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Hotels
WINFIELD.
Buildings.
EARLY HOTELS.
[Note: I have updated information on the “Olds House.” This is at the very end of coverage on early hotels. I have old initiated a file that RKW started years ago on Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Olds. June 15, 2003. MAW]
I did not take into account the very first hotel accommodations (if they could be called that) such as the one started by J. P. Short...
Walnut Valley Times, September 8, 1871.
J. P. Short is about to refit the Walnut Valley House, at Winfield.
Cowley County Censor, October 21, 1871.
WALNUT VALLEY HOUSE, JAMES P. SHORT, PROPRIETOR.
WINFIELD HOUSE, Corner Main Street and Eighth Avenue, Winfield. M. P. DALE, Proprietor. This house has just been built, has all the modern improvements, is well finished, and newly furnished. Stages leave daily for the north and south, and tri-weekly for the east. There is also a good stable connected with this house. Our table will be supplied with the best the market affords. Charges reasonable.
Winfield Messenger, October 11, 1872.
The Bradish House has changed hands. Mr. Peyton, the present proprietor, says that his list of boarders has increased from one to twenty-seven. We wish him success.
[FIRE: DESTRUCTION OF BRADISH HOUSE.]
Winfield Courier, April 1, 1875.
FIRE! FIRE!! FIRE!!!
OUR FIRE BAPTISM.
---
Winfield takes a Blaze.
Last Sunday night, about 12 o’clock, the Bradish House, one of the largest hotels in this city, was discovered to be on fire. The proprietor, Mrs. C. M. Bradish, made the discovery just as the fiend was getting well under way and immediately gave the alarm. Soon the deep tones of the Courthouse bell conveyed the fearful tidings to the entire city. Men and women, standing not on the order of their going, but with a garment stuck on here and there, rushed to the scene. Every effort was put forth to subdue the flames, but without avail, and the bystanders turned their attention to the protection of the nearest buildings.
Fortunately the night was calm, with what little wind there was blowing from exactly the right quarter. It seemed, indeed, that this, our first misfortune, had been largely mixed with mercy. For it is conceded by all that had the wind blown from any other quarter, or had it been as strong as usual, at least half of the city would have been now in ashes.
Several incidents connected with the fire we think worth relating. Mr. S. H. Myton, who roomed there, on hearing the alarm, hastily dressed himself by sticking but one leg in his pantaloons, drew one suspender between his legs and the other over his shoulder. Thus arrayed he mounted gallantly on the roof, and, with water supplied him by Mr. B. F. Baldwin, succeeded for a time in keeping the fire at bay. But, alas, his victory was of short duration. Just as he had received a fresh bucket of water, he missed his footing and tumbled head over heals to the ground. Curiously enough Mr. Myton sustained but little injury from his perilous fall.
Another: the next morning Mr. Isaac L. Comfort, who boarded there but slept in another part of the town, started as usual for his breakfast, entirely ignorant of the destruction of the house, and did not discover it until he had reached the ashes. His feelings can be better imagined than described.
Several of the boarders sustained more or less loss by the burning of clothes, trunks, etc. Mrs. Bradish succeeded in saving considerable furniture. The house and furniture, we understand, is mostly covered by insurance.
Thus have we received our baptism of fire.
From Sid Majors starting it all by changing the name of what was evidently one of the first hotels [Lagonda] to Central House or Central Hotel, confusion exists.
1) Central. [Turns out there was the “Old” Central, which burned down. Then later Majors comes up with the “New” Central from the Williams House/J. S. Mann store.]
2) City Hotel. [Turns into Anderson/American Hotel or House [J. H. Olds]. Then it becomes the Lindell Hotel. Later referred to as the “Olds House” only. (I listed the house of Mrs. Olds at the very last. Gather it was a huge rooming house.)
3) Winfield House. Turns into Lindell Hotel.
4) Williams House, which as I stated earlier becomes J. S. Mann store, then the new “Central” under Sid Majors.
5) Brettun Hotel or Brettun House.
6) Ninth Avenue House [Weitzel followed by F. M. Freeland] seems to disappear when Freeland takes over the Commercial Hotel.
7) Commercial House or Hotel [Weitzel/others such as Williams/Freeland.]
8) Stewart Hotel.
9) Olds House [remnants of City/Anderson/American???].
CENTRAL HOTEL OR CENTRAL HOUSE.
Winfield Courier, September 21, 1876.
NOTICE the card of the Central Hotel in this issue. Sid Majors has changed the name of the old Lagonda, and will now run it as the “Central House.” We liked the name of Lagonda. It has been “music to our ears” for four years, but we don’t object to the change. Sid will make it the best hotel in the Walnut Valley.
CARD: CENTRAL HOTEL,
SID S. MAJORS, Proprietor.
Winfield, Kansas.
This House, formerly the Lagonda, has recently been thoroughly renovated and remodeled, and is furnished throughout with brand new furniture.
GOOD SAMPLE ROOMS.
Stages arrive and depart daily.
Winfield Courier, September 21, 1876.
The Central Hotel has been refitted and repainted from top to bottom. New furniture, new beds, new carpets, and new everything meet the eye of the visitor as he traverses the halls and rooms of this house. The walls have been hung with bright colored paper from cellar to garret. New silverware decorates the dining room tables; the parlors have been newly furnished; in fact, the house has been remodeled from one end to the other, as only an experienced Boniface like Sid Major can arrange one. A good hotel is what Winfield has long needed. We have one now, and are proud of it. Can’t you give the young folks a little “house warming,” Sid?
Winfield Courier, October 12, 1876.
The “Grand Opening Ball of the Central Hotel” came off at the courthouse last night. It was well attended, the music excellent, and the supper, at Majors’, superb. Everyone enjoyed themselves to the fullest capacity. It was a decided success.
Winfield Courier, February 15, 1877.
One night last week at a late hour some person entered the dining room of the Central Hotel and possessed themselves of a set of silver tablespoons. The drawer of the safe in the room contains something near sixty silver and silver-plated spoons, from which the bold intruder selected a half dozen fine silver tablespoons. Time and pains were taken to select spoons belonging to the same set.
Winfield Courier, March 1, 1877.
A bill of new furniture was received at the Central Hotel yesterday.
Winfield Courier, March 1, 1877.
Last Sunday evening a coal oil lamp which was left burning in one of the rooms at the Central Hotel caught on fire; but fortunately, before it exploded, one of the family entered the room and gave the alarm when it was immediately carried to an open door and thrown into the street, thereby saving any damage.
Winfield Courier, March 22, 1877.
On yesterday morning, just about daylight, the oil in a coal oil lamp at the Central Hotel caught on fire, but before any damage was done either to person or property, it was carried through two rooms and thrown into the yard.
Winfield Courier, May 10, 1877.
Notice the change in the card, on the first page, of the Central hotel. The house will continue business under the firm name of Major & Vance, and in the same first class style as it has in the past. The house has a commendable reputation abroad as well as at home, which will be retained through the skillful management of the proprietors, Sid and Jim.
CARD: CENTRAL HOTEL,
MAJOR & VANCE, Proprietors,
Winfield, Kansas.
This House, formerly the Lagonda, has recently been thoroughly renovated and remodeled, and is furnished throughout with bran new furniture.
GOOD SAMPLE ROOMS.
Stages arrive and depart daily.
Winfield Courier, June 28, 1877.
At a special meeting of the city council, held on Tuesday evening last, Messrs. Townsend & Carrol, of Independence, secured license for a saloon and billiard hall. They have ordered a bran new saloon outfit, consisting of a billiard table, a fifteen ball pool table, large mirrors, glassware, etc. They are fine appearing young men and propose running a first class saloon. The corner building, south of the Central hotel, is being repaired and fitted up for their use.
Winfield Courier, August 2, 1877.
Since the last issue new arrivals at the Central Hotel number 74 and at the City Hotel 45.
Winfield Courier, August 9, 1877.
Hotel arrivals for the week ending August 8th: Central Hotel, 65; City Hotel, 53.
Winfield Courier, August 16, 1877.
Hotel arrivals for the week ending August 15th, numbering as follows: Central Hotel, 78; City Hotel, 55.
Winfield Courier, August 30, 1877.
Hotel arrivals in this city for the week ending August 29, 1877: Central, 97; City, 47.
Winfield Courier, September 27, 1877.
The Central Hotel registered 65 names last Saturday, the City 56, and the Williams House 49.
Winfield Courier, October 4, 1877.
The Central Hotel has a new bell.
Winfield Courier, October 4, 1877.
John W. Smiley is building a new wagon shop just east of the Central Hotel.
Winfield Courier, October 4, 1877.
We met Mr. James Vance and lady, of the Central Hotel, at Wichita enjoying the fair. They returned on Friday.
[EDITORIAL COLUMN.]
Winfield Courier, November 8, 1877.
PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY BY MILLINGTON & LEMMON.
[From the K. C. Journal of Commerce.]
SOUTHERN KANSAS.
Interesting Reminiscences of the County Seat of Cowley County.
How they Surveyed Its Streets by the North Star and Located
An “Organ” by a Resin Weed.
Winfield’s Proud Position as Queen of the Walnut Valley.
From our own Correspondent.
WINFIELD, KAN., Oct. 22. Seven years ago next December, a party of emigrants camped on the banks of the Walnut River, about twenty miles above its confluence with the Arkansas, in a beautiful bend of the stream where a prairie about two miles in extent lay environed by gently receding hills and a dense growth of forest bordering the river with a
DIVERSIFIED LANDSCAPE,
stretching far way beyond, and pleasant breadths of sunshine. It was not only a place to camp, protected from the breath of the winter winds and convenient to wood and water, but it was worthy of a habitation for more than a day, and the emigrants took this view of it as they discussed their supper around the log fire.
There are half a dozen hotels in town representing all degrees of excellence, from the Central Hotel, creme de la creme, down to a twenty-five cent hash foundry. Sid Major and Jim Vance are too well known as successful landlords to lose a wink of sleep over any threatened competition in this town.
Winfield Courier, November 29, 1877.
Hotel arrivals (transient) in this city, for the week ending Wednesday noon, November 28th, 1877, number as follows: Central Hotel, 51; Anderson Hotel, 89.
Winfield Courier, December 6, 1877.
Hotel arrivals (transient) in this city, for the week ending Wednesday noon, December 5th, 1877, number as follows: Central Hotel, 54; Anderson House, 45.
Winfield Courier, December 13, 1877.
Major & Vance, of the Central hotel, are having a big run now. The house if full every day and night. They have recently put another table in their dining room, making in all, five large well furnished tables. The silver and table ware are the best the market affords.
Winfield Courier, December 13, 1877.
The people of Winfield were surprised and startled last Saturday evening. Many were the questions asked, loud and strong were the cries of “circus!” “circus!” by the small boys, and great was the excitement. About 6:30 o’clock p.m., a wagon, loaded with a dozen or more happy boys and drawn by four fine horses, was driven upon Main street from 7th avenue. The street was brightly illuminated by the lanterns held in the hands of the boys and suspended from the wagon box. When opposite Mr. Lacy’s residence, time was called, and as they passed on down Main street they favored the wondering people with the familiar piece of music, “The merriest girl that’s out.” They then passed up one street and down another furnishing free music to the citizens of Winfield for about two hours; and landing at the Central hotel about half-past eight o’clock, called for supper for the Oxford Silver Cornet Band, eleven in number. After partaking of a good supper, they again started out and serenaded each and every business house in the city, besides calling at several private houses. The boys have good strong lungs and make good music. Drop us a line previous to your next coming, boys.
Winfield Courier, September 20, 1877.
Hotel arrivals in this city, for the week ending September 19th, 1877, number as follows: Central, 57; City, 66; Williams House, 38.
Winfield Courier, September 27, 1877.
The Central Hotel registered 65 names last Saturday, the City 56, and the Williams House 49.
Winfield Courier, September 27, 1877.
Hotel arrivals, in this city, for the week ending September 26th, 1877, number as follows: Central, 121; City, 91; Williams House, 70.
Winfield Courier, October 4, 1877.
Hotel arrivals, in this city, for the week ending October 3rd, 1877, number as follows: Central, 70; City, 55; Williams House, 48.
Winfield Courier, October 11, 1877.
Hotel arrivals, in this city, for the week ending October 3rd, 1877, number as follows: Central, 55; City, 42; Williams House, 43.
Winfield Courier, October 25, 1877.
Hotel arrivals, in this city, for the week ending October 24th, 1877, number as follows: Central, 70; Anderson House, 44; Williams House, 44.
Winfield Courier, November 1, 1877.
Hotel arrivals (transient) in this city, for the week ending Wednesday evening, October 31st, 1877, number as follows: Central, 56; Anderson House, 48; Williams House, 49.
Winfield Courier, November 8, 1877.
Hotel arrivals (transient) in this city, for the week ending Wednesday evening, October 31st, 1877, number as follows: Central, 72; Anderson House, 50; Williams House, 59.
Winfield Courier, November 15, 1877.
Hotel arrivals (transient) in this city, for the week ending Wednesday evening, October 31st, 1877, number as follows: Central, 74; Anderson House, 51; Williams House, 57.
Winfield Courier, December 13, 1877.
Hotel arrivals (transient) in this city, for the week ending Wednesday noon, December 12th, 187, number as follows: Central, 65; Anderson 39.
Winfield Courier, December 20, 1877.
Hotel arrivals (transient) in this city, for the week ending Wednesday noon, December 12th, 1877, number as follows: Central, 65; Anderson, 39.
Winfield Courier, April 11, 1878.
Nineteen arrivals—all strangers—at the Central last Thursday.
Winfield Courier, April 18, 1878.
B. F. Baldwin and E. A. Clisbee had a home made telephone stretched from Frank’s store over to the Central Hotel last week. The phone was made by Clisbee and was a perfect success. Any person talking in one end in a common tone of voice would be distinctly heard all over the room at the other end.
Winfield Courier, May 2, 1878.
The Central and American hotels have new, elegant registers.
Winfield Courier, May 2, 1878.
See the new stage office sign at the Central Hotel. It is the handsomest one in town.
Winfield Courier, May 2, 1878.
Arrivals at the Central and American hotels for last week number 135; Williams House, 66.
Winfield Courier, May 23, 1878.
W. A. Hart, from near Douglass, is fitting up the Robert Hudson building on the corner south of the Central Hotel for a restaurant.
Winfield Courier, June 20, 1878.
The Central Hotel wants a good dining-room girl.
Winfield Courier, August 29, 1878.
Mrs. Campbell accompanies the Judge and will stay at Winfield during court. They are domiciled at the Central Hotel.
Winfield Courier, November 14, 1878.
The splendid new hotel between the Central and the American hotels is nearly completed.
[COURIER ADVERTISERS.]
Winfield Courier, January 2, 1879.
The Courier feels proud of its list of advertisers. No county newspaper in the state can boast a larger list or one made up of better, more honorable or more enterprising men. Here they are in alphabetical order.
CENTRAL HOTEL is a popular resort for the weary traveler, and under the auspices of Mr. Sid Majors and J. Vance, two experienced hotel men, and their estimable ladies, this house has become popular among traveling men. The stage and express offices are kept at this house.
[HOTEL CARDS. (WINFIELD ESTABLISHMENTS.)]
Winfield Courier, January 2, 1879.
CENTRAL HOTEL, MAJOR & VANCE, PROPRIETORS.
Winfield Courier, January 2, 1879.
CENTRAL HOTEL, MAJOR & VANCE, PROPRIETORS, WINFIELD, KANSAS.
This house, formerly the Lagonda, has recently been thoroughly renovated, remodeled, and furnished throughout with new furniture. Stages arrive and depart daily.
Winfield Courier, February 27, 1879.
Ashton’s tin shop has just turned out a couple of fine street lamps. One will be put up in front of the Central Hotel and the other on the corner just south, occupied by Rogers & Santford’s billiard hall. These lamps add greatly to the appearance of our streets, and it would be a paying investment if the merchants on all the principal street corners would follow the example of these gentlemen and “let their light shine.”
Winfield Courier, April 10, 1879.
Mr. E. C. Seward is building a large two-story frame building, 25 x 80, on Main street, opposite the Central Hotel. This will be the largest frame store-building in town.
Winfield Courier, May 1, 1879.
The stage and express office has been removed from the Central Hotel to Smith Bros. boot and shoe store, next door to “Jo’s.”
Winfield Courier, May 1, 1879.
Mr. J. F. Witherspoon has ordered a lot of new buggies and intends, in a few weeks, to put a first-class livery stock in his barn, just back of the Central hotel.
Winfield Courier, May 1, 1879.
The Eclectic State Board of Examiners will meet for examination of Physicians and Diplomas at the Central Hotel, Winfield, Kansas, on Tuesday, May 13th, at three o’clock in the afternoon. H. OWENS, M. D., Member of Board.
Winfield Courier, June 5, 1879.
Several small boys created quite an excitement, running against “time” from the Central Hotel to Timber creek, half a mile and return. One little fellow ran a mile in five minutes and ten seconds.
[COWLEY COUNTY: FROM THE TOPEKA COMMONWEALTH.]
Winfield Courier, July 10, 1879.
The hotels of the city are the Williams House and the Central. Both of them do a large business.
Winfield Courier, September 4, 1879.
The Central Hotel is receiving a new coat of paint.
Winfield Courier, October 16, 1879.
Scovill & Co. have a new advertisement in this paper. This firm has lately opened here and have a splendid stock of goods. Call and see them.
AD: SCOVILL & CO., are receiving one of the largest stocks of CLOTHING, HATS, CAPS -AND- GENT’S FURNISHING GOODS, Ever brought to Southern Kansas. NO OLD STOCK OUT OF STYLE, but fresh from the largest manufacturers of Clothing in the United States, and Sold at Prices to Suit the Times. In Quantity, Styles and Prices will Compare with Any One!
Remember the One-Price, Square-Dealing Store opposite Central Hotel, Winfield, Kansas.
Winfield Courier, November 27, 1879.
Next Monday the Central Hotel changes hands, Mr. Vance retiring, and Mr. Harter taking his place. The new firm will be Majors & Harter. The house is to be enlarged and remodeled; and if completed under the proposed plan, will be one of the most commodious hotels in the country.
Winfield Courier, December 11, 1879.
The new proprietors of the Central Hotel are pushing the proposed addition as fast as possible. The street around the hotel is already filled with lumber, stone, etc.
Winfield Courier, December 18, 1879.
The addition to the Central Hotel is being pushed forward in spite of the inclemency of the weather, as the room is badly needed.
Winfield Courier, January 15, 1880.
CAPT. C. L. HARTER has vacated the office of Sheriff of this county, in which position he has served for two years with honor and urbanity. These qualities he will transfer to the Central Hotel, and add to its already wide popularity.
Winfield Courier, February 12, 1880.
SCOVILL & CO., are receiving one of the largest stocks of CLOTHING, HATS, CAPS, AND GENT’S FURNISHING GOODS, ever brought to Southern Kansas. NO OLD STOCK OUT OF STYLE, but fresh from the largest manufacturers of Clothing in the United States, and Sold at Prices to Suit the Times. Remember the One-Price, Square-Dealing Store
OPPOSITE CENTRAL HOTEL, WINFIELD, KANSAS.
Winfield Courier, February 19, 1880.
The Central Hotel is occupying its new addition.
[CENTRAL HOTEL: NEARLY A CONFLAGRATION.]
Winfield Courier, March 18, 1880.
About five o’clock last Thursday evening the Central Hotel was discovered to be on fire. In a few minutes after the alarm sounded, and before the fire had got fairly under way, several hundred men were on the ground with buckets and the “Little Giant” fire engine, and in a short time had it completely under control. A good deal of unnecessary damage was done to the furniture by reckless parties, who tore down window curtains, smashed the sash, and did many other things entirely uncalled for. The fire has served to show the utter inefficiency of the means provided to extinguish it. The wells and pumps on which has been squandered a large amount of money were useless, some of the wells being dry and others, where the hose was attached, the force of the pump was too weak to raise the water as high as the building. It is very certain that had the fire occurred at midnight, instead of in daylight when hundreds were on the streets to help extinguish it by hand, a large portion of the business part of our city would now be but a mass of ruins. Let us take this as a warning, and at once cast about for some effective means of protecting ourselves against this devouring demon.
Winfield Courier, March 25, 1880.
The Central Hotel is now fully repaired and ready for another fire.
Winfield Courier, April 15, 1880.
We clip the following from the Topeka Commonwealth. It is from the pen of Cliff Baker, who accompanied the Board of Assessors on their recent visit here.
“The rest of us went to the Central Hotel after supper on the car and secured rooms and went out to see Winfield by night. We visited the offices of the Winfield Daily Telegram, published by Mr. W. M. Allison, and the COURIER, published by Mr. Millington. They are each well fitted and well supplied offices. Mr. Allison is doing a good thing for Winfield, in the publication of his morning daily with the Associated Press dispatches, and it must be at great cost to himself.
Winfield Courier, April 22, 1880.
A fellow at the Central Hotel last week created quite a scare by the announcement that he had taken poison, and that if a doctor wasn’t immediately forthcoming, he would die. The doctor came—he still lives.
[COMMENTS: ARKANSAS VALLEY PRESS ASSN. MEETING.]
Winfield Courier, April 29, 1880. [Various comments: Different Editors.]
About forty members were present at the Arkansas Valley Press Asociation meeting held in Winfield April 17th along with a large number of visitors from different parts of the state.
After the meeting adjourned, the guests were shown around the city by the citizens, in carriages. In the evening a grand ball was given by the citizens at Manning’s Hall, after which a banquet was served at the Central Hotel, which was a superb affair, the elite of the city being present, and speeches, toasts, and responses by leading citizens were the order of the evening.
The evening was spent very pleasantly in dancing and social converse at the opera house. Promptly at 12 o’clock the music ceased, and the friends were invited to the Central Hotel where three forty-foot tables were groaning under a weight of good things and decked with evergreens and flowers. At 3:40 a.m., the party were safely seated in the cars, their faces turned in the direction of home, everyone wishing they could stay in Winfield forever, etc.
The ball in the evening which was attended by the editors, visitors, and many citizens of Winfield was a brilliant success. The fine hall was built by Col. Manning, and is well adapted to large parties. The landord of the Central House deserves special mention for the large variety, excellent character, and great abundance of the good things prepared for his talbe at the banquet announced at 12 o’clock at the conclusion of the ball. Prof. Lemmon, who was master of ceremonies, succeeded in seating the guests, numbering about one hundred and fifty. Major Anderson, Judge Hanback, and irrepressible Pangborn opened the trouble by singing “Carve dat Possum.” Short speeches were made by various parties and the best of feeling prevailed. At 2 o’clock the party broke up and the “good-byes” were reluc-tantly said by the visitors, most of whom left for their homes on the 3:40 morning train.
We were escorted to the Central Hotel, the headquarters of the association, and where was assembled the majority of the editors of the valley. Here was assembled as fine an array of genius, wit, and intellect as graced any hotel. The association held three sessions, namely, in the forenoon at 10:30; in the afternoon, and then again in the evening. During the afternoon session the monotony of business transactions was relieved by a very pleasant incident. Miss Mollie Devendorf, a daughter of Mr. H. X. Devendorf, of Topeka, was adopted as the “daughter of the Arkansas Valley Editorial Association.” She is a young lady of very pleasing manners, as “bright as a button” and as “smart as a whip.”
The ball at the Opera House, owned by our old friend. E. C. Manning, was a perfect success. The music was perfect, better than we have heard on similar occasions for a long time. The attendance was large, but not so much so as to be over-crowded. For elegance of dress and appearance, the ladies of Winfield are fully equal to those of any of her sister cities in Kansas. The banquet, which was served at the Central Hotel, was excellent.
