Bit of History -- August 6, 2025

From August 31, 1911 edition of the Ridgeway Journal:  

The A. G. Scott family (no relation) held a huge family reunion in the Ridgeway city park.  Sixteen brothers and sisters were able to get together for the first time since their mother had passed away fourteen years earlier. “Six states were represented, as it were, by those who came from a distance. There was Charley from Chicago, Illinois; Ota from Towner, Colorado,: Minnie from Chase, Nebraska: Zenith from Washington, D. C. Edna, from Indianapolis, Indiana, and Eva from Topeka, Kansas, the balance of the family living ere There are sixteen in all and every one is enjoying the best of health.”  The next day, 140 more family members joined them for a day of picnicking, games, music and stories from Uncle Bill Graham who told of how “he had marched into the battle of Gettysburg to the tune of "Smithton" which they had just played” and if the call came again, he would gladly join up again to serve his country. 

The afternoon had a variety of entertainment including a family ball game in which Ol Scott “in a heartrending effort to make a home-run, went on on all fours between third and home, his wind about gone.  He made a brave effort to reach the goal on his hands and knees but put out ten feet from the plate.”  There was also “an interesting foot-race between Aunt Rachel Robb, age 82,  Kenneth Scott, age 12. Mrs. Robb easily won, and undoubtedly holds the record for one of her age.”

Altogether it was a great day for the family and made many memories.

Bit of History -- July 30, 2025

The August 8, 1953 edition of the Bethany Republican-Clipper carried a story about the no-good, very bad day for the Wesley V. Hallock family in Ridgeway.  This poor family had three separate accidents to family members within four hours, resulting in three separate trips to the Reid Hospital in Bethany.

The first trip to the hospital was for Mrs. Hallock after she was bitten by a dog.  Later, her son William, age 6, was playing “airplane” with a visitor, Elaine Johnson, age 9. “Elaine lay on her back, William Stanley took his seat on her feet, and she propelled him into the air. The final landing was not perfect, and both bones of William Stanley's right arm were broken.” The family headed to the hospital a second time to have the bones set.  

The third trip to Reid Hospital was for son Gary Hallock, age 10, who “was caught between a truck being backed by his father, and the hot engine of a tractor”.  The poor boy suffered painful I burns down his back, but thankfully no broken bones.  He was able to come home after being seen.  

Bit of History -- July 23, 2025

In 1929, the two lumber yards operating in Ridgeway merged to become one, officially changing the name to the Ridgeway Lumber company.  The two lumber yards were the Miner & Frees yard, which operated along the railroad behind the hotel and the Crossan-Zingerle Lumber company, which had started out as the Cadle lumber yard in Ridgeway’s early days.  Both yards were a vital part of Ridgeway’s economy for many years. The yards were purchased by M. R. Smith of Kansas City who also owned yards in Blythedale, Eagleville, Lamoni and Ford City as well as owning three lumber mills in the state of Washington.  Mrs. Martha A. and Charles F. Miner kept some interest in the yards and he planned a cooperative business where the employees would become part owners as well.  “It is not known yet whether the sheds will be torn down or the yard goods moved across the street to the new company or whether both yards will be operated.”  (Ridgeway Journal, July 25, 1929) 

Bit of History -- July 16, 2025

In 1910, the arrival of Halley’s Comet was heralded in the Ridgeway Journal as early as January 27. You could already see the comet on a clear night and as “This comet only appears about every seventy-six years so you had better watch the skies, for, in all probabilities, few of us will live to see it again.” The paper noted that astronomers told everyone that the comet would be at its brightest in May, so there was still time to see it. The article went on to add: It would be interesting to our readers to read its history, but it is too lenghty (sic) to publish in this issue of the Journal.”

On April 21, 1910, the Journal did publish a much longer article about Halley’s Comet with a great deal more detail about the most recent journey around the Earth at the time. The comet was expected to be at its closest to the Earth on May 18 when it would be the most visible in the evening sky. At the end of the article, readers were told “The thing to do is to hold tight, don't lose courage, and keep your eyes open. For you're likely to see things you can tell about to your grandchildren.”

