https://kccarchives.cvlcollections.org/files/original/16/434/Vona.pdf 513a37a5bfbad3a2e9317ec92e8d113c PDF Text Text railroad was progressing. The first entry on the abstract is June 19, 1888, when R.S. Newell obtained a patent for a 240 acre plot of Elbert County land, legally described as -ffiffi ST I -f -t----r---l sF#,F- | 'J' l*l 'J' l* * a [ llt l'l,Fl'l+l,l'"t4'l t t'l:lGI 'tuJJJrlJ!.t ST SI $ffiI........-n ffi- ffinffi!t l'H+l+l't'l"l{'4',| E% SW V+ and. SE% 536 8 R47. The July 3, 1888, warranty deed to C.F. Jilson preceded the July 13, 1888, plotting of Claremont when the original confines of our town were set. The entries of the years through 1914 are a series of land exchanges some of which were Nffi entry that makes one know there was a building is a December 31, 1914, item when 1I "Stratton State Bank" appears on a trust deed item numbered #30. The liquidation sale for the real property and bank equipment appears as item #42 with Henry G. Hoskins notarizing. That the town's name !n s \J s ,sT s s N \ 1--,;_l|-rI. \ due to tax sale with name of McCauley, Campbell, A.W. Winegar, Ferris, Bourquin, Hugo and Clara Stegman, J.A. Collins and Blair involved in the transactions. The first f- x #+4 ffiffi N fljJ11dfinfl ROC/( /SLANO PuaL /c .5rl sr H/6Huay y^ti;":,L was now Stratton is clear. The ensuing transactions are a review of names associated through the years with Stratton's development: Stratton State Bank to Harstine, and then to C.S. and Nora Wall; Nora Wall to Claus Rose Jr. and Justus Rose at the death of her husband; the Rose's to George F. Batt; the Batts to Swidbert A. and Edith A. Hornung, and so on through the years to the present owners D. and - Donald Patricia C. Guernsey. If all the joys and heartaches of those who owned this property t{ t! a I VONA through the years could pour out of that abstract, what a story we would have! by the Editors VONA HISTORY Story 1 T377 Some of Vona's History as taken from the book Vono's Yesterdays and other sources. The information was compiled by the Vona Centennial-Bicentennial Com. in 1976, the members being: Joyce Miller, Barbara Thorson, DeAnna Cure, Keith Gurley, Wilma Woller, Claude Rasmussen, Lila Taylor, Harriet Ford, and Carl Harrison. Submitted by M.D. Haynes: "The Rock Island was the by Janice Salmans VONA'S HISTORY T378 {i ':.iat ,3:'',t : last of the trunk lines to cross the eastern plains of Colorado. Vona, in Kit Carson County, was named for a niece of Pearl S. King, a Burlington lawyer. Some say he was a printer not a lawyer. There were no settlers, only living things being jack rabbits, prairie dogs, and a few coyotes and antelope. First people were those connected with the railroad, such as depot agents, section bosses, and pump men. In 1888, a contract was taken by E.H. Haynes to grade two miles of Rock Island road bed at Bethune. The engineers indicated to Mr. Haynes where the Vona station would be located, so he filed a homestead entry adjoining that spot. However, no town lots were to be laid out until nearly twenty years later, when the southwest forty was platted, and about that time a plot was deeded for the cemetery. A brother of Mrs. Haynes, Z.J. Kiser, filed on a quarter section cornering to the south-west." The following history was written by Elmer H. Haynes, probably in the late 1930's. Mr. and Mrs. Haynes first lived north of the AF ;; .:':* i t,::::'..:1.. t. ., *?* :'1,L1,1 Vona street scene l .: section house in a dugout, but later they were able to secure a frame building formerly used as a saloon. "Vona those living some - For distance from our town, we will say that Vona is located in Kit Carson County in the exact center from north to south and almost the center from east to west. The location is just rolling enough to insure good drainage, the soil is a rich sandy loam. All vegetation common to this climate and elevation grows well. Blue grass lawns do especially well without irrigation or occasional irrigation. Water is found in unlimited quantities at about 80 feet and chemists find it pure and healthy for drinking purposes. For several years the town was kept by the railroad, the school being maintained entirely by the taxes �country was rapidly settled. Early in 1908, Wiley Baker, a young man recently arrived from Iowa, established the Vona Enterprise. i*,. fi l iI*' doz.; 2 lbs. coffee, 250; Gasoline, 164; Percale, 100; Gingham, 70;4 pkgs. starch, 250; 19 lbs. sugar, $1.00; and Flour, $1.65. Area population in 1913 368; Bethune - Burlington 25; Stratton 350; VonaSeibert - 250; and Flagler - 100; 250. The Vona band -performed at the first- Flagler Fall Festival in 1913. Members: Iversen. Karver. Scheid- Vona street scene looking north. )-l Baker's paper was the only democratic paper in the county and strenuously supported the Democratic ticket that fall, which ticket by strange coincidence, with one exception, was successful. The county was overwhelmingly Republican, but dissatisfaction with the way the county assembly nominated the ticket, caused rank and file to rebel. Possibly Baker's paper contributed to the result, but there is diversity of opinion. The Enterprise was later moved to Stratton. In 1908, E.H. Haynes was elected county judge and moved to Burlington. In 1916, he returned to Vona where he resided until just before his death in 1944. A sample of Vona's 1908 grocery items: tall salmon can, 114; coffee, 170; lb. bread loaves,4 for 150; sardines in oil,3 for 100; and peanut butter, 100. From the Vona Enterprise Prices in 1909 - Town Lots, $1.00 each; Hay, $12.50 per ton; Eggs, 15q per Coal chutes were also erected for coaling engines. John D. Delaney of Kansas, was the first section foreman, and Henry Wallace the first permanent railroad agent. A Mr. egger, Carlstedt, Smith, Alexander, Mohr, Mohr Jr., Hansen, and C. Hansen. Postmaster Dawson moved the Post Office to the I.D. Fuller store on Feb. 4, 1909. Brinkman was pumpman for years and lived on a farm northeast of here. Erastus R. Johnson operated the first store in town, in a frame building, where Buck's filling station was later on. The store was built in the summer of 1889. Later he went out of business and was succeeded by the Erskin Bros., Lee and Jim, who later took on John Delaney as a partner. The first lumber yard was established by Z.J. Kiser. The stock consisted of three carloads, but the demand Old Alexander Hotel in Vona. being meager, the stock carefully assorted, it supplied the demand for about a year, when the enterprise went out of business. The same year, 1889, Will Rogers started a newspaper, which considering the population of the town was about 20, survived for more than a year. The nearest doctor, Dr. Paul B. Godsman, was at Burlington, 28 miles distant. Incidently Dr. Godsman was married at a settlement by Janice Salmans VONA'S HISTORY T379 w, %.t t-. W: r,-rii All ready to leave for Calif. from Bert Kvestads Their set up included a boarding house, paid by the railroad. When the railroad was Men were paid $20 - $25 a month and board. A few months residence each year was required by the government before a patent 'fuas issued to a homesteader. For several years Mrs. Haynes and children held down the claim while Mr. Haynes was away on earth moving projects. Final proof was made on the homestead in 1895, the family left, and were not to return until 1907. In 1906-07 the bulk of settlers filed on claims, as the attention of the settlers again turned to the fertile lands surrounding Vona, and the looking for a point on the line to locate a watering and coaling station, they found an inexhaustible supply ofwater at a reasonable depth. A well 16 feet in diameter was sunk 3/ of a mile east of the station and piped to the station and this, for many years was the main watering place for engines. (A man was put in charge of pumping machinery at the well. Water was made available to one and all, and some homesteaders hauled water for as far as 10 or 15 miles away.) commissary, blacksmith shop, stables and many tents. They had 30 fine mule teams. *''' 1- , 'l -": 'r-m ffi north of what is now Seibert, called Hoyt. The settlement even had a newspaper, called The Hoyt Free Press. Hoyt moved south to form Seibert when the railroad went through. In 1888, the nearest habitation to Vona was located at the W.P. Davis ranch, located on the river, 6 miles north. The 3 Dunlay brothers did the grading through the Vona territory, with their camp 3/+ mi. east of town. , ,t"& Vona Baseball Team Story 2 The town of Vona was incorporated on June 9, 1919. The first mayor was William E. Melling. The town clerk was H.K. (Harlan) Haynes. The trustees were as follows: Adam Elsey, Ben Wilson, Jim Stover, Charles Davis, Charley O'Neil, and William Odle. Other mayors were: Oscar Strehlow, Gus Fuhlendorf, Ray Roberts, and Robert Edmunds. The present mayor in 1986 is Leslie Tanner and the town clerk is Katy Burd. Council members are: Tom Burian, Lucy Clapper, Gary Currie, John Cross, Bob Fox and Sherri Stone. Dale Richards takes care of the water and Leslie Tanner is the park caretaker. In the late summer of 1920, George Moyes and Clair "Herk" Hill organized the �Van Meter American Legion Post #1b6. It was named in honor of the Van Meter bov who was the only soldier from the Vona area to be killed in the World War I. In the summer of L921, Marc Waynick, Stanley Haynes, and Clair Hill having heard about the game of golf, laid out a six hole course, \ri in the pasture of Mr. E.H. Haynes. ^ i.', ,@;)'''''''t:"'" ffi ..,,,. ':;..1,. ' -'', i.;,t,,,t*,, .. I 4 :,.;:t:L: i l:,.l,l,,ii" After the fire looking to the east 'Loveland's "Grand Lady of Golfl' Practiced on Vona's Course'taken from the Loueland Daily Reporter and Herald in 1974, told about Vi (Violet Munter) McDill, using the Vona cow pasture golf course in 1922, when she was the principal of the Jr. High here in Vona. In 1924 the businessmen of 3 towns in Kansas, Brewster, Goodland, and Kanardo; and 3 towns in Colo., Burlington, Bethune, and Vona; held a meeting and organized a Class "D" Semi-Pro Baseball League. It was planned for Mr. Hill to manage the Vona team and be the catcher, but the other towns nominated Herk to act as Pres. of the league, which was to be under the supervision of the Sports Editor of the Denuer Post. So a new manager was appointed for the Vona team. The season was a success with Brewster the Champions, and Vona finishing 2nd or 3rd. Also in L922,Rev. Mathews, a Baptist church, and started to teach several people how to play. As Mr. Hill said "Several of us did pretty well, but they always beat the socks off :ii. us!" ,* In 1920, Mr. A.V. Jessie of Seibert bought iarl: the Vona Bank and hired Marc Waynick from Pagosa Springs as the cashier. 