[THE EDITORIAL CONVENTION: MIAMI REPUBLICAN.]
Winfield Courier, April 29, 1880.
We availed ourselves of a kind invitation to attend the meeting of the Arkansas Valley Editorial Association at Winfield, Kansas, on the 17th inst. It was a large gathering of the editorial fraternity of the Southwest. We there met the old veteran editors of the Kansas press: F. P. Baker, Geo. W. Martin, C. G. Coutant, J. H. Folkes, Judge Muse, A. J. Hoisington, Mr. Millington, and younger members of the craft with a great deal of pleasure. It was an assemblage of unusually fine looking men. To the editors of Winfield, Messrs. Millington, Allison, and Conklin, the members of the convention, and invited guests, our obligations for their personal attention. Saturday night there was a ball in Manning’s hall, and the beauty of Winfield was there in matchless loveliness, and at midnight the assemblage sat down to a splendid banquet at the Central House, the introduction to which was given by Tom. Anderson, of Topeka, with the song of “Carve dat Possum,” and then full justice was done to the magnificent supper.
[THE EDITORIAL CONVENTION: GREAT BEND REGISTER.]
Winfield Courier, April 29, 1880.
We arrived at Winfield about noon and were met by a committee of citizens, with half a dozen busses and full a score of carriages in waiting, and were escorted to hotels and private residences, according as the guests had been assigned by the deputation that met us on the train. It was my good fortune to become the guest of Bretton Crapster at the Central Hotel. Messrs. Millington, Conklin, and Allison, the three publishers of the town, as com-mittee, were assiduous in their devotion to the guests. In the afternoon the busses and carriages took us about the city to see the sights.
After midnight a banquet was served at the Central House, and participated in by about 150 persons. Supt. Lemmon was master of ceremonies and commenced by inviting Major Anderson to “Kyarve dat Possum,” which was soon done, the company joining largely in the chorus. Speeches were made by other gentlemen, and altogether the occasion was a very enjoyable one.
Winfield Courier, April 29, 1880.
Major & Harter have sold the Central Hotel to Mr. A. H. Doane. He takes possession May 1st. Mr. Doane is one of our largest property owners and a son-in-law of W. L. Mullen.
[CENTRAL HOTEL.]
Winfield Courier, May 6, 1880.
There is but one Central Hotel in the Walnut valley, and that is run by Charlie Harter and Sid Majors. There could not be two like it in one community. The house itself could be duplicated, but you could not find another Harter by a large Majority. Clay Center Dispatch.
Winfield Courier, May 6, 1880.
Mr. Frank Finch was severely burned while trying to get some of the furniture out of the Central during the fire last week. He was in the east wing of the building and the roof fell in on him. He is recovering rapidly and will be out again in a few days.
[THE FIRE.]
Winfield Courier, May 6, 1880.
Last Thursday night, between 11 and 3 o’clock, Winfield was visited by the most disastrous conflagration yet happening within her borders. The fire started in the old log store, one of the landmarks of the town, and for years occupied by the COURIER, but was now being used by F. Leuschen as a cabinet shop. The fire is supposed to have originated from the old rags, oil, and varnish in the shop. The alarm was given before the fire was thoroughly underway, and had those first on the ground been furnished with decent appliances, it might have been controlled, saving thousands of dollars worth of property. The old log building was like a tinder box and made a very hot fire. Next to it on the east were two buildings, one belonging to C. L. Harter and occupied by the moulder at the foundry, the other owned and occupied by Robert Hudson. These buildings were both destroyed, but the contents were saved.
Immediately west of the log building, across the alley, was an old livery barn belonging to Hackney & McDonald, which was the next to go.
From this the fire was communicated to the Central and Lindell hotels. As soon as it was evident that the hotels must go, the work of getting out the furniture began. Carpets, bedding, crockery ware, and furniture of all descriptions were tumbled promiscuously out of windows and doors into the street, much of it being broken and smashed. The hotels being dry, pine buildings, burned rapidly, sending up large cinders which fell in different parts of the city, making the utmost vigilance necessary to keep them from igniting buildings three blocks from the fire.
When the two hotels caught, everyone turned their attention toward saving the buildings on either side of the street. They were covered with men who handled buckets of water and barrels of salt, and by their exertions prevented the fire from spreading and destroying the larger part of the business portion of our city.
The old part of the Central Hotel was owned by Jas. Jenkins, of Wisconsin. The new part of the Central Hotel was owned by Majors & Harter. They had sold out to A. H. Doane, and were to have given possession Saturday morning.
The Lindell Hotel was owned by J. M. Spencer, and was leased by Jas. Allen one month ago.
Our citizens generously opened their homes to the homeless people, and accommodations were offered for more than was needed.
The following is a list of the losses and insurance.
Captain Stevens, store, loss $1,000; no insurance.
Fred Leuschen, furniture store and dwelling, loss $1,200. Insurance on stock, in Home, of New York, $300.
C. L. Harter, tenant dwelling, loss $300; no insurance. Tenant had no loss except damage.
Robert Hudson, dwelling, loss $800. Mrs. Hudson removed most of her furniture. No loss except damage. No insurance on either house or contents.
Hackney & McDonald, livery stable occupied by Buckhart, loss $800; no insurance.
Central Hotel, main building: James Jenkins, loss $3,500; insurance, $1,500 in the Atlas.
Central Hotel, Majors & Harter portion: loss to building, $2,500; insurance, $2,100, as follows: Weschester, Springfield Fire & Marine and Hartford, $700 each. [Their insurance was on building and furniture.] The loss of Majors & Harter in excess of their insurance will be upwards of $3,000.
PUZZLING! $2,100-INSURANCE...AND YET $700 EACH ($1,400)...DOES
NOT COMPUTE WITH $2,100 INSURANCE...COULD BE THE
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN $2100 AND $1400 WAS INSURANCE
ON CONTENTS!
J. M. Spencer, Lindell Hotel, loss $2,500; insurance $1,000, as follows: Fire Association, $500; Phenix, of Brooklyn, $500; James Allen, loss $1,000; insurance, $800.
Policies are in the agencies of Gilbert, Jarvis & Co.; Curns & Manser; and Pryor & Kinne. The companies are all first class, and the losses will be promptly adjusted and paid.
Note: See Williams Hotel ending. Sid Majors takes over and changes the name to Central Hotel. You might say that the CENTRAL HOTEL is resurrected. MAW
[CENTRAL HOTEL.]
Winfield Courier, May 1, 1884.
Messrs. Ransom, Scott, and Norman O. Allen, capitalists from Lockport, Me., have been at the Central Hotel for several days, looking over our city with a view of placing considerable money.
Winfield Courier, June 26, 1884.
Mr. and Mrs. W. B. Dickie, of the Central Hotel, accompanied by her brother-in-law and sister, Mr. and Mrs. F. H. Smith, of Shelby, Ohio, who are visiting them, spent several days of last week in the wilds of the Indian Territory, returning Sunday.
Winfield Courier, July 3, 1884.
Sid Majors has sold his interest in the Central Hotel to his partner, Mr. Dickie, and has again retired from active business. Sid can’t be “retired” very long at a time, however, and we expect to chronicle some other venture of his before long.
Winfield Courier, July 24, 1884.
PROFESSIONAL NURSE. Permanently located at Winfield, Kansas. Ladies who desire to be successfully treated for local and general weaknesses, will please call upon Mrs. E. A. McCoy at the Central Hotel. Go to the Parlor upstairs. Office practice only. Hours 9 a.m. to 12 and 1:30 to 5 p.m. Consultation and medicine, $1.50. Treatments, $2.00.
Winfield Courier, August 7, 1884.
DISSOLUTION NOTICE.
NOTICE is hereby given that the co-partnership heretofore existing between G. T. Bacastow and F. L. Crampton, under the style and firm name of Bacastow & Crampton is this day dissolved. F. L. Crampton will conduct the business at the old stand, second door north of the Central Hotel and will pay all debts and liabilities of said firm, and is authorized to collect all claims and demands due said firm. All parties owing said firm must immediately call and settle as our books must be squared up.
GEO. T. BACASTOW, FRANK L. CRAMPTON.
[Note: Courier quite often had “Backastow” rather than Bacastow.]
Winfield Courier, August 7, 1884.
Corns, Bunions, Ingrowing Nails, extracted without pain, or without leaving a sore, or without using acids, alkalies, caustics, or any other injurious material. Will be in Winfield at the Central Hotel for a few days. No extra charge for visiting anywhere in the city. Charges reasonable. DAVID BREWER, Chiropodist.
Winfield Courier, September 25, 1884.
J. F. Axtel purchased, last week, through Harris & Clark, the Central Hotel of this city, and after a few weeks vacation in the east, will take possession of the same.
Winfield Courier, September 25, 1884.
Dick Zeale, the former clerk at the Central Hotel, has opened a restaurant on 9th Avenue, near Main street. Parties wishing oysters and general lunches or cider will do well to call on Dick.
Winfield Courier, October 2, 1884.
MARRIED. At the Central Hotel, Winfield, Kansas, Sept. 26th, 1884, by Rev. B. Kelly, Mr. Joseph Kerns to Miss Ella Holly, all of Cowley County, Kansas.
Winfield Courier, October 2, 1884.
Wanted. A man to take sheep on the shares for several years. Clarence Murdock, at the Central Hotel, Winfield.
Winfield Courier, October 23, 1884.
For “Gems of the Fireside,” Bibles, and Autograph Albums, call on Mr. F. Armstrong, at the Central Hotel parlors between now and Saturday night. Sold at very liberal rates, on payments of 25 cents per week.
Winfield Courier, October 30, 1884.
Clarence Murdock, the popular clerk at the Central Hotel, left Friday last for a few days’ sojourn at his cattle ranch in the eastern part of the Territory.
Winfield Courier, November 6, 1884.
Lost. A pocket book containing three notes and other papers at Central House. Will pay a liberal reward for same. Noble Caldwell.
Winfield Courier, November 13, 1884.
Money to loan on collateral security. C. D. Murdock, Central Hotel.
Winfield Courier, December 4, 1884.
Mr. T. F. Axtel took charge of the Central Hotel Monday. He is an old hotel man and will have no trouble in making the Central popular among all lovers of good meals and comfortable rooms.
CITY HOTEL.
[Note: Turns into “Anderson Hotel/Anderson House” within a short time span.]
Winfield Courier, May 10, 1877.
CITY HOTEL
WINFIELD, KANSAS,
ROBT. HUDSON, Proprietor.
Good Sample Rooms for the Accommodation of
Commercial Men.
The House will be run in better style than ever before.
Winfield Courier, August 2, 1877.
Since the last issue new arrivals at the Central Hotel number 74 and at the City Hotel 45.
Winfield Courier, August 9, 1877.
Hotel arrivals for the week ending August 8th: Central Hotel, 65; City Hotel, 53.
Winfield Courier, August 16, 1877.
Hotel arrivals for the week ending August 15th, numbering as follows: Central Hotel, 78; City Hotel, 55.
Winfield Courier, August 23, 1877.
Mr. C. S. Thomas, of the City hotel, took a trip to Wichita the first of the week.
Winfield Courier, August 30, 1877.
Hotel arrivals in this city for the week ending August 29, 1877: Central, 97; City, 47.
Winfield Courier, September 6, 1877.
Last week Mr. C. S. Thomas took a large drove of hogs to Kansas City. He returned Tuesday evening and tells us that the trade of the City hotel is increasing daily. Mr. Thomas is a No. 1 landlord and always furnishes his customers with the best the market affords.
Winfield Courier, September 13, 1877.
C. S. Thomas has sold out the City hotel business to J. L. Bruce & Co.
Winfield Courier, September 20, 1877.
Hotel arrivals in this city, for the week ending September 19th, 1877, number as follows: Central, 57; City, 66; Williams House, 38.
Winfield Courier, September 27, 1877.
The Central Hotel registered 65 names last Saturday, the City 56, and the Williams House 49.
Winfield Courier, September 27, 1877.
Hotel arrivals, in this city, for the week ending September 26th, 1877, number as follows: Central, 121; City, 91; Williams House, 70.
Winfield Courier, October 4, 1877.
In accordance with an invitation the COURIER force took dinner at the City hotel last Sunday, as guests of J. L. Bruce & Co., the proprietors. The dinner was an excellent one, consisting of the best the market affords.
Winfield Courier, October 4, 1877.
Hotel arrivals, in this city, for the week ending October 3rd, 1877, number as follows: Central, 70; City, 55; Williams House, 48.
Winfield Courier, October 11, 1877.
Hotel arrivals, in this city, for the week ending October 3rd, 1877, number as follows: Central, 55; City, 42; Williams House, 43.
Winfield Courier, October 25, 1877.
J. L. Bruce & Co. have sold out their interest in the City Hotel to W. D. Anderson, who will continue the business.
ANDERSON HOTEL.
Winfield Courier, October 25, 1877.
Hotel arrivals, in this city, for the week ending October 24th, 1877, number as follows: Central, 70; Anderson House, 44; Williams House, 44.
Winfield Courier, November 1, 1877.
Hotel arrivals (transient) in this city, for the week ending Wednesday evening, October 31st, 1877, number as follows: Central, 56; Anderson House, 48; Williams House, 49.
Winfield Courier, November 8, 1877.
Hotel arrivals (transient) in this city, for the week ending Wednesday evening, October 31st, 1877, number as follows: Central, 72; Anderson House, 50; Williams House, 59.
Winfield Courier, November 15, 1877.
Hotel arrivals (transient) in this city, for the week ending Wednesday evening, October 31st, 1877, number as follows: Central, 74; Anderson House, 51; Williams House, 57.
Winfield Courier, November 29, 1877.
Hotel arrivals (transient) in this city, for the week ending Wednesday noon, November 28th, 1877, number as follows: Central Hotel, 51; Anderson Hotel, 89.
Winfield Courier, December 6, 1877.
Hotel arrivals (transient) in this city, for the week ending Wednesday noon, December 5th, 1877, number as follows: Central Hotel, 54; Anderson House, 45.
Winfield Courier, December 6, 1877.
The guests of the Anderson House have plenty of fun of evenings. One of the guests, Mr. W. H. Hudson, is a mesmerizer, and affords amusement by mesmerizing the boys and waiter girls.
Winfield Courier, December 13, 1877.
Hotel arrivals (transient) in this city, for the week ending Wednesday noon, December 12th, 187, number as follows: Central, 65; Anderson 39.
Winfield Courier, December 20, 1877.
Hotel arrivals (transient) in this city, for the week ending Wednesday noon, December 12th, 1877, number as follows: Central, 65; Anderson, 39.
Winfield Courier, February 7, 1878.
Clark & Dysart is the name of the firm mentioned in another place who are about to build a machine shop and foundry in this city. They have purchased four lots on Main street, north of the Anderson house, and will build a two story stone building forty feet square.
[Note: It is possible that Anderson sold this hotel and that it turned into the “American House” hotel facility. See below. MAW]
AMERICAN HOTEL.
[Note: Gather this turns into the “American House” in a short time span.]
Somehow or other we must have not seen what happened with respect to this hotel. It either started out as the American Hotel or else one of the other hotels changed its name. There is a missing link from the old to the new. Believe this hotel or house was formerly the hotel owned by Anderson. MAW
AMERICAN HOUSE.
Winfield Courier, February 21, 1878.
We would call special attention to the new advertisement of the American House, by J. H. Olds. This house is now in good hands, good order, and good condition, and its patrons will be pleased with all its appointments. The traveling public and boarders will find it a pleasant place.
AD: AMERICAN HOUSE
Winfield, Kansas.
J. H. OLDS, Proprietor.
This house has been thoroughly repaired, refitted, and refurnished, and is open for business. The proprietor is experienced in the business and will keep a first-class house. The patronage of the public is respectfully invited.
Winfield Courier, May 2, 1878.
The Central and American hotels have new, elegant registers.
Winfield Courier, May 2, 1878.
Arrivals at the Central and American hotels for last week number 135; Williams House, 66.
Winfield Courier, June 13, 1878.
Our councilman, George W. Gully, and Robert Hudson and J. H. Olds lost some shirts from a clothes line at the American House one day last week, and a certain man was suspected of the theft. Deputy J. H. Finch was sent into the country to find the stolen shirts and other articles of clothing. Finch has the trunk in charge and is ready to deliver it to the owner whenever he calls for it.
Winfield Courier, November 14, 1878.
The splendid new hotel between the Central and the American hotels is nearly completed.
Not certain but what the following has reference to American hotel...it states however “American home.” ???
Winfield Courier, December 12, 1878.
The M. E. social will be held at the residence of Mrs. Olds, the American Home, on Friday evening of this week. This series of socials are proving a success and will help to pay off the church debt. All friends of the church and of the city should attend and help.
[COURIER ADVERTISERS.]
Winfield Courier, January 2, 1879.
The Courier feels proud of its list of advertisers. No county newspaper in the state can boast a larger list or one made up of better, more honorable or more enterprising men. Here they are in alphabetical order.
AMERICAN HOUSE. This popular house is presided over by J. H. Olds and his estimable lady, who furnish their guests with the most satisfactory fare.
[HOTEL CARDS. (WINFIELD ESTABLISHMENTS.)]
Winfield Courier, January 2, 1879.
AMERICAN HOUSE, J. H. OLDS, PROPRIETOR.
Winfield Courier, October 23, 1879.
North Main street has the “boom” bad since the location of the east and west depot. In addition to the building already commenced by Manning, Kinne, and Curns, which will be of brick, 75 x 60, Messrs. T. R. Bryan, W. L. Mullen, and J. C. McMullen will soon begin the erection of a block of buildings on the vacant land just north of the American House and south of the foundry. The buildings will be of uniform size, each 25 x 100 feet and of brick. Mr. W. M. Berkey will also build a brick building, 25 x 75, on North Main street. It looks as if things are inclined to go northward.
Winfield Courier, November 6, 1879.
McNeil & Rhonimus have opened a new meat market on Seventh avenue, east of American House.
Winfield Courier, January 22, 1880.
The spirit of improvement seems to be general on north main street. Besides the three new store buildings now being completed, Mayor Lynn has let the contract for the excavation and stone work on his building, and will push it forward as rapidly as possible. The excavation for Col. Alexander’s building is being done by the L. L. & G. Railroad, and the dirt is being used in filling up around their depot grounds. We also hear rumors of a new brick to be built on the corner north of the American House.
Winfield Courier, November 18, 1880.
J. F. Witherspoon, formerly of the Lindell Hotel, has succeeded J. B. Williams, of the American House, on Main street. He took possession on the 1st inst., has entirely remodeled and furnished it throughout, and it is crowded with guests. It is the intention of Mr. Witherspoon to make this one of the most popular resorts for the traveling and commercial public.
LINDELL HOTEL.
[Change of Name: American Hotel becomes the Lindell Hotel.]
[THE MONITOR’S LOCALS.]
Winfield Courier, January 13, 1881.
J. F. Witherspoon has rechristened the old American and gave it the same name as his old hotel, the Lindell. The house is practically as good as new, having been refinished and refurnished throughout. John is a popular landlord, as his house is kept filled with guests.
Cowley County Courant, February 9, 1882.
Some people in this city would like to know the whereabouts of John Witherspoon. We are informed that yesterday noon he procured a two-seated rig from Majors & Vance and informed Jim that he was going out in the country about seven miles and would be back in two hours, since which time he has been conspicuous by his absence, and several persons are interested in his welfare. It seems that he told a party to tell Vance not to be uneasy about his team as he would be back today at noon.
It is also discovered that he has mortgaged his billiard room outfit to the firm from whom he purchased his goods, sold a half-interest in the stock to E. Dunbar for a house and lot which he sold to E. C. Seward for cash. He took with him his family and it is supposed that he went north. E. Dunbar is perhaps out a house and lot and the loss will be severe for him. We hope Mr. Witherspoon will turn up all right, as there are several here on the anxious seat.
Jim Vance returned from his trip after his team and wagon last Saturday evening. He met the team about five miles this side of Douglass driven by a boy from Augusta, from which place John Witherspoon started it. Jim congratulates himself on the recovery of his horses and wagon, even if he didn’t get any pay for the use of it. Witherspoon told the boy that he was going to Wichita, and go around on the train.
A brand new listing of hotels...
WINFIELD HOUSE.
[LATER: LINDELL HOTEL.]
[COURIER ADVERTISERS.]
Winfield Courier, January 2, 1879.
The Courier feels proud of its list of advertisers. No county newspaper in the state can boast a larger list or one made up of better, more honorable or more enterprising men. Here they are in alphabetical order.
WINFIELD HOUSE is a new hotel and boarding house got up in good style, and will merit a very large patronage. John M. Spencer, the proprietor, comes to us highly recommended.
Winfield Courier, February 13, 1879.
We had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Spencer, proprietor of the Winfield House, last week. Mr. Spencer is a hotel man of long experience, and although his house was only opened a few weeks ago, it is getting a good share of the public patronage.
Winfield Courier, March 6, 1879.
WINFIELD HOUSE.
J. M. SPENCER, Proprietor.
Winfield, Kansas.
This House has just been completed and also furnished throughout with an entire lot of new furniture.
Winfield Courier, October 23, 1879.
Col. Manning, E. P. Kinne, and J. W. Curns on Monday began “throwing dirt” for his new brick building on North Main street opposite the Winfield House. It will be of brick, 75 x 60, and will be an ornament to that part of the city.
Winfield Courier, January 22, 1880.
Mr. John Witherspoon has leased the Winfield House and is at work refitting and refurnishing it throughout. He has added an office and a wash room to the building and is giving it a new coat of paint both outside and in.
LINDELL HOTEL.
[New Name of the former Winfield House.]
Winfield Courier, February 5, 1880.
The old Winfield House is now known as the “Lindell Hotel.”
Winfield Courier, February 12, 1880.
Citizens of Winfield and Cowley County! We are selling dry goods, notions, hats & caps, clothing, boots and shoes, ladies’ and gents’ underwear, etc., at 50 cents on the dollar. Auction sales each evening at 7 o’clock. C. H. LOVEJOY & CO., UNION BLOCK (OPPOSITE LINDELL HOTEL), WINFIELD, KANSAS.
Winfield Courier, April 1, 1880.
John Witherspoon has sold his interest in the Leland Hotel to James Allen. Mr. Allen will make a first class landlord and will make the Lindell one of the most popular places in town.
Winfield Courier, April 22, 1880.
A new twelve foot stone sidewalk is being put down in front of the Lindell Hotel in place of the old wooden one. This will improve the looks of North Main street.
[THE FIRE.]
Winfield Courier, May 6, 1880.
Last Thursday night, between 11 and 3 o’clock, Winfield was visited by the most disastrous conflagration yet happening within her borders. The fire started in the old log store, one of the landmarks of the town, and for years occupied by the COURIER, but was now being used by F. Leuschen as a cabinet shop. The fire is supposed to have originated from the old rags, oil, and varnish in the shop. The alarm was given before the fire was thoroughly underway, and had those first on the ground been furnished with decent appliances, it might have been controlled, saving thousands of dollars worth of property. The old log building was like a tinder box and made a very hot fire. Next to it on the east were two buildings, one belonging to C. L. Harter and occupied by the moulder at the foundry, the other owned and occupied by Robert Hudson. These buildings were both destroyed, but the contents were saved.
Immediately west of the log building, across the alley, was an old livery barn belonging to Hackney & McDonald, which was the next to go.
