and pie or box supper immensely. We had spelling bees or ciphering (here the arithmetic was used) with different schools on a Friday afternoon. The teacher and all the children walked from one school to the other. Some of the games we played were baseball, jump rope; in winter we'd go skating if teacher allowed children to go off the school ground, or skated on snow, played fox and goose, or games like last �couple out. We found plenty of interesting Items taken from old Seibert Settler entertainment for recess or noon. In the spring of 1929 the Blue View school house was moved again; this time 1/2 mile newspapers also give some insight into the activities of the school. Nov. 9. L923 . . . "Miss Goldie Iverson was hostess to her pupils and their parents at a Halloween party north and one west. The adobe was closed. The district was cut up to where the south children went to Bethune and the north and east to the Blue View. Some of District 22 from the north came to this school as this was closer to some families. Distance makes a difference when walking is the transportation. In 1955 the district was dissolved and all were now in the Bethune district with bus routes and high school for everyone. by The Stahlecker sisters, Martha Adolf and Theresia Kramer BODEN SCHOOL Tt55 The Boden School was located southwest ofStratton on a quarter ofland owned by the Boden family who donated land so a school could be built in 1908. Some of the early students attending Boden were Ernie and E.R. McConnell. Ethel Jones Hazen and others. The school house was used as a center for many different gatherings of the community: voting precinct, Sunday School, preaching, debates, literary programs, dances, bask- et dinners, and to meet for rabbit drives, coyote hunts and ball games. by Florence McConnell THE BOGER SCHOOL Tl56 The Boger School, in District 12, was a one room, frame building built in 1909. It was Boger school in 1944: Edwin Lowrey, Bob McCaf- frey, Darrell McCaffrey, Kenneth McCaffrey, Melvin Lowrey, Jim Camp, Virgil Gagnon, Wayne McCaffrey, Helen Zimmerschied, Alice Joy, Vera Camp, and Verdie Gagnon. first located 12 miles north, 1 west, and 1/2 north of Vona on the property of Frank Boger. In 1911 it was moved to 12% miles north of Vona which made its location more in the center of the community, as it was then. The first school board members were: President, Charlie George; Secretary, Bill Butler; and Treasurer, Frank Boger. This board served for many years until Butlers started to school at Vona and George's moved out of the area and Frank Boger apparently felt that it was time he should retire from the board. They were replaced by president, Roy Johnson; secretary, Flora Boger; and treasurer, Gus Herrel. The first teacher at the school was Gailon Lewis. Some of the others who taught there were: August Carlstedt, Sadie Dulmer, Marie Klassen, Vern Meyers, Mr. Wagner, Quinten Vose, Marie Farquar, Lottie Putnam, Helen Herrel, Goldie Iverson, Cassie McDougal, Bill Sealey, Alfred Schmidt, Viola Burkardt, Mrs. McKenzie, Howard Bigelow, Grace Clark, Mae Carlson, Maurice Wrenn, A.G. Sawhill, Bettie Smith, Minnie Eaton, Ruth Gulley, and Betty Smith Shaw. held at the Finch home, Nov. 2. The evening was spent in Halloween pranks, making candy, and roasting weiners until a late hour, when all departed for their homes declaring Miss Goldie a royal entertainer." Nov. 23, 1923 . . . "Miss Goldie Iverson invited the mothers to visit school Friday afternoon. The pupils had prepared a fine program which the mothers enjoyed. Then the visitors were asked to recite for the pupils. Mrs. Strode, Mrs. Hubbell, and Mrs. Boger responded with recitations." Dec. 21, L923 . . . "The Sunday School and School are preparing a Christmas program to be given at the Boger schoolhouse Dec. 23, at 8:00 P.M." Feb. 1, 1924 . . . "The teacher and pupils at the Boger school are rejoicing over a fine new teacher's desk and chair and dictionary. All purchased by the school board." Also of interest are a couple of items concerning neighboring schools. Nov. 23, 1923 . , . "Miss Meta Rassmussen, teacher of the Progress school, recently received stove and fixtures required to install the hot lunch service in school as recommended by educational authorities." Oct. 19. 1923 . . . "School marms should be more careful not to entertain company too late. A young man from Vona became so drowsy on his way home the other night that he missed the road, getting in where he was compelled to wake up the neighbors to get him out again." Surnames of some of those known to have attended the Boger school are: Boger, Butler, Camp, Carrigan, Dulmer, Flinch, Gagnon, George, Hartwig, Haynes, Herrel, Hubbell, Jackson, Jewitt, Johnson, Joy, Lowery, Martin, McCaffery, Naute, Oliver, Seaman, Smit, Stolz, Strode, and Zimmerschied. A favorite story, handed down through the generations, tells of the adventures of John Boger, son of Frank and Flora. John would start off to school each day with the rest of the Boger children but, instead of going to school, he would hide out in the fence row or the draw south of the house and play all day and then rejoin the group on their way home. He managed to get by with that for some time before his dad caught him at it and then, "He didn't try that again!" The Boger school was also the meeting place for the Unity Sunday School. Classes at the Boger School were discontinued in about 1950 and the building was bought by Gus Schreiner and moved to his place. by Joyce Miller BROADSWORD SCHOOL DISTRICT 31 Tr57 |oger School about 1909, Gailon Lewis, Teacher The Claude H. Hall family moved from Clay County Nebraska, to the farm 13 miles north of Burlington, known as the "Fairview Farm." This was in February 1923. There were four children, Thomas Merlyn, age g; Goldie Evelyn, age 7; Claude Harold, 5; and �Inez Maxine, age 2. Merlyn started at Broadsword School in March, 1923, as a fifth grader. He was in the same grade as Carl Kreoger. Goldie staded at the same time in third grade. Harold staded school in the first grade, September, 1924, and Inez started school in 1926. During the school term when Daisy Hewitt was the teacher, one wintery day during morning recess, two energetic boys livened up the recess by throwing a handful of 22 calibre rifle shells into the old potbelly stove. All shells responded in short order creating lots of excitement. It is recalled that Frank Moose and Mrs. Story lived in the sod house across from the school which eventually was the William Kreoger farm. Frank Moose operated the sorghum mill and the zillions of flies it created is unforgettable. Three and one half miles to the east of our place lived Mr. and Mrs. Grant Stephenson. Mrs. Stephenson used to conduct religious services at the school every Sunday morning. After her sermon, the congregation would break up into Sunday School classes accord- ing to age. My father, Claude Hall, was a member of the school board along with Charlie Miser, Louis Kreoger, and Charlie Kreoger. I'm not sure they all served at the same time, but they were all on the board at one time or another. by Inez Ilall Emsbach BROADSWORD SCHOOL T168 DISTRICT 31 The Broadsword School District 31, (named for one of the early families who lived in the community), was a typical one-room country school, located fourteen miles north on Highway 51, later Hwy. 385, in the northwest corner of Louis Kreoger's field. Presently, the site is across the highway from the William Kreoger farm, where his daughter, Katherine Lundien, and family now live. Originally built as a soddy, in the latter 1800's, a wooden structure replaced it in the early 1900's, eometime before 1915. All labor was volunteer for the school building as well as the horse barn and out-house. The outhouse had a divider between the boys'side and the girls'side. Controversy arose during the building of the school when one of the volunteers who was working on it thought the rafters were not quite high enough. This controversy came after the rafters were was where community meetings and gatherings were held, box and pie socials, and the literary programs, consisting of debates, skits, etc. At one time this is where Coop meetings were held with Frank and Ida Rankins, and in the days of the early telephones, telephone meetings were held here. Clothing for the boys was bib overalls or knickers. Girls always wore dresses and most of them wore high top shoes and leg warmers. Later the boys continued to wear bib overalls or blue jeans and the girls, dresses. During the history of this country school, indoor and outdoor games played were unchanged. Outdoor games consisted ofAnte Over, Pump Pump Pull Away, Drop the Handkerchief, Baseball, Fox and Geese, and Red Rover. The wooden poles of the swing set broke in L946-47 and were replaced with very tall steel pipe set in concrete. The person swinging was challenged to see if he could go as high as the "bars" (top of the swing set). Believe me this was "fun"! Indoor games consisted of Hide the Thimble, Hangman, Spell Downs, and Geography Matches. This school had no well for water, ever. Consequently, the water needed to be carried in every day. Either it was up to the teacher to bring it in or up to the students to carry it in a bucket on a stick between them. (Three places were used to obtain water: the Frank Moose place, which was across the road west; Pete Broadsword farm which was 3/4 of. a mile north; and the Louis Kreoger farm which was L/2 mile southeast of the school. Many times the water from the well at the Moose place was no good, so the students had to choose somewhere else to go. After 1950, the water was always carried from the William Kreoger farm (former Moose place). This was after Kreoger had drilled a new well and had good water.) Water was put in a crock from which to dip or use a spigot for drinking. Each student was required to bring his or her own drinking cup and hand towel. If warm water was needed, it was heated on the pot belly stove, that stood in the center of the room. Lots of cold air came into the room due to the fact that there were large windows directly opposite each other, and there were no storm windows. Discipline was done in a variety of ways, such as standing on one foot on the stage, use of a razor strap or belt on the posterior region or staying in at recess. One teacher was known for throwing an eraser in front of a student who was daydreaming and not studying. It was reported that one student was sent to get a switch and if he didn't come back with it he would not need to return to school. The studentdidn'tcome back, butthe school board eventually let him return to the house of learning. already put up. The volunteer redid them and Christmas programs were always a traditional part of the school, where parts were this resulted in a very pitched roof and high ceilings. According to the School Board records ofJune 1923, the Board decided that a horse barn was needed for safety of the children. Transportation to school in the early days was by riding horses, walking, or using a buggy or cart. Horses were usually tied to fence posts or turned loose in the exchanged. Treats were given to all the students and their families. Of course. Slta made an appearance. The area where the school was located was called "Bottle Ridge." Indians fought on the 'Ridge' and school board members had schoolyard. Finally a barn was built. In the later years, the auto was a form oftransporta- tion. As in other communitiee, this school was also the social center of the community. This learned, recited, and three act plays were presented. Nemes were drawn and gifts disagreements here also. It was here that one member was arrested for disturbing the peace. One member wanted to have dances in the school and the other two didn't. Basically, he wanted to stir up trouble. After the arrest when they went to court, the judge ended the dispute by throwing out the case. If adult neighbors had battles or disputes they would usually end up at the school airing their problems. Academically things were somewhat differ- ent from what they are today. In the early days, the parents were responsible for their children's books. When the year's workbooks were finished for the grade we were in, the students were advanced to the next grade level. Usually this occurred about March. Children usually started school at age six and were given a primer to learn to read. In 1942, the famous reading series was Dick and Jane. Penmanship was a part of the daily routine. During the last four years of the school's existence, the most famous place to go to learn anything for memory was behind the piano, which was set at an angle in the back of the room. This was also the place where one child was sent to go to the restroom, using a tin can, which normally caught the drip from the water crock, on the day the drought broke, 1956. The rest of the students were asked by thew teacher to take their seats. This same student was asked to go behind the piano to learn the words to "America the Beautiful." This was quite an undertaking since the student was only a first grader. It was noted in the minutcs of the School Board Secretary dating in the early 1920's, that whenever a vote was taken the names of the men and how they voted was always listed first and then the names of the ladies were Iisted. Teacher of the Broadsword school were: Mrs. Nellie Grabb, Clara Shannon, Miss Bogart, Mrs. Bill Sperry, Maude Crist, Mr. E.A. Schwenker, Mrs. Antonie Schutte, Miss Annette Smith, Edith Miser, Eva Shumate, Miss Hewitt, Maxine Beal, Neva Henderson, Mrs. Harlin Romberg, Mary Winfrey, Florence Raines, Josie Youtsey, Barbara Kieber, Helen Young, Helen Kreoger, Alvin Johnson, Doris (Keeler) Kreoger, Hazel Fromong, Larry Megel, Mrs. Pearl Johnson, and Mrs. B. Leo Devlin. In the fall of 1959, this school was consolidated with the Burlington School District, thus bringing the era of the country school to its demise. School Board members not listed in order: Louis Kreoger, Carl Kreoger, William (Bill) Kreoger, Don Scheierman, Bob Parmer, Lucy Broadsword, Clarence Crist, Charles Miser, Claude Hall, Clara Fender, Orin Miller, Everett Winfrey, Ellis Clark, Harrison Clark, Newel Guffy, and the last three members before the school consolidated in 1959 were, Grace McNeill, Doris Kreoger, and Helen Kreoger. by Katherine Lundien and Carl Kreoger BROADSWORD 31 Tr69 I graduatcd from Burlington High School in the spring of. L927, having taken courses in teaching. (I was 19 at the time.) Then I took a test conducted by the County Superintendent of Schools to become a teacher. I put in my application for a teaching job at the Broadsword School and was awarded the teaching position. The school board consisted �of Charles Miser, Charles Kreoger and Claude Hall. I received $100.00 per month. Sometimes there was not enough money in the County Treasurer's office to pay my wages, and I would have to wait until more funds were available. It was in the contract that I do all my own janitor work, and put on a program each year followed by a box social to raise moneyfor playground equipment. The pupils were very good to help me bring in the cobs and coal from the shed just east of the school building, erase blackboards, sweep floors and various other duties. I had to have the building warm by 8:30 A.M. The teachers before me had raised money for a nice set of three swings, so I used money I took in for curtain material, (made eight curtains), a picture of George Washington and one of Abraham Lincoln, colored crepe paper for decorating, stencils, and putty for the windows (which I applied to help keep the cold wind out.) I always went out of doors when the weather was fit, to play with the students. We played games of various kinds, but baseball was the favorite by far. The older boys delighted in getting me to swing, standing up, with them. They would take me so high I thought we would go over the top, but luckily we never did. I'm sure recess time was their favorite but they seemed to learn neverthe- cents each and pencils were one cent each. Much of their work was done at the boards. As recreation, the children loved to do Spell Downs or do Arithmetic at the board. I always soaked corn cobs in kerosene to help start my fires more easily, then used a generous amount of cobs to make a good bed of coals to start the coal. My uncle had a real sense of humor. I always put some saying on the blackboard on Friday evening and one such time I had put "In union there is strength." He changed the U to O and made it read "In onion there is strength." This caused so much laughter on Sunday morning when we were all gathered for Sunday School. Many Sunday evenings we would gather, young and old alike, and sing. I played the piano and had quite a lot Melven Weaver and his daughters, Sallee Lee and Vee Ann, beside the old pitcher pump at Carmichael School in December, 1950. of sheet music. time we cut across the fields, right over the grades, as they all compared report cards at fence posts. Later on we rode a horse, and still later on we got a two-wheel buggy with shaves for one horse. My dad put Model T Ford front I loved teaching, but hated giving out report card time. Writing this has brought back many pleasant memories. by Eva Shumate Graybill CARMICHAEL SCHOOL wheels and tires on it which made it easier pulling and riding. In the winter Mom would heat a big rock and wrap it in gunny sacks to keep our feet warm. We kids fought over who got to put their feet on the rock! As we got older, we used horses and kept them in the barn at school. When visiting the site of Carmichael T160 less. They were a nice group of children. School in more recent years I found a cornfield covered the spot where the building once stood. We took up school at 9:00 A.M. and by Melven Weaver dismissed at 3:30 P.M. when days were short, but otherwise at 4:00 P.M. The first thing we did was to pledge allegiance to the American Flag. If the weather was nice we went outside, otherwise we stayed inside. This was followed by 15 minutes of singing, or my reading to them. One of their favorites was a book called The Pride of the Prairies, a book about the massacre at Beecher's Island, fought between the Indians and the U.S. troops around 1865. COLE SCHOOL Tl6r I had to make every minute count with eight grades to teach and hear recite. My youngest pupil was Lavern Hulse in first grade and my oldest was Julian Kreoger, that I taught the first year. Julian was given a test by the County Superintendent of Schools and passed this to be promoted from the eighth grade and qualify him for high school. The first year I boarded with my aunt and uncle, the Grant Stephensons. I had to ride horseback three and one half miles. The second year I boarded with the Louis Kreoger family and paid each family $20.00 per month for room and board. During my first year of teaching I paid Julian Kreoger $2.00 per month to carry water to the school and the second, I carried it from Louis Kreoger's home. Also being caried were my lunch, papers and books. The pupils all drank from the same water bucket and each one was to have his own cup, but generally they used the first one that was handy. Luckily there was very little sickness in my school. The first year I taught, my aunt and uncle, the Stephensons, organized a non-denomina- tional Sunday School that proved to be successful. The attendance was good and while we were meeting there they purchased a used piano. This instrument was used in school as well as Sunday School. Pupils had double desks and recited at the front ofthe room on a long bench specifically designed for that purpose. We had two large blackboards so that helped save on tablets and pencils. At that time, tablets were five CoIe School, Miss Jenny Shaw teacher, year 1916- t7. Carmichael School pupils, L92l-22;backrow on far right: Pearl Weaver; front row, L to R: Melven Weaver, Zelda Ann Ross, and Harry Weaver. The four unidentified girls are two sets of sisters: Ellen and Frances Bey and Stella and Bessie Adkisson, but Melven can't remember "which is which." At its first location this country school, Carmiehael, District 4, was four miles west and two miles north of the town of Burlington. A few years later it was moved directly south, one mile, and placed on a cement foundation as shown in the 1950 picture, with water just outside the door! Almost all of the nine children of Jim and Josie Weaver attended the Carmichael School. We had to walk three miles one way to school, winter and summer. In the winter- During the years 1910 to 1920 the community south of Burlington, Colorado was being settled. To help the settlers get their mail and educate the children the Cole School and post office was started. The location of the sod school house was fourteen miles south of the southeast corner of Burlington, on the east side of the road. Until the last few years there were still the foundation, two small ?, and the gate posts standing. This school was consolidated with the Smoky Hill School District in the early 1920's. The teacher of that year, Miss Jennie Shaw, still lives in Kansas. She had come from Kensley, Kansas to teach. Jennie Tres- sel was County Superintendent of School then. This was all told to me years ago, so hope it is nearly right. The school and post office �}rr;: ,ta'r,ri. . '' ' Later a good well was drilled in the school yard of the second and last building location for school use. Grades one through eight were taught at the Cook School. The regular school day would begin at 9:00 a.m. with the children i:::"'' t :a::,: :'.:i.: 1:,,,,,;iii,,i ''*,,:& and teacher giving the pledge to the American flag followed by the children singing or the teacher reading to the group. There was morning recess for fifteen minutes about 10:30 a.m. If weather permitted, gemes were played outside. If the weather was too cold or stormy, indoor games were played. Afternoon recess was fifteen minutes and scheduled around 2:00 p.m. Outdoor gemes played were Baseball, Ante Over, Tag, Red Rover, Hide and Go Seek, and sometimes foot races. In winter Fox and Geese was a popular game when snow covered the playground. Some indoor ga-es played were I Spy, Hide the Thimble, Upset the Fruit Basket, Old Cat, and Quaker's Meeting. Friday afternoons, after recess activities were Cipher Match, Spell Down, or a Geography Quiz at the blackboard. When weather permitted, the teacher and children would go for hikes west of the school grounds where there were interesting rock formations emer- ging from the ground of small canyons. During the last three years at the Cook School the teacher and children would walk to the river and locate beaver dams. The school room was heated with a stove located near the middle of the room that burned corn cobs, kindling and coal. On cold mornings the children would move their desks around the stove and study, also recite Cole School in 1916-17, Back row, L to R; Mary Parsley age 13, Percy Morford 13, Mary Greene 15, Alice Magnuson 14. Middle Row, L to R; Stella Goodwin 10, Thelma Little 10, John Parsley 10, Isaac Goodwin 11, Myrtle Magnuson 10. Front row, L to R; Adolf Parsley 6, David Magnuson 6, Cline Goodwin 6, Bryan Goodwin 8, Frank Parsley 7. were both gone when I came to this community from Norton County, Kansas, in 1928. by Velma Walstrom COLUMBINE SCHOOL Tl62 The Columbine School. the first school house in the Spring Valley Ranch neighborhood, was built of sod. Mr. E. McCrillis was the first elected school district secretary, an office held for fifteen years. The first teacher was Mrs. Helen Slusser. School warrant number one was drawn on October 12, 1889, for $20.00 for her first month of teaching. by Ruth Goebel Bauder COOK SCHOOL DISTRICT 86 J Tr63 The first Cook School, which was District number 86, was built of sod on the Jim Cook Ranch which was located south of the South Fork of the Republican River, and this area is now covered by the Bonny Reservoir. School District 86 was originally in Yuma County in the early 1900's. Later the county line was redrawn, as a result part of the original district was in Kit Carson County. This change made a joint district of School District 86 thus adding the letter "J" representing "Joint" to the 86, 86J. After this change the salary of the teacher was paid in two checks, one check from the Kit Carson County Treasurer and one from the Yuma their lessons from where they were seated near the stove. Throughout the school year the teacher would provide parties for the children on Halloween, Valentine's Day and have an Easter Egg Hunt at Easter. A program at Christmas with parents and community attending was the highlight of the school year. On the last day of school there would be a picnic for all to attend. One year there were several older boys attending Cook School who convinced the teacher to let them have a "smoking period!" County Treasurer. The coal shed was designated as the Indians and Kit Carson County honored the great western scout Kit Carson. Both Yuma the girls got sick and told her parents. Originally Yuma County and Kit Carson County were a part of Arapahoe County. Yuma County was named for the Yuma and Kit Carson counties were founded in 1889. These two counties and others were planned so a slice of railroad track would run through a part of each county. This helped share in the tax burden for financing schools and help with county expenses. A former student who attended school in the sod building recorded the following events on tape before she passed away. Several ofthe children walked a long distance to school. When it was cold and snowy the children wrapped their feet in gunnysacks to keep them warm and dry. At recess time they left the gunnysacks behind and "skated" on the ice on the frozen river. This was great fun until one father noticed his children's shoe soles were wearing thin and requested the teacher to stop the skating. In about 1916 the sod building was replaced. A wooden frame building was built and located about one half mile south of the original sod building. At first the children carried water from the original Cook Ranch. "smoking" room. One younger child went to the coal shed and found part of the students "rolling their own" using sawdust for tobacco. This activity did not last very long as one of Immediately the school board ca-e to school to meet with the teacher and there was no more smoking. It is a wonder they did not burn the shed down. In the spring of 1945 there were six students attending Cook School. These children came from three farm families. In late March two of the three farms sold and five of the six students moved away. This was the Iast year the school building was used. One students remained. He was one of the two who had taken the ninth and tenth grades at Cook. In order for him to finish, he was given lesson plans for the whole week and the teacher would check his papers each weekend and provide new plans for the coming week. This lasted for six weeks until the term closed. The reason for the above arrangement was that the teacher had been asked to teach high school in Kanorado, Kansas, to finish out the existing term, teaching typing and English. Mrs. Jessie Winfrev boarded teachers as �well as Mrs. Clemence Buraker. The Winfrey Ranch was three miles from school and the Buraker Ranch was a little more than one half mile from school. At present the buildings at the Winfrey Ranch have been removed and an irrigation sprinkler covers where the ranch buildings stood. The buildings at the Buraker Ranch have been removed and the site is now the Wagon Wheel Qnmp Ground south of Bonny Reservoir. The buildings at the Cook School site were sold and moved. The only things that remain are chunks of concrete over the pipe of the water well, a few currant bushes near the pasture fence and a lot of memories. A complete record of the teachers who taught at Cook was not available, however this is a partial listing: Clemence Buraker, Ruth Fithian, Bernarda Bohrer, Nellie Fox, Mildred Sperry, Lenora Heckert, Clair Ford, Wm Nye, Jr., Iris Herndon, and Helen at this corner. Magnesia rock was present about the area, seen by many who remember this place. Mrs. Ida Gwyn recalled a rock look of the building and remaining rock in later years. In 1987, no evidence is apparent to mark a site of this old soddie school erected so many years ago. Mr. William Strode remembered his teacher through his school years as: Mrs. Florence Rumming (Miss Lyons), next teacher, Miss Mina Miller, Julia Doughty, Miss Alice Kelly, B.F. O'Dell, C.W. Smith and Harvey God- interviews was obtained by my children when in school. Since the school project was discussed, conversation turned to memories of school. Also contributing was correspondence with a member of the Doughty family, written memoirs of Adda (Doughty) Brookhart and interviews, generously given by Mrs. Ida Gwyn. Mr. Duane Loutzenhiser aided this writer in determining a location along with other useful information. by Lyle W. Stone ding. some of the students using this school were William Strode, Mary Elizabeth (Molly) and Adda Blanche Doughty, Mable Lynde, Archie Lyons (grand son), probably Carl Stark EAST FAIR HAVEN T165 and any brothers or sisters. Frank McDonald may have attended among others. Families living in the area were Farr, Lyons, Strode, Lynde (Lind in some records), Doughty, Editors Wilson Kreoger. Some of the families who had children who attended the Cook School were as follows: Armknecht, Homm, Buraker, Reinhold, Winfrey, Rice, Parmer, Payne, Insco, and Stafford. by Clemence Buraker, Ilarold Buraker, Lillian Ebeler, Lola Winfrey Rhoades, and llelen C. Kreoger CRYSTAL SPRINGS SCHOOL T164 Crystal Springs school was first located near the home of Stephen S. Strode in the Crystal Springs alea, east of Flagler. Classes began in 1887 in a dug out near the home for the first few months. After a new soddie was finished, classes moved to this structure at a location near the present Duane Loutzenhiser home. A first reference found ofthis school was during an interview in the 1950s with William "Bill" Strode. He said the first school he attended was a dug out and later a soddie. He said his first teacher was Florence Rumming. Research revealed that Miss Florence Lyons married Simon Rumming in 1890. I believe the first teacher in this school was Miss Florence Lyons of a family Iiving near the old Claude Verhoeff place. Several physical locations have been suggested for the school following the dug out. I believe a most accurate place was west some distance from the row of pine trees at the Loutzenhiser place. The name, Crystal Springs School, is recorded by a statement in the memoirs of Adda (Doughty) Brookhart: "My aunt Julia had come from Missouri and taught a term of school which I attended at the old Crystal Springs school." A logical location would be in the northwest corner of Section 9, Township 95, Range 50W. On best authority, I believe this school was built of sod and that in subsequent years, some magnesia rock might have been laid on its exterior to protect walls or corners from elements of weather and damage from livestock. According to Duane Loutzenhiser, present owner of the site, a magnesia rock foundation was removed at the corner of the section west of his place to facilitate farming there. This is just south of the county road East Fair Haven School, 1912 Back row, I to r: Jim Berry, Francis Tillum, Lewis Reed, Paul Miller, Mabel Bushnell, Gladys Chew Front row: Flossie Tillum, Ward Chew, Flossie Benson Stark and Miller, among others. An interesting story tells of Molly and Adda Doughty carrying butter milk to the railroad crew workers when the Rock Island track was built, passing near their residence. EMERSON SCHOOL Tr66 Rail hands placed coins in paraffined wrappers and tossed them to the Doughty children in return payment. Mrs. Gwyn remembered a nickname given Adda Doughty as "Ab-doughty." Mable Lynde was a "seat partner" of Adda Doughty when they attended school. Mable became very ill and died in November 1888. She had typhoid fever and is the first person listed in records of the Flagler Cemetery. Others were buried here before record keeping began. When District 19 was formed, this school was located within its boundaries. A theory exists suggesting when District 19 was formed, its boundaries were set to include railroad property to assure a tax base. This might explain why students, after Flagler schools were established, attended school at the consolidated school of Second Central some distance away. No definite record has been found to determine how long Crystal Springs School was in operation or when it was closed, although certainly it was among Emerson Consolidated School built in 1926. It burned in 1935 and was rebuilt on the same place to the same design. Before Emerson School was centralized there were two schools in one district. One was Lowell School on Rd 45- BB and Emerson School on Rd 47- FF. The new larger centralized school kept the name Emerson, probably named after the poet Ralph Waldo Emerson. It was located on Rd the first in the area. 46-EE in the south east corner of school history was obtained from earlier interviews with Will-and Mamie Strode. One of these section L6-7-44. The grounds were fenced to keep range cattle and horses out. However, when baseball was played at recess or noon, Much of the information in this short �Emerson were Miss Ruth (Church) Schaal, Miss Mary (Mahoney) Kruger, Miss Carlotta Berger, Mr. Jake Jeager, Mr. and Mrs. Harlan Romberg, Mr. and Mrs. S.L. Lightsey, Mrs. Luella O'Hare, Mrs. Villot, Mr. Theisson, Mrs. Youtsey, Mr. Tekel, Mrs. Rosina (Bau- der) Schaal, Mr. DeRitter, Mrs. Dunlap, and Miss Virginia Felch was the last teacher at Emerson in the year 1958. In the fall of 1959 busses from the Burlington district transported all students to Burlington School. by Ted Schaal Winston, Iva Winston, Linda Smith, Clyde Schaal, Alene Winston. Front Row: Karan Smith and Marie Winston the kids climbed the school ground fence and made a baseball diamond in the pasture outside the school grounds using cow chips for bases, eliminating the possibility of a ball being thrown through a window of the school house. The school building had two large classrooms go two teachers could teach the first 10 grades usually 1 through 6 in the south room and 7 through 10 in the north room which also had an elevated stage. The two classrooms were divided by folding doors that could be opened for public school programs, school elections and Farm Bureau meetings. The school building had a full basement for living quarters for the teachers and a separate room for a coal furnace to heat the building. Water was supplied by a windmill with a supply tank in a tall building beside the windmill which allowed an indoor restroom on each side of the entry hall and a drinking fountain in the middle. Some children came to school with teem and wagon, some in a buggy drawn by one horse and some rode horses or burros (donk- eys) so a large barn was provided with mangers to keep horses sheltered and fed during the day. In the early 30's, thirty-two students attended one year. In 1935 the school house caught fire, caused by a deteriorated chimney behind the furnace and burned to the ground. While a new identical school building was being constructed on the basement foundation, school classes were held in the barn. Some students came from districts that taught eight grades to finish the 9th and 10th grade at Emerson. One girl, Joyce Senti, rode horseback from Spring Valley Ranch, a distance of 10 miles one way and others were not much closer. About 1937 the 9th and 10th grades were discontinued as some of the older students finished the 9th through 12th grades in Burlington. So after that Emerson had one teacher and taught only from 1st through 8th grades. In 1953 the Hook School District consoli- FAIRMOUNT SCHOOL Tl67 Fairmount School was established in 1913 on Section 22, Township 11, Range 49, south of Seibert, at a place known as the Joe Trabert place. This information comes from a paper, Of Land and People, written by Leon Bloder, formerly of the Rock Cliff area. miles west of there so Selma drove a horse and cart to school until a wheel wore out and she didn't get to finish that term ofschool (1920Fairmount School was later consolidated with Rock Cliff School. The Fairmont School had a barn for horses and later the school building was moved to Rock Cliff and was the small building used for the upper grades. Selma went to Rock Cliff the next term and finished there. Rock Cliff had bus barns built after that. Sybil Wiem boarded with the Gunderson's when she taught school at Fairmont in 192021. by Lyle TY. Stone memories of this school, thus saving informa- tion valuable to those of us today. Mr. Bloder's comments follow: The school was first located in an old shanty located in the southeast part of the section. Earl Short was the tcacher. The common water dipper, the slate, and also cowchip fuel were on the way out. In 1914 Ben Loiler constructed a new school building on FAIRVIEW SCHOOL NO.20 T168 the same site, also two 4' x 4' "necessaty houseg." These were of the "modern" type, having a basement (although still supplied with mail order catalogues), and a barn for six horses. Later teachers were Agie Sawhill, Alpha Wolfe in 1918-19, and Sibyl Wrenn in L920-2L. The school house was in a fenced pasture, and during the term taught by Agie Sawhill, the Loiler kid's dog would sometimes come to school with them. and when cattle came near, would run them off. One day we heard rifle shots outside. All noses pressed to the windows, we saw the rancher who owned the cattle chasing the dog round and round the school house getting in a shot every time he could. Just as the dog rounded the corner Adobe School 20: Children are from Matthies, Ellsworth and Armstrong families. ahead, the dog stopped and scratched on the door. The oldest boy opened the door and shouted at the man, just as he got in a final shot. The dying dog fell into the room. At this One of the first school buildings in district 20 was an adobe building on the SW corner time we were all about scared out of our Sometime in the 1910's a frame school underpants, teacher included as he stepped outside to speak to the man, calmly standing there with his hand cupped over the muzzle of the 22 caliber Savage Hi-Power rifle. Students that attended Fairmount school through the years included: Ruth and Ruby Hungerford; Lee, Everett and Leola Cline; Donald, Leslie and Johnnie Norris; Joseph, Agnes, Mary and Leon Bloder; Ralph, house was built on the southwest corner of 1611-44. fifteen miles south and four miles west of Burlington. This schoolwas known as West Fairview No. 20: sometimes it was called the Wilford, Marvel and Burton Loiler; Austin Valquette; Clara Martin; Ruby Irvin; Robert years at West Fairview. Short; Alice Short; Theadore Douglas; Allie Ferguson; Hollister and Kenneth Reece; Ivan, Clifford and Merle Noxon; Sterling district hired Elmer Schaal to haul some of the pupils in his Jeep Station Wagon to Burlington where the district paid tuition. At one time Clara Fender conducted Dawe; Selma and Gladys Simonson. School was not held here in 1919-20 as only Somc of the fnachers who tsusht et brought a lady from Norway and they were married in October of 1920 and moved four Mr. Bloder thoughtfully wrote down his dated with Emerson District and that year some students from Hook attended Emerson, but in following years the larger combined Sunday School during the summer and Ben Parmer had evangelistic meetings for a short time. Oliver Gundersons. Matt, Selma's brother, 2r). Emereon School pupils its last year: 1958-59. Left to right: Glen Schaal, Wayne Winston, Teacher Virginia Felch, Geneva Schaal; 2nd row: Nancy Deeter, E.M. Short, Troy Martin, Albert Martin, Inez Short, James Deeter, Bessie Short, Harry Short and Odry Martin. Selma Simonson Nordquist who went her first year to Second central in 1917-18, went to school at Fairmount School in 1919 and they lived with their Aunt and Uncle, the of the NW% 8-11-44, southwest of BurIington. 