'Vona's Bank Robbery Scare' as told by Clair Hill: "At the time I was working at the International Trust Co. in Denver, They sent me to come to Vona as the assistant Cashier, which I did. Mrs. Waynick was the bookkeeper. In the fall a bank robbery and burglary crew were operating out of Colorado Springs. The Sheriff of the county at Burlington got word from the underground that a bank somewhere in this area was next in line to be knocked off. So he came to Marc and me and told us what we Pictures after the Vona Fire in 1936. I might expect. But he said emphatically . . . "Don't keep a gun in the bank at all, your lives are worth more than the money they could get." But, he went up to Haynes Hardware store (second door from the bank) and had him load two rifles and put them where he could get them quickly if he needed them. Then, in case of a night burglary, he told us every night to wipe the safe and the vault door with a coal oil rag, so that he might get some fingerprints if possible. Nothing happened for months. Then one bitter cold morning in January 1922, Marc and I had picked up the mail at the Post Office and gone to the bank at about 8:45 and left the front door unlocked as we would be open for business at 9:00. We had gone around to the front window and let the blind down for better light and was reading the morning mail. About that time a stripped down auto (I mean stripped down just a seat for two, - a steering wheel), and no cover for the engine) ,t_ drove up and stopped at the curb right in .& &.gr 4* a:*, Fire destroyed almost an entire block of buildings. front of our window. Because of the bitter cold the men had handkerchiefs over their faces. When we looked out at them sitting there like that we just hnew what was going to happen to usl Well, . . . the men got off the car, took the handkerchiefs from their faces, went in Carey's and got a sack of groceries, came out, got into the car and drove off. Marc and I were so weak all dav we could hardly walk." �k June 7, 1936, Hotel, Barber Shop, Pool HaIl, Dance Hall and Hardware buildings leveled after the fire. H.K. Haynes was the candidate for State Representative the fall of 1934. The first l11t:., l;y:.1;'.,1.,,t1ifi l .rr, :,.1ii.,., serious setback experienced by Vona came in the early morning of June 7, 1936, when a fire of unknown origin started in the pool hall. As Vona was without proper fire fighting equipment, all adjacent buildings were consumed. The Gagnon Hotel, the dance hall, Carey's general store, and the two-room Haynes Hardware Store were a total loss. Only the " I'r'rlrl ,1, .;.r, ,ii;;,;,,::',t,,:li11l1:' ,1.i .,:,|t, arrival of the Burlington Fire Dept. with a chemical engine prevented the spread of the fire to the other buildings, thus saving the entire east side of town. At the time the principal businesses of the town were represented by two general stores, lumber yard, wholesale oil establishment, two elevators, show house, drugstore, restaurant, hotel, and pool hall, the Baptist and Christian Churches, both with good substantial buildings. E.R. "Buck" Weaver's filling station was saved by the application of what little water there was. by Janice Salmans VONA HISTORY Taken 1906, L. to R. Glenn Howell with them, S.L. Howell, Charles Gray, Ruby (Fuhlendorf) Clark Howell, Harry Howell, Clara Howell, unknown woman and Shep the dog. by Janice Salmans T380 NUBIAN ffi WATERPROCF BRUSHING t.,I Two early businesses which were along the south side of the park in Vona. �LAND AND FAITMS ln Eastern Colorado For Salc, Trilcle, Rcnt or Lcerse Juit a ferv of thc many bergaina in Eartcrn Colorado Land that I have listed. lJon't wait. Time nreans Money if you care to take advantage of these figurer. Ilanch of -l$rl rreru:. ,\ !().)(l frtnle house, harl rocrlr lor ii hr'.rrl ol;tock. l'ell. rlin<ltnill an,l t.rnks. .lr) ltr.> u.rtlcr c'ultivatiou, eoocl l.r:l-l,c for irrt(t lrc.tl of stock. Itricc S.l.l5 r. roo(l tcrl:ls. F:..'rl of i6() acraJ, ail rrririqr itilce lrn,i cross ftrtcetl, ('0 ircrt's rrrrrlcr i-tr]tir'.rtior: f rirnre hrtrsc and llaru , gotr l * r.)l arrd s'intlnrill; 1 nrile frr.,rrr tosrr Sl.5(Xt. irrrm ar:rl l)astlrre of +s() acres, iril ttntlrr fencr; h()us(, btrn. too<l grovc, 16() acres undrr culti\'ttiotr rll lrVel lJil(i, ort r rttral illril rottt!', I'rr, c $iirt)tt Farin of 161) ircrcs, lli trr,,lcl le:rrc, good frarle hott.e, lr.,rrt, '.reli, R,r:tl franrt chickerr lioilsc, "ltt a('r.r\ ul)rlcr crrltivntion, i nrilcs ir,rrn torvl. I'rice $:tr')rt, Farnr of 3lrr rcras, I rnilc frtlrrr toln. lrotrse, barn, gr.rnJr]-. rvell, rrirrrlrrrill, r.ll turder fcnc.'atrrl cross lctrce,l. tit) rcres uuder crrltilatiorr, ell t illairit' lrurtl. I)ricr. S:S-it). A iarr:r oi l6() r,.res ,i 1.i nriles fronr i(,,,\n, ll(rise, steblc, rll lu1(icr feil,t,::, .ifl J(i,-s urirltr ctrltir.rtion, $(rn{l \1.eli ii leer d., 1,. ;'ri. c $i+(r0. Ij.rrrrr oi 16,) r\res. : l,iic. frorrr tou,t, fLiir,rt lrorr:e, barn, end orrt buildings, +r) reres, les: than lJ fect to \rctrr. 27 asrcs of alfrlfa, rveli aud rvixlrnjl[, all trutler ferrce, \'olr;;g grove, snrall orch:rrl IrIing rlatcr, 1,5{) trcre5 oi trllairlc land. I'ricc $.i.35{): ' j rlola, l{ irr one ycar, l:,t]311"a ,, tw() J(irrs, ilrttrestat6per eLI)i I,ayr!)lc arrntrallt'. -\ l.rrgc rnr()lr,:t of rlcerled iiind fronr $(i tu {il.-5al l}('r acre, accorrtrrrg ..o distiulce frr)ru toNll. 'l-irree lots iu the torvn of \:onir, free for a tlour rnill sitc, shallors ',o ri'atcr.rnd J S,.\r\l stll)i)l-t of it. .\lsavs havc I.Irrnrrsreatl Relinqrrishrrrrrrts orr lrand. \\'rite me itr regard to tllcln. '['orvrr lots in Vona for saie. For a Quick Sale and Square Deal, Iirt your land with me. S. L. Howell Vona, Colorado. Land Agent of 25 years' Experience in Colorado. 1,r ! �1l ,!.. ... .. I .,..' .:ii'"'ar:l . {r r,.r:,.,r]i, i:rjl -.,:,. , 'a1: '' 1r / 1,.' i Uili6tt l'uld ,r;,', ! '|".a i c*or rur .f, , I rora ot lrnrlitrsn\ t *bdrtlrd'r No. slr &b6r t t,re. \o. i { $9'lkbot1rr.lrB !'' t,!id no. i &l&hslt eft, oi.t ao i InLo! *u q@oll Cantiltg.,it ': I I re I 471 l.!,:!t, .,t:: d: f ,1,.,.,,.,,,;,,,tt;&,{,,;1,.,,,; Shffi'r*fl&rfi Yatrlrltiur.,Pa& t"/{'(:'--: S.N. Howell and Eliza owned the grocery store where the Post Office is now. -, /t \teai**&':$. 1S8.t /,5froLLAgs, 'l- nr.&{. ill!mrr\.' by wagon train to Colorado with the S.L. Howell family, and the DeWitt Walton families. Next from Harriet Mohr Ford: My folks came to Colo. as homesteaders from Corsica, So. Dak. in the fall of 1908. Father, Mother, Brother Bill, and myself. I was three years old. Our household goods, machinery, horses and cattle cnme by emmigrant car. We came by train. Our sod house, 1 mi. north and 1 mi. east of Vona was built before we arrived so we moved right in. I started school in the old two room school in Vona, later I went to the 3rd, and 4th grades in the small building in the west part of Vona. My 1st teacher was Mrs. Laura Alexander. My father had a harness shop in Vona, he learned the trade from a school in Chicago. Harness business was limited so most of the work was repairing ol Ptnpty,$ VONA'S HISTORY T381 Early Families The Howell Family by Glenn Howell: My father, S.L. Howell, came to Vona in 1887, before the Rock Island Railroad was built. His closest town was Haigler, Nebr. and he traveled by team and wagon. I am the oldest person that was born in the Vona area that I know of. I was born 8 mi. north and 2 mi. west of Vona in 1889. When the Railroad cnme through, my father homesteaded 2 mi. north of Vona in 1890 and 20 years later I homesteaded just crossing on the northeast of his place where the buildings are now. I built the cement house and barn on the place.* *tI (Janice Salmans) believe the place he is referring to is known to us as the Bernard Waidron place (owned by Kenneth Pickard) and where the Carl and Barbara Matschke now live with their children: Larry, shoes and other leather goods. He later opened a cream station. Some memories of J. Carl Harrison: The land adjoining the Haynes homestead on the west was homesteaded by a man named Perle King, who plated the town and named it "Vona" after his daughter, Vona King. The only families living at the Vona site in 1890 were Mr. Saggua and family, Jack Kiser, and E.H. Haynes family. But a few homesteaders settled North of Vona in 1887, before the railroad. Some of the names familiar to old timers were: W.R. Linford, S.L. Howell, D.C. Waltner, Nobel, Fisher, Corrall, Gardner, Thomas, Shaffer, Gunther, Deakins, Bryant, Phillips, Vernon, Pickenpaugh, Shotwell, Bun, and Besdecker. At that time, the settlers went clear to Haigler, Nebr. for provisions, and hauled water from a spring on Hell Creek, about 15 mi. Northwest of Vona. W.P. Davis settled north ofVona in 1888 and later was elected County Treasurer. Alvin Ferris, the forefather of all the Ferrises in the Vona and Stratton area, came in 1888, the forefather ofall the Ferrises in the Vona and Stratton area, came in 1888, then with the Linford family, moved to Vona in 1890. He helped build the first school house in Vona. Linford Linford Ferris another past resident of Vona was later employed by the Rock Island, coaling trains. Mr. Wm. Burnett homesteaded north 1 mi. and west 1 mi. of Vona. told in a letter how she came with her family His daughters Ruth and Alice were early day Earl, Jessica, and Anna in 1986.1 Flora �VONA IIISTORY T382 OUTNe0u0nmo ,,,,1:;.,6,*{,ii: :e:tttiir,l Fnnp FLauaeas t I k*. Ernnl L Jupn {i (. Publi+\eJ by Feeo FlaruaoaN voNA, cor-oRiDo Rabbit Hunt 1930's Out In Colorado Vona. By Opal M. Boger: In about 1910, Carey Poet office was established 16 mi. north and 37r east of Vona in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Carey. Postmaster Carey was a farmer and ran a general store in one of the two rooms in his house. My father (N.O. Gulley), Vz mi. from Carey, was appointed mail carrier from Carey to Tuttle Post Office, 9 mi. east of his home. He made the trip 3 times a week with Rabbit hunting around Vona. teachers, and his son Wm. Burnett, was County Supt. of Schools for term 1893-94. He was the 3rd. Supt. Another Vona homesteader, George Bent, was about the first County Treasurer of Kit Carson County as it was cut of Elbert County in 1899. ' outThis history was furnished by Mrs. Flora Linford Ferris, a daughter of W.R. Linford (who built the Linford building in Stratton. It is now the "Someplace Special" store on the main street. By 1908 in the south area there was a homesteader on every quarter section. By Mrs. Ben Boese: The Pleasant Valley community was settled by a group of German Mennonites from South Dakota. They built the church in 1912. Some family names were: Boese, (A.M., Ben M., John, Henry J., and Jacob) Corneilus Schultz, Dirks (Harry, John, and Ben), Adolph Schmidt, Unruh (Jacob and John), Matilda Kliewer and Mary Heinricks, A.B. Becker (father of the Beckers of Vona), Ratslaf, Wiens, Peterson, Buller, Pankratz, and Wedels. Some of this group left after proving on their homesteads, others stayed on a few more years. One by one they all left but the Ben Boese and A.B. Becker families. A.L. Boese. Wilbert and Leander Becker, were all prominent in the Soil Conservation south of horse and buggy. Carey Post Office was discontinued when the Vona Post Office extended to our community in 1916. The original Carey still stands enlarged, remodeled and owned by Mr. Woods. Now, some 76 years later, few seem to remember there was once a place called Carey. History of the U.S. Postal Service of Vona, Colorado 80861. Established in Kit Carson County 5-18-1889, Erastus R. Johnson; Henry Wallace, 2-1change of postmaster 1980; Change of Postmaster Alvin L. 7-9Ferris, S-11-1894; Office Discontinued - R. Erastus 1907; Est. in Elbert County in Vona 1-19-1899: Reestablished Johnson 1-2L-L907; Change Archie L. Ferris - Stover 8-30-1907; -Postmaster James M. Change Postmaster - Wm. H. Dawson - 12A. Louise 9-1908; Change Postmaster Haynes 9-18-1914; (she died-2/14/77, aged - changed from Fourth to Third St. 90) Office Wm. L. 10-1-1919; Change Postmaster -Butler 4-L5-L924; Change Postmaster 6-9-1936; Change Postmaster Ray L. Ford 10-13-1949; InauguraMerlin C.