Bit of History - December 11, 2024

Last year around Christmas, I found letters from Ridgeway children to Santa from the early 1900s.  This year, I present you with letters from the early 1970s.  You might even find your own letter in this bunch.

In 1973, Alicia Sanders, age 8, wrote “Hi! What have you been doing?  I am getting ready for Christmas.”  She wanted an ice-cream maker and a snow cone maker and assured Santa that her sock was on the chimney and “I will give you some apples for you.  I will give you some carrots for the reindeers and the carrots are on the chimney.”  Her little brother Jeff, age 6,  also wrote to Santa:  “This is what I want.  I want a race track and a 5-speed bike. I want a radio, a plane and some models.  We have a new house and it is in a different place.  We have a chimney now and our socks are on the chimney.  The apples and carrots for the reindeers are on the table.  P.S.  We have a cat and his name is Fred.  He has a stocking and its the little stocking.  Fred wants something from Santa.”  Wesley Booth, age 6, wrote “How are your reindeer?  I want a football and a Miami football suit.  Will you please get me that suit?”  (Bethany Republican-Clipper, 12/19/1973)

In 1974, the letters were written by the kids in school and their teachers sent in three from each class. Kindergartener Alan Smith asked for, among other things, “a big John Deere tractor” and “two real guns”. First grader Stacey Fitzpatrick wrote “I want a train to play with. I want a sled. I want a evil knevil set.” Paula Hagan, also first grade, asked for “a dollie named Sweet Sounds tender Love.”
Second grader Paula Hammer wrote “Will you give a new doll and a crib for her to sleep in? How is the workshop. I wanted to find out how Mrs. Claus the elves are doing. And I would also like a game the name of the game is Operation. Please can have doll?”. Classmate Ricky Whitaker asked for “a cowboy suit. I have tried to be good.” In the third grade, Kristy Billups wrote “How are you sweet Santa Claus? Sweet Santa Claus I would like a lite brite. Please Santa Claus will you filled my stocking of toys. And don’t forget my sister.” Shawn wrote “Dear Santa Claus: I’ve all ready sent you a note. This is my picture – Your friend, Shawn” and enclosed his school picture. (Bethany Republican-Clipper, Dec 18, 1974)

The letters to Santa are always fun to read – hope you all had enjoyed these notes from the past.

Bit of History - December 4, 2024

A popular social event of Ridgeway’s early days was the “box supper”. This event was usually a fundraiser for an organization like a church or school to help raise money for projects like a library or musical instruments. Young ladies were asked to provide a decorated box containing a supper for two. Fried chicken was a popular menu item in these boxes. The boxes were then sold or auctioned off to the young men in who then shared the meal with the lady who donated it. A girl might drop hints about which box was hers so that the boy she was sweet on could bid on it and they could share the meal.

At one Blythedale box supper, several young men who tried to avoid sharing the meal were called “shoats” (another word for young pigs). “One fellow was halted at the door and told to wend his way back on the inside and that if he didn’t want to eat supper with the girl to go and give her the box and not cheat her out of her supper. ‘He went and eat with the girl.’” (Ridgeway Journal, 11/07/1907)

Another fundraiser for the evening was a cake contest, essentially a popularity contest for the ladies. Men would vote via donations and the lady with the most votes would win a cake. The women would then vote for the “ugliest man” and the winner would receive a pipe. 

These fundraisers were very popular and usually pretty successful. The church or school sponsoring the supper might get anywhere from $20-$45 for the fundraiser.  

In 1908, the Union school held a box supper which included a “brief but well rendered program of recitations, dialogues and songs given by the children and phonograph music.”  (Ridgeway Journal, 12/17/1908)  The sale of the boxes, cake sale and pipe sale amounted to $45.10, which is about $1500 in today’s money. 

Got a favorite memory or pictures of Christmas in Ridgeway?  I am looking for personal stories and/or pictures of Ridgeway Christmas happenings.  If you would like to share, send an email to ridgewaycba@gmail.com or stop by Paula’s Sewing Corner! I would particularly love any pictures of Main Street decorations if you have any – I’ve not found any yet.