'Crackerbox school.' Some of the families attending West Fairview were Hicks, Matthies, Hines, Meyers, Hawthorne, and Boyd. Florence Wigton taught school several East Fairview No. 20 was on the southeast corner of the SE% L4-Ll-44, three miles east of West Fairview School. Before the 1920's gram of entertainment. Names not previous- East Fairview was about a mile west of this location. Some years school was held in both schools and some years it was held in just one of the schools. Some of the children attending East Fairview were the Smiths, Pearson, Boyd, (some may have been among the older set), were: Leaoold Bloder. John Deeter. Reeina sheffel and Williams. Fairview consolidated with the Bethune two pupils lived in this end of the district. Mr. Bloder's record included a 1915 pro- ly mentioned and located in the program, Matthies, Hicks, Abbott, Walstrom, Wind- �School around 1951. The children then rode a school bus to Bethune where they could attend all twelve grades. The school houses were then sold and t!. :,t:. f:.. moved away. FARRffi":: f,nlsorslrlcf,ln rvro. €#ffi EEF %"iiz: ,ff lT .b*t:''3:fr1 !:s?l?Ji::'sl: early teacher was Miss Stella Strode. Other . *. teachers of the district in early years were First Central School in 1912 when Grace Wellman Greenwood was a baby (in the picture)' Haidee Nealley (or Neeley), Emma Liggett, Mrs. Flo Shunate, Ethel Durbin and M.R. Shanahan.MissLuellaSchwynmayhave1908or1910.Afewyearslater,probably beenteachingbefore1915.Arecordof19151914,twolargeframeroomswereaddedto tellsofMiss-EverettarrivingonaSaturdaythenorthofthisbuilding.Anicelookingroof eveninginFlaglerfromWisconsinandthatandwindowsenhancedthisbuilding.Itwas shewinbetheteacheratFarrSchoolinthewhitewithdarkbrowntrimandverypretty. comingterm.Ithadneatstepsandanentranceontheeast. "fl',:"'31*f"'.11tif;3'rff-?,-"n,'jii#f'Jfl l3lt'S'fr3t"'f,T:'A'fr5'*fft":lfljt; mentionedinlastweek'spaperwill!eheldtyping.andbookkeepingclassroom.Two attheFarrschoolhouseinDist.19.Thanks-typewriterswereusedinthisclassroom. givingeve.LadiesbringwellfilledbasketsTherewasastoveandinbittercoldweather, and men don't forget your purses." -: a ,--r,,, o-L,,, :_ r-__ ___L^- rr- teachersbroughtormadehotsouptosupplement the chirdren's cord runches. Inlater ilfi:,?:,11*:"*ff:il,1'.'"?*:,$f;;::il"X' another built on the ;j:#,:'*t:runji*:ln,1lf:;n westedgeoftheschoolgrounds.Inl92?Alta Duncan and Dewey Farr attended as stuyears dents. Although a careful search has been school house was Ellis Wolfe taught the first three grades. She made, other students are not apparent except that children of the Paulsen family may have attended here. It is known that in 1915, 'i:'r.": "----'--' Durr"- Farr was a right guard on the Flagle; HighSchoolfootballieam.Itisinterestingto*;;.*;..-"-."-..'..--'...--.''..-'''',..'.,.* backfield on this team. Duncan would have attended Farr School much earlier. Records indicate Farr School was still in operation in 1915, with school beginning this year, the teacher boarding with the John Paulsen's. W.W. Reynolds hauled a load of coal to the Farr School in the fall of 1915. It is unlikely Farr School operated much later than 1915. This is stated because Flagler schools had improved a gteat deal at this time and was within a distance where students could have been transported to the school. Often, this made little difference if patrons were unwilling. District 19 had embarked on an effort to utilize a centralized consolidated school npmed Second Central at this time. by Lyle W. Stone FIRST CENTRAL SCHOOL TI.70 First Central was an early day community school located 12 miles south and 4 miles east ofStratton, Colorado on the Correction Line' A long slim frame school house was built in Pupils at First Central in 1929-3G Back ro*', I to r: Jarnes Grccetooa, Ly'e Xcllogg, Delno Norton, Jennie L. Tressel, Lowell Dunlap, Walt Ackerson, Warren Hodge, La Denhom. Middle row: Edith Beeson, Albert GIad, Irene Dunham, Glen Smith, Bessie Whitrnore, Lloyd Prxhe, IlGlEn Mitchell, Elbert Ayres. Front Row: Violet Norton, Cloyd Storrer, Eva Raleigh, Ralph Greenrood, Dorothy Hodge, Clarence Ieeman, Wanda Norton, Kenneth Scheierman. �lived six miles south of Bethune on the rooms of the store. She bought cream and present Leo and Maxine Kindred farm. That same year, Lola Shaw Pearce Rillihan was also a teacher there. She loaned her horse eggs from the people and hauled this produce "Sparkplug" (Sparky) to Vena Hughes to ride the 4-112 miles to and from school each day. Vena was a junior in high school that year. Teachers that your writers can remember were: Miss Troxel (one of the first); Miss Johnson, Della Glaze, Chester Glaze, Florence Ellis Glaze, Jesse McNay, Wilsie Hughes Reeder, Marie Chandler Greenwood (1921-22), Amy Petefish McConnell, Jack McConnell, Violet Campbell Barr, Lola Shaw Pearce Rillihan, Thelma Neilson Armstrong Lowe, Ida Smith Boecker, Mr. Terry, Mr. Elder, Oris Bunch, Otis Ross, Mr. Frog, Miss Bohl, Jennie Tressel, Virginia Felch, Mr. Hampton, Jackie Hendricks, Mr. Fox, Ruby Schlotman, Josie Youtsey, Della Hendricks, Fred Carrington-Conradson/, Lyle Bunch, Edith Campbell Johnson, Marvel Simpson, Jesse Roach Ardueser, McCune, Edith Beeson, Margaret Simon, Caroline Husenetter. Theodore Smith was the first graduate from First Central (1923). Arlene (Bunch) Rains was the last graduate (1947). There were no graduation exercises held for Theodore so he graduated later with the class of 1925. He was enrolled in Greeley Teachers College at that time. He later taught school at Smokey Angle. In 1927, Mr. Elder taught some post-graduate courses, on top of all the high school classes. Garvin Church attended the post-graduate courses, one of which was trigonometry. At one time there were 100 pupils and five teachers and four busses at First Central School. In the years from 1923 to 1947 when the last class graduated there were 80 graduates on the records. The names of those 80 graduates are listed in the Stratton alumni listing which one will find in the article titled "High School Graduates and - Stratton First Central." When the school was closed in 1950, all records were taken to Stratton School District R-4 and incorporated into that school's records. Oris Bunch recalls that he attended the Iittle school house grades 1, 2 and 3. Later he taught in it two years then lived in it one year and taught in the big school. He taught all eight grades. There was a Dr. Troxel who lived just east of First Central on the north side of the Correction Line. It is thought that he built that house. Later Frank Whitmore lived there, also Bill Churchwells and Cage Bunchs lived there. Charles and Iva Day built a very nice farmstead. It had a huge barn and a very nice frame home, according to the standards of that day when many lived in sod homes. Just above it to the east L/2 mile was the Day School (built in about 1906). Raymond Hughes was one who attended there. Giles and Ada Hunt and son, Wayne, lived on the Day place after Days left. Later Melvin Wall, Henry Scheiermans, Bill Berrys and the Ralph Isemans lived there. At present it belongs to Clarence and Allie Jean (Beck) Iseman. About 1912 or 1914 there was a Beaverton store where Mrs. Clair Eichenberger now lives. This is 1/4 mile east of the Art Lowe place where Paul Lowe now lives. This store was run by Mrs. McPheeters. She and her children. Bertha and Jim. lived in the back into Stratton. One could buy a new Easter hat and some summer and fall clothing at this store. Later McPheeters left and George Church ran a store there in 1920. The Churches either moved in or built a large frame building close to First Central School where they continued their grocery business. About this time people began to buy Model T cars and a few other models and went to Stratton more often. so the Church store closed. They moved into Burlington. The following are First Central community people your writers recall. Some may have lived in the Norton School District just east of First Central. The Norton School was about 2 miles north of the Nazarene Church which was on the Correction Line. Dunlap, Storrer, Swan, Erickson, Lesher, Herndon, Pfaffly, Dunham, Huscher, Holstein, Ora Wellman, Art Wellman, Frank Beeson, Ed Beeson, Cliff Beeson, Jap York, John Higgins, Bill Whitmore, Frank Whitmore, Bill Churchwell, Art Lowe, McPheeters, Kellogg, E.R. Smith, Griggs, John N. Williams, Perry Taylor, Dr. Troxel, A.J. Glaze, Ralph Iseman, A.D. Radspinner, Charlie Perkins, Willis Perkins, Walter Collins, Clark Geist, Henry (Red Henry) Wilson, Rex Barrett, Ayers, Christenson, Fred Norton, Snelling, Vic Michell, Greenwood, Wink Hall, Jim Hall, Simms, McArthur, Tom McMahan, H.D. Greenwood, Lou Beck, Giles Hunt, Melvin Wall, Herman Baetz, Lawrence and George Sherrod, Dave Megel, Elmer Magnuson, Pete Burgraff, Keever, Keeling, Labonte, Perry, Andrewjeske, Austin, Johnson, Bauman, Tatkenhorst, Sponsel, Kirby, Windsheffel, Kaufalks (not sure of the spelling), ISallee, Loobe, Simons, Kiper, Holder, Stegman, Werner, Cage Bunch, Church, Swem. In the 1916 census of First Central school district it shows it to be a big district (No. 29) which included Tom Wilcoxin who lived 3 miles south of Highway 24.The school house was located 12 miles south of Highway 24. The Wilcoxins lived on what is known now as the Bert Stramel place, owned by Miltenberger Brothers. Tom Wilcoxin's parents were Jerry and Miranda McNair. There were literary programs often in - crackers, the winter we had oyster stew and as everyone had lots of milk. At times fresh oysters could be bought at the Stratton Meat Market. Someone in the community needed, at times, a load of coal, or a bushel of apples and other things, so they would get two gallons of oysters. These were 91.00 per gallon. Each family gave about 10 cents to cover the cost of the oysters. The women also made pies and some popped about two bushels of popcorn. Most folks raised popcorn in their fields. Debates were popular entertainment at these progrerms. Homemade icecrenm was often made, also. An interesting and funny thing that happened often at the literary programs or church services was the "chirping chicken." If the meeting got dull, a little chicken would chirp in the back of the room. This chicken sounded just like a real one who had lost his Mama and was running around the chicken house, cold, looking for the Mother Hen. It was a perfect mimic. It was Irvin "Skinny" Lesher making the noise. About the time Frank Lesher, Irvin's father, turned around and looked to see where Irvin was. the chick disappeared into the side room. It was a cute act and happened quite often. Church and Sunday School were held every Sunday, with a good youth program on Sunday evenings. Everyone attended this and different people led devotions. Rev. Huscher and Rex Barrett were some of the speakers. Fred Storrer was a fine Sunday School teacher. In later years the Evangelical United Brethren Church of Stratton sent ministers to preach. Rev. Ness lived near the First Central School. Later Delbert Paulson merged the First Central Church and the Smokey Angle Church into the Stratton Church. A number of people didn't go into Stratton because the distance was too far. so those families remained unchurched. In the fall of 1950 First Central and other country schools were consolidated into one district and all of the country children were bussed into Stratton to school. At present there are no buildings left on the First Central school grounds. A few years ago there were cattle and hog pens there, but those, too, are gone. First Central had a girls basketball team which played on an outdoor court. Lola Shaw and Miss Bohl were two of the coaches. Agnes Iseman, Gertrude Church, Ruth Church, Hazel Lesher and Vena Hughes played on that team at various times. During the late 1940's the school had a hot lunch program. Mrs. Heiman was one of the cooks. Also during that time there were two particular teachers, one quite heavy and one, a tall, slender lady. The kids built two "snow women" to resemble the two ladies. The tall teacher took thejoke quite well but the heavy lady didn't think it so humorous, so she took a bucket of hot water and poured it on the heavy "snow woman." Consequently, the "snow woman" turned to ice and outlasted the slender one by several days. The Lesher and Storrer boys would give each other rides in the windmill wheel. One would climb up the tower and hook his hands and toes into the wheel and the one on the ground would turn on the windmill. After a few spins, he would turn off the mill and they would exchange places! During most of the First Central era there was a community baseball team. In the early years, about 1912 and 1913, the team was made up of George Sherrod, Lawrence Sherrod, Jack Thomas, Bert Thomas, Bill Holt (or Houch), Hans Ho5rt, Floyd Cunningham, Lou Dages, Jap York and Enoch Thomas. Their home baseball diamond was at the Beaverton Store. In the late 1940's the team consisted of Shelby Taylor, Darrell Taylor, Hap Bauman, Leonard, Clark and Duane Beeson, Don Thompson, Bill Storrer, Jerome Stegman and LeRoy Herndon. The 1940's team played such community teams as Homm's Settlement, Bethune, Pottorffs, Knights of Columbus (Stratton). Their home diamond was located 2 miles east of the schoolhouse. The following people contributed to this story: Leonard and Agnes Beeson, Vena Hughes Scheierman, Irene Dunham Kennedy, Maxine Iseman Chandler, Loraine Iseman Wood, Vel Lowe Pickard, Marie Chandler Greenwood, Oris Bunch, Wilsie Hughes Reeder, Grace Wellman Greenwood, �Elsie Beeson Herndon, LeRoy Herndon, Ivan Smelker. by Leonard and Agnes (Iseman) Beeson board. All of these early schools were used both as schools and on Sundays the community gathered there for Sunday School. Jim McConnell and his cousins along with others attended this school in 1931. His first teacher was Miss Virginia Felch. She boarded with the Jack McConnells while teaching at FLAGEOLLE SCHOOL T17r My early school days in Colorado were in a large adobe building. It was 16 miles north, 1 mile west, and 1/z mile north of Vona, Colorado. [t was on the Frank Rehor place. I went to school there until the fall of 1915 or 1916. Some of the pupils were the Bogers, John Horace and Bonney; Bill and Mae Ilers; Evelyn and Pearl Brookshire; John and Alva Flageolle; Beatrice and Buelah Strode; Lester Crist; Verdie and Cleo Elsey; the Balangas; and Orval, Avirene and Bertha Seo-an. We took our lunches in a pail or paper bag. The water was brought in . Some of the pupils had what was called folding cups. They were tin or aluminum. There was a large stove in the middle of the room for heat. For games we enjoyed "kick the can", "steal sticks", "drop the handkerchief', "anti-over" and ball gemes. My home was 16 miles north of Vona, 1 mile east and 1 mile north. Orval. Bertha and I walked the mile on nice days. If it was stormy, some older brother would come for us. Finally my dad, William Seaman, put a shaft on a spring wagon and we drove old "Bill" the horse for several years. It wasn't a nice ride. We sat on boxes and had a cover over our laps. Later Ernest Elsey made a catt, put a shaft on it and a horse was used to pull it. His girls and I went to school this way until the fall of 1915 or Grandview. My first school years were at Grandview School, and the first teacher I remember was Amy McConnell. There were only four of us that first year: Paul Brown, Dean Smith, Barbara Wilson, and myself. The last year that Grandview had school, Vivian Brown joined us. That last year, 1946, Miss Evelyn Gouge was our teacher. I can remember when the county superintendent of school came to visit our school. The first one I recall was Miss Virginia Felch, formerly my husband Jim's teacher. For a few years the building was used for community events with a group of Young Farmers and Homemakers meeting once a month. They enjoyed square dancing, giving plays, and having box suppers. Mildred Anderson has told us about Grandview School. This school was located twelve miles south and,3l/z or 4 miles west of Stratton and about the same distance, only east from Vona. Mildred moved thereinl92T and the first teacher she remembers was Mary Martin, now Mary Blodgett who was postmistress at Joes, Colorado until retire- GREEN KNOLL SCHOOL T173 Not much is remembered about Green Knoll school which is located two miles west and two south of Stratton. but it is one of the few school buildings remaining at its original Iocation. The McCormick's older children went there and one of the teachers that is remembered is Julia McCormick Lowe. The building sits on land owned by Dean Wigton. by Florence McConnell OLD SCHOOLS IN DISTRICT NO. 38 Tt74 The Charles Nealleys lived in the SE 1/4 of 35-6043 when their two daughters, Haidee and Blanche, attended this school. It was located a mile west of the Neallev home. The tat:', :i:'1 ment. Another teacher was Miss Virginia Felch who was the last teacher to teach there. She had taught there for a long time. Also a Mr. Fred Carrington taught there. by Florence McConnell 1916. For entertainment we had pie and cake suppers with programs before we ate. There were Christmas programs and many more that I can't remember. I do remember at the Christmas program Santa gave me a piece of material for a dress. It was a red and white check. The only teachers I can remember were The outside of school house that Haidee and Blanche Neally attended. Taken in 1904. Miss Kozard and Mary Watmore. by Avirene Henry GRANDVIEW SCHOOL Tt12 Grandview School was another school belonging to District 36 in which there were several schools. Each district had a school -&;t ;:*,: .&{' ,&t$ t,:ti:urn Grandview School in 1946: front row, I to r: Vivian Brown, Barbara Wilson, Dean Smith, PauI Brown. Back row: Denise Wilson, Teacher: Evelyn Gouge 1901 school in District 38: Teacher, Miss Eva White. Pupils: (back to front) Haidee Neally, Vinnie Reisch, Gertrude Reisch, Clyde Knapp, Lucy Knapp, Zuella Knapp, Blanche Neally, Cora Knapp, Jake Knapp, Oral Reisch �school house was located in the SE L/4 of 346-43 on the north side of a creek bank. The rocks for the foundation can be seen very plainly yet. It does seem like a very odd place to build a school. I don't know the nane of the school but it was in District 38. Mrs. John Nohr and Olive Hill were two teachers for the Pleasant Hill School located about 3 miles NE of this school in the NE L/4 of L4-6-43. Later Happy Hollow replaced both of these schools, but all were in District 38. The teacher in this school was Mise Eva White. Later she married a man from south of Kanorado and continued to live here for a few years. She passed away and is buried in the Kanorado cemetery. The pupils in this picture all came from three families: the Knapps, Reischs and Nealleys, namely back to front: Haidee Nealley, Vinnie Reisch, Gertrude Reisch, Clyde Knapp, Lucy Knapp, ZuellaKnapp, Blanche Nealley, Cora Knapp, Jake Knapp and Oral Reisch. As far as I know Lucy Knapp Russmann is the only one still living and she was our last County Superintendent of Schools in Kit Carson County. This picture was taken in 1901. by Elna M. Johnson leave the room. Someone in that school came regarded her, too, but showed their admiration in a different way. They pestered her and irked her and the more she reacted, the more tricks they would play. One day she stepped out of the door a minute and one of them jumped up and locked the door on her. She banged the door and screamed. They told her to say "Please" and "Pretty Please." Finally she did and they let her in. She looked to neither right nor left and all the children appeared to be studying intently. The boys now had the upper hand and after that our school was a riot. Although we felt sorry for her, we girls sometimes got into the act. It was so much fun and we sort of wanted to go along with the boys. She looked so sad so we talked it over, and before school was out, Margaret, Blanche, and I went together and told her how sorry we were and that we loved her. Of course she did not get her contract back, and up with a system of sign language using the fingers to express the different letters of the alphabet. We became quite adept at sending I have wondered if Miss Blodgett taught school somewhere else the next year, and I hoped that she set her foot down firmly the messages to each other, especially when the teacher had her back turned to write on the first day. on the farm in the fall ofthe year and so could not complete their school grades. A Bohe- mian family moved onto a place about a mile northwest of the school and two boys attended the school. Then the next year a little blueeyed sister entered the first grade. She could not speak English, but before the term was over, she had not only mastered the language but maintained her grades along with her classmates. In those days a good teacher kept a very strict order. No whispering was allowed during the school session, and the children did not leave their seats without permission. If one needed the teacher's help, a hand was raised. A hand with one finger raised was for a request to speak to another pupil, two fingers raised was for permission to get a drink, and three fingers indicated a need to blackboard. We had Big Chief tablets but mostly we wrote on slates, and proud indeed was the youngster who possessed a double slate. HANSEN SCHOOL Tt?6 When the Chandler family settled on their homestead northwest of Stratton in March, 1909, there was no school nearby. Soon a thrifty Danish family named Hansen, with five children, Carrie, Martin, Nicholas, Margaret and Abbie, homesteaded on a piece of land adjoining on the north. They erected a nice frame house, barn, and other buildings. Then they promoted interest in establishing a public school. My mother, who had been a gchoolteacher back East, was making certain that we children's education was not neglected by teaching us at home. However, our parents were very much in favor of establishing a school in the community. So were other families whose children had been attending school some distance away. Six or seven of the men hitched their horses to breaking plows and soon had enough slabe of sod to build a neat, little sod schoolhoue€. It was located four milee west and four miles north of Stratton, and just one mile north of our home. Mr. Hansen had donated the land so we named it "The Hansen School." There were also two outhouses and a small shed for coal. In the corner of the yard was a lilrc bush, probably planted and then abandoned by a discouraged settler in the late eighteen hundreds. Mrs. Jerome, who lived one mile south of us and two miles from the school. was our first teachor. She was a good teacher rnd included singing in our curriculum. Since she owned and played an organ, she would loan it to the school when she had a Christmas or LastDay-of-School prog:ram. The school term lasted only six monthe. Some of the pupils were Nicholas, Margaret, and Abbie Hanren; Henry Mohr; Stuart, Fred, Madie Lee, and Bessie Ray Harvey; Marie, Elsie, Joseph, and John Chandler; Walter, Blanche, Glen and Homer Bridge, Esta Gray and en older sieter, Rosie Vader, and others. Some of the boys were quite old and nearly grown due to the fact that thev had to stav at home and work We had many successful teachers and the one I remember the best was Miss Alice Talbott. After I graduated from the eighth grade, my mother, Mrs. Meta Chandler, taught one or two years before we moved to There were eight grades and we sat in double seats, two to a seat. On the back of each seat was a flat projection that served as a writing desk for the two in the next seat behind. Between the front desk and the teacher's desk was a long bench where each class was routinely called up to recite their lessons, or they might be sent to the blackboard to perform arithmetic calculations. Every day we had ten minutes of penmanship practice, and along toward evening, we often had a spelling match, where we stood in line, and a good speller might advance to the head of the line and earn the "Head Mark" for the day. Nor were History, Geography, Physiology, Civics or Science ever neglected. Two pupils were excused each day to a well down at the bottom of the hill to bring back a bucket of drinking water. We played many town. games at recess and noon, Pump-Pump-Pull- 38. Who was teacher and in which year and any marriages are indicated. Some of the teachers at Happy Hollow School District 38 Away, Darebase, New Orleans, London Bridge-Is-Falling-Down, Ring Around the Rosie, Blackman's Buff, Drop the Handkerchief and Baseball. If we were lucky to have a wet fall, there would be a lagoon down the creek a short distance to the northwest. When this would freeze over, we would quickly eat our lunch at noon, then go skating for the remainder of the hour-long recess. None of us had skates, but if we would take a fast run to the edge of the pond, we could skim across the ice on the soles of our shoes. Hard on sole leather! and shoes were not easy to come by in those days. Also, when it snowed, we played Fox and Geese and as the snow melted we beat down tracks until we could follow them like cow paths. Years later after the schoolhouse had been leveled and the other buildings removed, I chanced to drive by the location one day and could still see traces of those Fox and Geese paths, like a small scale copy of the Santa Fe Trail reminding us of early days. The lilac bush still thrived. A few years later, all had been plowed under. About the third year a young lady named Miss Blodgett came to teach our school. She was friendly and pretty and we girls admired her dainty clothes and her blonde hair piled high in the back and accented with little loops of black, watered taffeta ribbon. The boys Miss Jennie L. Tressel who was the County Superintendent of Schools, each year visited all the schools in the county, driving a tenm ofhorses hitched to a buggy. She was the one who signed my eighth grade diploma. When she came to visit our school it was a great event and we all tried to be very polite and on our best behavior. by Marie E. Greenwood HAPPY HOLLOW Tt76 Edna Bartman Stahlecker sent this information about Happy Hollow School District were Elva Smith Bartman: 1916 Miss Edna Swanson, who later manied Edgar King; 1921 Marie Klassen; 1922 Miss Sperry; 1924 Mr. and Miss Johnson. a brother and sister: 1925 Thema Opal Muirhead; 1925-26 Loyal Brown, high school and grade 8; 1926 Dorothy Bowers, who later married Max Litell; 1927 Elizabeth Eastin; L928 Zella Fowler, elementary, Iris Sweigart high school; 1929 Edith Miser who married Rayond Wells; 1930 Dorthea Schmidt, elementary and Mr. Leslie Cates, high school '29 and '30; 1931 Hallie Miser who married Everett Winfrey; 1931 Frank Kurtz grades 8,9, l0; 1932-39, Mr. and Mrs. C.B. Ford; 1940 Claude Cheny and 1941 Melvin Sall. Sunday School was also held at Happy Hollow School for many years. Some years there were literary programs held there. Students attending Happy Hollow were Straughn, Rhoades, Barnharts, Smiths, Timmans, Bartmans, Hanrahan, Tieman, Parmer, Rogers, Bagleburger, Benge, Trotters, Murphys, Proehle, Winfrey, Cody, Lundvall, Jackson, Clarks, and Henderson. by Edna Bartman Stahlecker �HOOK SCHOOL own children. Many residents here remember Tt77 Little HiSh Plains School Temple of Learning In 1906 it was a soddy two years later a good sturdy adobe. It was a country school, used for almost half a hundred years. For homesteaders' youngsters and next generations, it was a happy, worthy place. There eight grades of classes went on in a room 20 by 28 feet, and a short time after its opening there were also three high school students taught there. Now only small traces remain of this school which closed its door 25 years ago, and which a Burlington artist, Ralph Binard, knew well for his boyhood learning there. He painted a striking version of a thunder storm over the little high plains building which stood ten miles north. one east and a half back north again from town. It is very likely typical ofthe hundred of little schools which dotted the country sides in a surprising number. Although the Kit Carson County court house burned in 1908, destroying all records, including those of the many schools, it is remembered that a homesteader, W.B. Hook built the first building located on his land when the centur5r was young. After the sod structure collapsed, the help of neighbors to the west were enlisted one summer. Settlemen of the Weisshaar and ment builders Doder farnilies- knew well how to lay the - last of which spring winds adobe blocks, the blew down. Many early day settlers caused school houses to be erected on their pastures, and there were no deeds, so the land on which the buildings stood reverted to the owners or buyers eventually. The Ora Likes, who csme here from Atwood, Kansas in the 1930's buying the W.B. Hook acree through a Burlington real estate man, Ed Finegan, are still living in the Hook house. This is a remarkably well preserved adobe, having been built in 1910. Surrounded by farm land, the winds still blow across the pasture where Ralph's painting shows the flag was raised each day. A daughter of Mr. and Mre. Like, now Evelyn Flick of ldalia, was once a student of thig institution, known as District No. 2. Bethune District 1, is thought to have preceded the Hook school by a short time. "The Binards made up quite a few of the roll call," stated Binard, who began in the second grade there. His parents, the William Binards, came from South Dakota in 1916' For a little while he remembered 35 pupils were enrolled one year. Hie brothers and sister scholars were Joe, Don, Marie, Rosalie, Andrew and Agnes. His cousins, children of the Henry Binards, were KaY, Art, Bill, Bernard,Madeline, Clara and Doris' The other Binard kids were either too young or too old for school at that time. None are now living in this vicinity. Ralph was well known for not only his Hub Service at the south end of Main Street, the Greyhound bus stop, but for his hobbies of astronomy, travel and those of his former rock and coin shoP. Having been proving up for a year since staking out his homestead in 1905, W.B. Hook gave the acre of land for the construction of the soddy school, as he and his wife were anxioug about the education of their them: Roydon of Colorado Springs, the late Elmer and Delvin and a daughter Bernice, now Mrs. Ephram Watkins of Longmont. Elmer's only daughter, Letha, now Mrs' Lloyd Churchill of South Sioux City, Nebraska, has kept in touch with friends here. In 1909, Dwight and Theo, sons of James Hook who for a brief time tried homesteading, and Borton Hook were also listed in the school census. James was a brother of W.B. Hook. In an interview in the Springs recently, Royden mentioned that his brother Elmer passed away in Sioux City in the 1940's and his brother Delvin died three years ago. Delvin's wife, Gladys Ivy Hook, now of Sand Point, Idaho, taught the school during the l92l-22 term. In the year 1908 there were 53 carried on the roll, according to records of a former teacher of the school, Mrs. Lucy Russman, county superintendent of schools. Mrs. Russ' man, who taught 20 years, besides three at Hook, had a special fondness for this little post, as she rode horseback four miles each way through sunny, snowy or windy days of 1912, 1913 and 1914. She pointed out that probably during 1908, although there were the large number carried on the roll, that did not mean that there were that many children going there at one time. Their names were in the book for purposes of state aid to schools. Until a child of a district reached 21, even if he or she dropped out to get married in those days the name could be kept on the roll. "My father walked into this country," stated Mrs. Russman. He was James Knapp, one of the first homesteaders, coming from Illinois. The family had come to McDonald, Kansas, and joined him here as he established a homesite. He dug a well on his land north of Burlington with a hand shovel. Later he dug many wells with a horse drawn auger for other settlers, among whom were the W.B. Hooks, Mrs. Russman believed. Her father Pueblo to work took other long walks - to in the steel mills part time. Others who joined the Binards in classes simultaneous to the years of World War I, he remembered as five children of the Bud Williams: Margie, Vera, Wendell, Charles and the twins Ila and Lila; Roy, Harold and Alpha Hess; the Charles "Pat" Doerings sent their children, Ellard and Marie. The Charlie Normans enrolled their daughter Naomi, son Paul and an adopted daughter, Corine Be- dard. The L.L. Pennisons sent their boy George. There was a Carl and Earl Ashley, a Josephine Smith, Evelyn and Iva Steel. He remembers Marie Beard, Genevieve Shannon, Robert Shannon, Nora and Erma Frost, the latter Mrs. Perry Robertson of Burlington. County Clerk, Iva Gross of Burlington and her sister Elsie Proehl, daughters of the late John and Mrs. Margie Knapp, began their Hook school attendance in the third grade, moving in 1936 from Emerson school, located just west, on the day Emerson school burned down. "We moved just in time," smiled lva, adding that Emerson was built back and survived a couple of years longer than Hook, which closed its doors in 1949 when Burlington's RE-6J was formed. For by then the high plains rural population was diminished, and what pupils remained on farms were bussed to town schools. Both Raymond and Richard Gramm of Hook school studenta Burlington wet" "-ottgAnderson. as was a Mrs. Bertha Mrs. Mabel Munter-Hines of Kanorado not only went to District 2 for eight years, but after some high school and two weeks of "Normal" institute, she headed up her old school in 1919 and 1920 as a valued and beloved teacher. Her education was more than was required then, as an orientation in August at Normal was sufficient to teach. Mabels' parents, the Charles Munters, came out from Iowa, buying land just across the section from the Hook holdings and thus she and her brother Frank had only a short way to walk for a part of each year, although a five mile jaunt the rest of some terms when an experiment was tried. An early version ofsplit sessions took place with school being held at another building during parts of the term, in order to alternate the distances children had to travel. This experiment of having one school open in spring, another in fall, prevailed until there was a population change in the area, Mrs. Hines remembered. There were two sisters, daughtcrs of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Neally, who lived at the town of Wallet, north of Peconic and now only a memory, who had to go a long way when school took place in the west side. These were Blanche James and Haidee Weeden. "Wallet was the name of my grandparents," stated Don Winter of Burlington's First National Bank. "They founded the town, operating the Post Office." Mrs. Hines recalled that those were the days when jolly and helpful early day teach- ers always boarded and roomed at their place. Her favorites were Jessie Matson, Myrtle Brannon and Gladys Ivy. "The kids who were further away rode horses to school and then turned them loose to go home by themselves. That meant walking home in the evening, but there was no rush then," Ralph reminisced, also recollecting that there was a shed that existed for some years for the convenience of those who drove, just as a white clapboard front was added to the school in later years. One of the county's first "mobile" homes nestled next to the school house for the years of L942 through 1945. A teacher, Daisy Hewitt, moved in a small one-room dwelling for herself, taking it with her when her teaching days were finished there. Teaching the years from 1922 through 1924. Ella Schutte came back for the L925-26 term. Estella Hudson was instructor for three terms. Pupils agreed that one of the better school marms was the late Nellie KeenGrabb, who taught in very early days as a homesteader, coming there from a school further north, known as the Broadsword School, then retiring for a time to raise a family and spending the years 1935 until 1940 at Hook district again. In the '40's, teachers were Cora Boyd, Phyllis Coakley, Miss Hewitt mentioned above, Phyllis Abbott Seelhoff, Ella Rehn Dunlap and Ethel Mines Winfrey. The roll book was closed for the last time following the 1947-48 terms. Tuttle, Smoky Hill, Rock Cliff, Second Central, many other little institutions Emerson gave way-to the changing times, as have almost all rural schools in America. Twenty-two teachers guided the educational aims at Hook from 1913 on, and although there is only memory rather than court house records, there were several more �the five years before 1913. The sod house teacher was Miss Myrtle Churchill. Then csme the Widow Roper who took up a homestead, taught school, which included her sons Vernon and Harry, while proving up on her land nearby. The teacher capable of conducting the classes for the three high school students was Mrs. Bertha Anderson. Black as the brooding storm, laced with hail, appears in Ralph Binard's nostalgic painting, no former student interviewed ever nurtured first class men and women. It guided for good and enriched lives for a great part of our century. IDLEWILD SCHOOL DISTRICT 49 by Bonnie Gould Tr79 HUNTZINGER SCHOOL recalled any disaster such as flood, fire, Tl78 confining blizzard,, cyclone, snake bite or bad injury ever occurring to mar the tranquil days. The earnest perusal of McGuffey's Reader, spelling and ciphering matches, went on under the long stove pipe that stretched across the room from the heating stove. Several remembered that there was one time during the dust bowl years that everyone had to stay until eight o'clock in the evening, before the dirt cleared away enough to permit going outside. Each pupil carried water along with lunch. Likely as not there would be a piece of tender fried jack rabbit. No tularemia disease had then spoiled that fine meat. Cow chips were gathered to kindle the fire and the small glistening black mountain that was the coal pile had in later times a basket of corn cobs nearby for a quicker fire. The old version of the open school was not so different from the new fangled partition- less idea now. First graders learned from eighth graders if they could not be kept busy, so that there was no time to listen to other lesson recitals. Discipline was minimal, as the big difference between then and now seems to have been the feeling of all being one big happy family. It could be nostalgia that glosses over drawbacks, but many former rural learners truly believe they lived then during the "good old days." Of course W.B. Hook school had only 560 square feet. Compare this to Burlington's middle school which has 46,820 square feet. Almost 84 times larger does it serve 84 times as well? - We voted, with scarcely a whimper, to pick up the $989,300 tab for the aforesaid beautiful new three grader. The mind boggles a bit at the change in times: in 1906, roofing lumber sold for only a few dollars a thousand board feet and adobe was dirt cheap. Taxes on a quarter of grassland in the area in 1905 ran $1.65. In 1912 Mrs. Russman'salary was a monthly $35, but a year or two later, since she promised to hold school all holidays, even Thanksgiving, 20 days each month, her raise came up to $50, $450 per year. With never a switchblade, with loco weed fearfully avoided by kids and horses alike, with only paths on the buffalo grass to disturb the ecology and a whole lot of hard to learn history yet to come, the halycon days of the little country school truly seem far removed. The words "juvenile" and "delinquent" had not yet been combined. In fact, nobody was ever conscious of being a Idlewild School in 1928. The first Idlewild School was located about two and one half miles northwest of Stratton near the Edgar Ancell home, but it needed to be located more to the center of the district. In 1914 it was moved about two and a half miles to the northwest near the Talbot home. Huntzinger School, 1911 Dora Butler, teacher, back row right. The Huntzinger School was a one room sod school located near Hell Creek north of Flagler. The exact date of the school's opening is unknown. T.J. Huntzinger and his wife Elsie and their five children moved to that area from their homestead near Thurman by April, 1900. Mr. Huntzinger was instrumental in building the school because he wanted a school nearby to educate his children. One former student, Viola Williams of Salida, Colorado states that her father, L. Boyd Williams filed on his homestead in the spring of 1907 and chose his location to be near a school. By those reasons, we know that it was built after 1900 and before 1907. It was known as District No. 14 and because so many children attended the school, an addition was soon built onto the east side to make it one Iong room. Some early teachers were a Miss Brown'Mettie Love; Dora Butler who In his painting, the artist caught forever plains, standing lonely but staunchly against lhe elements of storm and burning sun, all the while a bulwark against ignorance. Looking back, the hundreds of lucky ones who trudged to it can view it as a symbol of personal, effective and loving education that Bertha Byrne Pautler, and June Scofield. Bertha Byrne was the teacher when the accompanying picture was taken. Some of the families represented among the students were Byrnes, Bakers, Reillys, Collins, Kennedy, Steinberger and Thomasons. When the consolidation was done with Stratton district, the building was sold and moved into Stratton where it was renovated to be used as a residence. It is now the home of Dale and Irene Courtright. by Helen Kerl KECHTER SCHOOL Tl80 later married Jake Wolverton. AII eight grades were taught. Many of the boys could only attend when the farm work was finished and each time they returned to school they just picked up where they finished before until they were able to complete that grade. That made for some good sized students in the lower grades. Students carried their lunches to school in the familiar gallon syrup pails. Occasionally these pails got mixed up, causing some arguments. Students played ball, ante-over, and occasionally ice skated on a small pond near the school when it would freeze. The school served the following families: The Kechter School in 1923. T.J. Huntzingers, Boyd Williams, Fishers, Jenks Brewers, Charley Brewers, Baileys, McKissicks, John Veiths, Ball family, Baldwins and probably many others. leenager. bhe essential feeling ofthat little adobe ofthe Later a new building was built. Some ofthe teachers known to have taught there were Alice Talbot Reilly, Elizabeth Zittle, Myrtle Bradshaw McConnell, Gray Spurlin, Elsie Chandler, Theodore Smith, by Agnes Otteman In 1911 the men in our community made adobe bricks and erected a small one room schoolhouse. The school was located 16 miles north and 5 east of Vona in District 42 and was commonly referred to as the Kechter School. The students, numbering as many as 40 in some years, sat three in a seat. Water was carried from the Dircks' place L/4 mile away. Two trips were made a day by two pupils going together. Long before school was dismissed for the day, the water bucket was �empty. Many children went through all eight grades in the old "dobie," including my sister and brother, Velma and Nolan. r:l* lr,,l,l.'l Miss Bessie Wilder was the first teacher. Other early teachers were Grace VanWinkle, Ida Martin, and Wilma Ford. All were local girls, daughters of homesteaders. Miss Wilder and Miss Van Winkle had homesteads of their own. It was not until L922 that a new larger frame building was built just across the road south of the old one. Migs Estel Straughn of Kanorado was the first teacher in the new building. Members of thq board of directors were: Erastus Godfrey, Ch'arley Andrews, and Jacob Kechter. Some of the other teachers in the early years were Marie Klassen, Marvel Simpson and Ruby Carlstedt. Some of the family names of the pupils in Dist. 42 in the early years were: Ackley, Atwood, Arthur, Atterbury, Andrews, Bolin, Calkins, Calhoun, Dircks, Hagen, Hamilton, Gulley, Godfrey, Woods, Wilkinson, Wasson, Phillips, Kechter, Keelery, and others. "Literary" was a part of every school. I believe it was held once a month. People came from other districts to attend as well. Some of the adults gave readings and sang songs. The kids put on plays, spoke pieces, and sang songs. We also had pie suppers now and then. I remember the time that I stumbled while fighting with some other kids back stage and ran my elbow into a chocolate pie under a fancy wrapping. I was glad that the owner of that pie never knew who did it! Each of the ladies usually took an extra pie and the extras were sold after the others at a cheaper price. A certain man usually bought all the extra pies so once my dad coaxed my mother into making a pie filled with cotton as a joke on him. The man did buy the pie and second only to Dad's glee was that of my cousin's, Jakie Dircks. He never ceased to tease his Aunt Bertha about her cotton pie. by Opal Roger KECHTER SCHOOL TrSl District 42 was organized and a sod building erected in 1911. The school was located 17 miles north and 3 miles west of Stratton, Colorado. The Kechter school was named after Jacob Kechter, William Kechter's father. Jacob Kechter was one of the original school board members and the school house was located 1 mile north of his house. Following is a list of teachers taken from the records in the Colorado State Archives: 1912-13: Grace VanWinkle: 1913-14: Bessie Wilder; 1914-15: Wilma Pagett; 1915-16: Ida Martin; 1916-18: Grace VanWinkle; 1918-19: Wilma F. Ford; 1919-20: Grace VanWinkle; 1920-2L Marie L. Wood (four months) and Amon B. Calhoun (four months); l92l-22 Marvel Simpson; 1922-23: Estel Straughn; L923-27: Marie Klassen: L927-28: S.W. Sawhill; 1928-29: Lola Jean Pound; 1929-30: Ted Smith; 1930-31: Omar Guy Ansell; 1931-35: Ruby Carlstedt; 1935-36: Mary Rush; 193638: Glen A. Smith; 1938-39: Claude C. Chaney. (Added 9th and 10th grades this year). 