"Chariton Chronicles" premieres tonight

Just a reminder that "Chariton Chronicles," an original work for band by Toronto-based composer Vince Gassi, will be premiered by the Chariton Community High School Band under the direction of Daniel Scheetz tonight during the spring concert. The program begins at 7 p.m. in Johnson Auditorium.

The Lucas County Historical Society made a little history itself by commissioning the piece more than a year ago --- for a variety of reasons.

One of course, was the fact that Daniel suggested it. But the composition also celebrates the rich history of instrumental music in Chariton, commencing with brass bands during the 1850s and 1860s, continuing through the American Legion Junior Band of the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s and carried forward today by school music groups and soloists and the summer Community Band.

In addition, it was a positive way to reinvest in the community that supports us --- providing an opportunity for our high school students to interact with a composer and practice and perform a piece related to the history of their hometown.

The composer researched Lucas County history extensively during the composing process and earlier this year singled out the stories of five Lucas Countyans who were among those he was thinking of while at work.

They are (clockwise from upper left) Capt. Helen Talboy, heroic World War II nurse and later pioneering superintendent of the Iowa Womens Reformatory; Theopolis "Buster" Gibson, lifelong Chariton resident who also served his country in exemplary fashion during World War II, but in the segregated armed forces of that era; James G. and Frances (Allen) Robinson, among the first dozen or so pioneer EuroAmerican settlers here during the late 1840s (James was one of three founding county supervisors); Smith H. Mallory, railroad builder and entrepreneur who was among Chariton's most widely known citizens from 1867 until 1903, when he died; and Dora Wyland McAfee, pioneering Chariton physician at a time when women were rare in that field.

And of course there are threads of the lives of many others woven into the composition.

I've been lucky enough this spring to interact with the student musicians on a couple of occasions, but have yet to hear the piece performed. So I'm looking forward to tonight's concert.

Lucas, United Mine Workers & eight-hour work days

The annual Labor Day observance at Lucas, home of the John L. Lewis Museum of Mining & Labor, still is a big deal. But during 1901, the celebrating was done in early April in order to mark the third anniversary of both United Mine Workers of America Local No. 799 and the eight-hour work day for miners.

Chariton newspapers were not especially adept at covering developments in nearby Lucas, but the advent of Local 799 had been noted briefly among Lucas news items in The Herald of March 23, 1899:

"It is not generally known that we have a labor organization in our midst. Such, however, is the case. Jno. Reese of Albia, state organizer of the order of United Mine-workers of America, met some twenty-four miners of Lucas and Cleveland on the evening of Feb. 28, and formed them into an organization. Since then about all the miners of this vicinity have become identified with the order. The charter has been received and the Red Men's hall rented, where they will meet every Wednesday night."

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The mining industry in western Lucas County had been revitalized during March of 1899 by the opening of the Cleveland No. 4 mine (aka Whitebreast No. 4) southwest of Lucas. Veteran Lucas County miners and their families continued to live in Lucas and the remnants of the mining town of Cleveland just to the east, but hundreds more poured into the new mining camp, called New Cleveland, that sprang up around the new mine.

Another UMWA local was organized there, but less is known about it because that mine closed during 1908 and the town around it vanished.

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These union locals became the bargaining units for Lucas County miners in Sub-district No. 1, UMWA District 13, in negotiations with mine owners and operators.

A principal goal of Iowa coal miners during 1899 was a contractually guaranteed eight-hour work day. The year 1898 generally is cited as the date for institution of the eight-hour day in America's  coal mines, as the framed award at left (found online and related to the West Virginia mine fields) suggests, but victory did not come until the next year in Iowa.

Mine owners signed on to a contract making that guarantee and affecting some 2,000 miners in Sub-district No. 1 --- including Lucas County --- on March 9, 1899, in Centerville. A similar agreement was signed in Ottumwa on April 26 affecting miners in the Central Sub-district --- Wapello, Mahaska and Monroe counties. 

Mine owners in the Des Moines Sub-district were among the most resistant to the plan, arguing that financial disaster awaited if they were forced to abandon the practice of demanding nine hours of work daily --- up to 18 hours daily during times of peak demand --- from their employees. Eventually, they, too, capitulated.

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Here's a report of the big celebration in Lucas on Monday, April 1, 1901, as reported in The Chariton Herald of Thursday, April 4. Please note that it contains a couple of references that are racially insensitive by today's standards --- Lucas County newspaper editors and white Lucas countyans in general were racially insensitive at the time.

A LABOR HOLIDAY

Mine Workers Celebrate Anniversary of Adoption of Eight Hour Day

They Gathered at Lucas and Enjoyed the Day in speeches, Music, Dancing and a General Good Time.

The third anniversary celebration of the eight hour system Local Union No. 799 United Mine Workers of America was held in Lucas last Monday afternoon and evening. The town was gaily decorated with flags and bunting and presented a pretty scene. There was a large crowd in town, there being quite a number present from East Cleveland, Cleveland No. 4 and Chariton.

At one o'clock p.m. there was a parade of local and visiting unions through the principal streets. They carried large banners bearing the inscriptions, "In Union there is Strength," "United we Stand, Divided we Fall," etc. They were headed by the Chariton City Guard Band. At 2 o'clock they assembled in Knott's opera house, where an interesting program was carried out.

J.R. Evans was chairman of the day, and the program was as follows:

Address of welcome by Mayor A.W. Knotts. He gave a short talk on the eight hour system and extended a royal welcome to all.

Hon. H.L. Byers responded in a pleasing manner to a call for an impromptu speech. Among other things he said: "I honor the members of the U.M.W.A. They are an appreciable set of men. I am glad of the noble progress labor is making, and no one takes a greater pride than I in the growth and progress of Lucas. It is the merited reward of honest labor on the part of its citizens. The eight hour system gives more men employment and better wages for the supply produced," etc.

