On A Quest: Why We Do What We Do

by Kristine Schmucker, HCHM Curator

Late, on a quiet Friday afternoon, a group of four people made the trek up the museum steps.

We are on a quest, but we are not sure what questions to ask.”

After some questions, it was discovered that they were searching for their grandmother’s cafe. Their parents had moved out of  state, but the two sisters had a vague memory of visiting Newton, maybe once, as children. Their grandmother’s name was Carrie Van Aken and they remembered the cafe as being across from the depot. Could we help them discover the exact address of the cafe?

It turned out we could help them and more.

Born in Michigan in 1867, Carrie Douglas Van Aken would grow up to be a “pioneer resident” in Harvey County, Kansas and an active businesswoman.

Shortly after Carrie and Edward van Aken were married in November 1884 in Michigan, they moved to Nickerson, Kansas where Edward was employed by the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad as a telephone operator.  Both of their children, Mildred and Lawrence, were born in Kansas.

In 1896, the AT&SF Railroad division headquarters moved back to Newton. As a result, Edward moved his family to Newton.  For the next 43 years, until his death in 1931, Edward worked as a telephone operator for the Santa Fe Railroad.    The family established a home at 120 East 1st after 1910.

Carrie soon became involved in the thriving restaurant/ hotel business in Newton. In 1905 Mrs. Carrie Van Aken is listed as bookkeeper at the Murphy Hotel and Cafe located at 411-415 Main, Newton.  Joseph W. Murphy was the proprietor.  Her daughter, Mildred, also worked for the Murphy Hotel as a clerk in 1902. Eventually, Carrie established her own restaurant business.  The 1917 Newton City Directory, lists Carrie Van Aken as the proprietor of the Auditorium Cafe located at 122 E. 5th, right across from the Santa Fe Depot.   During this time, she also served as secretary on the Chamber of Commerce.

Over the years the cafe at 122 E. 5th was known by several names – the Auditorium Cafe, the Santa Fe Cafe, or simply Mrs. Van’s Cafe. No doubt, she provided a meal to many travelers and railroad workers over the years.

Mrs. Van's Cafe, 122 E. 5th, Newton, Ks, 1921 Also known as Auditorium Cafe and Santa Fe Cafe

Mrs. Van’s Cafe, 122 E. 5th, Newton, Ks, 1921
Also known as Auditorium Cafe and Santa Fe Cafe

In the photo below, the cafe was located in the three story building adjacent to Marshall’s Furniture Store (originally Duff’s Furniture and Undertaking).  The building was torn down shortly after this photo was taken to make space for a parking lot.

Santa Fe Cafe and Hotel, 122 E. 5th, Newton, Ks, ca. 1980.  Courtesy Jack Unruh.

Santa Fe Cafe & Hotel, 122 E. 5th, Newton, Ks ca. 1980. Photo courtesy Jack Unruh.

Carrie Van Aken’s obituary, on the front page of the   Newton Kansan (2 February 1954), called her a “pioneer resident.”  She was not only a pioneer in the sense of an early resident of Harvey County, but also as a Newton businesswoman.  Her employment with the Murphy Hotel & Cafe, followed by running her own cafe for many years, allowed her to be a leader in the business community.

At the museum, we were able to connect her story with her two granddaughters over 60 years later through photos and documents.

This connection is why we do, what we do.

Sources

  • Newton City Directories: 1887, 1902, 1905, 1911, 1913, 1917, 1919, 1931, 1934, 1938.
  • Newton Kansan 50th Anniversary Ed. 22 August 1922, p. 49, 51, 82.
  • Newton Kansan 20 February 1931; Edward M. Van Aken obituary.
  • Newton Kansan 2 February 1954, p. 1; “Mrs. Carrie Van Aken, Pioneer Resident, Dies.”
  • United States Census, 1900, 1910, 1930, 1940.

The Story Behind the Object: E.L. Parris

Every artifact has a story. Sometimes the story we learn is unexpected and even sad. This is the case of the four piece silver beverage set by Meriden B. Company. The engraving notes a happy milestone for a Newton couple, Edward L. and Emma Wright Parris, celebrating 25 years of marriage in 1885. An elaborate piece, full of Victorian imagery popular at the time, this object helps tell the story of Harvey County and specifically Newton in the 1880s and 1890.