1939-41: GIen A. Smith and Betty Taylor; L94L-43: Betty Taylor; 1943-44: Louella O'Hara; 1944-45: Helen Heinrichs: Kechter School, District 42 in 1928-29. Top row, I to r: John Stewart, Lloyd Wilkerson, Fred Godfrey, Neva Stewart, Maude Clair, Sadie Clair, Lola Jean Pound, teacher; and Mabel Godfrey; Middle row: Arlene Wilkerson, Edna Paine, Mary Hoyda, Irene Stewart, Catherine Hoyda, Alma Liming, Thelma Wilkerson, Vera Godfrey; Bottom row: Dale Davis, Robert Liming, John Hoyda, Dale Godfrey 1945-48: Blanche Dove; 1948-49: Linanel Davis; 1949-50: Avrine Henry and 1950: closed the school. As a former student of Disttict 42,I became very interested in the facts discovered while researching the records. For example, in 1912, due to a very severe winter, they were only able to hold five months of school. The fuel bill for the year was $19.70 and the total school year expenses were $262.33, including the teacher's salary. The teachers'salaries ranged from $40.00 per month in 1912 to $1,665.00 per year in 1950. The school board members' names were not recorded but they were also a vital part of our education and deserve credit for their involvement. My memories are of one teacher, teaching eight grades, with 42 students. She, or he, had to come early to build the fire in the coal furnace. Some of the teachers even lived in the basement ofthe school house. Besides our classes, the teachers had to prepare the programs that we gave for our parents and friends. We would also have pie and/or box suppers that would be auctioned off to raise money to buy our playground equipment. I failed to state above that a new frame school was built in 1922 or 1923; and when the school closed the children were bused to Kirk and Joes schools. In 1965, the school house was moved to Kirk and attached to the Kirk School and used for a lunch room; and when the Liberty School was built between Kirk and Joes, the Kirk Lions Club made the Kechter School building into a meeting room and community center. I, Alma Van De Weghe, understand that it is now owned by a private individual and is to be moved, again. I hope as you read over the history, it will bring back memories to you as it has to me. by Alma Van De Weghe KELLOGG SCHOOL Tl82 Kellogg School was located just over the line in Cheyenne County, southwest of Seibert. Many of Kellogg's students lived in and became well known in Kit Carson County. One was Mrs. Phil Mullen. The Mullen family is well known for musical ability and performed often throughout Kit Carson County. Also in this record are members of the Bloder family who came early and lived in Kit Carson County for many years. Mr. Leon Bloder, who thoughtfully recorded many of his memories in a paper he entitled, "Of Land and People," is the sole source for information of this school. Because Mr. Bloder was concerned and recorded his information, we €ue able to be aware of this early school. On a 1912-13 record Mr. Bloder saved for many years, the following information is written: "Kellogg School, District 1, 1912-13, Aveta Lichtenhan, teacher. Pupils: Perry Eash, Mary Bloder, Rose Bloder, Arthur Eash, Agnes Bloder, Hazel Kellogg, Joseph Bloder, Lottie Kellogg (Mrs. Phil Mullen), John Fredrick, Barbaraan Eash, Ladie Fred- rick, Mayme Fredrick, Moses, Katie and Malinda Swartzentruber. School officers were L.J. Roden, Pres., Cyrus Platner, Sec. and D.D. Hayward, Treas. Kellogg School was the first school Mr. Bloder remembered. He said it was located at the old Alfred camp. In trying to define this location, a best effort seems to be one mile south and one mile west of the Sig Olson place. Another for those knowledgeable ofthe area would be at "Big Springs." Information was taken from records written by Leon Bloder, formerly of Seibert, Colorado. Rock Cliff area. by Lyle W. Stone �LIBERTY SCHOOL T183 oped the habit ofturning and biting Zoe when she mounted, Homer held the bridle. Then the pony learned to kick Zoe when she mounted so Agnes held the bridle and Homer raised the pony's front foot. The pony was so determined that she even tried to stand on 2 feet ta kick at the rider. Another outstanding transportation method during the 193637 school year was the Model T Ford that the Sidney Huntzingers fixed for their children, Homer and Agnes. It had been a four door and they removed the back seat and put on a box. Homer, who was in the 8th grade at the time, was the driver. On the way to school Liberty School, 1931 Back row, left to right: Ruby Huntzinger, Teacher Orpha Howard, Mildred Kyle, Albert Huntzinger. Middle Row: Homer Huntzinger, Agnes Huntzinger, Evelyn Kyle, Irene Armistead, Phillip Armistead. Front row: Poy Petersen, Don Lightle, Cecil Petersen, Floyd Jensen Liberty School, District 18, was built in 1919. It was located 11 miles north and 2 miles east of Flagler. It was one of many white frame schools in Kit Carson County. It was under the jurisdiction of the Kit Carson County Superintendent of Schools. This superintendent signed the eighth grade di- plomas and on rare occallions brought a nurse to help with some health testing. The superintendent also had responsibility for some of the curriculum. The district was in the hands of a 3 member school board and of course at that time the board always consisted of men. Some of the teachers have been Opal Wise, Vivian Roberts, Frank Hyser, Orpha Howard, Lola Peatse, Margaret Page, Laura Mae Malbaff, Marnie Kyle, Doris Copley and the final teacher, Bonnie Armitstead. This list is no doubt incomplete. Softball was the usual recreation interspersed with ante-over, kick the can, run sheep run and hide and seek. Hide and seek was a real challenge when the many dry thistles piled on the fence were used as hiding places. Fox and geese was popular after a snow. Ball games were played between schools but more exciting than softball were the ciphering and spelling matches between schools. Nearby Victory Heights was always a good rival, especially during the school years of 1934-35 and 1935-36 since sisters Margaret Page at Liberty and Betty Page at Victory Heights were the teachers. Liberty always came out the winners because no matter what happened in the lower grades, Liberty always had their ace-in-the-hole lrene Armitstead ready to go and she was unbeatable when in the upper elementary grades. During the dirty thirties the many dust storms necessitated keeping the students at school until a parent could make their way to the school to take the children home. At this time. handkerchiefs were moistened with their drinking water and placed over their faces. Most of the students walked to school but in the later 30's other modes of transpor- tation were noticeable. The school grounds Floyd, Ruth and Gene Jensen were picked up and then lrene, Phillip, Bonnie, Elizabeth and Charlene Armitstead were added after they had walked across the prairie to meet them. Ten students riding on a Model T Ford driven by an 8th grader! To keep the radiator from freezing it was drained upon arrival at school and then refilled when going home. Floyd and Phillip "earned" their rides by being responsible for this task. Liberty not only functioned as a school but also as a community center. During the dirty thirties when no one had any money, there still was a place to go every two weeks and it was free! That was Literary Night at Liberty. On those nights the people in the community were as involved as the school. This gave the school children a chance to perform before a crowd but also to watch their parents perform and perform they did. They not only held ciphering and spelling matches but also gave plays. One play called for Sidney Huntzinger to saw off his brother lvan's leg. With Sidney on top of him and a large carpenter's saw in hand, Ivan giving out with the proper amount ofscreaming, you could actually hear the saw actually the leg bone sawing through bone - caused a lot of crowd of a cow. This certainly reaction! The school was also used for Sunday School and worship services which consisted mostly of hymn singing, usually the favorite one of anyone who could play the piano. Occasionally an itinerant preacher arrived, who usually had more zeal than knowledge. Through the years the school served the following families: T.J. Huntzinger, Boyd Williams, Walter Zion, Lew Harker, Sidney Huntzinger, Loyal Kyle, Jake Wolverton, Charlie Baldwin, Brewer family, lvan Gwyn, John Williams, Charlie Armitstead, Cline Jones, and Don Loutzenhisers and probably many others. The school closed at the end of 1945-46 school year. In 1949 the district consolidated with the Flagler School. After the district consolidated, the school house was sold and moved to 625 Quandary Avenue in Flagler and was converted to a home by Glen Stone. The Lark Laue family presently (1987) make their home there. by Agnes Otteman Mullen children, Roy, Guy, Charles and Phillip may have been old enough to shoulder duties of the ranch or could have attended this school. Howard, Lester, Harold and Grace probably attended. Lena and Lloyd arrived later. Beula Frisbie, who taught at Mt. Pearl in later years and her sister, Avis were probably too young to attend Loco. Regretfully, I have no knowledge of older children. This early location, Loco, is recorded to have had a postmaster, Charles Davis, who was appointed in 1903. After this is a local record of Mr. Frisbie in 1906-07. In 1911, Mr. Marion Short, son of J.S. Short of the Texerado area, operated a store and post office bearing this name. It is possible Mr. Short built a store at the last location ofloco. Mr. Short homesteaded land where Loco was finally located. A new frame school building was built here, in the southwest quarter of Section 32, Township 11 S, Range 50 W, about midway on the east side. This place is about a half mile north of the Cheyenne County line and near the Wild Horse road south of Flagler. Sometime in 1913-14, Marion Short sold out to Alvin B. Radebaugh, who was appointed postmaster on February 4, Lgt4. A store continued to operate in Loco, this assumed because it is said to have been a popular place for Texans to congregate who had migrated to this area. Later many of these people returned to Texas, according to records. Loco post office was closed on May 31, L922. At Loco's last location. children of A.B. Radebaugh, Fern, Paul and Allen, attended. Children of the Kinzer, Lanier, Buttons, and Barton families were mentioned with no definite record. In the 20s, children of the Loco School were transferred to Second Central, a consolidated school in District 19. by Lyle W. Stone ..UNKNOWN' (McALLISTER?) scHooL Tr85 Tr84 Among the many small early schools of the area, there exists a record of a school located at the northeast corner of Section 20, Township 11, Range 51. AL922 atlas pinpoints this Loco School was first located south of miles southwest of where Texerado is located, LOCO SCHOOL contained a barn so horse and buggy was used as well as horses were ridden. In the mid- Flagler in the southeast corner of Section 22, Township 11 S, Range 50 W. In or shortly had 5 miles to come and rode a Welsh pony. This pony was a bit mean to say the least. Homer Huntzinger and his sist€r, Agnes, also were riding horses. Since Zoe's pony devel- Colorado to make preparations for a school in his area since no school existed there. The school was built at a place designated already as Loco, Colorado where a store and post thirties one student, Zoe Jones (Goodwin) office was located in the James "Jim"Frisbie home. No doubt, labor in constructing the soddie school was shared by neighbors in the area. Florence Mullen was the first teacher and was reported to be a good one and especially strict with her brothers and sisters. No record found describes the fixtures or general appearance of the school. It was no doubt very similar to others scattered about the area. Certainly, Mullen children attended this school and children of the Frisbie family, among others living in the vicinity. Among after 1906, Clark Mullen rode to Hugo, place. This site is slightly less than three about 3-% miles due west of the old Jim Kountz place. It is very tempting to believe this may have been the McAllister school, mentioned in an April, L9L7 Flagler News edition. This item says that Minnie Short (Texerado area) attended the Easter program at McAllister school. A distance from � https://kccarchives.cvlcollections.org/files/original/16/412/Country_Schools_2.pdf 7073bc204e86fe07c8676e2e20c01131 PDF Text Text the Short residence in the Texerado area would have been 3 or 4 miles or a little over 2 miles cross country to this school. This would be a reasonable trip. An only other unknown location is for a school mentioned in the Flagler Neros in 1916, saying "Dan Grim, with the assistance of several men, tenms and saddle horses, removed the roof of the old Plainview school house last week." The location in question would have been about 8 miles from the Grim home (this home was about 3 miles south of Second Central, some distance away from the site in question). This is a considerable distance at this time, but not unreal for moving a roof. Robert Wesley McAllister at one time owned section 34 in the southwest edge of Kit Carson County, about 3 miles from the school in a southeast direction. In searching Lincoln County records, where Mr. McAllister is recorded, it was learned he owned land some 15 miles east of Hugo. This would place him very near the county line. A statement in the Lincoln County record, by George T. Vassios says he started to school when he was 4 years old in order to have enough pupils, along with the McAllister children, to hire a teacher. His father was Tom Vassios who homesteaded on Section 24, Township 11, Range 52, on the county line, about 2 miles west of the school site in question in Lincoln County. It is sad that records are so dim and that we have waited so long to document some of the history of our country. Legends die with the generations. There comes a time when information. such as for these schools in question, is forever lost. If this school is indeed the McAllister school, a small amount of information can be found. Robert Wesley McAllister became a lawyer and after an illness, came to Colorado in 1910, homesteading about 15 miles east of Hugo. A two-room sod house was built and after school was out in Nebraska, Mrs. McAllister, Emma and two small daughters, Marjorie and Alfarata, moved to the home- st€ad. Emma began teaching in the fall. She had performed this duty as a profession, teaching 45 years in her lifetime. Mr. McAllister, called Wesley by most, served on the school board and often gave legal advice to his neighbors. A new daughter, Gail, arrived late in 1915. Of their school, Sunday school was held at the schoolhouse and in summer there would be picnics. The school had a Christmas program each year, with decorated tree and a visit from Santa passing out gifts to dl children. If there was snow on the ground, a big sled would be filled with straw and hot bricks put down in the straw, keeping children warm to enjoy a beautiful ride to the program. In 1921, the land was sold and the family moved to Greeley, Colorado. In the late '20s, the land was repossessed and the family returned. Emma taught at Boyero, where Gail attended. Alfarata taught at Kawal. Marjorie taught at Oak Creek. In 1937, Mr. and Mrs. McAllister moved to Estes Park. Alfarata began teaching at Arriba where she met Max Hutchins; they were later married. This is not a great deal of information, however it may be a beginning to work with and locate more about this school. An effort should be made to learn more about the other school, Plainview. I feel the latter may have been a Cheyenne County school. For this record, Tom Vassios lived very near the county line, in Lincoln County, as did the McAllister family. It is possible another school existed nearby in Lincoln County bearing this name, McAllister. If so, it has not been located. Searching to clear up this record will continue. by Lyle W. Stone MIDWAY SCHOOL Tt86 Midway School was last located at the northwest corner of Section 8, Township 10 S, Range 51 S. This property belonged to Earl Brown of Flagler. In its last location, Midway was often called Beeler's school. This school was located in District 10 which was about two miles wide and twenty two miles long, adjacent on the west side to Flagler school district 35. There is evidence the school building had been moved at least once to this location. In an interview with Oliver Blanken and Natalie Kueker, it became apparent the early school nnmed Midway was probably closed near 1914. An exact location of Midway of this period is not known; however, it was located in District 10. At this time, Marvin Beeler, living some distance south, attended a school west of the present Allen Petersen place, where Blanken children went to school. This school was finally determined to have been called Robb School. Natalie (Blanken) Kueker told of Marvin Beeler riding a mule to school. "Tollie" remembered how he teased her and other girls in school. He had previously attended the older Ford. On May 1, 1918, Hubert Beeler was elected secretary of District 10 for a term of three years. In 1926 several families with children lived in the Midway area. Among these were M.R. Beeler, Elbert Chilson, George H. Evans, William Strode, Nels Smith, Ernest S. Graham and Clarence W. Johnson. An August, 1929 record states that "Miss Dorris Weller is a teacher at Midway school this year, teaching the 1929-30 term." In May, 1930, Mrs. Nels (Anna) Smith was reelected treasurer of the district. Miss Norine McCullum started school at Midway in March, 1930. In 1933 it was recorded that Miss Lord would teach the '33-34 term and that she had taught two terms, 1931-32 and 1932-33. Research reveals this teacher to be Miss Alice Lord. Also about this time, Jay Strode was helping Mr. Hayes make blocks for construction of a barn on the Midway school grounds for teacher's car and for horses ridden and driven to school by most students. No record was found, dating the closing of this school. We know it was still in operation in 1933-34. Since modes of transportation had improved, it is possible students were transported to Flagler schools in later years. by Lyle W. Stone MURPHY SCHOOL T187 Midway school. Although no record was found. one must assume the school was closed and later opened at a new location. A May, 1915, record reveals that overtures were made to District 10 by the Flagler district 35 for consolidation of the two Districts when the new high school was being planned at Flagler. A vote was taken among patrons and the proposal was turned down. Apparently, consolidation was not accomplished, for in 1951 over $400.00 from District 10 was turned over to the new consolidated District R-1. The last location of Midway School was six miles south and four west of Flagler, Colorado. One must assume a student population warranted a school in the area. Transportation for taking students to Flagler at this time was not easily accomplished. a similar prob- lem is recorded for students of Texerado, even in later years. The Strode family attended school at Midway, having moved to the old Leeper ranch about two miles east of the school. This may have been about the time the school was again revived. Rethal Strode may have attended Midway, along with Gilbert, Elnora, Jay, Clayton, Stanley and Fay. Certainly, members of the Beeler family attended school here including Lucille. Some recollections of the school mention the n'me as Beeler school. The Chilson family lived nearby and children of this family also attended school at Midway. It is unfortunate that names of students and some of the teachers of this time are not included. Speaking of a time, about 1917 and later, Mrs. Wm. Strode mentioned, in an interview of the 1950's that teachers at their school were Forrest Heck, Dorris Weller and Miss 1923-24 lunchtime by the lagoon west of the Murphy schoolhouse. L to R: Frances Burcar, Doris Harris, Grace Faass. Naomi Dalgetty, Freda Harris, Edith Mae Klassen, Roy Harris, Paul and Dick Klassen, Vincent Dalgetty, Carl Schauffler, Clarence, Elgie and Archie Wasson. District 23 The first Murphy School was a soddy, about one-half mile west of our home, north of Vana. Paul and Dick walked with Rover their very good dog. Sybil Wren was the teacher. Soon the school was moved to the center of the district. It was in a little frame building, a blackboard in front and a heating stove in the back by the door. We used coal and chips for fuel. My brothers Paul and Dick would drive the buggy or a wagon with horses sometimes not too tame, and we would have a very scary runaway. There was a barn for the horses to stay in during the daytime. Each horse had its own stall. Ifthe horses ran away, then we would have to walk the three and one-half miles home. In the year 1923 -L924, Emma Klassen, my father's sister, taught. I was in the first grade. �The other pupils who attended that year were: Roy Harris, Clarence Wasson, Deitrich Klassen, Dorothy Heindricks, Vincent Dalgetty, Elgie Wasson, Arline Peterson, Paul Klassen, Robert Heindricks, Archie Wasson, Freda Harris, Naomi Dalgetty, Doris Harris, Grace Faass, Carl Schauffler, Frances Burcar. The school board members were Anton Burcar, President; Bert Dalgetty, Secretary; Frank Jones, Treasurer. The next year Fanny Boren taught. The next summer a new schoolhouse was built. It was a large building. It had a hall where we kept the coats and overshoes and lunch pails. We had a Iong row of hooks for our own tin drinking cups. The water was hauled by the bus driver, in a large can with a tight lid. It was then poured into the drinking fountain; we pressed a button and the water ran into our cups. This was very important as a sanitation measure. The schoolroom was large with a long row of transom windows on the east side. On the south side another long row of windows, with curtains; this made the room warm, light and bright. Under the school was a lovely basement, with a furnace and a coal bin, also a room where the teacher could live ifthey so desired. The two outdoor toilets were north of the schoolhouse, one for boys and one for girls. There was also a big yellow clay pile of dirt in which the children made tunnels and played with play cars. In the playground west of the building was a basketball court, and there was a merry-go-round south of the building. The baseball diamond was south of the building in the pasture outside of the yard. The barn was removed for now we all rode to school in buses. All the school supplies were furnished by the district, such as books, the morning, the sun shining, we saw wagons coming over the snow banks; how thankful! by Edith M. Hugley school. NORTON SCHOOL DISTRICT #39 T188 t@, @::"\,":' under the blue, blue sky. The community loved the school, and there were many programs, basket-dinners, parties and other fun things. The spell downs were fun on Friday afternoon. In winter the parents would take turns and furnish hot soup. Some of the teachers who taught in Murphy were: Minnie Fingado, Zelma Arrington, Lindy Cates, Grace Smith, Helen Deakin, Cecil Rawley Gates, Alvina Becker Esarey, and Dazy and Clay Frankfather. Some of the families who attended Murphy School were: Cornelius Klassen (all nine of us graduated from the eighth grade at Murphy School), Otto Hanis family, Anton Burcar, Wincell Burcar, Frank Jones, Glen Jones, Fosha Gorton, Clyde Miller, William McCormick, William Hartsook, Burt Dalgetty, Jim Sesler, Wilfred Wasson, Hubbells, Grahmms, Willis, Schauffler, Whitman, Sparks, Charlie Boren, and others. One winter day a very bad blizzard came up in the middle part of the day. Zelma Arrington was teaching, and Otto Harris and Loyd Smith were bus drivers. We had to spend the night in the school; Mr. Arrington kept the boys upstairs, while the girls slept in the teacher's apartment in the basement. This was a terrible anxious time for our parents, for the school had no telephone. In by Florence McConnell ORISKA SCHOOL T190 i.];::rlir: :':..xi.,. :::::' Oriska School in 1924-25 Catherine Dunlap, Burlington, sent this early shot of the sod Norton Schoolhouse District 39 near Bethune. by Catherine DunlaP NUTBROOK SCHOOL T189 tw etc. The teacher would get library books from Burlington, the county seat. On the south side of the schoolhouse were three big cement steps (they are still there), and the flag pole. We were all so proud to put the flag up and watch it wave in the breeze, and Miss Lavina Stevens. In the winter time when there was snow. the favorite game was Fox and Geese during recess or sliding on an ice pond close to the ,liN ir, &r* .. ''; &' Nutbrook School in L947-48: front row, I to r: Hoagland girls and Myrna Wilson. Second row: Barbara Wilson, Hoagland boy, Ivan Schaal, Sandra Stewart; Third row: Denise Wilson, Edna Lewis; Fourth row: Bob Griffith and Dan Schaal Students at Oriska School in 1924-25: A Schultz boy, Lloyd Parks, another Schultz boy, Paul Fulton, Mae Fisher, Pauline Fulton, Maurice Fulton, Lucille Fulton, Barney Davis and Bernard Fulton. The Oriska School was located 16 miles south and 2lz miles west of Stratton. Ivan Smelker states that it was built by the same carpenter who built the Smelker School and the two schools were identical in plans. We did not find anyone who could recall the names of many of the teachers who taught at Oriska. Marie Greenwood did teach one term, 1924-25. Mrs. Lucille Schreiner is quite sure that her mother, Byrelle Swem, taught one or two years after her husband died during the 1918 flu epidemic and she had remarried a man by the name of Rich. Mrs. Schreiner The first Nutbrook School was a soddy. In the 1920's a frnme school was built a mile north of where the first school was located. thinks that her brother and sisters Mary Alice, Lunette, and Burdette Swem, and Bill Seeley, Fred Carrington and Ted Gulley. time. Families who had children in school Some of the first teachers that early students remember were Marie Greenwood, One of the events that the children looked forward to was when all the schools gathered at First Central School and had a track meet. The winners of each event went on to the county track meet held at Vona, Colorado. Christmas programs, box suppers and spell downs were held each year. The last year that school was held was 1950. The schools were then consolidated and the children were bused to Stratton, Colo. There was also a nice barn on the school grounds to tie the children's horses in while they attended school. There were also two outhouses. Some of the teachers in the last years were Evelyn Gouge, Lee Carpenter, Ethel Stewart, Jesse Rich probably attended school there. Carl Harrison taught a number of years and his two sons, Bob and Guy, attended at that during 1924-25 when Marie Greenwood was the teacher were the Schultz, Parks, Fulton, Fisher, Davis, Hawthorne, Hoot and Teels. A romance could have sprouted there since Bruce Davis later married Amanda Fisher. Carl Harrison relates the following incident that occurred in the winter of 1926 when he was the teacher and his son, Bob, was in the first grade. One forenoon a raging blizzard suddenly whipped in and Carl decided at noon to take the children home. A short distance from the schoolhouse, his car got stuck in a snowdrift and he and the children returned to the schoolhouse where they stayed all night. They had plenty of fuel for the stove so could keep warm, but only �had about three sandwiches left over from the dinner pails for food. The next morning, Mr. Teel came on horseback looking for them. He and Hide and Seek. On stormy days we played Upset the Fruit Basket. For entertainment there were programs on certain days. Sometimes after the progroms there would be a pie supper or box supper. In the boxes were goodies they sold to the bidders. Sometimes a guy had a girlfriend and wanted to buy their box or pie. There were always men who kept bidding higher tied his horse to the doorknob and came inside. The blizzard had subsided so they decided to start home. The horse, meanwhile, had broken loose from the doorknob. and headed for home. They bundled up and trudged the two miles through the snow to the Teel home, the men carrying little Bob making the one who wanted it bid more. Sometimes it was several dollars. The monev was used for school purposes. In later years some families moved away. More moved in. Some of the families were on an "anm-saddle" between them. Mrs. Teel cooked a big breakfast for them. Then Carl borrowed a horse from Mr. Teel and he and son, Bob, rode horseback the four miles to the Harrison home. Carl's wife, Winnie, at home Meyers; Havens, Homer and Wilkinson. alone with little son, Guy, was greatly Some ofthe teachers who taught in the school relieved to see them. were Ida Reynolds, Helen Klassen, Ora Cruickshank, Fern Moffat, Julia Wanzuk. by Marie E. Greenwood Forest Draper, Zelm Bridge, Ruth Nikkel, Reva Sawhill, Grace Clark and Avirene Seaman Henry. I taught the last term in the school just before it consolidated into Kirk. PIONEER SCHOOL #L2 Tt9r by Avirene Henry I attended Pioneer School in District No. 12 in Kit Carson County. The name was later changed to Seaman School. Members of the school board were Chas. George, President; Chas. Vanderkooi, Secretary; and N. Brownwood, Treasurer. The school was located 16 miles north, I east and % mile north of Vona. It was built in early 1915 or 1916 of cement. The men of the neighborhood did most of the work with help from a carpenter. It had three windows on both the north and south sides with a coal shed on the west. It was located just south of my father's homestead on my Grandmother McHenry's homestead. The first two teachers were Ida Reynolds of Flagler and Helen Klassen of Kirk. The first year pupils were Florence See-an, Walden (Bob) Finley, Mary Finley, Avirene The Pioneer School. Seaman, John Weststeyn, Cleo Elsey, Susie PLAINVIEW PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 64 Crist, Sarah Crist, Floyd Finley, Leroy Calkins, Virdie Elsey, Faye Crist, Frances Finley, Ray Brindle, Ardith Horton, Vern Brindle, Vergil Horton and several Atwood Tr92 boys. One was named Ed. The children brought their lunches except Seaman's. They were close enough to go home for lunch. Water was carried from the Senman house. The gnmes we played at school were Ring around the Rosey, Antie over, Drop the Handkerchief, Crack the Whip, Pull Away Plainview School in 1930-31: Margaret Blanchard, Dorothy, Pauline, and Harold Hubbell. Wavne Weakland, and Wayne Peterson. Fern Summers was the teacher. .,.] '$1E:,',1 ;, i ":':::' A Plainview School Halloween Party in the war years, 1943-44: Anna BeIIe Jackson (Keith), Mary Jackson (McCaffrey), Jerry Summers (Weis- schaar), Everett Yonts, Betty Jackson (Monroe), Paul Jackson, Virgene Jackson (Morburg), and Keith YonLs. F: ',1 . r",",r Plainview School, District No. 64, was t7,, located north of Vona, Colorado. In 1921 Miss iti!:r, Florence Seaman was the teacher and was paid a salary of $75 a month. School board officers were G.M. Ott, President; R.R. Scott, Secretary; Wm. Laughner, Treasurer. Pioneer School 1916-17. Standing L. to R.: Bob Finley, John Weststeyn, next two unknown, Florence S,eaman, Leroy Calking, Susie Crist, Floyd Horton, Mary Finley, Boy Atwood, Orville Seaman, Ardith Horton, Virdie Elsey, Sarah Crist, Cleo Elsey, Avirene Seo-an, Dave Seaman, Bertha Seaman, Ed Atwood, Boy Atwood, Floyd Finley. Seated; Francis Finley, Faye Crist, Boy Atwood. Orville and Dave Seaman were visiting school when picture was taken. Pupils were Melvin and Kitty Haynes; Verna Sparks; Rudolph and Johnnie Fredrich; Earl and Glen Wyllys; Madeline and �f $l$.1$r:r$l{{$ School Year 1945-46 at Plainview School: Back row: Paul Jackson, Keith Yonts, Virgene Jackson, Betty Jackson. Front row: Everett Yonts, Mise Jennie L. Tressell, teacher and Mary Jackeon. Pleasant Valley School, District #40 about 1912. Standing; Lula Wescott, Hazel Wilson, Earl Wescott, Mrs. Rush, teacher, Wilber Hougland, Ralph Miller, Bert Wilson, Lula Miller and Orpha Jensen. Seated; Goldie Jensen, Allie Hougland, Hettie Lipford, ? Hougland, Oliver Jensen, Johnny Wescott and Leslie Jensen. Plainview School's last year: Back row: Mary Jackson and Ardis Henningson, teacher. Front row: visitor Duane Henningson and Anna Belle Jackson. Lucille Ott; Lester and Violet Butler, Russell, Charles and Leonard Scott; Rena and Lus- ture and Iola Hartwig; Milo and Ora Lammery; and Raymond Bosley. InLg24Miss Avirene Seaman was teaching with school board officers G.M. Ott, President: Mrs. G.M. Ott, Secretary; and C.C. Wyllys, Treasurer. Pupils were Rudolph and John Fredrich; Lucille and Madeline Ott; Earl, Glen and Lester Wyllys; Mary and Nan Flanagan. by Avirene llenry being held, box suppers, pie socials, Christmas programs and other activities. Sometime in the 1920's the district was divided. One school, known as North Flat District 11, was located one mile south of the old school. Pleasant Valley, District No. 40, was placed in the Hell Creek area southeast of the North Flat School. Some of the teachers at Pleasant Valley were Izetta Wren, Johnny Husband, Mrs. Rush, Miss Lucy Muck, and Edith Gering. Dora Wolverton taught many years at North Flat School. After the school was divided, Mrs. Rush and her daughter fixed up the old school house and lived there. by Orpha Goodrich PLEASANT VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 68 PLEASANT VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT NO.40 Tl93 The Pleasant Valley school was a one room school made of adobe blocks and located 15 miles north and three miles west of Seibert. The early spttlers in the community built the building around 1911-1912 as at this time there was need of a school. It was built by Mason Wilson, Tom Jensen, Ed Hougland, J.C. Miller, Ace Harmon, Mr. Wescott, the Barnett brothers and Don Miller. Later the Edwardg brothers, the Quintin fanily, the Ridgways, Ollie James, and Alex and Grover Todd were in the district. The school brought their drinking water from a nearby home occupied by the Mason Wileons, later the Ollie James home, now owned by Walter Timm. There were outside toilets and a coal house. Many of the teachers lived in a portion of the school house, going to their home on Friday evenings. The school was the center of entertainment, literaries Tl94 In the summer of 1919, the old soddY Pleasant Valley School in District No. 47 was razed. A new bigger cement block school house was built on a hill 1/4 mile west of the soddy. In 1921, the School District was changed to Pleasant Valley District No. 68. Now the name should appropriately have been changed to Pleasant Hill, but that was not to be; there already was a Pleasant Hill School in the county. A.M. Boese again volunteered about four acres of his land for this new school house' The new school house was still built on the same quarter as the old soddy, SW 1/4 33-948. You know, our parents were very wise, when they aranged the school yard. The school was built at about the center by the west side. The coal shed was at the center of the north side. The "Her Outhouse" was in the extreme northwest corner, and the "His Outhouse" in the extreme northeast corner, and the barn for the horses and burros on the east side. Some of the children drove a buggy hitched to burros. Henry U. Schmidt, who had taught for some years in the old soddy, was the teacher the first year in 1919-1920. In the spring of 1920, after his wife and newborn son passed away, Henry U. Schmidt with the younger children left for Oklahoma. His son Alfred Schmidt, a student at Bethel College, finished teaching our school that year. Often in the early years, up to forty pupils attended Pleasant Valley. Many years during the twenties, we had enough boys to have two full teams for playing baseball. It was the Babe Ruth era. My, how us boys hit hom- eruns, stole bases and threw those wicked curves! Milking cows and doing chores was all but forgotten. This Pleasant Valley community was very musical. The teachers put on some very interesting progrtms for Christmas, pie socials, and the last day of school events' Often there was standing room only. Among teachers in the old soddy, were Emma Liggett, the first teacher in 1908, followed by Henry U. Schmidt, Amber Palmer. Lee Buller and Mariam Schroeder. In the new cement block school house after Henry Schmidt, the teachers were Mrs. Ned Clark, who lived where Fay Knapp now lives, Alfred Schmidt, Mrs. Hill from Vona, Mrs. Wheeler from Seibert and Mrs. Vivian Myers from Seibert. After the twenties, in the thirties and fortieg some of the teachers were: Jennie Tressel, who at one time was the County Superintendent; Florence Wigton, who also was our County Superintendent at one time: Carl Harrison, Rose Pickard, Alvina Becker (Esarey), Imogene Burd, Mrs. Earl Bigelow, Ms. Sigurd Olsen from north of Kit Carson and Lavina Stephens from Stratton. Many of the farmers had to abandon their farms in the depression years of the thirties. The number of pupils declined. It became impractical to have school in these old country schools. Transportation becnme available. The better education provided by more materials and better facilities made consolidation with the town schools a necessary duty. Butmany timeswe think aboutthe intimate events and true country style of our old country schools and it brings back fond memories. Old Pleasant Valley School District No.68 was closed in 1948 as it was consolidated with Vona School District R-3. �!lg{li#ef, .fsirrl}. r. {l . l;r: 1,$;d,,*..q;rl,,:,,lii,,,ir'r1t'i'**g *kA$ ,(-1. .r,, i ,.,1 t..r* 1' .a at: tt! .f.r tr'. (,'.t ffi: ;*? *t| i . lrlltai;i l:*ffi dsffi ffi:rifu#' ,g.