Forest of Words

June 6, 1933, was just like any other summer day for many I am sure. But did you know o this day in history that the first drive-in opens? Now you might be underwhelmed at this discovery but for me, it’s a trip down memory lane. I freaking love the drive-in, and I only have a solid memory of one drive-in experience. Star Wars! Get comfy, get your snacks, and get the speaker placed on your door, all of these are lead-ups to what is guaranteed to be an incredible moment. My mom says I also saw Herbie, the Love Bug at the theatre. You will forgive me if I do not recall the details, I was still baking in the belly.

Camden, New Jersey! and the creative inspiration of Park-In Theaters–the term “drive-in” developed and created by Richard Hollingshead, a self-proclaimed movie fan and a sales manager at his father’s company, Whiz Auto Products, in Camden. Keep in mind this was probably surreal to many. The world is still feeling the aftershocks of the Great Depression, which will last for at least a decade to fully recover. The drive-in had to be a social hotspot where teenagers gathered to be teenagers, couples nuzzled, and families shared movie encounters. The original fee was 25 cents per car, 25 cents per person and nobody paid more than $1. Personally, I think this is an incredible trend that needs to be reignited! #historymysteries

Written by Lynn Allen, Executive Director/Curator Brown County Historical Society

Off on another history adventure, and imagine it is 1886, the Rock Island Railroad brings business and commerce to Horton, Kansas. The railroad would also deliver a physician to Magic City. Magic, you see, because if the railroad had stayed in Horton,  the city would have blossomed and continued to grow to be an equivalent of Chicago. The location of the first healing arts was, by all definitions, a first aid station. The location of this first aid station was the physician’s office at the Rock Island shops.

While most families had a copy of the “Doctors Book,” which came complete with color-pictured illustrations in the home, the family could form a preliminary diagnosis to share with the physician. In 1895, Dr. Lawrence Reynolds came to Horton as a physician for the Rock Island Railroad. Dr. Reynolds was well-liked and welcomed by the community! A few years after the doctor arrived, he began to share his vision for Horton. A hospital facility would also serve as a school or academy where nurses could receive training, firsthand experiences, guidance, and instruction.

The doctor’s vision quickly developed into an institution. Dr. Reynolds obtained a wood-framed home on the Northwest corner of 8th Street and 2nd Avenue East. The hospital facility is now a private residence but remains a testament to health care services in Horton, Kansas. Dr. Reynolds first facility established a surgery center, an office, and four patient rooms for the community of Horton and surrounding communities. On April 2, 1906, the “hospital” opened its doors! Dr. J.O.Ward and Dr. Dunlap also sprang into action to assist Dr. Reynolds in turning vision into reality!

Mary Ubelaker, Dorothy Barry, and Minnie Brandsfield are the first nurses who attend the training school. Of course, many others will follow; one thing is absolute; each nurse trained in this hospital was outstanding.

In 1909, Dr. Harry James Harker arrived to assist Dr. Reynolds in furthering his vision. Harker’s name is recognized in council meeting minutes, where he implores the council to improve sanitation, water purification, and a quarantine area for outbreaks to isolate conditions such as smallpox. Dr. Reynolds passed away in 1924 after serving and advancing the community of Horton in many ways. Dr. Harker will take over as the chief physician and begins his own dream. The training school will close, and a vision for a bigger hospital to replace the outdated facilities will emerge. The hospital opened on September 3 & 4, 1926, at the corner of 8th and First Avenue East. The once-functioning hospital remains a weathered testament to healthcare in Horton, Kansas. It is a two-story brick structure with a sun porch. The hospital features eight private rooms, one four-bed ward, a modern surgery suite, a delivery room, a nursery, an x-ray room, a laboratory, the nurses’ quarters, doctor’s offices, and a kitchen, all on the first floor. The cost of this new hospital came in at $50,000, which equates to roughly a little over $700,000 today. The daily cost of a room was $4.00, about $56.00 daily in today’s economy. Other doctors come to assist in fulfilling Dr. Harker’s dream; Dr. G. M. Edmonds and Dr. Berney would help alongside and bring the vision into reality.

The hospital quickly outgrew itself demonstrating a need for a larger facility. In early 1929, a newly remodeled, 44-bed hospital emerged. Sadly, in April of 1929, due to a strep infection, Dr. Harker suddenly passed away, as no antibiotics were available. The facility that carried the dreams for health care in a rural community has since passed, and all remnants of that treasure have now been erased, for this historian considers a grievous misfortune to the people and community of Horton.