The comet returned in 1986 and a new generation turned out to see it. My husband, Tracy, told me that he and the other members of the senior RHS class of 1986 went out to Tim Williams home to view the comet. They went out to a field far away from any lights to view the comet with their advisor Mr. Leeth. Tracy thought the whole experience was “very cool” and unforgettable.

Bit of History -- July 9, 2025

A few articles in the July 4, 1902 edition of the Ridgeway Journal may have piqued the interest of the paper’s readers.  The paper reported that a new set of hitch racks had been installed just north of Grinstead & Gee’s store.  “The new posts are very heavy and should last a long time. A chain had replaced the old rails to tie to.”  The editors suggested that more improvements like this would be a “good thing.”

The paper also reported that the Board of Aldermen had passed two new ordinances.  The first was that all residents must pay a tax for each dog on their premises.  The tax on male dogs was $1 and the tax on females was $2.  Dog owners were required to go to the City Collector to pay the taaxes.

The second ordinance also regarded taxes:  “all telephone companies, or all owners of said phone lines, with. in the corporate limits of the said City of Ridgeway, are required to pay a license of $10 per year, and also every telephone pole within the corporation of said City are taxed twelve and one-half cents per year.”  Anyone with questions needed to call the mayor and “become familiar with the laws.”.  

Bit of History -- July 2, 2025

On June 1, 1915, the men in Ridgeway and the surrounding area celebrated a funny kind of event:  Road Dragging Day.  The business men in town called area farmers asking if they would come to town and help drag the local roads coming into Ridgeway to smooth them out.  The farmers agreed and “They came, they dragged, they were furnished free entertainment and went home happy.”  

Sixty-nine men and boys brought seventy-five teams and about 45 road drags and scrapers showed up to help with the work.  They represented seven townships:  Jefferson, Union, Marion, Madison, Trail Creek, Sherman and Grant.  They got their dinners from the Switzer and Winkler restaurants and the good people at the Lazear livery fed and cared for the horses.

After the dinner, the workers were entertained with music and a “movie” show at the Rex theater.  They could also play at the box ball ally.  J. W. Leazenby spoke and  “made a cracking" good roads speech which was much appreciated and received with marked attention.  Photographs were taken of all the men as a group and individuals with their teams and drags.  

“Before returning home, the ‘men with the drags’ decided that we city folks did not keep our streets in the proper shape and proceeded to show us how the trick was done. They dragged Main street until it was as smooth as glass, they dragged down Popular street and back on Pine, up on maple street and down on Vine”  until all the streets in Ridgeway were in a “most excellent shape.”  (Ridgeway Journal, June 8, 1915).

Bit of History -- June 25, 2025

From the pages of the Ridgeway Journal, June 24, 1904:

The City of Ridgeway was preparing for the Fourth of July with a grand celebration which included performances by the city band, a parade, a reading of the Declaration of Independence, an address by the Honorable H. S. Hadley of Kansas City (who, according to the RJ editor, was “one of the foremost orators of Missouri and should be a good drawing card”) and an “hour-long concert by a chorus of thirty voices”.  The afternoon’s entertainment included a number of races included a bicycle race, a goat race, boys’ foot races, a “Fat Man’s” race, sack race and wheel barrow race.  There were other contests attendees could enter like the Oldest Couple, Heaviest Woman and a grand shooting match.  The day ended with a grand fireworks display.

There were a few editorial comments scattered through the paper about the celebration.  One was a hope that there would be no gambling during the celebration as “Gamblers are very apt to congregate at such large gatherings to ply their vocation. On such days good order should be maintained and no drunkenness allowed. Another note mentioned that “The Ridgeway band is practicing every night so as to be in good shape for the celebration” and one more:  “A person might imagine some of these fine evenings that the celebration was in full force right then and there-judging from the amount of fire works and fire crackers being burned. So far there has been no serious accidents.”

CLOSING:  Hope that you all have had a good week and relaxing weekend!  Please be sure to send me any news items for the paper by Sunday evening!  Thank you for reading!

Bit of History -- June 18, 2025

A few items from the pages of Harrison County newspapers in June 1943:

The third annual flower show was held in the Ridgeway that month.  Miss Roslyn Ragan was selected from seven entrants as the flower queen.  There were entries in thirty classes and several special events.  “Mrs. O. F. Fordyce led in winnings with seven firsts, two seconds and one third.  Mrs. Elmer Rinehart had five firsts, two seconds and one third.”  Of the special prizes, my favorite was that Karen Lea Carson won the prize for the table setting for dolls.  (Bethany Republican-Clipper, Jun 9, 1943.)