-Ford -tion ofthe United States - Postal Service 7Joann Pickard 1-1971; Change Postmaster (sister to Merl Ford) 5-3-1985; Vona's first two mail carriers - George Smith, and - 1986 South Route August Carlstedt; Today Pat Rueb, Asst. Abe Frll, North Route -Rita Rueb; clerk Nancy- Megel. - by Janice Salmans ETIN L. &DD �And I l'll .d *1ll !h.6 !!t to to q th.E !. ou .!d o! S.L .ll hjp Frank Boger in his blacksmith shop in Seibert, Co. sf^roM l!,B0G[n' BIACKSMruA $.H0P,.,,,,: r-.i.r:a'wd,::'i:. -.. !u rhooruj*h!'! rh. 3ld, tlrd v x. *esi hrnd THE BOGER BLACKSMITH SHOP T383 Frank Boger started his blacksmith shop in Seibert in 1929. It was built by Frank Boger, John Boger, Elmer Everett, and Jess Miller and was painted by Jess Miller. He was assisted in the shop by his sons, John and Vernis, for the first few years and then operated the shop by himself for several more years. Failing health forced him to close the shop in about 1937. The building is still standing on the south side of Highway 24 about one block east of Main street. The building is now owned by Twila Gorton. by Joyce Miller Statement from the Boger Blacksmith shop. VONA'S DOCTORS Dr. V.M. Hewitt T384 The Stories as told by Mrs. Hewitt: In 1923 after completing his medical education, Dr. J.T. Myers drove to Eastern Colorado in search of a spot where a doctor was wanted and a community of such that he would want to bring his family and make it a home. As he traveled he drove into Vona, a thriving little community, with two churches, several grocery stores, a lumber yard, bank, two grain elevators, a cream station, restaurant, hardware store, two hotels, two garages, and believe it or not a livery barn. Rock Island gave good service in and out ofboth passenger and freight. Yes, and the depot was well taken care of by the pleasant helpful agent. The post office was in the front room ofone ofthe homes, accessible to every one in town. It was later moved into a separate building facing the street which ran parallel to the railroad track. The crops had been good and looked favorable, so after talking to businessmen, of which S.L. Howell was chairman, he decided to locate here. S.L. Howell found a place for his family to live and in a short time after the doctor got settled in his office, his family anived October 10. The house was quite new and very nice, but there was no electricity, so the coal oil lamp was brought into use and for better light, the Coleman gasoline lamp. A small wood stove did a very good job of heating and cooking �too. There were no indoor toilets. but we did have water piped into the house, which was unusual for such a community. School was close by and all grades were taught. Within several months the men of the town got together and bought a Koehler plant, which was housed in a basement. if I remember right, and even if we didn't have but one or two lights on at a time we were happy with it. After sometime, K.C. Electric Company came in and then most everyone had accommodations of electricity. There were only two or three telephones in the town, ofwhich one was for the doctor. Out in the country there were very few phones and those that were there, the telephone wire was barb wire fence, but somehow in case of necessity, willing neighbors were on hand to give assistance if needed. Roads were not very good and out on the prairie it was mostly trails which led to one farm house then another and so on, so in case you were not familiar with all these trails you stood a good chance of getting lost, which happened many times. In wintery weather Dr. Myers many times went as far as he could by car, then some one would take him on in by wagon, sled, or horse to give medical aid to a sick patient or deliver a baby. One time when he was called out about eighteen miles or so and after giving medical aid to the sick he started home and was caught in one of those awful blizzards. He drove as far as the car would go, not knowing just what to do and realizing he couldn't stay in the car, he looked out into the storm and saw a dim light in the distance. He decided to take a chance and walk toward that light. Cold and half frozen he finally made it and there found a door opened to him, a welcome refuge, a warm fire, and a hot cup of coffee. After about thirty-six hours the storm subsided and he with the help ofthese friends, got the car dug out of the snow and he got on the way home. In the meantime we at Vona had had no word from him and all were very concerned as to his welfare, so the men got a posse together and started out to look for him. After going several miles they met him coming in, a wonderful relief to all, and thankful to God for his safe-keeping. Many were the experiences similar to this one, but there were also many happy times when we all got together for an evening of singing, homemade ice cream, taffy pulls, and popcorn. During these years the Doctor's health was failing and in 1928 he went to be with his Lord. About a year later the men of Vona were anxious to get a doctor to take Dr. Myers' place. One day Dr. Hewitt was driving to Denver; he stopped to get gas for his car and something to eat. Some one heard he was a doctor and the news spread like wild fire. Soon several men encountered him and tried to interest him in locating here. They advised him that Dr. Myers' office was intact and everything he needed was there and the rent was paid. After making several trips to Denver and back he decided to locate here. The news spread rapidly that Vona again had a doctor. Calls began to come more and more in town and out into the country. He was not acquainted with the country-life; having formerly always lived in the city, nor was he acquainted with the winding country trails that led over the prairie to some distant frame house or adobe hut. Therefore ignorant of these conditions, he would have some young man who knew the country, go with him on these calls or drive for him. He could be called out at any time day or night. Oft times when far out into the country he would stay hours with a sick patient or maybe a night with an expectant mother until her baby was delivered. Thus he grew to love these folk and knew them as no one else could. Many of these calls were very hazardous especially in winter when snow was falling or the wind blowing up a gale. Sometimes he had to be met somewhere with a horse-drawn sled or a pony to ride to get to the home of the patient. One day he asked his young man who went with him, "What in the world do people away out here in the country do, when someone is sick and desperately needs a doctor?" Hesitating a moment the young man said "Well, I guess they would have to call the doctor two or three davs ahead". by Mrs. Hewitt VONA'S DOCTORS T385 There were no hospitals close until a few years later, thus many minor surgeries were done in the office, such as pulling an aching tooth, setting a fractured arm, or shoulder, taking out a pair of tonsils, or opening and treating a festering boil or varicose ulcer. Sometimes he fitted needed glasses to one whose eyes needed help. In Vona the people recognized the need for some place for sick folk to stay while being treated daily for their ailments, so several homes were made available to fill such a place and also some were readied for an expectant mother due for delivery, especially in bad weather, til the child was delivered and both were cared for until they were ready to return home. Other homes were made available for older folk who could no longer care for themselves; they could in these homes find needed medical help and care. During the drought and depression of the thirties plus the terrible dust bowl days, the country calls were just as hazardous as in the winter blizzards. High winds, plus the droughts, blew out crops and left much of the prairie barren, even of a little grass. Cattlemen had to feed their cattle with feed thev hauled in or maybe drive some to distani pastures, or sell some in order to provide for his family. Money was scarce, but those who possibly could paid for their medical services and those who couldn't, would bring the doctor what they had, be it poultry, eggs, milk cream, or a pig, or whatever they had, you nrme it. It made a wonderful relationship between them and their doctor, one he never forgot; he loved them with all his heart. On one particular occasion after delivering a baby, he looked for something to wrap the baby in but found nothing, maybe just a few rags. On leaving after the care of the mother and child was complete, he reached into his pocket, pulled out some bills and gave them to the mother to buy some needed clothing. On another occasion a young man came to visit his brother and family, who lived north of Vona. He had heard much about the rattlesnakes or buttons on the tail of a rattlesnake and longed to have some, for some had any number of rattles or buttons depending on their age. One day while out hunting they came across a big rattlesnake. They tried to kill him but he made for his hole, and this young man, not knowing the danger or ways of this snake, grabbed his tail while he was going down his hole, thinking he would get those rattles. The snaked turned and bit him in the thick part of his thumb. The brother immediately rushed him to the doctor and treatment was quickly given, but the venom had already gotten into his system. The doctor worked with this man the rest