Legacy Spring 2013

Legacy h

SPRING 2013

T H E J O U R N A L O F T H E R E N O C O U N T Y H I S T O R I C A L S O C I E T Y

they came from far and wide to shop at the store that sparkled…page 4

I 23 check out the tools that built reno county

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E 26 informative new signs abound for outdoor exhibits

HISTORICAL SOCIETY STAFF (full-time)

Legacy h

THE JOURNAL OF THE RENO COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Linda Schmitt, executive director, rchs lindas@undergroundmuseum.org

Jamin Landavazo, chief curator, rchs jamin@undergroundmuseum.org

Gayle Ferrell, director of operations, kusm gayle@undergroundmuseum.org

Tonya Gehring, docent supervisor, kusm tonya@undergroundmuseum.org

Dave Unruh, maintenance supervisor, kusm

4 wiley’s: the store that vernon built

15 thanks for your support!

lynn@renocomuseum.org

Tina Moore, administrative assistant, rcm tina@renocomuseum.org

Kourtney Krehbiel, visitor services, kusm kourtney@undergroundmuseum.org

Myron Marcotte, mine specialist, kusm myron@undergroundmuseum.org

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Shannon Holmberg, president • Richard Shank, president-elect • Billy Klug, treasurer • Laura Snyder, secretary • Nan Hawver • John Doswell • Tim Davies • Sherry Mundhenke • Michael Armour • Elaine Fallon • Mary Wilson Conrad Koehler • John Fredricks • Bill Pfenninger • Alice Oldham • Lee Spence, ex-officio • Mike Carey, ex-officio

...to our new and renewing members

16 wiley collection boasts a variety

dave@undergroundmuseum.org

Lynn Ledeboer, curatorial assistant, rcm

...the prairie skyscraper became a mecca

...from teacups to financial ledgers

18 oh, the memories of shopping

...and the tea room with all its finery

20 a big boom is their reward

...kusm staff begs for explosions

23 two exhibits better than one

...it’s all about building reno county

24 our collections need your help

...proper preservation is costly

26 new signs enhance outdoor exhibits

...from claim house to outhouse

28 variety of events and exhibits in store

...murder, ice cream, the bisonte and more

ON THE COVER

wiley’s, a focal point in the community, drew shoppers from throughout the state, as evidenced by this post-1931 photo showing nary a parking spot.

Volume 25, No. 2 Legacy is published quarterly by The Reno County Historical Society, Inc. 100 S. Walnut St., P.O. Box 664, Hutchinson, Kansas 67504-0664 For advertising or membership information, call 620-662-1184. © 2013 The Reno County Historical Society, Inc. ISSN 1045-3423 All rights reserved. The RCHS disclaims responsibility for statements of fact or opinion made by contributors.

this corner at first and main was home to the price building and the moon cafe before construction of the rorabaugh-wiley building. (1987.123.06) as the wiley building is in the news, we thought it would be timely to reprint this history of vernon meek wiley and his store, first published in the summer 1990 issue of legacy. the author, marie wiley, was married to vernon’s son, edward wiley. marie was a reno county historical society member and worked as a volunteer at the reception desk.

Wiley’s

…they came from far and wide

By the late Marie Wiley

I

t’s a fortunate community that can boast of one man who for more than half a century contributed mightily to its growth, prosperity and general welfare.

Such a community is Hutchinson, Kansas, and such a man was Vernon Meek Wiley (1877-1954).

Vernon was 15 when his parents, William James and Sarah Meek Wiley,

moved their family from an Ohio farm to Emporia, Kansas. Vern immediately enrolled in the College of Emporia, graduating at age 19.

He clerked in John Harlness’s dry goods store in Emporia for $5 a week but two years later transferred to A.O. Rorabaugh’s recently opened store where he was soon made a partner. Mr. Rorabaugh

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planned to open a second dry goods store in Hutchinson and wanted Vern to manage it.

On January 1, 1901 Vernon Wiley came to Hutchinson, and on the 19th opened the Rorabaugh-Wiley Dry Goods Company, a small store on Main Street between two other department stores – Urban & Company on the southeast cor-

horse-drawn wagons can be seen around the construction site on may 31, 1913, above left. (1989.100.02) scaffolding remains but the building as of august 1, 1913, is nearing completion, above right.

ner of Second and Main, Fair (seven years later to and Martin’s, the largest become the Kansas State dry goods store in town.

Fair). Hutchinson still had Vernon had hired mule-drawn streetcars on seven employees. Their Main Street and Avenue stock consisted of laA, soon to be replaced by dies’ cloaks and jackets, electric streetcars. underwear for both In 1903 Pat Martin men and wommoved to Califoren, domestics, nia, selling his employees linens, dress store to Roramade deliveries goods, notions baugh-Wiley’s. to customers (thread, neeThey promptly over meal dles, scissors, moved into the breaks miscellaneous much larger small items), and space at 118 men’s furnishings.

North Main and There was no telephone, combined the two stores, and the employees made employing scores of people deliveries to customers and opening Hutchinwhen they went to dinner son’s first beauty parlor. at noon and to supper at Already the stores were night. serving 10,000 mail order That same year Conpatrons. gressman Long introMrs. A.H. Lewis, then a duced a bill to appropriyoung girl, recalled, “I reate $100,000 for a post member Vern Wiley when office, and Emerson Carey he first came to town. He organized the Carey Salt was a fine looking young Company on April 25. man; and right from the Vern helped organize beginning, for special the Central Kansas Fair things, my mother and Association, which sponother people seemed to sored the Reno County think they would find bet-

5

ter and more of what they wanted at Rorabaugh-Wiley’s.”

