Greenwood County
KSGenWeb
Beginning with the January 1 issue, the Herald subscription was increased to $2 per year. The Hamilton Grit was now published by O.E. Trask, formerly of Madison. Oil companies were planning to spend millions in Greenwood County that would surpass anything in the state. A forest of oil rigs was appearing. The town was rapidly filling up with oil men and their families. The big rush was on, a small army of men was at work laying pipe, the roads were lined with trucks hauling in equipment. The Chamber of Commerce was host to many oil operators at a dinner and dance.
The Pioneer Bank opened for business in March with M.W. Allen as manager. The overall epidemic had struck Eureka in April. The most violent cases were from the high school - girls even felt the call to arms and decked out in gingham aprons. Downtown, the disease struck some business houses but in mild form. The clerks in the Barger grocery store set the pace by wearing bib overalls. W.R. Dennis was in the roll of chief diasticutis of the overall club. A cyclone struck Eureka on May 2, leaving destruction in its wake. Damage was estimated at $200,000.
Geo. E. Callen of Pittsburg joined the Herald force in June as business manager. J.F. Darby resigned as court stenographer and was to practice law. Stock was being subscribed for a country club at $200 per share. A site, 60 acres, was purchased northwest of town. Eureka city had a population of 2,600 and the county, 14,715. The auto population was 2,010 with 103 trucks.
The Madison Elevator burned in October. Dr. R.W. Moore moved to Eureka on December 1. Warren Harding was elected president of the United States. Dr. E.W. Fitch was the new veterinarian in Eureka. The American Legion minstrel "Hoop La" was featured in December.
Production from the wells in Greenwood County was rated at 4,500 barrels per day. Test wells were to be drilled near Severy.
John Coleman had opened a furniture store in the Crebo building. The Eureka Steam Bakery won first prize at the Bakers State Convention. The first calf club was organized when nine boys and two girls took 11 calves to compete for the best baby beef at the state fair in Topeka. The organization of a woman's athletic club in Eureka was very popular. Fifty women joined the club while their husbands were taking intensive training at gold to keep in fighting trim.
A new $10,000 annex was being built for the Hotel Lyndon. The new building, larger than the original, would be connected to the old building by a lobby. Drs. Cheney and Cheney installed a new x-ray machine in their dental parlors. Eureka's first airplane came to town on May 20. Ross Jackson bought the plane and came home with an experienced aviator, who was to teach him to fly.
W. Mitchell opened a new bakery in the Hodgson building. The bread was called "Purity Bread." The Eureka Baseball Assoc. completed the construction of a grand stand and players' dugouts at the ball park. The stand would accommodate 300 persons. The Lawson-Noble Motor Co. was the new Dodge agency located at 120 W. First Street.
The contract was let for building the country club house. It was opened with a reception and dance on Thanksgiving Day. Clay C. Carper formed a partnership with O.C. Zwicker. A tourist camping ground was being prepared at the city park around the bandstand by the Legion boys. A new business opened to be known as the Service Transfer Line. Walter Woods and E.C. Higgins were doing general freight and transfer business by means of automobile trucks.
The new Lutheran Church, ten miles northwest of Eureka, was dedicated on November 26. The Thrall well caused a stampede among lease buyers. Oil operators were busy in both Virgil and Climax.
The water supply was exhausted at the city reservoir and water was being pumped from the river directly into the mains. Users of city water were notified to boil all water used for drinking purposes. County officers located a still about nine miles northeast of Eureka. They found a copper still, four full barrels of mash and a five-gallon glass bottle filled with corn whiskey and other paraphernalia, besides the two culprits.
A $50,000 high school was to be built at Reece. A big play by oil operators was expected in Greenwood County as hundreds of wells were proven. The Sallyards, Climax, Virgil, Teter and Thrall pools were to receive the most attention while new tests would be drilled elsewhere in the county. Eureka's first Community Sales Day was held Tuesday, April 11. In connection with the local business men's trade, a public auction was held with livestock, farm implements and other articles sold.
A site was chosen for the new west side grade school. It was to be erected on the east side of Walnut street between Fifth and Sixth streets. The first women to serve on a jury in Eureka were called to sit on a case. Kansas courts had been slow in calling members of the fairer sex for jury duty. A $50,000 corporation, the Driller's Supply, was organized. W.E. Doud razed the one-story frame building adjoining his seed house on West Second and was to erect a new building on the lot.
