History of Richardson County, Nebraska : its people, industries and institutions, Part 50

Author: Edwards, Lewis C
Publication date: 1917
Publisher: Indianapolis : B.F. Bowen
Number of Pages: 1742

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SECRET SOCIETIES OF FALLS CITY.

Falls City Lodge No. 13. Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at Falls City, was organized under a dispensation issued on September 28, 1869. to George P. Uhl, David Dorrington. George Faulkner, L. Van Dnesen. John Loree and Bennett Sperry. The officers appointed at this time were : John Loree, noble grand: Bennett Sperry, vice-grand; George Faulkner, treasurer: L. Van Dusen. secretary; George P. Uhl. watchman; Nelson Snyder, conductor; David Dorrington, inside guard. On December 9. 1869. charter was received and the lodge was regularly organized, with nine charter

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members. Up to February, 1882, one hundred and forty-one members had been enrolled on the record books of the lodge. Some time later another lodge of Odd Fellows, made up of members from the older lodge, was organized and is known to this day as Nemaha Valley Lodge No. 36, while the older lodge disbanded and was merged into the latter organization.

Nemaha Valley Lodge No. 36, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was organized under a charter granted to John D. Spragins, W. R. Nelson, T. C. Cunningham, L. M. May, W. H. Keeling, G. P. Marvin, George P. Uhl, J. W. Minnick, S. A. Fulton, A. J. Weaver and David C. Barnes. The organization was effected under the supervision of St. John Goodrich, grand master, assisted by William Beatty, deputy grand master and W. S. Stretch, district deputy grand master. The first officers of the lodge were: J. D. Spragins, noble grand; W. R. Nelson, vice grand; L. M. May, right sup- porter; J. W. Minnick, treasurer ; W. H. Keeling, watchman; S. A. Fulton, conductor, and D. C. Brown, inside guard.

Falls City Lodge No. 18, Knights of Pythias, was organized in June, 1874. At that time the lodge had twelve members, among whom were Judge A. J. Weaver, D. R. Holt, G. R. Summers, George E. Powell. John F. Lyon, T. C. Cunningham, George A. Merrill and F. W. Miller. After continuing in good standing for several years, the society gradually fell apart and, failing to keep up its report of dues to the grand lodge of the state, was formally disbanded in 1877.

Die Deauche Gelsellschaft was organized by the Germans of Falls City on December 17, 1877, with a membership of forty persons-all Germans. The announced objects of the association were to cultivate, develop and propagate the pure German language, philosophy and character, conducive to making themselves and their countrymen firm patriots of their adopted country, and to know and uphold justice and liberty. The society still remains. It owns its own club house and the rooms have ever been scenes of pleasure and profit to the ever-increasing membership.

Veteran Post No. 84, Grand Army of the Republic, Department of Nebraska, was organized on January 19, 1882, and own its own quarters, which are used jointly by the Woman's Relief Corps.

Eureka Chapter No. 5. Royal Arch Masons was organized under dis- pensation, August 1, 1868, with ten members and the following officers: J. F. Gardner, high priest : H. O. Hanna, king: J. V. Hollenbough, scribe : J. E. Clifford, captain of the host; William R. Cain, principal sojourner : R. Williams, royal arch captain; J. W. Huntington, master of the third veil;

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W. S. Sargent, master of the second veil; John Loree, master of the first veil; George W. Morris, treasurer. The society was organized under the charter, October 24, 1869, with sixty-nine members and the followings officers : H. O. Hanna, high priest ; J. F. Gardner, king: W. R. Cain, scribe: J. R. Cain, captain of the host ; George Faulkner, royal arch captain; John W. Holt, master of the third veil; John Loree, master of the second veil; M. Maddox, master of the first veil; C. B. Scott, treasurer; W. H. Mann, secretary; B. Hani, guard. The lodge is still in a most. flourishing con- dition.

Falls City Lodge No. 9, AAncient Free and Accepted Masons, was or- ganized under a dispensation on October 13, 1864, and the following of- ficers were appointed: H. O. Hanna, worshipful master; Nelson Snyder, senior warden; W. H. Mann, junior warden; Isham Reavis, secretary; W. R. C'ain, senior deacon: W. T. Stout, junior deacon; E. C. Sherer, treas- urer ; J. R. Dowty, tyler. On June 22, 1865, the lodge was organized under a charter. At this date there were nine members and the following officers : H. O. Hanna, worshipful master ; N. Snyder, senior warden; W. H. Mann, junior warden; Isham Reavis, secretary; E. C. Sherer, treasurer; Charles B. Scott, senior deacon; W. T. Stout, junior deacon; E. C. Cooley, tyler. This lodge is at the present time one of the most prosperous lodges in the city and is constantly having additions to its membership.