From this the fire was communicated to the Central and Lindell hotels. As soon as it was evident that the hotels must go, the work of getting out the furniture began. Carpets, bedding, crockery ware, and furniture of all descriptions were tumbled promiscuously out of windows and doors into the street, much of it being broken and smashed. The hotels being dry, pine buildings, burned rapidly, sending up large cinders which fell in different parts of the city, making the utmost vigilance necessary to keep them from igniting buildings three blocks from the fire.
When the two hotels caught, everyone turned their attention toward saving the buildings on either side of the street. They were covered with men who handled buckets of water and barrels of salt, and by their exertions prevented the fire from spreading and destroying the larger part of the business portion of our city.
The old part of the Central Hotel was owned by Jas. Jenkins, of Wisconsin. The new part of the Central Hotel was owned by Majors & Harter. They had sold out to A. H. Doane, and were to have given possession Saturday morning.
The Lindell Hotel was owned by J. M. Spencer, and was leased by Jas. Allen one month ago.
Our citizens generously opened their homes to the homeless people, and accommodations were offered for more than was needed.
The following is a list of the losses and insurance.
Captain Stevens, store, loss $1,000; no insurance.
Fred Leuschen, furniture store and dwelling, loss $1,200. Insurance on stock, in Home, of New York, $300.
C. L. Harter, tenant dwelling, loss $300; no insurance. Tenant had no loss except damage.
Robert Hudson, dwelling, loss $800. Mrs. Hudson removed most of her furniture. No loss except damage. No insurance on either house or contents.
Hackney & McDonald, livery stable occupied by Buckhart, loss $800; no insurance.
Central Hotel, main building: James Jenkins, loss $3,500; insurance, $1,500 in the Atlas.
Central Hotel, Majors & Harter portion: loss to building, $2,500; insurance, $2,100, as follows: Weschester, Springfield Fire & Marine and Hartford, $700 each. [Their insurance was on building and furniture.] The loss of Majors & Harter in excess of their insurance will be upwards of $3,000.
PUZZLING! $2,100-INSURANCE...AND YET $700 EACH ($1,400)...DOES
NOT COMPUTE WITH $2,100 INSURANCE...COULD BE THE
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN $2100 AND $1400 WAS INSURANCE
ON CONTENTS!
J. M. Spencer, Lindell Hotel, loss $2,500; insurance $1,000, as follows: Fire Association, $500; Phenix, of Brooklyn, $500; James Allen, loss $1,000; insurance, $800.
Policies are in the agencies of Gilbert, Jarvis & Co.; Curns & Manser; and Pryor & Kinne. The companies are all first class, and the losses will be promptly adjusted and paid.
LINDELL HOTEL.
[Change of Name: American Hotel becomes the Lindell Hotel.]
[THE MONITOR’S LOCALS.]
Winfield Courier, January 13, 1881.
J. F. Witherspoon has rechristened the old American and gave it the same name as his old hotel, the Lindell. The house is practically as good as new, having been refinished and refurnished throughout. John is a popular landlord, as his house is kept filled with guests.
Winfield Courier, January 20, 1881.
On Thursday night last a social hop was given at the Lindell Hotel by the proprietor, Mr. Witherspoon. The Lindell, under the present management, is becoming one of the most popular hotels in the city.
Winfield Courier, March 31, 1881.
The Lindell Hotel has changed hands. Blendon & Rider are now the proprietors.
[LINDELL HOTEL.]
[EDITORIAL CONVENTION.]
Winfield Courier, May 17, 1883.
At the Lindell, six whose names Ed. did not report before he left.
WILLIAMS HOUSE.
Winfield Courier, August 16, 1877.
Frank Williams new hotel will open about August 27.
Winfield Courier, August 16, 1877.
The ladies propose to “strike” next Tuesday evening and get no supper. To relieve the distress occasioned by this movement, the Ladies’ Aid Society, of the Presbyterian church, will furnish supper to the famishing community at Williams’ new building for 25 cents.
Winfield Courier, August 23, 1877.
The festival given by the Presbyterian ladies, to raise funds to carpet the new Presbyterian church, came off on Tuesday evening at the new palace building of Mr. Frank Williams. Everybody was there with his wife, baby, sweetheart, brother, uncle, and mother-in-law, as Short says, “to get one good square meal.” The way the loads of two-story biscuits, pressed hash, chickens, grapes, ice cream, peaches, cake, etc., disappeared was wonderful. Everyone said a great many smart things and joined in the general merriment. Altogether it was one of the most enjoyable occasions that Winfield has ever seen. The receipts reached $90.
Winfield Courier, September 6, 1877.
The Williams House, Frank Williams, proprietor, is open for business. This is an entirely new brick hotel, neatly and tastefully arranged, beautifully painted and embellished, furnished throughout with new, neat, and beautiful furniture. Altogether it is just the neatest, pleasantest, and most comfortable place to stop that can be found in southern Kansas. Frank and his estimable lady know just how to keep a hotel, as everyone who visited them at Philadelphia, during the Centennial exhibition, is ready to testify. They are affable and attentive to their guests, who will have all the comforts of a pleasant home. Excellent arrangements are provided to accommodate commercial travelers, and a fine sample room is prepared. Any description we could give of the house and its arrangements would fail to do it justice. Go and see for yourselves.
Winfield Courier, September 13, 1877.
On Thursday evening last we had the pleasure of taking tea at Frank Williams’ new hotel with a very pleasant party of guests, who did ample justice to the bountiful spread of choice viands and the finest fruits of the season. The table was richly decorated with silver plate and flowers, and the host and hostess by their polite attentions made the occasion one of delight to all present.
Winfield Courier, September 20, 1877.
Notice the Williams House card in this issue.
CARD: WILLIAMS HOUSE,
WINFIELD, KANSAS.
FRANK WILLIAMS, Proprietor.
Opened Monday, September 10, 1877. A new brick building. Everything new, clean, and attractive. The traveling public will find accommodations up to city standard.
Good Sample Rooms.
Winfield Courier, September 20, 1877.
Hotel arrivals in this city, for the week ending September 19th, 1877, number as follows: Central, 57; City, 66; Williams House, 38.
Winfield Courier, September 27, 1877.
The Central Hotel registered 65 names last Saturday, the City 56, and the Williams House 49.
Winfield Courier, September 27, 1877.
Hotel arrivals, in this city, for the week ending September 26th, 1877, number as follows: Central, 121; City, 91; Williams House, 70.
Winfield Courier, October 4, 1877.
The Williams House has a new register.
Winfield Courier, October 4, 1877.
Hotel arrivals, in this city, for the week ending October 3rd, 1877, number as follows: Central, 70; City, 55; Williams House, 48.
Winfield Courier, October 11, 1877.
Hotel arrivals, in this city, for the week ending October 3rd, 1877, number as follows: Central, 55; City, 42; Williams House, 43.
Winfield Courier, October 25, 1877.
Hotel arrivals, in this city, for the week ending October 24th, 1877, number as follows: Central, 70; Anderson House, 44; Williams House, 44.
Winfield Courier, November 1, 1877.
Hotel arrivals (transient) in this city, for the week ending Wednesday evening, October 31st, 1877, number as follows: Central, 56; Anderson House, 48; Williams House, 49.
Winfield Courier, November 8, 1877.
Hotel arrivals (transient) in this city, for the week ending Wednesday evening, October 31st, 1877, number as follows: Central, 72; Anderson House, 50; Williams House, 59.
Winfield Courier, November 15, 1877.
Hotel arrivals (transient) in this city, for the week ending Wednesday evening, October 31st, 1877, number as follows: Central, 74; Anderson House, 51; Williams House, 57.
Winfield Courier, November 15, 1877.
Notice the new advertisement of T. A. Wilkinson. He will furnish lumber of best quality at lowest prices. His well-known enterprise will secure him a good trade.
AD: NEW LUMBER YARD!
T. A. WILKINSON
Would respectfully announce to the people of Cowley County that he has established a Lumber Yard in WINFIELD, at O. F. Boyle’s old stand, on the corner south of the Williams House, and expects to keep constantly on hand all kinds of lumber for building purposes.
Winfield Courier, November 15, 1877.
GILES BROTHERS, late from Palmyra, Missouri, are opening up a large stock of drugs three doors north of the Williams House. From the quantities of cases on the sidewalk, we look for an exhibition of every kind of goods usually found in their line.
Winfield Courier, November 29, 1877.
Mr. E. Bacon tells us he is doing a good business. He is a first-class workman, and is taking orders for articles in his line, of his own manufacture, for Christmas presents. His work shows for itself. Call and see him, one door north of the Williams House.
Winfield Courier, December 6, 1877.
On last Thursday evening as pleasant and select party as ever before assembled in Southern Kansas, assembled at the Courthouse in this city. The skies were cloudless and it was a most beautiful evening, though very cold—so cold and chilly that many who were invited could not attend. Notwithstanding, there were about thirty-five couples in attendance, all of whom expressed themselves as never enjoying themselves better and as being well pleased with the party in general. At 11;30 p.m., supper was called, which was served in good style at the Williams House. At 12 o’clock the party reassembled, the musicians resumed their positions, and tripping of the “light fantastic toe” was engaged in with rare vigor. The long-to-be-remembered party concluded at half past 2 o’clock with the “Scotch Real,” after which about seventy-five happy persons, two by two, reluctantly wended their way homeward, regretting that Thanksgiving parties are given but once a year. The music, furnished by the Roberts Bros. and Will Marshal, was splendid.
Winfield Courier, February 7, 1878.
NEW CASH DRUG STORE!
GILES BROS.,
Winfield, Kansas.
Drugs, Paints, Oils (all kinds), Varnishes, Glass, Putty, Lamp Chimneys, Patent Medicines, Fancy and Notion Goods,
Perfumery of the first class, Fine Cut and Plug Tobacco
and Cigars, Snuff, etc.
Our goods are warranted genuine, and prescriptions will be filled at all hours with prompt attention. 3 Doors North of the Williams House.
Winfield Courier, February 14, 1878.
Our readers will notice the new advertisement of Prof. C. Farringer. He is a music teacher of the first class, and as a repairer and tuner of instruments has but few equals. His music rooms will be well supplied with instruments for sale.
AD: PROF. C. FARRINGER.
TEACHER OF VOCAL AND INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC
Tuner and Repairer of
PIANOS AND ORGANS
MUSIC ROOMS on Main street, south of Williams House.
(Mrs. Farringer will attend to the selling of instruments, books, etc., and Eddy Farringer will collect and receipt all bills for tuning and teaching.)
Winfield Courier, May 2, 1878.
Arrivals at the Central and American hotels for last week number 135; Williams House, 66.
Winfield Courier, May 23, 1878.
The Williams House has two large new signs in front. No one need miss that hotel now.
Winfield Courier, June 27, 1878.
SEALED PROPOSALS for building a stone and brick building. Plans and specifications to be seen at the Williams Hotel. Owner to receive or reject all bids. H. BAHNTGE.
Winfield Courier, July 11, 1878.
Johnston & Hill’s furniture shop continues to travel. This time he has gone down south of the M. E. parsonage, and the stock of furniture has gone into a building near the old Farmers’ Restaurant. Their new fire-proof building near the Williams House is progressing finely and will contain a large stock in due time.
Winfield Courier, October 17, 1878.
All New Goods at the new store opposite the Williams House.
Winfield Courier, October 31, 1878.
THE CHEAP STORE.
The Cheap Store (in new brick building corner Tenth avenue and Main street, and opposite the Williams House) is now open with a full stock of NEW GOODS, CONSISTING OF Dry Goods, Hats, Caps, Groceries, Queensware, etc. Everything new and the best in the market, and sold at LOWEST CASH PRICES. Call and be convinced.
Winfield Courier, November 21, 1878.
To Let.
After Dec. 1st, 1878, my NEW STORE on Main street, suitable for Grocery, Dry Goods, or Hardware, will be to rent. Also ONE ROOM, 20 x 22, upstairs, entrance from the front, outside. This room is light and airy and very convenient for an office of any kind. Building entirely new. Enquire on the premises, three doors south of Williams House, for terms.
R. D. JILLSON.
Winfield Courier, November 28, 1878.
Dr. Cooper has removed to the new brick building, opposite the Williams House, upstairs.
Winfield Courier, December 12, 1878.
EDITOR COURIER: Noticing in a late issue of your paper a few words concerning the auctioneers taking possession of the streets on Saturdays, at the corner of Main street and Ninth avenue, we have often wondered why the city authorities did not take the matter in hand and in issuing the license to the auctioneers give each a particular locality in which to vend his wares. For instance, locate one in the vicinity of Lynn & Gillelen’s store on that crossing, one at the crossing of Main street and Ninth avenue, and one a block lower opposite the Williams House.
Winfield Courier, December 12, 1878.
Dr. Cooper has removed to the new brick building, opposite the Williams House, upstairs.
[COURIER ADVERTISERS.]
Winfield Courier, January 2, 1879.
The Courier feels proud of its list of advertisers. No county newspaper in the state can boast a larger list or one made up of better, more honorable or more enterprising men. Here they are in alphabetical order.
WILLIAMS HOUSE is one of the best kept hotels in the State. Everything is clean and neat, the table is of the best, and the rooms are well furnished. Frank Williams and his estimable lady know well how to treat their guests, who always come again.
[HOTEL CARDS. (WINFIELD ESTABLISHMENTS.)]
Winfield Courier, January 2, 1879.
WILLIAMS HOUSE, FRANK WILLIAMS, PROPRIETOR.
Winfield Courier, January 2, 1879.
T. A. WILKINSON. NEW LUMBER YARD. Would respectfully announce to the people of Cowley County that he has established a Lumber Yard in Winfield, at O. F. Boyle’s old stand, on the corner south of the Williams House.
Winfield Courier, January 2, 1879.
WILLIAMS HOUSE, FRANK WILLIAMS, Proprietor, Winfield Kansas. Opened Monday, September 10, 1877. A new brick building. Everything new, clean and attractive.
Winfield Courier, January 30, 1879.
GILES BROS., NEW CASH DRUG STORE, 3 DOORS NORTH OF THE WILLIAMS HOUSE, WINFIELD, KANSAS. Drugs, Paints, Oils (all kinds), Varnishes, Glass, Putty, Lamp Chimneys, Patent Medicines, Fancy and Notion Goods, Perfumery of the first class, Fine Cut and Plug Tobacco, and Cigars, Snuff, etc.
Winfield Courier, February 13, 1879.
The Williams House is still the popular resort for the traveling public. Frank Williams, the proprietor, is known far and wide as one of the most successful hotel men in the southwest
Winfield Courier, March 20, 1879.
Messrs. Hendricks & Wilson, of Pleasant Hill, Mo., have opened a new hardware store on Main street, south of the Williams House. They are live, enterprising men, and will undoubtedly do a good business.
Hendricks & Wilson,
-Dealers In-
HARDWARE,
4TH DOOR SOUTH OF HORNING’S,
Winfield, Kansas.
We have opened a Large, New and Complete Stock of HARDWARE, which we intend to sell at the Lowest Reasonable Rates FOR CASH.
We have on hand a full line of Wagon Woodwork, Shelf, and Builder’s Hardware.
Winfield Courier, April 3, 1879.
Messrs. Turner Bro’s, late from Lincoln, Ill., will immediately fill the store lately occupied by B. E. Johnson, opposite the Williams house, with a new and splendid stock of staple and fancy dry goods, hats, and caps. They are gentlemen of energy and experience and will make things move.
Winfield Courier, May 1, 1879.
REAL ESTATE TRANSFERS.
NOTE: LEGAL DESCRIPTION IS GIVEN...GOING TO SKIP UNLESS IT IS
IN WINFIELD PROPER.
Frank Williams and wife to W. J. Shotwell,
lot 4, blk 168, Winfield. $600.
[FORGERY: YOUNG GIRL IN WINFIELD.]
Winfield Courier, May 29, 1879.
Last Monday a young girl, who gave her name as Jennie Slate, presented an order purporting to be from Frank Williams to J. B. Lynn for $80 worth of goods. Mr. Lynn, not liking the looks of the order, put it in his pocket and told her to “call again and he would see about it.” The girl went out and fixed up another order on Mrs. Whitehead for $25, on the strength of which she began to buy hats, ribbons, and millinery “truck” indiscriminately. When the order was presented, Mrs. Whitehead thought something was wrong and dispatched one of the ladies of the establishment to Mr. Williams with it, and it was found that he had no knowledge of the matter whatever. The girl, it seems, had hired at the Williams House some time last fall, but Mrs. Williams not liking her actions, had discharged her. She says that she has been stopping at different places in this county for some time, and that the orders were given to her by a Miss Graham, who has been working at this place for some time. The girl appears to be between 17 and 18 years old, and not seeming to understand the nature of the crime she had committed, she was given some good, wholesome advice and told to “go her way and sin no more.”
Winfield Courier, July 17, 1879.
A little son of Mr. Port Smith fell from the second story window of the Central Hotel last Friday, but fortunately was not injured. The little fellow was walking backward, and not noticing the window, tumbled out, striking the ground between the building and the stone sidewalk.
[COWLEY COUNTY: FROM THE TOPEKA COMMONWEALTH.]
Winfield Courier, July 10, 1879.
The hotels of the city are the Williams House and the Central. Both of them do a large business.
Winfield Courier, August 14, 1879.
Herrington & Austin have dissolved partnership and Herrington has moved his shop to the corner south of the Williams House.
Winfield Courier, August 28, 1879.
The Williams House occupied Jillson’s building as a sample room Monday and Tuesday, owing to the rush of commercial travelers. This house is becoming very popular with the traveling public.
Winfield Courier, September 18, 1879.
Mr. Dever has removed his Star Bakery to the corner south of the Williams House. The bakery has lost none of its popularity by the change, and still continues to be the leading bakery and confectionery in the town.
Winfield Courier, October 9, 1879.
Mr. Williams has part of the brick on the ground for a forty-foot addition to his hotel.
Winfield Courier, October 23, 1879.
The new forty foot addition to the Williams House is going up rapidly. The first story is nearly completed and Mr. Williams expects to occupy it in four weeks.
Winfield Courier, November 6, 1879.
The workmen on the new addition to the Williams House have been working day and night for the past week. The patronage of this house far exceeds its entertaining capacity, and it is becoming very popular with the traveling public.
Winfield Courier, November 27, 1879.
Frank Williams has purchased a new safe in which to store the valuables belonging to his guests.
[AD: BECK & DILLON’S ART GALLERY.]
Winfield Courier, April 8, 1880.
DRAFT OF VETERANS!
All citizens of Cowley County over the age of forty-five (45) years, both male and female, are hereby notified that they are drafted, and that they are respectfully requested to report at Beck & Dillon’s Art Gallery on Tenth Avenue, opposite the Williams House, Winfield, Ks., as soon as convenient after March 22d, and receive a first-class photograph of themselves, free of charge. There is no humbug about this, so don’t fail to come. Cloudy weather no objection. Time limited to 60 days. BECK & DILLON.
[FINAL REPORT: TOPEKA COMMONWEALTH.]
Winfield Courier, April 29, 1880.
[ON FRONT PAGE...AS WERE OTHERS.]
The Arkansas Valley Editorial Association held its regular quarterly meeting at Winfield Saturday. The occasion drew together many besides the editors. Some ten or fifteen went down from Topeka, and others joined the procession at different points. From Newton not less than twenty, fully one-half of whom were ladies, went down on a special train from that place Saturday morning. The special train was run by the A., T. & S. F. railroad to accommodate the editors from the Upper Arkansas Valley, who, by this act of the railroad, saved one day in time. That railroad company, by the way, is all the time doing something to accommodate the public, and we sometimes think that because of their generosity on so many occasions whenever asked, that more is expected of it than from any other railroad company in the state.
It was our good fortune to be cast upon the tender mercy of Frank Williams at the “Williams House,” one of the coziest, cleanest, and most homelike places we have been at for a long time. On the Walnut is a little steamer about twenty-five feet long, with ten feet beam, and a nicely fitted up cabin. This runs with pleasure parties, we believe, up to Arkansas City, some twelve miles. A good many of the editors and their friends took a ride on this steamer, and enjoyed it hugely.
Winfield Courier, April 29, 1880.
The Williams house is furnished with a handsome revolving desk for the register.
Winfield Courier, April 29, 1880.
Mr. Frank Williams picked up a note for $790, in the office of the Williams House last week. The note was signed by Jno. J. Stansen, in favor of J. J. Norton and is made payable at J. J. Smith & Co.’s bank. Mr. Williams will hold the note until an owner is found for it.
Winfield Courier, April 29, 1880.
Mr. A. H. Stone, agent of Ramsey, Millet & Hudson, of Kansas City, is in this city and is getting up a map of Cowley County, which will give the location of the railroads, stations, township lines, post-offices, towns, creeks, rivers, vacant school and unsold lands, etc. It will be in everyway particular and complete, and will be in size 22 by 28 inches. Mr. Stone will remain in the city several days, and can be found at the Williams House.
Winfield Courier, May 13, 1880.
In the case of Tarrant vs. Hitchcock for the possession of the property next to the Williams House, judgment was rendered in favor of the defendant. Leland J. Webb was the attorney for the defense, and conducted the case to a successful termination.
Winfield Courier, June 10, 1880.
Mr. Frank Williams returned Monday from a trip to the new mineral springs in Arkansas. Frank thinks the springs have some medicinal qualities but do not possess the healing qualities that are ascribed to them. He is much improved in appearance and enjoyed the trip. Messrs. Kirk and Service, of our city, are still there. Although only a few months old, the town, Eureka Springs, has a population of 15,000.
Winfield Courier, July 15, 1880.
Squire Norman, of Maple, registered at the Williams House Monday.
Winfield Courier, October 28, 1880.
M. S. HOOPER, M. D., PHYSICIAN & SURGEON, OFFICE ONE DOOR NORTH OF WILLIAMS HOUSE, RESIDENCE, TENTH AVENUE AND PLATTER STREET.
Winfield Courier, December 23, 1880.
John B. Holmes registered at the Williams House Saturday. He reports everything flourishing on Rock creek.
Winfield Courier, December 23, 1880.
The Williams House has had its hands full for the past week. Hobart Vermelye sits up nights and lets the poor, over-worked drummers have his couch.
Winfield Courier, January 6, 1881.
The Social Club gave a banquet to a select party at the Williams House last week. Each guest received a very polite invitation from the committee of arrangements, which was of course eagerly accepted, as it was understood that the party was to be very select and only to consist of fifteen couples. The supper was elegant, the party seemed in the best of spirits, and everything went “merry as a marriage bell” until the time for departing came. It was then discovered that that supper cost thirty dollars and that there were just fifteen fellows to settle the bill. Our informant did not state whether the fifteen were exclusive of the committee of arrangements or not. However, it was one of the pleasantest affairs of the holidays.
Winfield Courier, February 3, 1881.
S. P. Strong, of Rock, registered at the Williams House Thursday.
Winfield Courier, February 17, 1881.
Mr. Enos Henthorn, ye real estate and loan man of Burden, spent Tuesday in the city. He registered at the Williams House.
Winfield Courier, February 24, 1881.
Mrs. Frank Williams has been ill for several days.
Winfield Courier, May 19, 1881.
Hank Paris’ mule team ran away down the street Tuesday and brought up with their noses against Jim Hill’s store front. Fortunately neither team nor wagon were injured, but it caused a scattering among the omnibuses standing in front of the Williams House. The team scared at a piece of paper blowing on the street. Had anyone been run over and killed, persons who throw paper on the streets would regret that they did not heed our advice about burning the paper.
Winfield Courier, June 2, 1881.