of the day and all night and well into the next day, and finally won the battle for his life, but Iater on he lost part of his hand. Others who in one way or another were bitten by rattlesnakes, didn't survive for medical help came too late and these are the tragedies that grieve a doctor's heart. When rains began to come, grass began to grow and everything and everybody began to regain that cheerful, hopeful, upward look, which is so prevalent in these wonderful eastern Colorado folk. Hospitals were being built, roads and highways improved, many modern conveniences were made available, all of which made the doctor's life much easier, although he still answered calls be it day or night. He learned to love this country life and most of all he loved the people he had served so long and given them his best. He was a most capable physician; he knew his medicine, symptoms and treatment as very fewdoctors knewthem, and he was numbered among the best. As he realized his health was failing, he made one request, that his remains would be Ieft among the people he so loved and served. He died in 1957 and as he requested, he was buried in the Vona Cemetery. by Janice Salmans OTHER CHURCHES IN THE VONA AREA T386 In the early homestead days, church services were held in most of the countrv schools. The following established churches were also in the Vona area: Church of Christ, 13 miles north of Vona; A Catholic Church, 17 miles north and z/q west: Church of the Nazarene, 15 miles north and 1 west; and the Holland Church, 15 miles north and 2- % west of Vona, called the Dutch lst Reformed Christian Church. FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF VONA T387 The First Baptist Church of Vona, Colorado was organized July, 1912, after Rev. M. Hatch labored faithfully to unite the Chris- tian fellowship who became the fourteen members to sign the charter. They were: Messrs and Hubert Dawson; Dr. and Mrs. J.W. Thomas and daughter Irene; Mrs. Bertha Fuller; Mr. and Mrs. J.M. Thomas and daughter Jannie Mae; and Mrs. S.L. Howell. Jannie Mae Thomas Mumford was the youngest charter member and has con- �Stevens in March 1924. Brother Steadman led in his second evangelistic campaign, services long remembered for the 136 who came to the altar and the membership of the church was raised from 46 to 250. A quotation from the annual Church letter reads, "We have freed our Church from all debt, have First Baptist Church of Vona. tributed much of the data for this history. The lots on which the Church was built were donated by Mrs. S.L. Howell. The people were not able themselves to finance the construction of the church building, so a loan was secured from the American Baptist Home Mission Society and a mortgage was given for the same. Many years later, after much sacrifice and trust in God for provision, the debt was finally erased. Out of the experience came the purpose and motto, "We shall pay as we go henceforth." The services started in the shell ofthe building even before there was a floor, using the joists as seats for the worshippers. The Sunday School was organized as a union school in 1909 and met for classes in the school house. Later a Church was built on the hill, intended for use of the Union Sunday School but when it was dedicated as a raised the Pastor's salary to $1,500.00 and are planning to enlarge the church building. The average attendance at the Young Peoples' Class is 30. However, it was not until some years later the annex was started. In December, 1926, Rev. E.R. Clark was called here and served the Church until July 1928, to be succeeded by Rev. J.F. Starr in September 1928. Brother Starr continued as Pastor during the critical financial period of the "Dust Bowl" years. Nevertheless, during the ministry the annex was finally started and the basement completed. Money was raised from proceeds of ten acres of water melons harvested on the G.M. Ott farm north of Vona; by returns from ten acre harvests donated by various farmers; by a gift of $72.00 from the Calvary Church (a group of believers who assembled in the old Boger School, twelve and one half miles north of Vona until in 1931); and in addition, numbers of individual gifts of money and chickens. Because of hard times, the Church was disappointed in not being able to complete the building at that time. The financial wife brought a chapel car to the siding on the conditions had become so bad our Pastor and his wife doubled their pledge and voluntarily accepted a reduction in salary. Brother Starr accepted a call to the First Baptist Church in Golden, Colorado in June 1936. For several months, supply Pastors came to us, until in October 1936, Rev. W.L. Bledsoe accepted the call to the ministry here. He labored with us faithfully and patiently, finally inspiring us to proceed to the completion of the work on the Church building. He assured us that God would surely supply help, as he certainly did, for Rock Island Railroad and held meetings things were accomplished no one ever during the fall of 1912 and the spring of 1913. thought possible at the beginning. The annex Christian Church, the Baptist group separated themselves as soon as the Baptist Church was under construction. Mr. J.M. Thomas was elected Sunday School Superintendent and he served until 1918, when he moved away. He was succeeded by John Warrick, who led the school for nearly 19 years, and was followed by Chester Burd. After the charter was granted to the newly formed Church, Rev. M. Sangston and his Several converts were gained by the meetings and added to the Church to strengthen it. The first resident Pastor to be called was Rev. Ira J. Calahan, who ministered from 1913 until in February 1915. Recently a pulpit chair has been dedicated to his memory by the gift of his daughter, Mrs. Erie Colm of Ashsland, Ky. He serviced the church faithfully for three years until his death while still Pastor here. He was succeeded by Rev. E.L. Crane, State Missionary Evangelist of the Colorado Baptist State Convention. He served for one year, to be followed in November, 1916 by Rev. E.M. Lockhart who continued through 1917. Rev. J.L. Rupard began his ministry in June 1918 and served until June 1919. During his time here, he and his wife lived in the back part of the church, formerly the classroom of the Hi-Fliers Class. It was at this time the building ofthe parsonage was started. Brother James Davis held special meetings in 1918 and several new members were added to the church. In July 1919, Rev. J.C. Matthews came art Pastor and during his ministry of two years, the first meetings of the Eastern Baptist Association was held in Vona. Rev. E.M. Steadman, also held his first series of meetings during this time. Rev. B.I. Compton became Pastor in October 1921 and servedfor two veers. to be followed bv Rev. Charles was finished, providing a chapel, Sunday School room and Pastor's Study. The Auditorium was redecorated, installing a new ceil- ing, and the exterior of the Church was painted white. Both members and friends of the Church gave generously of time and labor until the Church was completed and building was dedicated on September 4, 1938. On this date, the 25th anniversary of the dedication of the original Church building, the new annex was dedicated. Dr. W.F. Ripley delivered the morning address, which was followed by a chicken dinner served to 130 persons present in the basement dining room. During the afternoon, the history of the Church was read by Mrs. E.B. Wilson, prepared by her and Mrs. Ray Deakin, the latter overseeing this present edition of our history. Greetings were received from Pastors and members not able to be present. Special music was rendered by a male quartet. Former Pastor, Rev. J.F. Starr of Golden preached the dedicatory sermon, and an address was given by Rev. W.L. Jaeger of the Colorado Baptist State Convention. Rev. W.J. Peterson of the Flagler Church led in the prayer of dedication. 147 persons attended the services. Brother Bledsoe continued to serve until in August, 1939 and was succeeded by Rev. George Thompson, who settled here in October 1940. Brother Thompson was one of our minist- ers ordained here. The ordination taking place November 12, 1940. While Pastor, he and his wife met with an auto accident in which her face was disfigured and she was left with severe nervous strain. With determined devotion, they continued until in January 1944. The two pictures: "The Three Wisemen" and "Christ in Gethsemane" were painted and donated by the art pupils of Mrs. John Hale. The Christian and American flags were donated by Lela and Imogene Burd in 1943. Special meetings were conducted by Evangelists Arthur Nyborg, Leonard Get- tings and E. Woody Hodson, the latter donated the large pulpit Bible used in the services so many years. Through their ministry, the Church was greatly strengthened so that it assumed full responsibility for its financial program. At this time the bathroom was installed in the parsonage. Splendid B.Y.P.U. programs stimulated large attendance under the leadership of Mrs. Thompson, the record attendance being 183. The Thompsons assisted the young people in publishing "The Ambassador: a newsy, spiritual monthly, primarily for the purpose of giving cheer and of lending spiritual support to "our boys" in the service. The Chester Burds helped to carry on this work until the war was over, also donating the mimeograph used for the paper. Several boys from our Church served in World War II in the armed forces of our country and an honor roll was kept in memory of them. Only one gold star appeared on the banner, and that for Wayne Adams who was slain in action. His memory is also honored in the name of the local American Legion Post - Adams Crum Post. During Brother Thompson's ministry fifty five were added to the membership, sixteen were lost by letter or death, and eighty three were dropped from the Church roll by revision of the Board of Deacons. Three Pastors have been ordained here: Rev. James Bennett, July 20, 1924; Rev. George Thompson, November 12, 1940; and Rev. V.M. Horton, June 1, 1947. Two others were to have been ordained here. but due to bad weather which prevented a sufficient number to attend, it was postponed to a later date; when Rev. W.J. Peterson and Rev. John Falconer were ordained at the Flagler Church, the latter under the direction of the Vona Baptist Church, December 16, 1926. Rev. Clifton McGlothlan came to the Church, April 30, 1944 and served here until September 29, \947. During his ministry the Primary Department and the Young Married Peoples' Class were organized. State Evangelist, Edwin Boone and Evangelist "Big" Jim Kramer held special meetings, and the Pastor also conducted a two week series of meetings. Brother McGlothlan preached