USA > Kansas > Smith County > Smith Center > The history of Smith Centre, Kansas, 1871-1971 > Part 7
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Roger Headley and Nate White armed themselves with high-powered rifles and headed out southwest of town while the bandits went northeast. To this day, people can't decide whether they were hunting the robbers or were just "chicken"!
Early Editor Tells Them Off in 1872
The early day editors of newspapers were a breed apart and spared no effort to express their opinions. If they were "For or agin" they let their readers know. Their language was at times flowery and at times vitriolic as is the case in the following story written by an early day editor in this area. "If the onery, lousy, pusillanimous, low-lived pup of the hottest place imaginable who stole our pencil don't return it or it's equivalent we shall mildly reprimand him. We paid our last nickel for the pencil and we have use for it!"
Do you remember when people went ice-skating, swimming and boating at Rock Island Lake?
The Cathedral Chimes in the Methodist Church were presented by Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Lull in 1938.
Smith Center's Newspapers
Smith Center has had its share of newspapers, no less than eleven over the years. Some have been of short duration.
It's first newspaper, the Smith County Pioneer, is still in existence and the oldest business enterprise in the county.
Here are the newspapers listed by the Kansas Historical Society to January 1, 1916, their periods of operation: Smith County Pioneer, fall of 1873 and still being published (the Pioneer was started at Cedarville in November 1872 and moved to Smith Center in the fall of 1873); Smith County Journal 1890-1925 (about); Bazoo Feb. 5, 1885-1899; Church Calendar 1895-1896 (a monthly); Demo- cratic Messenger and Smith County Messenger, Sept. 6, 1900-1910; Independent (Smith Center and Harlan) Dec. 22, 1879-1880; Kansas Free Press, Oct. 3, 1879-1881; Light of Liberty (monthly and weekly), Smith Center and Lebanon, Sept. 1891-1895; Northwest Expositor (monthly) 1891-1892; Pioneer (daily) Nov. 1, 1887-1888; Smith County Bulletin March 7, 1884-1890; Smith County Record, Feb. 3, 1882-1884.
One other weekly newspaper not listed above because it came to Smith Center after 1916, was the Smith County Review which was moved from Athol where it was the Athol Review, June 13, 1933, by Harold P. Beason. It was merged with the Smith County Pioneer January 1, 1946.
Several people have contributed much to Smith Center newspapers. It is noteworthy that the Smith County Pioneer was founded by Dr. W. D. Jenkins at Cedarville. After several exchanges, W. D. Jenkins, Jr., a son of the founder, bought the Pioneer in October 1874 and he published it several years, perhaps until 1886. Then came W. H. Nelson who published it several years and as a daily in 1887-1888. And, although he was never the owner, the late A. L. Headley said Dr. Brewster Higley's name was once on the Pioneer's masthead.
A. L. "Bert" Headley played a prominent part in newspaper history. He learned the printer's trade on the Gaylord Herald owned and published by his father, Lew Headley. He came to Smith Center as a lad of 16 in 1893 to work for the Pioneer. After a short time he left and worked on other newspapers, including Ponca, Oklahoma where he worked on a daily newspaper owned by the Headley family. In 1910 Ben Baker of the Smith County Journal asked Bert to come to Smith Center and work for him. On the Journal he helped install the first linotype to come to Smith Center. In 1911 or 1912 he purchased a partnership in the Pioneer with W. H. Nelson and his son, Arthur Nelson, froin Vete Hutchings. After a few years the Nelsons sold their interest back to Mr. Hutchings, Mr. Hutchings died in 1923 and Mr. Headley became the editor and publisher for himself and the Hutchings estate until January 1, 1946. This ended a career with the Pioneer of 34 or 35 years.
Mr. and Mrs. Ben T. Baker, owners and publishers of the Smith County Journal, also were prominent news- paper people and Mrs. Baker had a long career in that field. Mr. Baker bought the Journal in 1891 and published it until his death in July 1917. Mrs. Baker continued to publish the journal until 1923 when she sold it to Ross Busenbark and Matt Jones in August 1923. When Harold P. Beason brought his Review to Smith Center in 1933, Mrs. Baker became society editor and continued in that
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SMITH COUNTY JOURNAL office in Smith Center with Harry Reese at the linotype.
capacity until January 1, 1946. When the Review and Pioneer merged on that date, she joined the staff of the Smith County Pioneer and was employed there until September 1949 when she fractured a hip. She never returned to active newspaper work but she continued in related activities in that line until a few months before her death January 29, 1968, writing old time items, compiling historical work and often writing special items. Her active newspaper career covered over 40 years, plus another 17 to 18 years in the work just mentioned.