Mt. Sinai Commandery No. 8, Knights Templar, was first established under a dispensation, November 5, 1877. Its officers were R. A. Wheery, commander; W. S. Stretch, generalissimo; Charles L. Metz, captain gen- eral; J. R. Cain, prelate; E. E. Metz, senior warden ; J. R. Dowty, junior warden; George E. Powell, treasurer; E. R. L. Stoughton, recorder; J. L. Slocum, sword bearer. . \ charter was granted on May 1, 1878, and the organization under the same was effected on July 12, 1878, the lodge then having twelve members. The new officers were: R. A. Wherry, com- mander; W. S. Stretch, generalissimo; C. L. Metz, captain general; J. R. Cain, prelate: George E. Powell, treasurer; George M. Newkirk, recorder; E. E. Metz, senior warden; A. J. Weaver, junior warden; F. W. Miller, standard bearer; J. I .. Slocum, sword bearer; J. W. Holt, warder; J. R. Dowty, sentinel.

The Masonic bodies own their own hall in the Richardson County Bank block, are energetic, prosperous bodies and have an ever increasing niem- bership. The Order of the Eastern Star, a woman's branch of the Masonic order, was organized on March 11, 1874, with sixty-seven members. It is one of the prosperous lodges of the city at the present time.

CHRISTIAN CHUR

CHRISTIAN CHURCH. FALLS CITY.

EAST SIDE STONE STREET. FALLS CITY, 186S.

I.T

BAPTIST CHURCH. FALLS CITY.

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. FALLS CITY.

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DEDICATION OF FIRST ODD FELLOW LODGE.

The dedication of the first lodge room of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Falls City took place on Thursday, November 4, 1873, and the event had been widely advertised in the towns to the West. Agree- able to arrangements the Odd Fellows of this place formed a procession and marched to the depot, headed by the cornet band, where they met the eastbound train, with an extra coach loaded with the brotherhood, which was sidetracked and unloaded. The procession was reformed and with the addition of the new brothers marched to the new hall located on the west side of Stone street, between Fourteenth and Fifteenth streets, where a social hom was indulged in, with music and speaking, when the train from the south was announced, and after some little greeting, all went to the feast which had been prepared. There was an abundance of everything and plenty of help to serve it. The ladies seemed to spare no pains in making the visitors enjoy themselves. After dinner Grand Master Zimerer, with the assistance of Doctor Copperthwait, W. S. Stretch, S. A. Fulton, W. E. Dorrington, George Gedultig and George P. Marvin, proceeded to dedicate the temple. The dedication ceremonies were impressive and instructive, after which the procession was again formed and marched to the depot, where they met the Atchison ( Kansas ) Encampment and many others, with whom they proceeded to the Methodist Episcopal church where Doctor Copperthwait delivered a lecture on "The Order, Its Divine Origin and History." The doctor ably, and in most beautiful language, showed the true principles of the order and their adaptation to every-day walks of life. He dwelt at length on the love and friendship existing between Jonathan and David and portrayed in golden colors the happiness of the present day, if such friendship existed now.

The ceremonies of the day were closed in the evening by a large dance. which was given at the new court house, in the court room. At this place Charles Loree and William Custer were employed throughout the evening selling tickets at two dollars and half each to those attending. It is said that sixteen set occupied the floor at once, and the music for the occasion was furnished by the Atchison String Band, which had been imported for the express purpose. At midnight a supper was given by Major Loree. which was without a doubt the grandest banquet of the season.

FALLS CITY LIBRARY ASSOCIATION.

.An act was passed by the Legislature and approved on December 21, 1861, incorporating the Falls City Library Association. The incorporators

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named in the act were C. H. Norris, David Dorrington, H. O. Hanna, George Van Deventer, J. H. Burbank, J. Edward Burbank, S. H. Schuyler, E. S. Dundy and Jacob Good.

