Did You Know This About Geary County History?
By Dr. Ferrell Miller
Geary County Historical Society Board Member
“Junction City’s Homecoming Celebration For Company L”
There have been many “Welcome Home” ceremonies at Fort Riley recently with the return of soldiers of the First Infantry Division. Today’s story is about a celebration held in Junction City in 1899 for soldiers who returned from the Spanish-American War. Gaylynn Childs wrote this information, which may be found in its entirety on page 325 of the book Set In Stone. This book is available for purchase at our Museum located at the corner of Sixth and Adams Streets in Junction City.
“Junction City attracted state-wide attention with the welcome it gave the soldiers who fought in the Philippines during the Spanish-American War. Company “L” of the 20th Kansas Volunteers was made up of soldiers from Geary and Dickinson counties. According to the accounts of several local officers published in area newspapers, the soldiers saw considerable action in battles fought in and near Manila. In November of 1899, the war was over and the soldiers came home to a so-called “reception fit for a king”.
Three thousand area residents waited at the depot for the train. One account stated that “Early in the morning everyone was out decorating residences and businesses in honor of the 20th Kansas boys, who were expected on the 2:15 PM Union Pacific train. The train was an hour late, but when it at last pulled in, such a shout arose as to almost shake the surrounding hills.
A 21 gun salute was fired by the artillery battery from Fort Riley. Then, commanders quickly got the soldiers formed into a column for the parade. The parade was headed by the Sixth Cavalry Band, then Mayor J.V. Humphrey and officers of the 20th Kansas and Sixth Cavalry in carriages. They were followed by veterans of the Mexican War and Civil War. The Board of Education followed by the pupils of the city and county schools came next.
The parade ended at the Opera House where the 20th Kansas boys were ushered inside by way of the stage door. When the Opera House doors were thrown open, thousands of people were waiting outside and in a very few minutes the house was filled to capacity leaving hundreds of people who could not enter.”
This was a celebration deserved by Company L and any of those who serve our nation’s armed forces upon return from combat. We should be sure to thank those who have and are serving us to keep us safe, preserving our democracy and our freedoms.
“A First Hand Description of Early Junction City”
Junction City was formally incorporated February 9, 1859. Today’s story comes from a description of Junction City as recorded in the journal of area pioneer Thomas J. Ingham.
Mr. Ingham wrote: “From Ogden we went up the river five miles to Fort Riley. We passed a large unfinished stone house, which had been built upon the government reserve for the capitol when Governor Reeder located it in Pawnee, but now it is put to no use. Long before we arrived at the fort we saw the buildings looking more like a town than anything we had seen in this region. As we came near, we found the fort on a ridge near the banks of the Republican River, about a mile above its junction with the Smoky Hill.”
He went on to state that “I went on the road previously described, then ferried across the Republican River and went three miles up slightly rising flats to Junction City. A bridge was once built by the government across the river near the ferry, but high water washed away that bridge.
Junction City is a very new place. The first buildings went up only last summer. But it puts on the airs of “city” at an early age. Several “Lager Beer” signs stand out and there is a ten pin alley and a billiard room. There is a printing office run by a Boarder Ruffian, another lager beer saloon and a tavern along with the land office. But, I am told the place is unable to support a school although there are over 30 scholars.”
Advertisements in a newspaper publication listed an abundance of lawyers, land agents, wagon and carriage makers, boots and shoe merchants, carpenters and joiners, general merchandise and outfitters. Lumber was for sale at the steam saw mill owned by D.A. Butterfield.”
The main street gallery of the Geary County Historical Society’s Museum reflects these businesses in early Junction City. Stop by and see these displays and maybe you will even hear the wagons pulled by horses and voices of people doing their shopping in downtown Junction City as it appeared in those early days. Our Museum is located at the corner of Sixth and Adams Streets where admission is free and open to the public Tuesdays through Sundays from 1:00 until 4:00 p.m.