*l ' I x to paint it in 1930. The teacher had to keep it clean during the school year as well as start the fires in the morning. There were four little rooms on the west side of the building. At the south was the closet for coal, brooms, etc. Next to it was the coat room for the boys. North ofthe entry hall was the coat room for the girls and a little room north of that for the extra books - our library. The children who attended Prairie Star in 1920 were: Roy C. Bassette, Earl F. Bassette, Glen W. Bassette, Mary E. Bassette, Mabel E. Bassette, Russel Carlson, Leo Dunham, Ines Dunhnrn, Irene Dunham, Earl Paul and Julia Paul. Those who came in 1921 were: the five Bassette children, Russel Carlson, the three Dunham children, the two Paul children, and Melvin, Clarence, and Nellie Snelling. By 1924 there were some different pupils: Wayne Brennan, Raymond Brennan, Roland Hernbloom, Elmore Hernbloom, Gordon Pleasant Valley School, District No. 68 in 1919-20. Teacher Henry U. Schmidt in extreme left. In the picture are 6 children of Andrew B. Becker, 4 Abe M. Boese, 1 Ben Boese, 3 John Boese, 4 William Brantly, 4 Henry Burkholder, 3 Steve Card, 1 Hasbrook, 2 Martin Nelson, 5 Henry Schmidt, 1 Tanner, and 3 John Wanick. Hernbloom, Violet Hernbloom, Luella Hernbloom, Anchor A. Larsen, Starlet F. Larsen, John Wilson Moss, Helen Irene Moss, Freida Speakes, and Elva Wolfe from Alma, Nebraska. to pick up the children. Wayne Glaze was our driver for a year or so and Ernest McArthur helped take the children to school in later years. Pleasant Valley School, south of Vona Today the tall abandoned old cement block school house "Pleasant Valley" still stands as a sentinel to guard the reading, writing and arithmetic taught at this memorable country school. by Wilbert A. Becker PRAIRIE STAR SCHOOL - DISTRICT #45 T195 The white frame country school house known as Prairie Star was built in 1920. It was located five miles south of Bethune. Sometimes the school with all eight grades had its ups and downs. The attendance was spotty because when spring and fall work was at hand some of the children obviously had to stay home and help with it. For several years, the children had to get there the best way they could. Some had to walk quite a distance. Some rode horseback and some of the time my brothers and I rode in a buggy. I remember one boy came part of the time on a donkey. We had a small shed to put our horses in during the day. One evening when we got home the stars were shining. We had had to walk the three and one-half miles home. We lived a mile east and two and onehalf miles north of the school. After several years the District hired someone with a car Our country school had some advantages. We recited lessons aloud and when we had our next lessons studied, we could learn from the older ones as they recited. We learned how to play with older and younger children than we were. Frequently we had "spell-downs" which ended when the lone champion was still standing. My twin brother, Elvin Ernest, took either first or second place in the County "spell-down" at Burlington one year. Pupils brought their lunches with them in a lunch pail and we all ate together in the school room except on nice days when we went outdoors. We carried our drinking water from a cement covered cistern on the Jake Wolf place. At first, we had a bucket and dipper, then later we got a water container with a spigot. We put on some very interesting programs for special occasions with plays, recitations, readings, and singing. We had an old pump organ to sing by. Then in 1927 the school bought a piano and sold the organ to my father for three dollars. That is what I learned to play on until 1930 when my father bought me a piano. At times our parents were invited to the school to enjoy a box supper or a pie social. The highest bidder got to eat with the one who had brought the pie or box. For entertainment, we students had a teeter-totter and merry-go-round. We loved to play anti-over and several other wellknown games. Our special game in the winter when there was enough snow was fox and geese. There was lots of room to play in the section of land just north of the school house. Two of our County Superintendents were Della Hendricks and Virginia Felch. That was Ern interesting time when the County Superintendent came to visit our school. The teacher always warned us to be on our best behavior that day. The school building was kept up in good shape. I remember my father and I were hired The year 1925 brought the same students as the previous year except Freida Speakes did not return. Eighteen students came to Prairie Star in 1926: Raymond Brennan, Lela Brennan, Celia Brennan, Cora Conkey from Duncan, Oklahoma, and the Ernest twins from Oshkosh, Nebraska Elvin and Eleanor Ernest. Six Hernbloom -children were in school that year: Luella, Violet, Gladys, Roland, Elmore, and Gordon. Grant Hills, John and Helen Moss, and Marie and Agnes Ottens, and Elva Wolfe returned that year. lnl927 the girls far outnumbered the boys: Raymond Brennan, Elvin Ernest, my next younger brother Stanford Ernest, Neil Ellis and John Wilson Moss. The girls were: Lela Brennan, Eleanor Ernest, Helen Moss, Marie Ottens, Agnes Ottens, Helen Ottens, and Elva Wolfe. The picture was changed in 1928. The boys were: Dana, Howard and Gerald Buckles: Lyle Conkey; Elvin and Stanford Ernest; Charles and Robert Evans; Dale, Dean, and Dennis Humrick; James, Ralph, Delbert, and Glen and Hollis Rowley. The girls were: Eleanor Ernest; Ruthie Giddley; Cora Conkey; Marie, Agnes and Helen Ottens; LaRee Retherford; Eva Rowley; and Elva Wolfe. There were twenty-three pupils in 1929. The boys were: Lyle and Melvin Conkey; Elvin and Stanford Ernest; Robert, Charles and James Evans; Dale, Dean, and Dennis Humrick; James, Ralph, Delbert, Glen, and Hollis Rowley. The girls were: Eleanor Ernest; Ruthie Giddley; Marie, Agnes, Helen and Celia Ottens; Eva Rowley; and Elva Wolfe. In 1930 the boys were: Elvin, Stanford, and Paul Ernes! Robert, Charles, and James Evans; James, Ralph, Delbert, Glen and Hollis Rowley; and Edward Houser from Monette, Kansas. The girls were: Eleanor Ernest; Marie, Agnes, Helen, and Celia Ottens; Eva Rowley, Elva Wolfe, and Marie Houser. I still have my Report Cards from Prairie Star Grades four through eight so I have a record of the teachers for those years. Teacher 1926-1927: Edrie Terry; t927-L928: Dorothy Smith; 1928-1929: Alta Wolfe; 1929- �1930: Jessie Ardueser: and 1930-1931: Florence Glaze. There was a bus in 1942 when my youngest of miles. The school district was controlled by dents that I remember were Jessie C. MaGee Gray, Della Hendricks and Zella Payne. There were probably others during that time brother, Leland Ernest, went to Prairie Star. The two other students besides Leland were three board members under what was called a "Gentlemen's Agreement". The board members were chosen from different sections of the district. Some of the names of schools was Dessie Cassity. Fairview, Dazzling Valley and Prairie View. I will mention some of the pupils that went to one of the three schools, and their families: Miles and Ted Ellis, Lloyd Huntley, a Larsen school, which was located one and a half miles boy, Earnest and Frank Green, the Hans Wilma, Oneta, Wendel family - Harry, and Mildred, the Bob Hank, Russel, Lela Ruby and Marvin Buckholtz. The teacher In 1946 Betty (Schaal) Reimer was the teacher. The students drove to school that year in their own cars. That year the students were: Leland Ernest; Lavana, Bonnie, Will, John, and Gerald Johnson; Bob Young; and Richard Robinson. The Prairie Star school closed in mid-year 1947.It has served its purpose. The District was included in the Bethune School District and the building was later moved to Bethune and used as a teacherage. I wish I had a list of more of the students and teachers for other years. There was Leona and Helen Blanchenship; Joe, Elsie, Curtis, and Phyllis Woods; Leo, Mabel, Wilda and Les King; and Orville and Rosalee Pannell. Other families in our District were: Everett Alleman, Art and Fern Casson, Billie Lamb, Helen Ruhs, Rome Warner, and others. Many families have come and gone from the Prairie Star School District. My parents, Harry and Ida Ernest, are in their 90's in 1986 and are living in Burlington. by Eleanor (Ernest) Varce Prairie View was the school our family attended. It was known as the "Huntly" south of the old Huntly place on the Thurman Road. Where the school was located was the "Proaps" place. School was held there in 191? and 1918. Then the district built a new school, which was one mile north and one half mile west of the first school. This school house was built of sod. Local labor was donated and a one room school house was constructed. The larger district began to break up into local schools with the board members in the local areas. After a short time in the sod school, the smaller district decided to build a frame building one half mile east and one half mile north of the sod building. It was built on the corner of my dad's farm. Even though the name of the school was Prairie View, it was known as the "Walker" school. The district had a well drilled and also built a barn to shelter the horses used for transportation of the children. Some of the teachers who taught in one of the last three schools I mentioned, the Huntly school, Sod school and the Walker school were: Leona Lee Quigley, Ethel Langcamp, Jenny Costine (later Serena), Irene Potter, Lola Shaw Rillahan, Dave PRAIRIE VIEW SCHOOL in the district #14 were Mt. Pleasant, Williams, Grace Clark, Ella Robb Huntzing- er, Alice Roberts Fruhling, Pearl Robb, T196 My folks, Mr. and Mrs. Ed Walker, moved from Arkansas to Colorado in the fall of 1917 and built a house and barns on their farm about 10 miles north of Flagler. At the time we moved I was 8 years old. There were several small schools north of Flagler that were all in District #14, covering a wide area Blanche Byers, Ruby Dorsey, Lorena Hohen- stein, June Kyle and Doris Moore. There were probably a few more that taught there that I do not remember. In those days we had a County Superinten- dent of Schools who came from Burlington occasionally to visit each small school. We really had to be good while she was visiting they had superintendents, but they finally did away with that office. Beeman children, Roy, and Marie; Bert Souls daughters, Alberta and Maxine; the Floyd Fager children, Harvey, Florence, Virgil, Harold, Alvin, Hazel and Shirley; the Oliver Orth children, Phyllis, Vernon and Delmer; the John Walker children, Mary, Edith, Ernest, Helen and Elsie; the Ed Walker family, Roy, Lorene, Ima, Clarence and Elbert; Max and Curran Driskill; the Gerald Eachus children, Buckley, Dixie, Barbara, Orvin and Betty; Parker Weatherly's boys, Duane, Floyd, Lloyd, and James; the Carroll Elricks' children, Scotty, Raymond and James; Earl Kent Walker, son of the Clarence Walkers'. My parents boarded some of the teachers. I remember Ethel Langcamp and Blanche Byers stayed with us. After my brother Clarence and wife Shirley moved to the Walker farm in 1939, Ella Robb Huntzinger boarded with them. The school house was the center of activities for the community. They had Sunday School, programs, box suppers and literaries there. About 1949 the Prairie View school consolidated with the Flagler school. The school building was moved into Flagler on north Main Street (708 Maine Ave.). It was used as a teacherage for years, then sold to Sam Short of Roy, Utah. He and wife Lucille and children Ruth Elaine and Sammy J. moved into the old schoolhouse in the late sixties. Now our country schools are just a memory, but they contributed much to the commu- nity. by Roy F. Walker or we got punished. Some of the superinten- SCHOOL DIST. 22 Tr97 Prairie View - German School, later Schaal School Prairie View, District No. 22 School was probably the first school built in the settle- Alvin Fager, Dixie Eachus (child a visitor), Hazel Prairie View School children: Back row - Betty Eachus, Fager, Buck Eachus, Dorothy Johnson, Barbara Eachus, Duane Weatherly. Front Row: Irvin Eachus, (a visitor), Lloyd weatherly, shirley Fager, Jim and Floyd weatherly, and Earl Kent walker. Moving day for district 22 schoolhouse. It was moved 1% miles west of original location in 1919. Pulled with a Hart Paar and Jacob Strobel's Wallace tractors. �l:lllilll a::4.:')a:' one year and all pupils attended the Schaal school. Also for 2 years the first grades ofhigh school were taught. When it closed the pupils were bused by car to Prairie View School until it was dissolved and taken into the Bethune district in 1955. One year a third school was opened for the Germans and the north district scholars. but that did not seem profitable and the pupils came back to Prairie View again. The school term was about 6 months a vear, . School was from 9 to 4 o'clock with fS minutes recesses and one hour noon. In winter school houses were crowded, up to thirty pupils in one school. The older pupils would go until they were 18 or 20 years old. Most of the pupils had to learn the English ffi language and the 3 R's. As mostly everyone talked German, some teachers would punish pupils for talking German at school, but all talked it at home so it went on in the school yard too. Some of the early scholars I remember were the Schaal's children of Matt Sr., John, Sam and Carolina, the Strobels, Doblers, McClen- # 't4 4 Prairie View school house, pupils and families, about 1g12. ment when the Germans settled in Colorado from 1890 on. This was a frame school built by Chris (Grandpa) Dobler who was a carpenter by trade. The size ofthe school was about 20X30 ft. It was built just east of Hope Church 11 north and 1 east ofBethune, across the road. This being a frame building, it was moved several times to be closer to the pupils. The first move was in the 1920's, one and one fourth miles west on the hill east of the Frank Kramer farm. In 1929 or 1930 it was moved one fourth mile east and one mile north where it stayed until it was torn down and replaced by a cement block building in 1949 and is still there, but the district was dissolved in 1955 and cut into the Bethune District. In 1907 an adobe school house was built in the eastern part of the district. It was called the German school at Yale and later the Schaal school as Sam Schaal bought the old Yale place which was across the road from the school 11 north and 3 east ofBethune. In 1910 the school board members were Jacob Weidmaur, President; Sherman Yale, Secretary, and Sam Schaal, Treasurer. This school was closed in1942 or 1943 but before it closed the Prairie View closed for togs, Pete Knondels, and Kramers, a little later the John Knodel's, John Weiss's. William Adolfs, Stahleckers, and Weisshaars. Some of the German and later Schaal school scholars were the Weisshaar's since it was closer, the Schlichenmayers and Warners, later also Schaals. Knodels, Adolfs, Bauers, and Jacobers. Having a school full of big guys and gals, a teacher had to have discipline and most did. If need be, they would take them down. sit on them and spank; even a small lady teacher would. The parents would back up the teachers. The saying was "If you get a spanking at school you'll get it twice as hard at home" and the parents would. Pupils were not compelled to go to school so all older children had to help gather in the crops and in spring, help at home again, and only get 2 or 3 months of school a year, so most only got to the third or fourth grade. Later more were able to graduate from the eighth grade. All eight grades were taught by one teacher. The early requirements for a teacher were 8th grade diploma and pass the teacher's examination. The first salaries were $30.00 or $35.00 a month and that included, teaching, janitor work, having the school house warm when the children came, etc. The older bovs would fill the coal bucket before going home. Most of the teachers boarded with families close to the school; transportation was walking, horse and buggie or horseback. Each school also had a barn of horses for the day; however, Vera Dillon and brother Tom. Victor Voss and Quinton Voss had farms B and 5 miles off. They came horseback. Some of the other teachers, I remember were Katherine, Helen and Mary Klassen from Kirk, Gladys Sherman, Fern Russel, Mary Everet. Some later ones were Mable Guv. Lela Pottorff, Minnie Eaton, Daisy Heweit. Some of the Schaal School teachers were Bessie Dingham, Jake Yeager, Daisy Hewett The German school also known as the Schaal school, about 1910. Teacher is Bessie Dingman. Pauline Weisshaar Schlichenmayer on left by blackboard, Mary Weisshaar Adolf and Margaret Weisshaar Stahlecker by blackboard. Anna Weisshaar Adolf standing by desk. The boys are William Weisshaar, Warden Warner with Jake and William (BiIl) Schlichenmaver in back bench. and Mr. Keys. For heating there was a big belly heater in the middle of the school, heating the side close by, and the other side froze on cold mornings. Two seated desks were lined up on both sides of the building, some times from the front to the back, the lower ones in front, the larger to the back. There was a recitation bench in front of the teacher's desk. where �at the time. This building is still in use as a community center for 4-H clubs. It is located 12 miles north of Bethune. I remember my first day at school. Dad took us, my cousin Arleen Grammand me, to school with the team and wagon. We were so anxious to go but, oh, so scared. Arlene couldn't speak English but I could because Grace Smith and students. 1922-23, Schaal school. each class took turns to recite their lessons out loud, while the rest studied their assignments. This went on all day long: reading, writing, arithmetic, language, physics, geography, history were some of the studies we had. To start the school we would read from the Bible or a story. Friday afternoon after recess often was spell down or ciphering. Some afternoons our school would go to another school for spell down or ciphering. Prairie View also played basketball with Bethune several years. Some games we played were shinny, baseball, Greg Wolf, drop the handkerchief, and more. Most of the teachers would play along or at least go out and watch. Everyone brought their own lunch and water was brought to the school and put in PRAIRTE VIEW #22 T198 my older brothers and sister taught me. We all spoke German at home but we were not allowed to speak German at school. We always had a big crowd at our Christmas program. Some people had to stand outside and look through the windows. The activities that I remember were spelling bees; Valentine's Day brought great fun with making and exchanging valentines. Halloween came with the older kids making a "spook house" in the coal shed. I was too frightened to go and look. Music festivals at Stratton were attended sometimes. We played games such as "Steal Sticks", "Farmer in the Dell", "Last Couple Out", "Annie Over", and "Hide and Seek". Winter time brought "Fox and Geese" to play in the snow. Softball and track meets were held with "Blue View", Tuttle, Union, and Schaal schools. In the fall we also made play houses out of thistles. The Later Years Our family, the Gramms, all attended Prairie View school and my older brothers and sister remember Miss Elva Richards (now Powell) and a Mr. Jake Yeager as teachers. Other teachers from 1938 on were Mrs. Olsen from Burlington, Miss Marian Turner of Ogden, Utah, Daisey Hewett, Mrs. Mabel Guy, and Mrs. Husenetter of Stratton. We had grades 1 - 8 in our one roomed school house until 1955 when grades 1 - 6 were taught. The new schoolhouse was built in 1955. Mrs. Minnie Eaton was the teacher We had outdoor toilets with the ever present Sears and Roebuck catalogue. The horse barn had stalls to tie up the horses. I also rode a bicycle and walked to school. Our day began with the "Pledge of Allegience to the Flag" and singing (our music class). We had22 - 25 students and our desks seated two pupils. To heat the room was a big "pot-bellied" stove. At first we used a water bucket with dipper, then a round crock jar with a push button spigot, and Iater we each had our own cup. Punishment was, if the boy was naughty, he had to sit with a girl and visa-versa; what humiliation. a cooler. Children would have programs at least for Christmas and usually another one or two for their families and friends, giving plays, recitations, singing. If there was a need for something for the school, there would be a pie or box supper which would have all kinds of goodies in it. Girls bring the eats and boys buy their box or pie, then eat it together. Should a certain boy and girl be sweet on each other, that boy might have to pay a big price for it, if he wanted to eat with the girl. Before the district dissolved. the ones that went to high school met the school bus at the A.W. Adolf farm, or had to go on their own to school. Some boarded in town; some families moved to town in order to be closer to high school. When the district was dissolved in 1955, and pupils went to Bethune School, buses came to get the children from their home; now there were very few that did not graduate from high school anymore . . . a big change from the early years. by William Kramer A family gathering at Prairie View school. Front row, younger children, L. to R.: Irene Kramer, Norman Kramer, Edie Kramer, Max Kramer, Ernest Adolf, Lorena Kraner, Vernon Schlichenmayer, Esther Adolf, Buddy (Rudolf) Schlichenmayer, Ralph Adolf in white cap, Esther Gramm, Harold Adolf, Elmer Dobler, Stanley and Russell Davis. Middle Row - L. to R.: Theresa Kramer, Martha Adolf, Frieda Schlichenmayer, Rosser Davis, John Adolf, Elmer Schlichenmayer, Edmund Gramm. Back Row, L. to R.: Mary Kramer, Katie Davis, Lydia Gramm, Lydia Adolf, Lena Schlichenmayer, Pauline Knodel, holding Loyd, Lena Dobler, Margaret Adolf, William Adolf, Mr. Lamb, John Dobler. �We went up front to the "recitation bench" for our individual class time. One time, to punish one of the boys, the teacher sent him out to get a paddle and he brought in a board with nails in it. When the dirt storms came, we hung wet sheets on windows and got the lanterns out. It was a frightening experience for us. We couldn't leave unless someone came and got teacher), Velma Rice and a tall lady who taught the last year the school was open, whose name could not be recalled. using Charley Jackson's barn to stable horses ridden to school. He added that the first money he ever earned was from Charley, who paid him a quarter to drive a team hitched to a wagon. Charley rode in the back and "blow outs" or "sand hills" on the Bill Kramer place. to shorten the distance. The road near the For our end of school picnics we went to the by Esther Corliss scHool- #32 Tr99 There was a school 972 south and 5 miles west of Burlington known as the Ritzdorf School and later as School #32. The school building was made of adobe. Skunks had made their home under the building and some days the smell was so bad that it was impossible to hold school. Later they cemented over the adobe to keep the skunks out. Some of the families attending this school were the Carlsons Warners, Meyers, and McCormicks. This information given by Emma (McCor- mick) Mullis. by Shirley Matthies school was very populated with farmsteads in early days, very different from today. Along this road was the Heck family, across the road from the Heck family was the Widenheimer family. East of the school was the Schwyn family. Tollie remembered that Marvin Beeler often rode a mule to school and she said he always teased girls at school, especially her! Schwyn children (girls, Luella and Lydia), living nearby, attended at Flagler, probably because they were located just over the line in district 35. In 1915, when Flagler built a new high school, a request to consolidate District 10 with Flagler District 35 was voted down by patrons ofthe district. It is interesting to note that in 1951, when all schools consolidated to form District R-1, more than 9400.00 was added to R-L funds from District 10. Mr. D.F. Blanken and many of his neighbors were not fully convinced that a better education could be had in town. In 1915, even though a consolidation was not accomplished, most children who had attended Robb School transfened to Flagler. ROBB SCHOOL T200 Robb School closed in 1915. Other schools continued to operate in the district, perhaps some time later. One of these was Midway, which may have reopened later some distance Robb School was located in the northwest corner of the northeast L/4 of Section 5. Township 9 S, Range 51 W. This location is southwest of Flagler. Some information 6 miles due west of Flagler, Colorado on the south side of the old highway. It is located on a 1/2 section line. An early description ofit's location would be across the road south of an old barn on a place Charles Jackson owned and may have farmed. In 1987, a description of it's location would be about 1/4 mile, more or less, west of the Allen Petersen home on District 10 was 2 miles wide and 22 miles long, the south side of the road. This school was located in district 10. Mr. D.F. Blanken and Mr. Beeler were two known school board 'members. Some of the families utilizing this early school were Robb, Blanken, Weidenheimer, Heck, Jackson and possibly, Schmidt. I am told the Johnston family used the school. Some known students of the school were Oliver Blanken, Natalie (Kueker) Blanken, Forrest and Creighton Heck, J.T. Robb children, Weidenheimer children. Johnston children and children of Harry Schmid (or Schmidt) could have attended at one time. Children of Charles Jackson did not use this school, all attending at Flagler. Mr. Jackson lived farther north. The Jackson home was west and a little south of the present Ralph Conrad place. His property near the school was vacated and still had improvements on it. Marvin Beeler attended about 1914 when another school in the district farther south, recalled as Midway, was closed. Known teachers at this school were Arthur Robb (Natalie "Tollie" Kueker's last teach- er), Gerald Rice (Oliver Blanken's first T20l Oliver Blanken remembered students broadcast seed from the tail-gate. Oliver said when they went to town, they often cut across Charley Jackson's place, north of the school, us, ROCK CLIFF SCHOOL found suggests that one of the school houses was moved to a new location in the district. bordering the west side of Kit Carson County. Its northern border was south of the Hohenstein place. Its southern border was at the county line. A 1922 atlas shows a school location in this southwest corner area. A theory exists that the name of this school was McAllister. If this is true, McAllister, Midway and Robb were the three early schools in District 10. A word about the name recorded for this school. At first, no known name could be recalled. Much effort was expended to try to determine the name used in those early days. In a 1915 issue of the Flagler Nerus, an item was found which told of the beginning of school that year. "It is estimated that there will be an increase in enrollment of last year, of about fifty, in all departments. The Robb school, in Dist. No. 10, west of Flagler, has arranged for the entire school to take work in Flagler this year." In finding this 1915 record, a name in use at this early time was learned. It is interesting to note that the district did not consolidate with Flagler, however, children of Robb School began, in 1915, to attend school in Flagler. by Lyle W. Stone Rock Cliff School Rock Cliff school was located on the south edge and about midway of Section 34, Township 10 S, Range 49 W. This location is due south of Seibert, Colorado on the correction line. Rock Cliff was a consolidation or upgrade of education in the district. Smaller schools in the area transferred to the new school. Two of these schools may have been Martin and Fairmount schools. The buildings ofthis school were offrame construction, consisting of two school houses accommoda- ting grades 1 through 9. Two outhouses and a large barn were located on the school grounds. The barn served as shelter for horses used by students riding or driving buggies and wagons to school. This barn was even- tually used to house three model T Ford buses until 1925 when bodies of the buses were placed on Model A Ford chassis and used in the Seibert school system. Two teachers were employed at the school in the beginning. A well on the premises provided drinking water for the students and animals. Known teachers at Rock Cliff were Agie Sawhill, Opal Conarty Murphy, Maurice Wrenn, Minnie Fingado, Wilma Lettman, Marie Benson, Lucy Schack, Dacy Frankfather, Roy Howell, Evelyn Allen, Norma Jean Murphy Moore, Minnie Eaton and Rogene Boren, who was teacher in 1949-50, the last year school was held at Rock Cliff. 1915-16 news items tell of funerals, debates, sports events and other activities ofthe community. One recorded debate names patrons of Rock Cliff and Second Central areas. Subject was: "Resolved, that it is better for the country to have free range than a herd law." Speakers on the affirmative were C. Reece, W. Dowse and F. Van Wanning, while those having charge ofthe negative side ofthe question were Orrin Hendricks, S. Westover and Walter Conarty. Judges were John Davis, Charley Pettis and Will Stone. Judges' decision was three for the negative, thus making the unanimous opinion of the judges that we should have a herd law. The debate occurred in February, 1916. In the terms taught by Opal (Conarty) Murphy and Maurice Wrenn, an extensive program in sports was apparent when the students of Rock Cliff school walked away with much more than their share of ribbons at a track meet in Burlington. Some of the families living in the Rock Cliff area were: Quigley, Murphy, Stone, Short, Livingston, Martin, Dix, Christie, Mayberry, Matthews, Hendricks, Sawhill, Pelser, arnong many others. Students were numerous and manv were �from previously mentioned families. A few stories remain, such as the time Troy Murphy, who started school in 1927, attempted to wind a barbed wire into the fur of a rabbit in an air vent under the school. He was so intent, he didn't appear when class took up, resulting in punishment for his deed. "Billie" Stone, son of W.F. Stone, remembered a yearning kids of this time had for fruit. He said he once traded a beautifully browned drumstick his mother had fried for the core of an apple! "Billie", how did you know any apple would be left?" "Oh, I watched him and stopped him before he ate it all!" Viva (Livingston) Boger and Billie reminisced about a time the Quigley family hauled in some apples. Billie said they put them in a hole in the ground packed in straw. He said, "When I looked down into that hole and saw those apples, I thought I'd died and gone to Heaven!" They talked of the hard it was 1928-29 that they started using cars for buses. As far as I know this was always District 59. I don't know what happened to the small school house, but the larger one was moved to the Jolly Ranch south and east of the Phil Mullen place in Cheyenne county and made into a machine shed. Rock Cliff was a constant ally of Second Central school, participating in spelling matches, sports events and entertainment. In 1987. little remains but a scar on the earth to mark a location of this school. Rock Cliff district was consolidated with Seibert school after a push for consolidation abounded in the late '40s; this was accomplished about or before 1950. A book could be written about Rock Cliff School. These few items will record only a very small portion of events occurring there and of people who lived them. by Lyle TY. Stone times then, and when I heard Billie tell of pancakes in layers, stacked in a 5 gallon lard pail, each garnished with bacon grease, brought by one family to school for lunch, I had to agree. Most of us who live in eastern Colorado, have felt the crunch of hard times but always there were the good times. Vera Livingston Gattshall says, "I remember that busses for Rock Cliffwere purchased for the year 1922. My father, Earl Livingston, and Odbert Martin were two of the bus drivers. T.J. Short was on the board. There were 14 beginners in 1922 when I was a ROSE SCHOOL T202 Rock Cliff." Twila Gorton remembers a crack in the ceiling that her mother said was there when Alice Short went to school and the children weren't allowed to jump for fear the plaster would fall down. It was still there in the 1940's. (A long time to never jump in that room!) Twila said, "When Maurice Wrenn taught he used his own car as a bus. I think Mettie Rose Love, daughter of the George Rose's, was probably the first teacher. Other early teachers were Mrs. Lena Smith, Mettie's sister, and Miss Mary Beecher. George Baxter was an early teacher and the only man teacher in the school's history. He homesteaded 2 miles north of the school. In 1908, the teacher was Miss Chick, students were Jim and Opal Gwyn, Hazel and Orlo Searcy. Others may have attended. In 1912 and after, Claude, Alta, Rethal and Gilbert Strode and others attended Rose school. The William Strode family lived on the Rose homestead at this time. Remembered families at this time were Strode, Gwyn and Smith. Teachers through years following were Lois Fisher, Mrs. Phoebe Cooper (1924), Mrs. Ben Sawhill, Lola Shaw (Rillihan), Alice Roberts (Fruh- Iing) and Mrs. Bledsoe. Known students of 1939 were Agnes, Margie, Albert Gwyn and Immogene Harrison. Mrs. Laura Mae Malbafftaught from January, 1942 and finished this term. Agnes and Margie Gwyn, Immogene Hanison, Joan Fisher and Jim Statler were students. Mrs. Malbaff taught the 19423 term. Of this time, she remembered preparing hot lunches on an oil stove in the entrance area, sometimes even baking biscuits. As with remembered well. Times of staying at school until parents came to take children home, required ingenuity of teachers to quell alarm and create entertainment. Orpha Goodrich has vivid memories of the two-foot snow fall in November of 1946 when she was able to get to town safely but no school was held at Rose for about a month. Her students included children of Perry Vernons, Benny Thorsens, Bill Anslingers, and Andrew Selenkes. Pelser, Leroy Newton, Winnie Douglas, Lucille Noxon, Olga Gunderson, Dorothy Conarty, the teacher, was staying at T.J. Shorts and I remember Dad fixed the sled so Opal could drive it to school and Viva and I could ride with her." Viva Livingston Boger said, "I don't know when the school house was built but T.J. Short moved to Seibert in 1913 and their daughter Alice was 12 years old and went to school. so many teachers of our area, bad storms were beginner: Billy Stone, Ernest Christie, Jesse Turner, and maybe Ruby Mitchel and others whose names I don't remember. Many had moved by the next year though." Twila Gorton well recalls the blizzard of 1926-27 school year. "Odbert Martin, the bus driver, got to school and took us to Fingado's to stay. Odbert left us at Quigleys' while he and Francis Fingado went to Mayberry's to call what parents he could; lots of them didn't have telephones back then. When they got back, we started on to Fingado's. I remember Francis got out and walked, holding onto the fender of the bus to help Odbert keep on the road. We 10 students and Odbert spent the night at Fingado's. We had potato soup for supper and played games until about midnight when they found a place for all of us to go to bed. It was clear the next day, but Dad came for us with a sled and the snow was knee deep on the horses. In 1929 we had a May Day blizzard and didn't go to school, but the next day we got to school about 10 o'clock. That was the year I took County Exams for eighth grade, and we didn't have much time to take the exams. The snowy winter of 1924-25, Opal and may have had a hand in building this Other teachers whose nnmes could be recalled included Marjorie Miner Allison, Rose school, October 10, 1913. George Baxter teacher, Strode, Searcy, Smith and Gwyn children are the students. Rose School was one of the first schools in the area, built in 1886-7 by Mr. George Rose and his neighbors. Location ofthe school was the southwest corner Section 24, Township 8 S, Range 50 W. The Republican River crosses a county road less than a mile in of south of the school, hampering teachers and students on their way to school in times of high water. First construction of the building was of magnesia rock, abundant in the area. These were carefully laid into walls. Covering a one room structure was a roof of wooden construction, no doubt first covered with sod. In later years, concrete was poured on outer walls. A conventional roof and other improvements were made. A wooden entrance was added to the south side about L922.I am told the wooden entrance displayed a painted identification: Rose School, established 1886. The Bradford family and others lived nearby Alice Ligget, Edith St. Clair, Nellegene Mort Ashton, Margie Schiferl, and Elaine Mason Miller, the last teacher before school closed in early 1950's when all were consolidated and moved into Flagler and Seibert districts. The school served as a community center during the 50 years of its existence. Buck Fisher recalls the dances held there, and the literary meetings. Sunday School was also held for many years. Ida Gwyn recalls seeing her first "Christmas tree", a cottonwood wrapped in green paper, at the Rose School when she was about 6 years old and the family went there for a program. Each fall, special attention was given to policing the school grounds for invariably, one or two rattle snakes were found, Prairie dog colonies and magnesia cliffs jutting out on the south bank of the Republican made it an ideal setting for these critters. Mrs. Malbaff remembered so very well, help given her by Ida Gwyn when roads, storms, etc. made her late to school. Mrs. Malbaff said Mrs. Gwyn seemed very experienced in driving two very large horses hitched to a Iumber wagon used to bring her children to school. In the event Laura Mae was late, Mrs. Gwyn expertly taught school until she arrived. One of the special treats of the pupils was when Claude Ervin would stop after checking his cattle nearby and play baseball with the �kids. And sometimes those recesses would last all afternoon! by Jean Mudd SECOND CENTRAL SCHOOL T206 ROSEDALE SCITOOL Second Central School was located in the southeast corner of Section 21, Township #47 of Flagler, Colorado. This school was a T203 10S, Range 50W, nine miles south and 4 east consolidation of other small schools in Dis- Second Central about 1917 consider consolidation and construction. In the spring of 1915, patrons ofthe district were still not content with consolidation. Early 1915 rain and hail damaged two of the soddie school buildings. The school board had promised to build a new building in the west end of the district. They compromised by building a two room centralized frame building on land purchased from Henry "Hank" Galer. Since consolidation was unpopular with some of the patrons, it is possible much effort was expended in designing, selecting best material and providing best teaching mate- rial. Nearly full length blackboards were placed on north and south walls of two rooms, separated by a divider offolding doors. This Rosedale School, 1915, 18 miles south of Vona (The Charley Duncan Caravan) trict 19. These were Ackerman, Albright, Sunny Slope (south ofFlagler) and Loco. The new school was built of best materials and design to allow unparalleled lighting of classrooms for this time and a unique design to assure beauty of the building. A central heating system using coal was eventually added. In 1914 meetings were called to made it convenient to accommodate the community at meetings and school programs. Oiled pine floors were laid and additional windows high on the north wall, augmented Iighting from five large windows on the east and west side. Two cloak rooms were provided on either side of a south, central entrance. Located here was a crockery water container on a wooden shelf. No details were left lacking in the trim and finish of the building. Above the transom fitted door at the entrance was placed a round wooden sign with Rosedale School in 1917 when Marie Farquahar was teacher. Top row, I to r: Charles and Wilma Lettman, Elmer Rose, Mary Hinds; Middle row: Joe Hinds, Don McAuley, Lee Calhoun, Charles Goff; Front row: Josie Hinds, Evelyn Duncan, Orville Duncan, Freeman Goff. by Don McAuley SAND CREEK scHool, - 1898 T204 by Velma Hines Sand Creek School about 1898: Pupils at this Seibert school were: Front row, I to r: Ruth Rogers, Sammie Rogers, Mirian Blake, Mable Blake, Ethel Blake, Bessie Kistler, Cordia Hendricks (Hines), Herbert Bandy. Center row: Berl Lee, Leona Bell, Clara Blake, Audrey Blake, Jim Kistler, Rollie Rose, Roy Hendricks, Clarence Bandy, Jesse Bandy. Back row: Mildred Blake, Elda Blake, Roy Rogers, Grover Blake, Harry Rose, Ralph Rogers, Milton Rose, Mottie Rose, Maude Rogers. Rear back: J.S. Scheib, teacher. �In September, 1917, 55 students were enrolled at Second Central according to Adam Phiester, Secty. Professor and Mrs. W.I. Coley were hired to teach this year, and classes were held for students up to the 10th grade. No record was found ofother teachers this year. In 1917-18, teachers paid by the district were: W.I. Conley, Mary O. Harmon, Helen Potter and Phoebe Cooper. This year well casing was purchased; however, later in time, water was still being hauled to school. In 1917 the elegant new school building sported a bronze plaque below the round black and white Second Central sign. This plaque read: "State Of Colorado, Standard '*.