"High School Banner" the Eureka High School publication, ranked second among schools with an enrollment of 300 or less. Dr. W.T. Grove was erecting a two-story building at the corner of Third and Elm streets. The architectural design would permit a third story and elevator equipment to be added.
Eureka's first radio show was held at the Princess Theatre on June 7. The audience listened to the Kansas City Star's Radio Party. The concert was heard distinctly although the summer static was bad at times. Harold Sears was in charge of the new radio receiver. J.W. Parmerlee had purchased a half interest in the Princess Theatre from L.A. Wagner. Fire gutted the Commercial Hotel, erected 50 years ago (1872) on the corner of Main and First streets. The building was being rebuilt.
A petition for 42 blocks of paving had been approved and it was expected that 60 blocks of pavement would be laid in Eureka during the fall and winter. The city already had 10 miles of paved streets. The church members of the Congregational Church, Third and Elm, voted to build a $25,000 addition west of the present building. E.E. (Pat) Pedroja, formerly of Hamilton, located in Eureka for the practice of law and was associated with Homer V. Gooing. An old curfew ordinance was to be enforced and a curfew whistle was to blow at 9:00 p.m.
The cornerstone of Eureka's new $60,000 Masonic Temple was laid on January 1. It was hoped to have it ready for occupancy by May 1. With 150 oil wells drilling, Greenwood County was the busiest spot in the Mid-Continent field and Eureka was the busiest spot in Kansas. The installation of Eureka's first radio transmitter made it possible for Eurekans to send a radio message to any part of the United States, Hawaii or Canada. the call letters 9CPV were assigned to the station. It was not licensed for broadcasting but belonged to the American Radio Relay League. Eureka's radio headquarters were to be at the Hartenbower Auto Supply.
A motor stage line service had been established between Eureka and Wichita with service each way twice daily. The motor buses were enclosed cars with a capacity of eight passengers. The line was greatly needed since the Mo. Pac. passenger trains taken off during the war were never put back. The Easter Kansas Power Co. had a force of men engaged in building the high tension line between Hamilton and Madison. Phillips Petroleum Co. built a water line from the Verdigris river for adequate water supply for drilling purposes in its holdings in the Seely, Burkett and Thrall fields.
Carpenters were busy remodeling the building recently occupied by the Hudson-Essex agency on South Main for a new picture show house. The new show house, named The Regent, was to be operated by S.F. Meade and Son. The first show was expected to run on April 1. The Midland Oil & Gas Co. was preparing to build a fine gas and oil service station at Seventh and Main, just west of the Lyndon Hotel. Beginning on April 13, cars had to be parked at the curb and parking in the middle of the street was discontinued. Members of the American Legion worked at washing and marking the streets to comply with the new regulation, which made Main street look more broad and business-like.
The new school building was dedicated in honor of Miss Edith Random. Pupils from the Baptist Church, the library and Walnut street school took their books to the new school to begin classes on Monday, April 30. The population of Greenwood County was 17,068. The new City Drug Store opened November 20 with Dr. Morris and his clerks serving the audience with ice cream, flowers and cigars.
Climax became incorporated as a city at the board meeting of the county commissioners on December 3. In a big drive on bootleggers, Greenwood County officers captured three stills and much bootleg whiskey intended for holiday trade.
The first meeting of the new Chamber of Commerce was held February 20 and the constitution and by-laws were accepted. The membership count was 140. Greenwood County was making an experiment in road building that seemed highly satisfactory. A portion of the material used was river gravel with considerable dirt binder therein and covered with clay. The Eureka postmaster had received word that city delivery mail service had been authorized for Eureka, starting July 1. Eureka had previously been under village delivery. The parcel post delivery service inaugurated March 1 had been a big help.
The Eureka baseball club was the strongest in the Southwestern League, financially. This was largely due to the enthusiastic support of fans in the Greenwood County oil town. Harry Campbell established a bus line from Eureka to Howard and return each day, with stops at Climax and Severy. The county commissioner purchased a new Monarch 1830 tractor and put it into service on light road work and maintenance, working as an assistant to the drag men. County engineer R.L. Marlin also was trying out a new highway maintainer.