John F. Ream, of Beacon, ex-president of the order, gave an address. We can only give a few extracts from it, however. He said: "We meet today to celebrate a movement that will be an event in the history of our country. The eight hour system gives work to more men, and gives them a chance for recreation and to improve their minds. The U.M.W.A. has gained more in the last ten years than in the preceding generation," and predicted that it will not be ten years until all labor organizations will adopt the eight hour system. "It will not be long until in every camp there will be a ladies auxiliary, and then the men may look for a strike on their hands, and I hope the ladies will come off victorious. There has never been a time before in the history of our country when so many men of wealth and high position gave of their time and means to the uplifting of mankind in general, and taken so much interest in industrial questions. It will only be a short time until the man who toils will receive the same wages as men who are otherwise employed. The great stream of progress is moving steadily onward, but no great progress ever came to the world without sacrifices. The world is making great progress in a brotherly feeling."

The band discoursed several selections and the large audience was dismissed.

The evening program began promptly at 7:30, and although and admission fee of 25 cents and 10 cents was charged, the hall was filled to its fullest capacity with interested spectators. Geo. W. Watts of Cleveland was master of ceremonies.

First on the program was a song, "On to the Charge," by the Glee Club of Cleveland No. 4, composed of Messrs. Thomas Evans, Wm. Evans Jr., Wm. Evans Sr., Richard Bennett, James Archibald, Ted Giles and John Morgan. Cleveland may well feel proud of her glee club, for they sing well and would be a credit to a town of large proportions.

Piano solo by Mrs. Nellie W. Clow of Chariton, and as usual was well executed, and she responded to an encore.

Mrs. J.E. Beaman of Lucas recited a pleasing piece, "The Pension Agent." As all who have heard her know, she is an artist in the field of elocution.

A cornet solo by Frank Remster of Cleveland, accompanied by John Morgan, was well played and highly appreciated by the audience.

Quartette, "Forest Glee," Mesdames Von Behren and Mahew and Messrs. L.H. Busselle and J.M. Kneeland of Chariton. Responded to encore.

The cake walk by Lulu Ousley (colored) and Fred Buck, both of Lucas, called forth rounds of applause and they were compelled to come back.

L.H. Busselle, Chariton's popular tenor, sang "Always" in his pleasing style.

"Quartette, "I am Dreaming," Wm. Evans and party of Cleveland No. 4.

Mrs. Beaman again recited a negro piece, giving the dialect almost perfect, and was called back.

Richard Bennett sang "Night Bird Cooing" accompanied by John Morgan. He has a sweet, smooth voice, and the audience was well pleased.

Another piano solo by Mrs. Clow.

Trio, Mesdames Von Behren, Clow and Mr. L.H. Busselle, accompanied by Mrs. Mayhew, all of Chariton.

Selection by the band.

Chairs were then moved to the walls, the floor swept and waxed, and all who so desired were given an opportunity to dance. The Chariton orchestra furnished the music.

The day and evening was one of enjoyment to all who attended.

The local order of the United Mine Workers of America in Lucas was organized three years ago this month, with a membership of about 30. There are 140 members at present. The officers are, President, Samuel Pollard; Vice-President, Geo. Watkins; Rec. Secretary, David D. Davis; Financial Secretary, John Whitfield; Treasurer, Wm. Evans. They meet every Friday evening in the old school house in the west part of Lucas.

We understand the local in Cleveland No. 4 comprises about 300 members.

You've got to be carefully taught ...

France Nuyen as Liat; John Kerr as Lt. Joseph Cable.

I was 12 when the film version of Richard Rodgers' and Oscar Hammerstein's South Pacific premiered in 1958 and like any self-respecting gay kid yearned for the soundtrack --- which my folks provided, on vinyl.

The song that's stuck in my head the longest is very brief, sung by USMC Lt. Joseph Cable (John Kerr) coversationally as Emile De Becque (Rosanno Brazi) looks on. Cable was in love with Liat (France Nuyen) and their interracial romance had generated controversy. The Hammerstein lyrics are, 

You've got to be taught

To hate and fear, you've got to be taught from year to year

It's got to be drummed in your dear little ear

You've got to be carefully taught.

You've got to be taught

To be afraid of people

Whose eyes are oddly made

And people whose skin is a different shade

You've got to be carefully taught.

There's no doubt that the composers inserted the song to make a point, and they did --- especially in the American South of the 1950s.

It's part of the soundtrack that plays in my head each time a relevant incident of violence occurs, like the Saturday shooting at the Altman Family Chabad Community Center in Poway, California --- also the synagogue of the Poway congregation.

So much hate.

It plays in my head, too, when I see social media posts from various "friends" that express racism, Islamaphobia, antisemitism, homophobia. Violence is the logical outcome and all who share and/or express those sentiments are complicit. Who in the world raised raised these friends, quite nice on most levels, horribly twisted and deformed when encountering "the other?" Who taught them to hate?

A deathbed pardon for Inmate Number 2086

This is the tombstone in the Chariton Cemetery of Charles Archibold, 85, brutally murdered by his neighbors, Thomas and Margaret Kelly, on April 6, 1886. I've written twice about the case before, initially here during 2012; then again here, during 2017.

Archibold had a considerable amount of cash concealed in his home, and that was the motive. The Kellys seem not to have been among the brightest of bulbs, so there never was doubt about their guilt, only about the degree. 

Testifying before a Lucas County grand jury, Margaret said that she had been reading poetry to Archibold while they were seated at a table in the Kelly home on the evening of the murder when her husband unexpectedly struck him on the head. She exited the room and then the house, she testified, and claimed to have played no part in disposing of the body.

Thomas told the jury that Margaret had first encouraged him to kill Archibold and, when he refused to do so, struck the old man over the head herself with a soldering iron, dumped his body through the trap door into the basement and some time later single-handedly dragged the body out of the basement and to his own home.

In the end, Thomas was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to a life term; Margaret got off with a five-year manslaughter sentence.

As the years passed, Thomas was transferred from the penitentiary at Fort Madison to Anamosa and as he grew older and weaker, a move developed in Chariton to lobby for a legislative pardon. Among the advocates for a pardon was Col. Warren S. Dungan, attorney, former senator and former lieutenant governor of Iowa.