once each month at two school houses, one north and one south ofVona. The church sent the Pastor as a delegate to the Northern Baptist Convention which convened in Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1946. Upon his return he urged the Church to support and cooperate with the Conservative movement. A back porch was added to the parsonage and a distillate furnace was installed. Up to this time Pastors had to provide their own stoves. A light was placed at the entrance to the annex and a piano was purchased for the prayer room. A lamp was also installed on the piano in the auditorium. Rev. Virsil Horton, a student enrolled at �the Rockmont College in Denver, came to the Church as Pastor, April 6, 1947. He was ordained here June 1,1947. On Januar5i lst, 1948, our church joined the Conservative Baptist Association of Colorado and pledge support from our undesignated missionary giving; 50Vo to Conservative Baptist Foreign Mission, 40% to Conservative Baptist State Mission, and l0% to the Rockmont College in Denver. Improvement to the Church included a built in kitchen, with sink, range and hot water heater; a new chimney and new baptistry. Evangelist Jesse Powers of the Fuller Evangelistic Foundation of California choral work, especially at Christmas and Easter. by Myra L. Davis VONA CHURCH OF CHRIST T388 held a series of meetings and there were thirty five additions to the church. Fourteen were dropped from the roll. Brother Horton was succeeded by Rev. Nihl D. Johnson, who began his October 1, 1948. Two of our young men enrolled in the Rockmont College in Denver in October 1949, they were Forrest Tanner and Wayne Gouge, the latter with his fanily residing in Denver. The Church voted affiliation with the Conservative Baptist Association of America, January 26, 1949. A new Church Constitution and By Laws replaced the former constitu- tion which were lost, January 25, L949. by Evangelist Roy R. Boese, who as a young walls white, building a shelter and steps to the back entrance and a new entrance door at the head of front steps; cement walks and steps were put in at all front entrances to the Church; a table was built and a cupboard loaned by Mr. and Mrs. August Carlstedt; a reed organ was donated by Mr. and Mrs. Robert Miller; an upholstered davenport and chair were donated by Mr. and Mrs. Harold Pickard; and a circulating heater was purchased to better heat the basement for gervices. Brother Johnson greatly improved the parsonage by contributing materials, redecorating the walls throughout and building in the kitchen cabinets and shelves. He also installed and contributed electric wiring and outlets for the Church's kitchen, a yard light as the rear entrance to the Church basement and installed a transformer and buzzer system for the Sunday School. Special missionary speakers were: Rev. and Mrs. Paul Okken of Belgian Congo, Africa; Rev. and Mrs. Bernard Von Ehrenkrook, Vona Church of Christ. The church located on the corner of East Second and Howell Street in Vona is known both by the term Church of Christ and/or Christian Church. According to the Sept. 15, 1923 Christian Standard, page 5, "The Vona Christian Church was organized in the fall of 1909 by Minister Gill, whose daughter, Mrs. John Collins, is still a member. The organization failed in 1916 and was not revived till the fall of 1919 when only five members could be found. For some few years they have been without a settled minister, but April of this year they were in a position to call David Graham to the charge. The membership now stands at forty-five." Some records were lost in a fire in 1955. The following has been partly gathered from memory and more recent records. On March 27, L9LL, Judge Elmer H. Haynes deeded the land to the Church of Christ. A building was constructed by volunteer labor pouring hand-mixed concrete to make the 8" inch walls with a small furnace room basement. The baptistry was built in with the platform. Mr. W.E. Melling designed and made the pulpit, communion table, and railing along the front of the platform and they are still being used (1936). David Graham, R.J. Frederickson, R.C. Turner, Dr. W.L. Straub served as ministers in the 1920's. Rachel Boast and Mrs. St. John also served in the early days. Ministers from Burlington and Arriba, William Sutton, Lloyd M. Green and Hany Bixel held afternoon services for a time in the 30's and ing the Moody Bible Institute film, "Dust or church basement and preached full time from January 1, 1941 to February 28,L942. Charles Baer preached some in the 40's. Mrs. Amelia Africa. Baccalaureate and Commencement services are held annually in our Church by the High School. Two annual Good Friday gervices have been held with communitywide participation. The choir under the direction of Leander Becker renders a real service in served an internship to the Christian Mission to the Chinese in Hong Kong and influenced Wong Yan Wing to come to the United States for Bible College and Seminary training. Wing is now back in Hong Kong, president of a Bible College he was influential in starting there. Clair and Karen (McArthur) McManigal were called to serve the Vona church after the Palmers left in 1972. The church doors were closed from Feb. 19TB through Dec. 1977. Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Palmer returned to Vona in Dec. L977 and again started having appointees of the C.B.F.M.S. to Brazil, South America; Rev. Robert Welsh of French West Africa; and other speakers were: Mr. William Ward, field worker of the Red Feather Lakes Conference; and Mr. Charles Wilson, show- Destiny". The Ladies Missionary Fellowship sends barrels and sacks of Whit€ Cross materials to the Okkens for use on the Mission Field in thur, and Paul Palmer. Karen McArthur served a summer internship to the Navajo Indian Mission in Arizona. Paul Palmer services on Jan. 15, 1978 with eighteen present. In the fall of 1983 and spring'84 the church members and friends lowered the ceiling of the building and installed a new lighting system and paneled the walls and did some painting. This improved the interior Special evangelistic meetings were conducted man lived in the area, from June 12th through the 26th, 1949 and from June 4th through the 18th, in 1950. These services met with fine success and attracted wide interest with good results from each series of meetings. Church improvements included redecoration of the Church basement by painting the these years the following members of the church went to Bible Colleges: Charles Baer, Hazel Burian, Rogeray Palmer, Karen McAr- 40's. Eugene Raymond Palmer lived in the Howell kept the Sunday School together many years when there was no minister to help. Brother Palmer returned to Vona in June 1948 and continued with the church through June 1972, working on the side to support his family. During this term of ministry there were at least 38 that made the good confession and were baptized and at least 18 others transferred their membership. Also during decoration and has helped with heating the building for services. Special gospel meetings were conducted in August 1981 by Elbert and Ruth Moreland, in September 1984 by Tom Weaver and Alan Barber, and in September 1985 by K.O. Backstrand and Alan Barber. Many other ministers and missionaries from various places have shared their time, talents, and message with the Vona church over the years. The church has had a large percentage of its younger people attend Colorado Christian Service Camp, also a number of adults, and has reached a lot of children in the area through vacation Bible Schools. The congregation has fluctuated during the years due to people moving in and out of the community, young people going elsewhere after graduation from high school, and the normal death toll. The church continues to have regular Sunday morning services with Bible School classes and worship service with communion and preaching. Frequent fellowship dinners and home Bible studies are also held. Eugene Palmer passed away Dec. 4, 1986. by Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Palmer THE NEW FRIEDENSBERG MENNONITE CHURCH T389 The Mennonite community south of Vona was mainly settled in the year 1907. Most of these folks came from the Avon. South Dakota territory, There the Mennonite Church is nnrned 'The Friedensberg Mennonite Church', meaning: Hill of Freedom or Peaceful Hill. Our Church was named The New Friedensberg Mennonite Church. Even the shape and gize was modeled like the South Dakota Church. A Charter for the New Friedensburg Mennonite Church was issued by the State on Nov. 18, 1910. In early 1912 the Church was dedicated by Rev. H.R. Vothof Kansas, and a English sermon was delivered by the �shattered by a loud grating noise descending down the wall. All eyes were turned to about the middle of the south wall. Soon we heard slight scratching noises ascending the wall. All was quiet for a while. But then again that loud descending noise, followed by that slight ascending noise. By this time Bro. Bergen was getting somewhat frustrated. Nobody was listening to his sermon. In rather a loud voice he said "Don't pay attention to the noise. Who ever is there is paying more attention to my sermon than you are". After the services we got hammers and New Friedenberg Mennonite Church. 