Lieut. James Ragan, the son of Sgt and Mrs. Pally Ragan “appeared briefly and inconspicuously in the photo play ‘Crash Dive’”.  This photoplay featured the submarine on which Lieut. Ragan was second in command.  His parents went to see the play and while his father missed seeing him, “Mrs. Ragan recognized him in one scene where the crew was shown.”  Unfortunately for Harrison County residents, they didn’t know until after the photoplay had been shown in Bethany that he was in it.  He wrote to his parents that he had hoped to get home for a leave, but due to his location, he would not be able to get leave “for a long, long while.” ( (Bethany Republican-Clipper, Jun 23, 1943.)

Miss Doloris Elaine Elliot, a resident of Ridgeway, was promoted to seaman, second class, in the navy WAVES (the women’s branch of the Navy).  She had been a clerk in the Harrison County treasurer’s office before enlisting.  She was attending a “storekeepers school” in Indiana after which she expected to be promoted again.  

Bit of History -- June 11, 2025

These are a few of the ads from the Ridgeway Journal dated June 30, 1910:

Grocery store owner O. P. Bennet had an ad on the front page in which he asked “Did your children enjoy the Pony Show?  Wouldn’t it be nice for them to have a pony of their own, if it cost you nothing?”  The store was going to give away “one of the best Shetland Ponies in Harrison County” to a patron who spent at least $1 in the store.

Miner & Frees encouraged farmers to start thinking about fall already, claiming that “NOW is the time to buy the best SILO made.”  Bartlett & Bridges likewise advertised to farmers withWe have the largest line of Harvesting Machinery to be found in this section, and not only the largest but the best.”

Miner & Frees had another ad telling readers to “Wake up! You are not at the beach but at home and the house is full of flies.  The only relief is to buy one of those good Screen Doors from Miner & Frees.”

C. O. Buzzard offered gasoline cook stoves for sale, claiming that “Baking and cooking can be done on these stoves just as well as on any coal or wood stove, with less trouble and no dirt, and much more comfort, especially in the hot summer months.”

The opera house was going to present, for one day only on July 2, “Witherel's Scenic Prison Show: "The Twin Hells” of Kansas and Missouri.  Two hours behind the walls of Famous Penitentiaries. The only prison show of the kind in the world It is an object lesson to the young and an entertainment of merit for older people.”  

Bit of History -- June 4, 2025

From the front page of the Ridgeway Journal dated June 6, 1935: 

Northwest Missouri had been hit with heavy rains through the spring which resulted the Grand River flooding and the destruction of the bridge on the farm market road between Mt. Moriah and Cainsville. The flooding also destroyed three other bridges and Trail Creek, Big Creek and Painter Creek were all over their banks. The flooding delayed farm work for W. W. Bush who said that a “week of straight sunshine would not put the ground in condition for working in many fields.” He also described Mosquito Creek, “ordinarily something like an exaggerated trickle, was nearly 100 yards wide and would swim a horse Saturday.”

One positive note to the flooding was that damage caused by chinch bugs was expected to be lessened. Chinch bugs are small insects that feed on the sap of grass and grain crops, causing damage by injecting toxins into the plants. They thrive in hot, dry weather like the drought of 1934. The flooding delayed their reproductive cycle and as long as the weather remained wet, they would not cause as much damage as expected.

The paper also reported that 480 feet of pipe slid into the city well that week during repairs. Workers had been pulling the pipe to look for faulty valves to determine why the water was not filling the bowl and not enough water was available for an emergency supply. They were unsure at first if the pipe had plunged all the way to the bottom of the well and made plans to take measurements to find out. Meanwhile, Mayor Leazenby and City Marshall Crosby went to Kansas City to order more pipe at a cost of $400. This was part of a series of problems fixing the well that ended up lasting 10 days before they could turn the water back on. (For the rest of the story, see the Bit of History for July 3, 2024 at RidgewayCBA.blogspot.com.)