As Kelly's death approached, the push for a pardon became more urgent --- and attracted considerable attention in Iowa newspapers. Here's a report on the outcome from The Chariton Democrat of Feb. 23, 1900, which incorporates a report published a few days earlier in The Des Moines Daily News:

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"Number 2086 died at 7 o'clock this morning," was the brief telegram that came to Col. Warren S. Dungan Friday morning from Warden Hunter of the Anamosa penitentiary. Number 2086 was Thomas Kelly of Chariton who was sentenced to the penitentiary for murder and whose pardon would have been granted by the legislature Friday. The death of Kelly ends the history of one of the foulest murders ever committed in Iowa. Although Kelly paid the penalty of the crime, his wife, Margaret Kelly, who escaped severe punishment, was always supposed to have been more guilty than her husband.

Kelly was an Irish laborer who lived next door to an old hermit named Chas. Archibold. Archibold had considerable wealth and hid his money in different parts of his home. Mrs. Kelly took care of Archibold's house and at different times found money hidden in obscure places. One time when she was making Archibold's bed, a large sack of money rolled out on the floor and the old miser grabbed it up in a sacred manner and hastened from the home.

Testimony in the case showed that Mrs. Kelly had contemplated some means of robbing the old man for years before he was murdered and had let her intentions be known. The constant discovery of the old man's money was a great temptation to her and one she admitted she did not care to overcome.

On April 7, 1886, Archibold was found dead in his home. His head had been crushed with an axe and his body was terribly mangled and bruised. there was a trail of blood leading from Archibald's home to the Kelly home in the neighboring yard and there was no difficulty in proving that the old man came to his death in the home of his neighbors and that his body was placed in his own home to make it appear that the crime was committed there. Suspicion at once attached to the Kellys'  home and they were arrested.

Mrs. Kelly was tried for manslaughter and her husband was tried for murder in the first degree. The testimony was strong against the couple and Kelly was easily convicted and sent to prison for life. He was never believed to have killed the man, but he helped conceal the crime and suffered the extreme penalty.

Mrs. Kelly was convicted to manslaughter and served a term of five years.

Kelly always had the sympathy of the citizens of Chariton, who believed him the less guilty of the two. He was an Irish well-digger, concerning whom the worst thing that could be said was that he got drunk occasionally. Since his confinement in the penitentiary Kelly has been very cheerful and has lived in the hope that he would be pardoned.

Concerning his death, the Des Moines Daily News says:

"On Thursday afternoon in a cell at Anamosa penitentiary, Number 2086 lay dying. He was an old man, 80 years old, with white hair and a thin, sad face. He had been there almost eight years, and before he went to Anamosa he had spent five years in prison at Fort Madison. Thirteen years, and a life sentence before him.

" 'Your pardon will come this time,' said the chaplain to Number 2086 as he entered his cell on Thursday morning. 'I am assured that the legislature will pass it.'

"A wonderful light spread over the face of Number 2086. 'I am so glad,' he said in a week voice. 'If it comes I can die happy. But,' and his face grew sad again, 'are you sure it will go through the senate this time. You know two years ago the members there did not reach it. There were many things of  more importance, I suppose, but I feel sure they would this time, if they knew how very weak I am, and how short a time I can live.'

" 'Mr. Dungan has assured me that it will come this time,' said the chaplain, and Number 2086 smiled feebly and turned his face away, as if there were unpleasant memories crowding his mind.

"On the afternoon of the same day the pardon of Thomas Kelly came before the Iowa Senate. It was explained that Mr. Kelley was dying, that he would probably not last many hours at the longest. The delayed action of the senate two years ago, which if undone might have given the convict two years of life with his daughter, who wished to make his last years happy, were cited, and the pardon was passed without a dissenting voice.

"Hon. W.S. Dungan, who had pushed the matter through the senate, was watching it. The pardon was hurried through the house and then to Governor Shaw's office, where the executive signed it, and as quickly as possible the news was flashed across the wires by Warden Hunter, who was in town.

"That was 6 o'clock Thursday evening. Thomas Kelly died the next morning. In the prison yard at Anamosa, in a warm corner where the sunshine penetrates daily, there is a pen of pet rabbits. They are waiting for convict Number 2086 to feed them."

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The story suggests that Kelly died a pardoned man, but there seems to have been a glitch that he probably was not aware of. Had he lived, the glitch would have been ironed out and the pardon reaffirmed on Friday. But that didn't happen.

Whatever the case, Thomas was buried --- most likely on Saturday --- in Anamosa's Holy Cross Cemetery rather than in the penitentiary cemetery, known as Boot Hill. His grave, however, is unmarked.

The modest hoard of the late Miss Katie Reinfort

It was widely assumed when Miss Katie Reinfort died at the age of 74 on Aug. 1, 1932, at Yocom Hospital in Chariton after suffering a stroke and breaking a hip, that her situation was one of extreme poverty. She had no family, had received assistance in the past from the county as a pauper and many of her expenses, including property taxes and telephone bills, were being paid by three friends.

A simple funeral service was held at Beardsley Funeral Home two days later with her pastor, the Rev. Frederick Nichol of First Presbyterian Church, officiating. Burial followed next to the unmarked graves in the Chariton Cemetery of her mother, also Katherine, and stepfather, William Eberling, both of whom had died many years earlier. The county would be billed for burial expenses and, because there was no will, the county's supervisor of the poor assumed responsibility for dealing with whatever she had left behind.

As it turned out, she left more than anyone expected. Neatly packed away under beds and elsewhere was a substantial hoard of canned goods, coffee, sugar and other supplies as well as a collection of never-used personal items --- 56 pairs of new hose, for example, 56 aprons and 126 pieces of fabric ranging in size from two to 10 yards. In addition, it was determined that she had more than $1,000 on deposit in Chariton banks and in savings bonds, and that she owned free and clear her modest home  on Court Avenue three doors west of Columbus School. 