At last Vern felt established enough that he could marry, and the beautiful Mary Lena

(See HIS, page 6)

a sign reading, “wiley’s,” proudly announces the store, still looking good in the early 1930s.

(1989.100.05)

vernon meek wiley

His dreams only for growth of city and store (Continued from page 5)

below is the “front door isle,” one of a series of postcards of the interior of wiley’s, most likely in its second location at 118 n. main before the skyscraper was built in 1912.

(2002.35.27.2)

Crowley of Council Grove became his bride on June 24, 1903. They had been friends at the College of Emporia, from which she graduated two years after Vern.

By now he was an original member of the Commercial Club, the informal but actual city-governing body based on the council system, which later became the City Commission. But Vern had no political ambitions. His dreams were of growth and excellence for his store and his city.

Mr. Rorabaugh opened Rorabaugh’s in Wichita in 1902, and continued opening new stores, each with a different partner, finally having a total of eight.

Meanwhile Vern concentrated on the Hutchinson store. By 1910 he envisioned a huge and

remarkable building of eight floors with room for his burgeoning store and many fine office spaces for business and professional men – this at a time when the Flatiron Building, New York City’s very first skyscraper just recently built, had only 21 stories.

Practically everyone, including Mr. Rorabaugh, tried to discourage him.

DISCOURAGING WORD

“Hutch’ll never have enough business to sustain such a big store and so many offices!” the wiseacres counseled.

But the fast-growing automobile travel here and elsewhere impressed Vern. By 1910 roads leading to Hutchinson were being paved, and he and many Hutchinson businessmen were donating

to the Reno County Road Building Fund.

With the right incentives, he felt, people would drive to Hutchinson from far greater distances, and the city would grow faster.

And in 1911 Hutchinson did become a “city of first class.”

The commissioners voted bonds for a new city building to contain all city offices and serve as a public auditorium as well.

On September 26, 1911, United States President Taft laid the cornerstone of Convention Hall at Avenue A and Walnut. When finished, it seated 4,200 and cost $125,000.

Now V.M. boldly engaged a fine architectural firm in Columbus, Ohio, which drew up plans for the building he pictured in his mind. He also organized the Rorabaugh-Wiley Building Company with himself as president.

Then he assumed the Herculean task of raising the needed vast sum of $332,000 quite alone. But no bank in Kansas or Missouri would lend it to him, so to New York City went this brash young 35-year-

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the grand staircase sweeps up to the second floor, upper right, and the men’s furnishings department, below, featured a wide array of goods. (2002.35.37.2)

old, only to find that the Immediately there apNew York bankers, too, peared a big problem: the found his predictions of soil under First and Main a glowing future for the was very sandy, and water small city in mid-Kansas lay only eight or nine feet beyond their comprehenbeneath the surface at sion. One after another that time. Such a large they turned him down. building required a deep He was disconsolately concrete foundation, so packing his Gladstone it was necessary to bag to go home operate a number when his teleof huge pumps if you phone rang and day and night to have nerve, the president make the ground then we have of the Chase dry enough for nerve National Bank the builders to (now Chase Manpour concrete. As a hattan) told him the result, the building has board of directors had met only a very small baseagain, and, “Mr. Wiley, if ment under the east end. you have nerve enough to Vern was on the site build an eight-story skyevery day (his little store scraper out in the middle being so near) to make of the prairie, we ought to sure that everything went have the nerve to lend you according to plan. the money.”

And one year after construction began, Hutchin-

A CALM, QUIET VOICE

Paul Bowles, who worked at Rorabaugh-Wiley’s in the 1920s, recently said, “One of Vern Wiley’s finest traits had to be the calm, quiet voice he always used to convey his constructive solutions to problems … he had an excellent command of the English language.”

Now came the visible work. Vern wanted and got the site where the Price Building (with Opera House) and the Moon Café stood on the corner of First and Main. Those old buildings were razed, and at last work on the new building began on November, 15, 1912.

(See SKYSCRAPER, page 8)

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Skyscraper (Continued from page 7)

below are the expansive carpet and millinery departments as featured in the postcard series.

(2002.35.37.2)

son had a “skyscraper” with 200 upper windows and 10 big display windows at sidewalk level, dubbed “the finest and most modernly equipped building between Kansas City and Denver.”

It became the center of business activity in Hutchinson for many years to come.

On November 20, 1913 at 7:30 p.m., powerful

searchlights in Riverside Park were switched on, aimed at the south side of the new building, signaling the start of a grand opening and reception.

A great crowd of people thronged the streets leading to First and Main, the women with the long skirts and their hats trimmed in feathers or ribbons, the men wearing bowler or fedora hats or

caps, and everyone in the ubiquitous high-topped buttoned or laced shoes.

They toured the building, accompanied by music from the mezzanine – a 10-piece orchestra concealed behind the Tea Room’s palms and led by Professor Ax. The Hutchinson Band, led by Conductor Mitchell, was stationed in the Commercial Club rooms on the eighth floor.

Luxuriant decorations of flowers, palms, ferns and vines enhanced the elegant fixtures in the store displaying quantities of splendid new merchandise, and also were found on the office floors above.

‘BON VOYAGE’ PARTY

Hutchinson had never seen anything like it.

It was like a huge “bon voyage” party on a giant ocean liner. At 8:30 it was announced that at that moment there were no less than 10,000 people in the building.

Contained in the souvenir copy of “The Store Creed,” written by V.M. Wiley, was the following: “We believe in Hutchinson in Southwest Kansas and in her people. Southwest Kansas is an empire to which Hutchinson is the gateway, and to the extent she keeps abreast of the growth of that empire, to that extent will she retain its loyalty and support.”