An early effort in the way of a library or reading room was made in 1885. This movement was for the purpose of providing a public reading room, where young people might finds books and magazines. This move- ment, as were many others, was brought to the fore by the good women of the city and a meeting of those interested was held at the home of Rebecca Wilson on Harlan street, in the afternoon of October 16, 1885, for the purpose of devising ways and means of accomplishing the desired object. After mature deliberation it was decided to organize a reading-room associa- tion for this purpose ; and to effect an organization, a constitution and by- laws were formed and a set of rules formulated. The officers elected at this meeting were: Mrs. A. J. Weaver, president ; Mrs. J. L. Dalbey, vice- president : Mrs. W. W. Wilson, treasurer, and Mrs. C. W. Farrington, sec- retary. Rooms were procured in the second story of the Dorrington block, and it accomplished a wonderful amount of good during more than ten years of its existence. It was open for guests every evening of the week and on Saturday afternoons, under the supervision of a librarian. The shelves contained some six or seven hundred volumes of good books and the reading tables were full of all the latest magazines and newspapers, and weekly and monthly periodicals. Miss Ora Lutz was librarian.

LYDIA BRUUN WOODS MEMORIAL LIBRARY. By Mary Hutchings.

The history of the public library movement in Falls City is almost a repetition of that history in many small towns. The work was undertaken by a band of public-spirited women, who had known the advantages of such an institution and who believed it was a necessary educational factor in every community. An impetus was given to the movement by a series of temper- ance lectures delivered by John B. Finch, which resulted in a desire on the part of our citizens to provide an attractive room downtown, where the young people could spend their evenings. A meeting for the organization of the first library association was held about 1885, at the home of Rebecca Wilson, 1513 Harlan street. About twelve ladies were present and Mrs. Martha Weaver was elected president. Committees were appointed to solicit funds, books and magazines and to secure a room. In a few weeks time about four hundred books were collected, mostly gifts from our townspeople, and a room was secured in a building belonging to Robert Clegg on the east

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side of Stone street, between Fifteenth and Sixteenth streets. This building had been used as a station in the days of the "underground railway."

The room was kept open evenings and some afternoons during the week, and Sunday afternoon and evening till church time. The ladies interested shared in caring for the library and took turn in acting as librarian. The reading room was free to all, but an annual fee of one dollar was charged for the privilege of taking books from the building. Gifts of books and money were always thankfully received and an occasional "tea" or "social" was given to increase the library fund. In the course of time it was deemed wise to have the work in charge of one woman, and Mrs. C. W. Farington was chosen first paid librarian, with a salary of two dollars a week, the amount being raised by voluntary contribution and collected by the librarian. Mrs. l'arington served a few years and was succeeded by Mrs. Elizabeth Fox, who made her home with her daughter, Mrs. T. L. Himmelrich.

After a time a room over Mr. Clegg's drug store was used. 1607 Stone street, an interior room that was lighted only by skylight. Still later a move was made to a south room over the Richardson County Bank, 1622 Stone street, and its last home as a public library was in the Dorrington building, 1601 Stone street, adjacent to the telephone office. While there the books were in charge of the telephone girls. By this time the books had become old and many lost and the remaining ones were given to the high school. At one time a committee of ladies waited upon the city council. asking for a library levy or appropriation. A gift of one hundred dollars was voted for library purposes, but was never paid.

The knowledge that Falls City was at last to have a permanent library building was indeed good news to its citizens, when, in 1900, the sum of ten thousand dollars was willed to the city for that purpose by Mrs. Lydia Bruun Woods, who had been a resident of this county for some time, making her home at Humboldt. During her lifetime Mrs. Woods had generously given libraries to Humboldt and York. While the endowment of the present library was given by Mrs. Woods, certain requirements had to be met by the people of Falls City. The site was given by Mr. J. H. Miles and many other citizens contributed before the building and sidewalk were completed. The women's clubs helped by gifts of a clock, pictures and one piece of statuary, and books and periodicals that have been given each year.

The library is ideally located in the center of the town, but had it been set back from the street on a larger plot of ground better ventilation and lighting would have been secured. At the time of its erection there were vacant lots on the west side, but in 1914 a business house was built

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there which necessitated a change in the interior arrangement of the library.

The library was opened in 1902 with 1,800 volumes on the shelves. This number was steadily increased by the addition of from 400 to 500 each year until there are now 7.500 volumes, besides 342 bound periodicals and 480 public documents. The reading room is well provided with current literature. The will of Mrs. Woods stipulated that at least seventy-five dollars be spent annually for this purpose. There are now four daily, twenty-one weekly, and thirty-eight monthly periodicals in the reading room. Some periodicals are put in by friends of the library. Gifts of books and periodicals are gladly accepted and all books, whether gifts or purchases, must be ap- proved by the book committee or the librarian.