While by no means a large estate, it was a surprise --- and enough to result in a front-page story in The Chariton Leader of Sept. 20, 1932, after the court-appointed administrator brought in a sale bill for publication.

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Katie's parents were Adam and Katherine Reinfort, immigrants from Germany, and she was born in Virginia on Aug. 11, 1858. Her father reportedly died when she was 2 --- friends thought in Kentucky, but the death actually may have occurred in Chariton soon after he had brought wife and daughter farther west. Whatever the case, the widowed Katherine was working as a washerwoman in Chariton when the 1860 federal census was taken. During 1868, she married another German immigrant, William Eberling, a well-digger and cleaner by profession.

Katie's mother died during 1886 and Eberling continued to make his home with his stepdaughter until his own death during 1902. Katie's friends were under the impression that he was an abusive man, which may or may not have been the case. His 1902 obituary concludes with the usual pleasantries --- "He was highly esteemed by all who knew him and his death is mourned by a large circle of friends."

After that, Katie continued to live in what apparently had been her mother's home on West Court, working as a cook and domestic while living frugally. During 1922, however, she fell and broke a hip. Today broken hips are not considered catastrophic; in 1922, they still were. It took more than a year for Katie to regain her ability to walk, a process that involved several weeks of treatment at University Hospitals in Iowa City and long recuperation at the Lucas County Home as well as her own home with assistance from a nurse.

Her savings were depleted and she no longer could work as hard and as long as she had previously. Her friends suspected that she began to hoard soon after 1922.

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Here's the Chariton Leader story about Katie's hoard, published on Sept. 22, 1932, under the headline, "Death of Katie Reinfort Discloses Large Quantity of Merchandise Which Had Been Saved Against 'A Rainy Day' " ---

That Katie Reinfort was obsessed with the fear of a penniless old age and the thought of ending her life in the poor house was given as the reason for her hoarding of money and groceries by one of her friends here today.

Miss Reinfort died in Chariton on August 1, 1932, at the age of about 80 years. When her estate was invoiced the following articles, in addition to the ordinary household furnishings and equipment, were found: 75 handkerchiefs, 56 pairs of new hose, 21 pairs of new gloves, 10 new table cloths, 6 wool scarfs, 35 new towels, 15 pairs of pillowslips, 3 sheets, 5 new gowns, 2 suits of new wool underwear, 56 new aprons, 126 pieces of new materials with from 2 to 10 yards in each piece, 310 cans of fruit and vegetables, 115 pounds of sugar, 15 pounds of coffee, 135 bars of laundry soap, and 30 boxes of matches.

On deposit in a Chariton bank and in postal savings she had more than $1,000.

Many of these articles had been given to Miss Reinfort, but receipted bills found in her home show that a large share of them had been purchased.

The friend of Miss Reinfort, who asked that her name not be mentioned, said that Katie had fought an uphill fight throughout her entire life. She came to Iowa with her mother at an early age after the death of her father in Kentucky. She was of German descent. Her mother married again, and the stepfather was brutal to both mother and child. After the death of her mother, she had no known relatives in America. As long as she was able to work she was employed in Chariton homes as a cook and maid. She saved her money and bought a little home on west Court avenue, where she resided until her death.

About ten years ago she fell and broke her hip and at that time saw much of her savings melt away as she was unable to work and was forced to pay for care. She spent some time in the county home, and it was at that period that she told her friends that since she had no relatives and her earning powers were decreasing, the future seems to her to be very dark.

It is not known how long Miss Reinfort had continued her hoarding. Although her home is small, visitors at no time saw any evidence of the articles found. Many of them were piled neatly under the bed, and it was necessary to lift the slats of the bed in order to get them out. Groceries were found in the back of a cupboard and in an old style stove. The articles of wearing apparel showed no signs of use, and were neatly wrapped in newspapers.

Three Chariton women assisted her in the conduction of her affairs, one paying the taxes on her property, another paying her telephone bill, while another took charge of her incidental expenses. None of them knew exactly what she possessed, and all were of the opinion that she was in poor circumstances. Although she accepted help from the county several times, it was stated that Miss Reinfort thought that her possessions would become the property of Lucas county at the time of her death as she had no will.

The property will go to the state, however, when the funeral expenses and other items have been deducted. The household goods, groceries, and other articles will be sold at public auction.

"Many Chariton people feel that Katie should not have accepted gifts and help when she had the means of taking care of herself," the friend of Miss Reinfort stated, "and when all of those things were found in her house I, too, felt for a time that she was at fault. But perhaps under those conditions, with no relatives, with the fear that sickness would soon deplete the savings and with the spectre of the poor house, perhaps many of us would have done the same."

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Once all claims against Katie's estate had been settled, sufficient funds remained to allow the administrator to purchase a very nice tombstone to mark the family graves and it was duly erected at the center of the family lot just north of the cemetery's main drive, several rows in from the front gate. And so in death and after a frugal life, Katie ensured somewhat indirectly that neither she nor her family would be forgotten entirely.

Where exactly was Whitebreast Junction?

A gentleman named Michael O'Brien posted this snapshot of the control tower at Whitebreast Junction yesterday to a Facebook group I'm fond of --- The Forgotten Iowa Historical Society. And I've been banging my head on the desk this morning while trying to figure out exactly where it was at. 

I know for sure that it was located along the main line of the C.B.&Q. line (now Burlington, Northern & Santa Fe) about three miles west of Chariton, somewhere near the top of the Whitebreast Hill grade. But I started out by confusing it with Indianola Junction, about a mile and a half west of Chariton, where --- commencing in February of 1879 --- the switch was located that allowed trains to move onto and off of the new Chariton, Des Moines & Southern tracks through Oakley, Lacona and Milo to Indianola.

Whitebreast Junction's purpose, presumably, was to monitor and control traffic on the Whitebreast Hill grade, descending to (or ascending from, depending upon which direction a train was going) Cleveland and Lucas in the creek valley below.