After Harker’s passing, Dr. L.C. Edmonds joins Dr. G.M. Edmonds, and the two become very loved by the townspeople. These two worked hard to continue the dream of quality healthcare in Horton. During the challenging years of the depression, when patients failed to make their payments, those payments became the obligation of the physicians.

In 1950, the State Board of Health began to impress on the Horton doctors the need for an updated facility. With no other suitable course, the doctors implored Horton citizens and raised donations to build the facility. Remember that many surrounding communities had NO hospital serving their communities’ medical needs, and Horton saw an opportunity to embrace and fulfill the needs of the surrounding areas! In 1962, the Horton Hospital was incorporated. And in February 1963, a site was chosen and built for $615,809.18! Community members pledged $306,833.99! The community commits nearly half of the building costs, which is no small feat by anyone community standards, perhaps even more impressive considering the rural location! All of the accomplishments and healing arts in this small community owe a debt of gratitude impossible to repay, thanks to the vision and dream realized by Dr. H. J. Harker. As always, there is so much more to the story! Find it! Be sure to stop by and share with me what you uncover! #historymysteries

Horton Hospital I and II images are part of the Brown County Historical Society Collection.

“History Mysteries” and “Chasing My Sparkle” are the intellectual property and creative inspiration of Lynn Marie Allen.

Written by Lynn Allen, Executive Director/Curator Brown County Historical Society

History explorations can be a cure for “real and imaginary ailments.” We often stop and ponder for a moment and consider self-love a new and trendy idea. I am here to tell you that self-love and self-care have been around for a while. I love exploring history, which is no mystery to anyone who knows me. 

In the late 1800s, people began flocking to healing springs; these resort facilities would become the home away from home for anyone interested, from Hollywood Starlet, Leading Man extraordinaire, from housewife to homemaker and from farmer to businessman. If you needed time out for self-love, Brown County, Nemaha County, and Doniphan Counties had at least three of these resorts! Sun Springs, Sycamore Springs, and Eagle Springs!

Sycamore Springs Resort Sycamore Springs was the dream of Mrs. Alice Williams, and you will be as surprised as I was by some of the discoveries. First, let me go a little further back in history. Mr. and Mrs. John Gray of Hiawatha, Kansas, had a daughter named Alice. The Grays were some of the earliest settlers in the area, so the young child, Alice, was raised among the indigenous people and was highly regarded for her cheerful disposition and red hair. There is a superstition about the importance of red hair. I did a little digging and am still looking for information about superstition. The Kickapoo Chief, “Chawkeekee,” became very fond of the Grays and began sharing stories of the healing properties of the water in the area. Now certainly, you must know that sharing the history meant the family was highly regarded. After many requests, the Chief consented to take Alice and Mr. Gray to the healing waters. When the travelers arrived at the healing waters, the Chief urged Alice and Mr. Gray to “drink and grow strong!” Alice carried this dream and story with her into adulthood, where she would marry and bring the goal of a healing spring to life. The springs in the Northeastern corner of Kansas were regaled nationwide for their healing properties! Two of the earliest physicians treating patients at Sycamore Springs were Dr. Hibbard and Dr. Rucker. There are so many other treasures beckoning you to uncover them! 

Sun Springs: In 1871, James Stoffer owned a beautiful piece of land known for the healing properties of the water that accompanied the area. This land was later referred to as “Sun Springs.” Sun Springs was purchased in 1898 by Captain F. A. Gue. The captain and his wife were natural entertainers! Those who reflected on the character were that these two were just people who could make the resort famous! Captain F. A. Gue will sell Sun Springs to J. C. Hayes, and shortly after, he purchases the resort, erecting a 35-room hotel; the hotel’s location is where the house will later stand. Many wealthy people soon hear of the healing properties of the resort and travel to enjoy the benefits. The hotel burned down in 1917. Milton Snyder then purchased the land where the “Hobby house” s erected. The “Hobby House” will feature the many talents of Mrs. Snyder. On Sunday afternoons, crowds would gather from near and far to enjoy the band concerts. Culminating with the addition of a swimming pool in 1920 and later a skating rink which doubled as the dance pavilion. The resort treasures have been all but erased from existence visibly. Hoping someone has photographic evidence of the beloved Sun Springs they would be willing to pull out and share from the family treasure chest!