The next day The Hutchinson News carried several articles about the opening, the store and offices, most of which were already rented.

One article listed the departments on the first floor, from piece goods

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(fabrics), lace, embroidery, ribbons and notions to gloves, hosiery, candy, the substation post office and more.

On second were ladies’ suits, coats, cloaks and furs, childrens’ and infants’ departments, plus corsets, millinery and boys’ clothing.

On third were carpets, curtains, blankets, trunks, art needlework, fancy table and bed linens, china, furniture and mattresses.

On fourth were the dressmaking department, work rooms, mail order section, sample room, window decorator’s room and the receiving, marking and reserve stock rooms.

Two elevators served the store while two more, from the lobby on the north, served the office floors and, before long, the Tea Room. All elevators had operators, and the store also had a freight elevator (no operator).

SNAZZY OFFICES

On the eighth floor were the Board of Trade and grain offices, plus the Commercial Club. All the four office floors were finished in birch and mahogany, while the corridors were finished in tile and marble.

One News article listed all the building’s construction statistics, from the 400 tons of reinforced steel and 60 tons of ornamental iron stairs, to the 50 tons of marble and much more.

The dressmaking department on the fourth floor was important. In those days there were no

ready-to-wear dresses; women made their own or hired seamstresses.

Madame Miller, the head seamstress at the store, was a very talented woman.

Customers would buy fine wool, silk, linen and cotton fabrics together with the desired trimmings such as lace, buttons, braid, thread, and other necessaries from the first floor and take them up to Madam Miller.

There she and her staff

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would make up something individual and lovely for each woman, whether it be for morning, afternoon or evening.

Within a short time the Tea Room moved from the mezzanine to the fourth floor to accommodate the crowds, and in time it became known as “Mr. Wiley’s Pet.” He insisted from the first that the food be the best possible, with

(See IMPECCABLE, page 10)

these postcards feature the main aisle on the first floor, top, and the restroom, above, which is postmarked 1914 on the back.

(2002.35.37.2)

hiram heaps stands to speak with ray dillon, on the right, in this photo taken in 1945 in the wiley tea room. see detail of the china on page 11.

(1991.130.15)

National Bank and the Rotary Club, and Director of the Y.M.C.A., and Hutchinson Building and Loan.

There were more. He never refused to serve the community in any way he was asked, if it was possible for him to do so.

Impeccable service (Continued from page 9)

no stinting on cream or butter. Waitresses were strictly trained by the Tea Room Manager to give the same impeccable service as that of the Harvey Girls at the new Bisonte Hotel.

These qualities plus a bright, tasteful and cheerful décor with many windows on the south and west soon made the Tea Room famous for miles around, and eventually, to some extent, nationwide.

A lot of Hutchinson residents still miss it in 1990.

ACTIVE CIVIC LIFE

In 1914 Kansas had its largest wheat crop to date – 172,000,000 bushels.

World War I started in Europe, and in 1915 Vern became chairman of the American Red Cross for the State of Kansas. He was also State Chairman of the United War Work Campaign.

Among his many other civic duties through the years were: President of the School Board, the Board of the American

Kansas and as far away as eastern Colorado and northern Oklahoma.

They would drive (mostly in Ford Model T’s, but also in REOs, Overlands, Packards and an occasional Stanley Steamer or Cadillac) over the dusty roads, often spending the night or two nights in Hutchinson. SomeDEVOTED TO CHURCH times they came by train.

And all along, he was Hutchinson was their always a loyal and enthufavorite city – their mecca. siastic churchman, over Vern saw to it that all time holding every office three of in the First his boys Presbyteriworked in an Church. they came by the store He was car or train as soon ever a as they friend and to hutchinson were old often a – their mecca enough, confidante starting and counwith Phil, selor to the the oldest, successive born in 1905, followed by pastors of the church.

Ed, five years later, and He had a fine tenor several years later, Bob. voice, and loved to sing Their first job was helping in the excellent Hutchinon the delivery truck on son choruses in the early Saturdays during school years. He loved good and, of course, in the music, and solidly backed summer. Usually their every cultural effort and next jobs were running event in the community. the freight elevator and He had a fine sense of doing errands in and for humor, and his many the store. public speeches throughout the years were liberally spiced by his wit. His GREETING CUSTOMERS startlingly blue eyes would Vern’s habit, year after sparkle at a good joke, year, was to rise at 6:00 and his laugh was hearty or just after, eat the large and appreciative. breakfast Lena gave him, From the day of the then walk to the post opening of the new store, office to pick up the busicustomers flocked to ness mail, and on to the it, not only from the store.

Hutchinson area but also There he would sort from western and central the mail, distribute it to

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the mail order and other departments, then be on the main floor by opening at 8:30 to spend as much time as possible greeting customers as they entered the two doors.

Many Hutchinson residents recall to this day how they almost always met and possibly chatted with him as they walked into the store.

SONS GET INVOLVED

In 1929 Philip, eldest son, began his career in the store as Advertising Manager and buyer for the Gift Department. He’d had good experience in Carson, Pirie, Scott’s huge store in Chicago (chief competitor of Marshall Field’s), as later did Ed, then Bob. This was a result of an arrangement Vern made with his friend, Sam Pirie, one of the founders of the Chicago store. In exchange, Sam Pirie, Jr. came to Rorabaugh-Wiley’s for his in-store training.

Also in 1929 Phil married Jean Wright, elder daughter of Oliver Wright, President of Pegues-Wright, the fine specialty shop in the 200 block on north Main.

Oliver Wright and his wife, Margaret, had been college friends of Vern’s and Lena’s in Emporia.