*-:* and a matter of record. Many drivers of Second Central in 1930 animals used for this purpose. Drinking water was brought in a 5 gallon cream can by someone living nearby. Walter "Mike" Co- narty remembered doing this task. On most Sundays, church and then Sunday school was held. The school board members were W.H. Conarty, President, Adam Phiester, Secretary and C.J. Far, Treasurer. At a Standardization Day meeting at the Second Central teachers, Viola Short Pursley, left and Mrs. Stella Boote. the words, Second Central School, District 19. On a contrasting black background, it was very impressive. First students at the new school are believed to be: Opal Conarty, Lela Galer, Gladys Ploper, ? Carlson, Aljy Stinton, Vern Joy, Elmer Joy, Glen Stinton, Irma Conarty, Helen Potter, Howard Westover, Walter "Mike" Conarty, Tom Conarty, Eva Ploper and Solomon "Sollie" Stone. Teachers for the 1915-16 term were Misses Francis and Ruth Hyland. Warrants were also issued to Miss Estelle Wille. Other schools were still in operation and it is difficult to determine where Miss Wille taught. Warrants reflect much work on the school house during school in 1915. Second Central received a score ofseventy-five, which pleased the board very much. This satisfaction was expressed by the secretary of the school board, Adam Phiester. At a parent-teachers meeting held April 21, 1916, the score of seventy-five was raised by the county committee to eightytwo. Headlines at this time read, "Second Central Scores Highest in County." Reasons for raising the score were attributed to lighting and ventilation of the building, care of grounds, certificates, salaries of teachers and efforts of the Misses Hyland and their students. In August, 1916, the school board asked for bids to dig a basement under the Second Central School building for additional classroom space. Solomon Stone was awarded the contract. A basement was dug and concrete walls were poured while classes were in session. Eight windows were built below ground level with appropriate covers to keep out elements of weather. Blackboards were placed on three walls in the west half of the basement area. The east half was used as a furnace room; a coal bin was located in an additional section of basement on the southeast side. A partition separated the two rooms. Mr. Sam Valquette installed a large coal furnace with appropriate piping to provide central heat in October, 1916. A large water jacket around the furnace provided needed humidity in classrooms. The new basement classroom was used for the 9th and 10th grades. Transportation of students to school was a Miss Ora Cruickshank taught at Second Central in 1916-17, along with W.I. Conley and his wife, Pearl. In May, 1917, 8th grade graduates were Irene Wickham, Irma Conarty, Flossie Kinzer, Charles Conley and horseback, buggy and wagon or cart. A barn was located on the school ground to house Sollie Stone. Mrs. Hayworth served as minister at the school where church was held on most Sundays. September, October and December in 1915. family obligation and students came by School, Superior Class." It would seem the heart of a school, beyond its physical structure, must lie in the greatness of teachers and students. Second Central was blessed with an abundance of both. very special teachers and many outstanding students. A list of students would be numerous and difficult to assemble. Many of the teachers through the years remain in memory school buses and school board members can be recorded and remembered. In the 1918-19 term, teachers were Mrs. Phoebe Cooper, Helen Potter and Mary O. Harmon. No bus drivers were recalled. probably because it was before such a service was provided. Board members of this time were W.H. Conarty, President, Adam Phiest- er, Secretary and S.W. Sloan, Treasurer. L920-L92L school term was taught by A.O. Tudor and Mrs. Phoebe Cooper. Only two teachers were listed this year. Bus drivers were numerous, Harry Eaton, Conrad Stone, Joe Short (short route), E.I. Vawter, M.I. Ploper (short route) and A.A. Frager (short route). Board members were O.L. Vawter, F.J. Van Wanning and V.F. Shrode. In L92l-22, Mrs. Phoebe Cooper, J.H. Jaeger and Mrs. Helen Westover were teachers. Routes were driven by G.F. Baxter, A.B. Radenbaugh, E.I. Vawter with short routes driven by W.R. Stewart and N.C. Wheeler. Board members this term were Ora L. Vawter, President, V.F. Shrode, Secretary, W.Y. Grove was Treasurer. The L922-23 term was taught by John F. Matthews, Mrs. J.F. Matthews and Thelma Wright. Bus drivers this year were C.E. Reavis, E.I. Vawter and Odbert Martin. 1923-24 school term was taught by Murvale H. Moore and Mrs. M.H. Moore. Drivers were Ora Dunivan, Fred Lange and E.I. Vawter. Board members were Wm. H. Wickham, President, V.F. Shrode, Secretary and B.H. Short, Treasurer. ln 1924-25, J.F. Matthews and Mrs. J.F. Matthews taught the school, C.E. Reavis and H.J. Shrode were bus drivers and the school board remained the same as last term. 1925-26 term was taught by A.W. Dix, Mrs. A.W. Dix and Zella Stone. Bus drivers were Clem Nixon, Fred Christopher and Harry Eaton. Board members were Wm. M. Wickham, President, Fred Griffeth, Secretary and B.H. Short was Treasurer. ln 1926-27, Mr. A.W. Dix and his wife taught the school, Harry Eaton and W.F. Lana drove the routes. "Bill" Lana operated two regular buses this year. Board members were Mr. Wm. M. Wickham, President, J.L. Short, Secretary and B.H. Short, Treasurer. The 1927-28 term was taught by Dolora Tiller, Elizabeth and Awilda Nixon. Drivers of school routes were Mrs. Rose Wickham. �Bill Wickham, James H. Reade, Mr. Wm. Wickham drove a route in a touring car. Mr. Wickhem bought two new Chevrolet buses this year. Board members were Mr. Wm. Wickhem, President, J.L. Short, Secretary and B.H. Short, Treasurer. In December this year, Elizabeth Nixon and her sister, Awilda became ill of diptheria. Alwilda survived but Elizabeth died. Clyde Roberts finished teaching the term in Elizabeth's place. Mr. C.A. Finley and his wife along with Alwilda Nixon taught the 1928-29 term. Mrs. Rose Wickham, W.H. Fogg, Ray E. Curtis and Mary Joy drove school routes. Mrs. George Blanken drove a short route. Board members this term were Ellis McConnell, President, B.H. Short, Secretary and J.H. Short. Treasurer. In the 1929-30 term. teachers were Mr. and Mrs. Bon V. Davis and Miss Ida Reynolds. Bus drivers were Mary E. Joy and Vern Joy. Board members were Effie Eaton, President, J.L. Short, Secretary and B.H. Short, Treasurer. 1930-31 school year was taught by the same teachers as last term, Chas. R. Smith was elected to the board as Treasurer. Bus drivers this year were Vern Joy, Mrs. Rose Wickham and Mary E. Joy. The 1931-32 term was taught by E. Ellis and Wynona D. Graham. Also teaching was Ida Reynolds. Drivers were Willard Eaton, Everett Joy and Wm. Wickham. Fred Martin and Wm. Driskill drove short routes. Board members were Effie Eaton, President, J.L. Short, Secretary and Chas. R. Smith, Treasurer. 1932-33 teachers were E. Ellis Graham. Mrs. E.E. Graham and Irene Graham. School record of board and drivers was found. L94L-42 school term was taught by Miss schools of Kit Carson County and was Amy Nichols and only one teacher was employed this year, as there were only 16 unusual accomplishments which must also students in school. Ted Wickham and Elmer Joy drove school buses. In the L942-43 term, Opal Joy taught 1st, 2nd, 9th and 10th grades. Julia Dugan (Wanczyk) taught the other grades, finishing the term started by a teacher who is unknown. Bus drivers this year were Birney Short, Harlan Rogers and Sollie Stone. There were 25 students enrolled in school. Teachers for the 1943-44 school year were Mrs. Roy Cook and Julia Dugan. School bus drivers were Orley Conarty and Jack Held, who took over the route when Birney Short left for military service. B.K. Moss was elected to the school board. In L944-45, Peggy Warrington taught the first semester with Mrs. Viola Pursley finishing the term, along with Miss Mona Snow. School bus drivers are believed to be Orley Conarty and Jack Heid. In the 1946-47 term, Wayne E. Gouge and wife, Dixie Bell Gouge (Sawhill) were teachers. Drivers this term were not found. The school board members were Fred Martin, President, Maurine Wold, Secretary and Cleo Radebaugh, Treasurer. The term, L947-48 was taught by Julia Dugan and Mrs. Sig (Evelyn) Olsen. The 1948-49 term was taught by Julia Dugan and Orpha Goodrich. Julia Dugan taught the last year school was held at Second Central in the 1949-50 term, thus ending a long list of teachers of the school. Among many outstanding accomplishments of the Second Central Community was the spiritual background instilled throughout bus drivers this term were H.W. Robinson, O.W. Boston and V.F. Shrode. Board members remained the same as last term. Teachers for the 1933-34 term were Mr. the years in its graduates. The community was seldom without church and Sunday school through the years. A number of very Roberta Wrenn. Bus drivers this year were Cliff communities gave of their time and effort to provide this very special training. I K.K. Parsons, Mrs, Marion Parsons and V.F. Shrode, Harry J. Shrode and H.W. Robinson. Board members remained the same as last term. In 1934-35, Mr. and Mrs. K.K. Parsons continued to teach along with Janet Mitchell. School bus drivers were Mr. Wm. Wickham, special people in Second Central and Rock remember no professed denomination, though both Baptist and Congregational ministers presided in church at times, but rather a basic study of the Bible and its presented there. These were only a few ofthe include dedication of many very special teachers who brought out the best in their students. Along with joys and exhilarations of school were times of sadness when World War I came, taking young men from the community in 1917-18. Farewell parties were often held at the school when local boys left to go to war. While they were gone, they were remembered in church on Sunday and missed throughout the week. Letters arrived in the community, sent from many places. These were read and reread by friends and neighbors. Soon the war was over and great joy was celebrated when boys returned. A thread of sadness remained for, sadly, some never came home. A lingering tug of heartbreak for some students remains when they tell of the time Elizabeth Nixon, a much loved young teacher, died of diphtheria in 1927 . One can sense, today, a hurt so great it remains after sixty years. Both Nixon teachers were ill. At first, the disease was thought to be a light form, however, only Alwilda survived. Dr. H.L. Williams, health officer, ordered the school closed and fumigated. A quarantine was placed on the patients. No regular funeral was held because fear of the disease \pas so great. A memorial was held on Sunday, January 1, at the school house at 2:00. Rev. Dexheimer of Seibert conducted the service. It was a painful time in the community, especially for students at the school. In 1936 a very active 4H club movement was apparent in Second Central community with many young people taking part. January 22, James Vawter gave a talk on KOA radio, telling what 4H meant to him. Many of the local students took livestock to the stock show in Pueblo where Georgia Vawter showed a calf she had won the previous year. Dale Eaton, Robert Shrode, James and Georgia Vawter served as a judging team at the fair. R.O. Woodfin, county agent, took an active interest in activities of 4H in the community. Many will remember yet today the moving pictures he brought to Second Central, running them with the aid of a small light Short, Secretary and Conrad L. Stone, Trea- teaching with a general expectation of elders for good conduct of youngsters in the community. I believe this background, given to many young members of the community, followed surer. them throughout their lives. coyotes. They ran their Model A Ford into a bank in the bottom of a valley and this "head on" caused very serious injuries. School had just ended and buses were arriving when news reached the school of their accident about 3 D.F. James and Elmer Joy. School board members were Effie Eaton, President, J.L. 1935-36 teachers remained the same as last term. Wm. Wickham, Elmer Joy and V.F. Shrode drove school buses. Board members were J.F. Martin, President, J.L. Short, Secretary and Conrad L. Stone, Treasurer. The 1936-37 school term was taught by Mr. and Mrs. Harlan G. Romberg and Opal Murphy (Joy). Bus drivers were Virgil Short, Elmer Joy and Ora L. Vawter. Board members remained the same as last term. The 1937-38 term was taught by Mrs. Grace Hill and Miss Viola Short. Van Goodwin was elected on the school board. In the 1938-39 term, teachers were Mrs. Stella Boote and Miss Viola Short. It is not certain who bus drivers were or school board this year. In 1939-40 school year, J. Carl Harrison and Mrs. Bledsoe were teachers. Harley Short, Elmer Joy and Conrad L. Stone were bus drivers. It is not clear who the school board members were this term. The 1940-41 school term was taught by J. Carl Harrison and June (Short) Conarty. No There were a number of firsts in the Second Central community. It is said to be the first school to have school buses, the first to purchase a community radio where many plant in the school yard. In 1936 two brothers. Wes and Jess Pelser met with a serious accident while hunting gathered to marvel at a new medium, the first school to have church and Sunday school as miles south of the school. Mr. Ora Vawter took his big Studebaker, used to haul his a regular event on Sundays, and the first school to attain a state rating of superior school route, and drove Wes and Jess to the hospital. There were moments of deep concern among the students at school. In 1939, 4H club activities were yet a vital part of the younger community with showing of Iivestock at the Kit Carson County Fair among other projects. Bunnie (Short) Elliott and others won a trip to the state fair at Pueblo with their special exhibits. This year many Second Central people rode horses, drove wagons and impersonated Indians at the "Indian Massacre" presentation at Seibert. In April, 1939, Harold "Bud" Short and Lyle Stone represented Second Central School at a meeting of the Young Citizens League in Denver. Bud presented a scrap book on soil conservation practices prepared at the school and Lyle gave a talk on soil class. Outstanding events at Second Central with periodic presentations by members of the community occurred at the beginning in 1915, with an event called a Lyceum, where recitations, short plays, musical numbers and short addresses were given. Very special community debates were held at this time. Outstanding accomplishments in musical presentations were apparent in L922 during the time Mr. John Matthews taught. Long remembered stage plays were presented and enjoyed in 1934, 35 and 36, when K.K. Parsons enhanced the acting abilities of many community members. One of these special community plays toured many �conservation. These presentations were given to a large gathering of county school superintendents of the state. In the early 1940s, World War II took young men away to perform a task not covered in the curriculum of the school. New drivers hauled students when old ones answered their call. Stars were placed in windows of homes for those whose sons had gone to war. This was a time of shortages felt by everyone. There was even a shortage of teachers to be dealt with. War bonds and stamps were continually sold. Scrap iron and other salvageable items were collected to help win the war. The local LSC (Ladies Social Circle) club made packages to send to boys of the community, as it had done before. It seemed so very long, and some were lost, but eventually the war was over. There was rejoicing when boys came home, as there had been years before in World War I. District 19 faced a reduction in the number of students; this began in the'30s when many had to move away. Some build up of population occurred in better years ofthe 1940s but a farming trend to Iarger acreages for each SMELKER SCHOOL T206 The Smelker School, located thirteen miles south and two and one-half miles west of Stratton, was built in 1917 in the southwest corner of the section. It took the place of an old sod or adobe schoolhouse a mile south. Just across the road intersection to the west lived the Charley Smelker family and north of them across the road lived the Minor Warren family. The Smelker family, Myrtle, Victor, George, Leon, Wesley, Theodore, Ivan, and Dean, all attended school there. So did the Warren family, Myrtle, Wilma, and Bud. When Wilma married George Smelker and lived in the Warren home, their children, Vivian, Verla, Velma, Lola, Franklin, Myrna, Twila, Una, and Arva Kay, also attended school there. Other children attending were James, Noble. and Audrev Struthers. Law- rence, Duane, and Jerry Megel, Ugene and Lois Carpenter, the Segal Proctor twins, Fay and Fern, the Walter Proctor children, Lois, Doris, Willard, Ivalee, GIen, Irma June, and Helen, the Harry Greenwood children, Laura, Thelma, and Allen, Kenneth Hoot, the McCormick children, Joe, Julia, and Rosemary, the Houghton girls, Irene and Marjorie, the Leon Smelker girls, Carol and Elaine, the Iseman children, Clarence, Loraine, Agnes, John, and Wayne, and many others. I am indebted to Ivan Smelker for much of my information and to Orris Bunch, whose mother was Myrtle Smelker. Orris says that when his mother finished the eighth grade, to further her education, she took the eighth grade a second time, then taught one year in the soddy school, before the new school was built. Other teachers in the school, not necessar- ily in chronological order, were Beatrice Brady; Mrs. Hoescher; Joseph Chandler, operator decreased the school population even more. In 1950 an active state initiated the drive for consolidation which forced most schools to join in larger districts. Second Central, District 19. merged with Flagler to become part of School District R-1, ending activities since 1915. In September, 1951, the school house was sold to James Vawter for $1001.00. Most school houses wee sold at this time by the Flagler School District R-1. Part of District 19 was consolidated with the Seibert School district, a larger share went to Flagler. In 1951 $1041.51 was transferred from District 19 funds to the new consolidated district. Second Central School was noted for providing exceptional training for students. This had been a goal for 35 years of its existence. A tally of students receiving their grade and part of their high school training here has been impossible to make. Certainly there were many. It is amazing to find so many people still living in the area who attended this school at one time or another. Opal (Conarty) Joy began as a student at Second Central in 1915 and served as a very special teacher in the school for a number of rs l{'*,f tL" tux Smelker School 1930-31 when Esther Davis Beattie was the teacher: back row, I to r: Dean Smelker, Willard Proctor, Ivan Smelker, Doris Proctor, Faye Proctor, Eloise Proctor, Fern Proctor. Front row: Noble Struthers, Audrey Struthers, Vivian Smelker. years near the end of its existence. Julia Dugan first attended Second Central school in 1921 as a student and served as a teacher during those Iast years including a last one in 1950. Plans were being made in 1984 to restore and move the Second Central School building to Flagler. In 1987 a new wood shingle roof was put in place for preservation. A funding problem delays actual moving of the old building but interest in such a venture is prevalent in the community. A need exists for a place to store many artifacts and old treasures. An age old fact remains, that it is far too distant from the west end of Kit Carson County to its county seat. What a problem this must have been for west patrons of the county in those years so long ago! For this reason, a depository ofhistorical artifacts at Flagler remains a much needed developrnent. by Lyle W. Stone Smelker School: back row, I to r: Kenneth Hoot, LoIa Smelker, Jennie L. Tressel, teacher, Thelma Greenwood, and Allen Greenwood. Front row: Twila Smelker, Franklin Smelker, Mvrna Smelker. Howard Gilmore and Lawrence Megel. �Julia Felch; Beulah Mott, Marie Greenwood: Esther Davis-Beattie under whom Ivan Smelker, Lois, Doris, Faye and Fern Proctor all graduated from the eighth grade; Nina Blomquist; Rose Henry; Mrs. Huebner; Ora Cruickshank; Violet Campbell-Barr; Leona Sharp-Schaal; Jennie L. Tressel under whom Thelma Greenwood graduated from the eighth grade in 1941; Bill Seely; Florence Wigton; Orris Bunch, Vivian Smelker; Dorothy Smelker and others. There was a building north of the schoolhouse that housed the coal shed, and two toilets, one on each side. To the northeast was a little barn to shelter the horses that the children often rode to school. The teacher or children carried water each day from the Smelker well, then dumped it in a large stone jar with a faucet. home via buggies, spring wagons, horseback, or cars. by Marie E. Greenwood a three story modern concrete structure. It SMOKY HILL SCHOOL T207 term. Three ofthe one room school houses which Smoky Hill teacherages and buses. "Opening Exercises" which might consist of a full day round trip plus loading and a stimulating story read by the teacher. Since there were twenty or more pupils with classes from first to eighth grades, there was a great hustle and bustle of studying and the children. Every year, at least two programs, Christmas and "Last Day ofSchool" were prepared, with much drilling and practicing by the school, to which the parents and public were invited. Every pupil participated, probably in three or four numbers, two or three songs by the school, "Recitation" by each one separately, special numbers by groups, and a play or two. Sometimes in the spring of the year, another school would be invited to compete Smoky Hill School after the June 8, 1941 tornado. In 1920 a group of patrons from several school districts had the courage and fortitude to organize the consolidation of small districts into one large district. The new district was approximately twelve miles square. The boundary lines were, the Kit Carson County line on the south, and Highway 385 (formally 51) on the west. The north boundary was six miles north of the correction line which was also six miles south of Burlington. The east line was near the Kansas border. The new school building was central in the district which was twelve miles south and five miles east of Burlington. The school received in a baseball geme, and near the end ofschool, they. might go to some grove of trees for a prcnrc. The schoolhouse was the center of the community and was utilized for many com- munity events, school elections, - dances, money-making projects for the school such as box suppers, pie suppers, oyster suppers, voting precincts, Sunday School and church, basket dinners, gathering place for rabbit drives, coyote hunts and ball games. Often, sometime during the fall of the yeat, a Literary would be organized by the people in the community. Officers were elected and the event was held at a regular time, probably once a month. The program was presented by local talent music, poems recited, plays. Usually the- last number was a Debate conducted in true parlimentarian order with three men on the Pro side and three men on lhe Con side, and judges to determine the winning side, all conducted with much fun rnd hilarity. After the program the ladies lerved refreshments. Then all departed for were moved to the school grounds were remodeled and used for dwellings for the teachers and their families. In the fall of the year a train car of coal was purchased and placed on a siding on Rock Island Railroad in Burlington. Some patrons made a little extra money by hauling coal to the school with teams and wagons. This was some rousing singing around the old organ or younger child who was having a problem. On Fridays, the last one hour and one-half after recess was devoted to something special like a spelling match, a geography race, crafts, or a story read. Bible stories were a favorite with generator for electricity. Fire drills were held occasionally using the third floor fire escape. A four vehicle garage was also attached to were put into service at the time school opened, which was the term of Lg2l-22. Four teachers and a custodian comprised the staff with ten grades being taught. The custodian also drove one of the busses and kept all busses in repair during the school Spangled Banner." The children then congregated in the schoolhouse for 15 minutes of pleted, would be allowed to help some was steam-heated with a pressure water system that allowed indoor plumbing and a the building, and four Model T Ford busses of Allegiance, and often sang the "Star reciting, with the teacher hurrying to help different pupils whose hands were raised. Often the older children, their lessons com- tion effort were Lester Beveridge, Harry Coleman, and Ellen Zuelke. The building was Every morning, unless the weather was inclement, at nine o'clock, the children gathered around the flagpole out in front for the school opening ceremony. One pupil was given the honor of hoisting the Flag, while the others saluted. Then all repeated the Pledge its name from the Smoky Hill River which was one mile south of the school site. A few of the people responsible for the consolida- Smoky Hill School, L92l-22, a three story building. unloading the coal with a scoop shovel. The coal was shoveled into an underground bunker at the school which was to be used in the furnace during the winter. The year of 1928 one hundred thirtv five students attended Smoky Hill which was the highest enrollment recorded. Area track meets, basketball games (outdoor courts), spelling and oratorical contests were a small part of extra school activities. In general the school was a form of a community center. The auditorium located on the basement level had a stage which was used for all types of programs. Several large school programs were presented each year with the one at Christmas being the students'favorite. The annual visit of Santa Claus distributing goodies to the pupils was always looked forward to. Non-denominational church services, Sunday School, parties, basket dinners and dances were some of the additional activities held. One winter a snow storm escalated into a severe blizzard during the day, and the bus �SMOKY HILL SCHOOL MEMORIES T208 Vernon Jantzen told of his years at Smoky Hill School this way: my recollection of Smoky Hill School starts the first week of March, 1946, as I enrolled in the eighth grade. The eighth graders shared the west room on the second floor with 5th, 6th and 7th graders. Our teacher was Mr. Levi Lengel. My older sister said he looked like a farmer from the dustbowl of Oklahoma. He was a gruff individual and did not seem suited to thejob. Since I was a city boy from Fresno, California, the school certainly had some lasting impressions for me. I remember Dale Eberhart to be our best athlete. Our favorite and only recreation was softball. We could count on Dale to hit the ball the farthest, and with great agility and speed he was able to round the bases and be home safe before the rest of us could recover. Smoky Hill School as rebuilt after the 1941 tornado, only two stories' drivers could not deliver the students to their homes. We spent two days and two nights at the school. The third day toward evening we were taken home by horse drawn wagons by some of the parents living nearest to the school. Some parents came for their children. Imagine the agony the parents went through not knowing if their children were stranded in a bus or their whereabouts. The only telephone line in the area was between Smoky Hill and Burlington. People made emergency calls from the school. During the depression and drouth of the 1930's many families moved away and the declined enrollment no longer warranted four was fear of the fire reaching the school teaching the ten grades the remaining years that classes ere held. The school suffered with the general economy as a large percent of the people were unable to pay their taxes. For several years a spring epidemic of scarlet fever went through the school. One patron theorized that the germs were in the text books from year to year and a decision was made to put the books in the hot sun and fresh air for several days during the summer. Believe it or not this appeared to be the end of the annual illness. I attended school ten years at Smoky Hill from its beginning in 1921 and graduated in 1931 in a class of seven. In the same year four International truck chassis were purchased. The old bus bodies were too short so were lengthened and remodeled to fit the chassis. In the late 30's crops were being raised in eastern Colorado. New families moved to the area and a new era for Smoky Hill began. In June, 1941 a tornado struck the school classes ceased at Smoky Hill. teachers. Two teachers took the job of house which resulted in heavy damage. Extensive repair was made which included taking off the top floor and a new roof style used. Contractor Harley Conger undertook the remodeling job. The garage part and busses were destroyed as were two of the teachers'dwellings. A three family apartment building was constructed for housing of teachers following the tornado. In 1945 a prairie fire started in Cheyenne County and with a strong southwest wind swept northeast at record speed. The bridge across the Smokv Hill River burned and there grounds. Apparently there was a wind change or sheer providence as the fire followed the river bed which had thistles in it and went east sparing the school house. New families brought new life and enthusiasm with them. A gun club was organized in 1948, Sunday School in 1946, 4-H Club in 1950, and Friendship Circle Home Demonstration Club in 1947. In 1949 a school hot lunch program was started with mothers taking turns in helping cook the noon lunch. In 1957 following the consolidation of all county rural schools into six districts, namely the town schools, Smoky Hill became a part of Burlington RE-6J. The following year For a time the building was used as a community center. Later it housed Mexican families that came to the area to work in the sugar beet fields. The building soon deteriorated and was no longer in use. In January, 1981, the remainder of the building burned and following sixty years of service a special land mark became stark concrete walls. A few of the teachers whose names are remembered were Mr. Frost, Mr. Rhodes, W.I. and Pearl Conley (W.I. Conley was from Indiana and attended school with Orville & Wilbur Wright, the founders of aviation), Ora Cruickshank who later became county superintendent, Helen Holloway, Leonard Ziemann, Dacy Frankfather, Ada Bey, Gordon Guffey, Fay (Alexander) Bryner, May (Rose) Hume, Edna (Bartman) Stahlecker, Hazel Fromong and Josie Youtsey. Others who helped compile the Smoky Hill story were Velma (McCalmon) Walstrom and Bernice Eberhart. Velma moved to the area in 1928 and graduated from Smoky Hill in 1930. The McCalmon family came from Norton, Kansas. Ted and Bernice moved to the Smoky Hill area in 1939 from St. Francis, Kansas. At this writing both ladies live in Burlington. by Leona (Fanselau) Wiedman Jerry, his younger brother, was almost as good, so if Dale and Jerry were on the same team, they always batted and the rest of us chased the balls. Willard (Juny) Butterfield was the quickest and easiest to make friends with. He was forever teasing whenever an opportunity was given. Later, in May, my brother Francis arrived from California with my mom and sisters and he joined our eighth grade class. Now we eighth graders were six in number. At times we were too much for Mr. Lengel. On occasion he became very angry with us and one time took off his big, wide belt and threatened to use it. That was pretty effective! The next year, for whatever reason, transportation was not offered to some of us in the outlying areas to go to Burlington High School. So, Harold Walstrom, Francis and I spent the 9th grade at Smoky Hill. Mr. Lengel did not return. I don't remember who the teacher was, but he drove a very old car, which we jokingly teased him as being a 1921 Franklin. He was a curly red-haired young fellow about 20 years old with an excellent sense of humor and we liked him very much. He taught algebra to us three 9th graders and really struggled to get us to understand "X, Y and 2". Our classroom included 5th through 9th graders and some that I remember especially include Kenny Drager who was forever teasing and chasing the girls. Shirley Chapin was forever the most studious and everybody liked her. Bertie Reeves was the one who caught the brunt of most of Kenny's teasing. Perhaps the most outstanding event of the year was the school play in the spring ofL947. We rehearsed daily and prepared for the Smoky Hill Community highlight of the year. The play took place in the lower front room which had a small stage and could seat perhaps 40 or so people. The night ofthe play the room was packed with anticipating friends and parents. As the curtain was pulled back, I came onto the stage and said my opening line which gave the cue for my brother Francis to enter from the other side. Francis came out and was to say something to me. He said the first two words and burst out laughing. So the whole play continued on with all the characters saying their lines while Francis giggled. Needless to say, Francis was �not without support as the audience joined in the emusement with laughter throughout the play. It was the talk of the community for a long, long time. Another highlight was on the last Sunday of the school year. Parents, students and friends gathered together at the school and had a big potluck diner. After dinner ever- ybodyjoinedtogetherforagameof. . none other than softball. by Bernice Eberhart SOLID CENTER SCHOOL T209 The Solid Center School, District number 41, was located in the northeast corner of section 21 T 7 R 47 of Kit Carson County. The first records on file of this district began in 19U. This was a sod structure. In about 1928 a new wood structure school building was erected and the little soddie was used for a barn. The Republican River flooded in 1935 and filled the new school basement with water. The little sod building was washed Ruth Gulley, Eva Vanatta, Evelyn Atkins, and Vivian Whitmarsh, Garold Paintin's frrst grade teacher was Jess Murfin. Besides teaching them to read, write and do arithmetic, he also pulled their first loose teeth. Some of his first classmates were Glen Edmunds, Robert Garner and Jim Spurlin. George Paintin would ride his horse past the school to check cattle. From the commotion inside the school building, he wasn't sure if school was in session or if it was recess time. The students liked this teacher. Wilda and Doris went on to graduate from the Stratton High School. Ivan married one of the teachers, Evelyn Atkins. With consolidation of schools in 1950. this school building was moved into Stratton and converted into a home for Mr. and Mrs. William Thyne who lived there for many years. Ethel Wears is the present resident. by Jean Paintin SPRINGWELL, DISTRTCT #43 T210 away, All the George Paintin children attended this school beginning with Eva in 1916 and ending with Doris in 1945. Their transportation for the mile across the pasture was on a trusted pony or on foot. Their lunches were carried in half gallon syrup buckets that had wire handles. Other families having children in this school thru the years were Joe Garner, Frank Connaway, Fred Carpenter, William Thyne, Joseph Anthofer, Maynard Edmunds, Dave Sealock, Nick Stoffel, Dale and Russel Spurlin, and Alvin Kitten. Most of thege parents Springwell School, constructed of sod bricks, the book their turn serving on the school board. building material of the plains. Some of the teachers were Bill Seeley, Dale Baker Wood, Jess Murfin, Gladys Quinn, School opened in District #43 at Springwell school in October of 1911 with Miss Nellie Keene of Iowa as first teacher. In a short while she received word that her brother in Iowa had passed away. She left by train, F.L. Beattie taking her to the train. She decided not to return as her salary was only $35 per month. However, she did return later and married Henry Grabbe and they lived north of Burlington. A homesteader's wife, Maude Turner, taught for a few weeks until Mabel Pugh (Guy) finished the eighth grade; then she finished the term. The first schoolhouse was an abandoned homesteader's soddie. By 1917 or 1918 a building 30 feet by 40 feet was erected nine miles north and one and one half miles east of Stratton and named Springwell. The building was painted white. When consolidation took place the building was sold and only the foundation remains. The first pupils were Mettie, Alfred, Minnie and Elmer Jones. Other families: Richard and Arthur Jones; Richard and James Osborne; Henry Hadden; Raymond Debban; Eva, Clifford and Charlie Bohl, and Blanche Beattie (Dove). Later after squabbles and several elections, a district was formed to the north - Covote Ridge, changed to Sunnyside. Solid Center was to the west of Springwell. by Blanche Dove SUNNY SIDE SCIIOOL T2rl Sunny Side School was located southeast ofFlagler in the southwest corner ofthe south east quarter of section 12, Township 10 S, Range 51 W. In 1987 this location would be about 1/4 mile north and about 1/2 mile west of the present James "Jim" Richie residence. Sunny Side was built of sod, much like some of the surrounding homes. Benches and a teacher's desk were home made. It is probable this was another school where the teacher arrived early to shoo out the varmints and snakes in order that classes could be held. Small similar schools appeared about the country side in the early 1900s, serving patrons nearby who had homesteaded in the area. Sunny Side school was located in District 35. When operations ceased a number of years after it was built, students were transferred to Texerado and Flagler schools. Although the heading "Sunny Side" appeared in earlyFlagler News items, little could be found to add to a record of this early school. Living in the area about this time were West, Moss, Lana, Sloan, among other families. Research has not uncovered students that could be named. It is felt the school did not operate long until it was more economical to utilize Texerado and Flagler schools. At this point, no specific teachers have been found. Until recent years, bits ofplaster, wood and iron pinpointed the location of the school. The area had been under cultivation for some iolid Center pupils about 1929: From Gladys Paintin standing with her back to the group: Eugene Paintin n front of Leona Paintin, then clockwise: Edna Sealock, Juanita Sealock, Wanda Garner, Magdlene Stoffel, van Paintin, Mabel Garner, Ruth Sealock, Leo Stoffel and Leona Stoffel complete the circle. time. In the 1980s, this debris was picked up to clean up the area and little can be found to locate the exact site of the school todav. Sunny Side fell by the way of consolidation, �like many others. This was probably due to better methods of transportation of student. by Lyle W. Stone SUNNY SLOPE SCHOOL to perform recitations and other presenta- facility in 1915. Some of the other schools held back for a while. Loco was the last to attend here. In 1916, A.B. Radebaugh moved the coal shed to Loco near his residence. In 1987, evidence of this school still exists provided better lighting. Water was brought to school in a cream can. Families took turns performing this in the untouched grassland ofthis school site. A ridge of earth outlines walls of the soddie crockery container. Each student had his or her own cup or used paper cups folded from a piece of paper. A pot bellied stove occupied a central area ofthe room. Benches were used by students facing the teacher. Opal (Conarty) Joy remembered some of the bitter caved in. Also remaining are memories of an benches to be moved nearer and around the most welcome warm stove in the center of the TEXERADO SCHOOL tions. In comparison with other sod schools, it would appear Sunny Slope was a higher grade building than many others. Walls were thicker than most; a large number of windows duty. Water was stored in a convenient T2t2 building. A depression in the earth today marks a location of its hand dug well, now outstanding school and of hardy, dedicated patrons and teachers. by Lyle W. Stone cold days when the teacher allowed these T2t3 room. A