Bit of History - November 20, 2024

A conversation at the most recent Ridgeway Community Betterment meeting prompted me to do some reading about the Farmers’ Picnic.  This event was started in 1920 and originally sponsored by M. F. A. It was held in Bert Neff’s grove, about 10 miles east of Bethany and was a three-day event in early to mid-August that included music, speakers, a baby show each day and livestock show for sheep, hogs, cattle and poultry entered by the vocational agricultural students and of course, picnicking.  

The picnic grew each year from one day in 1922 to 3 days in 1928.  In 1927, attendance of the picnic was estimated to be around 7500 for both days. That year, the program featured “eight speakers, band and two orchestras, readers, singers, ball games and contests”.  (Bethany Republican, Aug 17, 1927).  Ridgeway performers included the Show Me orchestra and poet Bud Curtis “who read several of his original poems, and his audience was emotionally impressed by his rendition of his fine poem, ‘Awkward Jim’, a war narrative.” Don Killough of Ridgeway performed a special dancing act on the last night of the picnic.  

In 1928, M. F. A. members in northern Harrison County organized a second farmers’ picnic in Blythedale, to be held the week before the one at the Neff grove.  An item in the Bethany Republican assured people that “the annual M. F. A. picnic in the Neff grove, east of Bethany, will remain unchanged” and that local M. F. A. leaders said that the news about the Blythedale picnic “came as a surprise to them.”  In 1929, there were changes to the picnic when it was renamed the “Harrison County Picnic Association” though unofficially it would always be known as the “farmers’ picnic”.

The picnic was an annual tradition until about 1942 which it was cancelled for the duration of World War II.  The money that would have been paid as premiums for the livestock show was instead used to purchase war bonds and stamps.  Though the board continued to meet until 1947, the farmers’ picnic was never held again and in 1957, the Harrison County Picnic Association was officially dissolved.

Thank you to Nellie for her suggestion and sharing her memories of going to the farmers’ picnic.  

Got a favorite memory of Christmas in Ridgeway?  I am looking for personal stories and/or pictures of Ridgeway Christmas happenings.  If you would like to share, send an email or call me or stop by Paula’s Sewing Corner!

Bit of History - November 13, 2024

From the pages of the Ridgeway Journal dated November 20, 1924:

The Methodist-Episcopal Church held their annual Father and Son Banquet.  About 75 fathers and sons attended the banquet and program of music and speeches.  The Henry family was represented by four generations of their family:  W. H. “Uncle Will” Henry, Sheridan Henry, Clarence Henry and Lloyd Henry.  The food was prepared and served by the ladies and the men promised to return the favor during Mothers and Daughters Week.  

The New Ridgeway Hotel changed management when it was leased by W. V. Hopper from C. H. Washburn.  Mr. Hopper was from Albany where he managed the New Albany Hotel.  

The Ridgeway Journal also changed ownership, having been purchased by Frank and Bettie Robertson who had previously leased the Record of Weir Kansas.  “The Journal was already a good paper, but Frank and Bettie began immediately to make improvements.  If they continue the way they have started they will soon be classed among the best in the state.”  Despite this glowing recommendation, there were still some mistakes in their first issue:  The article about the new Journal owners was placed between the last two paragraphs of the obituary for Cordelia Barnes.

The Harrison County Poultry Association was preparing for their Annual Winter Show in conjunction with Ridgeway Annual Corn Show and Farmer’s Festival, planned for early December.  The Rex Theatre had several entertainments planned such as a vaudeville show and two plays.  There was an “old-time square dance” for Ridgeway area residents at the New Ridgeway Hotel and the Methodist Ladies Aid member were planning Thanksgiving dinner.

Bit of History - November 6, 2024

From the pages of the Ridgeway Journal dated November 9, 1916:  The Journal reported that “indications are as we go to press Wednesday afternoon that Woodrow Wilson has been reelected President by a close margin.” The paper also mentioned that “The race for governor in the state is close between Gardner and Lamm, the returns favoring the latter.”  Frederick Gardiner, a Democrat from St. Louis won over Republican Henry Lamm in the closest gubernatorial race in Missouri history.  Lamm won the Harrison County vote.

The Methodist Church was pleased to report that 142 attended Sunday School with a collection total of $5.00. J.H. Thompson wrote the column for the church: “The election is now over and the president and governor and all other needed officers elected, so let us get down to hard work again for the kingdom of God.” 