Arthur Bangs is chief clerk at the Williams House since Robert Vermelye’s departure.
Winfield Courier, June 2, 1881.
Arthur Bangs, the manager of the Tisdale Omnibus and stage lines in this place, is one of the most popular, gentlemanly, intelligent, and obliging young men in Southern Kansas. We hear fine compliments for him daily.
Winfield Courier, June 2, 1881.
Robert Vermilye left for St. Paul, Minnesota, last week, where he will take a position with some railroad company. Robert has been with us for nearly two years, is a capable and efficient young man, and has a bright future before him.
Winfield Courier, June 9, 1881.
Arthur Bangs is doing the agreeable to the guests of the Williams House in capacity of clerk, as well as running the bus line. He is the most gentlemanly hotel clerk we know of.
[VISIT TO WINFIELD: “CLIFF” - COMMONWEALTH REPORTER.]
Winfield Courier, June 30, 1881.
ARKANSAS CITY, June 15th, 1881.
Senator Hackney spoke in the highest terms of praise of Mr. J. W. Ady, of Newton, also, and counted him as a probable candidate. Mr. Hackney is a stalwart of the most marked type, and one of the most prominent young men in the State. He is an able lawyer, and I think is making money in his profession. Mrs. Hackney is spending the summer at Manitou, and the Senator dines at the Williams House, where I was his guest for supper. CLIFF.
Winfield Courier, August 11, 1881.
The Williams House will be changed into a men’s clothing and furnishing goods house with J. S. Mann as lessee and proprietor of the stock.
Winfield Courier, August 11, 1881.
AD: REMOVAL. I have leased the “Williams House” building, which I will remodel and fit up the finest Clothing House in Winfield, and will get possession this month; and until my removal I shall offer my stock of CLOTHING, BOOTS, SHOES, HATS, CAPS, SHIRTS, HOSIERY, GLOVES, UNDERWEAR, ETC. AT COST FOR CASH!
Calico Shirts, laundried, 37½ cents; Knit Undershirts, 17½ cents each; Scarlet Flannel undershirts (all wool), 78 cents. Other goods in proportion.
Remember this sale lasts only for the remainder of this month, and the goods must be sold in the time named.
This is the best chance you will have to lay in a stock of Clothing, Boots, etc., low.
Respectfully, J. S. MANN.
Winfield Courier, August 11, 1881.
Frank Williams has kept a good, first rate hotel for some years and made it pay; but now that the Brettun is ready to run, he gracefully steps out and gives the new hotel full swing.
Winfield Courier, September 1, 1881.
J. S. Mann removed his large stock of goods to the Williams House building Tuesday. He will now have more room and can get the part of his stock that has heretofore been stowed away under the counters out where people can see them.
Winfield Courier, September 8, 1881.
Mr. Frank Williams started west Tuesday.
[THIS APPEARS TO MARK THE END OF THE WILLIAMS HOUSE.]
[Location: Former Williams House/New J. S. Mann Store.]
Winfield Courier, September 8, 1881.
J. S. Mann is selling a pile of goods in his new location, corner of Main street and 10th avenue, formerly the “Williams House.”
Now I am going to backtrack and tell how Sid Majors, after losing the original “Central Hotel” to the disastrous fire, went into various enterprises and eventually obtained the “Williams House” and then called it the “Central Hotel.” MAW
Winfield Courier, January 11, 1883.
Sid Majors disposed of his interest in the livery business last week to Mr. Collins, formerly of Oxford. The firm now appears, Vance & Collins.
Winfield Courier, July 12, 1883.
Sid Majors has purchased an interest in the W. A. Freeman livery business.
Winfield Courier, September 13, 1883.
Uncle Joe Likowski has sold out his billiard hall paraphernalia and the building is being fitted up by Sid Majors for a restaurant. This change will seem strange to the old settler for awhile. For the last nine years “Old Joe” has held forth at this stand, dealing out the ardent before the prohibitory law, but since running only the billiard hall. The old gentleman is being sorely afflicted by an old wound received on the left ankle while serving with the Kansas militia just before the war. It is growing so much worse as to threaten amputation. He will go to Florida in a few weeks.
Winfield Courier, September 20, 1883.
Sid Majors has thoroughly remodeled the old Joe Likowski stand and got opened up in good shape. It is a restaurant and confectionary store, and will be called “Sid’s Place.”
Winfield Courier, March 27, 1884.
It is rumored that Sid Majors will lease the building vacated by J. S. Mann, and again convert it into a hotel. Sid would be just the man to fill the demand for more hotel accommodations.
Winfield Courier, April 10, 1884.
Sid Majors is having the old Williams House Building fitted up in first-class style for a hotel, to be christened after the one which gave him popularity in days gone by, “The Central.” He will open out in a few days.
Winfield Courier, April 24, 1884.
A horse ran away with Miss Mary Majors last Friday, throwing her out of the buggy, but luckily producing only a few slight injuries. A number of toilet sets, being taken from Sid’s house to the new hotel, were in the buggy and completely demolished.
Winfield Courier, April 24, 1884.
Sid Majors opened up his new hotel, “The Central,” Monday, and kept open house to his many friends during the day. The house is furnished throughout with new furniture, and is neat and complete in every way. This is Winfield’s sixth hotel, and all are running over with business.
NOTE HOW THEY REFER TO THE CENTRAL AS THE SIXTH HOTEL!
BRETTUN HOTEL.
[SOMETIMES CALLED “BRETTUN HOUSE”]
Winfield Courier, May 6, 1880.
Mr. and Mrs. S. L. Brettun arrived Tuesday evening are and are stopping with C. C. Black.
Winfield Courier, August 12, 1880.
The Brettun House is commenced. The excavation is progressing.
Winfield Courier, September 9, 1880.
The building of the Brettun House makes haste slowly.
[A CHALLENGE: MILLINGTON VS. BLACK.]
Winfield Courier, September 9, 1880.
“Now, honestly, Charley, don’t you feel it in your bones that the Telegram item of ‘What will happen - Nov. 2. Election of Hancock and English’ is a whopper.” If you believe it is true, we fear that you will occupy rooms at Osawatomie before Nov. 2 - COURIER.
“On the contrary Brother Millington, Charley is so thoroughly convinced of the truthful-ness of the ‘item,’ and that his own reason shall remain enthroned; that he hereby proposes, to wheel you in a wheelbarrow at noon at as early a day as the result shall be definitely known, from the Brettun House down the middle of Main street to the Stewart House, if Hancock and English fail to receive the majority of electoral votes cast for President and Vice President in the coming election! Provided that you agree to wheel him the same distance and under the same circumstances in case Hancock and English do receive the majority. Party being wheeled to furnish suitable music for the occasion. Do you accept. Telegram. CHAS. C. BLACK.”
All right. It is a bargain. We accept on the ground that the election returns will sound to Charley so like “the rack of empires and the crash of worlds,” that he will certainly go daft unless his mind is diverted at once by good vigorous wheelbarrow exercise.
Winfield Courier, September 16, 1880.
The basement walls of the Brettun House are up.
Winfield Courier, September 30, 1880.
The walls of the Brettun House are rising Heavenward quite rapidly. With this house finished, Winfield will be the boss hotel town of Southwestern Kansas.
Winfield Courier, October 21, 1880.
The Brettun is the name of a new brand of cigars at Goldsmith’s. They are named after our new Hotel.
[BOOMING WINFIELD.]
Winfield Courier, November 11, 1880 - Front Page.
Notwithstanding the western drouth Winfield is “booming,” and in spite of the adverse seasons, they have public spirited men who have confidence enough in the future to build solid stone and brick blocks which would do credit to older and larger cities. S. L. Brettun is building a magnificent hotel of magnesia limestone, 56 x 120 feet, four stories high, with every modern improvement, including steam, hot and cold water in rooms, passenger elevator, etc., to be completed this winter at a cost of $25,000.
Our genial friend, Charlie C. Black, has just erected a very fine stone printing office, which will be completed in all its appointments, with steam power, presses, etc. It is only a pity that he should waste such sweetness on the desert air of Kansas Democracy.
A new brick block has just been completed by Weitzel and occupied by Major Baker, who is running the Commercial House. Your correspondent found the house full, and had to content himself with a cot in the parlor.
The new store, 140 feet deep, by Lynn & Loose has just been occupied by them and is filled with as fine a stock of dry goods and carpets as can be found in the metropolis of Kansas. The second floor has fourteen large offices, with outside entrances onto a fine iron verandah. The building is certainly an ornament to the city. These with two brick blocks, three rooms each, which are just ready for occupancy, are all on Main street.
Business houses in other parts of the town and several very fine residences have been erected this summer. Leavenworth Times.
[PAYMENT OF ELECTION WAGERS.]
Winfield Courier, November 11, 1880.
The most fantastic and humorous performance that this city has ever witnessed took place last Saturday, at 2 o’clock p.m. The crowd of people assembled on the sidewalks, in the streets, in the windows of adjacent buildings, and on the awnings, was simply immense and the enthusiasm displayed was indescribable.
The procession was formed at the Brettun house in the following order:
1st. The Winfield Cornet Band.
2nd. The St. John Battery.
3rd. Hon. O. M. Seward, Chairman of the Republican Committee, on a fiery steed that looked as though he had just had a race of a hundred miles and distanced his competitor, bearing the legend: “This is the Maud S. that won the race;” and Hon. S. L. Gilbert, chair-man of the Democratic Committee, on a used up mule labeled, “This is the mule that beat us.”
4th. Hon. J. B. Lynn, Mayor of Winfield, bare-headed, in overalls and flannel shirt, wheeling a large load of rock.
5th. Hon. C. C. Black, editor of the Telegram, wheeling the editor of the COURIER.
6th. The working men on the Brettun House building, forty strong, with their trowels, hammers, saws, hods, and other implements of labor.
7th. The COURIER force with plug hats and canes, headed by Ed. P. Greer, each bearing an appropriate motto.
8th. Charles Kelly, representing the postal service, with the motto: “A clean sweep. No post offices for rent.”
9th. The Telegram force, mounted on a huge dray with a large job press printing Telegram extras and passing them out to the crowd.
Arriving at the COURIER office, the procession halted, and D. A. Millington mounted the chair on the wheelbarrow and addressed the crowd and prolonged cheers as follows.
Ladies and Gentlemen: I usually shrink from a position too conspicuous before my fellow citizens, but at present there are two of my friends even more conspicuous than myself, and I will try to stand it. This is the first time I ever figured in a circus, but I have reason to be proud of my surroundings. I see around me the representative talent and gayety of my city and county. I am escorted by the Cornet Band, the pride of Winfield; the chairmen of the committees of two great parties; the representatives of the artisans who have built the proud structures around me, and the representatives of the press, the bulwark of liberty. I am following the first officer of our grand, young city, one of the merchant princes of Kansas, one who has done much to make our city what it is and whose fame for enterprise and honor is widely known. My propelling power is the editor and proprietor of the best and neatest daily published in any Kansas city of the size of this, of the largest, most ably edited and most widely circulated weekly Democratic newspaper in the state, a man who has built the finest printing building and is every inch a man and a gentleman. I have been told that if one does not “toot his own horn, it will not be tooted,” so I will add that I represent the WINFIELD COURIER, the newspaper which has the largest local circulation in the state, and is the best patronized by the people of its county and especially by the businessmen of its city. This fact is the evidence that it is appreciated. For all this I thank you, my fellow citizens. We claim that the two papers represented here today are the leading county papers of their respective parties in the state. They have by their enterprise beat all other papers in the state in collecting and announcing the returns of the late election. The full returns of Cowley County sent by these were the first to be received at Topeka. They united in the expense of having messengers at every poll in the county, who brought the returns to them as quickly as horse-flesh could carry them after the count was completed. They united in the expense of telegraph returns from all parts of the nation, and each kept bulletin boards to display the news to the anxious, surging crowds of citizens. And now they unite both the victor and the vanquished in pleasant, jolly humor in this celebration.
Charles C. Black then mounted the chair and addressed the people as follows.
Friends, countrymen, and lovers: I came not here to talk. Ye know too well the story of our thraldom. I came with these brown arms and brawny hands to wheel 5,000 pounds (for I believe Mr. Millington weighs 5,000) of editorial wisdom and ability down Main street for your entertainment. I came in a spirit of conciliation. Many hard things have been said during the campaign, now closed. I came in a spirit of forgiveness. I forgive Bro. Millington for all the hard things I have said about him. I forgive him for putting this yoke upon me today. I even forgive him for compelling him to wear this thing (holding up a new silk hat) at my own expense. I hope today’s celebration will heal all the animosities growing out of the late political campaign in the county. Let us have peace. I am glad to see so many present today, helping us ratify. I congratulate everybody upon the general good feeling which prevails, and now, in the language of 20,000 or more orators and candidates, spoken four or five hundred thousand times during the last thirty days, “Thanking you for your kind attendance and attention,” I will now step down and out.
The procession then moved on to the Williams House, halted, and Mr. Lafe Pence delivered a short and patriotic address, which we presume was on behalf of Mayor Lynn; after which the procession moved forward another block, counter marched, and dispersed.
Winfield Courier, November 11, 1880.
The marble walls of the Brettun House are going up finely. This Hotel will be the largest and most elegant in Southern Kansas.
Winfield Courier, December 9, 1880.
The Brettun House is booming away nicely. The walls of the basement and first and second stories are up and make a magnificent appearance.
Winfield Courier, December 23, 1880.
The workmen on the Brettun House took advantage of the bright moonlight nights last week, and the walls went up rapidly. It presents an imposing appearance and is the pride of the city.
Winfield Courier, December 23, 1880.
Frank Barclay is making arrangements to put the gas and steam piping in the Brettun House. He is in Kansas City trying to engage several plumbers and gas fitters to help him in the work.
Winfield Courier, January 27, 1881.
Burlington claims the finest hotel south of Topeka, called the Morris House. Winfield will soon have the finest hotel in the State, called the Brettun House.
Winfield Courier, January 27, 1881.
The Brettun House will contain about 1,500 feet of gas pipe, 1,250 feet of water pipe, and including that in the radiators, 3,600 feet of steam pipe. This only includes that which is actually in the building, and excludes the earthenware sewer. Almost a mile and a fifth of pipe in one building is not so bad for Winfield. Telegram.
[THE MONITOR’S LOCALS.]
Winfield Courier, January 27, 1881.
The Brettun house is going to cost very much more than expected or intended. The agent is now trying to keep the expenditures down to $24,000. The cold weather has caused much delay. If this winter had been as mild as last, the house would now have been well nigh completed.
[THE MONITOR’S LOCALS.]
Winfield Courier, February 10, 1881.
Work has again commenced on the Brettun House, and if the present weather lasts, it will be enclosed in less than two weeks.
Winfield Courier, March 3, 1881.
The workmen are putting on the stone cornice on the Brettun House. It is elegant in design and sets the building off well.
Winfield Courier, March 17, 1881.
Mr. S. L. Brettun came in Tuesday and is stopping with his grandson, Charlie Black.
Winfield Courier, Thursday, April 7, 1881 - Front Page.
The following is what Vinnie Beckett writes of Winfield to his paper, the Norton County Advance.
WINFIELD, KANSAS, MARCH 14, 1881.
Winfield is a brag town. We say this without prejudice, though it is true we have always loved the city and its people. It is a brag town in the matter of sidewalks. This is the first subject of remark by strangers. From center to circumference few are the streets that have not a four foot stone slab pavement on both sides of the road. An abundance of stone six and eight inches thick and of indefinite length and breadth is found handy to town and those are put in position in sizes to suit, at about fourteen cents per square foot.
It brags on its new hotel almost completed. The Brettun House is a magnificent three story and a basement structure built of the famous Cowley county stone, which is nearly identical with the white magnesia found in such quantities in Trego county and also in Grant township of Norton. The building is fitted with every appliance of modern invention and is complete in every part. No hotel in the state can distance it in any respect.
Winfield Courier, April 7, 1881.
The stone work on the Brettun House received its finishing touches Monday. The building is now ready for the finishing work.
Winfield Courier, April 7, 1881.
The Brettun House had a narrow escape from fire last week. The tinners at work on the roof went to dinner, leaving their furnace sitting on the pine sheeting. While they were absent some coals of fire rolled out, setting the pine on fire, and it had been fanned into a blaze when discovered. It was a narrow escape.
Winfield Courier, April 14, 1881.
We have heard it rumored that Chas. Harter would take the Brettun House. Charley is the most popular landlord in the country, and could run this magnificent hotel better any anyone we know of. We hope he will take it.
[DEATH OF S. L. BRETTUN.]
Winfield Courier, April 28, 1881.
The Moline (Illinois) Review-Dispatch of April 22nd contains the following notice of the death of Soranus L. Brettun, which is doubtless correct, though no information of the kind has been received from C. C. Black, who was there at the time named. It is with deep regret that we have to make this announcement.
Mr. Brettun has been a friend to Winfield, where he has invested large sums of money and made some of our grandest improvements and we had learned to regard him as a citizen of this place, and a man of enterprise, a warm hearted and courteous friend and a true gentleman of the old school. The citizens of Winfield will deeply sympathize with the bereaved.
“Mr. S. L. Brettun, of this place, died last night at nine o’clock. Funeral tomorrow, Sunday afternoon at one o’clock, from his late residence. His disease was lung fever. Mr. Brettun was born in Livermore, Maine, May 11, 1806, and was in his seventy-fifth year. He came to this place in 1837, and has been actively engaged in business ever since. His wife is still living, and they have three grandchildren living: Mr. C. C. Black, of Winfield, Kansas; Mr. Brettun Crapster, of Kansas City, Mo.; and Miss Louise Crapster, who is living with her grandmother. Mr. Brettun has held many offices of trust in this county, and his death will be universally regretted. During the past few years Mr. Brettun has invested largely in Kansas real estate. His own children are the late Mrs. Francis Black, of Hamilton; Mrs. Dr. Crapster, of St. Louis; and Clarence, who was drowned in early boyhood.”
Winfield Courier, April 28, 1881.
The Brettun House is nearly ready for the plasterers. Archy Stewart has the contract.
[BURDEN ENTERPRISE ITEMS.]
Winfield Courier, April 28, 1881.
While in Winfield last Friday, we took a look through the Brettun House. It is not finished yet, but the carpenters are busy getting it ready for the plasterers. It is going to be the finest built building in Southern Kansas. It is a credit to Winfield and Cowley county.
[WELLINGTONIAN ITEMS.]
Winfield Courier, April 28, 1881.
The new hotel, known as the Brettun, at Winfield, is now under cover and rapidly becoming pushed to completion. It is hoped that it will be ready for occupancy early in July. It is an imposing structure, and is an improvement of which Winfield is justly proud.
[REMINISCENCES.]
Winfield Courier, April 28, 1881.
Now as I sit by the open door in my home overlooking Winfield, for the farm life is one of the things of the past, I can take in the full beauty of the town, the setting sun casting its golden glow over all and adding to its already many charms. The beautiful Brettun House is the prominent feature; then the churches, schoolhouses, courthouse, and fine stone and brick residences all present a striking contrast to the ten years ago.
Winfield Courier, May 26, 1881.
A watch is on guard at the Brettun House night and day, now, to prevent fire or meddling with the building.
[COWLEY COUNTY: FROM THE LEAVENWORTH TIMES.]
Winfield Courier, June 9, 1881 - Front Page
Cowley County is situated on the south line of the state, and near its center east and west. Elk and Chautauqua counties bound it on the east, Butler County on the north, west by Sumner County, and on the south by the Indian Territory. It is one of the largest counties in the state, being thirty-three miles north and south, and thirty-four miles east and west, and contains forty-five hundred quarter sections of land, all suitable for farming purposes.
Winfield at this time has upward of a dozen brick and stone buildings in process of erection, two ward school houses that are to cost twelve thousand dollars; one stone hotel, the Brettun House, C. C. Black, proprietor, that is to cost from fifteen to eighteen thousand dollars, will be heated with steam, lighted with gas, hot and cold water in every room, and the electric enunciator. In the item of plumbing that enter into private dwellings, it has a larger amount than many cities in the east that number twenty thousand inhabitants. The elegant and costly residences that have been erected are the best possible indication that the men who have made their money here expect to stay. It has upwards of eighteen miles of stone sidewalks, half of which were put down the past year. On Main street they are twelve feet wide; on the avenues from three to five. Water works can be built at a cost of twenty-five thousand dollars; and the city is now preparing to commence work on them. Winfield takes a just pride in its newspapers. It has what probably no other city of its size has: three nine-column weekly papers, all printed at home, and one daily paper.
Winfield Courier, June 23, 1881.
The Brettun House will require 1,200 yards of carpeting.
Winfield Courier, July 14, 1881.
The Brettun House, in this city, the grandest hotel in Kansas, will be completed, furnished, and ready for business in about twenty days.
Winfield Courier, July 28, 1881.
Mrs. Brettun and granddaughter, Miss Louise Crapster, have returned to Winfield to remain a year. They are stopping at the Olds House until the Brettun is in running order.
Winfield Courier, July 28, 1881.
We peeped into the Brettun House Monday. Charley and Mrs. Harter, with a corps of lady assistants, are busy making the sheets, pillow cases, and linen for the establishment. It requires nearly a carload.
Winfield Courier, August 4, 1881.
The Brettun House engines were started Tuesday, and the pumps set to work filling the mammoth water tank in the third story. A perfect army of painters, carpenters, stone masons, and plumbers are at work and things about there look lively. One carload of furniture has arrived and three more are on the way. They will perhaps open about August 12th.
Winfield Courier, August 11, 1881.
Harry Bahntge runs the fine billiard rooms of the Brettun House.
Winfield Courier, August 11, 1881.
Nommsen and Steuven have taken possession of the tonsorial rooms of the Brettun House.
Winfield Courier, August 11, 1881.
The Brettun house will open for business Monday. It is the grandest and most beautiful hotel in the state, and “don’t you forget it.”
Winfield Courier, August 11, 1881.
Frank Williams has kept a good, first rate hotel for some years and made it pay; but now that the Brettun is ready to run, he gracefully steps out and gives the new hotel full swing.
Winfield Courier, August 11, 1881.
We hope the two Charlies, Black and Harter, will not advertise the Brettun as a first class hotel. These are getting too common. Advertise it as the only second class hotel in the United States. This will be something new and the first fellows who have lived so long at first class hotels want a change.
[SOME ITEMS ABOUT WINFIELD: FROM LEAVENWORTH TIMES.]
Winfield Courier, August 18, 1881.
There are more than 100 houses in the city at the present time that are occupied for business purposes. The majority of these are built of brick with stone foundations and stone fronts, some three and some two stories high. There are in the city: Eleven grocery stores, three fruit stores, four general stores, two boot shoe stores, seven drug stores, four hardware stores, two saddlery and harness stores, three clothing stores, two firm banking establishments, one foundry and machine shops, plans arranged to build a large woolen mill, two large flouring mills, two furniture factories, two retail furniture factories, one tailor shop, four millinery establishments, three agricultural depots three lumber yards, two jewelry stores, three elevators, four barber shops, one brewery (closed for two years or during the war), four vacant saloon buildings, one large limestone quarry, which is furnishing the stone for the Custom House in Topeka, and the Brettun Hotel in Winfield, two bakeries, four restaurants, four express offices who ship more fruits and eggs to Colorado than any other city in the State, three fine stables, four hotels, one vinegar factory, one pork packing house, three photograph galleries, two marble works, one carriage factory that turns out twelve buggies per week, two gunsmith shops, and five large land agencies. This, together with two railroads, namely, Kansas City, Ft. Scott & Gulf, and the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe branch from Newton to Wichita, makes a good showing. The city has also a free library, containing nearly 2,000 volumes. There are two large school houses in the city with twelve rooms, one having eight and the other four. Two companies have been formed for the purpose of boring for coal at no distant day, and $25,000 stock for each has already been subscribed. Among the new business houses that are being built are the following.