Eureka was to have a big supply of gas. A pipeline was completed to the edge of the city and work on the local plant was underway. Greenwood County's assessed valuation in 1924 was $53,629,140 - or about $8 million more than last year. Most of the gain came from increased values due to oil, an increase in valuation of railroad property and utility company increases.
The Eureka Herald opened a contest to get new subscribers. The grand prize was a brand new 1924 model "Special Six" Studebaker touring car, and six other prizes including diamonds, radio, watches, etc. The S & H Bakery opened for business. The Bell Telephone Co. was adding new equipment to handle 200 more private line phones at the Eureka exchange. Eureka celebrated Armistice Day with a patriotic program and the dedication of the new Memorial Hall recently completed behind the courthouse to the west. A new standpipe of 180,000 gallon capacity was purchased by the city to supplement the 90,000 one then supplying the town. It was placed beside the other one on the hill north of town.
Main street flashed out in splendor for Christmas, with colored light bulbs in place of the usual white lights for street lighting. Evergreen trees also were set along the curbing. The Congregationalists of Eureka dedicated their beautiful new church building at the corner of Third and Elm streets on Sunday, December 21. By order of the mayor, a tree was taken from the city park, placed in one corner of the courthouse yard and decorated with colored lights for the Christmas season.
A drilling campaign of greater magnitude than anything in Greenwood County since oil was first found within its border, was underway with the north half of the country in the spotlight. eureka was to have an ice cream factory, located at 109 - 111 West First street and was to be a supplement to the present plant known as the Eureka Bottling Works. The new concern would be called the Eureka Ice Cream and Bottling Co. Eureka city was the hub of three federal aid projects for the improvement of dirt roads within the county. H.A. Bonnell constructed a mill and elevator at Climax at a cost of $12,000.
Ed Milliken built a new garage at the corner of Oak and Second streets and C.E. Souders bought the building occupied by the Milliken Garage. At a meeting held by Eureka merchants, it was voted to inaugurate a series of special sales days in eureka, once a month. It was hoped to attract many visitors to town, In addition, an auction sale was to be held as an attraction to farmers. The Methodist people were rejoicing in the completion of their new parsonage at the corner of Sixth and Oak streets.
Greenwood County maintained its lead in crude oil production for all Kansas counties, it produced 848,000 barrels of oil with Cowley second with 621,000 barrels. The banks of Greenwood County were generally recognized as among the strongest in the state with 375 prominent citizens owning stock in 19 banking institutions. Eureka was experiencing a water shortage. The water superintendent announced the city had enough water to last two months.
The members of the Christian Church at Reece had completely rebuilt their church. A fine basement had been built, the auditorium dedicated and beautiful pews provided. J.H. Wiggins of the Wiggins Mortuary had purchased a fine new limousine hearse, on of the latest creations in funeral cars. It was the first one of these new cars brought to this territory. An entirely new system of athletics and physical training had been inaugurated in the Eureka schools. This year, a full time physical training instructor and coach was hired with fine results. The Kiwanis and Lions clubs staged a Booster Day for Eureka athletes to give them the needed financial help. The members of Christ Lutheran Church dedicated their new church on December 13.
A new $10,000 business building, fronting Third street opposite the courthouse would house a new milking station and have a rooming house on the second floor. The milk station was to be known as the Eureka Milk Products Co. and absorbed the Jackson Dairy. It would stand on the site of the White Front Cafe which was gutted by fire. The Souder-Martin Clothing store was to open March 1, to be located in the building formerly occupied by the Star Barber Shop and the City Cafe.
Ralph Lawson, Buick and Chevrolet dealer, was breaking ground for a new garage on West Fourth. More convenient long-distance telephone service was being installed by the Southwestern Bell. The Jenne building on East Fifth was nearing completion. It was to contain a meat market, a Frigidaire agency, a plumbing shop, storage and a two-room apartment. A new law firm, Jackson, Forbes & Smith, was established with offices in eureka and Topeka.
