Greenwood County History- 1930s
The following history of 1930 is the continuation of the column created by Mike Pitko in a chronological order.
In September 1938, a new N.Y.A. project for Kansas and Eureka was made possible when 160 acres of Eureka City property just north of the upper end of Lake Eureka was made available for N.Y.A. development by the Eureka city officials. This area will be developed into a landscape-nursery project. A portion of this property will be devoted to many varieties of trees and shrubs which will be propagated and grown for the purpose of planting and beautifying the city park, street parking and other public areas. Trees and shrubs grown on the project will also be available for the landscaping of Lake Eureka.
Initial work will begin shortly with the erection of barracks on the site for approximately 50 N.Y.A. boys. After remodeling, the house already on the property will be occupied by the supervisor.
This is to be a permanent N.Y.A. project for giving instruction and practical training in landscaping and nursery practice to boys selected from all parts of the state who are especially adapted and interested in such work.
The barracks and dinning hall will be erected by youths training for carpentry work. The buildings will be furnished with material constructed in N.Y.A. woodworking shops. The meals will be cooked and served by N.Y.A. boys in chinaware modeled by N.Y.A. youths.
The supervisor was the Kansas State College landscape foreman. While attending college at Kansas State College, Mr. Burton, the project supervisor did landscape and tree surgery work for many Manhattan residents, including 50 or more college professors. Previously Mr. Burton had been employed as superintendent of the Bartlett Arboretum at Belle Plain, Kansas.
The Highway 54 traffic signs have been removed from Second Street and eastbound traffic on that highway through Eureka now is routed over the new Fall River bridge, east on River Street to Main, north on Main to Seventh Street and east on Seventh out of town.
On November 10, 1938 Eureka’s Crimson Tornado and rooters will go to Fredonia on a special train. (yes, you read right the team took trains to some games) The last two years Eureka and Fredonia have battled to a tie. The 5-coach special train over Missouri Pacific tracks will leave Eureka at 5 p.m. The band, pep club, football squad, and many local boosters will be aboard for the trip. Upon arrival at Fredonia the Eureka delegation will parade with the Fredonia band and pep squad. At 7:30 a massed band concert will be presented at the stadium. The flag raising ceremony will take place at 7:45.
Harold Weller, Eureka head coach is warning his boys not to take the game too lightly, because reports have been received that the Yellowjackets are laying for the Tornado. ( Eureka won the game 21-6) The state highway commission will receive bids for grading and bridges on Highway 54 cut-off extending seven and one-half miles straight west from Batesville into Greenwood County. The highway turned southwest to Toronto after leaving Batesville. Despite valiant efforts of Toronto to retain the highway through Toronto, the commission has decided to construct the cut-off. The project will include four bridges, a 600-foot structure over the Verdigris River, two 194foot spans over creeks and one smaller structure. It is reported the cut-off probably will be given a blacktop surface eventually.
The largest demand for work horses experienced here in the United States in recent years was predicted by livestock authorities, as a result of the European War. Army buyers from the war zones are said to have appeared in several midwestern states, and the demand for horses and mules for overseas service is expected to increase rapidly as the war progresses. The acute shortage of good horses in some sections is expected to accentuate the upward price trend.
As a result, farmers are being urged to take extra care to protect their horses against mishaps and disease loses.
People in Madison and Shell Rock township in December 1939, are getting over the shock caused by the Interstate Commerce Commission’s announcement that the Missouri Pacific line between Madison and Leroy is to be abandoned. Recent depression years have been hard on farmers, merchants and no doubt on railroads, but people here feel that the Madison Branch has suffered no greater loss proportionately than citizens in other business and would be a paying proposition in normal times. The latest report is that the line will not be abandoned before next fall and possibly not then, if it can show a profit.
A.W. Parks, age 91, the only surviving Confederate veteran of the Civil War now living in Greenwood County, was honor guest at a meeting of the Methodist Brotherhood at the Methodist Church. Mr. Parks was mustered into service in the light artillery brigade in Virginia August 1, 1864, and was with General Lee at the Appomattox surrender. He came to Greenwood County in 1885 and bought the farm on which he now lives, six miles north of Eureka.
The last two articles in this trip through the 1930s focus on two of the history makers of the 1930s, the drought and depression. Hope you have enjoyed the journey.
After surveying the water situation in Southeast Kansas, the meteorologist for the state board of health recommends that cities in the Verdigris and Neosho drainage basins begin thinking about limiting the daily use of water.
This applies particularly if the cities depend upon the rivers for their water supplies. One of these days the shallow pools will freeze clear to the bottom, and the municipalities will find themselves on less than normal water rations.
Cities must go easy on use of water because they simply will have to furnish farmers with water for livestock this winter. Technical men are working in every drought-stricken county, locating new wells and helping deepen old wells, but the water shortage still maintains and may throughout the winter. “If it rains enough to start the streams running, the cities can forget this warning.” “But unless that happens the cities along the streams had better ration the Saturday night bathers.”
Counties, state and Federal governments stepped up Kansas public welfare expenditures in November, 1938, from October $128,000 to a total of $1,492,746. Grants and payments were increased in each of the four major assistance categories, with the aged again claiming the largest amount. The four categories are: Old-age assistance, aid to the blind, aid to dependent children and general assistance. County funds furnished the bulk of the welfare payments and costs.