Brettun Hotel: $35,000; H. Brown & Son’s drug store: $4,000; Wallis & Wallis grocery store: $4,000; H. Gridley, business house: $3,500; Curns & Manser (brick, stone front): $10,000; G. L. Rhodes (brick, stone front): $2,000. S. H. Myton will build a new house soon.
An addition is being built to the courthouse, and a heavy fire and burglar proof safe will be put in. The grounds are being planted with trees and will be ornamented with drives, grottoes, etc.
The New Hotel. The Brettun House, just finished, will be in grand form next Monday when everybody, nearly, will be invited to be present. The house is built of native limestone, and has a porch on two sides, east and south. The building alone cost about $25,000, and when finished, its cost will not be less than $35,000. It is heated by steam, has gas, has hot and cold water, and is furnished with the East Lake and Queen Anne styles of furniture, with different shades of carpet in every room. The building was designed by Mr. Brettun, from whence it takes its name, but his death prevented him from completing his plans, and his grandson, Mr. C. C. Black, has had them completed. Mr. Chas. Harter will manage the house.
[THE BRETTUN.]
Winfield Courier, August 18, 1881.
This hotel, the finest in the state, was opened to the public last Wednesday by Messrs. Harter & Black. They have furnished the house elegantly from top to bottom. Last Thursday evening the gas in all the rooms was turned on and the barber shop and billiard rooms were lit up. The sight was an imposing one and the magnificent building looked like a marble palace. Here can be found every comfort that the traveling public could desire. Pleasant rooms, good beds, gas and water, bath rooms, billiard hall, barber shop, telegraph office, a splendidly set table, and promenades, parlors, and verandas in abundance. Harry Bahntge is running the billiard room and Nommsen & Steuven the barber shop and bath rooms. The bath rooms are cool and pleasant, and furnished in good style and fitted with hot and cold showers.
Winfield Courier, September 1, 1881.
Governor St. John will come in on the 11:15 train, Friday a.m. He will be met at the depot by carriages and conveyed to the Brettun House.
Winfield Courier, September 8, 1881.
The Brettun house proprietors have another problem for consideration. Their dry well is filled up and they find it necessary to construct a sewer. It takes thirty barrels of water a day to run the house.
Winfield Courier, September 15, 1881.
Mrs. C. L. Harter got seriously hurt on the nose last Saturday by the falling of a cornice from a wardrobe in the Brettun House.
Winfield Courier, October 6, 1881.
The Brettun House draws part of its water supply from the K. C., L. & S. railroad tank.
Winfield Courier, October 6, 1881.
The cooks at the Brettun House went on a strike Sunday noon, and it was only with the utmost diligence on the part of the proprietors that the boarders got their supper.
Winfield Courier, October 6, 1881.
Harry Bahntge was fined $100 and costs for selling liquor in his billiard saloon at the Brettun House, on Monday. Harry waltzed up and paid like a little man. And still they keep gathering them in.
Winfield Courier, October 20, 1881.
CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC. Wishing to secure to my pupils all the advantages of a first class music school, I have leased Col. McMullen’s store room opposite the Brettun House and fitted the same for a Concert Hall. Although our monthly concerts will be in reality examinations in the different branches of musical science, I shall make them as interesting as possible and hope that my patrons will encourage the enterprise by their never failing presence. The seating capacity of our hall being rather limited, we will not be able to send invitations to all of our friends at the same time but shall remember them all on the different occasions. C. Farringer.
[DELAY IN REUNION NOT KNOWN BY SOME OLD SOLDIERS.]
Winfield Courier, October 27, 1881.
The resolutions of the committee postponing the reunion did not reach some of the farthest townships, and a good many were here to participate. Dexter came in force Thursday night and awakened the echoes with fife and drum, calling many of our citizens from their beds in their night clothes to make speeches. The boys had a big time and the next day were dined at the Brettun by Col. McMullen and other “old vets.” In the afternoon such old soldiers as were in Winfield met at the Opera House, where Col. McMullen, on behalf of the committee, explained the reasons for the postponement, which were deemed sufficient. It was then decided that a regimental drill should be held in Winfield on Saturday, November 12th, and it was requested that all townships complete and send in their rolls at the earliest moment.
Winfield Courier, November 3, 1881.
Today the grand hunt of the sportsmen’s club takes place. The boys started out this morning bright and early, armed to the teeth, and were enough to scare a poor little quail or rabbit out of its wits; although if the poor things were sensible, they would know they were in no danger. Jo Harter is the captain of one gang and Amasa Speed of the other. There are ten sportsmen on each side and the losers must pay for a grand banquet at the Brettun tomorrow evening. Each shooter must declare Under oath that he bagged the game he brings in. A bear counts 500. We hope Charley Black will get two bears.
Winfield Courier, November 10, 1881.
Last Saturday and Sunday The Brettun was full. We hope the L. and O. Society will not construe this as an argument against prohibition.
Winfield Courier, November 10, 1881.
The Grand Hunt proved a grand success. Several catastrophes are reported. Jake Nixon burst a barrel of his fine breech-loading gun, Tom Soward lost a “plunger,” and Deacon Harris got soaking wet. The score was a very fair one!
J. N. Harter ........ 830 A. D. Speed ........ 170
J. M. Keck ......... 1,000 B. F. Cox ............ 290
G. A. Rhodes ..... 975 C. C. Black ......... 90
T. H. Soward ....... 335 G. L. Eastman .. 2,375
S. Burkhalter ....... 480 Dr. Davis .......... 450
Jacob Nixon ........ 80 E. Meech, Jr. .... 285
Fred Whitney ...... 765 Q. A. Glass ....... 180
____ Chapman .... 980 Deacon Harris ... 500
Total: 5,445 Total: 4,360
The defeated party gave a big banquet at the Brettun Friday evening and the tired and hungry sportsmen fed their friends and told of the hair breadth escapes of “mud-hen” and turtle-dove. Skunks counted fifty, but none were brought in.
Winfield Courier, November 17, 1881.
Mr. H. G. Ruggles, one of Sedgwick County’s leading attorneys, stopped at the Brettun Monday.
Cowley County Courant, November 17, 1881.
Brettun Billiard Parlor. Is a very pleasant place to while a few hours. Tables all new and of the latest pattern, and rooms neat, airy, and comfortable. The finest brands of imported standard cigars, and splendid line of tobacco always in stock. Give Harry a call, and he will treat you well.
Cowley County Courant, November 24, 1881.
BATHS, HOT OR COLD, BRETTUN HOUSE BARBER SHOP, NOMMSEN AND STEUVEN, PROPRIETORS.
Cowley County Courant, December 1, 1881.
James B. Moore, the Hartford, Connecticut, money man, who has been making the Brettun headquarters during a month’s business visit through Southern Kansas, leaves for home Tuesday morning. He will be back again in three or four weeks, to spend the winter here. Winfield has charms to soothe even the Hartford man.
Winfield Courier, December 1, 1881.
The Brettun House served a dinner on Thanksgiving day fit for a King. There was turkey, and soup, and hash, and bread and butter, and an array of delicacies too numerous to mention. The bill of fare was served by pretty waiters clothed in white aprons who tripped noiselessly around among the guests and in dulcet tones kept saying, “Roastbeef—corn-beef—pickled pigs feet—alafrancaise—fried liver with the chairon-peeled potatoes—and slapjacks—and repeating various other witty things for the edification of the guests. It was a day of feasting and rejoicing, and none enjoyed it more than the Brettun House folks.
Cowley County Courant, December 22, 1881.
We sincerely hope our citizens will take hold of the telephone proposition, which we place before them today. If any particulars are required further than we give, Mr. Whitney or Mr. Kretsinger will give them. Fourteen have already subscribed and only eleven more are needed to secure the placing of the instruments. Wichita has placed sixty-three telephones and the company are still at work. The central office here would be at the Brettun House.
Winfield Courier, December 29, 1881.
The pupils of the high school are going to give a supper Friday evening in the Bryan building, opposite the Brettun House. The proceeds will be used to purchase appliances for the use of the school. Businessmen are invited to come at six o’clock, get their suppers, and encourage the pupils in a good cause.
Cowley County Courant, December 29, 1881.
Lafe Pence and bride arrived in this city Monday on the noon train. Rooms at the Brettun were prepared for them, where friends can visit the happy couple. Mrs. Pence is a niece of Prof. Story, at whose residence they spent most of the afternoon.
Winfield Courier, December 29, 1881.
Lafe Pence and his bride came in Monday and took rooms at the Brettun House. During the afternoon Lafe took a run around town and had a general hand shaking with the boys, and in the evening a large number of friends called on them at their rooms. They took the Tuesday train for their home in Rice, Colorado. We wish them many happy years.
Winfield Courier, December 29, 1881.
The grand “Bal Masque” Friday night will be the biggest thing Winfield has yet seen. The lady is at the Brettun with the costumes today and they are being rapidly taken. Maskers must enter the hall through the Ninth Avenue dressing-room entrance.
Cowley County Courant, January 5, 1882.
J. B. Moore, of Hartford, Connecticut, came in Saturday evening, and will make Winfield headquarters again for awhile. He occupies the bridal chamber at the Brettun, but then it would require a close search to find any bride lingering there. James is still on the single list, and the apartments given him have no particular significance, except that he was introduced at the Brettun by the illustrious statesman who pens this item.
The Winfield Courier, January 12, 1882.
Harry Farrar and Chas. Schiffbauer, with their ladies, stopped at the Brettun Friday evening.
The Winfield Courier, January 12, 1882.
HARD ON THE D. B.’S.
The Businessmen Talk, Eat, and Prepare to Harvest Unpaid Bills.
Last Saturday evening a large number of the businessmen of Winfield met at the Brettun House and organized an association that will be of more practical benefit to businessmen and the trading public generally then anything that has yet been proposed. The matter has been talked of for some time, but recent events brought it to a focus, of which the “Merchants” and Business Men’s Protective Association” is the outcome. The following gentlemen were present and assisted in the organization.
A. H. Doane, R. E. Wallis, J. A. McGuire, Will Hudson, A. E. Baird, W. J. Hodges, H. Brotherton, J. M. Dever, J. P. Baden, J. L. Hodges, R. E. Sydall, Lou Harter, Ed. P. Greer, J. B. Lynn, A. B. Steinberger, C. A. Bliss, D. L. Kretsinger, A. T. Spotswood, S. W. Hughes, J. S. Mann, W. B. Pixley, W. R. McDonald, A. D. Hendricks, Col. Wm. Whiting, J. G. Shrieves, J. W. Bachelder, J. L. Horning, T. R. Timme, J. L. Rinker, J. P. Short, B. F. Wood, J. A. Cooper.
A committee consisting of the officers and a committee of eight or ten members were appointed to draft constitution and by-laws to be presented at the next meeting to be held at A. H. Doane & Co.’s office Thursday evening. The object of the organization is for mutual protection against the class of men who obtain credit at one place as long as possible, then change to another, and so on around, and for heading off dead-beats of every kind. A list of all those who are in arrears at the different stores will be made out by each merchant and filed with the secretary, who will furnish each member with a complete list of all who obtain credit and the amount. Then, when a person desires to buy goods on time, the merchant can go to his list, find out how many other firms in town he owes, and how long the account has been running. If he finds that the person desiring credit owes every other merchant in town, he can safely make up his mind that he is a D. B. On the other hand, if he finds that the person asking for credit has paid his bill and is reckoned good by the other merchants in establishing his credit, he will find no trouble in getting all the advances he desires. It will weed out the dishonest fellows and protect those who pay their debts and show a disposition to deal honestly.
The above, as near as we can state it, is the object of the association. Here alone, good, honest, straightforward men all over the county have failed to get credit because there was no way to establish their standing while others who were no good have run annual bills all over town and never make an effort to pay. This will stop all that business and place them in a very unenviable light until their bills are paid.
After the adjournment of the meeting all repaired to the dining room of the Brettun and ate oysters and celery, drank coffee and cream, told vigorous stories of dead-beats and bill-jumpers, and treated each other to little bits of business experience that furnished points for future action. The supper was nicely served and thirty-nine sat down to the long table and took two or more dishes of “Oysters-loonystyle,” with fruit and lighter refreshments thrown in. One of the most unfortunate features of the supper was that there were no toasts. Nothing is so delightful after a nice supper as to sit back in your chair and note the writhings of the poor mortal who has been selected to tell about “The great American eagle, who laves his bill in the Atlantic and dips his tail in the Pacific,” and to see him squirm when he finds that he has forgotten the piece and got the proud bird’s tail in the wrong pond. We were very anxious to see this duty performed and had about concluded to call out J. L. Horning or A. T. Spotswood, with W. J. Hodges and R. E. Wallis as possible substitutes, when the thought struck us that it might prove a boomerang and our desire for toasts immediately expired.
Among the ladies who graced the occasion were Mrs. W. R. McDonald, Mrs. J. L. Rinker, Mrs. J. B. Lynn, Miss Sadie French, Mrs. W. J. Hodges, Mrs. S. W. Hughes, Mrs. J. A. Cooper, and Mrs. W. B. Pixley.
Cowley County Courant, January 19, 1882.
Speed’s henchman, the German youth who has been making fun for the boys and girls too, has gone away and his absence is felt by many. He did not stay here long. Ed. (we do not know his last name) is about 18 years old; and has been in this country about seven weeks, and during that time has learned to converse freely in the English language, though when he has become excited, or was obliged to swear, always relied upon his mother tongue; and in either case, it never failed him.
The boy is a wandering wonder and his written life would read like an overdrawn story. Perfectly unfamiliar with American manners and ideas, seemingly oblivious to all restraint, but not particularly vicious or mean, he has since he has been here, wandered as free as air, guided by nothing but a devil in him as big as a house. There has been nothing desperate, daring, or great in his doings, but the multiplicity of the scrapes he has gotten into is astonishing, and when his character is appreciated, are ludicrous in the extreme.
The boy is by no means bad looking; he is full of animal spirits, joking and cutting up with everybody he knows. Though young he is a musical genius, and plays on any instrument on which he can get his fingers. In Germany he must have been the same devilish boy, for his usual method of extorting money from his mother was by threatening to hang himself if it was not forthcoming. About two months ago he sailed from his fatherland for the home of the brave. He departed with a mother’s blessing, an accordion, a violin, a mouth organ, and a gun, and one hundred dollars in money.
A few weeks ago he found himself here with Mr. Manny, who endeavored to make something out of him. About work time he was generally conspicuous by his absence, and with any dog he could make friends with—and that was any dog he could find—he would wander off on a hunting expedition. He was forever getting into scrapes, but never into work, and his last demonstration was leaving a man all day to hold stopped the bung hole of a large vat. It would have been all right, but he and the dog got interested in each other and went off after rabbits. That was the last straw, and he took his gun and musical instruments and came uptown.
He agreed with Speed to clean the horses if dinner would be furnished him at the restaurant. This was done, but after dinner, the youth was nowhere to be found. Sometime after that he was found in the Brettun House parlor playing the piano. For some time he furnished lots of fun for the boys. His passion for dogs knew no bounds, and one day one of the boys gave him a dog and told him to go hunting.
There wouldn’t have been anything funny about that if the fellow who presented him with the dog hadn’t presented the dog with some turpentine as only wicked boys know how, and the dog’s attention was too distracted to do any hunting, so Ed. broke the gun over the dog’s back. The gun was then traded for a four-chambered pistol and the dog was laid up for repairs. Some of his other dog adventures we have already given.
Speed then offered the fellow fifty cents to thrash one of the stable boys, and he undertook the job. After he was hauled out of the manure pile and straightened up some, he gathered up his musical instruments and departed for a short time. But he soon returned and spent a good deal of his time hunting dogs and making a band of himself for the benefit of the boys. He was pestered a good deal without showing much desire to retaliate, but he got his Dutch up at last and commenced to flourish his pistol around rather promiscuously when it was taken away from him, the loads removed, and the pistol thrown in the stove. He watched the last of his little German gun ascend in smoke with considerable ire, and drawing a box of cartridges from his pocket, he attempted to throw them after the pistol, remarking, “Vell, God tam! go wid ‘em.” His hand was stayed in time or, it is needless to say, there would have been fun around that stove.
At last one of our farmers living in the north part of the county took an interest in the boy and took him home to make something of him. He set him at work sawing wood and about the first thing he did was to break the saw blade. He was then handed an ax and would probably have amputated a foot if it hadn’t been taken away from him. To give him something he could do, he was told to drive in the hogs. As he was already on splendid terms with the dog, he took his bosom friend along to assist him, and in about a half an hour the two had managed to kill the best hog in the drove. As he wasn’t earning any money at this kind of work, he was given the gun which he had longed for ever since he had set his eyes on it, and it wasn’t long before he came back radiant with six fine tame ducks, the pride of the farmer’s wife, and which he had taken in out of the wet on one grand pot shot. When told that the ducks were tame, he held them up and pointed at their heads triumphantly. He said, “Hell! green head, green head! wild, wild!” All this could have been forgiven if he hadn’t fallen in love with the farmer’s daughter. He was going in with his accustomed energy when his bright dreams were dispelled and he was again given the grand bounce.
He came back to town and immediately wrote two letters to the light of his soul, and failing to get a response, he offered Speed a hundred dollars for a horse to ride to that home where he had spent a few happy days. The offer was not taken, but he wasn’t discouraged. He knew how to love a dog, but when it came to loving a girl, his soul ran clear away with him. He gathered up his accordion and violin, and the first wagon he found going north he climbed in and went along. The man with whom he rode took him about five miles from the goal of his desire, showed hm the rest of the way, and he struck out. There was a creek between him and his desires, but across he went, with no further damage than the loss of his loved accordion. With undaunted courage, like another Leander, he pressed on, and reached the farmer’s house about eleven o’clock at night, and he proceeded to wake the folks up, and informed them that he had returned to stay.
There was a slight scene, and the next morning he returned to town. Day before yesterday, James Fahey returned to New Mexico, and with him went the young, the brave, the talented, the devilish fair-haired Teuton. What will become of him now, the Lord only knows. He is restless as the wind, and his caprices will lead him to glory or the grave. We are sorry he has gone, and we have laughed till we have cried, over the doings of this meteor of humanity.
Speed’s henchman has departed and the shadow of a sorrow rests upon the livery stable. The boys all miss him, and the dogs are bathed in gloom. Somebody will try to make something of him, and there’s no telling what will happen then. When the trumpet of Gabriel will sound, we believe he will come up smiling, bearing his accordion, violin, and French harp, and at the feet of the first meek eyed angel he sees, will be laid his treasures. Until then, au revoir.
Winfield Courier, February 23, 1882.
BEAVER ITEMS.
Mr. S. D. Jones is now enjoying a visit from his oldest son, who is a resident of DeWitt County, Illinois. He is highly pleased with the country and was very much surprised on arriving at Winfield and seeing such a town of only twelve years ago. He thinks it a better town than Clinton, the county seat of DeWitt, which is forty years old. He thinks the Brettun House the finest he has seen since leaving home. GRANGER.
Cowley County Courant, February 23, 1882.
J. H. Archer, of Cincinnati, Ohio, representative of the American Railway and Commercial Advertising Co., is in the city, working up a list of cards to be placed in a large and elegantly finished mirror writing desk, which he will soon put in the Brettun main office. The desk when put up will be the finest piece of furniture in the city and an ornament well worthy of containing any businessman’s card. Of course, THE COURANT got first choice, and the nicest located card.
Cowley County Courant, March 2, 1882.
PROGRESS DUE TO FRANK BARCLAY.
For a long time it was Winfield’s proud boast that it was the best sidewalked town of its size in the West; and for the past year, she has claimed without dispute, to have more miles of flag stone sidewalk than any town in the state, regardless of size or age. And now we come forward with the claim that Winfield has more steam, water, gas pipe, and general plumbing than any town of equal population in the state, and back our claim with the following figures.
On the first of January, 1882, there were in the public and private buildings of the city in round numbers:
13,000 feet of steam pipe;
11,400 feet of water pipe;
8,000 feet of gas; and
1,600 feet of sewer pipe.
TOTAL: 34,000 FEET OF PIPING.
Of this amount the Brettun House has over 15,000 feet.
The principal business houses on Main Street and several private houses are lighted with gas, by machines with from fifteen to one hundred burners.
In addition to the public buildings, there are ten residences supplied with hot and cold water throughout, with copper or galvanized iron water tanks, stationary washbowls, bath tubs, waste pipes, etc.
Among these fixtures there are all told, nearly one hundred marble slab basins, costing from fifteen to thirty-five dollars each.
The Brettun House, COURANT office, and the residences of M. L. Read and J. L. Horning are heated by steam, the two former by high-pressure boilers and the latter by low-pressure boilers.
For such a large amount of plumbing for a town, without gas or water-works, Winfield is principally indebted to Mr. Frank Barclay, who came here about four years ago, and under whose supervision nine-tenths of all the above work has been done.
Cowley County Courant, March 2, 1882.
The main supply pipe at the Brettun that supplies the tank and the entire house with water froze up and required considerable labor to thaw it out.
Cowley County Courant, March 16, 1882.
Mr. A. J. Walden, a well known traveling salesman, was taken sick at the Brettun last week, but with good treatment he was able to start out again this morning.
Cowley County Courant, March 16, 1882.
The Brettun House was the scene of quite a matinee this noon. Waldron, the young colored porter, who occasionally works in the dining room, made some impertinent remarks to one of the waiter girls with whom he had been quarreling for the last week, when the girl struck him with a goblet she was washing. The glass broke, cutting his ear severely and penetrating to the bone. A little scuffling was indulged in after the blow, when Charlie Harter came in and called the house to order. Waldron threatened to shoot the girl and had a revolver in his hand, which was snatched away from him by the head porter. The subject of the water girl’s vengeance then went to the doctor’s for repairs. The latest telephonic dispatch states that the excitement is gradually subsiding, and no immediate fears are entertained of another outbreak.
Cowley County Courant, March 16, 1882.
Hereafter the South Western Stage Co. will run a hack to and from Salt City at least twice a week and as much oftener as the public convenience demands. Parties wishing Geuda Springs water or transportation can leave orders at Wells, Fargo & Co.’s express office, or at the Brettun House, where it will be promptly attended to. A. C. BANGS, Agent.
Winfield Courier, April 6, 1882.
The first annual account and settlement of the Executor of the Brettun estate is being made before the Probate Court. The inventories filed are about two yards long. The clerical work on the document is almost perfect. Mr. D. C. Beach, attorney for the estate, did the work. Charlie Black left Wednesday morning for Illinois to settle with the Probate Court there.
Cowley County Courant, April 6, 1882.