This steep grade had been an issue since the rail line first was built west from Chariton during 1867-68. An extra locomotive was needed to boost heavily loaded trains up it, braking on the descent was sometimes a problem, accidents were not uncommon and a staffed control station was needed to transfer trains onto and off of sidings so that collisions on the hill did not occur.

The C.B.&Q. line west of Chariton was single-track until 1899, when a second track was added; and even then, the Whitebreast Hill stretch of rail remained single-track for quite a few years because of the engineering challenges (and expense) involved in adding a second track on the grade.

And now I've exhausted the time available to fuss about this for today --- so locating Whitebreast Junction and its neighbor, Amity, will have to remain a work in progress.

Art & architecture at the LCHS annual meeting

Thanks to everyone who attended the Lucas County Historical Society's annual membership meeting  last evening --- and to everyone who worked hard to make it a success.

One of the highlights of the evening was the presentation to the society by artist Susan Baer (right) of her watercolor of the society's A.J. Stephens House with flower garden in the foreground in honor of our chief gardener, Kay Brown (left). Kay, both gardener and artist, has devoted countless hours of planning and labor to development of the museum gardens --- and we're so grateful to Susan for sharing this tribute to her with us.

Sue began the painting last summer during the historical society's first Art at the Museum event, held in conjunction with the Lucas County Arts Council, so we've been witness to the creative process from beginning to end. The painting will be on display initially in the main Lewis Building gallery, then will be installed permanently in the A.J. Stephens House. Art at the Museum is scheduled this year for June 22.

Our speaker for the evening was Robert D. Peterson of Cedar Rapids, artist, art historian and author, whose informative (and entertaining) presentation had a dual focus --- first, the murals created in 39 Iowa cities during the 1930s and early 1940s under the auspices of the New Deal Federal Art Project; then, the Prairie School architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright, Walter Burley Griffin and others in his hometown --- Mason City. 

The New Deal Art part of the program had one immediate effect. A friend, previously unaware that one of these wonderful murals is located in the Corydon Post Office, plans to stop in there today to take a look. A reproduction of the mural as well as the original fire truck featured in it also may be seen at Prairie Trails Museum in Corydon.

The painting to Peterson's right in this photo is by Chariton artist Terry Sue Cox. Several Lucas County artists shared examples of their work on the walls of the C.B.&Q. Freight House during Tuesday evening's meeting.

A library anniversary & a first for Chariton women

For what it's worth, today (April 23) is the 115th anniversary of the laying of the cornerstone of the Chariton Free Public Library. The date "1903" is carved into the stone itself, since construction had begun the preceding fall, but this official bit of ceremony had been postponed until spring of the following year.

And here's another bit of trivia for you --- one of those footnotes to Chariton history that can be pulled out and flaunted at will. This was the first time that a woman, Victoria J. Dewey, had laid the cornerstone  of a public building in Chariton --- a privilege generally reserved for some august male. Mrs. Dewey had chaired the building committee.

"It has always been done by a man," The Chariton Leader reported, "though we don't see why a woman who knows nothing about building a stone wall can't lay a corner stone as well as a man who knows nothing about building a stone wall ...."

Designed by the Chicago architectural firm Patton & Miller, the building --- funded in large part by a grant from Andrew Carnegie --- was completed within the next few months and dedicated on Oct. 28, 1904. Chariton contractors, Johnson & Best, did the building. Tradition has it that the interior design, dubbed the "Chariton plan," was recycled in many other Carnegie libraries large and small across the land after that. Patton & Miller are credited with the design of more than 100 Carnegie libraries.

The building has held up remarkably well and was nearly doubled in size according to a 1993 design by Mason City architects Bergland & Cram. Design and building of the addition were handled so skillfully that it's difficult to tell where the original building ends and the addition begins.

Here's The Leader's report of the cornerstone ceremony, published on April 28, 1904:

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The corner stone of the Carnegie Library building was laid last Saturday afternoon at five o'clock. The rain kept a great many away, but a very good sized crowd, considering the weather, was present. Just at five it began to rain so hard that the people were compelled to go into the Presbyterian church just across the street where the program was carried out.

The Rev. F.W. Henry offered prayer. Mrs. Victoria Dewey, chairman of the committee, presided and presented Mr. Thomas Gay, president of the board, who made a brief address congratulating the people upon the new building, and reviewing the library work of the past five years in Chariton. Mr. F.R. Crocker, member of the board, was called upon and made some most appropriate remarks. He spoke of the first library started in Chariton over twenty years ago and reviewed the library movement down to 1898 when the present Free Library Association was organized. Mr. Crocker paid a warm tribute to Miss Margaret Brown, who, he said, had kept the library alive during its darkest days, and he complimented Miss Bartholomew and Miss Stella Cook upon their good work for the library.

Senator Hasselquist and Colonel Dungan were called for and both eulogized the library and its workers. Colonel Dungan assured his hearers that a good library was one of the best of companions and said that while we would have to do the listening and not the talking, we would all profit by frequenting the library. He said a nation's strength lay in the intellectual, not the physical ability of its people, and that good books would make a nation stronger than would armies and navies.

The audience then returned to the building site, and the box having been placed in the stone, Mrs. Dewey proceeded to formally lay the stone, which consisted, as is usual in all corner stone layings, of pounding it three times with the maul and declaring it to be properly laid after the workmen had placed it, the only remarkable part of it being that, so far as the Leader has been able to discover, this is the first time that a woman has formally laid the corner stone of a public building. It has always been done by a man, though we don't see why a woman who knows nothing about building a stone wall can't lay a corner stone as well as a man who knows nothing about building a stone wall can lay it.

At the conclusion Mr. Henry pronounced the benediction.

The box, which was presented to the board by G.W. Ensley and made by his foreman, W.N. Dawson, contained the following:

A history of the Chariton Free Public Library to the present time, including the minutes of the more important meetings; copy of the correspondence with Mr. Carnegie, etc., written by Miss Brown.

