- Fall River, Kansas 1918 - (Part 3 of 4) -
“In June of 1918 the State Highway Commissioner, accompanied by several interested road boosters from Fredonia and Severy, passed through Fall Fiver going over the Ozark Trail for a second inspection. A short time the trail from here west to Severy, Piedmont and Beaumont was turned back to township roads. We learned that the road upon second inspection has been definitely turned back to township roads because of several dangerous crossings and hills west of here on the trail. As a matter of fact, the road was kept in as good a shape when a township road as when it was made a county road and part of the Ozark Trail.
The road east from Fall River over the trail is being put in better condition, a new cement culvert is being put in just below the hill east of Ed Stukens’ house. The County Engineer, Mr. Ross was down and purchased a right of way across the Fields farm and will change the road to run directly from the new bridge to the hill east of there, doing away with passing through heavy timber and a bad turn. Another cement bridge will be put in between the hill and the one they are working on now. With a few more places fixed between here and the Wilson County line the road east will be in pretty good condition This letter was written to John Gardner living in Fall River from W.A. Wickersham who was stationed at Fort Lawton, Washington during World War I: We arrived here last Thursday and will be quarantine for two weeks. Left Eureka and went to Fort Logan, Colorado. We carried our suitcases nearly all afternoon, and were vaccinated in each arm, our finger prints taken and given a thorough medical examination. They sure kept us on the jump that afternoon and the next day, the Sargent in charge of us posted a list of names and told us to stick around. About 5 o’clock we were marched about half a mile and put on a train. We went through Wyoming, Idaho, Oregon and most of Washington. This place is located on Puget Sound, and when we go to mess, we can see stern wheelers and tugs going up and down the Sound. We are quartered in two mule barns, about 150 in each barn. I understand we are to be mixed in with a machine gun company from Alaska; we hear all kinds of rumors.
There was quite a bunch sick yesterday, myself included. They took two from our barn to the hospital, Simmons from Severy and Shipman from Howard. I think the cause was too much grub and not enough exercise. We were taken off the train twice each day for about 20 minutes to walk and run. Well, this is all for now.
A letter from Corporal Fitzhugh Dodge appeared in the November, 1918 Fall River Star written to his parents on September 19, 1918 from somewhere in France: Received Sallie’s good letter, also Faye’s and one from Ruth and Rachel. You don’t know how glad I was to hear from you. I nearly cried when I read them. I think of them so often and wonder if they will be great big girls when I get back. It’s about time for school to begin, isn’t it? I expect the kids are all eager to start in. Tell them that the little French children don’t have as nice as schools as they do. The school buildings here are like all other French buildings, built of stone and are not furnished so nicely inside and I have seen none with playgrounds, except the street which generally passes directly in front. Most of the smaller ones have the long seats and desks and detachable black boards, and a large stove stands by the “master’s” desk. Every town, no matter how small, has its school building and church. All the churches are very artistic, decorated inside with etchings and oil paintings.
The villages are as a rule not kept very well. The streets are narrow and dirty with pigs, chickens and ducks running freely in them. Every few blocks a well or water fountain will be found with two or three long troughs attached, one of which is used for watering stock and the other is a public washing place or laundry, where the women of the village come and do their family washing. These wells and troughs are either cut from stone or made of cement. In many cases the chickens, etc. run at will thru the houses.
One of the most frequent signs seen on the streets is “Café, vins et bierre”. Wine is very plentiful here, even more so than their beer. The beer is not nearly so good in quality as the beer in the states and one does not care for the cheaper grades of wine. Now don’t think by this that I am a frequenter of these places, because they have very little interest for me. But the above seems to be the general opinion. Will say I have sampled some of the better wines which are very good. But this will not interest you as much as other things, maybe farming. But before I tell you about the farming better tell you a little more about the towns. Every little town has a few small stores similar to our grocery stores which in French are called “Epsiceries”. Of course, the stock carried is a meagre one, but they get enough for what they sell. The shoe stores and dry goods stores are similar to ours in the states. When riding through the country one can see a village on the side of most every hill. The buildings are all roofed with red tile which makes them visible. A town of 10,000 inhabitants much more territory than what New Albany covers. (New Albany is a small-town east of Fall River located in Wilson County) We were billeted in a small village for some time, living right in French homes. Of course, we didn’t eat with them. I would like to have stayed longer as that is the best way to learn their language, living among them. I have picked up the language a little, just enough to get by. It isn’t an easy thing to do.
I must not forget to tell you about the larger cities. The business streets of the cities nearly all look alike. The buildings are large, square and seldom over four stories high. Some of the streets are extremely wide, others are just the opposite. Travel is the opposite to ours. Even the street cars travel on the left side of the street. In most cities the street cars are smaller and a cruder type than ours. In Paris though, larger modern cars are to be seen. But one would hardly take Paris to be a French city. The people there are almost Americanized.”