We had occasion last evening to visit the Brettun barber shop, preparatory to making ourselves look pretty for the dance. As we entered, the extreme emptiness of the establishment struck us with dismay. A second glance showed us a piece of colored anatomy which seemed to be alive, apparently engaged on some remnants of cigar stumps. A few well directed remarks to the aforesaid anatomy in regard to the whereabouts of the proprietors convinced us that the anatomy was just barely alive, and that Charlie Steuven had gone fishing, and had either been kidnapped or drowned, and that had gone down the street and been the victim of some foul conspiracy. Turning these things over in our mind, we got our shaving cup, climbed on a stool in front of a glass, and proceeded to demonstrate that we were independent of the bloated bondholders who ran the shop. About the time our face resembled a snow-drift in Alaska, Harry Bahntge dropped in, and thinking we contemplated suicide, declined to be a party to it and left. As Harry went out one door, Speed came in the other. We felt a little uneasy when we saw Speed—it made us think of his goat and the pranks of its versatile nature. However, we suggested that he did not have much time to lose. That did the business—he was soon in the same condition as to lather as we were. At this stage in comes Timber Toe Smith. Things now took an interesting phase. Smith insisted upon doing the shaving. Speed objected, but his objection was overruled, and he was laid back in the chair. Sufficient towels and things were placed about his neck to cover any accidents or slips that might occur. Smith made several well directed but ineffectual efforts to cut Speed’s cheek. It was not long though before he of lumber notoriety got in his work and brought blood in three places. This was enough for us. We were shaved and fifteen cents ahead of the game, and had not lost any blood yet, and did not propose to be. Thus thinking, we took what we supposed to be a last, fond, lingering look at Speed and fled.
Cowley County Courant, April 13, 1882.
G. A. Hamilton, S. A. Brodhead, and William Carter, of Belle Plaine, are stopping at the Brettun and looking over our country.
Cowley County Courant, April 20, 1882.
E. F. Osborn, of New York, is stopping at the Brettun and looking at Winfield with a view of locating.
Winfield Courier, April 27, 1882.
An elegant new table filled with nicely painted business cards has been put up in the Brettun office. It is a very fine piece of furniture.
Winfield Courier, May 11, 1882.
A number of Good Templars came over from Oxford last Saturday evening to attend lodge here. They were entertained in good style by the Good Templars of Winfield, at the Brettun House, and returned Sunday afternoon. The visitors were: Messrs. J. W. and W. A. Thew, Samuel and Claude Humphrey, Gamill Morris, Chas. Chevrant, and Edward Sleigh; Misses Emma Humphrey, Alice Hall, Nellie Warner, Lula Jenkins, Maggie Earhart, Lizzie Gridley, and Mrs. J. W. Thew.
Cowley County Courant, May 25, 1882.
Frank Sharp and Tom Harrison did duty to a fair amount of “table truck” at the Brettun Sunday.
Cowley County Courant, June 1, 1882.
Our friend Finley, who lives about five miles south of town, must excuse us if we smile at his misfortunes. His trouble was all caused, too, by the possession of a bandbox, such as our good old grandmothers always carried along with them, and happened in this way. He had been uptown and bought a new suit of clothes and as he was unable to wear both old and new suits at one time, he carefully deposited one of them in the aforesaid bandbox, and being on horseback, tied the box on behind the saddle. He bought a bull calf the same day and was leading that home at the same time. When nearly home the box became loosened in some manner and was just ready to fall when he noticed it.
He dismounted, and in order to have both hands to work with, had to tie his calf to a neighboring fence, and as he was doing that, the pony got away and ran a mile or so. Well, he finished tying the calf, set the bandbox close to it for safety, and started for the pony, which he caught, mounted, and rode back. Then he was mad. No madder man ever led a calf than Finley was at that moment, for, while he had been gone, someone had taken his box—and openly and deliberately gobbled it. He saw the driver had taken extra pains to turn up there and also saw that the horse was going toward town. He hadn’t much time left, as he had promised his wife to be home real early, and it was then getting late. But he didn’t want to lose his clothes and thought the best plan was to follow up in the direction the buggy had taken. He inquired at a house and the folks told him the carriage belonged in town. He pursued it like a man, but it got home in advance of him. He hunted around and finally discovered his box at the Brettun house where it had been taken by the ladies who had picked it up, and after a brief description of its contents, it was handed to him and he mounted his pony and started for home, happy that he had not lost his clothes, but the least trifle mad to think he had been caused that extra trouble. Trials and vexations were not to end there, however, for when he reached the place where he had tied his calf, it too, had broken loose and strayed down the road a short distance, and he began to think the fates were against him. He soon found the animal, though, and went on home about as mad a man as was to be seen in that section. He reached his domicile about half past nine o’clock and there we leave him go, for the fates always provide for a man when he gets home too late.
Winfield Courier, June 8, 1882.
A Trip to Oxford.
Crossing that wide and shallow stream, the Arkansas, on a pontoon bridge, a drive of a quarter of a mile or so brought us to Oxford, where ten years ago there was only one building; since when a town of 500 inhabitants has grown up—rapid growth. We immediately repaired to the Oxford house, where abundant preparations had been made for our entertainment, and as we entered the office and beheld the stunning clerk behind the bar, with the usual glass diamond in his shirt front, we found it hard to realize that we were in a city one-eighth the size and no older than Winfield. At supper we were again agreeably disappointed at finding the table well laden with tempting viands—nicely prepared and in varieties as numerous as generally set out at the Brettun in our own beautiful city.
Winfield Courier, July 13, 1882.
FROM OUR CORRESPONDENTS.
MANITOBA LETTER.
WINNIPEG, Manitoba, July 3, 1882.
Now I will speak of the ninth wonder—Winnipeg. It claims a population of from thirty to forty thousand. The real population is about 14,000. Its streets are made out winding with the curve in the river. Main Street is about 125 feet wide and pretty near as muddy as it is wide. Not very many substantial buildings in it. The rock they use for foundations would hardly be considered fit to build a stone fence with in Cowley. A building about the same as Harter’s Drug Store rents here for $300 a month. Small rooms like the one first door north of Star Bakery rents for $100 a month. Vacant lots on Main Street have changed hands for $1,500 a foot. A hotel very poor, compared to the Brettun House, is bringing $15,000 a year. Everything else accordingly. EMMERSON MARTIN.
Winfield Courier, July 13, 1882. [From Green’s Real Estate News.]
BRETTUN HOUSE.
This building is constructed of the celebrated Cowley County stone, covering an area of 55 x 100 feet, three stories high with English basement, south and east fronts, and double deck eight foot piazza along the entire fronts. On the basement floor is a large and pleasant billiard room, barber shop with baths, two large sample rooms, preparatory kitchen with elevator, ice rooms, steam laundry, and drying rooms. On the first floor we find a large and well ventilated office, reception room, reading room, lavatory, telegraph and ticket offices, and coat room. Adjoining the office are three large sample rooms. The dining room is large and well located, having south and west windows. Adjoining it is the kitchen supplied with steam ranges and carving tables, china and silver closets, store rooms, etc.
On the second floor are the double parlors, bridal chamber, parlor chamber, bath room linen closets, and fourteen large and airy chambers arranged in suits. On the third floor are twenty-six rooms with sufficient number of linen closets, wardrobes, etc. The halls are spacious and extend entirely through the building north and south, east and west. Careful attention is given throughout to ventilation. There are three flights of stairs running from the basement to the second floor and two from the second to the third floor. The entire building is heated by steam, and lighted with gas. Each room is furnished with marble basins and soft water. Stand pipes with hydrants on each floor. The boiler and engine house is built separate from the main structure, thus avoiding danger by fire.
All slop and waste water is taken from the building through waste pipes and underground drains, which are double trapped against sewer gas.
While there are some larger hotels in the State, we assert with considerable pride for Winfield, that the Brettun House is the finest, most complete, and convenient house in Kansas. See cut on another page. [EVIDENTLY GREEN HAD WOOD CUT OF HOTEL.]
Winfield Courier, August 10, 1882.
But few people know that Winfield is now virtually the end of a passenger division of the K. C., L. & S. Road. The passenger trains going east and west change crews here, and the Brettun is becoming the home of lots of railroad men. This is the first wedge. Let us have a sure-enough division, with roundhouses and machine shops, and we’ll ask no more—this year. But hold on! There’s one other thing we want, and that is a switch from one of the main lines to the stone quarries on Badger Creek. If these quarries could have been connected with the main line, Wellington would have used four hundred car loads of our stone this spring. Wichita wants three hundred cars now, but it can’t be handled profitably until the switch is built. It seems to us that there is a bonanza in the way of freights to the railroad company in our inexhaustible quarries of finest stone.
Winfield Courier, August 24, 1882.
George Schroeter is doing the biggest business in silverware of any house in the west. Aside from furnishing the Brettun House with silverware to the amount of six hundred dollars, he is furnishing several large bills for hotels in other towns. He ordered yesterday $200.00 worth for the new hotel at Geuda Springs. Those who wish to buy silverware should call on Mr. Schroeter.
Winfield Courier, August 31, 1882.
The Glucose Works will be one of the largest buildings in the state. It will have a frontage but little less than one of our blocks and will cover just half a square, being a story higher than the Brettun House.
Winfield Courier, December 7, 1882.
Charlie Harter has purchased C. C. Black’s interest in the Brettun House and is now the sole landlord of that excellent institution.
Winfield Courier, December 28, 1882.
A GAMBLING HOUSE RAIDED.
Last Friday Harry Bahntge, who has been for a long time running a gambling den in a room back of his billiard hall in the Brettun House, was arrested and brought before Justice Buckman. He plead guilty to running a gambling table, was fined one hundred dollars and costs, which he paid, and went on his way rejoicing. In about an hour he was again arrested on another charge, which he likewise settled up. But the majesty of the law was not satisfied, and he was immediately arrested a third time, on another charge, and after it was settled, he was again pounced upon for the fourth time by the sheriff. This was more than even Mr. Bahntge’s proud spirit could brook, and he prayed the Court for mercy. When it was intimated that the end was not yet, and that the next case was five hundred or the pen, he wilted like a cabbage plant at high noon, and swore by all that was good and great that if they would but spare him the last dose, he would pay all the rest up, throw his room open, turn the gambling devices over to the officers, take the bars from the doors and the blinds from the windows, and let the bright sun of heaven pour into its iniquitous recesses forever more, amen; and further, that he would never do so any more. Upon these conditions he was let off, after paying two hundred and fifty dollars in fines and costs, and turning over to the constable his gambling table and checks, which were, by order of the Court, destroyed in the public street. The execution of the table was witnessed by a large concourse of people.
Mayor Troup and his associate and assistant in breaking up this business, Frank W. Finch, are entitled to the thanks of the community in addition to the knowledge of having done their whole duty in the premises.
Winfield Courier, January 4, 1883.
[From Green’s Real Estate News.]
BRETTUN HOUSE.
This building is constructed of the celebrated Cowley County stone, covering an area of 55 x 100 feet, three stories high with English basement, south and east fronts, and double deck eight foot piazza along the entire front. On the basement floor is a large and pleasant billiard room, barber shop with baths, two large sample rooms, preparatory kitchen with elevator, ice rooms, steam laundry, and drying rooms. On the first floor we find a large and well ventilated office, reception room, reading room, lavatory, telegraph and ticket offices, and coat room. Adjoining the office are three large sample rooms. The dining room is large and well located, having south and west windows. Adjoining it is the kitchen, supplied with steam ranges and carving tables, china and silver closets, store rooms, etc.
On the second floor are the double parlors, bridal chamber, parlor chamber, bath room, linen closets, and fourteen large and airy chambers arranged in suits. On the third floor are twenty-six rooms with sufficient number of linen closets, wardrobes, etc. The halls are spacious and extend entirely through the building north and south, and east and west. Careful attention is given throughout to ventilation. There are three flights of stairs running from the basement to the second floor and two from the second to the third floor. The entire building is heated by steam, and lighted with gas. Each room is furnished with fixed marble basins and soft water. Stand pipes with hydrants on each floor. The boiler and engine house is built separate from the main structure, thus avoiding danger by fire.
All slop and waste water is taken from the building through waste pipes and under ground drains, which are double trapped against sewer gas.
While there are some larger hotels in the State, we assert with considerable pride for Winfield, that the Brettun House is the finest, most complete, and convenient house in Kansas.
Winfield Courier, January 4, 1883.
We took New Years dinner with Charlie Harter at the Brettun Monday, and it was certainly an excellent one. His boarders would not object to New Years every week.
Winfield Courier, January 11, 1883.
[From Green’s Real Estate News.]
Winfield’s Buildings and Business.
To give the reader some idea as to how different lines of business are represented in our city, we will say we have 1 exclusive dry goods store, 2 exclusive clothing houses, 4 dry goods and groceries, two of which carry clothing; 1 dry goods and clothing, 3 hardware (general stocks), 1 tin ware and stoves, 3 harness shops, 7 drug stores, 2 jewelry stores, 3 restaurants, 9 exclusive groceries, 2 banks, 3 furniture stores, 3 merchant tailors, 1 book and notion store, 4 millineries, 2 exclusive boot and shoe houses 4 livery and feed stables, 3 hotels (one of which is the Brettun house, a very fine sawed stone building, cost $30,000), 1 carriage factory, two marble works, 1 furniture factory, 1 dollar store, 2 billiard halls, 2 lunch rooms, 2 bakeries, 4 butcher shops, 3 picture galleries, 4 barber shops, 1 foundry, 1 machine shop, 3 seed and feed stores, 3 lumber yards, 1 plumbing, steam & gas fitting establishment, 22 preachers, 47 doctors, and 999 lawyers (and new ones sprouting). How ish dot?
Winfield Courier, January 11, 1883.
In material improvements in the city, two splendid bank buildings and four of the best residences, grew out of bank rivalry. The grand Brettun House and the Stewart Hotel, the Telegram office, and several stone and brick stores and edifices were stimulated by the same rivalry. All we have in the line of the improvement of parks grew out of the same rivalry and much of the success in getting railroads and other improvements has been enhanced by it. Through such rivalry you can buy eastern exchange without the premium that is charged almost everywhere else, and the rates of interest are doubtless much lower than they other-wise would be, though a little brisker rivalry in the latter direction might be very desirable.
[WINFIELD.]
Winfield Courier, January 11, 1883.
Mr. F. Hayden, an intelligent Illinois fruit man who visited this county two weeks ago, writes of Kansas in the Alton Telegraph, from which we clip the following extract.
At Winfield we strike the rich bottom of the Walnut river and find successful farmers. Winfield is a remarkable little city of 3,500 inhabitants, beautifully located on the left bank of the Walnut river. Its trade is extensive. Its merchants are enterprising and carry their trade to all points of the great mining and grazing regions west, southwest, and south. One of its principal merchants, J. P. Baden, many will recollect as an old resident of Alton. Yet quite a young man, his trade with Colorado, New Mexico, and other distant points amounts to $100,000 yearly—in butter, eggs, vegetables, and fruit mainly; all sent out on orders C. O. D. He assured me he received as high as six to ten dollars per bushel for peaches at Leadville, or fifteen to twenty cents per pound. The soil and climate are well adapted to fruit raising. One man informed me that he sold his crop of Bartlett pears for ten cents each, net. It was the first crop from 75 trees. Remember this place is 247 miles from Kansas City, on the border of the great cattle ranges of the southwest. As a natural result its trade with cattle men is large. I judge many of the small cattle men have their families here. There is plenty of evidence of wealth. A fine large stone hotel is one of the attractions here. The Brettun House is as well kept and as well furnished with all modern conveniences, as any $50,000 hotel east. Here are broad streets and twelve miles of stone sidewalks; fine churches, good public schools, large and well filled stores, and tasteful residences. A costly flour mill capable of turning out 400 barrels of flour per day. A public park very beautifully located on the banks of the Walnut river. There is also a live Horticultural Society at Winfield, and as they happened to be in session I met with them and learned many things in relation to the country from listening to their discussions, and I would say here, that much of my information as to the region around Chanute was gained by meeting the Horticultural Society at that place.
Winfield Courier, January 25, 1883.
Mr. and Mrs. E. C. Seward returned last week from their bridal tour through the east and are safely quartered at the Brettun for the present, but will go to housekeeping soon. The COURIER force respectfully bare their craniums in appreciation of as fine a lot of cigars as their ivory was ever permitted to press, and renew their congratulations and good wishes.
Winfield Courier, February 8, 1883.
Sugar Meeting. A few leading citizens met Mr. Scoville and Mr. Conklin at the Brettun House Tuesday evening at which samples of the new process sorghum sugar were exhibited, the process explained, the advisability of the establishment of a sugar factory discussed. The samples were very fine and satisfactory and the gentlemen present expressed the fullest confidence in the matter and a belief that a sugar factory here will not only pay largely but be of the greatest value to the farmers of the county and business of the city. The business will be further considered. Samples of the sugar are left at the COURIER office, and a barrel of it will be sent to Wallis & Wallis, grocers of this city.
Winfield Courier, March 8, 1883.
The Brettun House wants two laundry women.
Winfield Courier, March 15, 1883.
Winfield Telephone Office. No. 45. Brettun House.
Winfield Courier, March 22, 1883.
The Council had a lively time on Monday evening with an ordinance letting the Brettun House block out of the fire limits. Charley Harter had erected an ice house to which Dorley, the carriage maker, objected, claiming that it added to his insurance rate. He had Harter up before the police court, so the matter was brought to the Council for adjustment. Holders of eight out of the twelve lots in the block were in favor of letting Harter have his ice house, so the matter was laid over till next meeting with the understanding that the suits be dropped and it be then passed.
Winfield Courier, April 5, 1883.
A Disgraceful Outrage. Had anyone told us last week that there were three persons in Winfield, sunk so low in infamy as to be capable of perpetrating the infernal outrage mentioned below, we should have pronounced him a vile calumniator. The following letter gives the whole story.
Winfield, Kansas, April 1, 1883. Ladies and Gentlemen of Winfield: Last night, after we had closed a most enthusiastic and successful meeting in this city in aid of the work of the State Temperance Union; to suppress lawlessness in the State of Kansas, Mr. Bennett and myself, being the speakers for the evening, while returning from the public hall to the hotel, were assailed with eggs from a dark alley about a block from the Brettun House. We called on those who assailed us to come out from the cover of darkness and meet us face to face, but they failed to appear. We continued our journey to the hotel, they following us at a very safe distance and throwing eggs, none of which struck us after we left the mouth of the alley way. We had not thought it necessary to provide any weapons with which to defend ourselves against insult or injury in the City of Winfield, and no foe being in sight, it was a bloodless encounter. Of course, we have no actual knowledge of the cowardly whelps who perpetrated this sneaking outrage upon us; but we do know full well that they were the loafers who infest the secret dives of this city, if not the keepers themselves. Freed from the vile influence of liquor, no man would be guilty of such a base and cowardly act. A man of courage will meet the man he desires to assault, face to face, and present his grievances; but a law breaker is always a coward and he usually employs the sneaking loafer to do his dirty work for him, and pays him with whiskey. I have been in the temperance work for six years. I have taken over 100,000 total abstinence pledges and visited some of the hardest towns and cities of the United States, and this is the first time in the history of my work that I have received an indignity approaching personal violence at the hands of a human being. I spent one year and ten months as chaplain of the Kansas State Penitentiary, coming into daily contact with criminals of all grades, and I did not receive a single insult from a thief, a robber, or a cut throat. But I come to Cowley County, which gave 2,373 majority in favor of Prohibition; to the City of Winfield, which has not an open saloon in the city limits. I come advocating the enforcement of the law, the cause of the people, and I am met with the argument of eggs from the dark alleys of your city. Only one egg was broken on the clothing of my friend, Bennett, and that was washed out in five minutes; but the stain upon the good name of the city of Winfield and Cowley County will only be wiped out when the last cowardly, law-breaking scoundrel in this city is compelled by the good citizens to seek a more congenial field. Permit me to say also that in the future we will go better prepared to meet such arguments as these, and we will try to make the joint discussion quite interesting if it should be tried again. There are not whiskeyites enough between heaven and hell, to frighten or bulldoze us from the advocacy of this cause. We will be found on this work, until the last brewery, distillery, and dram shop is driven from the state of Kansas, and woe unto the man or set of men who undertake to force us from the field. This wanton insult I do not regard as personal to us, but it was aimed at the cause we represent; hence it is an insult to every temperance man and woman in Kansas whose cause we plead, and it is especially aimed at the people of your city who are endeavoring to enforce the law. If we had been here on any other business, we would not have been disturbed at all. Permit me to say in conclusion, that I have some sympathy in my heart at this moment for the poor drunken wretches who were the immediate actors in this disgraceful piece of business. They are the victims of this liquor traffic, and could they get rid of their vice of drinking, they would never again engage in such work. I am a better friend to them than are the criminals who keep the nuisances in this city where they filled up and were instigated to the cowardly trick. I know something of their sad lives, and would do anything in the world that would lift them from the mire of drunkenness and plant them upon the solid rock of sobriety and industry. But I have no sympathy in my heart for the sordid wretch who for the love of money would wreck everyone of their lives and prepare them for the penitentiary. The immediate actors were doubtless young men and may yet be able to save themselves from complete ruin, and I hope they may accomplish this desirable end. For the others, who furnished the whiskey, there is little or no hope and human sympathy is entirely wasted on them. They must be met with the cold steel of the law. I hope you will continue the battle in this county until such acts as this will be an impossibility in your beautiful city. A. B. Campbell.
At a meeting of citizens of Winfield held in the Baptist Church of this city on the evening of April first, at which there were at least 800 persons, filling the church to its greatest capacity; the following resolutions were adopted and after full opportunity for discussion were passed unanimously by a rising vote, the whole congregation rising from their seats in the affirmative.
WHEREAS, The spirit of lawlessness and crime that has pervaded a certain class of our community for some time past culminated last night in a disgraceful and unprovoked outrage perpetrated upon the persons of Rev. A. B. Campbell and Hon. M. V. B. Bennett, distinguished visitors to our city, and
WHEREAS, The foul perpetrators of this dastardly attack, not only sank themselves into deeper infamy by assailing the persons of our guests, but cast a blot and stigma upon the fair fame of our city, therefore be it
Resolved, That we citizens, here assembled, representing the decent, law abiding and respectable portion of the community, realizing the cowardly, contemptible, and villainous character of the outrage, express our indignation toward the perpetrators, and our lasting regrets toward our guests and feel that the shame and stigma attaching to us as a city can be removed only by the detection, arrest, and punishment to the fullest extent of the law of the vile actors in the matter, and that to this end our efforts will be directed.
Resolved, That this outrage upon our guests and upon us as citizens but strengthens our determination to enforce law and punish law breakers wherever found.
Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be furnished the Winfield papers for publication.
Winfield Courier, April 12, 1883.
Henry Standley, he of the auburn tresses and winning ways, who wields the editorial pencil on the Traveler, was in the city Monday evening. In addition to being here, he perpetrated a surprise on the Brettun guests by getting to the supper table ahead of time. When the guests came in, they were surprised to find only the “debree” of a wholesale feast. His visit is largely felt in grocery and produce circles. In addition to this, because the waiter wanted to serve three persons from one bill-of-fare, he insists that the Brettun is being run on an economical basis. In the interests of the butchers and bakers, we hope he will hereafter give three days’ notice of his intention to visit.
[EDITORIAL CONVENTION.]
Winfield Courier, May 17, 1883.
