Forty-two years ago this week, Coldwater was a town less than six months old, and with a population of about 300.The buildings were then all of the frame type, and most of them were but one story high. It had all the appearances of a new town.
At that time, D. L. Cline was postmaster. The post office was in a frame building which stood on the lot where McCool's store now stands.
All mail was then brought in by stage coaches. There were lines from Kingman, by way of Greensburg, from Kinsley, from Ashland and from Medicine Lodge and Lake City.
It was nearly three years later, or in August, 1887, that the railroad was built into the county.
The county line was then unorganized. It was not until the following spring that the organization of the county was completed and a set of officers chosen. For court purposes, Comanche-co. was then attached to Barber-co.
As yet, there was no court house, as there were no county officers. When the county was organized a two-story frame building, which stood on the lots now occupied by the Aitkin Lumber Co. served as a temporary court house. Some of the county officers, however, had their offices in rooms on the business streets.
As yet, there were no school or church buildings. One or two "subscription" schools were taught in small rooms about town, and religious services were conducted occasionally in some room not otherwise occupied.
The Western Star was the only newspaper in the town then. It was a 6 column four page paper. The circulation was then about 300. This week the Star prints 1100 sixteen page papers.
Among the Coldwater business men who advertised in the Star during December, 1884, were the following:
J. M. McClain, the Coldwater Cash Store
Dr. J. E. Sombart, druggist
A. D. Lee, furniture
T. H. Bale, dry goods
C. M. Cade, real estate and insurance
Edwards & Roberts, hardware
Minger & Gregg, corn, oats and hay
Youmans & Barcley, Red Front Supply House
Coldwater Lumber Co., A. M. Merryman, manager
Edwards, Noble & Marsh, grocers
Geo. W. Vickers, Land, Loan & Mortgage Co.
Crossman & Meyer, land and loans
A. M. Mealey, Pioneer Land Office
Wiley & Pennington, real estate, loans and collections
W. A. Carpenter, druggist
Dr. E. W. Finch
Dr. Palmer C. Jay
Dr. M. R. McCrory
Dr. J. S. Halliday
J. W. Harding, tin shop
D. C. Kelly, feed, grain and coal
Geo. H. Lockwood, druggist
Chas. P. Kern, hardware, stoves and tinware
D. P. Doak, lumberAlso see:
Coldwater, Kansas:
SOME OF ITS BUSINESS HOUSES WRITTEN UP IN GRAPHIC STYLE.
A Good Showing for a Six Months Old Town.
The Western Star, 22 November 1884.
Thanks to Shirley Brier for finding, transcribing and contributing the above news article to this web site!
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