 

Meriden Silver Plate Water Pitcher, 1885

Meriden Silver Plate Water Pitcher, 1885

The 1880s in Newton were a time of optimism, growth with businessmen becoming very wealthy. Real estate was booming business. Using their own money, the Ragsdale brothers, J.M. & T.P, added over one hundred residences and seven business blocks to the city of Newton. They further added to Newton’s culture by building the Ragsdale Opera House, a massive three story red brick and stone building at the corner of Main and Broadway. Other businessmen joined in the real estate craze. Many elaborate homes along Broadway and East First were constructed during the mid-1880s by men that had made money in real estate speculation. One such man was Edward L. Parris.

Edward L. Parris, ca. 1880

Edward L. Parris, ca. 1880

E.L. Parris came to Harvey County in 1873 at the age of 36 with his wife, Emma, and at least three children. At first he farmed, but by 1878, he had moved to Newton after he was appointed Clerk of the District Court. Parris held various positions throughout the 1880s including county treasurer 1885 – 1887. Mrs. Parris was involved in the Ladies Reading Circle

Emma Wright Parris, ca. 1880 Photo by F.D. Tripp

Emma Wright Parris, ca. 1880
Photo by F.D. Tripp

By 1887, the Parris family was living at 318 West Broadway.

Edward L and Emma Parris Home, 318-320 W Broadway, Newton

Edward L and Emma Parris Home, 1887 318-320 W Broadway, Newton.

In 1888, Parris opened the Bank of Commerce at the corner of Main and 3rd. The Kansan featured the “E.L. Parris Business Block” in an issue dated December 19, 1889 along with other prominent structures of Newton. The Kansan proudly promoted the booming town in a series of articles accompanied with artistic drawings in November and December of 1889. The headlines read, “Harvey County: Home of Health & Happiness.  A warm sandy soil unexcelled for fertility, pure water and a mild climate.”

Everything changed in November 1890, when a financial panic swept over Newton. The Kansan headlines for November 27, 1890 read; “The Newton Panic – Eight Banks Close Door,” including Newton National Bank, the Newton Street Railway and the Electric Light Company. Several other banks, located in places as far away as Oklahoma, which had been started and operated by the failed Newton bank, simultaneously failed. Real estate plummeted and the Ragsdale brothers, along with many prominent businessmen in Newton went bankrupted.

Even though he had not initially been a part of the Newton National Bank, E.L. Parris suffered an economic blow. Prior to the panic, he had been “induced to unite his interests” with the struggling Newton National Bank in an effort to save the bank. As a result when the Newton National failed, it brought down his bank, Bank of Commerce, as well. His obituary noted that “this misfortune took all the life and energy out of him; his health failed.” By May 1895, still struggling “to regain what he had lost”, Parris moved to Chicago. While there, he became ill with typhoid fever, “which proved too much for his weakened condition.” He died a month later on June 8, 1895.

In approximately 1984 a granddaughter of the Parris’ donated this four piece Meriden B Company silver plate beverage set to the museum. The pitcher is suspended in the holder for easy pouring. Intricate engravings on the exterior of the piece include a man in a boat harpooning a walrus, and other hunting motifs. Another popular Victorian motif is also present on the piece. The Greek god, Poseiden, poised with his trident, is visible on the pitcher and on each of the silver cups. On the front of the pitcher the engraving reads; “Ed. L. & Emma Parris 25th Anniversary.”

 

Sources:

  • Newton Kansan;  5 December 1889, 19 December 1889, 20 February 1890, 27 November 1890, 17 November 1892, 22 December 1892
  • Newton Kansan 13 June 1895.
  • United States Census, 1880
  • Parris/Fessler Collection,  HC Residents, Box 1D, File Folder 12, HCHM Archives. Includes “Pioneer Banker Rercalls Disaster of 60 Years Ago” Newton, Harvey County, Kansas, ca. 1950.
  • Parris/Wright Photo Album, HCHM 98.3.2
  • Newton Kansan 50th Anniversary Edition, p. 21-23.
  • Fent, Mary Jeanine.  “Ragsdale Opera House – Newton, Kansas, 1885-1915.” Chapel Hill, 1977.

Scenes from the 110th Birthday Party for the Carnegie Library Building

On Saturday, May 3, we celebrated the 110th birthday of our building, the Carnegie Library. Below are some photos of the fun.

The 3-D cake created by Brenda Turner was wonderful.