The Belleville Telescope from Belleville, Kansas • Page 37

NCK Fair Is Largest Free Show Of Its Kind In State THE BELLEVILLE TELESCOPE, Thwsday, September 14, 1989 3D Belleville and Republic County are the host to the second largest fair in the state of Kansas, the North Central Kansas Free Fair. The state fair in Hutchinson is the only larger fair in Kansas and receives state funding for its operation. The North Central Kansas Free Fair in Belleville each August pays its own way. Citizens Effort Hiuidreds of area citizens contribute their time money to make the Fair a leader in not only Kansas, but Nebraska as well. From any displays, grandstand entertainment, racing events, household and commercial exhibits, 4-II events, auctions, contests, North Central Kansas Free Fair rates with the best.

The NCK Fair was also an early leader in the state, organizing the first fair in 1871, wlien settlers gathered at the log meeting house and made preparations for an agricultural fair association. The log house, which was the first building on the Belleville townsite stood on the southeast corner of the square where wheelers is now. J. W. Reynolds W.TS cliairman and I.

0. Savage, secretary. This was the first step ever taken in Republic county, or in any other county in Kansas west of the Sixth principal meridian, to organize an agricultural society. Fir.st Fair On October 4, 1871 A fair was held the same year, conunencing on the 4th day of October, two miles east of Belleville, on the SE of SE of section 36, in Freedom township. These grounds were considered as only temporary, and were fenced with a few posts and a rope.

However, a start was made, and everything seemed to work favorably for the society. First Fair ha.s 65 Entries Sixty-five entries were made and the premiums, to the amount of $44.75, were awcirded and paid. The receipts from all sources were $48.20, and the total expenditures $51.95, leaving a balance of $3.75 against the society. With this beginning the association went forward, holding a meeting the next year in February. At the election, officers, A.

Odeil was re-elected president; R. P. West, vice- president; 0. Savage, secretary; and J. M.

Ryan, treasurer. The second annual fair was held October 3rd and 4tl), 1872, on lands proposed by J. C. Griffith and R. W.

VanDyke as permanent fair grounds of the society. These grounds were about one-half mile northeast of Belleville, and comprised 30 acres. Two hundred and six entries were made, cash premiums to the amount of $185 were awarded and paid, and the receipts exceeded the expenditures by $21.66. First Building Erected in 1873 The third fair was held October Ist, 2nd and 3rd, and there were 219 entries and premiums to the amount of $200. This year a building 20x30 feet was erected for a floral hall, at an expense of $240, a well dug and walled, hedge rows broken, and large amount of money expended on the track.

The receipts, although large, were not suflScient to meet these expenses, and a balance of $106 .92 was found against the society. A fair was held in September 1874 but, this being what was called grasshopper year, the entries were few, the attendance meager, and the receipts small. The association operated a fair until 1878, when the county commissioners refused to further finance the fair and it suspended operations. No Fair For 27 Years From 1878 until 1905 there was a slump in the fair history of Republic County and it was not until 1905 that the Republic county fair was again organized. On July 8 a meeting was called at the courthouse in Belleville to organize a fair.

R. B. Ward was chairman and W. R. Wells was temporary secretary.

Fifty men had each subscribed 50 shares of stock at (10 per share. At this same meeting they drew a charter which in the sixth article thereof states, "the estimated value of goods, chattels, lands, rights and credits owned by this corporation is $680; that the amount of capital stock shall be $5,000. On July 21, 1905 another meeting was called in which J. C. Gumea acted as chairman and J.

J. Ward as secretary. At this meeting R. B. Ward was elected president; J.

A. Mosher, vice -president; I. Clothes Tree Offers Women's Appore A full-line of women's apparel can be found in Belleville at The Clothes Tree. The business, located in the middle of the block on the west side of the square, has been operated since 1978 by Josephine Barrett. Present employees at the business are Gladys Thomas, Gladys Splidial, Helen Makalous and Lorene Gleue.