And the specialty store, started by Lindsey Pegues and Wright, was a much smaller but welcomed competitor. Vern believed that good competition was healthy for his store.

HUTCH GRAIN MARKET

In 1929 Hutchinson had become the smallest city in the world with its own grain market dealing in futures, and the largest hard-wheat market in the world. Accordingly, a ninth floor covering about two-thirds of the roof area was added to the building that year for the Kansas Grain Inspection officials’ offices.

In 1930 the Fox Film Corporation of Hollywood

approached Vern concerning their desire to have a splendid new movie theater in Hutchinson, and the Rorabaugh-Wiley Improvement Company agreed to erect the Fox Theater directly east of their building, on First Avenue.

the board of trade, above, shown here in 1918, moved into offices on the eighth floor of the rorabaugh-wiley building when it opened in 1913.

(1997.17.32)

START OF THE “FOX”

The architecture and design plans were furnished by the Fox Company, who sent their interior designer here to oversee the interior décor. It was a fine example of Art Deco, or “Modern Rococo,” as famous designer Donald Deskey called his designs for the interior of Radio City Music Hall.

This vast work wasn’t to be seen by the public until a year and a half after the Fox opened here in 1931.

It seated 1,400 and cost approximately $400,000.

It was undoubtedly one of the finest theaters in Kansas.

(See THE GREAT, page 12) two china patterns were used in the wiley tea room. at far left, a rust-colored stripe winds through blue and rust flowers.

(1988.19.03) the other pattern featured tan, rust and dark flowers. (2012.34)

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The Great Depression strikes (Continued from page 11)

this receipt from 1919, above, is part of a collection of receipts from the women’s relief corps.

(1989.133.144)

As the Great Depression slunk like a vicious predator across the United States and the world, Mr. Rorabaugh sold his interest in most of his stores to his partners, and Vern’s store became Wiley’s.

The Dust Bowl compounded this community’s problems, and the store extended a great deal of credit to hundreds of customers who were honest but unable to pay for a long time.

In July 1935 Edward Wiley, second son, returned from his two years’ training in Carson, Pirie, Scott’s, and started working in the store as a buyer. A few days later he married Marie Latimer, formerly of Abilene.

Two more years and the entire Wiley Building was

air-conditioned, the first fully air-conditioned office building in Kansas.

In 1938, according to The Hutchinson News, the amount of money the Wiley Store and Building had contributed to the City of Hutchinson and the community up to that time was staggering, counting taxes, salaries and far more, including more than $1,000,000 in electric power alone.

By 1940 Vern had a beautiful and exciting store, the equal except for size of the finest stores in the largest cities. It seemed to sparkle.

TEA ROOM PACKED

Then came Pearl Harbor and World War II, and Vern was made chairman of the Reno County Chapter of the American Red Cross. The Hutchinson Naval Base personnel added to the Tea Room crowds, and for dinner there you had to make reservations two or three days in advance, although dinner was served at three times each evening.

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Helen Tripp, who started as a Tea Room waitress in 1931 and stayed for many years, recently said, “…Mr. Wiley was so kind to me. I worked for him not only for the salary but because I loved working for him. He was a fantastic man.”

YOUNGEST JOINS IN

Youngest son Robert, having entered the navy as an ensign early in World War II, started at the store in 1946. Just previously, during his Pirie’s stint in Chicago, he had met Jane Douglass of Wichita, then working in Pirie’s Personnel Department, and they married in September, 1947.

Because he was in the Naval Reserve, the Korean War recalled him into service, from which he emerged as Lieutenant Commander Wiley.

To Wiley’s store employees, the Wiley men were: Mr. Wiley, Mr. Phil, Mr. Ed and Mr. Bob. Their wives were known as Mrs. Wiley, Mrs. Phil and so on.

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on friday, march 18, 1938, diners at the wiley tea room had their choice of eight lunch specials, all under 85 cents. still hungry? try dessert for only 15 or 20 cents more. (1987.123.04)

u As so often happens when a man establishes a firm, one or more of his sons finds he can’t tolerate the business, and turns to other work. In Vern’s case, it was Ed who, in late November, 1950, moved his family to Boulder, Colorado, where he successfully became an accountant – a complete change of pace for him.

LOYAL STAFF

Hundreds of employees did enjoy the store, however. Many stayed for over 20 years. Among the longest employed were Jessie Wead and Oneida Turner, 39 years each. Ernest Rayner, who won many national awards over the years for his fine window decorating, took two years out for military service in World War II, but actually worked in the store for 38 years.

But the one with the longest record of all is Aaron Johnson, whose

years in the store spanned 61 years, although he actually worked a total of 49 years. He once asked Mr. Wiley for a leave of absence to try other work and was given it with the assurance, “But you’ll be back.” He was, after 12 years.

“wiley’s was my second home.”

that he and Lena would travel quite extensively, but his health began to fail, and most of their trips were to Boulder where they both loved mountain drives with their Colorado family.

When told in the early 1950s that a new elementary school was to be named for him, Vern seemed overwhelmed.

“Why,” he said, “I thought you had to die to get that!” A portrait of him hangs in the V.M. Wiley Elementary School.

SONS LEAD STORE “Wiley’s was my second home,” he says now. And his father, Buford Johnson, worked at the first Rorabaugh-Wiley store starting in 1901.

From 1950 on, Vern gradually began letting go of the store’s reins, turning more and more over to Phil and Bob. He planned

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In 1953 he created the title of Chairman of the Board at Wiley’s, assuming that title, and naming Phil President and Bob as Secretary-Treasurer. But he continued going to the store every day he was in town until he no longer could.

