Harvey County Clubs & Organizations Archives - Harvey County Historical Society

“Enthusiastic 4-H Girls:” Harvey County Extension Office Collection

by Kristine Schmucker, HCHM Curator

There is a wealth of information in the Archives at the Harvey County Historical Museum & Archives in Newton, Ks. As the repository for Harvey County, records from various agencies and eventually find their way to us. One collection contains the Annual Reports from the Harvey County Extension Office from 1913 to 1968.

The Reports begin in 1913 and include statistics, descriptions and photographs related to farming in Harvey County. Many of the reports feature the activities of the Harvey County 4-H Clubs.

John Whitlock, photo curator, has been working his way through a collection scanning the photographs that were often included.

Front Cover of the 1920 Harvey County Extension Annual Report.

These are just a few.

“An Enthusiastic 4-H Girl”

“Helen Sharits, an enthusiastic 4-H girl, who has the ambition of becoming a leader. She attended the 4-H round-up and has attended a number of community meetings since her return, helping entertain with games and recreation. She was also one of the leaders of the 4-H stand at the Wheat Festival, August 6th. At the reorganization meeting she was elected secretary of the Newton 4-H club.”

Helen Sharits, 1928.

“Helen Sharits and Irene Wantland . . . both are good leaders and very enthusiastic over the work.”

Helen Sharits & Irene Wantland, 1928.

***

“These Women are Interested in Remodeling Woolen Garments”

IV Unit of Clothing, 1929.

“Miss Loretta McElmurry holds her IV Unit of clothing with her clothing leaders in the Chamber of Commerce assembly room. These women are interested in remodeling woolen garments.”

***

Millinery Class, November 1927.

“A group of women wearing fall hats made a s a result of the training school held at Newton, Kansas by Miss Maude Deely, Millinery specialist of K.S.A.C., the early fall of 1927. This picture was taken at the Farm Bureau Women’s Annual Picnic held at Halstead, November 9, 1927. Miss Deely is standing to the extreme right of the group.”

***

Household Management, 1929.

“Miss Harper, Household Management specialist and her leaders rest long enough to have their picture taken. They are making ‘Whatnots’ and hooked rugs.”

***

Carmen Gillmore, Walton Club with her blue ribbon ;Shropshire ewe, 1934.

Carmen Gillmore, Walton Club, 1934.

“Carmen Gillmore, Walton Club, with her blue ribbon Shropshire ewe.”

***

Margaret & Lois Spangler, State Representative at National Dairy Show, 1935.

Margaret & Lois Spangler, 1935.

Margaret and Lois Spangler, State Representatives at National Dairy Show.”

These are just a few of the photos related to activities of women and girls as reported by the Harvey County Extension Office during the 1920s and 30s. As John works through the collection, we will share more photos and activities that give a glimpse into life in Harvey County.

Sources:

Harvey County Extension Collection, 1913-1968, Harvey County Local Government, HCHM Archives, HCHM, Newton Kansas.

Picnics In the Moonlight and Masquerade Balls

by Kristine Schmucker, HCHM Curator

Our post this week starts with a mystery and a set of three faded photos. In faint ink, in the lower right corner of one of the photograph is “Turner Hall.” On the back there is a notation – “July 1900. Turner Hall Picnic, Prouty’s Grove.” Through newspaper references, a story emerges of an organization that was active in Harvey County at the turn of the century.

Turner Hall Picnic, July 1900, Prouty’s Grove.

The Turnverein, a combination social and athletic club, was originally organized early in 19th century Germany by Friedrich Ludwig Jahn as a gymnastic movement to prepare young men for the military. By the late 1800s the movement had changed focus and the organizations in the U.S. and Kansas stressed physical exercise and social activities. Members were called “Turners.”

“Finest gymnasiums in the state”

A Turner society was formed in Wichita by German immigrants in the 1870s. In Newton, the Turn Verein was established in 1883 by eight men. By the tenth anniversary of the Newton organization in 1893, they owned “several lots on Ash street and have built one of the finest gymnasiums in the state.” Throughout the late 1890s and early 1900s, the “Turners” were quite active in Newton, hosting masquerade balls, monthly picnics and other social events.

: Evening Kansan Republican, 10 July 1900, p. 4.

: Evening Kansan Republican, 16 July 1900, p. 1

The photos are of a picnic held in July 1900 at Prouty’s Grove. Because the picnic was expected to go late into the evening, it was important to hold the event when the moon was full to take advantage of the moonlight.

Turner Hall Picnic, July 1900, Prouty’s Grove.

Prouty’s Grove, Detail of Section 10, Macon Township, Harvey County, Ks, Edward’s Plat Map 1882.

Turner Hall Picnic, July 1900, Prouty’s Grove.

“Unadulterated fun”

The Turner’s Masquerade Ball was also a popular activity.

“During its many years existence, the Newton branch . . . has given a number of such affairs, but none has proved more successful or has yielded more unadulterated fun that the masquerade ball given in Turner hall.”

Eighty people attended the Masquerade Ball in January 1901. Costumes were “elaborate and unique, ranging from the beautiful to the grotesque.” Kosa’s orchestra “fairly out did itself in furnishing inspiring music for the dancers.”

In the last years of its existence, Turner Hall was used much like a city auditorium. By the summer of 1918 , the Turners, as an organization, seems to have disbanded. The gymnasium equipment was given to local schools and the lot where Turner Hall stood was sold to Clarence Merriam. In 1919, Turner Hall, erected in 1885, was torn down to be replaced with “neat modern cottages.”

Sources

Newton Daily Republican: 23 December 1891, 20 November 1893, 29 January 1894, 15 February 1897, 20 February 1897, 19 March 1897,
Evening Kansan Republican: 10 June 1900, 2 July 1900, 10 July 1900, 12 July 1900, 16 July 1900, 8 August 1900, 15 September 1900, 17 September 1900, 28 November 1900, 31 January 1901, 1 April 1902, 28 June 1904, 29 July 1904, 11 January 1908, 2 July 1909, 16 July 1918, 1 February 1919.
Wichita Daily Eagle: 16 September 1917.
Edward’s Plat Maps, Macon Township, Harvey County, Ks, 1882.
Nolte, Claire E. “The German Turnverein” revised September 2004 at www.ohio.edu/chastain/rz/turnvere.htm.