Chanute Historical Society, Inc. P.O. Box 259 Volume 2 issue 6 January 2015 Chanute, KS 66720 ET THE ARCHIVIST President's corner Welcome to 2015! The New Year always brings hope and promise of renewal and rededication to our efforts. The Chanute Historical Society is no less impervious to such ideas as we set our sights on forming a strategic plan over the next few months to focus and orient our goals for the next five years, improve membership by 20% in a Fall drive and finally institute regular community outreach and education programs by the end of the year. As the new Chanute Historical Society President, | appreciate the support and confidence bestowed by my election. | assure you this will be a hard working board, refreshed and ready to imbibe energy into the community and preservation of our history. —Andrew Roberts We now have 75 addresses for the newsletter. ‘The first newsletter went out to 60 addresses Itcost about $90 to produce a newsletter The story of the dancing school teacher “You can sit on your dignity and make a statement that some person had violated the school laws without giving me the name and nature of the offense. It is my duty to investigate.” Miss Wooster characterized the attorney general's opinion, that attending a dance is not sufficient grounds for revoking a teacher's certificate as “political propaganda.” Attorney General Hopkins decided that the ruling by Miss Wooster which declared that there is nothing in the Kansas law that prevents a school teacher from dancing if she wants to and that Miss Wooster is without authority to revoke the teaching certificate of Miss White because she danced. There is no legal justification in banning dancing by a school teacher. Friends of Miss White were in high spirits today over the decision of the Attorney General. Miss White is a teacher in a Neosho County school and was in attendance of the Neosho County Teachers Institute County ‘Attorney General Richard J. Hopkins decided that the ruling by Miss Wooster that a person who dances cannot teach in a county school is not based on law. Miss Wooster cited the following provision of the Kansas laws at the authority for her stand against dancing: CONTINUED ON PAGE 2“The district board shalll have the care and keeping of the school houses They are hereby authorized to open the school house for religious, political, literary, scientific, mechanical, agricultural societies or public meeting of an organization having proper propose of holding a meeting under such regulations the school board may adopt.” Miss White held that Miss Wooster is mis- led in her thinking that since dancing is. not covered in any of the classes of activities mentioned, it is forbidden. (Members of the society participated in the writing of this article) The Executive Board of the Chanute Historical Society has nominated and elected the following people for the following positions. President- Andrew Roberts Vice-president- Craig Reaves Treasurer Jim Whaley Secretary— Nancy Kernick Board Members: Beverly Olson Warren Alford Jackie Ward Also Sharon Carpenter will be taking over the duties of producing the newsletter. American history jokes. Answers at bottom of page If April showers bring May flowers, what do May flowers bring? Why were the early days of history called the dark ages ? What kind of tea did the American colonists want? Why did Arthur have a round table ? HAVE YOU PURCHASED YOUR CHANUTE MUGS? THE IMAGES ARE: KATY DEPOT, AUSTIN BRIDGE, MEMORIAL BUILDING, CROSS SCHOOL THE PRICE IS ONLY $8 PER MUG THEY ARE AVAILABLE AT THE CHANUTE PUBLIC LIBRARY REMEMBER—WE ALSO HAVE BOOKS FOR ‘SALE AT THE MUSEUM AND AT THE LIBRARY Pilgrims,- Because there were so many, knights|,- Liberty,- So no one could corner him‘THE CHANUTE BRICK PLANTS. In the area that would eventually become Chanute, the first brick plant was started by Jess and Thomas Mosley. In 1874 they produced brick in kilns on 14 street just east of the city complex. The second plant started in 1872 by S. Z. Roth which only lasted a few years. Roth started another plant on the same site (east of Ash Grove) but it closed shortly after opening. On December 7, 1899 a plant (The Chanute Vitrified Brick and Tile Company) was organized south of Chanute. The brick in the picture above is one of theirs. The company was organized by M. T. Jones, M. Lindsey, and L. Rosenthal, Samuel Wickard and Mr. Keefer- all local men. In 1900 the plant produced 30,000 bricks per day with a work force of 20 to 30 men. The bricks were identified with the stamp “Chanute Kans Vitrified” The first lot of 150,000 bricks were used to place a third floor on the William's Opera House located on West Main. The second lot was used to lay the sidewalk on S. A. Wickard’s lot. In 1902 the Coffeyville Brick and Tile Co. purchased the plant and ran it until1908 when it was sold to a Pittsburg plant that dismantled it for parts. (Members of the society participated in the writing of this article)IN CHANUTE ED COX has left his mark on Chanute as a city commissioner and as the Chanute Chamber of Commerce Director. Plus many other titles he has held from time to time. But this mark was probably made when he was much younger than he is now. Can you identify the location of where Ed was when he made this mark on Chanute? ‘The answer will appear on the last page of the newsletter.IN THE MUSEUM We have a new display in the museum. It is a collection of ball point pens advertising Chanute businesses, both of today and of yesteryear. Visitors to the museum are encouraged to add to the collection any and all pens that they have to contribute. We could have quite a collection in the future. Some of the businesses that have a place in the collection at the present time are: SEK ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP RENT-A-CENTER The GRAIN BIN COMMUNITY NATIONAL BANK FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH CLEAVERS FARM & HOME RURAL VISION CHARLENE RILEY AGENCY LARRY’S CARPET CLEANING GALT PEST CONTROL FARM BUREAU RANZ MOTOR COMPANY, INC Necc TOP HAT CLEANERS NCCC BOOKSTORE ‘TRIVALLEY FINANCIAL PLANNERS ADI HOME SAVINGS BANK CABLEONE ED MADE HIS MARK ON THE BACK WALL IN CROSS PARK AT 10™ AND EVERGREEN