At the Brettun House, H. C. Ashbaugh of the Newton Kansan, Adrian Reynolds of the Howard Courant, Geo. W. Cooper and wife of the Garnet Journal, F. P. Baker, president of the Association, of the Topeka Commonwealth, Prof. E. M. Shelton of the Manhattan Industrialist, and the State Agricultural College, H. Buckingham of the Concordia Empire, J. A. Udden and Ed Neilander of the Lindsborg Posten, C. H. Van Fossen of the Kansas City, Kansas Globe, Wm. H. Cramer of the Neodesha Free Press, S. Kauffman of the Garnett Plaindealer, W. Hollingsworth of the Vinita paper, J. H. Downing and wife of the Hays City Star-Sentinel, and secretary of the Association, P. G. Prouty of the executive office, Topeka, Geo. Sweezey of Halstead, R. P. Murdock, wife and child of the Wichita Eagle, Jacob Stotler and daughter of the Emporia News, Miss Kate Murdock, daughter of M. M. Murdock of the Wichita Eagle, B. J. F. Hanna of WaKeeney, H. A. Perkins and wife of the Iola Courant, W. T. McElry and wife of the Humboldt Union, A. L. Rivers and daughter of the Chanute Times, W. O. Graham and wife of the Harper times, O. O. Leabhart and wife of the Harper Sentinel, Fletcher Meredith, wife, son, daughter, and Mrs. McLaughlin, of the Anthony Journal, A. B. Whiting and wife of the North Topeka Times, James Dillon of the Garden City Irrigator, V. J. Lane and daughter of the Wyandotte Herald, G. O. Perkins of the Oswego Independent, Miss Mary McGill of the Oswego Independent, J. F. Drake of the Emporia Republican, S. O. Ebersole and daughter of the Minneapolis Sentinel, G. D. Baker of the Topeka Commonwealth, Clark Conklin and sister of the Lyons Republican, Geo. W. Martin and wife of the Junction City Union, O. S. Hunsell and wife of the Council Grove Republican, H. B. Kelly and wife of the McPherson Freeman, J. S. Jennings of the Wichita Republic, H. P. Standley of the Arkansas City Traveler, W. P. Campbell, wife and daughter of the Wamego Reporter, F. D. Coburn of the Kansas City Indicator.
The following insisted upon it and paid their own bills at the Brettun: Theo. S. Case, of the Science Review and postmaster of Kansas City, with Mrs. Case, W. A. Bunker, and wife of the Newspaper Auxiliary, Kansas City, Mrs. Helen Moore of Topeka, Ben McGree of Newton, and G. B. Rogers of Newton, chief train dispatcher.
Winfield Courier, May 17, 1883.
Notes of the Convention. When Ed. started for Wichita at 3 p.m., Wednesday, we expected that he would return with the big crowd by 7 o’clock, at least, before the 10 o’clock arrived from the east, and taking as he did nearly the full list of places of entertainment with him, we could not know which he had filled until he returned. The train from the east came an hour earlier and we had to detain a large number of guests in the parlors of the Brettun and at the hall where the ball was progressing, until Ed returned and we could find out what places were not filled. In this way a considerable number of gentlemen and ladies were not assigned to places until about midnight and they utterly refused to intrude, as they called it, into the houses of private citizens at that unreasonable hour, saying it would be an imposition to do so. They would sit up the rest of the night on the sidewalk first. We could not prevail upon them by the idea that it would be a still greater imposition on our citizens to keep them sitting up to that late hour expecting guests, prepared and anxious to entertain them. and then be disappointed. It was a fact that quite a number of our citizens came to us the next day, feeling grieved and disappointed because they were not supplied with guests as they were promised, and were thus deprived of a pleasure as well as the chance to help do honor to our visitors, and it was a hard job for us to pacify them with the facts.
There were one hundred and seventy-six guests of the citizens of Winfield here at the Editorial Convention, as nearly as we can figure it.
Winfield Courier, May 24, 1883.
J. F. Drake to Emporia Republican. Winfield, May 10. The State Editorial Association, now in session in this place, and whose deliberations are noted in another place, could not have chosen a better place for its meeting. Right royally are we welcomed and right royally are we being entertained. To be sure, there is more or less of a hitch in things, caused by the trains being away off time. For instance, the entertainment last evening had to wait till midnight for its music, but it was good when it appeared. Winfield was incorporated as a city of the third class February 23, 1873; has steadily increased, and was made a city of the second class in 1879, and the census just taken gives a population of over 3,000. Its better buildings, of which I might name the Brettun House, the Methodist and Baptist Churches, M. L. Robinson’s residence, and several others which we have not space to mention, with many of its best business blocks, are built from home quarries of fine magnesia limestone, the same as is being used for the government buildings at Topeka. Of its hotels, the Brettun stands away ahead of any other in any town of its size in the state, and I have yet to see the city anywhere of its size that equals it. Every room is supplied with water and gas, and heated by steam. It is well furnished, with sample rooms, bath rooms, billiard hall, tonsorial rooms, etc., attached, and all under the management of C. L. Harter, who not only knows what his guests need, but supplies it. The traveler finds a home that is all he could desire.
Winfield Courier, May 24, 1883. [From Wichita Republic.]
A representative of the Republic was in attendance at the State Editorial meeting at Winfield for a very few moments only. The business of the session was about completed before the arrival of the last delegation from the north, of which we were on. It was really surprising to see the hospitality of the citizens of that city still buoyant under the pressure to which they had been subjected. Such a voluminous horde of ravenous editors coming in so soon after the late M. E. Conference at that place was enough to discourage a city of much greater magnitude and less magnanimity. But Winfield was fully equal to the emergency and the editors and their wives and their wives’ sisters, etc., were all filled with enthusiasm and other good things, too numerous to mention, that were furnished at that model hotel, the Brettun. Just imagine the feelings of a newspaper man, with a delicate appetite looking over such an array of good things as were represented on the bill of fare, and on either hand, by good waiting maids, who hadn’t time to wait, but were kept busily engaged trying to satisfy the demands of the robust newspaper man who “lives to eat.” But our views of matters were fully expressed by the resolution passed by the unanimous vote of the Association, so we close in order to avoid repetition.
[COMMENT: EDITORIAL CONVENTION.]
Winfield Courier, May 24, 1883.
Our attention has been called to an article in the Kansas City Times of the 17th, presumably written by some representative of that sheet who was not made known to us at the time of the editorial convention, and therefore was not feasted, toasted, and made much of by the Winfield people, and was unable to get his usual supply of rot whiskey, so he vented his gall by writing a batch of the most infernal lies about Winfield and her people, and the Times, the most mendacious paper in the west, of course published them.
Among the cowardly slanders of that article is the statement that Winfield “in 1880 was a boomer, was growing rapidly, and even the rival of Wichita. Today you can sit for hours on the porch of the Brettun house, and, scanning the entire length and breadth of Main street, see not a solitary team upon this highway.” The express object of the article was to show that Winfield is a dead town, killed by prohibition. Frank Manny, and other leading opposers of prohibition, are among the most indignant on account of these falsehoods. They say that while they think our city would be better off without the prohibition laws, there never was a year in which business was anything near as good as it has been for the past year up to the present time, that it is nearly double what it was in the spring of 1880, that there is no time in business hours this spring when there are not considerable numbers of teams to be seen on Main street from the porch of the Brettun House, from a dozen up to hundreds; that there are more improvements going on, more new buildings projected, more sales of real estate at much higher prices, and that now, instead of 1880, we are enjoying “a boomer,” which is apparent to everyone who has spent a day or two in Winfield recently. The man who wrote that article would find himself in hot water if he met any of our anti-prohibitionists, they knowing that he was the author of the vile slander, to say nothing of the reception he would meet from prohibitionists.
Winfield Courier, May 24, 1883.
We clip the following from the Indianapolis Sentinel, written by J. C. McKee, who recently visited this place.
The Brettun House is the main hotel of the city, is also built of stone, and like the mill, shows grandly for miles around. It is a No. 1 hotel, this same Brettun, first-class in all its appointments. The table is as good as can be found in the best hotels of Indianapolis, while private gas and water works and steam heating appliance give the guests every convenience. Nor is it a fancy price hotel—$2 and $2.50, according to room, pays the bill. C. L. Harter, an Ohio man of course, owns the hotel, and is a young man who does his best with good success to satisfy all who call upon him.
Winfield Courier, May 24, 1883.
Last Saturday morning as freight train No. 12 was crossing the bridge over the Arkansas River at Oxford, the trestles gave way and the engine, tender, and one car were plunged into the stream. The engineer, Howard Finley, has not been recovered. It is believed he is crushed between the engine and tender far beneath the murky waters. The fireman, James Kelly, was also pinched between the engine and tender, but was released beneath the water when the engine’s downward course was arrested. When he came up, he seized a timber and floated on it downstream a quarter of a mile to a bank, where he crawled out and escaped. He is now at the Brettun House, is badly bruised up about the chest, and injured internally, how seriously is not known. Messenger, the assistant train dispatcher, was in the cab when it went down, but the cab broke off and floated away, and he broke through the window, got out, seized a floating tie, and floated down to the bar and escaped. He is considerably cut and scratched about his face. The car which went down had seven horses in it. Four of them were lost and three rescued. Another car hung on the end of a standing trestle, partly over, but did not go down. The balance of the train was hauled back to the Oxford side a car at a time.
Winfield Courier, June 14, 1883.
Winfield. From the Chanute Times. The people opened their houses liberally for the entertainment of guests, and a large number were accommodated at private houses, and many at the hotels. The Brettun House is the leading and largest hotel in the city, the proprietor doing his utmost to furnish room for the guests not otherwise provided for.
Winfield Courier, June 28, 1883.
The person who took an overcoat from the scene of the drowning Monday evening is known. A return of the property to the yard west of the Brettun House will settle the matter.
Winfield Courier, July 19, 1883.
MARRIED. Married July 4, 1883, at the Brettun House, by Rev. P. F. Jones, Robert W. Tate and Rosa Laughlin, both of Cowley County.
Winfield Courier, July 26, 1883.
The Brettun has been frescoed and grained throughout in ash and French walnut and looks very tony.
Winfield Courier, August 23, 1883.
SPECIAL BARGAINS -IN- REAL ESTATE. The property described below will be sold on the following terms, to-wit: One-third cash; the balance on any length of time to suit purchaser, at 12 percent interest. [Nine items listed. Giving first four as samples.]
No. 4. Lot 7, Block 126, city of Winfield, upon which is erected a fine new stone store building 25 x 30 feet with basement, opposite the Brettun House. Price $2,500.00.
Anyone wishing to purchase call upon J. C. McMULLEN at the WINFIELD BANK.
Winfield Courier, October 4, 1883.
Mr. F. C. Nommsen has sold his interest in the Brettun tonsorial rooms to his partner, Capt. C. Steuven, and will go to Colorado. Mr. Nommsen has been in poor health for some time past and this change is made in hopes of improvement. He has become very popular as a man and barber during his long residence here and his departure will cause much regret.
Winfield Courier, October 4, 1883.
On last Saturday morning a baby about two weeks old was found in a basket on the front steps of the Brettun House. With it was the following note, written in a neat feminine hand, without address or signature. “I leave the little babe with you because I think you will select someone that will be kind to it and raise it. I was married and deserted. He was a fine looking and talented man. I don’t know where he is and I’m too poor to care for it, unless I had a home. It breaks my poor heart to give it up. Keep a record of it in the clerk’s office, and if I get work, I will reclaim it, unless someone takes it to raise as their own. Its name is James Garfield, after our lamented President. I have some property coming to me eventually, but my people know nothing of my sad fate. They tried to keep me from marrying, and that is why I will not appeal to them. May the good Lord forgive me and watch over my darling child and bless those that give it sympathy.”
Mrs. Chas. Harter took the little one in and cared for it until Sunday morning, when Mr. and Mrs. Addison Thompson, from near Seeley, a childless couple, heard of it and asked permission to take the babe, care for and raise it, which they were allowed to do.
Winfield Courier, November 8, 1883.
The grand annual hunt of the Winfield Sportsmen’s Club came off last Thursday. The captains were Jas. H. Vance and Jas. McLain. There were twelve hunters on each side, but several could not go, leaving ten on Capt. Vance’s side and only eight on Capt. McLain’s. The count was as follows. Jas. Vance, Captain: 1,520; Frank Clark: 1,910; J. S. Hunt: 1,835; Kyle McClung: 1,130; J. Cochran: 1,855; W. P. Beaumont: 1,010; Frank Lockwood: 370; A. T. Spotswood: 205; A. S. Davis: 1,125. Total for Vance Team: 10,970.
Jas. McClain, Captain: 1,230; J. N. Harter: 1,120; C. C. Black: 715; G. W. Prater: 970; Fred Whiting: 1,245; Ezra Meech: 3,420; Judge E. S. Torrance: 865; Wilson Foster: 1,380.
Total for McClain Team: 10,945.
Capt. Vance’s side having made 25 points the most was declared the victor. The annual Banquet and presentation of the medals was held at the Brettun Saturday evening. It was an elegant affair and one of the most enjoyable of the season. In a neat and appropriate speech, Mr. C. C. Black presented the gold medal, awarded for the highest score, to Mr. Ezra Meech, who responded to the toast “How did you catch ’em?” with a full description of his days report and the methods he so successfully employed in bagging the festive little “cotton tail.” Next came the presentation of the tin medal, by M. G. Troup, which was done in that gentleman’s happiest vein. The recipient, A. T. Spotswood, responded in a short speech. After other toasts the company adjourned for business at which it was decided to hunt again with the same sides, on November 22nd. This is the third annual hunt of the club, and has been more successful than its predecessors.
Winfield Courier, November 15, 1883.
Barbers and Barber-shops. The first thing I look at when going into a barber-shop is to its cleanliness, and then at the barber, and I have always found a clean looking barber one that understands his business. Too many men are careless about this, and will tumble into any dirty room, not knowing what risk they run by so doing. What frightful diseases are contracted there! For instance, Barber’s Itch! It lurks in the dirty barber’s razors, mugs, towels, chairs—yes, his very touch is contaminating; still people will take these chances—will patronize him. Now, if you want to avoid all this, go to C. E. Steuven, at the Brettun House shop, where everything is open for inspection; where you will find it neat and clean at all times, and where you can get the best of work, the latest styles, and it don’t cost you anymore than in impure places. Hot or cold baths at all times. One that knows.
Winfield Courier, November 29, 1883.
The Water Company has closed a contract with the Brettun to furnish its supply of water.
Winfield Courier, December 6, 1883.
W. S. Randall, crayon artist, will be at the Brettun House two or three weeks. Those wishing good work in this line should see him. For information call on Mr. McIntyre, photographer. Sample picture at Post Office. Will have others ready soon.
Winfield Courier, January 3, 1884.
Eighteen Eighty Four. The new year came in with a grand flourish. The winds came down from the north and the thermometer went down below zero for the first time this winter. The biting cold however only stimulated the spirits of the fellows who always like to send the old year off with a whiz. They were abroad everywhere and the ladies who kept “Open House,” were kept busy entertaining callers and keeping the front door shut. Everyone seemed to be in the best of spirits and altogether it was the jolliest new year Winfield has ever enjoyed. In the evening a large company assembled at the Brettun parlor and the greater part of the night was passed in dancing and social intercourse.
Winfield Courier, January 10, 1884. Editorial.
The Narrow Gauge. Maj. Hanson and Col. Doniphan were in town Saturday on the narrow gauge business and flattered us by calling on us to argue us into abandoning our position on the conditions which should be included in the proposition to make it worthy of support. They are able men, but even abler men have called us the past week on the same errand and in every instance we thought we came nearer to convincing the missionary than he us.
The Meeting. Well, a narrow gauge railroad meeting was held at the Brettun House, Saturday morning, and quite a crowd of Winfield men attended. To spike our gun, we suppose, we were chosen chairman, and C. C. Black was made secretary. Maj. Hanson and Col. Doniphan made excellent speeches showing advantages of narrow gauges and this projected one in particular. M. G. Troup made a bright short speech, the only point of which was that we were captions, but M. L. Robinson was the orator of the day and occupied most of the time. The chairman’s views being asked for, he asked the reading of the petition to be circulated or in circulation and then pointed out a great many amendments that should be made to render it worthy of the support of the voters of this county. The parties objected to making any of the changes asked for, stated that they intended and expected to do many of the things asked for, but objected to putting their part of the contract in writing by the side of the part of the county.
Winfield Courier, January 24, 1884.
The old “don’t blow out the gas” admonition seems to have failed to reach many ears. Last Friday night two young ladies stopped at the Brettun and were given a room next to a young traveler from Indiana. The young man was much amused at their desultory talk, but became deeply interested when one of them said, “I wonder how to put out this light?” The other one answered, “Blow it out, of course.” Then the young man was roused to action, and through the medium of a key hole in a connecting door instructed the ladies on the proper method of putting out the gas, which was promptly followed. Thus was a “Terrible tragedy” averted.
Winfield Courier, January 31, 1884.
Council Meeting. An ordinance forbidding the construction of buildings on Main from the Brettun south to Holmes’ Packing House, and on Ninth Avenue west to Menor Street, and east to Millington Street, of other than stone, brick, or like non-combustible material, was presented by this committee, but continued on account of some suggested amendments as to boundaries. The Council, with all businessmen on these streets, are in favor of forbidding the construction of any frame buildings in the main business portion of the city.
Winfield Courier, February 7, 1884.
Farm for Sale, consisting of two hundred and forty acres; 60 acres growing wheat on place, 130 acres under plow, balance in grass. Good house, large orchard, good spring of water, spring pond, and conveniently located to Winfield and New Salem, in Cedar Valley. For particulars call on W. B. Pixley, first dry goods and grocery store south of Brettun House, Main Street, Winfield, Kansas. W. B. PIXLEY.
Winfield Courier, February 28, 1884.
J. L. M. Hill has bought a half interest in the Brettun House equipments and business and will go in Saturday. Some years ago Jim was Winfield’s most popular feeder of the hungry, where the English Kitchen now is. He soon made a fortune and went into the furniture business and other pursuits. He once more assumes the title of “landlord,” and under the management of Harter & Hill the Brettun will undoubtedly continue to increase in popularity and prosperity.
Winfield Courier, February 28, 1884.
New Lumber Yard. The Olivers’ are receiving their immense stock of lumber and workmen are busy putting up the sheds, offices, and fencing on their yard opposite the Brettun House. In a few days they will be ready for business when something will “drop” in the lumber line. We advise every person desirous of purchasing a lumber bill to call on them at once.
Winfield Courier, March 6, 1884.
The Narrow Gauge.
Its Present Status and Prospects and Some of its History.
Facts and Conclusions.
The object of this article, the last we shall lay before our readers before the election of March 11th, is not to influence votes either against or for the pending railroad proposition, but to give our readers a fair, honest, manly, and impartial statement of all facts and acts bearing upon the question before us which we have not heretofore stated, an account of what has been done the past week, what is now being done in relation to the matter, and what are our conclusions on points of controversy, leaving the effects to be what it will on the vote of March 11th. The voters are the jury who are to decide this case and we choose to come before them at this time, not as a partisan attorney on either side, but to talk as a judge might talk to a jury about to decide an important case.
The first we were permitted to know of this matter was an invitation to meet representatives of the road and citizens at the Brettun House for consultation and discussion, and we went. The time of the meeting was taken up with speeches to explain the great advantages such a road would give to this county, but no proposition was read or produced and no indication of details were given except that the company wanted this county to vote them $100,000, which we objected to as too much. They also stated that they would make the stipulation that the road should be completed to and through the county in a year from the voting of the bonds if we recollect right. We told them that the time was too short in the present condition of the money markets, and we advised them to take plenty of time so as to obviate the necessity of forfeiture, but to make the time certain. No draft of a petition was presented, no further opportunity was given to make suggestions as to what it should contain. When we asked to see their petition, we were answered that it was not ready, but that we would have a chance to see it and make suggestions before it was finally decided upon. The meeting adjourned and the very next morning a printed petition was in circulation for signatures and it was evident that it was printed and ready before the meeting was called at the Brettun House. The object of this duplicity was evidently to get as many committed in advance to the support of an unseen proposition, and to get so many signatures before attention was called to its defects that it would be accepted to save doing the work over again.
We then began the fight, not against the road, but against the proposition, and another meeting was called at the Brettun House, to which we were invited, and Maj. Hanson, Col. Doniphan, and other representatives of the company were present. This meeting was also largely occupied with speeches about the great advantages of such a road to us; but we got a chance to state many of our objections to the proposition and to urge amendments, but all the satisfaction we could get was that of course the company intended to do most of these things we demanded, would be a fool if it did not, but they did not want the proposition lumbered up with all this frivolous stuff presented in a carping and fault finding spirit, and besides, it was too late to alter the petition for it had already been signed by near eight hundred taxpayers.
Winfield Courier, March 6, 1884.
J. L. M. Hill has sold his interest in the furniture business to his partner, Mr. J. W. Johnston, and will devote his entire time to his interest in the Brettun House. Messrs. Johnston & Hill have been in business together for a number of years and gained a wide reputation for their establishment. Mr. Johnston will continue the business alone and keep it up to its past standard.
Winfield Courier, March 13, 1884.
Railroad Commissioners. Messrs. Turner and Gillett, members of the state Board of Railroad commissioners, accompanied by E. J. Turner, secretary, were in the city Tuesday for the purpose of hearing a request from the people of Vernon Township for the establishment of a depot. A large number of the leading citizens of that township met them at the Brettun House, where the Board had a meeting and examined into the matter. The Board then took carriages and accompanied by a COURIER representative drove out to the proposed site and looked the ground over carefully. The proposed location is on W. W. Painter’s eighty, in the northwest quarter of section twenty-two. The farmers of that vicinity were present in numbers and urged their case forcibly. The Commissioners arrived at no decision in the matter and will probably hold it under advisement for some days.
Winfield Courier, March 27, 1884.
Cowley County will have Competing Lines. A meeting of citizens of Winfield was held at the Brettun House last Monday evening to hear concerning movements which have recently been taken toward the construction of a railroad direct to Winfield from the direction of Kansas City.
[COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS.]
Winfield Courier, April 10, 1884.
The street commissioner was instructed to ascertain the cost of 800 feet sewer pipe, to be attached to the Brettun House sewer leading down Main and across the S. K. Depot, and report the same to the Council at the next regular meeting.
Winfield Courier, April 17, 1884.
The Petition. We have already heard two objections to the petition for the election to vote aid to the Kansas City and Southwestern railroad company. These are: that the petition does not state definitely that the depot at Winfield shall be within the city limits, and there is no guarantee that it will not fall into the hands of the Santa Fe company. There was an intention on the part of the company to make the petition cover every point that could be covered, to state clearly every concession made, and to make every concession that they could afford to make that would be demanded, and have the petition perfect if possible so that no stipulations of doubtful utility should be needed. It was to that end that the first meeting at the Brettun House was called and a committee appointed to consult with the company and agree on the terms of the petition, and to that end that the petition, as amended to suit the views of that committee, was submitted to a public meeting at the Courthouse for approval before the petition was printed. Now it was the intention of the company to build the depot within the city limits and to so express it in the petition. If it is not expressed clearly, it is because no one happened to notice it and call attention to it.
Winfield Courier, April 17, 1884.
To Rent. Two nice furnished rooms pleasant and quiet, three minutes walk from Post Office or Brettun House. Mrs. M. A. Tucker.
Winfield Courier, April 17, 1884.
The Brettun is running over with guests every night. Landlords Harter and Hill are making the house deservedly popular with the boys on the road.
Winfield Courier, June 26, 1884.
I take great pleasure in announcing to the people of Cowley County that I am Sole Agent for the above makes of Pianos for the counties of Marion, Harvey, Sedgwick, Cowley, Sumner, Rice, Reno, Barton, and Ford, appointed so by Messrs. Conover Bros., of Kansas City (general agents). I will be in Winfield about July 5th. Orders for Piano Tuning can be left at the Brettun House. For further information address permanently, Ion Arnold, Wichita, Kansas.
Winfield Courier, August 28, 1884.
There was a gathering of mill men at the Brettun Tuesday from all around over the country to discuss the general outlook of the milling interest.
Winfield Courier, September 4, 1884.