The Rex Theatre was showing “Rupert of Hentzau”, a photoplay based on the sequel to “The Prisoner of Zenda” and was a story about an Englishman who “had been elevated to rule as the King of Ruritania at the time with the rightful king was being held prisoner”.  He looked so much like the king that even the queen didn’t know the difference until after the coronation. 

 

The community was saddened by the loss of Pansy Alice Henry, a young woman who passed away after a long illness.  D.L. McCollum advertised his home in the Sunnyside addition for sale.  Twenty-three local property owners posted that “we, the undersigned, will positively not allow anyone, with guns or dog, to trespass on any land owned or leased by use and anyone caught in the act will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.”  There had been a few accidents in the community caused by careless hunters or loafer “and we are positively going to stop it.  This is not a slight hint, but we actually mean business.”

Bit of History - October 30, 2024

From the pages of the Ridgeway Journal, November 10, 1905:  The Ridgeway School published the attendance report for the second month of school.  Mark Burrows, the superintendent, was especially pleased to report that there were zero tardies and 19 visitors to the school during that month.  “Quarterly examination cards” were also sent home to parents at this time with a reminder that “A few do not seem to realize that children who spend much time on the streets at night, or attend mid-week gatherings, can not do the same high grade work as their more carefully looked after classmates.  “Our school is our business” is the motto of our more successful students.”  

Mr. Burrows also announced that the Weather Bureau would be sending a daily telegram with the weather forecasts.  The school would then display a weather flag on the flag stag to let community members know the forecast. The school had cards explaining the flags available to the community. 

I found two great ads in this issue.  The first was from R. M. Prater, auctioneer in Ridgeway.  He listed the requirements for a successful sale:  1:  have a good clerk, be sober and clear-headed; 2.  Have no by-bidding or skin game, for if you do, you will be the one skinned. 2.  Have plenty of help that is not afraid to hustle; 4 Have plenty of bills, not less than 200.  Don’t employ R. M. Prater unless you want him, for if you do, he will be there rain or shine.

The second was from Mrs. Myrtle Allbee, milliner, who was closing out her entire stock of Ostrich plumes and tips at her cost.  She also had a sale on “toilet preparations” at half price and ladies could supply themselves with “perfumes, creams, powders, etc.”  I wonder if ostrich feathers were going out of style on hats.

Bit of History - October 23, 2024

On November 4 and 5, 1938, the Ridgeway School held a school carnival and fair. This school fair was very similar to the county fairs: students entered exhibits for agricultural products such as corn, wheat, barley, soybeans and other row crops as well as fruits, vegetables, and eggs. Ernest Flucke oversaw the agricultural exhibits as the vocational agriculture instructor.

Home economics students also submitted entries for cakes, candies, canned fruit and vegetables and butter as well as rugs, quilts and fancy work. Mrs. Stanley Gex was the home economics teacher and was responsible for these exhibits.

There was a lot of entertainment available to fair attendees: bingo, music, minstrels, games and side shows as well as concessions. On Friday evening, attendees enjoyed a program of music, plays and singing and “various other amusing and entertaining features”. The main program on Saturday was an “amateur contest” in which any school or community could participate. Prizes were given out for first, second and third place to winners who had been selected by the audience. (Ridgeway Journal, Oct 27, 1938)

The fair was considered a success despite the unfavorable weather that occurred those two days. The crowd was small on Friday, but a good-sized crowd arrived Saturday evening to enjoy the program and see the exhibits. Delores Hendren won first prize of $1 in the amateur contest with her solo “Says My Heart”. There were 22 agricultural exhibitors and $13 was paid out in prizes. Proceeds from the carnival went to the athletic fund to buy equipment and help pay travel expenses for the teams. (Ridgeway Journal, Nov 3, 1938).

Bit of History - October 16, 2024

On Nov 3, 1938, the Ridgeway Journal reported that Halloween that year was a quiet for pranks but a great night for parties.   Pranksters placed a gate across Main Street, but other than a few mailboxes on the gravel road east of town being torn down or broken off and a few hard-to-locate milk cows the next morning, pranks were minimal.  Masquerade parties were in swing all over town and beyond, however.

