School Teacher Duties Questioned

  The Winchester Star, Nov. 16, 1945

A puzzling problem has been tossed into the lap of J.D. Everett, county superintendent. The question asked him by one of the school districts of the county is thus: “Is it the duty of the teacher or the janitor to ring the school bell?” It seems the two are loggerheads over which one should perform this task, and Mr. Everett is now studying the situation, preparatory to making his decision.

 

The Winchester Star, Nov. 30, 1945

J.D. Everett, county superintendent, has announced a solution of the bell ringing problem, tossed in his lap a few days earlier by a school district in the eastern part of the county. The problem arose when the teacher and janitor each refused to ring the bell, stating the job should be done by the other. Everett met with the school board, and after hearing, it was announced that the janitor hereafter would ring the bell. The decision was that the ringing chore is not a part of the teacher’s duties.

 

This story appeared in “Yesteryears” in October 2014.

Ozawkie Postoffice Robbed

  From the Perry Mirror, February 24, 1910

 The Ozawkie postoffice was robbed about 1 o’clock Sunday morning and about fifty dollars in cash and twenty-five dollars in money orders were taken from the safe. The thieves used dynamite in wrecking the safe and the people of the town heard two distinct reports. Nobody saw the thieves, although the dynamiting of the safe woke almost everybody in town. 

 

"West Side, Ozawkie, Kan., 1907"
from Ozawkie on the Delaware

The county authorities at Topeka believe that the men who robbed the postoffice at Ozawkie passed through, or are still in Topeka. A buggy occupied by two men believed to be the parties who wrecked the postoffice at Ozawkie, passed through Meriden at 3 o’clock Sunday morning just two hours after the robbery occurred and at 4:25 the same party entered North Topeka. A search of all the livery barns in Topeka revealed nothing and it is evident that the party did stop there.

 

This story appeared in “Yesteryears” in April 2003. 

 

Other papers included more details: 

 

The Oskaloosa Times,
Feb. 24, 1910

From the Valley Falls New Era, February 24, 1910

 

Saturday night the Ozawkie postoffice, location in the Ford Quiett store, was entered and robbed, more than $200 being taken from the postoffice safe.

 

It is supposed that two men were implicated in the robbery, which occurred about one o’clock. Fred Littlejohn and son were across the street in the Frost residence and stated early Sunday morning that they had noticed the men in the building and had heard the explosion, but didn’t notify any one of the facts because they “didn’t want to get mixed up in the affair.”

 

The robbery was discovered by people returning home from a country dance. “Shorty” Clark noticed the door was open and tried to close it, but discovered it was out of plumb. He struck a match and noticed the damage done inside and the safe, which had been blown open. He notified others and the sheriff was notified.

 

The men were traced west of Meriden, and later to Topeka. U.S. postoffice inspectors are working on the case.

 

 

Dunavant Depot Sold

  The Oskaloosa Independent, March 5, 1926

Dunavant, Kansas

The "irony of fate" is seen by some in the sale of the Kansas City — Northwestern railway depot at Dunavant, Jefferson County, which soon will be turned into a filling station to supply gasoline for the motor car which doomed the railroad to the junk heap. The sale of the depot, announced this morning by W.W. Hooper, is the first of any property belonging to the defunct company outside of Wyandotte County. Judge McCabe Moore, Kansas City, Kan., has sold some of the buildings in Wyandotte County. Mr. Hooper sold the Dunavant depot to E.L. Burdick of Nortonville. It is Mr. Hooper's understanding that Burdick will move the depot to Nortonville and put it into use as a filling station. Dunavant and Nortonville are connected by a hard surfaced road and it is believed the building can be moved by truck with but little trouble.

 

Mr. Hooper will leave tomorrow morning for a trip over the road. In each county through which the road passes Mr. Hooper will stop at the county seat and engage a local attorney to take charge of the disposal of the right of way. At Oskaloosa Mr. Hooper selected Horace T. Phinney. Other selections have not been made. However, wherever the company had a local attorney, that attorney will be given the preference, Mr. Hooper said. There is a blanket mortgage over the entire right of way and negotiations will be entered into with landowners to clear up this mortgage. Where the company holds fee simple title, the land will be conveyed by deed. Mr. Hooper expects to be gone several days. He believes it will require about eight months to wind up the affairs of the company. The rails are to be sold as junk. (Leavenworth Times)

 

An advertisement from the
Valley Falls New Era, Aug. 3, 1916

 This story appeared in “Yesteryears” in April 2015.

50,000 Old Soldiers (1890 Reunion)

 From the Meriden Weekly Tribune, November 27, 1890

The Tenth Annual Reunion of the Veterans at Topeka next month will be the largest and most important gathering of old soldiers ever assembled in Kansas. Judging from present indications, the committee estimates that fully 50,000 old Soldiers and Sailors will attend the Re-union.

 

Several hundred large tents are being put up on the State Fair Grounds, and the local committee are making preparations to receive and entertain their visitors in a manner every way worthy of the generous hospitality of our Kansas people. The camp will be laid out by States, and one day will be given to the formation of State Association and to Regimental Re-unions.

 

The President of the United States, Gen. Harrison, and other eminent soldiers and statesmen will be present and help entertain “the Boys in Blue.”

