What Stocktonites Were Doing 98 Years Ago
The residence known as the Aunt Milly Taylor property, in the southwest part of town, was the scene of a disastrous fire. The fire occurred when a small gasoline stove exploded. When the fire alarm was sounded, the fire had already made rapid headway and aided by the high wind, the house was completely demolished. A family by the name of Swift occupied the house. The Red Cross collected some housekeeping articles and moved the family to a home south of the track. They have the sympathy of the entire community, as the fire resulted in a total loss for them.
On Saturday morning Joe Timmons and son were at the barn attending to the feeding of the livestock. Shortly after they returned to the house they discovered that the barn was in flames and having no facilities for fighting the flames, the building was completely destroyed. The loss was estimated at about $1,500.00 and consisted of the following: six head of horses and mules, several sets of harnesses, 400 bushels of corn and other grain. There was insurance on the building to the amount of $700.00, and also some insurance on the livestock. The cause of the fire is not known.
Considerable excitement was caused in the south part of town on Tuesday evening by the burning of an old straw stack at the John Crane place. John had been burning off the dead grass around his farm and the fire got away from him and caught in the haystack. Help was rushed from town and no further damage was done. It is hoped that this ends the three fire hoodoo for the present.
At about two o’clock on Sunday morning in Damar there was a scene of a robbery. Burglars had broken the glass in the back door of the Damar Mercantile Company store, thereby gaining admittance. They broke open the cash register and took about $35.00 in money, also silk shirts, silk dress goods, two pair of shoes, practically the entire stock of ladies kid gloves and some men’s gloves. The aggregate value of the goods taken was over $300.00, and not exceeding $400.00. C. A. Pugh, the proprietor of the store, telephoned to Concordia and the bloodhounds were sent up. They arrived in Damar at six o’clock Sunday evening in charge of their trainer, J. F. Swofford. The dogs were taken into the building and started three times on the trail, but each time they would lose the trail when about 30 to 40 feet due north of the back door of the store. This was taken as conclusive evidence that the burglars must have had a car at this point and used it to make their escape. This is the second robbery of the Pugh store. The former robbery occurred under practically the same circumstances, but the goods lost at the time amounted to $1,500.00.
Last week Jack Dryden received the contract for putting down a well for a big swimming pool at Phillipsburg, and moved his well drilling rig to that place on Saturday. He has his force organized and on Monday began work. Jack says he is to go down probably 600 feet. The pool will be placed in Phillipsburg’s City Park in the west part of the town and already sufficient pledges of financial support have been secured to make the project a reality and a success. The time it will take to put this well down, according to Mr. Dryden, will depend on the earth formations, but he expects to have the well done inside of four weeks. The general plan of the pool will be about the same as the one at Stockton.
The old ticket office at the fairgrounds was sold last week to Harry White who moved it to his property in the northwestern part of Stockton. It was the original ticket office, but had not been used for several years.
Mr. A. L. DeMoss of Kansas City is here supervising the construction of a bulk station for the Sinclair Oil Company. The station will be situated west of the Bigge Grain Company and will probably be completed in about two weeks.
The county bridge gang was working out by Ira Hazen’s place, southwest of town, putting a good substantial bridge across the Box Elder Creek. When completed, it will be a big improvement to the road leading to the county farm.
Miss Daisy Swaney closed her school in District 51 last Friday by treating the pupils to a weenie roast and picnic dinner. Everyone reports a very enjoyable time. Miss Swaney has been employed to teach the Bethel School for the coming term at a salary of $90.00 per month.
The annual Junior/ Senior banquet was held on May 7th. It has far surpassed any that Stockton has had for several years. The parlors, halls and reception rooms of the Main Street Church where the banquet was held, were beautifully decorated with the Senior colors— red and white. The room was made to look like a tea garden There were seventy-six present to enjoy the bounteous feast. The Grimsley Orchestra furnished the banqueters with music during the evening. After a wonderful chicken dinner came the literary program, which was greatly enjoyed.
From the Woodston Argus…..Edgar Westenhaver left for Salina the later part of last week. We understand that he had signed a contract to play ball with the Salina team in the Southwestern league this summer….. Hugh Avery reports that the frost Saturday night practically killed the apple crop. Hugh says that it will mean a loss to him of about $1,000.00…..The Woodston band gave their first street concert of the season last Friday evening. It was pretty cold and rainy for a street concert, but nevertheless, a goodly number were out to hear the music and all seemed to enjoy it.