A new civic organization was born to be known as the Eureka Civic League for the purpose of studying utility problems. Beginning May 3, the Herald was to be published semi-weekly, on Mondays and Thursdays. If successful as a semi-weekly, there was a possibility there might be a daily, providing the citizens would support one. Allie Dimick had rented a room in the Jenne building for a Chrysler agency. The city water superintendent was instructed to make immediate investigation into the source of refuse oil and other matter finding its way into Fall River and polluting the stream.
Formal opening of the Eureka Drug store in the Moore building was announced by R.C. Morris, who also owned the City Drug. The city commission was putting teeth in the traffic laws. More police were added and ordered to make arrests and give fines. The speed limit was 12 mph and no cut-outs were allowed. Policemen were stationed at corners to arrest those not stopping at the stop signs. Offenders were presented with a ticket and police judge C.C. Carper did the rest, the fine was $5 for the first offense and $15 for the second arrest. So far, no second arrests had been made.
The first paving was to be laid in Climax. Work was started on the $75,000 mausoleum to be erected in the northwest part of Greenwood Cemetery. A new $15,000 business building was to be erected in the block east of Main street on Fourth, to be the new home of S & H Baking Co. M.J. Aley, owner of the Regent Theatre, had purchased the Princess Theatre from L.A. Wagoner. New modern machinery and remodeling were to be done to the building before reopening. L.C. Baird opened his furniture and undertaking business.
The formal opening of the Arthur Crouch Motor Co., agents for Willys-Knight and Overland, was held at its location in the Hale building on East Third street. The new Wiggins building, erected by J.H. Wiggins at a cost of $25,000, opened. The ground floor was to be occupied by a furniture store. It boasted a 27-foot show window.
New management (Louise Bacon) opened the Waffle Shop on West Third street to the rear of the First National Bank. The first gravel work on the county roads was to begin March 18 on the Eureka-Climax road where more than a mile of highway was to receive hard surfacing. Carpenters and painters were busy giving the final touches in the conversion of the old West Side stone school building into an up-to-date hospital. The new hospital to be know as "The Community Hospital" was privately owned by Miss Lucy Spohler Coll, who acted as head nurse.
One of the worst fires in Eureka's history burned in the Krebo block with an estimated damage of $100,000. El Dorado fire department helped save the town from the fire which started in the basement of the Red Owl Drug Store. Eighteen businesses and offices were damaged or destroyed. The building was being immediately rebuilt. The population of Greenwood County had increased to 20,613. Eureka's population jumped to 4,063, an increase of 481.
Madison's paving had started with alleys surfaced with concrete and some on Madison Avenue. R.G. Jackson was the first Eurekan to secure a pilot's license. A new law firm, Harris & Son, opened in Eureka. Eureka's prosperity was reflected in the growth of the telephone plant. Only one other city, Hot Springs, had more telephones per capita than Eureka. The Eureka town-lot oil play was rapidly gaining momentum. Rigs were up on the Colvin and Clogston leases in the heart of town.
Contrary to the general belief that taxes would go higher and higher with each year's levy, the situation in Eureka was exactly the opposite. The city tax levy had been on the decrease for two years. The city levy in 1925 was 21.4 mills and the 1927 levy was 18.8 mills. The Greenwood County Fair and increased traffic gave local officers a chance to see how the new "No U Turn" ruling was working. The signs were at the city's busiest tow corners, Second and Third on Main, and would probably be extended to First and Fourth streets. The marker at Second and Main was demolished by a motorist who failed to obey the order.
The August 4, 1927 issue of the Eureka Herald was printed on a new Duplex High Speed Web Perfecting Press, taking the place of the old Cranston drum cylinder which had served for many years. With the installation of the new press, the Herald appeared as an 8-column paper, the new machine being much larger than the old one. The purchase of the press represented an investment of thousands of dollars and proved the faith in the business and citizenship of the community which the Herald has served for 59 years.
The Herald was sponsoring a model "Home Beautiful" to be situated on the southeast corner of Second and Myrtle streets. Local merchants were contributing merchandise to make the building a success. The Cartwright building at Sixth and Main opened with a dance. The Simons Sales Co. was to occupy the first floor and the second floor had office suites and a large hall ideal for dances and lodge work.
The small bungalow being built on the East Side school grounds for the newly created kindergarten department was rapidly nearing completion. One of the newest enterprises opened in Eureka was a furniture and drapery shop on West Third, managed by Mrs. Harold Cone. The county inaugurated a sanitation program with a full-time health officer and county nurse to be employed.