Copy of the address delivered by Mr. Gay at the laying of the stone.

Deed to the library lot.

List of the city officials, members of the library board, the Chariton teacheers and ministers.

Photograph of Miss Margaret Wright Brown.

Copies of the Chariton Leader, the Chariton Herald and the Chariton Patriot for Thursday, April 21, 1904.

Card of the First National Bank.

Coin presented by F.R. Crocker.

Names of architects and contractors of the building.

Outlaws of the Chariton High School Class of 1904

I wrote yesterday about a confrontation during April of 1904 between that year's 24-member graduating class and the Chariton High School faculty and staff. To make a longer story short, the seniors petitioned the school board during late March of that year to bring in an outside commencement speaker to simplify (and shorten) the traditional program that was scheduled for two evenings during May and involve orations and/or performances by all 24.

The board declined, the students acted out in various ways that included protests on April Fool's Day and 13 of the 24 were expelled for their trouble. The other 11 signed an agreement with the board to give up their protest; the balance held their ground --- for a time.

This is a photograph from the Lucas County Historical Society collection of the perpetrators most likely taken on the morning of April 1 at the office of Dr. Albert E. Yocom Sr. before the students showed up at the high school in costume --- the first time. Rebuffed, they returned later in the day dressed in mourning. Only 23 of the 24 students are shown here. Since they are not identified by name, we don't know who is who.

Yesterday's report of the confrontation was from The Chariton Leader of April 7, 1904. Here's a more detailed --- and more sympathetic --- report from The Patriot of the same date:

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The graduating class revolt is still on. Last Thursday night hand bills were distributed about town stating that a lecture would be given at commencement time. The following morning (Friday, April fools day) the class, in a spirit of fun, dressed in costume, as the graduating class several years ago had done, the girls wearing hats of ancient style, sunbonnets, big kitchen aprons, the boys in old overalls, bandana handkerchief neckties, old frock coats one or three sizes too large for them, quaint looking hats, gum boots, in fact anything that would add to the "style" of their outfit. It would indeed be hard to find a more comical looking crowd than they were. They met at Dr. Yocom's office and went in a body to the school house but were not admitted. In the afternoon they dressed in black and wore bits of crepe.

When they arrived at the school house they were taken into the music room, where Prof. Morris talked to them and asked them to sign a paper stating that they would comply with the rules of the school and deliver their orations. If they did not sign the paper they would be expelled. Only five out of the twenty-four complied with the request, viz: Misses Dot Becker, Effie Owens, Nellie Cowles, Fern Gartin, Vida Brown. The remainder of the class were expelled.

On Saturday afternoon, the class held a meeting at the home of one of its members and they decided to go back to school on Monday morning. This they did, but those who had been expelled were not admitted, except to the music room where they were again given an opportunity to sign the paper. Six more signed it, viz: Misses Fredrica McDougall, Marie McCollough, Edna Smith, Elsie Newman, Messrs. Albert Yocom and Fred Newsome. That left thirteen still in revolt.

W.E. Lewis, president of the school board, then went down to the high school building, and ordered that the entire class be allowed to return to school in the afternoon, and this order was complied with. Last evening, the board held a meeting and passed a resolution that every member of the class passing a grade of 75 and delivering their oration, will be allowed to graduate and receive their diploma. Those not passing a grade of 75 will not be allowed to graduate, even through they are willing to deliver their oration. No pupil, even if they pass the required grade, can be compelled to graduate.

The above statements are as near correct as we have been able to get them. The class seem to think they have not been treated altogether fair in this matter, the superintendent and teachers claim they have tried to do what they considered just and right, and the board say they have complied strictly with school law.

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By the following Thursday, the situation had been resolved, according to a report in The Patriot of April 14. The 13 rebels capitulated after the parents of one ordered her to break her oath to her comrades and sign the board's agreement.

The other parents apparently continued to stand behind their children, but it had begun to appear that the situation had gotten out of hand. As a result, the rebels prepared a lengthy letter to the school board outlining their grievances, published in The Patriot, and then agreed to the school board's terms.

That letter was signed by Lester Smith, Corry Walton, Edith Larimer, Carrie Custer, Fay Connell, Maude Smith, Maude Lyman, Frances Culbertson, Porter Smyth, Fred Larimer, Charles Culbertson, Earle Rumble and Dell Stuart.

After that, preparations moved forward for commencement --- spread over two evenings, May 18 and May 19, 1904, filled with orations and performances by the graduates. And all 24 received their diplomas after all.

Class of 1904: What's the matter with kids today?

High school graduation in Chariton at the turn of the 20th century was a complicated affair because the school board and faculty demanded that each scholar either deliver an oration or perform in some other manner before walking across the stage to collect his or her diploma. Depending upon class size, this could be time-consuming and stretch over two evenings.

The 24-member class of 1904, faced with the prospect of two long evening performances during May, staged a modest revolt in early April. The class asked that instead the school bring in a guest speaker to do the orating and simplify the process. Although parents apparently were on board, board and staff were having none of it. The result was a confrontation, reported upon as follows under the headline "Students Revolt" in the April 7, 1904, edition of The Chariton Leader:

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The members of the senior class of the Chariton High School, twenty-four in number, have been having troubles of their own the past few weeks. Instead of the regular commencement exercises, they asked the school board to give them a lecture. This request was refused by the board and then the trouble commenced.

The seniors then prepared a petition signed by their parents, and presented to the board, asking them to reconsider the matter. This the board refused to do. The seniors thought they had a grievance and on the eve of April Fool's day they prepared a joke in the shape of a number of printed hand bills announcing that Prof. L.D. Goodrich of the Chicago University would deliver a lecture instead of the regular commencement exercises to be held this spring. These bills were distributed over the city.

It is hardly necessary to state that Supt. Morris and the members of the board failed to see the joke.

To carry the matter still farther, the seniors went to school on the morning of April Fool's day dressed to resemble clowns. They were refused admittance to the school building. In the afternoon they went back, dressed in mourning. They were met at the door by Prof Morris and given the alternative of signing a paper stating that they would give their commencement orations without any more trouble, or going to their homes and remaining there until the matter was definitely settled.