Mr. James Fahey has rented the Brettun billiard rooms and is carpeting and fixing them up in a very attractive way.
Winfield Courier, October 2, 1884.
MARRIED. Married at the Brettun House, Winfield, Kansas, Sept. 24th, 1884, by Rev. B. Kelly, Mr. Samuel C. Brown of Wichita, Kansas, and Miss Laura M. Fowler of Richmond, Indiana.
Winfield Courier, October 16, 1884.
The Blaine and Logan clubs, headed by the band, and toned up by a club of uniformed cavalrymen, marched to the Santa Fe train at 11 a.m., and met the lions of the day, Senator J. J. Ingalls, Hon. John A. Martin, Hon. B. W. Perkins, and Dr. Philip Krohn, escorting them to the Brettun House, where they were entertained. At two o’clock the same procession escorted the speakers to the Opera House, where, after some stirring songs from the Glee Club, Senator W. P. Hackney introduced Hon. Jno. A. Martin, the next Governor of Kansas, who came forward amid the wildest cheering and delivered a telling address.
Winfield Courier, October 16, 1884.
The Robt. Keith furniture and carpet company will exhibit at the Brettun House next Thursday and Friday, between the hours of eleven and three each day, samples of their choicest carpets, draperies, and curtains with photographs of their entire stock of furniture. Mr. Schuneman has been connected with us many years, and has our entire confidence as an experienced salesman and connoisseur, possessing a thorough knowledge of our business in all its branches. He will take pleasure in waiting upon you at the hotel parlors, or will receive your address and call upon you at hour house, to give any information desired regarding the furnishing of home or office. Any orders given us through our Mr. Schuneman will receive our best and most careful attention. Robt. Keith, Furn. & Carp. Co., 811 and 813, Main St., Kansas City.
Winfield Courier, October 23, 1884.
For Rent. Furnished rooms, two and one half blocks east of the Brettun House, on Seventh Avenue. Apply to S. M. Martin.
Winfield Courier, December 25, 1884.
The millers of this and adjoining counties met in convention at the Brettun House in this city Tuesday and, we understand, put flour down in harmony with surrounding circum-stances, making a discount of twenty-five cents on the hundred pounds. They also talked over the Arkansas River navigation scheme. A boat drawing ten inches of water and 15 x 75 feet in size will be put on as an experiment. If small steamers can be made to pay, they will try larger ones.
—
The story behind this one is most confusing. Freeland takes over from Weitzel. Then eventually Freeland thinks of building his own hotel. He evidently changed his mind and built a fine residence instead. Ends up in 1884 by taking over the Commercial Hotel. Evidently his wife was one very fine cook. MAW
NINTH AVENUE HOUSE.
Cowley County Courant, November 17, 1881.
NINTH AVENUE HOUSE. E. B. WEITZEL, PROPRIETOR. Have just opened the house new, and offer the public better accommodations for the money than any hotel and restaurant in the state. $1.50 per day. Day board, $3.00 per week. House fitted throughout with new furniture. Five doors east of the Post office, Winfield, Kansas.
Winfield Courier, December 14, 1882.
F. M. Freeland is making the Ninth Avenue House one of the best dollar a day hotels in the west. Everything is neat, clean, and the table is furnished with an abundance of wholesome, well-cooked food.
Winfield Courier, January 18, 1883.
F. M. Freeland has sold his hotel business to a Mr. Miller from Indianapolis.
Winfield Courier, February 8, 1883.
COUNCIL CHAMBER, CITY OF WINFIELD, Feb. 5, 1883.
The bill of F. M. Freeland for 75 cents for board furnished city poor, was approved and recommended to the county commissioners for payment.
[FREELAND.]
[EDITORIAL CONVENTION.]
Winfield Courier, May 17, 1883.
At Freeland’s, R. D. Bowes of the Smith Center Pioneer, R. M. Watson and Henry E. Timmons [?] of the Strong City Independent.
Winfield Courier, September 6, 1883.
The Ninth Avenue Hotel was “political headquarters” Saturday. Mr. Freeland took care of the boys in fine style, and, if he keeps it up, the Ninth Avenue will be noted in Cowley as the old Tefft House once was in the state.
Winfield Courier, October 18, 1883.
F. M. Freeland desires to inform the person who took a bed comfort from his house on Ninth Avenue to return the same at once. He is known.
Winfield Courier, April 24, 1884.
F. M. Freeland is talking of erecting a two-story brick hotel on his lots on corner of Ninth Avenue and Menor street.
Winfield Courier, May 1, 1884.
F. M. Freeland has concluded to build a new hotel on his lots on Ninth Avenue a block west of Main, and architect Cook is now getting up the plans. It will be of brick and stone, 60 x 90, two stories, with a basement.
Winfield Courier, May 15, 1884.
F. M. Freeland is excavating for his new brick hotel on Ninth Avenue.
Winfield Courier, May 22, 1884.
The regular meeting of the City Council occurred Monday evening. Ordinance No. 192, relating to the duties of certain city officers, was passed.
F. M. Freeland and A. H. Jennings were granted building permits.
Winfield Courier, June 26, 1884.
F. M. Freeland is getting things ready to rush his hotel up immediately. The plans indicate that it is to be a fine and convenient structure.
Winfield Courier, July 17, 1884.
W. A. Lee has bought the F. M. Freeland lot on corner of Manning Street and Ninth Avenue for four thousand dollars.
Winfield Courier, July 24, 1884.
F. M. Freeland has bought a quarter block out on East 8th Avenue, and will erect thereon a good residence immediately.
Winfield Courier, November 6, 1884.
F. M. Freeland is finishing a home on east 8th Avenue of which he can certainly feel proud. The architecture is neat and convenient, the finish tasty, and the grounds large and promising.
Winfield Courier, December 4, 1884.
Once more has F. M. Freeland drifted into the hotel business. He takes to it like a fish to water, naturally. This time he landlords at the Commercial, commencing Monday last. Mr. Freeland is a rustling hotel man, understands every minutiae of the business, and will soon put the Commercial on top. Mrs. Freeland is an adept in the culinary art and her excellently furnished tables never fail to gain popularity.
—
COMMERCIAL HOTEL.
Winfield Courier, September 1, 1881.
Mr. Weitzel has rented the Commercial Hotel to a Mr. La Motte. He retired from the proprietorship Monday.
Winfield Courier, September 7, 1882.
The Commercial Hotel is closed up, and Ed Weitzel and the lessee are in trouble over the possession of the furniture.
[COMMERCIAL.]
[EDITORIAL CONVENTION.]
Winfield Courier, May 17, 1883.
At the Commercial, three names not reported.
Winfield Courier, May 24, 1883. [City Council Meeting.]
E. B. Weitzel was given permission to remove a wooden building from lot 8 to lot 6 in block 110.
Winfield Courier, June 28, 1883.
Ed. Weitzel is opening up his new hotel in fine style, and sets the best table to be found in the city. He has refitted and refurnished the house throughout.
Winfield Courier, July 26, 1883.
Sewing Machine Contest: At the sewing machine contest at the Commercial Hotel last week the Improved White was awarded the superiority for its simplicity, light running and noiseless qualities over the Silent No. 8, Davis’ Domestic and Household. For sale by Fitch & Barrow, Arkansas City, and Dollar Store, Winfield.
Winfield Courier, August 2, 1883.
DIED. J. S. Kirby came in from Fredonia a week ago Monday evening and put up at the Commercial Hotel. He was suffering from diabetes and came over for treatment, but was so far gone that he died Wednesday evening, the 25th. He laid during Tuesday and part of Wednesday in a state of insensibility, among strangers and with only the slight attentions that chance visitors could bestow. He was shipped back Thursday morning to his friends. His father was wired at Fredonia of his dangerous illness, but the telegram did not reach its destination until after the body, being delayed over thirty hours.
Winfield Courier, August 16, 1883.
The city council met Monday evening and passed sidewalk ordinances for 7th Avenue East and Manning Street east side south of Tenth Avenue, six blocks. The marshal was instructed to abate the nuisance existing in the hide house and back of the Commercial Hotel. There are various other loud-smelling places around the streets and back alleys that ought to be abated even without the authority of that honorable body. The council also changed the frontage of some lots near the Santa Fe depot on petition of M. L. Read, M. L. Robinson, and C. C. Pierce. The cellar digging bill of $331 was allowed and the report of committee on purchase of hose adopted. This embraces the purchase of about $1,400 worth of stuff. The matter of tax levy was laid over.
Winfield Courier, October 4, 1883.
WANTED. The people of Cowley County to know that I have just opened a full line of Ladies’ and Gent’s Furnishing Goods, -CONSISTING OF- Underwear, Hosiery, Gloves, Overalls, Suspenders, Umbrellas, And all kinds of Notions and Fancy Goods. Also a full assortment of the celebrated “Hoosier shirt,” on South Main Street, West side, 3rd door North of Commercial House. A cordial invitation is extended to the public to call and examine goods and prices. T. K. Williams.
Winfield Courier, October 11, 1883.
Visit the new shoe store on south Main street, 3rd door north of Commercial Hotel.
[Trade Mark.] WALKER BOOT [SMALL STAR WITHIN LARGE STAR.]
SOLD ONLY BY JNO. TYNER, WINFIELD, KANSAS.
South Main Street, 3rd door North of Commercial Hotel.
Winfield Courier, January 3, 1884.
The Commercial Hotel is about to change hands. Some parties from Illinois will take it.
Winfield Courier, June 12, 1884.
Wm. Atkinson has removed his tailoring establishment to the third door south of the Commercial Hotel.
Winfield Courier, July 24, 1884.
MARRIED. Frank Williams, one of the proprietors of the Commercial Hotel, and Miss Mary Lanigor were married the latter part of last week.
Winfield Courier, October 9, 1884.
AD. WM. ATKINSON, MERCHANT TAILOR, 3 doors South of Commercial Hotel, Main Street, Winfield, Kansas. Your patronage solicited and orders promptly executed.
Winfield Courier, December 4, 1884.
Once more has F. M. Freeland drifted into the hotel business. He takes to it like a fish to water, naturally. This time he landlords at the Commercial, commencing Monday last. Mr. Freeland is a rustling hotel man, understands every minutiae of the business, and will soon put the Commercial on top. Mrs. Freeland is an adept in the culinary art and her excellently furnished tables never fail to gain popularity.
—
STEWART HOTEL.
Winfield Courier, February 26, 1880.
Archy Stewart is going along in a quiet way with his new brick restaurant on South Main street, and some day our citizens will be surprised to find his corner ornamented with one of the handsomest brick buildings in town.
Winfield Courier, May 20, 1880.
The Stewart Hotel was formally opened to the public last Monday. This house is splendidly furnished, is a new brick building, and is being run in a first class manner.
Winfield Courier, August 5, 1880.
On Tuesday the county commissioners let the stonework of the vault wings of the courthouse to Archie Stewart for $545, and the iron work of the vaults to John Seaton, of Atchison, for $430. The work will commence at once. John Hoenscheidt, the architect, was on hand with the plans and specifications.
[A CHALLENGE: MILLINGTON VS. BLACK.]
Winfield Courier, September 9, 1880.
“Now, honestly, Charley, don’t you feel it in your bones that the Telegram item of ‘What will happen - Nov. 2. Election of Hancock and English’ is a whopper.” If you believe it is true, we fear that you will occupy rooms at Osawatomie before Nov. 2 - COURIER.
“On the contrary Brother Millington, Charley is so thoroughly convinced of the truthful-ness of the ‘item,’ and that his own reason shall remain enthroned; that he hereby proposes, to wheel you in a wheelbarrow at noon at as early a day as the result shall be definitely known, from the Brettun House down the middle of Main street to the Stewart House, if Hancock and English fail to receive the majority of electoral votes cast for President and Vice President in the coming election! Provided that you agree to wheel him the same distance and under the same circumstances in case Hancock and English do receive the majority. Party being wheeled to furnish suitable music for the occasion. Do you accept. Telegram. CHAS. C. BLACK.”
Winfield Courier, March 31, 1881.
Archy Stewart is credited with a new arrival at his hotel. We hear it is a girl of the regulation weight.
Winfield Courier, April 21, 1881.
Arch Stewart has rented Jas. Fahey’s building, and will fit it up for a restaurant.
Winfield Courier, April 28, 1881.
The Brettun House is nearly ready for the plasterers. Archy Stewart has the contract.
Cowley County Courant, May 25, 1882.
Archie Stewart is home on a visit to his family. He is now the boss mason of the A. T. & S. F. R. R. from Pueblo to Arkansas City and Caldwell. Archie is a good workman and we are pleased that he has so good a job.
Winfield Courier, May 25, 1882.
Archie Stewart sold a half section of land in the southwest corner of Richland Township Monday, to Harry Bahntge for $2,850.
Winfield Courier, May 25, 1882.
Archie Stewart has been appointed boss mason of the A. T. & S. F. Railroad on the main line from Newton to Pueblo and the Caldwell and Arkansas City branches. This is a good position and Archie is fully capable of filling it.
Winfield Courier, January 11, 1883.
In material improvements in the city, two splendid bank buildings and four of the best residences, grew out of bank rivalry. The grand Brettun House and the Stewart Hotel, the Telegram office, and several stone and brick stores and edifices were stimulated by the same rivalry. All we have in the line of the improvement of parks grew out of the same rivalry and much of the success in getting railroads and other improvements has been enhanced by it. Through such rivalry you can buy eastern exchange without the premium that is charged almost everywhere else, and the rates of interest are doubtless much lower than they other-wise would be, though a little brisker rivalry in the latter direction might be very desirable.
Winfield Courier, January 25, 1883.
Archie Stewart is running a hotel in Arkansas City.
Winfield Courier, May 24, 1883.
Mr. Archie Stewart was up from Arkansas City last Thursday. He is running the Stewart House at that city and keeps the “boss hotel.” Besides he is contractor for a large number of buildings all over the county.
—
After checking this one out, came to the conclusion that Mrs. Trezise helped to put up some of the editors at the time of convention held in Winfield inasmuch as she had a large family [mostly girls] and must have lived in a larger house than most. There is no indication that she took in boarders. MAW
[MRS. TREZISE.]
Winfield Courier, May 10, 1883.
A naughty burglar tried three times to effect an entrance into Mrs. Trezise’s residence one night last week, but didn’t make it. There is evidently one or two fellows around the town who are doing this mischief. Their depredations have been going on two weeks, and it seems about time that the officers were spotting them. If a man is found loafing around town without occupation or visible means of support, he should be taken in as a vagrant without further ado.
[EDITORIAL CONVENTION.]
Winfield Courier, May 17, 1883.
At Mrs. Trezise’s, five names not reported.
Winfield Courier, September 6, 1883.
A serious and fatal accident happened to little Lillie Trezise last Friday. She fell from the top of a gate, striking the stone pavement full weight upon her head. For five hours she lay in a semi-unconscious state, and for several days brain and gastric fever was imminent; but through the untiring care of parents and sisters and the skillful management of the case by Dr. Taylor, the little girl is likely to escape an early death.
Winfield Courier, December 20, 1883.
On last Saturday evening the parlors of the Misses Trezise were thrown open to a number of young folks, the occasion being to entertain a few of their young friends with Mr. and Mrs. Sam Cox before their departure for their new home in Trenton, Missouri. The guests spent a very pleasant evening and partook of a most bountiful supper such as Mrs. Trezise always gives on such occasions. Mr. and Mrs. Cox left on the Monday morning train for their new home accompanied as far as Ottawa by Misses Ida and Ella Trezise.
[Formerly known as the “American House” or “American Home,” when Mr. J. H. Olds lost interest in running it, his wife took charge and from then on it was known as the “Olds House.”]
[OLDS HOUSE.]
Winfield Courier, April 8, 1880.
Tuesday morning news was brought to town of the suicide of Robert P. Wooley, in Beaver township. Mr. Wooley arrived from Indiana about ten days ago, with his wife, whom he had married three weeks previous, and leaving her at the Olds House in this city, commenced improving his farm, which is located about seven miles southwest of town. During this time he boarded at Lucius Walton’s. Last Friday he came to town, visited his wife, and left with her $250 in cash. On Monday he again came to town and saw her for a few moments, telling her that he would come up for her the next day. He then returned to Lucius Walton’s, ate supper, and went to bed as usual. About two o’clock in the night he got up and went out, but returned in a few minutes and asked a young son of Mr. Walton’s, with whom he was sleeping, for a rope, giving as a reason that he wished to tie his mules away from the horses. This was the last time that he was seen alive.
About 7 o’clock Tuesday morning he was found in the barn of Wm. Shaw, one and one-half miles from Walton’s, hanging by the neck from one of the braces in the roof. It seems that after securing the rope, he walked over to Mr. Shaw’s barn, climbed up to the rafters, and after fastening one end of the rope (which was about eight feet long) to the brace in the roof, tied the other end around his neck and jumped off between the rafters. He had pulled off his hat, coat, vest, and shoes, and first attempted to tie his hands together with his shoe strings; but failing in this, took his pocket-handkerchief, made a running noose in each end, slipped one hand in, and after adjusting the rope around his neck, put his hands behind him, slipped the other noose over his wrist, and drew them up tight.
In his pockets were found two letters, one to his wife and one to his father, who lives in Ripley County, Indiana; $65 in cash and a check on Read’s bank for $250, in favor of Wm. Dobson. The letters were dated March 3rd, but were evidently written on Sunday afternoon.
All his property, amounting to about $3,000, is left to his wife. The only motive to which this rash act can be attributed is a morbid fear of losing his property and being reduced to pauperism. He had recently made a bad investment, about which he was constantly harping, and over which he seemed to brood deeply. He was a man of good moral character, and 31 years old the 18th of March.
Winfield Courier, July 8, 1880.
Miss Lillian Hoxie, who will assist in the Normal Institute, arrived last Friday evening. She is stopping at the Olds House with her brother, S. E. Hoxie, who has been here some weeks. Miss Hoxie made many friends while here last summer, who will gladly welcome her return on account of her pleasant companionship as well as her able assistance rendered in the Normal Institute.
Winfield Courier, July 28, 1881.
Mrs. Brettun and granddaughter, Miss Louise Crapster, have returned to Winfield to remain a year. They are stopping at the Olds House until the Brettun is in running order.
Winfield Courier, December 1, 1881.
Mr. J. H. Olds returned from Eureka Springs last week. He came into our office, but had to prove his identity before we could believe it was the same man. We have never seen as remarkable a change in a person before. He looks twenty years younger, has shaved off his Burnsides, sports a luxuriant mustache, and is by long odds the handsomest man in town. We are almost tempted to try the Springs for a month.
The Winfield Courier, January 19, 1882.
Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Olds will return from Eureka Springs February 1st and take charge of the Olds House. They intend bringing a first class cook with them, and all who desire the best accommodations will do well to secure board.
Cowley County Courant, February 9, 1882.
Mrs. J. H. Olds has taken possession of her boarding house on Eighth Avenue and the boarders are happy as larks in consequence.
Winfield Courier, April 6, 1882.
The ladies of the M. E. Church will give a social at the residence of Mrs. Olds on next Thursday evening, April 6th. The members of the congregation are all invited. There will be music and refreshments and a general good time is anticipated.
Winfield Courier, April 13, 1882.
The Methodist folks had a very pleasant social at the Olds House last week. Quite a crowd was in attendance and all report a pleasant time.
Winfield Courier, August 24, 1882.
Mrs. Olds will give the teachers a reception at the Olds House this evening.
Winfield Courier, August 31, 1882.
Mrs. Olds gave the teachers a social last Thursday evening. The lawn was covered with seats and filled with handsome school ma’ams, who were in turn filled with ice cream and sliced watermelon until everyone felt as happy as a “holiness” preacher. To such citizens as had the good fortune to be present, it was one of the nicest entertainments of the season. The COURIER BAND was present and helped with the music and the ice cream devastation.
Winfield Courier, December 7, 1882.
The next time you want your piano tuned or repaired, inquire for M. J. Stimson, Olds House.
Winfield Courier, January 4, 1883.
M. J. STIMSON, TEACHER of the Piano, Organ, and Voice Culture. Also Singing and Sight Reading in class. Pianos tuned and repaired. Residence, Olds House, corner Eighth Avenue and Fuller Streets.
[EDITORIAL CONVENTION.]
Winfield Courier, May 17, 1883.
Mrs. Olds was selected by the committee in charge of lodging for the following visiting editors: H. W. Young of the Independence Star, O. S. Bentley of the Kansas City Times, Mr. R. M. Chilcott of the Louisville Republican, J. A. Scott and son of the Osage Mission Journal, A. N. Moyer of the Wyandotte Gazette, H. A. Heath of the Kansas Farmer, Topeka, R. S. Turner of the Sedan Journal, J. H. Gilkey of the Greeley News, and Will D. Wright and H. D. Gordon of the Hepler Leader.
Winfield Courier, March 27, 1884.
The Olds House has been leased to G. W. Webster, of Grenola, and Mr. and Mrs. Olds will move to their farm a few miles out from the city.
Winfield Courier, April 3, 1884.
A cook wanted at the Olds House.
Winfield Courier, August 21, 1884.
The Olds House is again opened for boarders. This popular and pleasant house has been thoroughly overhauled and will be kept up to the highest standard. Mrs. Brown, a lady from Lansing, Michigan, is the proprietor.
Winfield Telephone Directory 1885: Olds House, Mrs. M. E. Brown, proprietor, 321 east 8th, Winfield. Kansas.
Winfield Courier, Thursday, January 8, 1885.
WARNER BROTHERS. CONTRACTORS AND BUILDERS.
Will furnish estimates and do all work complete on short notice.
Will be found for the present at the Olds House.
Winfield Courier, Thursday, May 28, 1885.
Agent for Dr. Robert King’s Medicated Imperials, for the cure of all female complaints, may be found at the Olds Boarding House, Eighth avenue and Fuller streets, from 1 to 5 p.m., until June 3rd. All ladies afflicted will find it to their interest to call upon her. The front rooms of the cottage belonging to the Olds house.
Winfield Courier, December 3, 1885.
The world of art is widening. Every year brings forth something new to attract lovers of fine art—to please the aesthetic tastes of an aesthetic people. The latest novelty is Tinsel Arasene, a new style of painting that is attracting great attention at present. The Ladies Home Journal for September contains an interesting account of this art and its inventor. Mrs. G. W. Hartzell, of Portland, Oregon, an artist of much intelligence and refinement, is in the city, with rooms, at present, at the Olds House, and will teach this art. She displays some elegant samples of her handiwork. To acquire the art, no years and years of study, as in oil painting, are required, though when handsomely executed the work is equally attractive. It can be learned in five lessons, at a cost of three dollars. The patterns are stamped and the work is done with common lead paints and a steel pen. With colors nicely blended, and glossed with power “flitter,” the effect on felt, flannel, or velvet is lovely. For dress ornament, hat linings, tidies, and various ornamental work it is unexcelled—beautiful and durable. Anybody can learn it. Those desiring a really elegant yet simple art should consult Mrs. Hartzell at once. She has had great success in introducing it in various cities of the State, as well as in the south, where she was acting commissioner of the Educational Departments of Nebraska and Louisiana at the World’s Fair.
Winfield Courier, Thursday, March 4, 1886.
Mr. Blackman, who has been living on East 10th, has rented the Olds House. Mr. Olds and family will leave Monday for the West.
1891.
Daily Calamity Howler, Thursday, October 1, 1891.
DEXTER ITEMS.
Mr. McCampbell, formerly of the Olds House, in Winfield, has taken possession of the Commercial Hotel and will henceforth feed the hungry in good style.