 

Col. Forsythe of the U.S. Army, with several troops of cavalry, artillery and infantry will participate in an exciting sham battle, bombarding and blowing up Fort Fisher at night.

 

The jollifications will commence on October 7, and continue four days and nights – mostly nights – when fireworks, sham battles, campfire stories, and foraging will be the order of exercises.

Gen. Alex. McCook will address the Re-union of the Army of the Cumberland.

• An interesting programme every day with cavalry and artillery drills, dress parades, &c.
• The Veterans wife and family will have special accommodations provided.
• Tents and Barracks, Wood, Straw, Water, Lights, etc., free including the freedom of the city.
• Half fare on all Railroads.

 If you have any doubts as to the foraging, address Maj. T.J. Anderson, President of the Committee of Forty-three, Topeka, Kansas, for further information.

 

This story appeared in “Yesteryears” in April 2012.

Automobile Ride, 1908

The Meriden Ledger, May 7, 1908 

1908 Rambler Touring Car

Dr. Marks, with three ladies and a gentleman, rode out over our roads one evening last week just at dark in his big Rambler automobile, it all lighted up to perfection. Telephone messages ran ahead of them announcing their coming and the farmers were out looking at a nice scene. Now if our horses will only behave themselves, let them speed away. 

This story appeared in “Yesteryears” in April 2013.

Atchison, Oskaloosa & Lawrence Railroad

From the Atchison Daily Patriot, June 3, 1869 

An election to take place on the 2d day of August, to determine the question of Atchison county subscribing one hundred and fifty thousand dollars to the capital stock of the above named railroad; in fact, the question is, shall this road be built — for if Atchison county does not do its part, and do it now, this road never will be built. Leavenworth, foreseeing what our system of railroads will accomplish, if successfully carried out, is bringing to bear every influence in her power to delay, and if possible to defeat, the building of this road, and the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe railroad. 

As is known, Jefferson county has voted one hundred and fifty thousand dollars to each of these roads, and Leavenworth has succeeded in getting up litigation over the Jefferson county bonds, hoping thereby to delay, and finally defeat, both enterprises. 

Our Leavenworth neighbors are sore pressed, and men in such straights will make desperate efforts and take any risks.

The argument they use in Jefferson county, and particularly at Oskaloosa, is, that if the bonds to both roads can be defeated, they can change the terminus of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe road from Atchison to Leavenworth, and build by Oskaloosa, and thereby save to the county one hundred and fifty thousand dollars — as they will only ask that sum — and defeat the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe road, and kill off Grasshopper Falls as a rival of Oskaloosa. And, in order to make the dose palatable, they assert that Atchison never intended to help build the Atchison, Oskaloosa and Lawrence road, but only got that up as a trick to get bonds voted for the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe road. By these means, they induced some of the people in the vicinity of Oskaloosa to join them in an effort to defeat the bonds to both roads. 

But since our county board has ordered an election in our county to aid this road the people of Jefferson county begin to see the trick on the other side, and the opposition to the bonds in Jefferson is fast giving way, and if Atchison county votes the bonds, all will be well, and both roads will go on in spite of Leavenworth. 

The Lawrence people have also been talked to by Leavenworth, and they are waiting to see what Atchison does. They promise to do as much, or more, than Atchison; and if they do the Atchison, Oskaloosa and Lawrence road can be put under contract at once, and built within the next year. 

 Shall we vote the bonds? By the terms of the subscription we issue no bonds unless the road is completed — and in my judgment we ought to vote the bonds. 

With the bonds, I believe the road can and will be speedily built, and will pay Atchison better than any of our roads. It will do us more good, because it does Leavenworth more harm, and their people see it, and hence their efforts to defeat it. 

More hereafter. 

        T. 

This story appeared in “Yesteryears” in April 1988.

Talking Picture in Oskaloosa Theater

The Oskaloosa Independent, March, 21, 1930 

W. A. Payne has equipment ready for DeLuxe. 

Hopes To Have Installation Completed by Saturday, the 29th, But Has Considerable Changing To Do. 

Oskaloosa will have talking pictures by Saturday, the 29th, provided installation troubles do not cause delay according to W.A. Payne, DeLuxe Theater owner. Mr. Payne has his “talking” equipment purchased and in his theater, ready to be put in. 

Considerable changes must be made, however, in the building, before successful operation. A sound-proof booth for the machines must be built and the walls and stage lined. The talking-picture machines are on the vitaphone principle. Disks which correspond exactly with the film rotate, like a phonograph; and a fader cuts one machine in and the other out, as the film goes from one picture machine to the other. An electric pick-up sends the sound from the disks through an amplifier into a speaker which throws the sound into the theater. 

There is only one way to get good results in talking pictures, Manager Payne says, and that is to try it out and correct the defects. Until the machines work to the satisfaction he will not start the talkies, but hopes to have things in readiness by next Saturday night. 

NOTE: Apparently he did not get satisfactory progress as it appears the talkies opened in Oskaloosa on April 4, 1930, with “The Phantom in the House.” That was followed on April 11 with “The Rampant Age.” 

This story appeared in “Yesteryears” in April 2015.