first teacher at Sunny Slope is believed to be Mettie (Love) Shanahan. In these early times, at least three schools were operating in District 19. Names of some teachers in District 19 for 1909-10, 1910-11 and others are known with no school designation. In 1909-10, teachers were Haidee Nealle, Emma Sunny Slope School after abandonment. Sunny Slope School was located southeast of Flagler near the northwest corner of section 26, Township 10 S, Range 50 W. This location was a mile east of the site of the consolidated school, Second Central. Sunny Slope was built on the south side of the road a few hundred yards east of an intersection at this location. The school was established by Walter Conarty, Frank "Mac" Franklin and their neighbors about 1910. Sunny Slope School was constructed of sod, much like others in the area except for its hip roof. This roof was also covered with sod. Most soddies sported a curved or peaked roof, which was probably used to save scarce and expensive materials. On top of this unusual roof was a cast iron bell, used to call the students to class. A raised floor was located at one end for the teacher's desk and a place for students Liggett, Mrs. FIo Shunate and Miss Ida Hayes. In 1910-11, teachers were Emma Liggett, Ethel Durbin and Mettie R. Shanahan. A record does exist, believed to be about 1914, listing the teacher as Mrs. Mettie Shanahan. Students this year were Bill Petersen, Aljy Stinton, Frank Matzke, Stella Petersen, Nettie Petersen, Marie McMulkin, Opal Conarty, Irma Conarty, Flossie Kinzer, Glenn Stinton and Sylvia McMulkin. A well was eventually hand dug near the school building to provide drinking water for students and for animals serving as transportation to school. Two outdoor toilets and a coal shed were located on the school grounds' A spoked, rotating wheel separated the kids from the cows at the entrance to the school! Students of Sunny Slope were transferred to Second Central after the new two room school was built. Records indicate Sunny Slope was the first school to utilize the new Texerado School, located in the northeast corner of Section 10, Township 11S, Range 51 W, was established by James S. Short and his neighbors and built in 1911 in the northeast corner of Mr. Short's homestead. Lumber for the school was hauled to the site by team and wagon. Being a frame structure, Texerado was quite unusual in a day of many soddies. The usual pot-bellied stove heated the room. Drinking water was hauled to school each day by the Short children or other families who took turns bringing it. This school was especially noted for its community events including musical presentations and other activities of this time. The teacher spent a lot of time practicing the children on their plays, songs and recitations, so the children did really well. In common between surrounding schools and Texerado were basket dinners, spelling bees, public meetings and sports competition, especially base and softball. The earliest teachers roomed at the Short home, and later at various residences in the community. Lena Short Weatherly particularly remembers Mr. Lofstead, Addie Alexan- der, Murvale Moore, Marjorie Yewell, Aljy Stinton and Bertha Strohmeyer. Other known teachers were Agnes Gwyn, Bertha Hyde, Mrs. Feeback, Don C. Smith, EIizabeth Nixon, Opal Conarty Murphy, Bernadine Reavis and Tressie Vassios. Families with children in school included Short, Stanger, Newby, Rhule, Burris, Laurent, Birchfield, Vinsonhaler, Borquin, Davenport, Stone, Alexander, Vassios, Kountz, Newsom, Rowland, Ebert and Overmiller. Early records show that problems were encountered in District 35 in transporting the students of Texerado to Flagler, a considerable distance, so economics made this school continue. Texerado is important in the heritage of this area and much could be added to its history. Plans exist to relocate the building in Flagler and to restore it as a one room country school. The building, although relocated in a different spot, remains in reasonably good condition. by Lena Ylteatherly and Lyle Stone Sunny Slope School in 1911-12. Note the bell! �TIP TOP SCHOOL T2t4 ..,L{ )'' i,'" rit ,f ,*'.:, n' a f- Old sod schoolhouse in background with new frnme building moved in about 1901 Tuttle. CO. - ,' A few boys and girls, and just a very few, were going to school in this county before the schools were recorded. This first school. that was later to become District 39 and known as the Tuttle School, was held in a deserted sod house, not built for a schoolhouse. Stone's History of Colorado lists it as an unrecorded school before 1886, but the date of the first term cannot be stated and the location is vague but was in the vicinity of the Tuttle Tip Top S_chool' 1930-31 year when Ted Smith was teacher. His pupils were Della Clark, Leroy Dunivent, Corrine,-Helen, Twyla and Louise Knapp, Leonard and Lorraine Schlichenmayer, Elna, Lyla, bhester and Marvin Jemes. Genevieve Shannon, teacher at Lone Star and her three pupils, Wayne and Harold Boland and an unknown girl are in this picture, too. Clara Olson, Mrs. Sell, Mrs. Wolf, Claude Cheney, Gene Hale, Jack McDill, Tom w*e - :"* :: .t.. Tucker, Harlan Romberg, and Elsie Johnson. In an effort to keep the country schools, Tip Top consolidated with others in 1951 as Beaver-Valley. The new school house was built in 1953, but was closed in 1968 when children began going by bus to Burlington. by Elna M. Johnson Iip Top School with a farm in the background; and ;he attached coal shed visible. Tip Top School District #66 was a small )ne room frame school house located in the JE corner of the NE 1/4 LL-7 -43 on the James Knapp Ranch. The closest home was Jake ichlichenmayers and students carried the lrinking water from there to school, usually lvery day. A coal burning heater in the center rf the building provided heat and a kerosene amp was the only light. A coal shed was rttached to the back of the school house. TUTTLE SCHOOL T2t5 There were no schools authorized or organized by the State of Colorado in this county previous to 1886, but during the next three years, 1886-1889, thirty-one were organized in Elbert County which at that time included this county and parts or all of several other counties. Some of the teachers were: Grace Connett. lenevieve Shannon, Leliah Henderson. Fred ,humate, Alice Moorehead, Elsie Rogers, ,usie Bogart, Ted Smith, Kathleen Clark, Hugo. As she was returning to her homestead in the spring of 1887, she was thrown from her horse and killed. James T. Gilmore was the next teacher. The desks and benches were homemade and they used the books that had been brought from Nebraska and Missouri. Griff Davis who lived about six miles from this school attended it in 1887. In 1889 when the young Davis boys needed to go to school, they were told that schools were too far from home for them to attend. An arrangement was made then for the teacher to teach two months in an old sod house and then to come up and teach two months in an old frame house that was nearer the Davis home. This old house was owned by a saloon keeper at Benkelman, Nebraska, and was located on the SE y4 24-6-46. Glass and Ed Davis and Dave Daniels were the pupils. The teacher and the boys all had chairs and they sat around an old poker table that the owner, Frank Rich, sent over from Benkelman. Mr. Rich was hardly ever there as he spent most of his time operating the saloon. After Mr. Gilmore taught these boys for two months, he went northeast to some early date, listed by Stone's Colorado History is District 26 atCarlyle,located two and onehalf miles west of the stateline and south of where the railroad went through. This school remained active until consolidation took place in the 1950's. ode a pony to school, some as far as six miles. )ne teacher taught all 8 grades and in 1980il the ninth grade was added. Teachers lived o that the older children could help their rarents with the farm work. The first teacher at this sod house was Celia Miller and she had a homestead at other location and taught two more months of school to other pupils. The only other unrecorded school at this The Christmas program, an occasional trogram followed by a pie supper or box ,ocial, and a picnic on the last day of school vere the only activities. Games played were raseball, anteover, last couple out, kick the an and when it snowed fox and geese. The 'arlier pupils and teachers either walked or r'ith families of the District. Lunches were arried usually in a half-gallon pail. School rours were 9-4 and the term lasted 8 months Ranch. by KCC Cattlemen's Association School children at Tuttle school about the middle 1940's. Back row, L to R; Lois Corliss, Miss Ana Gillespie (teacher), Merna Wood, Doris Corliss. Middle row; Leroy Belt. Front row; Eileen Wait- man, twins Arlene and Arthur Waitman, Bill Wood, Phillis Waitman. �Arlene Waitman; Dale Crist. Some students rode horses, drove horses with carts and walked to school. Others were brought by their parents in cars. From what we can gather from information available Tuttle school was the first established school in the county and the last country school to consolidate in 1955. by Betty Guy uNroN DrsrRrcT #28 T2t7 Union school was organized sometime before 1906. The Roy Jones and Osborne families came to Colorado and parked their wagons in the school yard the summer of 1906 according to Mettie Jones Sisson. They camped there with the Osborns taking a claim just east of the school and the Jones family taking up a partial of land just 3 miles northwest of the school. New frame school building, Tuttle, Colorado, completed in 1903. Pictured are the schoolboard, the children and their teacher, Ethel Burr, and some parents. TUTTLE SCHOOLT216 The last year of school at North Tuttle school was the year of 1934-35. GIen Smith was the teacher and pupils were from the families of Rosser Davis, Earl Messinger and Sherman Corliss. The summer of 1935 the South Tuttle school was moved from the southeast corner of the Hightower place to the southwest corner of the east half of section 18. Maxine Messinger-Radcliff taught the term of 193636. The school was District #39. Teachers through the years were: Miss Wilson, Avis Page, Dorothy Yoast, Barbara Hitchings, Georgia Taylor-Clair, Mr. Baldwin, Betty Corliss-Guy, Beatrice McKay, Hazel Kennedy, Mrs. Heinrichs, Louis Heinrichs, Willard With, Jack Smith and Ona Gillespie. Mrs. Lucy Russman was the teacher for the last term of 1949-50. The district was divided in 1960 and consolidated into Bethune, Stratton and Liberty, in Yuma County. The last school board consisted of Sherman Corliss, Harvey Wood and Mervin Corliss. Families represented during the years from 1934-50 were the families of Earl Messinger, Rosser Davis. Sherman Corliss, Orville Hutton, Harvey Wood, Phil Waitman, Clair Whipple, John Cooper, Ernest McArthur, Cecil Crist and Russman. Students were Clifford and Norma Jean Messinger; Betty, Lowell, Lyal, Mervin, Albert, Doris, Lois, Mary, and David Corliss; Marguerite Hutton; Russell and Stanley Davis; Lois Adolf-Wood, Bud, Merna, Bill, Bob and Audry Wood; Harry Covey; Phillip' Phillis, and Elaine Waitman; Clifford and Mavis Whipple; Gilbert Cooper; Kenneth, Elaine, Mary and Betty McArthur, Art and Some of the early families living in the area were the Amman, Evans, Gaddy, and Zeiglers. Students and teachers hauled water during the entire life of the school. Most of the time it was from the well on the nearest homestead east of the school. The school was the typical sod or adobe at first and then a frame structure was built. This was a one room building with a coat room where the belongings of the students were kept along with their lunch pails. In the winter those lunches were frozen by noon and no doubt many were froze before arriving at school. One student remembers that his pony got in the coat room and ate someones lunch before dinner. There was a barn for the horses, a coal shed, and the "outdoor facilities". Play ground equipment consisted of 4 teeter-toters made by Bill Zeigler and the flag pole. Games played outside at noon and recess were the mainstay of their recreation. Teachers in the 1920's were Gladys Mace and Mr. Jake Veager. Students attending during that era were Anna, Lena, Otto, Bill, Fred, Richard, Esther, Alma and Emma Zeigle4 Wayne Gaessner who drowned in the 1935 flood; Minnie and Stanley Johnson; Ernest Stolz; Osborne children; Martha Lohr; Albert and Russell Glad; Reinhart, Mae and AIma Adolf; Clara, Otto, Emma, Gotthielf, Bertha, Johnny, and Anna Stahlecker; Hulda, Emil, Robert, Herbert, and Amanda Stahlecker: Paul and Frank Stolz; and others that we have not remembered. During the 1930's and 40's these children attended; Marvin and Donald Schaal; Blanche, Esther, Hank and Bud Stolz; Reuben, Leona, Ella, Gladys, and Narita Zeigler; Ken, Mina, and Bonita Stolz; John and Elizabeth Graham; Darlene, Delphine, and Denice Veribest; Scott Fox; Clarence, Alfred, and Mildred Schritter; Christina Knodel; Arnold, Viola, Alvin and Calvin Strobel; Vernon, Phil, Ralph and Diane Stolz; Ernie, Darlene, Donnie Tnigle4 Don and Harold Churches; Jim and Virginia Hasart; Milbert Beringer; Clarene, Margie, George, Willard, Iva, Ivan and Jean Stahlecker; Leo Stahlecker; and others that haven't been remembered. Alma Newberry was one of the teachers Tuttle School, 1930-31 term: Back row, I to r: John and Jess Clair, Loretta Bretthauer, Willis and Fern Stump, Hazelkennedy, teacher. Front row: Theodore Bretthauer, Dale Bretthauer, Marie and Rose Mary Hitchcock. during the thirties and forties. There were many others as they had a hard time finding teachers especially in the 40's because of the shortage of teachers caused by the war effort. �H. [1. Bsssecte. IlurltDgtob, Colo. B C /Z -e*ry1-*qw: &q*&**a*, jl -**"qr""t".r-" .u.4w&e"w'f -) l it': --:,,"1 Iange, south ol the Smoky. Chatnpltn & McDoweu, phultppsburs, KBnt, ffi Iange,3 mllec Dprtui\.olit gt Bilrupgton. tf ", {.1, I Y H A cr,.r * liifix,:1*fJ. ta)rqc, nor'heast ol Burllnqtoli g rnlles- |K\ R S,' ts.{R$BY, KEr,LEn .r su}i, Laoborn, Kane. .snge, I Dllles east of Burlipgton. €luln rn leu days to TVAIIL & soNs 'QHN Yolc, Colo. rulrgP, on Logtmiru Creek. Union School 1940's; L. to R. standing; Viola Strobel, Gladys Zeigler, Virginia Hasart, Scott Fox, Ernie Zeigler and Arnold Strobel. Sitting: Narita, Zeigler, Darlene Zeigler, Margie Stahlecker, Dennise Veribest, Mildred Schritter, Alvin Strobel and Alfred Schritter. Next row; Delphine Veribest, Leo Stahlecker, Darlene Veribest, Phillip Stolz, Willard Stahlecker. Seated on ground; Don Churches, Calvin Strobel, Ivan Stahlecker, Vernon Stolz, and Harold Churches. CY v cllrls stshleckel'r Burllngton, Colo. raDge. { nllles soutbwest ol yel6 Oolo. w H W. S. )Ie:el, Eeibert, Colc. IaDgp, Beputrilba rlver & Duck.rreek" s EI S Ranqe, G C c- lV AUG Uggr'I\{^{.TEIEB. T' ]\{^{,TEIEB. --___-_l OlaremoDi, Colo. southwest of lletbulte CONRAD GEPIIAITDT. Lambourn, I(&Dgag. Renge, south-ea8t of Burllngton, Colo J. W. lvEltB, " Yotlt. Colo. Rangc il rrrlles sor,th ot V,rna. llillrsrck sells tbose stvlish Service atrle hats 1ou are lookrng for. Look ai 0amplreli's drierl and canucd frrrits before bnying and gave lnon8v. Burlingtou Roller Mills for coru, corn chop. ill f: r l f ,r:' c rrlr, right prices. Union School 1930's. L. to R. on horses; John and Elizabeth Graham, Bud Stolz, Ernie Zeigler, Henry Stolz, Jirn and Virginia Hasart; On fence; Dennise Veribest, Don Schaal, Ben and Ken Stolz, and Arnold Strobel. Much can be said about the closeness of the sountry school and the friends that were made during this time have endured for a iifetime. In 1950 Union was consolidated into the Bethune and Stratton school svstems. by Anna Strobel Notice of Application to Lease Stute Lands. I �WIBEL SCHOOL ,wb T2r8 A picture to Agnes (Dollie) Keller Hatterman from her teacher Ella Robb Huntzinger at Christmas 1945: left to right: Dollie Keller, Vern Miller, Maggie Keller, ?. Front row: Zenelda Keller, Jim Miller, Mary KeIIer, and Lee Miller. Wibel School, 1915, Teacher Edith Huntzinger on right, Wibel School was a one room sod house one mile east and 8 miles north of Flagler. It served the families of Sypherd, Wibel and Gwyn. Little can be found about it except for the picture. be in one corner or the other and a large world globe with a plant arrangement on a stand in the other corner. The chimney opening was in the center ofthe north wall and during the winters there was a large upright heating stove. by Agnes Otteman Location: The school was located L/2 mile west, 11 3/4 miles north of Flagler on the west side of the Thurman Arickaree road. The HUNTLEY SCHOOL legal description was the northeast corner of the northeast L/4 of Section 3 Township 7 T219 Range 5L,3/4 mile south of Frank Harwoods. New location: John Shulda first bought the The Huntley School was a little soddie building and school was held here until the construction of the Prairie View School in school building to move and add on to his present house, but things didn't work out, so L922 or 23, then abandoned. Frank Harwood remembers going home from Flagler and getting caught in a severe rain and hail storm with his dad and a team of horses at this school. To protect themselves they held the reins of the horses through the window of the school until the storm was over. LOCATION: The school was located 1/2 mile west,7 miles north of Flagler on the west side of the Thurman Arickaree road. The legal description was the southeast corner of the southeast l/4 of Section 27 Township 7 Range 51 I/2 mile south of Huntley house. Mrs. Stella Strode Fisher taught here in 1903-04 and Mrs. Landcamp taught here before she became Postmistress in Flagler. he sold it to Bill Girvin for $1100.00. Bill moved it to its present location 3/4 mile east of Flagler on the cemetery road to his home to build a chicken house and later a milk barn. Teachers: Mary Young, Miss Howe, Pearl Robb. Art Robb, Lola Rillahan 1927 - 22 23, Maxine Carpenter, Mrs. Serenna, Lucile Thompson, and Azel Dorsey among others. Students were from the families of Charles By Victory Heights School in 1946: left to right: Art Miller's boy, Lee; and the Charlie Keller girls, Mary, Agnes (Dollie) and Zenelda, and the teacher, Agnes Williams Short. Kyle, Frank Harwood, Frank Michal, Carol Elrick, Cecil Charles, Ed Carlson, Row Gustin, Tom Kraft, Sam Harwood, Charles Holden, the Moodies, Iva Johnson, as well as many others. by Norman Michal by Norman Michal VICTORY IIEIGHTS FAIRVIEW SCHOOL SCHOOL There was once one little soddie which was so small that it was torn down and another This was a one room school built caddycornered across from the soddie school T220 soddie built before the frame school was built which was about 24 feet by 34 feet with a shingled roof. The door was to the east from an enclosed porch built on the south and there was a little lean-to built on the north end for coal. There were three windows on a side with the blackboards on the north. The teacher's desk would be in the center of the north end, while a rack of world maps would T22l known as the Wibel School inL927 and on the corner l/2 mile north of the Charlie and Tonnie Keller farm site. It was bought by Hammer Shaw in 1949 and moved to Flagler and again used as a school for the seventh and eighth grade classes since the High School at the end of Main street had burned in 1950. Classes were held there for two years and the graduating classes of 1956 and 1957 were Victory Heights school, March 31, 1944, taken by Ella Huntzinger. L. to R.: Mary, Agnes (Dollie) Keller, Vern Miller, Maggie Keller, Mary Lou Miller, Lee Miller, Jim Miller, Zenelda Keller. They dressed up to celebrate "tacky day" which was held every spring. those two classes. The school was then made into a nice home which was bought by Buck DeFreeze and today is the home of Wayne Kuntz at 329 Ouray Ave. The original location of the Victory Heights School was the northwest corner of the NW 1/4 of Section 30 Township 7 Range 50 in School �Dist. 70. Teachers: Margie Willson, Lucy Huntly, Irene Philbom from Minnesota, Lois Fisher, Lora Mae Malbaff 1936-37, Betty Page Robinson 1938-40, Evelyn Kyle Taylor 194041, June Conardy Short 1941-42, Frank Young I94L-42,Mrs. Alice Anderson L942-43, Mrs. Steve Munger L943-44, Mrs. Ella Robb Huntzinger L944-45, Mrs. Nel Whiteman L945-46, Agnes Williams Short L946-47. Students: Dale, Faye and Cora Courtright. Jake, Barbars, Fred, Peter, Martha, Kather- ine Heinrich. Virginia, Harold, Alice, Edwin Kyles, Albert and Paul Andres, Clemmons, Kenneth Codry, Charles Holden, Frank Michals, Carol Elricks, Carl Sparks and others. Classes was held here through the gth grades, by Norman Michal DAZZELING VALLEY SCHOOL and Norma Moore. Rose, Vern, Lee, Jim Miller. Don Moss. JoAnn Fisher and her Father Buck Fisher. June Courtright. Nellie Courtright. Bob, George, Neil, Roger and Ruth of the Ivan Gwenn family. Regina, Viola, Maggie, Agnes (Dollie), Mary and Zenelda of Charlie Kellers. The Wolfs. Todds. Brookovers. Wid Courtrights. Cammeron. and Hawkins. Ida Reynolds Stone was also a teacher in 1928. by Norman Michal WHITE PLAINS scHooL T222 T223 This school is located t/2 mile west of Flagler, 10 miles north, 2 miles west then 1 mile north; L/4 mile east of the present Wilbur Haeseker farm. It was then located on the corner west of Clyde Elricks and on his land. The first building was a small soddie which deteriorated away until a new soddie was built. The second soddie was onlv used for two years until a frame building was built in 1923. Irv Rambat bought this building and moved it to 1 mile east of Anton, Colo. where he made it into a house for his son Verdis Rambat and his new wife. This farm is on the north side of Highway 36. Teachers: Peggy Splain, Yetta Burger, Miss Byers, Rachel Harwood Kyle, JoAnn Lobmeyer Pelle and Elbert Andry. Students: Children of Elbert Andrev. Clyde Elrick, Frank Michals, Vincent Ostrowski, Charles Holden, Charles Kyle, Sam Harwood, Andrewjeski, Norman Haeseker, Latrlue, Robb, MaHaffie. Tom Krafts and others. Huntzinger Gering through the War years and others. Ruby Dorsey Hollenbaugh 1941. Ora Cruickshank. There were two rooms in the school separating the grade schoolers from the high schoolers. In some years there were two teachers high school and grade school. At one time -there were 30 grade schoolers and 20 high schoolers in one year. Also when the migration of settlers was at its highest there were 23 new families from Kansas and Missouri settling in the Shiloh community. Students: Blanch Lippford Carper, Roll Duncan, Art, Emily and Alice Niles, Archie Harman, Clyde Harman, Bernice Harman McBlair, Mary and Lear Nelson, Clint Jones kids Marie, Dale and Lee. E.T. Loutzenhiser kids Clair, Everett, Rex, Millard, Vera, Irene and Lila. Velma Colier Taggaft 1922 and her daughter Phelma and son Larry. Wrights. Merl, Lila, and Maxine Jenkins. Margarie, Juenita and Loren Portner. Frank and Hazel Harwood. John Shaw. Porebasco kids. Charlie Back kids Ralph, Bill and Tom. The - Edwards Jenkin kids. The kids. Paul Moore. Bud Todd. Billie Wilson. Helen Sproul. The Codreys. The Borings Norman, Bill, - The Ed Gerings Tracie, Kenneth and Mona. Ernest, Paul, Louis and Marie. Margarie -Beck Scott. Art Robb in 1920, Lester, Delmar and Dale. Bill Beck. Ruth Simmons Gustin. Albert and Ruby Huntzinger. Art Riches Merl, Mabel, Vera and Raymond. Cecil Merl Dean, Josephine and Irene. Mildred -Moore. Schiers. The Prest Kids Robert, Sam, Larry, Dennis and Beatrice. Charles Roglands. Ollie James. Elmer Kings daughter Ruth. Florence Smock. Bill. Jessie and Evelyn Simmons. The Lester Loutzenhisers by Norman Michal and the children of Mary Nelson Loutzenhiser were Loretta, Willard, Maryetta and Dorthy. The Don Loutzenhiser kids SHILOH SCHOOL Darlene, Duane and Edith Jo. The Edward Allachers Willard and Florence. - T224 by Norman Michal The Shiloh School was Iocated 1 mile east of the northeast corner of Flagler, 8 miles White Plains school, District 14. L. to R. back row: Hazel Harwood, Louise Potter, Eulah Eckert. Charlene Holden, Carl Sparks and Frank Harwood. Middle row: Gladys Andre, Marion Potter, Kate Andre, and Robert Andre. Front row: Edna Andre, Marjorie Clemens, Helen Michal, Mae Andre, ? Clemens, RoyClemensand GeorgeAndre. This School was located L/2 mile west of Flagler then 14 miles north and 2 1/2 miles west across the road from Vincent Ostrowski's farm and on Frank Michal's land. There was first a soddie there before the frame building was built in 1922 or 1923. The legal description of its location at that time was the northwest corner of the NW 1/4 of Section 29 Township 6 Range 51. School Dist. 14. The building was bought by the Flagler School District and moved to Flagler. It was made into a home for the superintendent and today is the home of David Edwards at 708 Main Ave. Teachers: Anna Liza Brown, Mrs. Loulla Deiterick, Art Robb, Clyde Roberts, Mrs. Dale Wiant, Rachel Harwood Kyle, Peggie Splain, Charleen Holden and Nina White, Alice Roberts Fruhling Liggett and possibly others. Students: The community families of the Potters, Eckerts, Dines, Ostrowskis, Charles north, 1 mile east, 6 miles north, 1 mile east. 1 1/2 miles north on the east side of the road (ust north of E.T. Loutzenhiser or LeRoy Loutzenhiser). This is 18 1/2 miles from Flagler and today it is still at this location. It has been referred to as the Sucker Flat School but it is only in the Sucker Flat community out in the Loutzenhiser country. Most of the time there were two school teachers teaching and often one or the other would live in the basement. At one time there were as many as 50 students attending in one year. At one time there would be as many as 20 - 25 horses of the kids in the school barn throughout the day. It was Iocated 1/2 mile south and across the road from the old Ash Grove School and the legal description was near the southwest corner of the northwest 1/4 of Section 16 Township 6 Range 50. The school district was known as Dist. 55. You could attend High School here up to your senior year but not including the senior year. Students attending from outside the District would have to pay tuition to go to school here. The Shiloh School was built in 1915. Teachers: Algie Sinton 1922,Mr. Parsons, Art Robb, Alice Whittiker Fhruling, Frank Day, Mr. Romburg 1937, Beatrice Pickenpaw 1937-38, Mrs. Hill 1936-37, Leah Davis Portner 1934, Margie Beck Scott and Edith MOUNT PLEASANT SCHOOL T225 This school was located L/2 mile west of Flagler and 17 miles north then L/2 west (1/4 west of Cecil Charles). There was first a soddie before the frame building was built in either 1922 or 23. The legal description was the southwest corner of the SE 1/4 of Section 3 Township 6 Range 51. School Dist. 14. The Mount Pleasant School was sold to the Seibert R.L.D.S. Church and moved to Seibert where they held church until thev built again and sold the school building. From here it was moved west of Burlington about three miles and is located on the south side of old highway 24 on a high foundation. Teachers: Mrs. Blanch Carper for two years. Margie Minner, Clyde Roberts, Crystal Stevens for two years, Rachel Hatch, Mrs. Ella Rob Huntzinger, Lola Rillahan for two years, Betty Pelle Loadmeyer, LaJean Cayton, Irene Charles Travis, Charleen Holden and once Neil Bromley and possibly others. Students: Frank Harwood and a daughter Coreena, Azel Dorsey, The Frank Michal family, Cecil Charles family, Laten Harwood family, Donna Lee McCullah, Statlers. �Thompsons, Phipps, Buckles, the families of Vincent Ostrowski, Ed Carlson, Eaches, Parker, Charles Kyle, Lee Smith, George Codery, Carl and Clod Cuthbertson, Estel Rose Baker and Marlin, MaHaffies, Cathlet, Lonnie and Carl Elrick, Burches and others, Bddie Stewart, Rosalee Moss Loutzenhiser, Helen and Burl Miller. bY Norman Michal PLEASANT VALLEY SCHOOL T226 This school was located in the Sucker Flats community and 1 mile east of Flagler, 8 miles north. I mile east, 8 miles north, 6 miles east and then 1 mile south. 1 mile south of The North Flat School. Built in 1923 or James - was held only a few years until 1924 school it burned in 1931.. The legal description was the northeast corner of the NE 1/4 of Section 19 Township 6 Range 449. Teachers were paid $75.00 per month. The Teachers were Dora Buttler Wolverton for several years. Irene Heisten Bancroft 1930 - 1931, and Bernice Harman McBlair in 1931 at which time the school was burned. Marion, Students: The Tom Jensens Leon, Aletha and one other -girl. Clyde Harman. Dale Jones and his sister Marie Vernie, Alma and Jones Smith. Jensens - Lesa. DOLAN SCHOOL T228 This was a very early day school and a soddie located l/2 mile west of Flagler 13 miles north and then about 3/4 mile east. If a person was looking there today at the site you could see nothing at all that would resemble a school site. The location is 1/2 mile north and L/2 mile east of the Frank Harwood farmsite. In talking with Frank Harwood, he says that he and his sister Rachel Harwood Kyle were the only students he could ever remember there and could not even remember the teacher or her name. The legal description would be the south- west corner of the SE 1/4 of Section 26 Township 6 Range 51. by Norman Michal ASHGROVE SCHOOL T227 This school was in the Sucker FIat country and from Flagler it was 1 mile east, 8 north, 1 east, 8 north and 1 mile east on the south side of the road. It was a soddie building built in 1910. A picture ofthis school building can be found elsewhere in this history book. The legal description of the location was the northeast corner ofthe NE 1/4 of Section 17 Township 6 Range 50. TEACHERS: Clair Williams 1909 - 1910. Dazzie Hewitt 1911 - 1912. Dora Buttler Wolverton 1911-1912 was hired to take the place of Dazzie Hewett after a horse ran away *ith her buggie and upset and broke her arm. Dazzie Hewitt returned to teach 1912-1913. Miss Prudence Robbinson Bragg taught several years. Later teachers were Winfield Keneese, Dora Buttler Wolverton again and Nina Anderson. STUDENTS: Blanch Lipford Carper and her sister Hattie. Ruth and May King. Velma Colier Taggart. Theadore, Ethel' Byron, Blanch and Mable Gourd. Bruce Nelson. Ethelyn Curry. Russel, Tom and Florence Churchwell. Dewie Landeau' Glenn Gomer. Flo Gering. by Norman Michal During the War years (1942 - 1945) mattresses were made from Government supplied material in this school. The school building was bought by Hamer Shaw and moved to Flagler where it was made into a church and at one time was the Chapel ofthe Ralph Clapp Funeral Home. The property now belongs to The Church of Christ where they held church for several years. The present location is at 425 Pawnee Ave. in Flagler. The legal description of the Prairie Gem school location was the northeast corner of the NE 1/4 of Section 26 Township 7 Range 50 District 14. Teachers: Idra Phipps, Orpha Goodrich, Virginia Harold, Miss Minnie Petty, LaVerna Reed, Mrs. Dora Wolverton several years, Ben Sawhill, Gorden, Lola James 1932, Mrs. Thompson and others. Students: The Brandenburgs-Mertle, Jim- BRANDENBURG SCHOOL mie and Orville. Louis Reids-David, Orlin, Roger, LaVetta. Copleys-Louis, David, Doris, T229 The Brandenburg school was located from the northeast corner of Flagler; 1 mile east, 8 miles north, 3 miles east and 1/4th mile south on the east side of the road' It was a soddie school and was only used for a couple ofyears. It was built in 1912 and the teacher was Jennie Custine Sereno. Mrs' Sereno was the lady who later had the triplet girls 9 miles north and 1/2 west of Flagler. Ida Fisher bY Norman Michal apparently ofan over heated and unattended heating coal stove. It was rebuilt and school was held there until consolidation into the Flagler District in 1949. Gwynn went there to school for 1 year and her sister Marguerite for 3 Years. The soddie school building was no longer safe so school was held in the LaRee farm house for a short time until agreements were made to have the kids schooled at the Weibel soddie School in 1914' Those attending Weibel School at that time was Ida and Marguerite Fisher and Emit Chase with Jennie Custine Sereno teaching. The LaRee farm was locatedl/2 mile north and I 1/4 mile west of the Brandenburg School. The Brandenburg School legal location was the southwest corner just north of Art Brandenburg's farm and the NW /4 of Section 27 TownshiP 7 Range 50. The first teacher was Jennie Custine in 1912. Miss Muck taught in 1913, and Jennie Custine before she was married Sereno in Betty, LaVell. The Burr girls. Harris JonesLeRoy, Phyllis, Don and Erma. Kenneth Inmans-Stan and Louis. Clarence Burgess. Floyd Reed. by Norman Michal PRAIRIE VIEW OR WALKER SCHOOL T231 School had been held here in one soddie and then another soddie building prior to the construction of a frame building in 1922 or 1923. The school was located l/2mile west of Flagler, ? miles north, 1 mile west and then 3/4 mile north on the east side of the section line. This was known as the Walker and Huntley communities. It is not clear as to where the school was moved but some seem to think it is here in Flagler. The legal description was the northwest corner of Section 27 Township 7 Range 5L in District 14 until that community withdrew to come to the Flagler District in about 1940. Teachers: Dola Belden, Mrs. Olie Swenn Olsen, Mrs. Ella Robb Huntzinger, Mrs. John Codery, Mamie Kyle Huntzinger, Lola Shaw 1914. Rillahan 1921, Ruby Dorsey Hullenbaugh to live in the school because of the severe Students: The families of Roy Walker, Floyd Fager, Cecil Bogat, Andrewjeski, It was in 1914 during the winter that the teacher Jennie and Ida and Marguerite had winter. by Norman Michal 1936, June Kyle Schidler and others. Meyers, Eddie Stewart, Pasley, Robbison, George Bull, Frank Jorden, Park Weatherly, Eatches, Beeman, Chapla and others. bY Norman Michal PRAIRIE GEM SCHOOL T230 The Prairie Gem School was located 1 mile east of the northeast corner of Flagler, 8 miles north and then 5 miles east on the south side of the road. This is what is known as the Jones and Burgess communities. The first frame building was built about 1924 and school was held there only two years before it burned IIOENSTEIN - BEHEN SCHOOL T232 This school was located 3 1/2 miles west of the north edge of Flagler, 3 miles north and then 1/2 mile east. It was very small with only a few kids attending. Erwin Hoenstein remembers some older boys once stuffing him �down a prairie dog hole there when he visited before he was old enough to attend school. They were unable to get him out and had to go for help to get him out. The school was located about 3/4 mile east of the Hoensteins and was later moved to just across the road east of their house and Erwin used it for a ice house as it was only 14 feet wide and 14 feet long inside. Teachers: Unknown. Students: Olivar Perrish, a fellow whose first name was Guss and the Behen kids. Possibly a few others. The legal description was the southeast corner of Section 17 Township 8 Range 51. by Norman Michal NORTH FLAT OR JAMES SCHOOL T233 This school was located at the eastern edge of what is known as Sucker Flats 1 mile east of Flagler, 8 miles north I mile east, 8 miles north and 6 miles east on the south side of the road andjust east ofwhat was known then as the Ollie Ja-es and now the Walt Timm Farms. The legal description is the northeast corner of the NE 1/4 of Section 18 Township 6 Range 49. The school was first an "adobe block" building and at that time was known as the "James School", then later when the frame structure was built the school was then known as "North Flat School." The adobe building was built in 1911-1912 by Kelley Hembrie, Mr. Hogland and Olie James. TEACHERS:lzetta. Wren 1911-19t 2. Jonnie Husband. Mrs. Harold Jenkins. Mrs. Edith Huntzinger Gering. Irene Heisten Bancroft L92l-1922. Madeline Ott Becker 1930-1931. Dela Hendricks 193r-1932 (boarded at the Jensens). Dorothy Schmidt (lived in the school). Julia Wanczyk Dugan 1935-1936. Irene Heisten Bancroft 1937- 1938-1939. Francis Vandermeir 1939-f940. Bernice Harman McBlair 1940-1941. Reta James Lounge 1944-L945. Neva Back McCaffery (the last year school was held here). STUDENTS: Hattie Lipford. Jasper Wolf. Hoglands Allie, Wilbur. Ruby Loutzenhis- er. Nellie- Sears. Ace Harmans - Clyde, Archie and Burnice. Kenneth Weise. Alex Todds daughter Bula. Grover Todds Robert and Owen. STUDENTS: Tom Jensens - Oliver, Leslie, Goldie and Vernie. The Quintins Emily, Todd, Merl, Matilda, Jonn and Sam. J.C. Millers Ord, Norman, George, and Burl. Ord Millers Thelma and Lorance. -Johnie, Billie Weskins Clode and - James Elzie, Jim. Frickies. Ollie Lola, Reta and Bill. Burt Scotts daughter -Kathleen Graffis. Neva Back McCaffery. Ed Allachers Willard and Florence. Segal Grimes Beckie, Bill and Bob. Archie Harmans Patricia, Beverly and Barbara. Richard Forbes Srs. son Richard Jr. NOTE: It is interesting to note that the very first car or automobile to come to the northwestern corner of Kit Carson County was owned by a Mr. Lee who lived about 16 1/2 miles north of Seibert, Colorado and on the west side of the Cope road in 1913. He would hire out to take those who had made a claim on a piece of land to Hugo, Colorado where they would have to register their claim or "Prove IJp" as it was known then, with witnesses, on that land. Now this Mr. Lee lived within 3 miles of Mr. Ollie James who was the grandfather of the Astronaut Michael "Mike" Lounge who flew on the Discovery in August of 1985 and is scheduled to fly again in August 1988 on the Discovery. See the story of Michael "Mike" Lounge as a astronaut elsewhere in this history book. by Norman Michal McBRIDE OR FISHER SCHOOL T234 The McBride School was first held in a farm building 14 feet by 14 feet square on the farm of the McBrides. Now this is a different Mc Bride than the Dr. Mc Brides who doctored in Flagler during the 1950s. It was located from the northeast corner of Flagler 1 mile east, 4 miles north, 1 mile east, 1 mile north, 1 mile east then north 1 mile and about 1/8 mile northwest off out in the prairie on the land now owned by Buck Fisher. School was held here only a couple of years but one year a small boy had an appendix attack and died and was buried nearby. The house Harrington school 1940 in the Mangus buggy, L. to R.: Leslie Mangus, Ruth Harrington, Jack Mangus, Vernetta Korbelik, Dale Mangus, Ona Jean Mangus, Ina Lea Mangus and Lyle Shook in front. burned to the ground so the school building was moved east across the road west of LeRoy Jones present farm site. Mrs. Mc Bride taught l year and Miss Muck I year while the school was at the Mc Bride farm. While at the new school site near Jones the Dillon kids Tom, Opal and Hazel; the Bonhams - Ida, Marguerite and Buck; E.M. Copleys Neoma and Betty, all attended. Russel, Margaret, and Loretta; the Fishers The TEACHERS were Mrs. Vernon Simpson at one time and then Mrs. Purrish in 1920. The echool was moved again I mile west to Buck Fishers and the Fisher homestead and used as a grainery before being burned to destroy it. The first location was in the south center of the SE L/4 of Section 32 Township 7 Range 50 and the second location was the southeast corner of the NE 1/4 of Section 26 Township 7 Range 50. From the northeast corner of Flagler 1 mile east, 4 miles north, 1 mile east, 1 mile north, 2 miles east, 2 miles north, 1 mile east and l/2 mile south on the west side of the road. by Norman Michal GREEN VALLEY DISTRICT #TL T235 Prior to the construction ofthe new "Green Valley" school house in 1941, there were classes held in two other schoolhouses in the Green Valley community in the 1930's. One was located in the SW corner of Section 269-42. Teachers in that school included: Ora Cruickshank, Christine Manley and Genevieve Shannon. Students known to have been enrolled there were: Marjorie and Erma Schmidt; Ona Jean, Ina Lee, Garth (Jack), Dale, and Leslie Ray (Bob) Mangus; Lyle Shook; Vernetta Ann Korbelik: and Elna Fairy princess, Vernetta Korbelik; Erma Schmidt; Doll, Ina Lea Mangus; Ona Jean Mangus; Soldier, Lyle Shook; Phyllis Shook; Back row; Miss Shannon and Ruth Harrington, 1940-41. Ruth Harrington. The other schoolhouse was located in NW % of Section 29-9-42. Enrollment there was: Marjorie Schmidt, Beata and Duane Schaai Erma Schmidt and Vernetta Korbelik. The teachers there were: Marie Ann Esch. Marjorie Guthrie and Lily Mae Behl. Eighth grade graduates in the school were Marjorie, Beata and Duane. On June 16, 1941, these two schoolhouses were sold. Charles Kaestner bought one for $8?.50 and Walter Gillespie bought the other one for $65.00. Adolph Korbelik paid 952.00 for the coal shed. A new schoolhouse was built in District #11 in 1941. It was later titled the "Green Valley School". It is located in Section 28-942, a nice roomy building with a full basement. The community attended the new school dedication along with the graduation of the first 8th grade graduate, Elna Ruth Harrington, on May 2, L942. Mrs. Josie Youtsey was the teacher. First school board members were: Adolph Korbelik, Ralph Schmidt and Miles Kiper. Adolph served as board member until the school consolidated with RE-6J, some 15 years later and then on �center of many fond memories, hard work and togetherness of the community. by Rose Korbelik ALL I EVER REALLY NEED TO KNOW I LEARNED IN KINDERGARTEN T236 At the 1987 Colorado Governor's Conference on Aging, Governor Roy Romer quoted an article which appeared in the Konsas City bib overalls to tall girl; Danny Gilbert, Ralph and Rod Heskett, David Rollo, Shirley - dark Harrington. Front row; Kenneth and Clair Heskett, Ona Jean and Ina Lea Mangus, Erma Heskett, Ruth Schmidt, and Vernetta Korbelik. Back row & Mrs. Shook, and Mr. & Mrs. Marvin Gilbert. The two families who are still in the Green Valley community are Mr. & Mrs. Adolph Korbelik, the last of the "old time" residents since 1931. (Their children: Vernetta, Harvey and Patricia were raised here Green Valley School built in 1941. R. Donald Gilbert and Patricia Korbelik, graduates, Glenda Davis and Edith Whiteman, teacher. Front; Yvette Miller, Teddy and Nolan Davis. lhe RE-6J Board for two more terms. Last students to attend Green Valley School were: Donald Gilbert and Patricia Korbelik (both 3th grade graduates) and Glenda, Nolan and Teddy Davis. Edith Whiteman was the beacher. Names of parents who are no longer in the Green Valley school area, but have had children enrolled in this school: Mr. & Mrs. Tom Warren, Mr. & Mrs. George Blomenclahl, Mr. & Mrs. Ray Mangus, Mr. & Mrs. Ralph Schmidt, Mr. & Mrs. Burdette Miller, Mr. & Mrs. Marion Harrington, Mr. & Mrs. Wayne Davis, Mr. & Mrs. Ralph Haskett, Mr. & Mrs. Herbert Gaines, Mr. & Mrs. Carl Denton, Mr. & Mrs. Jack Hines, Mr. & Mrs. Chambers, Mr. & Mrs. Bisbee, Mr. & Mrs. Gene Davis, Mr. & Mrs. Showalter, Mr. & Mrs. Dale Gilbert. Mr. & Mrs. Winston, Mr. nursery school. These are the things I learned: Share everything, play fair, don't hit people. Put things back where you found them. Clean up your own mess. Don't take things that aren't yours. Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody. Wash your hand before you eat. Flush. Warm cookies and colc milk are good for you. Live a balanced life. and all attended School District #11 through the 8th grade), and Mr. & Mrs. Rynal Amack, Learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work whose son, Rodney, attended Green Valley every day some. Take a nap every afternoon. School. When you got out into the world, watch for Teachers in the district 1941, Mrs. Josie Youtsey, 1942, Mrs. Mary Krueger, 1943, Mrs. Lois Blomendahl, l944,Lil Olsen, 1946, Mrs. Haulsy, t947, Mrs. Hazel Fromong, 1949, Darrell Mann, 1950, Mrs. Sally Bauder, 1951, Lily Mae Behl, 1952, Mrs. Ruby Conarty, 1954, Edith Whiteman. The school was appreciated by everyone and served well as a community center for club meetings, parties, etc. During Mrs. Bauder's term, on December 22, 1950, one of the most exciting times in the kids'memories was when Santa Claus, himself, came by airplane, landed in the pasture by the school and surprised the children during their Christmas program. When the school ac- 3th grade graduation at Green Valley School; L. to Times written by Robert Faugham. We print it here to remind us all: "Most of what I really need to know about, how to live, and what to do, and how to be, I learned in kindergarten. Wisdom was not at the top of the graduate school mountain but there in the sandbox at quired its own piano it added to the fun of school programs and parties. Rose Korbelik played the piano for many such functions. Green Valley school got its familiar name when the first 4-H Club in the area was organized in 1944 and was named Green Valley 4-H. Harold Schmidt was the first 4H Leader. Charter members of the club were: David Bogart, Russell Davis, Stanley Davis, Dale Eberhart, Jerry Eberhart, Marlin (Moe) Eberhart and Vernetta Ann Korbelik. Long term serving leaders were Lyla Davis Enyart, 25 years and Adolph Korbelik, 17 years. Green Valley Home Demonstration Club also held their meetings there for many years. Green Valley Home Demonstration Club was organized in January, 1946, and is still active. Farm Bureau meetings and meetings resulting in community progress, such as, installing the telephone lines in 1948 and REA electric lines in the early 1950's. These were community projects, organized and physically accomplished by the families of the community. Many other business and social activities made Green Valley school the traffic, hold hands, and stick together. Be aware of wonder. Remember the little seed in the plastic cup. The roots go down and the plant goes up and nobody really knows how or why, but we are all like that. Gold fish and hamsters and white mice and even the little they all die. So do seed in the plastic cup we. And remember the -book about Dick and Jane and the first word you learned, the biggest word of all LOOK. Everything you need to know is in there somewhere. The Golden Rule and love the basic sanitation. Ecology and politics and sane living. Think what a better world it would be if we all had cookies and milk the whole world - afternoon and then lay about 3 o'clock every down with our blankets for a nap. Or if we had a basic policy in our nation and other nations to always put things back where we found them and cleaned up our own messes. And it is still true, no matter how old you are, when you go out into the world, it is best to hold hands and stick together." by Editors SCHOOL DISCIPLINE THEN T237 An incident recounted by Charlotte Godsman, an early day teacher in the Seibert area and later prominent in Denver schools, vividly recounts how times have changed, "A couple of the boys, still wishing to show their independence, would come to school quite casually from nine to ten o'clock A.M., without excuses, perhaps whistling a little in the hall before entering the school room. I �insisted on excuses for both tardiness and (soNG) - *scHOOL DAYS" absences, but they determined to win out. A tslk with their father showed me that he could not make his son mind. I fortified myself with a good riding whip. The next day, Friday, they took the afternoon off. I had told them I would punish them if they came again without excuses. Sure enough, the boys returned Monday morning without excuses. I brought out the whip and asked them to stand; one did. I whipped him, then turned and whipped the other boy as he sat there in his seat. After a few etrokes of the whip, I stopped to ask him if he had matches in his pocket, and if so to please remove them. He looked amazed, smiled queerly, put his fingers in his vest pocket and drew out some half burned, smoking matches! The room was as still as still. I had seen a little smoke curling upward from his vest pocket and knew that the whip's lash had ignited the matches. The pupils were now amused, but I calmly finished the punishment and proceeded with the program. I never had any more trouble with those boys. Years after one of them told me that whipping him was the best thing that ever happened to him as he had never had to mind before. I never used corporal punish- ment if it could be avoided. But, those days, if a teacher showed that she was afraid to whip, she was lost and no discipline could be maintained. Times have changed much since 1g96!" T239 T238 As a beginner first I canre, into the spacious hall of fame. Great was the atre that filLed nry nrind, next for childhoocr left behincl . soon came teacher stern and tall saying don't stancl there in the hall. You should be working at your lessons nor,r, then r began my,jreat career in P.V.S. , in P.V.S. trr'ith teacher true and schoolmate dear, we,ll sing three cheers for our dear old P.V.S. Come to cLass now with me, and the results As bone and ntuscle grew. The children learned and lived as one In grades from one through eight; lf they absorbed what each should learn Lhat mattered age or rate? But who has seen a one-room school llith nrud roads to the door? On winter mornings, snow was deep But walking or riding a horse was the score. l{ithin there were the screw-down seats, The oily floor and broonr, Pot-bellied stove, and pile of coal To heat the crowded roonr, The blackboards scant, the waEer pail, No telephone fo boast-But there was space to fly Or slope on which to coast. a kite Nostalgia haur,ts the one-room schooL, No marker tells its rrorth; Among those passinl through the door L:ere great ones of the earth. CHORUS: Oh P.V.S. days how dear to me, so free fron care, so full of glee. Our tuneful hearts in song we raise, our troubles leave for future davs. Song school house. I carried plenty ofcoal in from the coal house to last the rest of the day and SCHOOL AND A BAD BLIZZAB'D T240 The blizzard that we experienced on March IL, 1977, reminded my wife and I of an experience that we had in a storm fifty years ago: she, as a mother, a rancher, a country school teachers' wife during a real old time blizzard; I, as a country school teacher and school bus driver. My bus was a 1918 Model T Ford, quite a car at that time. It had a top that could be put up and side curtains that could be put in place in stormy weather. On this memorable day in March L9ZE, I had my oldest son Bobbie, a six year old beginner and three of Collie Teel's children, Sylvan, Chest€r and Hazel, whom I bused to school at the Old Pleasant Meadow school where I taught that winter. This school house was located twelve miles south of Vona. Colorado to the correction line then 1 mile west. The weather being very threatening that morning, no more of the fifteen pupils that usually attended my school showed. As the morning wore on the storm intensified to the extent that by noon I decided that I should dismiss school and head for home with my four pupils. We ate our lunches before starting as each child always carried his own Author unknown Poem lunch bucket with his noonday meal. I put the side curtains on and bundled my four pupils into the Model T with robes and quilts that I always carried. by Eleanor Varce of labor see; Reading, arithmetic, grammer, too; history,.Seography ever new. Here we may learn to lvrite and drar.r, r,.'ork with a irarnmer and a saro. And to be kind to everyone fie meet, but if vre do not nalk just right, or turn our head or v"'ink an eye, then to the teacher r^)e must go and be: to renrain in our dear old p.V.S. THE RURAL SCHOOL Your days are numbered, few remain That point the way you l<new To let the mind and spirit grow, children up in a row, covered them complete- ly with the quilts from the car, and led them through that raging blizzatd, back to the SCHOOL DAYS by Editors THE RURAL SCHOOL to the school house and wait out the storm or the arrival of possible help. I lined the four The Model T started alright but before we had traveled % mile the blizzard had intensified to the extent that the blowing snow whipped up under the hood wetting the motor and the electrical wires and the motor died. The only thing to do then was walk back possibly the night. We moved four long benches into a square around the pot bellied stove. We sang songs and played games to pass the time as studying was out of the question. As the dark of night approached and no help came for us, I lighted the coal oil lamp that hung in a bracket on the wall. If I remember right, we had three sandwiches left in our five lunch pails which the children let me divide as even as possible among the five of us which we made do for supper. I kept a good fire all night and let the children sleep on the benches with what quilts and covers were available. On our home ranch six miles away, my wife Winifred was at home with our five year old preschooler, Guy, who had an earache all night. She also had to milk and feed the cows, feed calves, horses, chickens and hogs as best she could in a blizzard with the womy of not knowing why I and our six year old Bobbie didn't come home, wondering where we were, maybe stranded on a prairie road where there were few if any fences to follow, no graded roads and of, course, no telephones. Meanwhile, the four children and I spent a reasonably comfortable night, sleeping part time at least on the floor or the benches near the heating stove. Not long after daylight the next morning, we saw a man ride into the school yard on a horse. It was Mr. Teel. the father of the Teel children. He had worried all night about us so started out at daylight trying to find his way to the school house, just two miles from his home. He was aimlesslv drifting in the storm. He had accidentallv seen the school house that he was about to pass. Mr. Teel was surely relieved to find us safe and fairly comfortable except that we had nothing for breakfast. By 8:00 a.m. the storm seemed to be slackening some and we decided to try walking the two miles to the Teel home. Thl �horse that Mr. Teel had tied to the door knob had rubbed his bridle off and was gone. Before we had traveled a half mile I realized that little Bob wouldn't be able to walk very far in all the snow, so I carried him on my back piggyback for some distance. Then Mr. Teel and I made a saddle of our hands between us and carried him most ofthe rest of the trip. Another mother was much relieved to see us come walking in, safe but tired, cold and hungry. Little Bob's cheeks showed white spots indicating that his cheeks were somewhat frozen. Mrs. Teel gave us a good hot breakfast after which I borrowed a horse of Mr. Teel's, took little Bob on with me and rode the rest of the four miles home, ariving about 11:00 a.m. much to the relief of my wife who had done an excellent job of choring and caring for a sick boy and all the time worrying as to what the fate of the school children and me might have been. This is just one of the harrowing experiences that my wife Winnie and I went through during my twenty years as a country school teacher in Kit Carson County, Colorado. Written by Carl Harrison. bY J. Carl Harrison ****{€*******:lc** Flagler News, Oct. 13, 1927: "Prairie Gem School House Dedicated Sunday"' "A large crowd gathered at the new Prairie Gem schoot building last Sunday morning. Sun' day School was held as usual, after which a bounteous basket dinner was serued in the basernent. The meeting was called' to order about two o'cloch and the following program was rendered: Seueral songs by the audience, followed by a beautiful song by Mrs. Schekel, accompanied by Mrs. Harry Cates of Seibert. C.I. Bonham, as president of the school board, extended a hearty welcome, in a few well chosen words. Miss Reba Edwards, the teacher, followed with remarks of congratu' lations to patrons and friends of the districtSidney P. God,srnan of Burlington deliuered the main address, which was uery inspiring. He spoke on 'Americanism, CommunitY Interests and Difficulties and our Wonderful Educational Aduantages.' His talk was thoroughly enjoyed by all that were present. Prairie Gem school is located about 15 miles northeast of Flagler, and, has always taken an actiue interest in educational matters and cornmunity betterment, and is justly proud of the new building just completed. The patrons of this school are uery loyal to the school as there is not a child in the district being hept at home to work! All are in school and the district has a 100 percent high school enrollment. Seuen pupils from this district are attending high school in Seibert and Flagler. The school house is 24x40 feet with full basement and is equipped with a hot air furnace. 1931-2, Laura Mae Malbaff taught at Sunny Dale School, staying with Grandma and Grandpa Plum. Two teachers were employed at this school; the other was Mary Furlong. They roomed at the Plums for $25.00 per month. Later, the board and. room was lowered to $15.00 when word by grapeuine hinted they might consider mouing into the school house. The time was the year Phillip was born. Mary Furlong and another teacher were driuing here from Iowa to teach at this school. They had a car accident and the other teocher was killed. Laura Mae took the job because of this. Loren and Mable Plum liued here and prouided transportation from home to school. Often in cold weather Loren wouLd build a fire under the Mod.el T to get it started. If he failed, he hitched up a team and took them in a sleigh. In good weather, the teachers would walk; it was about three miles. Teachers' salary at this tirne was $75.00 per m.onth. Laura Mae's first uisit to Flagler was to a debate here with her tearn from Englewood, Colorado. They stayed ouernight at the Lauington home and she neuer dreamed then that one day she would liue in Flagler. Ash Groue School: Flagler News, 1916. "New School District." "A new school district has been organized in the Shiloh country. A meeting wos held at the Ash Groue School house last Monday when it was d.ecided to elect officers and forrn an organi- zation. The new d.istrict wiII be composed of a territory about fiue miles square and will haue nearly twenty scholars. George And,re was elected president, Bed- ford Nelson, secretary, and Delbert Todd, treasurer. The officers will hold until the regular school election next May. A special election will be held in the near future for the purpose of uoting bonds for a new school building. It is now planned to build a two-room school house with a basement. County Superintendent Miss Tressel was present at the meeting and gaue aduice as to the conduct of the new d'istrict. We are sure pleased to see the great interest rnanifest in school matters in rural school districts. With the new church, new school house and other improuernents, the Sucker Flats country is coming right to the front'" Harry DeLos Ross taught his first school in 1903 in the Chase District north of Burlington. Edna Browning Rose-Priest attended the Hoyt School about 1887-1888 and taught at Hoyt later. Mettie W. Rose-Shannahan-Loue was born Nou. 7, 1883, in the old home in Madison County, Iowa. She was less than four years old when her family came to Colorado. She was a good student and becarne a teacher in Kit Carson County rnany years. She made the best auerage in the Teacher's Exam.ination of any one else euer taking it. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource History of Kit Carson County Description An account of the resource Brief historical stories and elements from the founding and recent history of Kit Carson County, Colorado. Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Book Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Country Schools Date Created Date of creation of the resource. 1988 Subject The topic of the resource history Description An account of the resource Record of the Country Schools in Kit Carson County as recorded in the book History of Kit Carson County. Type The nature or genre of the resource text Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Salmons, Janice Hasart, Marlyn Smith, Dorothy Language A language of the resource English Is Part Of A related resource in which the described resource is physically or logically included. History of Kit Carson County Volume 1 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource text/pdf Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Curtis Media Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/</a> https://kccarchives.cvlcollections.org/files/original/16/410/Communities.pdf c3ec650a1cea05ad93d3aef705dd8b45 PDF Text Text BETHEL SOD SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY BUILDING T400 The first Bethel school house and commu- nity building was built some time around 1908. This was a one room sod house located between the Henry Wilson homestead (now the Ed Herndon home) and the Albert Clint homestead. This school had ten to twelve pupils. Some drove a horse and buggy to school and some walked to school. Elmer and Jim Howard walked four miles and Merna and Cecil Coad cnme several miles. The Bert Wilson children came three miles to school. Mary and Claude Kelly walked from the In later years some families got Model T cars. In freezing weather a low bucket was put under the radiator to drain out the water. It was then taken into the school house and set beside the stove to keep warm. It was put back into the radiator when Sunday School was over. The men usually put the radiator petcock in their coat pocket - this didn't dare get lost. At night, if the car lights went out, a kerosene lantern was wired onto the radiator cap. We drove home by this light. If a Model T wouldn't start, folks pushed it down the slope east of the school house. This worked pretty good. The Model T had a hand crank. Thru the years people moved away from the Bethel community and in 1950 the school children were taken by bus into Stratton to school. Hamilton place. This place was one half mile west of the present Vena Scheierman ranch. R.O. Hoover lived one half mile west of the Hamilton place. Charlotta and Ruth Hoover walked two miles to school. Some of the first Bethel teachers were Shek McConnell, Ella Rhen, Miss Hopkins, Miss Troup and Dora Jean Baird Dunkle. The teachers salaries started at $20.00 a month and the teacher paid about $5.00 a month to some neighbor who lived close to the school for board and room and the lunch they carried to school. Later salaries increased to $30.00 a month, then $50.00 and in 1923-24 Loren Smith received $90.00 a month. This was at West Bethel. Later in 1929 the wage was $100.00 a month. Sunday School and church services were held in the Bethel sod school house. This was a fine church made up of good people. There were about 30 to 35 people. Various programs were held in the sod school house. One nice summer day a north wall had fallen down but the people had Sunday School anyway. [t seemed a strange and sad situation to me. I was a small child at the time. Christmas programs were a highlight in our lives. Someone would get a tree in Stratton and the ladies unpacked trim and decorated the tree. Some of those ornaments were simply beauti- ful. People didn't have Christmas trees in their homes. This community tree was "it." Gifts, including our family gifts, were i,aken by Vena Scheierman HAPPY HOLLOW COMMUNITY T40l Some recollections of the families living around the Happy Hollow school District. People of the community: Frank and Faye Parmer lived about 3/t of a mile north with family, Robert, Maxine (Teel), Ben and Don. Sanford (Mick) Johnson lived about 1% miles south with his brother Everett, and his mother, who was mid-wife for families of the community. A sister lived with them for awhile with her two children, Irene and Frances Hanrahan. Another family a little farther south and west was the Charlie Rogers family who were Charley, Cora and children, Ancel, Marion, Elba, [van, and Zella. After they left the community, they had another daughter Lois (Breigel). Later on there was Bertha and Roy Ettleman. West of Happy Hollow was Mr. Charles ('Dad') Parmer and his wife "Aunt M*y," parents of Frank Parmer and Nellie Hender- son. After "Dad" Parmer's death, Aunt Mary's son, Bill Nye, and his two sons, Junior and Stanley, came to live with her. Farther to this party. Sacks of treats were given to west along the snme road, lived Mr. and Mrs. everyone. These contained homemade candy, big red apples, peanuts and popcorn balls. Leander Rogers and Elsie and Charlie Jr. Henry and Ida Wilson and Garfield and Pauline Wood always made huge batches of candy. This included fudge, taffy, divinity, and penuche. Travel to the community activities was made in a horse drawn wagon or sled. We heated big rocks to put on the wagon floor with blankets to keep our feet warm. When the wall fell down on the sod building, the Sunday School and school were held at West Bethel (L Yz mile west of the old sod building). This was a new one room frame building with 2 cloak rooms where we put our lunch pails, overshoes and coats. In cold weather we put our lunch buckets beside the big coal stove. It was at this time the East Bethel school was also built and those children living close to it attended school there. This was located 1 mile south and Vz mile east of the Clarence Borden place (now owned by Wayne Iseman). Some of the teachers there were Mr. Sawhill, Mr. Patterson and Roy McCulloch. (nephew of the Charlie Rogers who lived southwest). Still farther west along that road lived Walter and Helen (Miser) Clark and north of them a little distance was Ellis and Amy (Smith) Clark, who ran the store and post office called Morris, Colorado. Their children were: Verl, Ada, Lucille, Lola, Bessie, Ethel, and Robert. Farther north lived Dile and Nellie Henderson, with their children Bessie (Morrow), Lela (Shumate), and Faye (Milford), and Neva (Miser). Later, after the family was grown and Nellie passed away, Dile married Jennie Barnhart, a near neighbor. Northeast of Happy Hollow was Charlie and Jennie Barnhart with their children: Everett, Ira, Esther (Rhoades), Leonard, Wilbur Dean, Pearl, and Marveline. Charlie was killed in a threshing machine accident, and his funeral was held in the Happy Hollow School. Pearl died at the age of 11 or 12 of cancer, the first known cancer of this commu- nity. South of Barnharts place was the family of Elmer Hoar, whose son George attended the Happy Hollow school for a year or two. Then, the Hoar family moved away, and Earl and Clara Smith moved here with their children, Clarence, Verlin, and Lela. Earl and Nancy Houghton and children, Hollie, Marie, and Ivan also lived here. Farther east and north was the homestead of Estes and Elizabeth Straughn and family: Burrel, Warren, Robert, Estel (Quick), Mae (Morrow), Mildred and Margaret. After the Straughns moved into Burlington, Bert and Josie Smith and children, Louise (Barnhart), Cora (Albertson), Sylvia (Weaver), and R.B. lived here. Ed and Elva Bartman and family, Louise, Wilford, Edna, Grace, Minnie, Edith and Laurence lived 2Vz miles east of Happy Hollow. Between the Bartmans and the school was a place r/z mile south of the road where Henry and Mable Tieman lived with their children, Iva (Stevens) and Don. Later they moved to the Beaver Valley community and Hank's brother Charlie, and wife Jessie lived on the place with Vera, Larry and Norma. Farther south was Gwendolyn and Bennie Jackson. South of the Bartmans was the Jim Rhoades homestead, where he and his wife Myrtle raised their family: Harley, Lester, Ruben, Clara (James), Walter, and Fern (Cowan). After Jim's death, as a result of scarlet fever, and after the family was grown, Myrtle married Rell Morrow and lived on his place. There was a family of Trotters and Murphys who attended the school and lived on the Roy Johnson Ranch. Harley and Eliah Benge lived south of the school and their niece Lucille Eagleburger attended school. Their two children were Mary Lou (Seeloff) and son, Sylvus. About 4 miles southwest was the homestead of Myron Smith and his wife Ruth. Kenneth attended school for 8 years. Jeanette Smith (Stahlecker). When she was in the 1st grade they came home from school one night to find their mother dead of a heart attack. Other families north of the school were: Mr. and Mrs. Sam Winfrey, Edgar, Leo, Nancy and Louiegene, and Collie and Grace Teel, Emmett, Chester, Hazel, Sylvan and Darlene. Some students from other dietricts coming to take advantage ofthe 9th and l0th grades were: Mabel and Lola Winfrey, Junior Cody, Roy Lundvall, Doyle, Gene, and Bonnie Morgan, Leroy and Naida Smith, Velma Proehl, and Bill Kreoger. by Edna Bartman Stahlecker HOLLAND SETTLEMENT T402 The Holland Settlement was located 16 miles north of Vona. There were several young and brave couples from Platte, South Dakota who came and homesteaded on claims. This area later became known as the Elphis Community. They shipped their belongings, a wagon, horses, and milk cows by railroad to Vona and then made their way north to their claims. At first, they put up tents and dug wells. By winter they had built shacks for barns. One half of these barns were used for the �In time some of them and their descendants became professionals in education, business, Christian ministry and mission, engineering, livestock and the other half for their living quarters. The next summer sod houses were built. Among these families were my parents Jake and Lena Smit, a maiden sister, Anka Smit, another sister, Trinity and Jim Brou- wer, and still later, a brother, Henry Smit joined them. Their land all bordered, making the Smit Center Cemetery which still re- architecture, journalism, music, government and service industries. Their ancestors were Swabians (descendants of the ancient Celts and cousins of the Irish) who lived for centuries in the forests &, ;l and highlands of southern Germany. In contrast to the Hessians and Prussians of mains. Many other Holland families began to homestead also. They started the Holland Church. In this community they formed the Brownwood School and a Brownwood Store, which became a center for ball games on Saturdays. These early pioneers had a very meager life. There were no fences, no farm land or equipment. Times did change and it became a thriving community. Later the large wheat farmers came in and bought up the farms, took out the fences and removed the farm buildings. The Holland Church now stands south of I-70 in Vona as a machine shop. The country store became a grainery. All the homesteaders are now long time gone. There is no longer a Holland Community. by Lena Godfrey SETTLEMENT COMMUNITY northern and eastern Germany, the Swabians and their Bavarian neighbors were independent and "laid-back" in character, not easily regimented, sure of their own identity and values but also appreciative of other people and their culture. These creative. freedom t'*:S $. i*,, r;{.: Ioving people chafed under the increasing restrictions and heavy taxation of the feudal dukes and princes who controlled the lands and forests. They were often pillaged, plundered and ravaged by invading French armies, especially during the time of Napoleon. Stacking wheat in a family affair at the Strobels. diligent agriculture, growing numbers of diverse livestock, modest homes and tidy homesteads, good rural schools and a strong Christian community centered around the Immanuel Lutheran and Hope Congrega- T403 Part 1 Life on our high plains has always been rigorous and most early settlers were poor. Yet by reason of their strong personal relationship with God, their hard work and frugality, and their rea.l sense of community (neighbors helping neighbors), the people of Friedensfeld (field of peace as the Settlement was first named) developed an oasis of tional churches. Most of them spoke English, Swabian and High German until WW2. Our forebearers had not accepted "Russification" in the Old Country, yet they incorporated many Russian words and terms into their Swabian dialect, and this linguistic mix made their oft-repeated legends and stories absolutely fascinating. They knew the Scriptures, the classic German hymns and American gospel songs, studying and singing them in their homes as well as their churches. They were many-talented farmers, ranchers, builders. craftsmen. blacksmiths. and mechanics. Catherine the Great, a German princess married to Czar Peter III, became the Czarina of All the Russias after her husband's death. Of strong will and character, she developed her huge empire with political wisdom and economic genius. In July 1763 she issued an edict of invitation to immigrants from west- ern Europe, offering them an array of inducements to settle and develop the regions along the Volga River and the vast, untamed steppes of southern Russia. Thousands of Germans responded and in only four years established 104 pioneer colonies along the Volga. Catherine died in L792 and was succeeded by Czar Alexander I. A few German colonies had sprung up near the Black Sea as early as 1781, but when Alexander issued a new invitation in 1801, thousands of new immigrants from southern Germany trekked overland with carts and wagons or floated their families and meager possessions down the Danube in "schachteln" (box boats), establishing new colonies around the Black Sea and in Bessarabia between the rivers Dnjestr and Pruth. The Schaals and Doblers were among the founders of Teplitz, the Strobels and others of Beresina, and the Hasarts and Weisshaars help found Lichtenthal. Many of the Russian Empire's promises to these immigrants were never fulfilled, and in time their civil liberties (administration of their own schools, freedom from conscription ;& etc.) and religious freedoms began to be taken from them. The colossal magnets of civil and religious freedom, of new land to be homesteaded, and of other opportunities awaiting them in Amerika drew hundreds of thousands of Germans-from-Russia to the United States from the early 1870's until the outbreak of World War I. They began to leave inL872. Through 1886 to 1889 many of these people cnme to this country by ship through the Black Sea, the Mediterranean Sea and finally crossing the Atlantic Ocean. Others went across country to the northern ports boarding ships and crossing the north Atlantic. They left most of their possessions behind along with family and friends whom many were never to see or correspond again. Their possessions that were brought with them were put in bundles and wooden trunks. These contained clothThe Andrew Baltzer farmstead east of Immanuel Lutheran Church, 1906. ing, bedding, a few dishes, and a few personal belongings. The trip took from two to three weeks and was not an easy trip with many �becoming ill. answer to their prayers and hopes. With these thoughts they left South Dakota and headed with most arriving at New York City stopping south and west. We will never know how they pictured this country they were to live in but medical examinations. Others arrived at Baltimore MD, Galveston, TX, and other ports. Sometimes family members were ill they had heard of the small town of Bur- They arrived at different ports of entry at Ellis Island for processing including lington and knew there was land to be taken up near it. Burlington was a very young and promising town as the railroad had just been completed in 1888 making settlement possible. Bethune was 7 miles to the west and it was north of these towns that our immigrants came. The soil was a sandy loem making it easier to plow and till. With rainfall being scarce they felt that this was the better place to settle. One and temporarily held in isolation and later joined their families. Because of the language problem getting on their way west was difficult. Many railroad agents were trying to get the immigrants to sign work contracts with them. The authorities helped these people get on their way and were placed on the correct trains sending them to their really wonders what went through their destinations. minds as they struggled to make a living on by Rev. Herbert Schaal and Marlyn Hasart SETTLEMENT COMMUNITY L. to R.: Gottlieb Stahlecker, Andrew Knodel, John Stahlecker, Andrew Bauer, John Zeigler, and Charlie Brenner in back, shearing sheep with hand clippers. T404 Part 2 On October 12, 1889 the following four families, Christian Baltzer, Dorothea Baltzer, Friedrich Stutz, and Andreas Bauer departed from Russia for America. They went to Scotland South Dakota with the intentions of settling in Colorado. Other families arriv- ing to make the trip to Colorado were Christian Dobler. Jakob Schaal. Christian Strobel, August Adolf, Otto Winters, Mattias Haefner and Mathis Schaal. They are the known pioneers that were recalled by their descendants and found in the records. They left for eastern Colorado in the spring of 1890 by train and wagon. Others who came during this time were the Schlichenmayers. The Fanslaus, Bauders, and Jacobers arrived before 1890 while the Kramers arrived about 1898. Shocking feed on the Strobel farm. We can feel the excitement that surrounded these families as they made their way to their new homes. The Homestead Act was an this Great American Desert. It was a very meager and simple lifestyle that was ahead of them. Their first efforts were to open up the land and plant crops and establish homes. These homes were to be similar to the ones they left on the steppes of Russia. They were to make do with the materials present. Some of these people made "dugouts." A hole was cleared out of the hillside and they framed the opening with lumber and had a door. Some lived in their wagons that first summer. Most of their homes were constructed of sod and adobe. Adobe is a mixture of dark clay top soil, chopped straw and water. They mixed this up by stomping it with their feet and by using the family horse. This mixture was formed by hand to shape the base of the walls and layer after layer was applied until the walls were the right height. Some buildings were made with rock using adobe as mortar. The roof was covered with wooden planks and then sod was placed on top to seal out the weather. Some homes had wooden roofs. These homes were small consisting of two or three rooms with most having adobe floors. As these German speaking settlers came into the community establishing their homes near each other they became known as the "Settlement." We may ask, why did they cling together in this land? There are several answers. They had just left the closed community that was home for many years and felt comfort by settling closely. They had all come from the same region and had a common language, a similar if not a common religion, and they were strangers in a hostile land where they needed each other for support and comfort. Without this help and support they would have given up. Many had to seek outside employment so that funds could be raised so that they could send passage money to the ones left behind. 