(See LAST, page 14)

the wiley sons, below from left, are phil, the oldest, edward and robert.

this 1913 receipt for cotton batting and calico cloth touts the rorabaugh-wiley store as “kansas greatest dry goods sellers.”

(1989.133.144)

Last public appearance in February 1954 (Continued from page 13) During that year he and Ray Dillon shared the chairmanship for the building of the Baker Hotel (now Plaza Towers).

He made his last public appearance at its opening, February 14, 1954.

When he became critically ill soon after that, Mary Lena had a stroke.

They were placed in rooms across the hall from each other in Grace Hospital.

On March 30, 1954, he died.

The next day The Hutchinson News-Herald gave much of the front page to its story headlined, “V.M. Wiley, Civic Leader Here, Dies,” together with a large recent photograph of him.

NUMBER 1 CITIZEN

“He was Hutchinson’s No. 1 citizen,” it stated.

“Few civic activities have functioned in Hutchinson without the attention, support and counsel of Mr. Wiley.”

A number of Hutchinson business houses closed for his funeral.

He left six grandchildren with two to come later. And of them all, only Doug and Jack, the oldest two of Bob and Jane’s three boys, evinced serious interest in Wiley’s store.

YES, THERE ONCE WAS A VERNON WILEY Recently a young woman asked the writer, “Was there at one time a Vernon Wiley in Hutchinson?”

Oh, yes. Yes, indeed, there was!

14

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the financial document from the early 1960s, below left, was contained in a leather notebook with “v.m. wiley” inscribed on the cover, at right, and was most likely being used by a son.

(1989.119.01) at right is a 1946 document projecting sales from each department, found in one of vernon’s earlier leather notebooks. (1989.119.03)

Thank you!

It makes you feel good to be a member!

Thanks to all our members who are new or renewed January through April! With your membership, you are supporting two local museums, the Kansas Underground Salt Museum and the Reno County Museum.

Encourage your friends and relatives to join the Reno County Historical Society, too!

Preserver: Tucker & Nation Meyer Backer: Patty & Dan Foss

James & Mary Lou Sunderland Donna & Harold Swanson Supporter: Dennis & Jennalee Boggs Larry & Marilyn Bolton Herchel & K.T. Crainer John & Jane Eriksen Annie & Robert Fee *John Fredricks James Gilliland Nancy & E. Francis Habiger Jim & Sandra Haskell Andrea & Greg Henne Lona Hinshaw Ken & Barbara Keefer Judy Langley Vern Powers Bill & Virginia Rexroad

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the 1946 notebook, above right, was found in the salt city business college building, and was donated to the museum in 1989.

Donna & Jack Wortman Cynda Wright Friend: Willam & JoAnn Drews Barbara Frizell Steve Conard Melva & Maurice Cummings Heart of Kansas Quilt Guild Charles Hyter Robert & Marian Lundquist Allen & Ila Stone Paul & Debra Waggoner Richard Young Donors’ Circle: Fee Insurance Group Commerce Bank

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* New member

these luxurious, silky cloth garment tags, above, harken back to the era when clothes were special-ordered and tailor-made for the customer.

(1990.148.01)

A collection of memories We all accumulate a lot of “stuff” in our lifetimes – imagine what a department store could collect in 86 years of being in business!

This Focus on Collections offers a glimpse of a few of the items in the Reno County Museum’s collection that came from the Rorabaugh-Wiley Dry Goods store that opened in 1901 and closed as Wiley’s in 1985.

Many of these items evoke sweet memories of a bygone era and a cherished local business.

customer service booklet (1987.123.03)

known far and wide, wiley’s posted signs, such as the one above, throughout kansas. this weathered sign was found at martin harnett’s farm in stafford.

(2012.17.01)

found in a black leather notebook, this page outlines phil wiley’s plans for each section of the store – from handkerchiefs and “career girl” to gloves and notions. (1989.119.03)

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these pages in the store’s customer service booklet, above, illustrate wiley’s assertion that “courtesy is golden.” the importance of the booklet’s content was made clear in one paragraph: “reading it once is not sufficient. keep it where you can refer to it often, so that each point will become your own.” (1987.123.03)

a wiley’s hat box was quite distinctive with its chic decorative stripes. if you purchased clothing during your visit to wiley’s, your take-home box matched the hat box perfectly.

(1995.58.87)

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u

Oh, the memori

M colorful postcards flourished after the wiley building was completed in 1913. (2002.35.37.2)

y thoughts as the Wiley Building turns 100: Two little girls in Sunday dresses, patent leather shoes, white gloves and acting on their best behavior traveled up the

Wiley’s elevator to the place, and holding on fourth floor with their tight to her hand so as not mother for a special lunch to blow away at the “Wiabout 1959. ley’s Corner,” my children, I don’t remember what born in the late ‘70s and I had to eat but I do early ‘80s barely rememremember the elegant ber ever shopping there. dining room and the waitresses in their starched CHANGES OVER TIME uniforms. Everyone spoke Even several years politely in hushed tones before closing in 1985, and I’m sure that I sat perhaps as a result of the there baffled over the ar1971 fire, Wiley’s increasray of forks and spoons. ingly bore little resemThis has come blance to the store to be one of my of my youth. favorite Wiley’s For me and everyone spoke politely memories many who in hushed along with the grew up during tones annual anticithe large depation of Christpartment store mas windows era, watching the and trying on wedding Wiley Building struggle dresses in a large special and deteriorate has been dressing room under the sad and discouraging. guidance of wedding conNow, finally as Wiley’s sultant, Hazel Graybill. turns 100, there is hope She was petite and probaon the horizon. bly in her 50s in 1970 but she could and did strike NEW OWNER terror into the hearts of A new owner, Manske & groomsmen!