Eagle Springs:  Eagle Springs resort was trendy in the 1880s to 1890s as the cure for “real and imaginary ailments.” Historically speaking, this was a popular destination attraction with many hotels and conveniences for traveling. Even before the resort’s time, Eagle Springs land purportedly had “miraculous” healing properties and was even considered a fountain of “perpetual” youth. Despite all these incredible treasures, Eagle Springs was noted and regarded as a financial flop. Prior Plank owns the land. Considering all the information revealed about the water, Plank employs the services of chemists to examine the waters. The examination result validates Plank’s belief in the water’s ability to cure. On the site, Prior Plank builds two hotels, and thousands flock to the resort to drink the water or take a medicinal bath. 

Another enticing feature was the many Eagles seen in flight around the resort, and in fact, the resort was located near “Lookout Mountain.” Eagle Springs was advertised in newspapers worldwide, and Eagle Springs should have succeeded. One journalist noted that Eagle Springs Resort is “not a more beautiful or romantic-looking spot.” Later in the resort’s history, Prior Plank and Peter Weidemeier captured one of the majestic eagles, placed him in a cage on the courthouse grounds, and kept him alive for many years. The captured eagle was considered an advertisement for the resort. Today the springs and a large swimming pool remain testaments to Eagle Spring Resorts’ history in Doniphan County.  Explore marvelous history gems, or even uncover mysteries in your family treasure chests. There is, as always, so much more to this and every story! Find it! Please reach out and send me a quick note and share with me what you discover! #HistoryMysteries! 

The Water Way to Health Images from the Sycamore Mineral Springs Company is part of the Brown County Historical Society Collection.

“History Mysteries” “Chasing My Sparkle” are the intellectual property and creative inspiration of Lynn Marie Allen

Eagle Springs Map is the intellectual property of the Kansas Historical Society

Written by Lynn Allen, Executive Director/Curator Brown County Historical Society

As usual, off on a journey chasing all things history, and history rarely disappoints! As I wander through the museum each day,  I often stop to appreciate all of the treasures within the museum. I am a person who is only embarking on my journey as a historian. I say embarking because I follow after so many incredible talents such as A.N. Ruley, who worked for the Hiawatha World and also worked at the Opera House and in his free time chased his own sparkle preserving all the incredible pieces of history! With that said, following in A.N. Ruley’s shoes, I am only beginning my journey. In addition, I am equally passionate about being a better global citizen!

Temperatures have been slowly rising recently, and we are only beginning summer in Kansas! Temperatures in Kansas remained in the thirties until only a few weeks ago. These are just a few ways the world screams, “Climate change!” How many of you make it a practice to change your air filter in your car or your house, or anywhere your air filter is required? Did you know that trees are our planet’s air filter? So, with that said, if you love the earth, we need to be planting trees and not cutting them down. I, too, appreciate the conveniences of paper products, and given our most recent COVID toilet paper catastrophe, need I say any more? We can all be better humans, better global citizens. I challenge everyone reading this right now to plant a tree. If you love the earth, plant multiple trees. Educate your children on the value and importance of why we need to be growing more (a lot more) and harvesting fewer trees. Appreciate the forests and protect the ecosystems that reside within the forests. Our community’s history of people who appreciated and celebrated trees is vibrant, and I am certain there are other stories from other regions to explore as well! Celebrate each story, each history!

If any of you are still not convinced, climate change is real. Let me tell you a story about a lake showing up in Pakistan last summer! A lake (due to floodwater and global warming) spanning 61 miles across! The lake systematically arrived in a very short time, roughly 45 days. Is anyone else waiting for another lake to show up? Everyone affected by this floodwater lake system is somebodies mother, father, daughter, son, sister, brother, grandma, and grandpa. The list goes on! Each of these people deserves to celebrate life and living! We all inhabit one earth and can be better global citizens.

Street Car and Tree Scene in Hiawatha. Postcard Gem is part of the Brown County Historical Society Collection.

“History Mysteries” “Chasing My Sparkle” are the intellectual property and creative inspiration of Lynn Marie Allen

https://www.hiawathaworldonline.com/opinion/climate-change-a-better-world-and-plant-a-tree/article_543ad92c-04a9-11ee-af55-03a4acab26af.html

All of the photographs are the intellectual property of Muhammad Umair Ch.