The annual fee charged in the beginning was one dollar. Later pro- vision was made for fifty-cent juvenile readers and, in 1904, the change to a free library was effected. The board estimated the annual expense and asked the city council to make a levy to cover it. The running expenses of the library are generally met by a levy of one and a half mills. The board has asked for a larger levy several times to meet the additional expenses, such as paving or remodeling the building. At present the nominal fee of five cents is paid annually by those who live within the city limits and one dollar annually by the country patrons. An exception is made for the children attending our public schools, who live outside the city. For this class the annual fee is twenty-five cents. There are at present about forty country patrons. One rule that affected the circulation greatly was the granting of the special non-fiction cards in 1904. Prior to this time each borrower could draw only one book at a time. Now any reader who cares for the same may have two books, provided one is fietion. The privilege of using all available material by anyone doing special work is granted as fully as pos- sible without interfering with other readers wishing the same material.

It may not be generally known that the county board or the directors of any school district may contract with the library board for the privilege of the library for the people of such district, upon such terms as may be agreed by said boards.

The library board, consisting of nine members, is elected by the city council, three being elected each year for a term of three years. Many of our public-spirited people have served and have given of their time and energy to make the library what it now is. The present board is J. E. Leyda, president; Andrew Cameron, secretary; Mrs. Lillis Abbey, Mrs. T. J. Gist, Mrs. G. N. Holland, E. S. Towle, J. H. Hutchings, John Lichty

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and Harry Pence. J. E. Leyda and E. S. Towle have been members con- tinuously since the library was established.

The office of librarian was filled by Mrs. A. G. Wanner from its open- ing until she resigned in 1903. She was succeeded by Miss Frances Morton. who resigned in 1906. Miss Lois Spencer was the third librarian, filling the position for three years, resigning in 1909, and the present librarian, Miss Mary Hutchings, was her successor. Misses Edna and Vera Brown had been able assistants for a number of years. Miss Rosa Trezer is the assistant at present.

The growth of the library is evidenced by the increase in the circulation. in the attendance and in the amount of reference work done. The children's department may be called its special feature. One of the attractions of the library is the display of oil paintings by our local artist, Miss Alice Cleaver. The pictures are changed from time to time, but there is always an interesting exhibit of her still-life, portrait and landscape work. Some of the subjects are familiar sights, our own landscapes and people, while others have been clone in Paris, Wisconsin and Kentucky.

The library is open from 2 to 6 and from 7 to 9 on week days, and from 10 to 12 on Saturday morning. Following are a few items from the secretary's annual report for 1917, which bay be of interest: bor- rowers, 1,000; attendance. 39.420; annual circulation, 3.350: circulation per day, II0; whole amount, $1,840; periodicals, $to; librarian and assistant, $650: fuel, $145; binding. $100.

RURAL MAIL SERVICE.

For the country adjacent to Falls City rural free delivery routes Nos. 1, 2 and 3, were established on July 1, 1902, with three carriers at a salary of six hundred dollars a year. Route No. I is twenty and three-quarter miles in length. A. E. Stumbo was installed as the first carrier and has made his daily trips from the start until the present time ( 1917). Route No. 2 is twenty-five and one-quarter miles in length. Charles Stinebrink was installed as the first carrier. Route No. 3 is twenty-two and a half miles in length. Mr. Harkins was installed as the first carrier. On routes Nos. 2 and 3 the first carriers served for a few years, since which time others have been in charge.

In the year 1905 the rural mail service was extended to cover the entire county and the postoffices in other towns in the county were given rural carriers, whose lines, in conjunction with those of Falls City, serve nearly every farm house in the county daily with mail. On November 16. 1903.

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two more carriers were added to those already established at Falls City and with their service two new routes were established. These routes are known as Nos. 4 and 5. These, like the former, started at a salary of six hundred dollars a year.

Route No. 4 is twenty-six miles in length. Willis Yoder was installed as the first carrier. This route likewise has since gone into the hands of other carriers. Route No. 5 is twenty-eight miles long and Ed Metzger was installed as carrier, which position he still holds.

The number of pieces of mail handled monthly by the rural carriers out of the Falls City offices reaches the grand total of about 54,457.