The paper was signed by eleven members, but the remainder of the seniors declined to do so.

On Monday morning all members of the class were permitted to go back to school, but only those who signed the agreement will graduate. The Chariton schools have been moving along smoothly and without any friction and it is greatly to be regretted that this trouble has arisen.

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As the days passed, the stormy waters calmed and The Leader of April 21 was able to report, "As the matter now stands the members of the senior class expect to deliver their orations and graduate, although we understand that the two class factions, those who signed the agreement and those who did not, are unable to agree on any question that arises."

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Commencement exercises were duly held in the high school auditorium (in a building later known as Alma Clay) on the evenings of May 18 and May 19, 1904. At great length. Looking at the program, which survives in the Lucas County Historical Society collection, you almost wonder if the students didn't twist the knife just a little by planning exercises that seem now to be of excruciating tedium. And then there was the enigmatic class motto, "On the market but not sold."

If you look at the class list, you'll find among the rebels the names of several young men and women who went on to become mainstays of their community. So the class of 1904 turned out OK.

During 1904, high school class size was small in large part because so many young people attended private schools and acadamies. My paternal grandparents, for example, attended the Blackburn Academy, then located about two miles east of Chariton. There were several others.

As these private schools faded and the high school program improved, Chariton High School class size increased dramatically. As that happened, commencement exercises that demanded performances by all the graduates became a thing of the past eliminating at least one cause for revolt.

Puckerbrush's new front door ....

Puckerbrush School, built during the summer of 1874 in Ottercreek Township, will celebrate its 145th birthday this year and to celebrate the occasion, we've given the oldest building on the Lucas County Historical Society museum campus a new front door.

The old door was not original and, quite frankly, had not held up very well either. This one is far sturdier (and far more expensive).

Bingham Construction did the honors last Thursday. Very soon, we hope, the painters will arrive to apply a new coat of white to the entire building. Columbus School second-graders are due to spend a few hours with us on May 3 --- and we want to have everything ready.

The society's annual meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the C.B.&Q. Freight House (all are welcome to attend and hear a presentation on New Deal Art by Cedar Rapids-based artist, art historian and author Robert D. Peterson). We'll open officially for the season on Wednesday, May 1, although actually the museum never closes, and remain open through the end of October.

Also on the agenda this year --- when our place on the contractor's schedule arrives --- are two new concrete paths to the Bill Marner Blacksmith Shop, located somewhat inconveniently part way down the big hill. One path, the longer one, will be handicap accessible and open up a new area of the campus. The other will connect the patio directly with the Blacksmith Shop, but will follow the route of the current path and remain somewhat steep. Many thanks to the South Central Community Foundation for the $6,000 grant, received last week, that will help to fund this project.

Easter's "floral ornaments" in 1889 (and 2019)

If you're expecting a reporter to cover Easter services at your church this Sunday, chances are disappointment will result. But that was not the case in Chariton 130 years ago, when Easter fell on April 21, too.

It seems likely that The Chariton Democrat's editor relied on second-hand reports from most of the five congregations mentioned --- based on his degree of enthusiasm I'm betting he was at the Episcopal church, but it's unlikely we'll ever know for sure.

Nor is it clear why he failed to report on the doings at the two other churches then active in the city --- Swedish Lutheran and First Christian --- which must surely have observed Easter, too. 

All of the congregations active in Chariton during 1889 remain, but none are located in the buildings their members occupied then. The Knights Templar, an affiliate of Freemasonry, have vanished. 

But the flowers are still here --- and those interspersed here were blooming around town late Thursday afternoon. Here's The Democrat report, dated April 25, 1889:

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Appropriate Easter services were observed in most of the churches of this place Easter Sunday, April 21. It being the regular day for missionary services, the exercises at the  Baptist Church were devoted to the missionary cause.

The Methodist, Catholic, Presbyterian and Episcopal churches were each beautifully decorated in commemoration of the resurrection of the Savior. They seemed to vie with each other in the beauty of the floral ornaments.

Rev. Austin, pastor of the M.E. Church, chose for his text the words, "What think ye of Christ?" Matt. 22-42; and dwelt on the human and divine nature of the Savior, and showed that because he was divine, the people expected the circumstances following his death to be more than ordinary. In the evening, regular Easter services were held, consisting of songs and recitations. The Sunday School collection of the day amounted to nearly $35.

At the Presbyterian Church, Rev. Atwood preached from a pulpit almost buried in beautiful and rare flowers, from the words, "Why seek ye the living among the dead?" He opened with a few simple words addressed to the children, and, then addressing himself to the older members of the congregation, told in a most interesting manner the story of the death and resurrection of Christ. The anthems by the choir were impressive, and all felt as they wended their way from the services that surely it was good for us to be there.

At St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, the Rev. F. Duncan Jaudon held the fort and preached a most impressive sermon from the text, "The Lord is risen indeed." A feature of this service was the presence of Immanuel Commandery, No. 50, Knights Templar, in full uniform. The latter part of the reverend gentleman's sermon in which he referred to the pilgrim warrior and pilgrim penitent, their years of battle and weary pilgrimage, was particularly striking and beautiful. The breadth and depth of these references were better understood by the Knights (and the rector who is one of them) than by other members of the congregation. A profusion of beautiful flowers surrounded the holy altar. The music of the episcopal service, always the sweetest praises on earth, were on this sacred occasion particularly sweet. It was all in all a very pleasant, profitable and happy occasion.

At the Catholic Church no pains were spared to beautify to the fullest extent the interior of the building. The decorations were elaborate and beautiful, a profusion of richly blooming flowers showing their bright colors and shedding their fragrance over all. Rev. Father Byer, of Lincoln, Neb., preached an eloquent and impressive sermon on the Resurrection. The Gregorian chant was very acceptably rendered by the choir, and Rev. Father Sheridan celebrated and sang the Mass.