One of the real characters of Smith Center newspaper history was J. W. "Jack" Stewart who founded the Bazoo in 1884 and changed its name to Stewart's Bazoo in 1889. It was discontinued in 1899. Many stories are told about Mr. Stewart but this advertisement placed in the 1885 Smith County Fair Premium list indicates his thinking: "The Bazoo, Smith Centre, Kansas is a Democratic paper of the Jacksonian type. It has the reputation of being the most fearless of any paper ever published in the west and its publisher is the only one in the State who can boast of being CANED By A WOMAN. Rich, Racy and Full of Vinegar -- You need it, you want it and you ought to have it."
The present ownership of the Pioneer, Harold P. Beason and W. E. Lee, along with the late Frazier L. Brown, bought the Headley interest in the Pioneer January 1, 1946, and the Smith County Review, owned by Mr. Beason, was merged with the Pioneer. After Mr. Brown's death in 1968, Mr. Beason and Mr. Lee bought all other interests in the Pioneer.
Mr. Beason has been a newspaperman since high school days. He worked on the WaKeeney and Scott City papers
two years before coming to Athol and buying his own paper in 1928. He has been a publisher in Smith county 43 years.
First Christmas Eve Church Program in 1876
The first Christmas program ever presented in a church in this city was the one on Christmas Eve in 1876. It was at the old stone Congregational Church and the majority of those taking part in the program were the children of the Sunday School. At that time 3 denominations were worshiping there together. They were members of the Methodists, Presbyterians and the Congregationalists, none of them having enough members here then to provide their own meeting place, so they had decided and agreed to join in having services together for a few years at least.
The church was the only one in the town at that time. The building had been started in 1873, but due to the scarcity of crops following the grasshopper plague in July, 1874, the work has been delayed until the fall of 1877. The interior of the church was not finished and the pews had not arrived on that Christmas Eve, never- the-less the gathering was a happy one for the early settlers. Church folks had been sitting on boards held up by wooden shipping boxes that had been saved for them by the merchants. That evening some of the members took kerosene lamps or lanterns to provide the light.
It was a wonderful time for the children, for there was a real tall tree, trimmed with tin-foil stars and strings of popcorn. There were no cranberries those early years. The little folks presented recitations, in- dividually and by classes. Everyone sang and the gifts were given out by Santa Claus.
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First Congregational Church
One of the first things the early settlers of this com- munity did was to organize a church in order not to neglect the spiritual side of life in the strenuous tasks of the pioneer days. On April 27, 1873, the first church was officially recognized as an independent, local Con- gregational church.
Four years later the Methodist and Presbyterians agreed to do what they could to help finish the first structure for worship in this town. In return for whatever help the denominations could give, the trustees of the local religious center guaranteed the Methodists and Presbyterians the right to worship in the new building for at least five years after it was completed.
The churchs of this young community, history records, started out in a spirit of cooperation - a spirit which exists today as different churches work together to strengthen the religious life of Smith Center.
C. G. Wheeler built the first Congregational church, at the corner of W. Court and S. Washington, in 1876. W. M. Wellman was the pastor.
The corner stone of the new Congregational church was laid September 18, 1904. The ceremonies were conducted by the pastor, Dwight H. Platt.
November 22, 1964, a new addition to the Congregational church was dedicated, conducted by the pastor, Richard T. Wentling.
The present pastor is O. T. Meador.
Methodist Church
The seeds of this early religious group were planted in 1873 by the Rev. J. C. Dana who organized a church class in Smith Centre under the auspices of the Methodist church at Cedarville.
The First Methodist Church was organized September 8, 1877 and the first house of worship erected at E. Kansas and Grant, dedicated on December 14, 1884 during the pastorate of Dr. W. J. Meredith. This building was used until 1904 when it was razed to make way for the new church which was dedicated April 4, 1905. Rev. U.S. Brown was the pastor.
With the enthusiastic support of the pastor, Rev. W. H. Jenkin, the people of the church raised the money for the pipe organ, which was dedicated on September 1930, honoring motherhood.
Wesley Hall, an educational addition, was dedicated September 21, 1952, as part of the observance of the 75th anniversary of the church. The Rev. Ranold F. Plott was the pastor at this time.
Rev. George Wattenbarger is the present pastor of the United Methodist Church.