The building has been used as a women's clothing store tor a number of years. Prior to the opening of The Clothes Tree, Merle Wenda and Buelah Kasl owned Sutter's Dress Shop in the building. 0. Savage, secretary; and Frank Angle, treasurer. In spite of ntmierous plans which were made for the fair that year, no exposition was held.

First Regular Directors Named On December 12, 1905, the first regular meeting of the Republic was held and the directors elected as follows: J. G. Arbuthnot, R. B. Ward, H.

H. Collins, J. C. Gurnea and G. D.

Bowlin for three year terms; J. A. Mosher, L. L. Campbell, H.

B. Walters, Frank Angle and T. J. Charles for two year terms and D. C.

Bowersox, A. S. Orr, T. P. Teagarden, Walter Ward and William McKeevcr for one year terms.

No changes were made in officers at this meeting. Land was purchased which comprises the greatest portion of the present site from W. Logan, John C. Hogan, Amos Pierce, Elisabeth Atwood, George Young and Frank Bush for the sum of $3,050 and dates set for the fair as September 11, 12 and 13, 1906. Pay-Gate Until 1919 The fair continued to operate as a pay- gate up to and including the year 1919.

At the close of the 1919 fair a deficit on $399.44 existed and taxes were unpaid. Then came the legislative measure which provided for county fairs and definite tax levy of not to exceed .0005 on each $1.00 valuation. Belleville Lumber Has Been Serving For More Than 80 Years In 1905 a lumber, coal, lime and cement business was in Belleville operating as the Chicago Lumber and Coal Company. Paul King was manager of the yard with his son, Ivol, following him as manager. In 1921 the yard became known as the Belleville Lumber Company.

In the late 1930s, A. C. Broyles became manager and remained until 1949 when Orville Noble took over the management, a position he held until January of 1953. Noble had come to work for the business in February of 1946. During the Broyles period, some of the employees were Rex Willis and Augustine Havel.

Employees under Nobel were John Edwards, Taylor Davis, Murray House, Rex Willis and Clarence Kellry, who worked a very short time for tlie business. Frank Hyder was a yard carpenter at the time. Minnie Noble (Mrs. Orville) was a bookkeeper for the concern for almost 3 years. Others associated at that time with the business were FraJik Milner and Jim Woods was drayman.

The yard acquired by Midwest Lumber Conijiany, whose home olfices are in Mankato. The conip.iny at one time operated yards at ndleville, Mankato, Norton, Smith C'-enlcr, Downs, Plainville, Osborne and Heloit. Today they ojier.itp yards at Concordia, llolleville, Hcloit, Smith Center, Plaiiwille and Norton. Mr. and Mrs.

Merle Launchbaugh came to Belleville from Glasco in March of 1953 and Merle operated the yard while serving as president and director of Midwest Lumber Company. He retired from the business in 1975. Don Slagle went to work for the yard in 1955 and became manager in 1975 when Launclibaugh retired. Employees under Slagle have been Grace Morehead, Marjorie Walker, Skip Johnson, John Thomas, Jim Johnson, Larry Jarrett, Gary Hobson, Gary Simmons, Kevin Kasl, Belinda Spitler and Joan Birrell. Present employees include Charles Klima.

Serving BelleTille And Its Trade Area Since 1905 With A Complete Line Of Lumber And Bulding Materials CITY OF TELESCOPE Our Yard In 1905 Our Yard As It Is Today When It Comes to Home Building, Home Improvements Or a Remodeling the Farm, Or In Your Business, See Us! Yard in 1905, Before It Was Remodeled And Enlarged As It Is Today Need A New Building? Regardless of the Type You Have In Mind, We Invite You To Ask Us No Obligation Paul King, Manager of Chicago Lumber and Coal Co. in 1905 We Carry A Large Stock And Have The Equipment To Put It Where You Will Need It Insulation of All Kinds Builders Hardware Paint and Wallpaper Carpeting 'We Are Glad to Play a Part In Helping Belleville Grow and Prosper'' BELLEVILLE LUMBER CO. Phone 913-527-5036 Don Slagle, Manager.