Bit of History -- August 12, 2026

A continuation of the stories on the front page of the Ridgeway Journal dated August 4, 1921:

The Ridgeway school district was getting ready for the new year and planned to open on September 5. The school building has been undergoing extensive improvements, and has been thoroughly filled up to meet needs of the increased attendance which will result from consolidation” The article also announced that the high school tuition would be $6 per month (about $112 today). In addition, the “board of directors” were accepting bids for bus routes. There were eight routes for the 1921-22 school year, most were about 5-6 miles long.

The Rex Theatre was going to present “Sacred and Profane Love”, a Paramount picture starring Conrad Nagel and Elsie Ferguson that Friday and Saturday. The writer was most impressed with how Conrad could act the part of an out-of-control drunk and as soon as the director yells “Cut” then “Lunch”, “The drunkard returned to normal, ironed his features into a pleasanter guise, picked up a copy of “Julius Caesar” which he had been reading—and started home to help his wife feed the baby.”

City Marshal J. H. Pierce announced that he would be strictly enforcing the city ordinances relating to automobiles: “I intend to make a specialty of catching speedsters and "cut-out" fiends, and if you don't want an interview with the police court keep your "cut-outs" closed and observe the speed limit while in the city limits.”

Bit of History -- August 5, 2026

From the front page of the Ridgeway Journal dated August 4, 1921:

The city council approved a special election to ask the voters to approve the issue of $12,000 of bonds to upgrade the city light plant. The residents had been pressuring the council members for “better light service, more day current, better street light service and an eighteen to twenty-four hour service the year round.”

The existing plant could not keep up with that kind of demand and in fact, couldn’t keep up with the demands of the time: “It is impossible to turn on the street lights in the evening until the load is lightened by the closing of the stores and a partial cutting off of the resident districts.” To upgrade the plant needed a larger 100 horsepower engine which would not leave the town in the dark for a week to ten days at a time. The old engine was expected to be repaired and kept to provide additional power as needed. The election was held on August 26, 1921 and the bonds approved overwhelmingly 184 to 19.

Bit of History - September 21, 2022

According to Ridgeway: Then and Now, the first automotive garage in Ridgeway was the Ford Garage built by Charley Donelson in 1917 and expanded in 1920.  He sold both the Ford cars and the Fordson Tractor and provided service with the capacity of 100 cars. He had two mechanics:  Arthur Shepard and Jack Andrick.  Jack went on to build his own garage in Ridgeway (located behind Scott’s Grocery store).  He sold Ford and Chevrolet automobiles and ran the garage until 1947 when he retired. 

Donelson frequently advertised in the Ridgeway Journal.  In the February 9, 1921 issue of the Journal, Donelson showed off the Fordson Tractor and talked about all the wonderful things farmers could do with the machine. Another ad discussed how much better Ford parts were over imitation parts because they were made of better materials.  In 1914, the Ridgeway Auto Company advertised the Hupmobile, a car guaranteed to be cheaper to run with better gas, oil and tire mileage than its competitors and still have a good resale value.  If you weren’t ready to commit to your own automobile yet, you could still buy a new buggy and harness from C. O. Buzzard’s hardware store, along with an oil stove if you needed one.   

Bit of History - August 10, 2022

One of the best parts of combing through old papers is reading the ads.  These are just a few of the businesses located in Ridgeway that advertised in the Ridgeway Journal from February to March 1921:

Dale Bros. had Klondike Incubators and Old Colony Brooders available for sale which worked out nicely as Mrs. L. A. Hinkle had chicks available on March 20.  The Miner & Frees lumber yard had a new book of “Cornell Interiors” featuring wood paneling and trims for homes.  Maple’s Cash Groceries was closing out their stock and offering groceries at discount prices.  J. L. Mirgon offered a grain mill for grinding feed for sale and 10% off gang and sulky plows.   The Ashby Brothers lumber yard advertised that building prices were coming down about 40% from the previous year and  was the time to build or remodel your home.  L.O. Bandy had opened up a City Meat Market and had fresh and cured meats for sale.  O.P. Bennett offered groceries, clothing and dress goods.  Casteel’s Store offered groceries at close out prices also as they had lost the lease on their building, but just as they were getting ready to close, their lease was extended and they were back in business.

Reeves  Hardware offered the Successful Incurbator (their spelling, not mine) for sale and were giving  away a brand-new set of harnesses on July 4.  They also wrote a weekly column for the front page of the paper congratulating buyers on their purchases, such as Mrs. Deva Howard who bought a refrigerator for her mother.  You could buy Key overalls at J. H. Shirers; C. C. Leazenby offered his services as an auctioneer; and G. R. Gutridge was a “tonsorial artist”, aka barber.  Three doctors, two veterinarians and a dentist also advertised their services in the paper and the newspaper office itself offered printing services and typewriter ribbons. 

Bit of History - July 6, 2022

In 1921, Ridgeway hosted another reunion for fourteen Civil War veterans and their families.  All had fought for the Union and while most of the veterans were from Harrison County others came from Oklahoma, Iowa, and Nebraska.  Some of them had not seen each other since the war had ended fifty-seven years earlier.  Ridgeway veterans included John Opdyke, Porter Simpson, William Graham, C. W. Stoner and A. W. Stoner.  “It was very much regretted that Uncle Jim Baker” couldn’t attend, but he was visiting in St. Joseph at the time.  He sent his daughter, Rose to represent him.  

The day included songs, talks by the old veterans, and addresses presented by Rev. Lane Douglas and J. W. Leazenby.  The main attraction of the day was the dinner provided by the wives, widows, and daughters of Civil War veterans. “Even the editor and family got all they could eat for once.  It was sure a meal fit for a king.”

Bit of History - June 22, 2022

On Saturday, August 27, 1921, Ridgeway had another exciting day.  Harry Rich, an aviator and stunt man, was hired by local businessmen to entertain the crowds.  He planned to “loop-the-loop, hang by his teeth from the plane in midair upside down, and flirt with death in other flying features.”  The businesses also offered special bargains that day.  Shoppers would find “before the war” prices on many things.  The day ended with a baseball game between Ridgeway and Bethany.  Both teams were “loaded for bear” and it was expected to be a competitive game.   People were invited to “Come spend the day in Ridgeway! Come!”  (Ridgeway Journal, Aug 25, 1921)  

Sadly, the next week’s paper reported the Ridgeway team lost to Bethany by a score of 13-4.  (Ridgeway Journal, Sep 1, 1921)  

Bit of History - June 2 2021

Memorial Day is the day we remember those service people who have given their lives for our freedom.  One such person was Ridgeway native Charles Frederick “Ted” Opdyke.  Ted was born in Ridgeway in 1897, the son of Samuel Sigel and Rosa Redinger Opdyke and the nephew of John E. Opdyke, one of Ridgeway’s first settlers.  Ted grew up here and in Stockton, KS.  He joined Company G, 4^th Missouri Infantry in 1916 and served first at the Mexico border.  In 1917, his company was sent to first to Oklahoma for training then to France in 1918.  

Corporal Opdyke was killed in action on September 27, 1918, but his family did not find out for sure until mid-October. He was buried in France, but his father wrote to Army Adjutant General Harris that he was not happy with that decision and wanted his boy to come home.  In September 1921, his boy did come home and was buried in the Ridgeway Cemetery.  Later, the American Legion Post in Ridgeway would be named in his memory.