Huge Revival in Smith Center in 1907
W. E. Biederwolf held union meetings in Smith Center in November 1907. Homer Rhodeheaver, the famous singer was song leader. Five churches united in this revival campaign. Six hundred people confessed Christ. The meetings were held in a large tent located on West Kansas Avenue one block west of Main on the south side of the street. There was a large chorus each evening.
Christian Church
The First Christian Church in Smith Center was organized August 28, 1887, at a meeting held under the leadership of Elder F. P. Franklin, with 23 names on the charter.
The first meetings were held in homes, the opera house and the court house. When compelled to move from the court house, the congregation used Hendrick's hall on the second floor of what is now the Simmons Furniture building.
W. G. Germain was the first full time minister, coming in 1892.
A frame church was erected on the lots (not a home at 121 North Madison) and dedicated September 4, 1898.
The present church site, Kansas Avenue and Madison, was purchased in 1913 and the brick church was dedicated July 26, 1914. Rev. M. J. Hibbs was the minister.
Drexel G. Von Forell, pastor at present.
Presbyterian Church
The Presbyterian church was organized in 1872. The first old church was dedicated in 1877, H. F. Albright was the pastor.
A new church located at Kansas Avenue and Lincoln street was dedicated in 1912 with S. 1. Ward as the pastor.
Ira. N. Faurot came to the church in 1922 and was the pastor for 34 years.
The Presbyterians observed their 75th anniversary July 26, 27, 28, 1947.
Francis E. Spear is the present pastor.
First Baptist Church
The First Baptist Church of Smith Center was organized in 1881. The First Baptist Church held services in the Wilson hall, Smith Center from March 11, 1906 to January 17, 1907. The new church located at West Kansas Avenue and North Washington was dedicated October 27, 1907, Rev. N. E. Hollcroft, pastor.
Saint Mary's Catholic
The first Mass was held in Smith Center, January 25, 1959, in the VFW hall. The first Catholic church in Smith Center was blessed December 25, 1960 by Father James Grennan. The building is designed to serve as both church and parish hall. It is located on US-26 and Monroe street with Father Jerome Morgan as pastor.
Calvary Gospel Church
The Smith Center Calvary Gospel Church was organized March 18, 1945. They held services in the Old Tabernacle (the present John Deere building). The present church was dedicated February 23, 1949, located at W. New York and S. Washington. Norman Peterson, Sr. was the pastor. Rev. Dennis Kruger is the present pastor.
As of May 19, 1971, Will Fetrow is Smith Center's oldest citizen - age 103. The youngest citizen on May 19, 1971 is Shaila Melissa Reifsteck, age 3 days.
Church of God
The first church was located on N. Washington in Smith Center. The church located on North Brandon and East 2nd was dedicated in 1949 with Rev. Chester A. Riley as pastor. The church was discontinued in 1967 and the church is now the home of the Boy Scouts of Smith Center.
Grace Baptist Church
The Grace Baptist Church located at East Third and Brandon Streets was organized February 8, 1953, and dedicated October 24, 1954.
Bruno Smith is the present pastor. The first pastor was Don Geary.
There were 22 charter members. The new addition to the church was dedicated in August of 1964.
American Lutheran Church
On January 15, 1947, the American Lutheran Church of Smith Center was organized with sixteen members signing the Constitution. Pastor A. R. Finkbeiner of the Gaylord . Christ Lutheran Church conducted morning worship services.
The present location, 415 West New York, was purchased in September 1947. The first building, colonial style parish hall, was dedicated August 8, 1948. The church did not have a full-time pastor until 1957 when a Call was extended to Pastor Henry G. Stolz.
On August 26, 1962, a new Church and Educational Unit was dedicated.
On May 3, 1970, a remodeled building and Sanctuary was dedicated, Pastor David R. Larsen.
Church of the Nazarene
The Smith Center Church of the Nazarene was organized in 1933, as an outgrowth of an evangelistic effort, a camp- meeting planned and financed by a neighbor congregation, the Gaylord Church of the Nazarene, held in the early fall of 1933. The church was organized at the close of the meeting with approximately 16 charter members. Rev. Philo Conrad, of Gaylord, was the first pastor.
The congregation worshipped in a hall down town, presently Car Parts, Inc., for three years. In 1937, Rev. Harvey Hartman was called as pastor, and the congregation bought the Evangelical United Brethren Church and parsonage of the Corvallis community, and moved them to the present location, S. Madison and E. New York Streets.
Francis Runyon, present pastor.
