181 10 1803 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/16/433/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/16/434/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>