17 mi. south and,2t/z mi. west of Vona Rev. John H. Epp of Hillsboro, Kansas. Rev. Henry U. Schmidt was our first Pastor. He was very instrumental in organiz- ing the New Friedensberg Mennonite Church. Rev. Schmidt was from Oklahoma, but had also lived at Avon, South Dakota previously. He deeded a four acre plot of ground from his homestead in the northwest corner of the northeast V+ - 10-48, for this Church. The Church designated that one acre on the south of this deeded land be divided into lots for a cemetery. In the early days this Church many times was filled to capacity of around one hundred. But so many homesteaders did not remain long. The attendance was very sporadic and usually declining in numbers. Rev. Schmidt served this Church until the first part of 1920. Rev. Schmidt sustained a grievous loss in the death of his wife in March of 1920, due to the birth of a little son and the death of the little boy a few days later. He, with the younger children left for Okla- homa, where He pastored a Mennonite Church for many years until he was well in his eighties. With the departing of Rev. Schmidt our Church was left without a regular pastor. We kept on with Sunday School and special programs and many times had a minister from our General Conference serve us once a month. Among those visiting our Church other than the Rev. Voth and Rev. Epp mentioned above were the Reverends Frey, Unruh, Regier, Harold Ratslaff, Richard Tschetter. John Barkman, John Esau, Derksen and others. Rev. Roy Boese, when visiting his relatives, would serve our church and also when he was pastoring the Vona Baptist Church, would give us a sermon numerous times. Eldon Boese would also give us a sermon when he was visiting his home folks. In the early fifties we had a regular Pastor in Leonard Ewert, who served us so ably. Later Rev. J.W. Bergen from the Mingo Mennonite Church, south of Colby, Kansas, served us very well once a month. It was during the Iate fifties, when Rev. Bergen was at our Church that the well known event of coons invading our Church occurred. The first episode of coons was an event that will not soon be forgotten. Few had ever seen or even knew that coons were in the vicinity. That morning we had a period of singing and a long time in Sunday School classes. Prayer to God was made on that beautiful quiet Sunday morning. Bro. Bergen was in the midst of an intense interesting sermon, when all of a sudden the quietness was screwdrivers and opened a small space in the wall where the noise appeared to come from. The beam from a flashlight revealed shining eyes from some little furry animals clinging to the top of the space between two studdings. We did not have to wait long. Soon that Vona School which was replaced by the present building. About 1918. loud grating noise descending, but this time the noise stopped at the opening, and out popped a cute Iittle raccoon, about the size of a half grown cat. Soon we had four of these cute kittens scampering on the floor of the Church. All of us were excited. We had to dodge the path of those coons as we and the coons clambered all over the floor and furniture of our Church. I don't believe any of us knew the behavior of raccoons. The boys finally captured the four kittens in gunny sacks, and they were taken home by some of the boys. The coons had dug a hole underneath the foundation. and somehow had found an opening between the studdings, and could reach the attic of the Church. The four little coons must of got trapped where there was no opening at the top of the wall. We piled rocks on top of the hole. The coons pulled the rocks away. We found one t..:' ,: 1920-1921 Vona School dead coon in the attic. So we left the hole open. We were afraid the coons may die in the walls where we could not get at them. In time we did not notice any evidence of coon activity so we piled more rocks atop the hole. That did not stop the coon activity. One Sunday morning what did we see but big bare Vona School in the 1950's spots on the roof of the Church. They had tried to go to Church again by crawling up the corners of the Church, and tearing the shingles off the roof. We could see the scratch marks on the west corners of the Church. We covered the two west corners of the church with sheet metal. The coons crawled up the east corners, and ripped off more shingles, so we covered all corners with metal. We have not noticed evidence of coons at our Church for several years. They are smart cunning animals. We will wait and see. Since the parting of Bro. Bergen, attendance at our Church, The New Friedensberg Mennonite Church southwest of Vona, Colorado had decreased until even Sunday School has all but ceased. It is a sad situation, indeed to see the seemingly end of worship at this Church, and the deterioration of a Church building. Building the Vona School Gymnasium in the 1960's by Wilbert Becker VONA'S SCHOOLS T390 As told by several of Vona's past and present citizens, Elmer H. Haynes: "The first School was held in the residence of E.R. Johnson, located Vr mile east of town . In the summer of 1889. Mabel Dascod was the teacher. During the fall, a frame building was erected on the Haynes homestead by the district. The school was erected on the hill about 300 feet north of the depot. E.H. Haynes was the teacher during the winter of 1889-90. Later the school was disposed of to private parties and a larger two-room build. ing built in the north part of town. Later this was sold and the present buildings, with the �*,.:,:i:,:a.- ''. .' :,,.f,,',,r,l;1 ;: Old Shop and finished symnasium ward to better things ahead. Mr. A.M. Boese cheerfully volunteered a number of acres in the southeast corner of his 160 acres known as the S.W.% of 33-9-48, 6 miles south and tYz west of Vona for the school. The school house was no sooner finished til plans were under way for celebrations. No holiday went by without pie suppers, oyster suppers, box socials, watermelon feasts, picnics in the summertime which usually had a high-spirited baseball Beme between the single and married men. The first year of school started in 1908 with Miss Emma Ligget as teacher. Miss Amber Palmer, a homesteader taught 3 years. They taught all eight grades with 30 to 40 children. This was District #47." Opal M. Boger: "In 1911, a small adobe brick building was erected 1% miles east of Carvey. (Carvey was located 16 mi. North and \Vz mi. East of Vonal) This was our school, District #42, commonly called Kechter. It was also our church, meeting place, and Hi-Plains Grade School, Vona. capacity of 200 pupils was built at the cost of $6,000.00, in 1917." Glen Howell "My first teacher was Ruth Bernett in the early 90's. I think she got about $10.00 per month. She lived on a homestead." J. Carl Harrison: "At that time (1930's) there were no consolidated schools. All country children went to one-room country schools. Only town children went to the town school. There were five country schools in the south Vona trade area and I think about the same north. Church and Sunday School was held in several of the country schools. Some of the first area teachers in the south were: Jim Barrett, John Matthews, Mr. Thompson, Marie Farquer, Blanche Johnson, and Carl Harrison." Harriet Mohr Ford: "Our school system now (1976) operated jointly with Seibert, has always had the distinction of being a school where you could be proud to have your children attend. It has always maintained a structure of education and morals above reproach." Horace Boger as told to Joyce Boger Miller: "The Boger School was a one-room frame building, built in about 1909 about l2t/z miles north and 1 west of Vona. It was later moved one mile to the east. The Unity Sunday School was also held here. Some of the first teachers were: Gailon Lewis, Vern Meyers, Sadie Dulmer, August Carlstedt, and William O'Seeley." Reflections of Arthur L. Boese: "In 1907 homesteaders began to trickle into this community. In the next two or three years all the land had been filed on with a house on every 160 acres . . The hub of this community centered in the Pleasant Valley School. A large sod building was put up with volunteer labor. I can see them yet, working like beavers with all the joy and satisfaction of accomplishment and always looking for- Rainbow Sunday School. Chris Heinrich was the Supt. of the Sunday School. In some school terms over 40 pupils attended. The first teacher was Miss Bessie Wilder. Others were: Grace Van Winkle, Ida Martin, and Wilma Ford. These were all local girls, daughters of homesteaders. Miss Wilder and Miss Van Winkle had homesteads of their own north of the school house and just over the county line in Yuma County.ln L922, a Iarge frame school house was built on the same corner on the opposite side of the road. Miss Estel Straughn from near Burlington was the teacher that year. Members. of the Board of Directors were: Jacob Kechter, Chas. Andrews, and Erastus Godfrey. Some of the family names of pupils in District #42 in the years 1911-1923 were; Achley, Atwood, Arthur, Atterbury, Andrews, Bolin, Calkins, Calhoun, Hagan, Hamilton, Gulley, Godfrey, Woods, Wilkerson, Wasson, Phillips, Kechter, Keeley, and others." Some other schools of the north Vona area were: Kerl School called West Point 10 mi. north and - located 2 east of Vona, Bowers School located 12 north and 41/z east ofVona or 1 -east ofwhere Mick Monroe used to live. Brownwood School west of the Brownwood - Vz mL Store, Seaman School and 1 west - 16 north of Vona, Hunter School near the Ed R. - and Vz mi. east Stahleckers or about 16 north ofthe town ofSeibert, and some adobe school buildings were: Progress 4 mi. west of Moffitts or 19 north and 5 -mi. west of Vona, Weakland 8y2 N. of Vona, and Rehor's - north School 17 and 1 west ofVona. Some other schools were: Flannigan School N.E. of Seibert 7 miles, Murphy School - 3 west and 4 north of Vona. Harmon School Seibert, and Solid Center North -of Stratton, Plainview East on- the river by Joe Brachtenbach, -and First Central and Second Central Schools located south of Seibert." Mrs. L.L. Grimes remembers some of the families that attended the Murphy School were: Borens, Youngs, Burcars, and the Grimes. There were many more. Violet (Fuhlendorf) Edmunds remembers the Plainview School was 9 mi. north of Stratton. and the Solid Center School was 9 north and about 3 west ofStratton as this is where their boys went to school, and the Hanson School (an adobe) was 3 miles east and 5 miles north of Vona, before the Ashview School was built. Then in 1916 Hanson was torn down and the Ashview School was built and was District #54. (Violet Fuhlendorf attended all her school years here). The first teacher was.Ada Sack, and the 2nd teacher was Mae Peterson. who sill lived in Flagler in 1986. Gwen (Salmans) Malone remembers: "Mv brother Kyle Riley stayed with us for awhile and went to the Ashview School in about 1945." Mrs. John Wigton remembers some of the schools south of Vona: "There wag the McConnell's School, the Green Knoll School North of Dean Wigtons, the Pleasant -Meadow School down on the correction line, and the Pleasant Valley School. Some of the teachers at Pleasant Valley were: Evelyn Olsen, Mrs. Tressel, Mrs. Elvina Ezra, Matilda Kliever, Mary Heinricks, and Mrs. John Wigton. We had all eight grades in one room, and the older children knew they had to get most of their work done by themselves so they just studied harder. The S.tate had a course of study for us to complete and we always got our finished by the end of the school year." Mrs. Harriet Ford says: "Our boys went to the Green Knoll school and one day a dirt storm came up so the teacher sent the children home. Well, the parents thought the kids were safe at school and the teacher thought they were home, but the boys got into Drake's grainery and hid till the storm was over. Mr. Drake found them when he heard them after the storm was over and sent them home." Wilbert Becker says: "In 1921 the District #47 of Pleasant Valley was consolidated with #68 and called #68." Everett Duncan who was on the school board of Dist. #36, Pleasant Meadow in 1948, when the schools consolidated intotown says: "There were three schools in Dist. #36 - (1) Pleasant