J. B. Polka - Apple King of Center Township
J. B. Polka settled on a Center Township farm, 2 miles east and 2 miles north of Smith Center, in 1891. There was a rock house and other buildings built as dugouts in the creek bank when he bought the farm. In 1894 there were 9 acres of the farm planted to an apple orchard. In 1904 an additional 5 acres of apple trees were set out. When the orchard was small there was garden space between the rows which was used to grow potatoes, watermelons and garden produce for sale.
The orchard was planted on Spring Creek bottomland and soon Mr. Polka built a windmill for irrigation. Burl Ayres helped Mr. Polka build the windmill. It was made by using as a base a building 8 feet wide, 8 feet high and 16 feet long with a small tower on top. The wooden wheel was mounted on the north end and did not turn on a pivot so the only time it turned was when the wind was from the north or south. On windy days the mill would pump all the water out of the neighbors wells. The water was carried over the orchard by means of a tile system.
All of the work on the orchard was done by the family. The Polka children were Fred, Ernest, George, Marie (Patman), Ed, Rosa (Timma), Anna (Ellis), Emma (Huffine), and Lillian (Hale).
During the early years the orchard spraying was done with hand sprayers. The two olders Polka sons furnished the "Boy-Power" to operate the sprayers. Later a power sprayer was used.
Most of the apple crop was sold on the farm. The average yield was 2,000 to 3,000 bushels. The largest crop was in 1915 when the yield was 5,000 bushels. In 1918, when 3 of the Polka sons were in World War 1, 10 to 12 men were hired to harvest the apple crop and a special day was set to work. All of the apples were picked in one day and the yield was 2,000 bushels. Some of the apples were made into cider. The cider mill was a large hydraulic mill that could take 14 bushels at a pressing.
During blossom time in the spring when the temperature would drop it was necessary to have orchard heaters. Mr. Polka tried commercial heaters, such as the ones used in orange groves, but he was not satisfied with them. He then built some to his own specifications - they were straight-sided half gallon bucket type without a chimney. He used crude oil in these and set it on fire by putting a corn cob on top for a wick. If he could not get crude oil he used kerosene. Crude oil burned for 5 hours and kerosene burned for 3 hours. It was a beautiful sight to see 1,200 of these set out at a 2 rod square interval. Most of the orchard was killed by drouth in the 1930's.
In 1910 Mr. Polka started raising Aberdeen Angus cattle. He named his farm "Applewood Angus Farm."
In 1911 he purchased his first tractor. It was a Rumley Oil Pull Tractor. It was a 25-45 horsepower machine and weighed a ton.
Mr. Polka lived on his farm until his death in 1928. Mrs. Polka remained on the farm until her death in 1949. Dale Chamberlain lives on the Polka farm now.
The elevation of Smith Centre is 1,806 feet above sea level with a variation of 50 feet within the city limits.
The first sidewalk in Smith Centre were board walks. The widest was from Main Street to the Courthouse - it was 8 feet wide and made of 2-inch planks laid an inch apart - it was on the south side of the street.
The time-of-day sirens started in March, 1904 and has sounded the time 4 times a day for 67 years.
The first automobile was seen in Smith Centre on July 29, 1902 - the car belonged to a salesman who made the trip to Smith Centre from Kirwin in 7 hours.
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FRAME SCHOOLHOUSE in 1896 with students and faculty shown - some on top of the building.
The Smith Center Public Library
A group of women met in the spring of 1897 and organized the Women's Harmony Library Clubfor the pur- pose of starting a library. With the generous support of the local citizens this was accomplished. On May 14, 1897, the library was opened in the second floor office rooms of a building owned by H. H. Springer. A call was made for books to be donated and soon 300 books were placed on the shelves. Various organizations assisted in raising money for new books and other necessary expenses. By the combined efforts of all of the citizens, money was raised to make the down payment on a brick building located on Main Street. This was purchased from J. R. Burrow. The payments were to be $50.00 a month. Dinners, ice cream socials, and other entertainments were given to raise the money to make the payments on the building. The members of the Library Club served as the librarians.
A few years later the Library Club traded the brick building on Main Street to L. M. Dundas for his home located in the center of four lots. The library was moved to this new location and plans were made to landscape the grounds. The library was open two afternoons a week, and the club members continued to act as librarians.
In 1902 the following rules were given for issuing books:1. No person shall take more than one book at one time: 2. No person shall retain a book more than two weeks. except by notifying the Librarian of renewal: 3.
Any person retaining a book more than two weeks at any time without renewal, shall pay a fine of five cents per week for the time of such excess: 4. If any person shall lose or injure a book beyond reasonable wear, he or she shall pay to the Librarian such amount as the Librarian shall deem just - subject to the approval of the club.
