- Fall River, Kansas 1921-22 - (Part 1 of 2) -
The following were articles found in the Fall River Star: “In February of 1921 the Fall River girls’ basketball team lost to Longton by a score of 7 to 5. The games were fast and snappy throughout. At the end of the first half the score was 1 to 6 in favor of Longton. The boys’ team lost 63 to 3.
At the April County commissioners meeting all banks in Greenwood County were designated as county depositories. Each bank will pay 2 per cent in daily balance.
Dr. W.S. McDonald, county health officer, gave a report on diseases in the county during the first quarter: Scarlet fever 15 cases; pneumonia 1 case: tuberculosis 3 cases; diphtheria 12 cases; measles 34 cases; small pox 5 cases; typhoid fever 2 cases.
In May of 1921 Chris and Emery Pederson, brothers, were killed by suffocation in a coal mine on their farm one mile west of Toronto. They were digging a shaft to a vein of coal on their farm and had set off a charge of black powder before lunch. When they returned Chris descended into the shaft and was overcome by the fumes. Emery after sending another brother after help, went to his rescue, but by the time the others arrived both were dead.
An Ordinance, regulating the operation of billiard and pool tables within the corporate limits of the City of Fall River, Kansas.
Sec. 1. That any person or persons operating any billiard or pool tables in said city shall first procure a license from said city permitting the operation of said pool or billiard tables.
Sec. 2. That said license shall be in the sum of $12.50 per year for each and every billiard or pool table in operation, said sum to be paid quarterly in advance.
Since July 1, 1921, 1,785 auto license tags had been issued by the County Treasurer. The licenses were due July 1 and according to law all persons without new license receipts are liable to arrest. Of the number of licenses issued, 1,706 were on automobiles, 66 for trucks, 10 to dealers and 3 for motorcycles.
In September one of the biggest rains of 1921 fell on Fall River on a Saturday evening, amounting to over three inches. The rain was accompanied by a heavy wind. The belfry of the Methodist Church was moved about two inches on its foundation, and a number of trees were blown over in town.
In late November it was discovered that Harry Graham, son of Mr. and Mrs. Mart Graham, was ill with small pox. The County health officer came down and closed the schools, churches, and all public gatherings for a period of two weeks. There was only one case in town and every precaution was used to prevent the spread of the disease. A trained nurse was here in town in charge of the case and it was hoped that there would be no more cases of the disease.
In December war was declared! Where? In Greenwood County on the gophers and chinch bugs. This was the time of the year to fight these pests, if you do not get them now, they will wage a very distinctive war against you next year, says Me. Farmer, County Agent.
All fence rows, hedges, roadside waste places, and meadows adjacent to cultivated fields, should be burned this fall. This exposes the chinch bugs to the winter weather and the majority of them will be killed. Waiting until spring to burn is only partially effective.
The common pocket gopher is very active at this season of the year. Just notice the new mounds and runways in the alfalfa fields. Gophers can be controlled by placing poisoned grain in the runways. The prepared grain for this purpose may be purchased at cost at the Farm Bureau office. Better get some and use it.
The County Agent will be glad to give further information and help if needed.
On January 13, 1922, the Fall River boys’ basketball team played at Climax. The Fall River boys were defeated by the score of 32 to 12. The boys were unable to play well because they were not accustomed to playing on an outdoor court.
In February of 1922, the Ward schoolhouse, a frame structure, about eight miles north of Fall River was destroyed by fire. The fire had gained such headway when discovered that nothing was saved from the building. The cause of the fire was unknown. Only a small amount of insurance was carried on the building.
In February of 1922 Anna Josephine Book, the fiveyear- old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. T. Book, who live just south of Fall River, was seriously burned. She had accompanied her father to the field where he was burning corn stalks, and in some manner her dress caught fire and she was seriously burned before it was extinguished. She is reported to be getting along as well as can be expected considering her condition.
In March a notice was found in the paper stating: All persons owning chickens in Fall River are hereby notified to keep them penned up and not let them run at large at any time. W.J. Brown, Mayor In April the Fall River area had the worst flooding since 1903 after a five-inch rain fell over two days, and it was reported that the rainfall west of town was heavier.
The river started rising on a Saturday morning and continued until about noon Sunday, when it started falling. The river at the wagon bridge at the north city limits stood at thirty-seven feet and four inches, only lacking seventeen inches of reaching the high-water mark of 1903, when it was the highest known here according to the old timers.
The railroad track, both west and east of town, were under water. The track was washed out east of town about a mile and Fall River was without train service from Saturday evening until Tuesday morning. The telephone lines are down and communication was cut off from all the surrounding towns.
The raise came slowly and the farmers had plenty of time to remove their stock to where it would be safe from the high water. Some of the people living near the river moved from their homes but we have not heard of the water getting into any of the houses. At Fredonia six inches of water fell and the river was the highest since 1895. The river continued to rise there until Monday morning, when it started to fall.
Hundreds of snakes of all kinds and sizes were killed along the railroad tracks east of town. The high flood waters had driven them out of their dens at the foot of the bluffs and they gathered on the track where they were killed by boys armed with guns and clubs.”