Meadow 12 south, and 1 west; - south Spring.Creek 13 3 west; and - south andand Rose Dale 16 2 west of Vona. because the- district was so large. There was also a school called Lucky Point - 9 mi. south and lVz east ofthe Vona Road." Some teachers at the Progress School north of Vona were: Edna Bartman (Stahlecker), Myrtle (Cowgill) Shaw, and Margie Boren. A teacher at Murphy School was Daisy Frank- father. In 1948 when most of the country schools consolidated into Vona the senior graduating class was: Clarence Macon, Frieda Steiniger, Nedra Steiniger, Bill Edmunds, Arthur Tubbs, Virginia Herrell, and Kenneth Hubbell. In 1950 the state passed the School District Reorganization Act and a committee was appointed to reorganize the school districts, at this time Vona District #R-3, - were formed. and Seibert "District #R-2 When this happe4ed some of the buildings were moved into town and the equipment was auctioned'off. Thebuildings were used for the lower grades 1-4 and a lunch room.,.The teacherage house was once a country school. In 1963 a gyrnnasiurn was built and the school house was remodeled to accommodate grades K-12 and even had a Special Ed. room and library. On April Fool's Day in school year 1970-7I, the Seibert School burned and the high school students went to Vona. InL97L-72the grade school students went to Seibert from Vona, and Seibert's high schoolers went to Vona. They received their diplomas and took the class sneak together.lnlgT2-73, the high school moved to Seibert and the grade schoolers moved to Vona. The schools were called Hi-Plains High and Hi-Plains Grade School and retained their own District num- �bbrs,of 'R,2 in Vohe and R,3 irr Seibirt. In the fall of 1984, the Colorado l€gislative bodies notified the Seibett and Vona Dig' tricts that they would no longer.give egch district more state money than they would get if they were one district. Thig announce' ment took away all the advantages of .opera' ting together but remaining separate districts. The school boards: (Seibert) Carlog Arnold, lVilford Huppert, Terty Tagtmeyer, Ervin Jones,and Kelly Burr; and (Vona) Joe Gurley, Lyndell Salmana, $teve Miller, (Daryl) Pickard and Nean l;iebl, deciddd to hold a consolidation election. On Dec. 31, 1985, both districts passed the proporal, The Hi-Plains Dlsttict #R-23 wag created on ilan. 1, 1985. The new district's firut order of business wag to set up new director distticts, A five member board was elected to replace the original ten member boardl Carlos Ar' nold, Nean Liebl, Kelly Burr, Myra Devis and Ervin Jones. In 1988, the School Board was: Terry Clapper, Myra Davis, Vickey Eagleton, Ewin Jones and Janice Salmans. The Staff are: Elementary: Sherry Stone, Peggy Henry, Mary Molford, Terri Cooper, Nora Hubbell, June Guy, Carol Smith, TerrY Ingram, Dorthy Tanner, Mrs. Shaw, Barbara Thorson, Wanda Miller, Katy Burd, Madne and James Matthews, Dale Richards, Rick and Sherry Dykstra, and Wanda Cross, High School: James Smith, Diane and Steve McCracken, Jean Mrieon, Ronald Stone, Jerry Guy, Rita Ross, Lance Shaw, Judith King, Kerry Sayles, Melvin Lievin, Etma Boren, Janet Shotti Jqnice Niles and Slim Goodwin. bY rsnlce Sslnaas voNA GnADU-ATSF;9, ' 1918: Gtace Smith and Clemenza Carey. 1919: No record or no graduates. 1920: William Alexander 1921: Ralph Meisner, Robert Smith and John Falconer 1922: Emma O'Neill 1923: Bessie Snap and Alvin Ferris 1924: MaiY Haynes 1925r Fern Butler and Reba Edwards 19?6: Verna Sparks, Beatrice Strode and Oscar Sbode. 1927: Vernon Monroe 1928: Ftancis Burcar and Alice Miller 1929: George Card, Bessie Miller and Ena Molyneux Class of 1930: Mary Flanagan; Wilbert Becker; Helen Fredrick; Emmett Teal; Andtew Boese;.Iean Deakin and Minnie Kerl. Class of 1931: Arnold James Class of 1932: Wendell Starr Class of 1933: Jensen, Wilson, Warrick, Haynes, Heiken, Bigelow, Becker, Rush and Boeee. Class of 1934: Morgan, Braddy, Haynes, Bates, Heiken, Klassen, Weaver and Carey. Class of 1935: Carpenter, Lane, Kemper, Gagnon, Moser, Ferris, Shepherd, Deakin, Ancell, Adams, Haynes, Carlstedt, Bigelow and Wilson. Class of 1936: Pete Loopstra, Joe Kordes, teroy Fuhlendorf, Rose Tanner, Clara Boese, Arthur Summers, Eugene George, Ralph Tanner, Junior Carpenter and Abe Becker. Clags of 1937: Dorthy Smith, Alma Bigelow, Laurene M. Herrell, Agnes Dalgetty, Verl Monroe, Evelyn Swift and Lela Burd. Class of 1938: Robert Harrison, Doris Moser, Guy Harrison, Max Deakin, Clara Carpentet, Roy Howell, Louise Bigelow, Doris Klassen and Frank Swift. Claes of 1939: Daylon Larson, Hazel Adams, Harold Pickard, Samuel Lane, Ina Mae Moyles, \{alter Coleman, Georgia Carpenter, Floy Herrell and Robert Sharp. Class of 1940: James Loopstra, Raymond Summers and Hein Loopstra. Class of 1941: Wayne Fuhlendorf, Leona Pickard, Corananex Wilson, Maxine Carpenter, Wanda McDougal, Quentin Wilson, Leon Ford, Lucy Woller, Merlin Ford and Pauline Hubbell. Class of 1942: Alice Helderman, Eugene Elsey, Imogene Burd, Russell Lowery and James Inman. Class of 1943: Ed Carpenter, Forrest Jeffers, Leon Louis Carter, Forrest Tanner, Paul Inman and Reatha Lou Morgan. Class of 1944: Juanita Hewitt. Bob Ancell. Martha Woller, Doris Carpenter, Pat Ford and Robert Herrell. Class of 1945: Francis McCaffrey, Neva McCaffrey, Hazel Thompson, Helen Klassen, Glen Edmunds and Rose Ann Bigelow. Class of 1946: Kenneth Pickard, Robert Austin. Cornelius (Jack) Klassen, Lois Carpenter and Lucie Burd. Class of 1947: Ramon Ford, Betty Jean Howell, Thomas Burian, Shirley Summers, Irene Burian and Opal Fuhlendorf. Class of 1948: Bill Edmunds, Virginia Herrell, Kenneth Hubbell, Nedra and Frieda Steiniger and Arthur Tubbs. Class of 1949: Joann Ford, Margaret Shore, Paul Jackson, Rudy Card, Daniel Thompson, Darrell McCaffrey, Keith Yonts, Velma Pickard, Virginia Jackson and Norman Travis. Class of 1950: Virgil Schwartz, Norma Jean Monroe, Vaughn Monroe, Nora Mae Doughty, Charlotte Marleen Boese, Kenneth McCaffrey, Marvin Thompson, Richard McCaffrey and Kenneth Stoltz. Class of 1951: Roberta Coleman, Thelma Monroe, Betty Jackson, Eldon Boese and Dolores Kerl. Class of 1952: Everel Yonts, Harold Monroe, Robert E. McCaffrey, Daniel Hubbell, Lawrence Megel, Robert Edmunds, Harold Carlstedt, Edith Helderman, Bradford Doughty and Melba Mae Card. Class of 1953: Arlene Becker, Virginia Grimes, Bernita Stoltz, Colleen Eastin, John Webb and Joyce Edmunds. Class of 1954: Wendell Jennings; Keith Schwartz; Shirley Hendricks; Marjorie Schwartz; Mary Jackson; Duane Megel; and Earl Wilkinson. Class of 1955: Beverly Boese; Helen Zimmerschied; Arlene Thorson; Zelz Thorson; Melvin Edmunds, Benny Grimes, Duane Monroe: Jean Monroe; Walter Reeder; Paul Schreiner; Johnny Steininger; and Jaunita Thompson. Class of 1956: Fern Pickard: Eugene Patterson; Hazel Burian; Marilyn Corwin; Steve Card; Esther Reeder; Harry Covey; Donna Zimmerschied; Leroy Wolf; Clifford Reeder; and Loren Wilkinson. Class of 1957: Kay Ford; Gene Fredrich; Margaret Waldron; Jerry Megel; Gladys Lobmeyer; and Robert Eastin. Class of 1958: Anna Belle Jackson; Burleigh Becker; Ronald Eastin, Barbara Duncan; Sandra Stewart; and Chester Monroe. Class of 1959: Nels Thorson; Larry Lob- meyer; Donna Becker; Don Pickard; and Wayne Miller. Class of 1960: Virginia Duncan; Evelyn Fell; Agnes Helderman; William Eastin; David Miller; and Lief Thorson. Class of 1961: Douglas Becker; Marvin Becker; Deanna Browning; Ronald Fell; Carol Megel; Dewey Staatz; Wilbur Staatz; Linda Tanner: Albert Tubbs; and Donald �Kenneth Hinton, Keith Gurley, Vicky Waldron. Class of 1962: Jim Patterson; Karen Thor- son; Lany Eastin; Beth Hoffman; Marilyn Duncan; George Card; Loretta Fell; Reba Staatz; and Larry Gurley. Class of 1963: Larry Pickard; Glenn Schaal; Barbara Grimes; Linda Schreiner; Patricia Stewart; Gary Salmans; and Lowell Fredrich. Class of 1964: Joyce Boger; Carl Thorson; Daniel Tanner; Rogeray Palmer; Carol Ford; Bruce Vanatta; Betty Duncan and Donna Fell. Class of 1965: Lyndell Salmans; Janice Wolkensdorfer; Darlene Browning; Don Specht; Richard Harrison; James Krei and Terry Clapper. Class of 1966: Janet Austin; Linda Kasten; Avis Staatz; Mitchell Wright; Paul Palmer; Roger Harrison, and Robert Staatz. Class of 1967: Deanna Becker, Lany Burd; Chryl Clapper; Barbara Harison; Joe Gurley; Myron Vanatta; Margie Wolkensdorfer; Keith Wright; and Sharon Woller. Class of 1968: Don Gurley; Vickey Camp; Robert Kasten; Jane and Joan Ford; Evertt (Bud) Monroe; Chryl Pickard; Roger Paintin; Daryl Pickard; Karen Pickard; and Carlton Woller. Class of 1969: Rick Burd; Paula Clapper; Michael Curtis; Wanda (Walker) Cross; In Memory of Kelly Ford; Faith Peplow; Rita Pickard; Sharon Stewart; Nora Tanner and Virginia (Ness) Sechrist. Class of 1970: Debra Brinkoff; Lana Burd; Betty Cemp; John Miller; Daniel Mills; Nadine Wigton; and Charles Fell. Class of 1971: Jody Clapper; Stan Woller; Patty Kasten; Rod Burd; Peggy Harrison; Vivian Pottorff: and Ron Harrison. McCaffrey, Donald Walden, Kevin Jarnagin, Claude Rasmussen, Victor Harrison, Kenneth Tanner, Rosa Camp, Floyd Camp, Terry Hebbell and James Mason. Class of 1977: Cathy Levin, Jerry Clapper, Dave Marx, Carmen Dykstra, Marla McGriff, David Bowser, Paula Bancroft, Dale Mills, Margaret Mason, Carla Livingston, Lana Blackwell, Sherry Jones, Kerry Tagtmeyer, VONA PIIOTOS T393 ' '-:',i' ri:il, ',illa: Shari Gorton, Kathy Gurley, Rick Taylor, Eugene Tagtmeyer and Cindy Graham. Class of 1978: Lori Kasten, Jack Burian, Danny McCaffrey, Terry McCaffrey, Tracy Miller, Cecilia Hase, Clint Jones, Larry Tagtmeyer, Rhonda Cowen, Tim Clapper, Susan Woller, Myra McGriff, Alan Bancroft, Darrel Santala, Linda Mason, Mary Pelser, Lavonne Kranz and Don Graffis. Class of 1979: Walter Marx, Julie McCaffrey, Janet Miller, Chris Clapper, Tim Levin, Darlene McCaffrey, David Myers, Gerald Masters, Brian Blackwell, Julia Burian, Ernst Robinson and Bill Taylor. Class of 1980: Laura Jones; Gary Hansen; Lori Burd; LaVon Dykstra; Michelle Hat- Vona Lake located below what is now the Daryl Pickard home. Highway 24 would run north and south through the center of the picture. field; Mary Kasten; Jim Turner; Valerie Cochreham; Pam McCaffrey; Jeff Hase and Rhonda McCaffrey. Class of 1981: Chris Arnold. Robert Bowser, Victor Cockreham, Chris Harrison, Annette Hase, Konnie Herman, Monty Levin, Mike Livingston, Brenda Marx and Barbara Matthews. Class of 1982: Penne Boyd, Russell Burd, Michael Ford, Ilene Graham, John Hase, Judy Hobbie (O'Neill), Cynthia McCaffrey D.E. Musselman. wife and familv. and Gary Robinson. Class of 1983: Julie Arnold, Jay Bancroft, Bill Leabo, Mark McCaffrey and Cary Thorson. Class of 1984: Vinette Cockreham, Scott Edmunds, Ted Ford, Mike Levin, Ken HI.PLAINS GRADUATES 't[ Mason, Shawn Nelson, Bob