Associates, is seeking approval for use of housing MEMORIES DIVERGE and historic restoration Whereas I remember tax credits to help finance circling round and round a $17.2 million project to in the Buick with Mom restore and redevelop the to find a coveted parking building.

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wiley’s department store appears brighter and much more modern in this hutchinson news photo dated october 17, 1980.

(2001.87)

ies ...

This would be called the “Wiley Plaza Project” and add a significant number of market-rate and affordable housing units to the downtown district.

It would provide a builtin market for downtown merchants and restaurants.

POSITIVE IMPACT This positive economic impact would further enhance the revitalized downtown and create the need for additional goods

and services much like the Wiley Building that I remember.

The Wiley Building is the soul of Hutchinson’s downtown, and the time has come for it to rise and shine again.

Our lives today are far different than they were

in 1913 or the 1950s, but recent improvements in our downtown have proven that a true city center where people can gather for food, art, shopping and fun activities is a timeless notion.

WIND NEVER DIES A new and reimagined Wiley’s will again, after many years of deterioration, be a centerpiece of which we can all be proud … although I’ll bet it will still be windy on that corner!

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in this july 1913 photo, construction workers pose on the scaffolding of the most recently completed story of the rorabaugh-wiley building.

(1989.100.03)

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Linda Schmitt Executive Director, Reno County Historical Society lindas@undergroundmuseum.org

KABOOMM ...what a treat!!

By Gayle Ferrell, KUSM Director of Operations

I the management team below that ventured underground are, from left: dave unruh, jay brown, gayle ferrell, chrisi fuhrman, kourtney krehbiel, gaylon green, jamin landavazo, linda schmitt and tonya gehring.

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have the privilege of working with the most awesome management team ever!

Most have been here our entire six years of operation. With this team, anything is possible and everything can be handled.

We have done so much together. So what was left that could be done for these managers? A blast!

For six years I had been told that someday, just maybe, we could be at the mine face when they pulled the fuses to blast at night. We’ve heard them during scout over-

nights, rumbling through we were acting like kids in the mine like deep rolling a candy store. thunder.

Arriving at the face, we Harold Mayo, Hutchinare allowed to look from a son Salt Mine Generreasonable distance at the al Manager, and John wall that will be blasted.

Kinkade, Hutchinson Salt It has been loaded and set Mine Supervisor, were to with charges along with be our guides two others and protecin the area tors on this that we do expedition. not see. We the sound On the desretreat to our …to feel ignated date, respective the power we gathered gators (un…stupendous! at 10 p.m. derground on the salt transportacompany tion similar dock with to golf carts) our hard hats, rescuers to wait. and safety glasses. Having The blasting crew dissigned release forms, we appears to pull the fuses. stepped onto the skip for We are on the edge of our that exquisitely quiet ride seats. Looking as far as down to the mine level. the headlights shine.

We made a stop at the underground break room to COUNTDOWN STARTS pick up required earplugs The blasting crew drives before continuing on toup on their gator to join ward the mine face. us and wait. A mine supervisor checks his watch.

UP AGAINST THE FACE Four minutes and 45 The mine face is where seconds after the fuse is active mining operations pulled….BOOM! Then occur. This could include BOOM again. Now we are blasting or other activities yahooing! involved in salt mining.

The room we saw is And now we were to straight ahead beyond experience what is an evthe headlights and the eryday occurrence for the anticipation mounts as we miners. It’s been happen(See BOOM, page 22) ing nightly for decades but

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tracks made by gators, golf-carttype vehicles used underground, crisscross the area leading to the site of the blast. this haunting view is looking as far as headlight beams can reach.

BOOM! (Continued from page 20)

await that last blast. And then . . .BA-BOOOMMM! The sound! To hear the rolling thunder up close and personal! To feel the power! It was stupendous, awesome, unforgettable and inspiring!

When it was over, our gators turned in unison and headed back through the underground tunnels toward the salt shaft.

I can’t say what the conversations were in the other two gators but John, our driver, kept asking if we had a good time … was it worth the effort … and was this really a good reward for the managers?

No matter how excited we were, he still couldn’t believe that this was a perfect way to reward the group that has worked so

hard and passionately for our success.

Thank you, Harold and John, for spending personal time on a late Saturday night to give a group of salt geeks the most anticipated experience of a lifetime!

But most importantly, thank you, Tonya, Dave, Jay, Gaylon, Chrisi, Linda, Jamin and Kourtney, for making the past six years stupendous, awesome, unforgettable and inspiring for this salt geek!

It’s been quite a ride and I am so lucky to be sharing it with all of you!

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800-760-5315

620-662-5315

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P.S. We’ve been brainstorming about how we can share the sound and experience with our visitors, so stay tuned for an update on plans for a future “Boom Room” in our underground museum area.

Two better than one ...exhibits, that is

By Jamin Landavazo, RCHS Chief Curator Two exhibits are better than one!

When the Reno County Museum had the opportunity to bring you two brand new exhibits at the same time, and open them to our members for a sneak peek on the same night, we jumped at the idea. We always love giving our visitors more to see, do, learn and experience.

On February 28 we did just that with the opening of “Tough, Rough, and Ready: Reno County Tools A-Z” as well as “Americans by Choice: The Story of Immigration and Citizenship in Kansas.”

TOUGH TOOLS

“Tough, Rough and Ready” showcases more than 200 tools that built and shaped Reno County in a variety of ways.

From cobblers’ shoe lasts to carpenters’ planes to farmers’ wheat drills, visitors have a chance to see the homemade and the store-bought, the wellloved and the barely used, the ornate and the barebones versions of many items still in use today – and some you may have never seen before!