In recent years the salary has been doubled and the carriers now re- ceive one thousand two hundred dollars a year.

MAIL DELIVERY ESTABLISHED IN FALLS CITY.

Owing to the increase of population in Falls City, city mail delivery was established in this place November 15, 1912, with three carriers. Route No. I is carried by Dallas Yoder, route No. 2 by Sam McCreary and No. 3 by Herbert Marr. Since that date Sam McCreary has been promoted to a position in the postoffice and his place as a carrier substituted by Cleve- land Stump. The city carriers in Falls City began with a salary of six hun- dred dollars a year and the same has lately been increased to one thousand one hundred dollars.

The postoffice at Falls City is in charge of Postmaster Charles C. Davis, who received his appointment under President Wilson and assumed his duties about a year and a half after the President took his office. He succeeded Aaron Loucks, who had held the office temporarily after the resignation of J. G. Crook, the former postmaster. Mr. Davis has as assistant or deputy postmaster, Louis Meinzer; Sam McCreary and Gus Elan, assistants, and Miss Clara Tanner, money-order clerk. Miss Tanner has held her position for more than ten years.

NEW POSTOFFICE BUILDING.

The new government postoffice building at Falls City, which was but recently completed, was begun on April 25, 1916, by Charles Weitz & Sons of Des Moines, Iowa, to whom the contract had been let by the national government. The erection of the building from first to last was under the direct supervision of A. T. Montgomery, of Des Moines, Iowa, representing the contractors, and whose able and efficient personal supervision of every

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detail of the work accounts in great measure for the superiority of the com- pleted edifice. E. A. Steece and William H. Horstman were on the ground as inspectors for the government, the former remaining here until March 15. 1917, when he was transferred to Nashville, Tennessee, and the latter remaining until July 25, 1917, the date of the completion of the building. The building is substantial and modern in every particular.

The new postoffice building is situated on the southeast corner of Six- teenth and Harlan streets. It is built of Caledonian grey, rough-texture brick with Bedford ( Indiana) stone cornice and trimmings. It is one story in height, has massive walls eighteen inches thick, and is thoroughly damp- proof. The building has a west frontage of eighty feet on Harlan street, by a depth of fifty-five feet, and is located near the heart of the business district on a spacious lot, having a frontage of one hundred and twenty- five feet, by a depth of one hundred and twenty feet, thus giving ample light and ventilation.

The facade has three-feet semi-circular arched openings of equal size; the center one being the main entrance, the other two, windows. The main entrance has bronze lamp-standards of classic designs on either side. The three openings mentioned light the lobby. The position and size of the lobby is further expressed on the facade by a slight projection of the brick wall. The postmaster's office is on the left and the money-order and registry window on the right hand side of the lobby axis, as one enters.

The lobby, which is seventeen feet in height, has the usual money-order, general-delivery and postal savings windows and the lock boxes. The parcel- post window is located in the alcove entering on the main axis or lobby. The interior of the lobby is embellished by pilasters and cornice of plaster of the Doric order of architecture, resting on a grey Tennessee marble wains- cote. The woodwork is painted a flat greenish-grey, contrasting well with the white plaster surrounding it. The floor is polished terrazzo, with white marble chips and grey Tennessee marble borders and is laid off in blocks. Two elegant hardwood desks, with glass tops constitute the only furniture in the lobby.

The postmaster's room is furnished in quarter-sawed oak. Opening into this room is a concrete vault, with steel floors, in which is located a large safe for the surplus stock of stanips, money-order blanks, etc. The money- order and registry division occupies about the same space as the postmaster's office, and balances the same on the opposite side of the principal axis of the building. The work room is located in the rear of the building and is for the exclusive use of carriers and clerks, routing and dispatching mails

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in the city and distant points. This room contains the latest furniture and equipment to carry on the work of the postal service and is remarkably well ventilated and lighted. In the hasements are located the boiler room, cold storage, civil-service examining room, and the carriers' recreation room. In close proximity to the latter are elegantly appointed shower baths, lavatories. with marble wainscot and terrazzo floors, and fitted with the latest nickel- plated plumbing.

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History of Richardson County, Nebraska : its people, industries and institutions, Part 50

Author: Edwards, Lewis C Publication date: 1917 Publisher: Indianapolis : B.F. Bowen Number of Pages: 1742

Author: Edwards, Lewis C
Publication date: 1917
Publisher: Indianapolis : B.F. Bowen
Number of Pages: 1742