The first five grades of the Ridgeway school got enjoy their class parties after recess that Monday.  The young Rendezvous Club held their Halloween party at their club rooms on Monday evening with a treasure hunt that took them to various parts of town, after which they played games and had refreshments, then enjoyed dancing.  The sixth-grade students had their party on the Saturday evening before Halloween at the school and snacked on apples and popcorn balls.  

The T. S. E. Club held a party on Friday evening in the school auditorium.  Cleo Stockwell won a box of chocolates for the best costume and the group played games and had cider for refreshments.

Parties were not only for the children; adults also got in on the fun.  The W. T. L Club members held a masquerade party and covered luncheon at city hall for their families.  Mrs. Nelse Haun and Mrs.Will Mathis won as “best masked”.  Dr. Lake Brewer’s Sunday School class held a party at the home of W. E. Moore and they enjoyed “pumpkin pie with whipped cream, coffee, cocoa and apples”.  There were several private parties as well.  

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Bit of History - October 9, 2024

Here are a few things that happened in Ridgeway in October 1962:

Floyd Tuggle was elected Chairman of the Harrison County Agricultural Stabilization Conservation Committee.  He had previously held the position of Vice-President.  The committee was “responsible for the administration of the Department of Agriculture programs on the county level”, including Feed Grain, Wheat Allotment and Stabilization, ACP, Wood subsidy, Price Support, Conservation Reserve and Facility Load programs.  (Bethany Republican-Clipper, Oct 3, 1962)

The Ridgeway FFA encouraged farmers to “cooperate in the FFA Safe Corn Harvest Program”, a statewide program sponsored by the Missouri FFA which provided signs, posters and other reminders about the special dangers of mechanical corn harvesters to “help prevent tragic injuries”.  The program was also supported by Ridgeway firms Shepard Equipment Company, Polley Bros. Feed and Seed, Farmers Produce and Oil Company, Tripp Insurance and Milligan Insurance. (Bethany Republican-Clipper, Oct 3, 1962)

The Ridgeway 4-H club worked on a wildlife conservation and erosion control project on a watershed lake on the Okla Fitzpatrick and Jim Polley farms.  They planted trees, grasses and rose fences to provide better erosion control as well as food and cover for wildlife.  

Two Ridgeway 4-H members were recognized for their Junior Leadership projects.  Shirley Rucker took Health as her project which called for every 4-H member to be tested for diabetes, a breakfast survey, health picnic in the Ridgeway Park and a visit to the club from Dr. Nibbe who talked about Care of the Skin.  Gary Tomes was in his 4th year of Junior Leadership and selected Safety as his project which included having each member check their home for fire and safety hazards as well as writing articles and setting up displays in store windows.  His project won the fire safety contest sponsored by the Farmers Mutual Fire Insurance Company in which he placed first in county, state and national contests. (Bethany Republican-Clipper, Oct 31, 1962)

Bit of History - October 2, 2024

From the Ridgeway Journal dated October 3, 1940:  The Ridgeway Methodist Church welcomed a new pastor, Rev. H. E. Marshall, who came from the Hundley M. E. Church in St. Joseph.  He succeeded Rev W. R. Woodward who had been pastor of the Ridgeway church for three years.  The Ridgeway Christian Church had a successful Sunday School Rally and Homecoming Day with over 200 people registered.  Rev. Noel T. Adams arranged the program of songs in the morning, a basket dinner for lunch and a “dramatization of the devotional by the members of the primaries, intermediate, junior and young people’s departments of the Sunday School”. The dramatization was closed with a rendition of “Rock of Ages” by Mrs. Clayton Pontius.

The town was saddened by the loss of a young man, Guy Kenneth Prather, age 28, who was killed when the car in which he was riding struck a “bridge banister” and was totaled.  Two other young men were injured but survived.  The accident occurred on this side of Witt Hill.  

The Ridgeway Owls football team travelled to play Stanberry, winning 18 – 13.  They were to play King City the next week and that game was to be dedicated to the memory of Knute Rockne, the late great coach at Notre Dame. 

The area was having a warm dry spell that allowed for maturing of corn and soybeans but delayed the sowing of winter wheat.  The paper reported that the drought was hurting pastures and some were badly burned by the lack of moisture.  Gardens were nearly gone except tomatoes “which will not last much longer”.