There’s fun for all ages, as entertaining inter-

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actives invite kids (and adults!) to match, invent tools and much more.

STORY OF IMMIGRANTS “Americans by Choice” is an award-winning traveling exhibit that will be up only until May 18. Created by the U.S. District Court of Kansas, it follows the stories of immigrants – past and present, and their decision to come to the United States and apply for citizenship.

We added a local twist to this exhibit by adding several stories and artifacts related to our own Reno County immigrants,

past and future. Be sure to stop by and leave a sticker on our map to let us know where your ancestors came from!

These exhibits are open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday – Friday, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.

Stay tuned for our next exhibit opening in June!

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joan and jerry wray, above, enjoy a panel in the “americans by choice” exhibit. a van brunt wheat drill, below, is among a variety of tools in the “tough, rough and ready” exhibit.

New fund created for care of our collections fragile items can turn to dust without proper storage.

this short sketch, above right, was published by the penn publishing company in 1914 and performed by the wallace bruce players. (note the wallace bruce name written in pencil on the front cover.) it is just one of thousands of items that are part of the wallace bruce collection that help preserve a fascinating and mostly vanished segment of entertainment popular in reno county’s past – vaudeville.

(2012.89.05.5)

By Jamin Landavazo RCHS Chief Curator Each box was taken out and set carefully on waiting tables – 10 boxes in all.

The fragile scripts, plays, notes and news clippings inside represented the life’s work of one man – Wallace Bruce – and many who had been involved in his troupe, the Wallace Bruce Players.

From 1919 until 1942 – and then again from 1959 until Bruce’s death in 1968 – the Wallace Bruce Players traipsed through Kansas, Nebraska and Oklahoma, bringing plays, singing and dancing that entertained thousands in big cities and rural areas.

SO MUCH TO PRESERVE The collection sitting in the processing room at the Reno County Museum represented so much history – personal and entertainment history plus the history of the cities and towns the Players visited.

Museum staff knew that it needed to be preserved, and we knew what needed to be done: Switch out the

acidic cardboard boxes for new acid-free boxes. Reorganize the contents and house them in acid-free folders for better organization and access. Input information into a database to ensure that the items would be searchable and easy to find.

What we didn’t know was how much that would cost, or if our small curatorial budget would cover what we needed to ensure that these records were cared for properly.

It’s a challenge that we face at the museum each day. We receive approxi-

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mately 150 donations per year, and those can range in size from one item to more than 1,300 individual items per donation, as in the case of the large Wallace Bruce collection.

IT’S UP TO US

We are charged with protecting and preserving the items we accept, and we take that charge very seriously – even going so far as to decline items if we don’t feel that we can store them in the proper conditions to ensure that they will last many, many years.

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we have seen over time the effects of keeping records in a regular cardboard box. The acid in those boxes will leech into the papers as the years go by, causing yellowing and making the papers even more brittle.

u Each donation requires board box. The acid in staff time to record the those boxes will leech into information, issue a the papers as the years go Temporary Registration by, causing yellowing and Receipt, bring the item or making the papers even items before our Collecmore brittle. tions Committee, provide permanent Deeds of Gifts IT IS IN OUR MISSION for documentation, proIf we pull out those pacess the item by recording pers after 10 years, they a detailed description, may be so discolored as measurements and histoto be unreadable, or so ry, clean and number the fragile that they crumble item, prepare the item for to dust. storage, and For us, it then comis worth it – plete the logand it is in it is our book, folder our mission mission – and database – to pay a to fight the entries that little extra to causes of help us track help fight the and find the deterioration known causitem. es of deterioOften, howration. ever, it takes Our budspecialized tools – such gets, however, are not as the acid-free boxes and limitless, and that is why folders discussed above we have started a new – to complete the work.

Collections Care Fund to These items, which are help offset the cost of tools specially made for musewe need to preserve our um and archival colleccollections. tions, are ordered through In 1984 a study was approved suppliers and, done that found the cost due to their nature, cost of storing one artifact was more than other materi$50 per square foot when als.

PRESERVING COSTLY

For example, you might be able to go to a local store and get a cardboard banker’s box to hold materials for about $2 or $3. For a similarly sized acid-free archival box, you will likely pay $10.

We have seen over time the effects of keeping records in a regular card-

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accounting for materials like those discussed above as well as heating, air conditioning, lighting, storage furniture, etc.

WE NEED YOUR HELP

When you take into consideration almost 30 years of inflation and the 36,187 items in our collection at the time of this article, you can see why we need your help!

By informing our donors, supporters and others about the costs involved with the care of our collections, we hope to bring attention to this

now imagine all these files times 10. that’s the size of the wallace bruce collection. and each piece of paper and each item in each file must be properly preserved to be saved.

(See SAVING, page 27)

We’re proud to share our hometown with you.

How fortunate we are to live in a community with such diverse and high quality amenities -- including the Reno County Museum and Kansas Underground Salt Museum!

4 Hutchinson locations to serve you

new signs replacing old tattered and faded ones now proudly explain the history of exhibits and structures on the reno county museum grounds. at left is the siegrist claim house, and below is the outhouse.

Signs of the times The Reno County Museum has new signs on all its outdoor artifacts!

The old signs had deteriorated to the point that all the surfaces were faded, cracked and nearly illegible.

Through wonderful, generous donations from friends of the museum, the staff has at last replaced the old signs with new ones that are full of colorful and vibrant images.

As warmer weather seeps back with the spring, be sure to come visit our outdoor areas and check out the new signage!

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hutchinson relied on this temporary jail until a permanent one (see close-up of sign on page 27) could be built. this structure was donated in 2000 by charlotte galler, owner of midwest iron, where this jail had been resting for 25 years.