The list of members in 1902 were these ladies: Emma Detwiler, Lillis Dugan, Dora Haberly, Isabel Lutz, Hattie Mollison, Edith Nelson, Minnie Slagle, Olivia Smith, Edna Smith, lda Ahlborn, Thesta Barger, Mary Detwiler, Minnie Fleming, Adelaide Hobbs, Inez Mahin, Rose Nelson, Flora Reese, Ines Sargent, Alice Smith, and Abbie Wentworth.
In 1922 the city wanted the grounds for a Community Hall, so the Women's Harmony Library Club agreed to donate the land and building to the city if they would build the Community Hall so that it would house the library and if they would take over the operation of the library. The city agreed to do so, and the deed was dated February 1, 1922. Since that time the library has been city owned and tax supported by the city. It was also in the agreement that a full time librarian be hired. Miss Rose Hadden was the first full time librarian employed by the city. The building was completed late in the year 1922, and the library was located in the basement.
The library continued in this location until November, 1965, when a Federal grant of $10,000 was obtained to
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match a like amount in local funds. Remodeling plans were made to use the little used auditorium on the second floor of the community building. The remodeling was completed; a new heating system and air conditioning was installed. Open house was held in October, 1966, but the actual move was not completed until early 1967. The city now employs a full time librarian, and also an assistant librarian. The library is open daily except Sunday and open one evening each week.
Full credit is given to the members of the Women's Harmony Library Club for the establishing of the library in Smith Center. Since the city has taken over the library, the Library Club has disbanded, but one of the members, Mrs. Arch Rugger, continued her work with the library board for fifty years. The library is now operated as a free public library, open to any resident of the county at no charge. Today the library not only checks out books and periodicals, but also checks out recordings and paintings. Talking Books are serviced through the library. In 1967 a copying machine was installed. By the library's becoming a member of the Central Kansas Library System in 1965, many services can now be offered.
The following ladies have served as librarians or. assistant librarians since the library was turned over to the city: Rose Hadden, Edna Marty, Birdie O'Neill, Dorotha Thompson, Sylvia Bolton, Gertie Ray, Martha Moorman Frey, Eula Gilpin, Doris Blaylock and the present librarian, Francis Gripton, and her assistant, llah Cates.
Smith Center Hospitals
THE STORY OF OUR FIRST HOSPITAL:
In 1893, J. R. Burrow built a large home at 319 North Main which had the distinction of being the first home in Smith Center to have steam heat. Mr. Burrow lived there until 1905 when he was elected Secretary of State and moved to Topeka. Henry Williams bought the house and lived there for several years and then sold it to Dr. C. C. Funk. Dr. Funk remodeled the house extensively to provide living quarters for his family and a small hospital on the second floor. This small hospital served Smith Center from 1921 until 1951. The doctors in Smith Center who used this hospital were Dr. F. M. Relihan, Dr. Victor Watts, Dr. H. Morrison, Dr. A. Jeffers and Dr. C. C. Funk. Dr. Outland of Kansas City and Dr. Bowen of Topeka performed much of the surgery during this period at the. request of the attending physicians. In 1934 Miss Irene Rhodes (Mrs. Kenneth Blaylock) leased the hospital after Dr. Funk's death. When Mrs. Blaylock left Smith Center Miss Margaret O'Neill leased the hospital until 1951. The former hospital is now Ingleboro Rest Home operated by Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Burley.
SMITH COUNTY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL:
In April, 1946 the voters of Smith County voted in favor of the building of a new hospital for Smith County. The directors of this project were the Rev. A. Eggerling of Kensington, James Roush of Lebanon, Harry Lloyd of Gaylord and Glen Stoops, Fred Simmons and A. L. Headley of Smith Center. The land was donated by the J. R. Burrow interests and is located on south Main Street. The directors, after much planning with the doctors and businessmen of the county, let the contract for the building in 1950. The money was raised by the bond issue, a Federal Grant and donations from individuals and organizations. Several rooms were furnished by individual donations.
The name of the hospital was selected as a memorial to Smith County Veterans, who lost their lives in World War 11. A memorial plaque, with their names on it, is on the north end of the building.
The hospital was dedicated on June 3, 1951. The doctors attending the dedication were Dr. H. Morrison, Dr. F.M. Relihan, Dr. Victor Watts, Dr. Lafe Bauer, Dr. Robert Sheppard, Dr. D. A. Hardman and Dr. 1. E. Nickell. Soon after the dedication, Dr. Hugh Woods located here. Dr's. Sheppard, Hardman and Woods have a modern clinic at the corner of East Court and South Madison.
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