Newton, Connie O'Neill, Ronnie Point, Elizabeth Strothman T392 Class of 1972: Sheldeana Jarnagin, Vicki Hubbell, Janet Livingston, KathrYn Schmidt, Sandra Smit, Nathlia Myers, Terri Taton, Daryl Aumiller, David Brinkoff, Charles Clapper, Wayne Graffis, Ray Reid, Rande Short. Robert Harrison, Ellsworth Pottorff and Ronnie White. The first class of Vona and Seibert combined after the fire in Seibert. Class of 19?3: Barbara Gail Burian, Joseph L. Burian, Doyle C. Atkins, Terri Bancroft, Donald Brinkoff, Rhonda Lee Csmp, Sandra Kay Curtis, DeAnn Kay Edmunds, Ana Silvia Ikana, Connie Sue Livingston, John Eugene Graham, Deborah Lou Hughes and Charles L. McCaffrey. The first graduating Class of the Hi-Plains High School. Class of 1974: Rebecca Myers, Joe Marx, Ellen Rasmussen, Randy Gorton, Janice Knapp, Marilyn McCaffrey, John Levin, Charles Turner, Janet Short and Jim Graham. Class of 19?5: Brent Hostettler, Danielle Hubbell, Carl Blackwell, Deanna Brinkoff, Bert McCaffrey, Rodney Bancroft, Janette Graham, Raymond Niles, Karen Viken, Alberta Marx, Larry Fox, Karen Monroe, Kim Edmunds, Cheryll Levin, Lorraine Tanner and Sandra Hughes. Class of 1976: Lynne Greer, Rick Dykstra, Arthur Tutner, Randall Herman, Laura Fox, and Debbie Wamsley. Class of 1985: Vanice Kay Cockreham; Charlotte Ann Cruickshank; Michael Terrance Hastfield; Stacy Ray Jones; Marty June Levin; Kimberly Kaye Liebl; Nancy Kay Miller; Michael Joseph Myers; Sharnell Dawn Nelson: Rita Joanne Strothman; Joel David Tanner; and Charles Lawrence Thor- Clara Howell by the Vona Cemetery. son. Class of 1986: Lisa Arnold; Steven Herman; Chris Huppert; Carol Mason, Pamela Matthews; Frank Miller; Duane O'Neill; Marla Peterson; Michael Smith; and Joan Wamsley. Class of 1987: Rhett Atkins; Kelly Broska; Kristy Burian; Bob Cruickshank; Dawn Davis; Jeff Hartman; Jeff Huppert; John Kalb; Bill Mason and Carie Thorson. Class of 1988: Caryn Arnold; Jqff Clapper; Velvet Cockreham; Jim Cross; Ahgie Fox; Jennifer Gurley; Andy Hase; Sharon Huppert; Robin Liebl; Ed Martin; Lance McAuley; Kirby Peterson and Scott Tovrea. A L923 view of Vona taken from the top of the elevator by M.D. Haynes. John Deere Equipment horse drawn in forefront, businesses along the south side of the now a days park. To the far right was the Depot. Behind it is the now Miller home. �*,: ,. '}ta \ g &'.gr..*{'F ' f. .,r $ ,s,:' :' 'i ; x * X Gwenith George, Verdie Elsey, ?, Queenie Ferris, Grace Perry, Emma O'Neill, Mary Haynes, Fern Butler and coach Violet Mun- ter. In 1959, Vona won the State Consolation Championship against Sierra Grande of the Class "C" in the E.C.C.A.A. tournament. The players were: "A" Squad, L. Lobmeyer, D. Miller, N. Thorson, L. Thorson, D. Becker, D. Pickard, W. Miller, B. Eastin, D. Waldron, M. Becker, and D. Staatz, manager, Coach Nichols. "B" Squad: G. Card, J. Patterson, A. Taken about 1910 from the north looking south VONA PHOTOS T394 Tubbs, R. Fell, D. Prickett, L. Gurley, W. Staatz and L. Eastin, manager. In 1963, Vona Football 8-man team: L. Fredricks, G. Salmans, L. Pickard, G. Shaal, D. Tanner, C. Thorson, R. Palmer, L. Salmans, T. Clapper, M. Wright, P. Palmer, R. Staatz and Coach Harmon, won the League Championship. The Basketball team that year was League and District Champs. "A" team: D. Tanner, C. Thorson, L. Fredrick, L. Pickard, G. Salmans. "B" team: L. Salmans, T. Clapper, G. Schaal, R. Palmer, M. Wright, P. Palmer, R. Staatz, and coach Harman. The 1984-85 sports season in both boys Carlstedt Restaurant football and basketball worked their way to the state semi-finals. In Football, they lost to Day Springs Christian in State playoffs. The team: J. Tanner, M. Meyers, C. Thorson, S. Towea, D. O'Neill, F. Miller, M. Hatfield, K. Broska, B. Cruickshank, S. Herman, S. Jones, M. Smith, L. McAuley, A. Hase, K. Peterson, B. Mason, J. Cross, Managers: T. Clapper, D. Towea, J. Guy, coach, Jim Smith, Assn't. coach, Roger Beottcher. In Basketball, they posted a 17-6 record on their way to the State tournaments in Colorado Springs. They won the East Central League title with an undefeated record. In the Third Place contest, the W.E. Melling, prominent early day resident, first mayor and a carpenter. Patriots lost to Aurora Christian, taking fourth place in State. The team: M. Meyers, C. Thorson, S. Herman, J. Hartman, B. J.J. Gladden Store. SPORTS T395 The first basketball team of Vona School was in 1922, consisting of: Bennie Stover, Bob Brown, Glen Drydale, Carey, Fogg, Bill BiIl Dawson Postmaster 1908-1914 Kenneth Fogg, Kenneth Haynes and the coach Jim Inman. The first girls basketball team, L922: Cleo Elsey, Susie Fuller, Onsita Chester, Harriet Mohr and Bessie Knapp. The second team: Crickshank, M. Smith, S. Tovrea, J. Cross, L. McAuley, B. Mason, coach Beottcher. In 1988, the sports fans watched the HiPlains Patriots host the 6-man State finals against the Arickaree Indians. They lost to the Indians giving them second place in the championship. Three helicopters from the Denver TV News landed near the field to record the game plays. (Channel's 4, 7, and 9). The team: Lance, Eric, and Kurt McAuley, Jim, and Mark Cross, Scott, and Dwayne Tovrea, Ed Martin, Kirby Peterson, Jay Clapper,, Andy Hase, Jeff Burian, Jim Salmans, Rob Kasten, John Guy, Marc Santala, Brad Currie, Phillip Anderson, Clint Hubbell �and coach Lance Shaw. Other sports played at the school were basketball boys and girls, track, baseball and one of the favorite of girls sports, volleyball. At one time soccer and tennis were even included. LIONS CLUB m WORTHWHILE EXTENSION TIOMEMAKERS CLUB T397 T396 @ t.NJ the roadside park, for the convenience of travelers, of which there are many, who stop to have a meal in our town. The ladies have, sponsored girls for Girls State, purchased chairs for the hospital, Little League Baseball suits, sponsored and paid for summer swimming lessons, provide Easter and Christmas treats for the school children, a fan for Grace Manor, sheets for the hospital, cleaned Band uniforms, clock for the hall, plants to the rest home, and numerous other worthwhile projects for the benefit of the surrounding community. In 1976, they won second place in the "?6" Clean Up Day, and were awarded a tree from the state, which is planted on the school lawn. Some of their popular donations and fund drives are the Easter Seals, Pennies for Friendship, Polio, Heart, Cancer, March of Dimes, Red Cross, and Boys Ranch. One of the popular places for their memorials is to Sitting L. to R.: Gladys Little, Billie Clapper, Mary Lobmeyer, Katy Burd, Harriet Ford, Sybil Burian, Nida Corwin, Velma Pickard, Gwen Salmans. Standing L. to R.: Edna Doughty, Fern Moffit, JoAnn Pickard, Jan Hadachack, Wanda Miller, Unknown, Agatha Grimes, Wilma Woller, Jenny McClelland. Vona Lion's Hall On the 16th of May, 1952, these members of the Vona Lions Club got together and formed their charter: Ray Ford, Frank Wilson, Merl Ford, Elmer Kerl, G.H. Herrell, Creed Browning, Herschel Salmans, Otis Watson, J. Hendricks, Andy Corwin, Louis Pickard, Michael Freeland, Willard Bowerson, Kenneth Pickard, Joe Zimmerscheid, Fred Wilson, J.H. Lobmeyer, Wayne Brin- give to the Scholarship Fund. The present day members and their membership follow: Pres., Linda Miller, 13 years; V.P., Sherry Stone, 17 yrs.; Sec., Nancy Megel, 3 yr.; Treasurer, Agatha Grimes, 30 yr.; Historian, Wilma Woller, 20 yrs.; Harriet Ford, 35 yrs.; Violet Edmunds, 35 yrs.; Edna Doughty, 30 yrs.; JoAnn Pickard, 34 yrs.; Marvel Brinkhoff, 27 yts.; Billie Clapper, 25 yrs.; Becky Harrel, 1 yr.; Shirley Grimes, 13 yrs.; Loretta Fell, 13 yrs.; Fern McCaffrey, 7 yrs.; Joyce Wamsley, 1 yr'.; Betty Davis, 15 yrs.; Virginia Hubbell, 15 yrs.; Rita Rueb, 14 yrs.; Myra Davis, 1 yr.; Barbara Matschke, 5 yrs.; Tanya Taylor, 3 yrs. TOWN OF VONA 1988 koff, Ambrose Hill, A.L. Boese, Robert T398 George, Jay Davis, A.W. Morgan, Lloyd Megel, Jim Pickard, John Murphy, Dr. Hewitt and Ray Roberts. Lw* One ofthe annual events is the Bingo booth at the fairs. The Lions have been instrumental in purchasing needed glasses for people of the area. The Lions Club and the Home Demonstra- tion Club donate time and money to the annual Vona Day and now its called homecoming. They help with the street events, donate money for the prize winning floats and announce the parade. The Lions club was built in 1954-1955 to house the Lions Club but also to furnish a place for the numerous community activities. In 1988, the members present are: Lloyd Briggs, Pres.; Dan Hubbell, V.P.; Rocky Stone, Sec.; Carl Matschke, Tres.; Carl Woller, Tail Twister; Steve Miller, 16 yr. member, Lyndell Salmans, Dick McAuley, Grant Iske, Larry Megel, Kenneth Pickard, Abe Fell, Pat Rueb, Merl Ford, (he was Sec. for 21 years), Mike Ford, Lynn Grimes and Paul Clapper. Bi Centennial Quilt Shown at Fair Booth In 1951, the Worthwhile Extension Homemakers Club of Vona was begun with the following Charter members: Katy Burd, Billie Clapper, Wanda Dasenbrock, Edna Doughty, Laura Dunn, Violet Edmunds, Harriet Ford, JoAnn Pickard, Rosie Reeder, Gwen Salmans, Charlotte Scothorn, Norma Young, Verna Hoffman, and Hazel Ford. The officers were elected as such: President, Violet Edmunds; Vice-Pres., Katy Burd; Sec.-Reporter, Wanda Dasenbrock; Treas., Harriet Ford; and Parliamentarian, Hazel Ford. Among some of the first activities were buying folding chairs for the Lions Hall, Starting the Mystry Pals, and a Halloween party, The ladies take turns cooking for the Lions Club, serving numerous funeral dinners and in the early years they served many Mother and Daughter Banquets. Some of the items they have helped to purchase were chairs, tables, park benches, park equipment, (o-ong which is the spring horse put up in memory of Hazel Ford), they helped fix the swings, a recent addition to the park is the basketball court and the new Gazebo, to accommodate picnicers. The ladies maintain The old Fire Department in Vona I lilr3 Jo U.S. Post Office in Vona, CO a^l ; rKrr l13l �Oasis Service. Tom and Nadine Burian Mainstreet view of Vona, looking to the south VONA, SOUTH OF IJWY 24 T399 '.,.ffi'"... The new Vona Fire Department Delts Fixing Shop, Ronald Delts Vona Grain Co. Lone Pine Liquor; and Video Sales. Jim and Francis Cemp �ON f,nmp Service. Jim Camp Fron Burllnglo!, CO, to soull oD Hfhrry 315 1 nlb, trr;l lYz ulhr, Wrlct for rljrr. Starting et'X Orval Burd Hydrolic Repairs. Orval Burd i::i,li' r'll. .'l:]i]. ,.j':ll ..]:,,:li liil',', :rrl, :tl-lt:.]::i:;;,i jr;'$ 'riltlf$r .:,'a,:: r.,!l,t.:iri: r,r$a ::r.. l. :::', t . i',:r'l' , t ,,., . ;:: ... , -, .. |.\ a\ tt I a5e otd,wr.g9tl � 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 Vona 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 Vona 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>