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Saving...

(Continued from page 25)

issue and offer people a concrete way to help preserve the past for the future.

Donations can be made by check, credit card or cash. Please be sure to specify that the donation is for the Collections Care Fund. Checks should be made out to the Reno County Museum.

Funds will be restricted and 100 percent will be used for the care of collections. Donors will be recognized in the Legacy magazine.

As we continue to carefully add to our collection, we thank our members and supporters for their crucial role in helping us meet our mission!

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KANSAS UNDERGROUND SALT MUSEUM 9 am–5 pm Tues–Fri 9 am–6 pm Sat 1–6 pm Sunday closed Mondays last tour departs two hours before closing. advance reservations strongly recommended allow about two hours for your adventure. open Memorial Day Monday, May 27 9 am–6 pm last tour at 4 pm open july 4 noon to 6 pm last tour at 4 pm call us or check our website for other holiday hours.

NEW SALT BLAST PASS our best deal includes gallery tour, dark ride (both handicapped-accessible) and new train ride. adults: $19 seniors (60+) and aaa: $17 children (4-12) & members: $12.50 reno county residents: $14 children under 4 not admitted due to mine safety regulations. pricing available to add only dark ride or train ride to gallery admission. all prices include sales tax. special pricing for groups over 28 and school groups with arrangements made one week in advance.

3504 e. avenue g (at airport road) hutchinson, ks 67501

620-662-1425 toll-free 866-755-3450

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EXHIBITS A & EVENTS

KANSAS UNDERGROUND SALT MUSEUM EVENTS

Murder in the Mine 2013 Interactive mystery dinner theatre

Overnight Scouting November 2 – Boy Scout Merit December 7 – Boy Scout Overnight 2014 January 11 – Boy Scout Merit January 18 – Boy Scout Overnight January 25 – Boy Scout Overnight February 1 – Boy Scout Merit February 8 – Boy Scout Overnight February 15 – Boy Scout Overnight March 1 – Girl Scout Overnight

“The Case of the Deadly Killer” 6:30 p.m. Saturday, August 24 $55 per person / $400 for table of 8 Doors open at 5 p.m.

Last trip underground: 6:15 p.m.

Must be 18 years old due to adult humor For details and reservations: 620-662-1425 • 866-755-3450 Sherlock Holmes is at it again. Help him solve a dastardly crime and save London from yet another band of criminal masterminds.

Future Murder in the Mine events: December 13 and February 22, 2014.

Jazz Concert

Friday, November 8 KUSM Event Center Tickets go on sale in the fall for this Hutchinson Community College Jazz Concert.

KUSM EXHIBITS Miners’ Trash Display

See this fascinating new display case of items left behind by miners. It’s a preview of the larger “A Miner’s Life” exhibit coming soon to KUSM.

Salt Mine Express

Hurry aboard to ride the thrilling new underground train on the original rails and ties used underground.

Salt Secrets

Salt secrets exposed!

Permian Playground

Go interactive and explore the incredible varieties of salt. First hand!

Mine Corridor

Explore the general history of salt mining in Hutchinson.

The Iodine Deficiency Disorder Story Explore the efforts of Kiwanis International and UNICEF in using salt to combat IDD.

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Take It with A Grain of Salt

Discover how live bacteria were extracted from ancient Permian salt.

Myronmobile

Come see the “Myronmobile,” from TV’s “Dirty Jobs,” filmed in the Hutchinson Salt mine.

The Story of Underground Vaults & Storage View costumes and props from your favorite movies.

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DON’T FORGET

...last day to view the exhibit,

“bisonte hotel: the best in the west,” is saturday, june 8, at the reno county museum.

RENO COUNTY MUSEUM EXHIBITS Tough, Rough & Ready: Reno County Tools A-Z This tool-tally awesome new exhibit displays an amazing variety of tools that built Reno County from the ground up.

Americans By Choice: The Story of Immigration and Citizenship in Kansas Last Day: May 18 This traveling exhibit, commissioned in 2011 by the U.S. District Court of the District of Kansas, conveys the personal

struggles, sacrifices and accomplishments along the path to U.S. citizenship for many Kansans.

Bisonte Hotel: The Best in the West Last Day: June 8 Visitors have the opportunity to take a long-awaited look at one of Hutchinson’s most beloved memories – the Bisonte Hotel from the early 1900s to more modern times.

Hail to the Hall: 100 Years of Convention Hall This exhibit traces the history of Convention Hall and officially displays the items from the Convention/Memorial Hall 1911 time capsule box.

Transportation Gallery See the Schuttler wagon, an Amish buggy, the Indian motorcycle, sidecar and much more.

A Peek Inside Reno County’s Jewelry Box Watch for this fascinating opening in June.

ICE CREAM SOCIAL JULY 18

It’s ice cream time from 5:30 to 7:30 – or until the ice cream runs out – on Third Thursday at RCM.

RENO COUNTY MUSEUM HOURS 9 am–5 pm tues-Fri 11-5 saturday closed sunday and monday closed july 4 free admission unless otherwise noted 100 S. Walnut 620-662-1184

“tough, rough and ready: reno county tools a-z” features every tool imaginable, far left. this photo of eleanor kerntoff, featured in “americans by choice,” was taken about 1914 most likely in russia. she is the daughter of julius kerntoff who immigrated to the u.s. in 1916 and settled in pretty prairie.

(1994.05.01)

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WILEY’S: QUALITY AND SERVICE RULED PAGE 4 reno county historical society p.o. box 664 hutchinson, kansas 67504-0664

return service requested

If your address changes, please call us at 620-662-1184.