Air mail service was available from Eureka by train connection with the night flight of the Chicago-Kansas City-Dallas line. The rate was 10 cents for each half-ounce to any part of the United States. An airport landing sign was installed on the roof of the two-story part of the Leader building. The word "Eureka" was painted in white with letters 10 feet high and with the word "airport" slightly smaller below. An arrow 18 feet long pointed east toward the Eureka landing field. The buildings housing the Kasson & Sons Laundry and Dry Cleaners plant on North Main were sold to Betsher Bros. as Mr. Kasson was moving his business to another town. Greenwood's population was 20,034, a loss of 579. The franchise to sell the Skelly product, Skelgas, was given to the Eureka Machine Works. The local agent was J.F. Boyersmith. The Baldwin Piano Shop opened under the management of H.H. Ford and James Brown, located in the west part of the electric light building.
The Red Owl Annex bought the former stock of the Office Appliance and was to moved to the rear of the Red Owl Drug Store. The Greenwood County fair closed with a day of automobile races on the dirt trace, a new and thrilling event for county race fans. The Keller Motor Co., local Buick agency, changed its name to the Christ Motor Co. Safeway opened a store in Eureka. the National Tire store organization opened a store in Eureka with the Burks-Errickson Motor Co.
The cornerstone laying ceremony for the new Christian Church was held. The auditorium was to be completed first at a cost of $50,000 with a capacity of 800. A large basement would extend from under the center structure. The Sunday service included the celebration of the 66th anniversary of the local organization. Floyd Kite, proprietor of the Greenwood Barber Shop, installed a Sport Shop with a complete line of hunters' supplies and firearms and a full line of sporting goods.
Talking movies came to Eureka in the form of a Synchrophone program at the Princess Theatre. Movie goes saw and heard a six-act big-time vaudeville program on the screen, in addition to the regular bill. Chinchilla rabbits, known for their thick luxurious fur and their edibility, were being commercially raised in Eureka by V.B. Dodson at the rear of his residence on North Elm street.
Mrs. Eva B. Magee was appointed superintendent of the Eureka Water Department, taking the place of Mrs. Anna Reich. Wm. E. Allen of Howard purchased the Red Owl Drug Store, to be known henceforth as Allen's Drug Store. M.B. Ford was to devote his time to the Red Owl Annex. The McClure Motor Co. was sold to H.H. Bush, formerly of Independence. Harvey Hartenbower purchased the Motor Inn Garage on Second street from H.F. Brenton.
W.W. Talley, operator of a Swift creamery station of West First, moved his establishment to the rear of the Farmers Union Grocery at Second and Main. J.C. Penny store opened in eureka with L.W. Coon as manager. Theodore Fischer became owner of the Farmers Union, one of the most popular grocery store in Eureka. Reece was swept by a tornado. One person was killed and many injured. Property damage estimated at $25,000.
The new offices of the Western Natural Gas co. announced its opening. Beginning the week of May 30, Eureka movie goes were to have the opportunity of attending genuine talking movies at the Princess. The first talking picture shown and heard was to be "Lucky Boy" with George Jessel. The Chamber of Commerce decided to pay rent on the airplane landing field east of town for 1929. Meantime, steps were taken to buy the 80-acre tract and hanger through individual subscription. Natural gas was turned into Madison mains July 1.
A special edition of the Herald was published for the Greenwood County Fair. The July 22 issue totaled 28 pages. This was the largest edition ever printed in the history of the county and had a circulation of 4300. The Eureka Credit Bureau performed a big community service, collecting information and helping keep credit good. Leading business and professional men of Eureka joined forces through the Lion and Kiwanis clubs, working for civic and social advancement.
The largest county fair grounds in the state were in Eureka, with 80 acres devoted to buildings and displays. Parking space was provided for 1500 automobiles and the stadium had a seating capacity for more than 2,000 people. Eureka maintained one of the largest and best airports in Kansas east of Wichita. A large hanger provided space for three planes located here permanently. Greenwood County's oil fields were producing $1 1/2 million and 20 new locations were reported. 4-H clubs in the county were a direct result of the Farm Bureau organization.
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