'f.. tlt Sometimes families came over at separate times with the father and older boys coming first, because of the sons being taken into the armies, and the mother with the younger children coming later. The large family units were to help each other by providing funds for transportation for those left in Russia. It was a difficult time and by pulling together to share a milk cow, a horse for plowing, seed to plant, machinery to use and a start of chickens they were able to survive. It was known that there was only one gun in the Settlement to be used by all. Even with this love and cooperation some had to leave the group to find employment and then return and keep up their claim. This was a The John Stahlecker farmstead (the Norman Meyer place now). The John Stahlecker and John Zeigler families are pictured. time ofstruggle and heartache as they sought to establish a home on the plains. One of the most difficult adjustments to be �made was the coping with the climate and extreme weather conditions of this region. They had their first experience with severe blizzards, hail storms, prairie fires (there were lots of these), droughts, grasshopper plagues, summer heat, dry air and dirt storms. There were no streams close by so water was hauled for months from the Republican and Landsman rivers. If someone had a well, many hauled water from there till they could have their own well dug. The trees for protection and shelter were absent. The long hot days of summer with the bright sun beating down to dry the crops and evaporate the precious rainfall were factors that even the strongest found difficult to bear. They did find comfort in their cool adobe homes. by Rev. Herbert Schaal and Marlyn Hasart SETTLEMENT COMMUNITY T405 Part 3 1883 was a dry year and crops were poor. 1894 brought a severe drought with a complete crop failure which caused many families to leave. Some went to the area surrounding Denver and some went back to South Dakota where they had family. Some families were near starvation when they left. This year, 1892, more families moved into the Settlement. They were Johann Wahl, Martin Stahlecker and Samuel Schmidke who came from Scotland, South Dakota and Christian and Andrew Adolf from Russia. In 1895 a blizzard hit the area in the first part of April. New settlers coming in 1899 were Christian Gramm, Andreas Weber and John Steamer tractor and wooden threshing machine bring memories of "good old days." Zeigler. In 1901 diphtheria broke out with 10-12 people dying. There was a Dr. Gillette in Burlington but he had not been summoned. Most illnesses and births were attended to by Mrs. Yale and Mrs. Adolf. In 1889 the Yale post office was established in the community at the Yale farm. Families arriving in 1901 were John and Joe Weisshaar, with Gottlob and Herman Amman coming in 1902. More families came in 1906 and 1907. They were the Knodels, Johannes, Andreas, Jakob, Gottlieb and the widow Knodel, Karl Weiss, Johannes Weiss, Peter Kodel, Karoline Schaal and Herman Stolz. The William Adolf family came in 1908. The mother, Margaret Adolf, was the community's midwife and nurse for many years. In 1909 the first mail route out of Bethune went north. Mr. Ed Stahlecker was assistant carrier. There were 20-25 families in the Settlement by then. The early 1900's was the time of getting established, crops were gathered, homes made permanent and the people were able to see a permanence coming to the community. So much of the labor of farming was provided by man power those early days. The scythe and threshing rock were first used to harvest those few acres that were planted. Horses were all important. Small grains were cut down by horse drawn headers and put onto barges with the family manning the pitch forks loading it neatly in huge stacks. These were made carefully so that they would shed the rain and would not settle in the middle as the crop could rot if water got into the stack. The main crops were winter wheat and corn. Later in the season the threshing machines came to the farms and the wheat was pitched into the machine and the grain was caught and weighed in yz bushel measurements so that accurate count could be maintained. The grain was stored in graineries for use on the farm and some sold for cash. The straw was blown into huge piles and was used for feed for the cattle. The community worked together as farming took lots of man power to accomplish the tasks to be done. Walking and other physical labor that was required made for hardy individuals. Other crops that were raised were oats, barley and feed for the livestock. They kept animals that could produce food for the table, mainly milk cows, sheep and swine providing meat, milk, wool, lard and soap. Fowls consisted of chickens for meat and eggs, geese and ducks for meat and feathers for bedding and corn shucks and straw were used for mattress filler. The Fred Stutz farmetead about 1920, where the Milbert Beringer family now live. Homemaking was a busy and difficult task. Water was carried to the house and washing was done bv hand. Cookine was simple at first �as their cooking was done on the earthen ovens constructed of adobe. They could bake their bread or simmer their meal in a kettle. Later cast iron stoves were purchased using fuel of corn cobs, cow chips, sage brush roots and anything else that would burn. The table was simple with long benches along the sides, most furniture being made by hand. Their trips to town were few with the father going in to make all purchases for the family. Many times the mother and children went to town SMOKEY HILL COMMUNITY Story I once a year. Purchases were simple, flour was 60-?0 cents per 50 lbs., sugar, syrup at 25 cents a pail, salt, coffee and other staples. The first tractor was purchased in 1917 by Frank Kramer. Approximately 15 men were inducted into the service for World War I. We see changes of transportation and the me- chanization of farming. The automobile replaced the horse and buggy. New families were the Meyers and the Hasarts. The community was hurt by the events of 1929. Due to the stock market crash and the closing of banks in Burlington and Bethune, people suffered some severe losses. The loss of their life savings left a permanent mark on the community. This farming region suffered through many trials. One was the drastic drop of farm commodity prices. In 1931 hogs sold for 7 cents a lb., corn was as low as 10 cents a bu. Jake Strobel planting potatoes, their lives in this flood. The next winter was mild and because conditions were bad great plagues of grasshoppers came. They migrated through the sky forming clouds. When they landed they ate everything in sight covering whole sides ofbuildings, eating fence posts as well as everything green in their path. Farming was a difficult profession at this time. Horses were used although there were many tractors in use. The hardships that these people endured will never be forgotten. A tremendous change came to the farming came. This beceme a time of decision and community during the 1940's. The advancing of modern farm equipment made farming a little easier. Rubber tires on the tractors made for greater comfort. The tractors developed more horsepower so larger implements could be pulled allowing for the farms to grow in size. The nation was at war churches lost more than 130 members due to the drouth and resulting dust storms. healthier financial base. and there was the destruction of farm animals by order of the Department of Agriculture. To make things harder was the drouth that many families left this area. In 1935 the by Rev. Herbert Schaal and Marlyn Hasart SETTLEMENT COMMUNITY and the demand for foodstuffs was at a premium. This provided the area with a With the arrival of REA to the farming community many modern changes were made. Before this time many people had their own electrical systems which were small and unable to meet the needs of the times. With good prices most were able to enjoy a fine living standard and the farms were prosperous. T406 Drilling wheat between the corn stalks, courtesy of Emil Strobel. Part 4 Some families were to return as conditions were not easy elsewhere. Due to heavy rains in eastern Colorado on May 30, 1935 there was a great flood of the Republican River. The fields and pastures were bare due to the drouth and the rain washed the dry fields and pastures causing permanent dnmage and change to the Republican River flood plain. Large numbers of livestock were lost along with homes and barns. Several people lost T407 The first irrigation well was drilled in1952 on the John Schritter farm. After this many wells were drilled which helped stabilize the agricultural base of the community. The early 1950's were drouth and dust bowl years again. Very little wheat or feed was raised during this period with people leaving the farms again. Cattle herds were sold off due to the lack of feed. Irrigation was used to water crops and produce some feed allowing for many farmers to hang on. The binder was being replaced by the baler and newer and larger tractors were seen on the farms. Self propelled combines were a great help. Now in 1988 this community is still making its way with many of the descendants of those first pioneers still remaining on the land. The churches, Immanuel Lutheran and Hope United Church of Christ, are still active landmarking the endurance of this community. Although many new families now live in this community, it is still referred to by many as the Settlement. If those first pioneers could be with us now they would see that their drenm of freedom and a home of their own becnme a reality in the presence of this community today. by Rev. Ilerbert Schaal and Marlyn Hasart One of the earliest records of information about "North Smokey" that we found is a newspaper clipping dating April 8, 1900. "A pour down of water and thunder and lightning all last night. A bad dust storm struck us on Tuesday, the 3rd, following by a continuous three days' rain, said by the "oldest inhabitant" to be the worst storm of the kind in this vicinity. It drifted most of the stock westward, men and ponies have been busy on the hunt. The Rogers boys have in a wheat crop and intend to put in quite an acreage of broomcorn. Mrs. Green Pearce left Sunday night for Missouri, called there by the serious illness of her father. George Walters has taken a homestead on Sand Creek and is putting down a well. A baby cyclone passed through a narrow strip of country on Monday afternoon, the 2nd. The attention of the Walters and Shaws was directed by a terrible roaring to a blackas-night funnel-shaped cloud in the southwest. On it came very slowly, picking up all thistles and sticks in its track, filling the air as high as one could see. At Mr. Walters' it picked up chicken coops, carrying them quite a distance. From there, in its course northeast to Mr. Shaws', it tore up two posts from every fence. Mr. Shaw was burning weeds; it took up a long row he had ready for lighting and away they went sailing high. Although riding through the air on thistles might be a rapid conveyance east, Mrs. Shaw decided to wait for a safer and surer one and took refuge in the cafe. We do not know how far the cyclone extended. We hope one of no great dimension will visit us. Mr. and Mrs. Cluphf spent Sunday on their son Frank's place. Meadow larks and robins cheered us with their presence during the storms. the meanest kind of snowstorm came on Tuesday. G.L. Atwood of Watertown, Conn. was visiting at Mr. Bassette's last week." This gives us a bit of insight of life on the prairies in those early days. Who would have ever dreamed that in 1941 a tornado of iminense power would come through this community. Until the 1930's life in this community flourished. There was the usual fluctuation of population changes and during the 20's this community prospered as others did in the county. The 1930's brought many changes. So many of the original families were forced to leave their homes and farms. The circumstances were many as the financial loss of these people due to the collapse of the Stock Growers Bank and other banks in the area caused a terrible loss as there was no money to pay for food, taxes and other expenses. One can not quite comprehend how one survives without the income and cash resources on which to draw. Upon that tragedy, compounding the trauma of the times, was the drouth that came upon this area. Unable to raise any �Burlington. The first Kit Carson county farm to feel its effect was that of Henry Drager where the windmill and chicken house were demolished and machinery scattered to the four winds. Further to the northeast, the Chris Stahlecker farm was hit and the house almost unroofed, the windmill head blown off and the barn totally wrecked. The Smokey Hill school building, one-half Smokey Hill school house after the tornado, 1941. Left stands the remaining teacherage minus roof. feed for the milk cows and other livestock these farmers were forced to sell what they could at prices that saw botto'm. One cannot comprehend selling livestock at such low prices unless you have lived through it. The government came out and destroyed livestock which was a traumatic experience for so many residents. After the drought came the hoards of grasshoppers that devoured acres of growing crops in their paths. Late thirties brought on the beginning of better times and with them came new people back to the land. The community was again ing is the newspaper account of the event. backgrounds but with a sense of community Carson, about 50 miles southwest of here, and a group of close knit people of diverse "The most destructive tornado in the history of this section of the country swept through southeastern Kit Carson County, Colorado and Sherman County, Kansas. Farm homes, schools, communications, in fact, everything in the path of the tornado was demolished, causing thousands of dollars of loss in property damage. Miraculously, no one was killed outright, and the number of persons injured was small compared with the size and fury of the storm. It is believed the tornado was the same storm which originally formed near Kit that provided a base for the Smokey Hill School, social gatherings, and the opening of homes for entertainment. These activities provided a base of commitment that has finally blew itself out north of Goodland. In the approximately 100 mile course of the storm it destroyed or damaged numerous bound these residents even today. school houses. Sunday afternoon, June 8, 1941. The follow- course, entering the county directly south of Tragedy came to this community on farm homes and out-buildings and two large The storm traveled in a northeasterly north ofthe Stahlecker place, was next in line and the large three-story concrete structure was crumpled like an egg shell by the force of the wind. The falling concrete walls piled upon the roof of the garage which housed the three school buses, almost flattening one of these. The other two, although badly damaged, received less ofthe weight ofthe falling concrete. Two teacherage houses and their contents were totally destroyed and a third house unroofed. North of the Smokey Hill school, the storm next destroyed the barn at the former Oliver Olsen place. At the Henry Bassette place the shingles were stripped from a chicken house and the chimney was removed from the house and deposited in the yard in perfect condition. The Harold Harrington place suffered the loss of all buildings and a car ari well. A windmill on the Gerald Snelling place was torn down. At the Geo. Blomendahl farm the only thing left standing were the four walls of the house. A large barn and all outbuildings were swept clean, as well as the windmill and practically all ofthe trees. Chas. Kaester lost a gr€rnary and had a header barge blown through the porch of the house. Mrs. Gilford McCullough suffered a broken pelvic bone and possible internal injuries when she was blown quite a distance from the house by the force of the wind which destroyed their house and all outbuildings. At the E.E. Harrington farm a large barn was destroyed. Some damage was done at the Frank Korbelik place but was slight in comparison. Crossing the state line into Kansas the storm struck the Al Pralle farm about six miles south of Kanorado, demolishing farm buildings. On toward Ruleton the storm swept and here claimed the second school building as its victim. The $30,000 brick school building at Ruleton was totally destroyed, as were also four residences, these being the homes of T.G. Kaufman, Martin Nelson, W.T. Ingram and Mrs. Laura Kernal. These houses were occupied at the time of the storm and although they were slmost destroyed, the several people occupying them miraculously escaped. On the highway northeast of Ruleton the storm picked up a car occupied by Ted McCall and Robert Sprinkle. The car, a Model A roadster, was wrecked to such an extent that it seemed impossible that the occupants could survive. Sprinkle was dri- ving and was thro\iln out of the car. McCall was carried with the machine about a quarter of a mile and both legs were badly broken. He is recovering in a Goodland hospital. The storm went on northeast to the Glen Curry farm north of Goodland. Barns and outbuildings at the Feaster, Jack Dawson, John Shaver and Jnmes Chapp farms north of Goodland were all badly dnmaged, but none of the houses were blown down. The storm apparently raised directly north of Several people are looking over the school assessing the damage. Notice the gas pump on left side standing undamaged. Goodland and disappeared. With all the destruction of property it �seems miraculous that no lives were lost. At the Chris Staklecker home which lost threefourths ofthe roof, the occupants were in that part of the house which was spared. At the Smokey Hill school, Mr. and Mrs. Delbert Watson lived in the only house that was not demolished. This house had the roof torn off only L5 minutes after they had left for Arapahoe. The Geo. Blomendahl family were visiting relatives in Burlington when their place was swept away. Mrs. Gilford McCullough, although seriously injured, seems on the road to recovery. At Ruleton the escape of the dozen occupants in their homes is a miracle. by Marlyn lfasart SMOKEY HILL COMMUNITY T408 It is hoped the job can be completed by noon. However, the Rotary Club suggests everyone bring a lunch in case it is necessary to continue work through the day. Wear comfortable shoes and leather gloves. Oddities of the Tornado Torrential rain, four to five inches, fell in some places, while at nearby farms no rain fell whatever. A slab of concrete about 4 x 6 feet was found lying on a mirror, yet the mirror was in perfect condition. Grains of wheat and cane seed were found imbedded in fence posts after the storm. At one place a medicine cabinet was left hanging on one of the walls, in perfect condition, yet all its contents had been swept out by the suction. A small bank, which formerly occupied a place on a dresser had been removed to a chair nearby, the bank upright and a dollar bill which it had contained was removed through the small slot and was lying on the floor, still neatly foldeo. Straw and feed stalks driven into pieces of wood. A chicken, which was a victim of the storm, was picked clean. - He did not survive, highway 51 (which is now highway 385). It was also 5 miles to the Smoky Hill Consoli- dated School, where buses picked up the children. Dragers had four children, Evelyn, Kenneth, June and Louis. Evelyn and Kenneth went to Smoky Hill School until they reached l1th grade and then went to Bur- lington to high school. High school was discontinued at Smoky Hill in 1951, and then in 1957 the entire school was consolidated into Burlington. Henry was on the school board for a number of years, and they lived in that original home for 50 years. That has to be quite a record! They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary at the Trinity Lutheran Church in 1978. They built a new home in Burlington on Fay Street where they continue to enjoy 12 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren. They were one of the families who did not leave when the bad times came. by Mrs. Ted Eberhart SMOKEY HILL COMMUNITY T4lO however. An American flag which hung on a wall of the Ruleton school house was found lodged between the top of the wall and the ceiling, so tightly held that its removal without tearing was impossible. Story 2 Organize Party to llelp Clean Up Stricken Area She was a school teacher and needed a home and a job. Frank Kelly had a homestead and he wanted to give it up. Alice took advantage And the glass bowl on a gas pump just a few of this opportunity. This homestead was 16 miles south and two east of Burlington. It consisted of 160 acres and a two room adobe house. Years later, two other homesteaders, John Murphy and Henry Fansleau built on to that house. In 1920 Alice married Vincent Daniel. Vincent moved to her homestead. They had feet southwest of the snme building which was not broken. Dishpan still hanging on the kitchen wall of a demolished farm home - all other articles far removed. Shingles neatly picked from the top of a chicken house. Otherwise the building was shipshape. The tornado which struck in the Smokey Hill community on June 8, 1900 caused a very difficult situation for people whose property was destroyed. Nearby fields of grain and fallow were covered with debris. Pieces of lumber with nails and tin, etc., will be a serious hazard to tractor tires and other hawesting equipment, unless removed before fields are planted and harvested. Everyone by Marlyn llasart SMOKEY HILL COMMUNITY for whom it will be practical to help is requested to assist in removing debris from grain fields and cultivatcd lands. Organizations and groups who will assist the people in Smokey Hill include: Burlington Rotary Club, Boy Scouts, Farm Bureau, 4-H clubs, home demonstration clubs, Grange, other groups, individual farmers and merchants. It is requested these groups and individuals meet at the Smokey Hill school house at 8:00 a.m. June 13. Boy Scouts and 4-H club boys are requested to work under their leaders. The Smokey Hill home demonstration club will provide drinking water for the crews. Those who can provide trucks should see Ted Backlund. The crews will work from the Smokey Hill school to the Chas. Kaestner farm. A group of Kanorado, Kansas, people are planning to start at the Harrington and McMullough farms Friday morning and work toward the Kaestner farm. In 1917, Alice Sullivan came to Colorado from Harmon, Illinois because of her asthma. Children's merry-go-round immediately north of the Smokey Hill school house which was not even scratched. Cleaning up after the storm. Story 3b T409 five children, two of which are deceased. Elizabeth is married to Jack Cheslock and they live in Oregon. Richard is married to Vera Shade. They are retired and live in Arriba, Colo. Joe is married to Mary Lou Williams. They are retired and recently moved to Holyoke, Colorado. During the early years, they picked up their mail and bought their groceries at a trading post called Cole, Colorado. It was located two miles east of the Millisack place. Story 3a This is sort of a collection of stories of people who lived in the Smoky Hill Commu- nity after the severe drouth in the early thirties. During the drouth, many of the original families moved away. It was impossible to get contributions from everybody, but this will be a pretty good sampling of the kind of people from that period. Henry and Flora Drager moved into a new farm home in 1928, after they were married. They had to live in the basement for several weeks until the painting and varnishing was completed. One evening a lot of cars drove in and it was the neighbors coming to charivari them. They had brought lunch and spent the evening getting acquainted. This home was located 5 miles south of the correction line, near All of the kids went to the Smoky Hill Schbol on the bus, through the tenth grade. One teacher taught grades 1 through 4, and another teacher taught 5 through 8. The 9th and 10th were generally taught by the principal. Every fall after the watermelons were ripe, the entire school would take their lunches and go on a full day picnic down by the Smoky. They would end the day by going to the Stahlacker ranch (which was 1 mile south of the school) for a big watermelon feed. This was a custom much enjoyed for many years. For entertainment, the kids used to go arrow head hunting. They went over on the "Jones Hill," which was 1/z mile east of Wayne Iseman's home. They would ride their horses and spend most of the day hunting. School mates of Mary Lou Daniels were Helen Burk (Schierman), Joe Pillings and Lucille Walstrom. Richard's classmates were �Bill and Betty Burk, Laurence Carlson, Jane Walstrom and Marvin Butterfield. and Gwen is still teaching third grade in the by Bernice Eberhart by Bernice Eberhart GWEN AND HUBERT CRANMER T4l1 Gwen and Hubert Cranmer were married in St. Francis, Kansas in June of 1946 and then moved to Smoky Hill to the teachers apartments. Gwen taught the first four grades and Hubert was employed by Ted Eberhart on the farm. Those apartments were rather crude with a dirt basement. They adopted two white cats to keep the mice out and made the upstairs as livable as possible. It was war time and they were unable to buy a cook stove of any kind, so they cooked with a little two hole oil burner. Gwen said they must have lived on love, and she is sure they couldn't do it now. The term began with 23 children, and Lonnie and Connie Eberhartwere both in her room. Gwen was Bernice Eberhart's sister, and they had a lot of interesting happenings. The family had always called Gwen "Skinny," but it was never to be said at school. One day Lonnie forgot and what an embarassing slip that was. It was really hard times for some families, and there were times when school lunches would be stolen. Gwen always saw to it that they did not go without lunch. Bob Meyers and Lonnie Eberhart were both first graders and Bob had been asking his dad if he could go home and spend the night with Lonnie. His dad told him that some day when it was nice weather, he could go. So, Bob just waited for a nice day and went. About ten o'clock Shorty Meyers was out looking for Bob, and finally arrived at the Ted Eberhart home. He really chewed that boy out, but since it was a nice day, that is what he had been waiting for. Bob got to spend the rest of the night, but was warned never to do it again. Dwight Wheatly from Vernon, Colorado taught the upper grades, and they all seemed to get along remarkably well. The community Sunday school was the highlight of the week, and it brought many of the parents together in a social gathering. In the fall of L947 school was going well when a terrific blizzard rolled in. There was no way to clear the roads, so the buses could not pick up the children. Hawey and Jane Matthews and daughter Patty also lived in those school apartments. Harvey was a bus driver and they were the custodians at the school. There was nothing they could do so they slept late and then spent the afternoon and evening playing cards. Harvey would get up and say, "Oh no, not again!" They ended up having about three weeks of make-up which made for a late school term. The Cranmers moved back to Beecher Island after school was out and took over Gwen's parents farm. They thoroughly enjoyed their time at Smoky Hill and made a lot of good friends. Thev are still on the farm at Beecher Island school at Wray, Colorado. SMOKEY HILL COMMUNITY T4t2 In1947, Cliff and Bertha Hines moved into the Smoky Hill area because they needed more farm land and grass. They settled near the Smoky and three of their four children went to Smoky Hill School. When Marvel Lee was in the eighth grade, they had a bingo party. The road had recently been graded, and it started to rain. It got so muddy and so the ten people in their car were stalled all night, until some one came by to help them. You had better believe that it was a long night, and will not soon be forgotten. One Sunday Cliff and a friend and their two sons went out to look for the cattle in the pasture. They scared up a coyote and the chase was on. Suddenly they were upon the bank of the Smoky. They could not stop, so they just stepped on he gas and flew over the 25 ft. bank and landed in the bottom of the creek. The fan broke a hole in the radiator, but otherwise, no damage. It turned out to be the thrill of their lives. by Bernice Eberhart SMOKEY HILL COMMUNITY ties. They later went to work for Orville Chapin on the farm and lived in a small house on the place. They had another daughter Kathy and returned to Goodland and Harvey went to work on the railroad. Patty and Connie Eberhart were going to be best friends forever, but the move separated them. by Bernice Eberhart SMOKEY HILL COMMUNITY T4l6 E.L. (Shorty) Meyers E.L. (Shorty) Meyers and Blanche Meyers moved to the Smoky Hill area in 1945. They came from Goodland, KS, to work for Albert Kirschmer and lived on the Byers place. Robert, Joy and Norma were their three children. Bob started to school with Edna Bartman as his first teacher. In the fall of 1954 their house burned to the ground and they moved to the Smith district. In 1955 they moved to the teacherage at Smoky Hill School where Shorty was custodian and Blanche cooked. Both of them drove school buses. By this time they had three more children, Kay, Ron and Debbie. After the school closed they moved to Burlington where all of the children live, except Joy Bowman, who lives in Littleton. Shorty died in 1977. Blanche has continued to work in a lot offood services, and lately has been helping take care of grandchildren. T4l3 Delbert and Inez Richardson In the spring of 1945 Delbert and Inez Richardson, and three daughters Carolyn 9, Marsha 8 and Nadyne 5, moved from a farm south of Ruleton Kansas to the Smoky Hill Community. Inez said she thought they had come to the jumping off place when they came to the Smoky. There wasn't any bridge, and the banks seemed awfully high. Two sons, Bill and Tony were born in this community. Delbert was actively involved in the Gun Club and the whole family participated in all of the other community affairs. They moved into Burlington in 1951. by Bernice Eberhart SMOKEY HILL COMMUNITY were always a part of the community activi- T4t4 Jane and Harvey Matthews Jane and Harvey Matthews were married just before Hawey went to the service. After Harvey returned they moved into the apartments at Smoky Hill and Harvey drove the bus, and they were custodians. They had one daughter Patty. That was in 1946, and they by Bernice Eberhart SMOKEY HILL COMMUNITY T416 Helen and Otis Metcalf came to Smoky Hill to work for Orville Chapin. They came from the Whatley Vacation Ranch, Breckenridge, Colo., so Dale could go to school. There was also Carolyn and Dwight in the family. They moved to Fort Scott Kansas to be close to his elderly parents in 1952. Otis died in 1960 and Helen worked in the hospital. Dale and Dwight both work in insurance and Carolyn lives in Wichita. by Mrs. Ted Eberhart SMOKEY HILL COMMUNITY T4t7 Elder Arnold and Susie Elder moved to the Smoky Hill Community in 1911. They csme by wagon driving a herd ofcattle taking them 7 days from Woodston, Kansas. They had 6 living children when they left in 1925. Arnold �built the house owned by Leland Baney. They have 2 small children buried in the and Orville and Flo Chapin. Burlington Cemetery. Keith, Willard and Verawent tothe Smoky Hill School. Lowell, deceased, Vinta and Oren were the other members of this family. Keith and Willard were teachers and Keith Windscheffel, Fromong, and Lindsey fami- played football with the St. Louis team in the late 30's. He was inducted into the Kansas Hall of Fame coaches in 1986. He taught Others included McClelland, Woods, lies. There were the Bloomendahl, Fanslaus, Olsons, Bassette, Harrington, Kaestner, and others, who were residents at the time of the tornado that swept through the community in 1941. by Bernice Eberhart wood working and coached football in the Salina, Kansas schools for over 35 years. Much of his time was spent working with retarded and disturbed boys, teaching them SPRING VALLEY RANCH woodworking. Both Arnold and Susie are dead. by Bernice Eberhart SMOKEY HILL COMMUNITY T4l9 The history that we have of our first settlers in our neighborhood is the McCrillis family. Mr. E. McCrillis, his brothers and father came here and settled on what is now known as the Spring Valley Ranch located in T418 Lots of people were moving into the community in the 1940's, and there were all kinds of activities being organized. With the help of Nick Jantzen a community Sunday school was organized, helping to make the community into one big family. The fellows had a gun club, stag parties, took fishing trips together and the ladies organized the Friendship Circle Extension Homemakers Club. One of the projects of the club was to purchase dishes for the school lunch room when the hot lunch program was started. Each mother took a turn at helping the cook at the school, and it was a big improvement - for all concerned. In May 1954, the Windscheffel home was burned and they lost everything. The community families rallied around with love and support, financially, emotionally and spiritually. How wonderful to have such friends! They moved into one of the apartments at the Smoky Hill School for 6 months until another house could be moved onto the farm. In the back of their minds they had thought they would probably go back to California or Oregon, but after the traumatic fire and the loving support ofthese friends, they decided to rebuild and stay put. They have never been sorry for the decision. These people stick our school district. In 1879, they came from Boston, Massachusetts seeking a higher altitude for their health. They went into the stock raising business describing the story ofthe country as was told by Mr. E. McCrillis when they first came here. A little north of where the lower set of buildings on the Spring Valley Ranch are now, there was a small log house which was built out of native cotton wood trees by two brothers by the name of Ricks. These men were cowboys and were line riding for a large cattle rancher northeast on the Republican River. The McCrillises came up the Republican River from Wayne, now called St. Francis, Kansas, which was then a post office and mail was carried on horse back on up the river to different ranches. They came to this log house owned by the Ricks brothers. They brought their household belongings and settled there, engaged in the stock-raising business and after the Government survey had been made in 1881 and 1882, they all took claims on what is now known as the Spring Valley Ranch along a creek with deep water holes and some running water and natural hay meadows. On this creek were scattering cottonwood together through "thick and thin" and remain to this day a very closely knit group. timber, out of which another house was built, corrals and horse barns were also built. The log house that they bought from the Ricks brothers had one door to the east, two attended. Their favorites probably were through the logs, one on the south and one on the west for light. The roof was logs laid Smoky Hill provided many good teachers during the time that Phyllis and Gary small holes about ten by twelve hewed Gwen Cranmer, Hazel Fromong, Genevieve Bell and John Robertson. There are many fond memories of long lasting friendships. close together and dirt thrown on top. On the There were other people who resided within the community. Their stories are longer and will be found in the Family Story section (see Family Story Index). These families were found at the activities of the school as well as the Home Demonstration Club, Gun Club, playing cards and all other activities. These people and the activities that they participated in were the fiber in which the community created the bond of family that made this community so rich in the relationships that have continued throughout the years. Some of the families are the Ted Eberharts, Walstromm, Rainbolt, Baney, the Long, the Bells, Joe and Goldie Williams, Hazel and LeRoy Morton, west and north side, the logs have been burned, some nearly half way through. It was told that this was done by Indians. Mr. E. McCrillis also said that buffalo were plentiful here at that time. About 1886, settlers began to come, settling near the creeks and rivers on account ofwater and fuel. Their first houses were mostly dug outs. A square hole dug in the ground about four feet deep, then with a spade the sod was cut about ten inches wide and from eighteen to twenty-two inches long, and two or three inches thick. These were laid on top of each other, building a wall to the desired height. Then ends were laid up out of sod and a roof put on, in most cases it was made out of lumber brought in with the first settlers. Soon after the first settlers came, they tried to raise crops of different grains. Machinery and general farm equipment being scarce, a good deal of planting was done with a hoe, after the ground had been broken. A good deal of this first land plowing was done with ox teams. But people were successful and machinery and work horses were added, until today it has changed into a good grain producing country with nice farms and high grade of livestock. The first school house was built out of sod and Mr. E. McCrillis was the first elected school secretary, an office he held for fifteen years. Mr. E. McCrillis who was the only one left in the family, sold his ranch property which was all in this school district. In 1908 he moved to Denver, Colorado where he died in about 1922. There are no historical places of great importance in this neighborhood, except one which is one mile east and one half mile south of our south school house on the east side of the creek. Here there is a large stone hill and on top of this hill is a flat place where there was at one time, a stone monument and a grave. The grave is said to be an Indian grave. This monument is now torn down. This hill was called Indian Monument Hill by the first settlers. One and a half miles south of the south school house on the west bank of the creek is a place where a large size wash out hole had been formed, the banks being from ten to twelve feet straight up and down. From the southeast corner of this wash out, a long conal wall was laid up out of sod. This place was used to catch wild horses. Men engaged in that work used this place to catch wild horses and it is called Wild Horse Corral. There is no trail in use at this time in our neighborhood but at one time there was a trail running down the Launchman Creek, used by people picking buffalo bones. This was called the Bone Pickers Trail. The first teacher was Mrs. Hellen Slusser. School warrant number one was drawn on October 12, 1889 for $20.00 for the first month's teaching. Written by Ruth Goebel in 1924. by Ruth Bauder SUCKER'S FLAT T420 The first permanent homesteads in the area called Sucker's FIat. located about 20 miles north and east of Flagler, were settled in 1908 by a group who came from Shelby County, Missouri. In all 23 homesteads were taken in that area by this group who called it Shiloh after their Baptist Church in Shelby County. The name, Sucker's Flat, originated because the area was flat and inviting to farmers but water was very hard to come by, being so deep. The first ones to come included John Will (Jack) Lipford, his foster brother and cousin, Walter Curry, three Barnett brothers - Vic, Chester, and Marv. A relative of the Barnetts was living at Rexford, Kansas, and in 1907 had a large crop of grain. He sent word back to Shelby County asking someone to come to help harvest and it was these young men who went out to help him. Apparently while in western Kansas they became interested in the idea of homesteading in Colorado, and in the fall of 1907, before returning to Missouri, �3'**W ')ry, :i. . ,....,:, - ., i,t4{9!;r,'ry'*Yc' '.;*,:,: . ^.'la' Shiloh congregation shown in front of J.W. Lipford barn where services were held in the hayloft until Shiloh Baptist Church was built. they took the train from Rexford to Seibert. There they met the land office men who drove them out to the area where they decided on their homestead sites before returning to Missouri. The next spring the five had their farm sales early in the year and the men came first to get houses ready to live in. They first built a two-room dugout. Their furniture and belongings came by immigrant car and they used tents to cover their furniture, etc. Blanche (Lipford) Carper remembers that her parents, the Lipfords, brought only chickens, purchasing horses and other livestock after they arrived. All lived in the tworoom dugout while they built a 2-room soddy, first for the Vic Barnetts and then for the Lipfords and the Currys and then for Chester and Marv Barnett who were bachelors at the time. The chickens had to be put in coops at night or the coyotes would have gotten them. Jack Lipford's homestead bordered Washington County as did Walter Curry's. They each had 80 acres of excess land (due to the correction line) which they farmed as long as they lived on their places but which they didn't own. It was six months before wells were dug and Blanche recalls the women and children drove teams and wagons 6 miles to bring back barrels ofwater for both the livestock and the people. Mail came out on the Cope Road which was ten miles away. Other families who came to homestead from Shelby County included the Bill, Oscar and Ross Churchwell families; the Ed Hoa- glund family which included three children; two Nelson families, Harlan and wife and their children, Mary, Bruce, Lear and Jim and the Bedford Nelsons whose children were My'rtle and Kenneth; the Mason Wilson family (Mrs. Wilson and Mrs. Ed Hoaglund were sisters); and two bachelor brothers of the women, Grover and Alex Todd; Ed and Dick Bragg, bachelor brothers of Mrs. Lena Lipford; Sarah Weaver, a widow and her four children, two daughters and two sons, all of whom filed on homesteads; Jacob Curry and wife, the father of Walter Curry and uncle and foster father of Jack Lipford; Luther (Gurd) Hewitt and wife, Laura, and their children, Florence, Daisy, Pearl, Alice, one more daughter and their son, Mac. Mr. Hewitt was the twin of Mrs. Walter Curry. Well drilling was a priority, with Burd and Walter Todd, cousins of Grover and Alex, having a well drilling outfit. The first school was built by the homesteaders and was called Ash Grove. The first term was probably about 1910 with Clair Williams recalled as the first teacher. Dora Wolverton was among the early teachers. Later the Shiloh Central School was built which had a full basement and two rooms above. Teachers usually lived in the basement. Church services were probably held from the beginning in homes. The Harlan Nelsons had a 3-room soddy so it was most often used since there was more space. In the summer, services were held in the Jack Lipford barn hayloft. Sometimes the men would move an organ into the hayloft. The Shiloh Baptist Church was organized, probably about 1911, and named for the home church in Missouri. It was built on a corner of the Bedford Nelson land with an adjoining cemetery, also established. It was built by the men of the community with the usual work days with 15 or 20 men assembling to do the work and the women bringing basket dinners. A copy ofthe deed dated Dec. 8, 1915, which was recorded in 1916, stated that the land would revert to the Nelson family when no longer used as a church and cemetery. Jacob Curry, who organized and chartered the church, had been born in Kentucky on March 4, L84L, and moved to Missouri in 1872. In 1913. the Jacob Currvs returned to Missouri. by Blanche Lipford Carper � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource History of Kit Carson County Description An account of the resource Brief historical stories and elements from the founding and recent history of Kit Carson County, Colorado. Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Book Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Communities Date Created Date of creation of the resource. 1988 Subject The topic of the resource History Description An account of the resource A record of the communities in Kit Carson County as recorded in the book History of Kit Carson County. Type The nature or genre of the resource text Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Salmons, Janice Hasart, Marlyn Smith, Dorothy Language A language of the resource English Is Part Of A related resource in which the described resource is physically or logically included. History of Kit Carson County Volume 1 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource text/pdf Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Curtis Media Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/</a>