Maundy Money ...

What better way to start the day than with a photo of the queen, who turns 93 on Easter Sunday, distributing Maundy money this morning (English time) during Royal Maundy services at St. George's Chapel, Windsor.

As part of that annual Holy Week service, the queen distributes Maundy money --- ceremonial alms --- to retirees from across the empire to honor volunteer service to their communities. I can think of dozens in Chariton who would quality as recipients if (a) we still were part of the empire or (b) if my yellow hat weren't in such deplorable condition.

Maundy Thursday, as it is termed in the Anglican Communion, has a variety of other names in other traditions, but the rites and rituals associated with it involve commemoration of the Last Supper. Foot-washing generally is a part of services (voluntary, not mandatory). We'll gather at 5:30 p.m. today at St. Andrew's, then after the liturgy strip the altar and veil the crosses and crucifixes in preparation for the solemnities of Good Friday and Holy Saturday that precede the joy of Resurrection and renewal on Easter morning.

"Maundy" is derived from the Latin "mandatum,"  the first word of the phrase "Mandatum novum do vobis ut diligatis invicem sicut dilexi vos" ("A new commandment I give unto you: That you love one another, as I have loved you, that you also love one another."), a directive attributed to Jesus in the Gospel of St. John by which he explained to the apostles the significance of his action of washing their feet.

A little more about "Old Ironsides" & Red Oak

Bernard G. Corbin

A piece of correspondence dated Jan. 23, 1969, turned up at the museum on Friday as brave historical society board and staff members were restoring order to the Stephens House basement, one of our few storage areas. The old letter had literally fallen through the cracks 50 years ago, then resurfaced to tell us a little more about the locomotive (above) known as "Old Ironsides," shown in a photograph also from the museum collection.

I've written about the locomotive before (you'll can find that post by following this link). The magnificent beast stood on the Iowa State University campus in Ames from 1907 until sometime during the early 1940s when university officials who once had been interested in developing a railroading museum decided instead to send it off to be recycled during a World War II-related scrap drive.

The locomotive had been part of the railroad building equipment used by Chariton's Smith H. Mallory, a major post-Civil War rail contractor in the Midwest and Plains states, then given by his daughter, Jessie (Mallory) Thayer, to Iowa State after his death during 1903.

Here's how the Iowa State College "Bulletin" of May, 1907, acknowledged the gift: "The estate of S.H. Mallory, of Chariton, Iowa, has presented a narrow gauge locomotive, one of the first in service on the mountain roads of Colorado. The valve mechanism is of the Waelschert type and the drivers and leading wheels are on a truck with the cylinders entirely separate from the boilers. The engine is a very interesting machine and will be the nucleus for a museum of railroad engineering."

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The letter was written by Bernard G. Corbin (1907-1988), at the time plant superintendent of the Murphy Calendar Co. in Red Oak, in response to a query from Don Fuller, of Chariton, freight agent for the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy, who had become acquainted with Corbin during five years in a similar position in Red Oak.

Corbin was (and remains posthumously) a noted expert on Burlington Route history and equipment, author of "Steam Locomotives of the Burlington Route" (1960), "Burlington in Transition" (1967) and "Across Iowa on the Keokuk & Western and Humeston & Shenandoah Railroads" (1996). Here's the text of the letter that relates to the locomotive:

"Dear Don,

"The engine in question did help build the grades through here (Red Oak). It was narrow gauge and from the rack on the tender appears to have been for wood. I once saw a photo of a work train west of the depot with an engine on it that I believe to be this engine. They built a spider-web trestle from the depot west to the hill --- about one and a half miles --- from cottonwood poles.  This train was on the trestle with dirt dumps filling it in. As you probably know, these poles rotted out and about 1948 or 1950, they came in and did grouting work across the fill, pumping concrete into the cavities.

"The engine, I understand, stood over at Creston for some time awaiting sale. You probably know that the grade was built through here in 1902. I don't know just how long it awaited sale, but I am believing it was near five years.

"It was then donated to the college rather than letting it be scrapped. The do-gooders let it be scrapped during World War II. Too bad."

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There's no point in crying over spilled milk, as Granny used to say --- the locomotive is long gone. But it's still interesting to know more about it and to gain a little insight into some of the engineering techniques used to build what still is one of the busiest rail lines across Iowa, now Burlington, Northern & Santa Fe. The letter now is filed with the photograph and we'll not lose track of it again.

Community Foundation grants total $101,000

It's always gratifying to attend the annual April awards program of the South Central Iowa Community Foundation, held Monday evening in the Lodge at Pin Oak Marsh. This big group includes representatives of all the Lucas County non-profit and public groups and agencies that benefited from this year's distribution of $101,314.96 (that's the total on the big check). Also included are Foundation board members and staff.

I'm happy to report that the Lucas County Historical Society received $6,000 that will be matched to continue efforts to make the museum campus fully accessible, including a handicap-accessible trail to the Bill Marner Blacksmith Shop. Our friends at the John L. Lewis Museum of Mining and Labor at Lucas also received a substantial grant for projects there.

The big winners, however, were young people who will benefit from major grants to music and athletic programs at Chariton Community Schools, grants to the Hope Learning Center and more. Lucas County fire departments also benefitted, as did the Interchurch Council's Ministry Center, now preparing to house the county's Salvation Army programs and working on other projects to serve those in need, and the Chariton Free Public Library. And there were more grants, ranging from several hundred to several thousand dollars.

The Community Foundation and others like it across the state administer Iowa's County Endowment Fund Program and offer other services and incentives to promote charitable giving and local philanthropy. The foundations, which also specifically serve counties where state-licensed casinos are not located, receive a share of annual gaming tax proceeds. Seventy-five percent of the proceeds are distributed annually during programs like this; the balance goes into permanent charitable endowments for the counties they serve. The South Central Iowa Community Foundation is headquartered in Chariton. It serves Clarke, Decatur, Lucas, Ringgold and Union counties. Adams, Appanoose and Wayne are affiliate counties.