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Early Life
Early life in Center Point can be visualized by thumbing
through the pages of old local newspapers and reading between the
lines. For example, an advertisement for the "National Billiard Hall",
a business owned by Mr. Manahan, offered "a choice of stock of cigars,
ale beer, cheese, crackers, bologna, and herring." This venue was sold
in an atmosphere of clicking cue balls and pool cues.
Dr. J.F. Wilson owned the first newspaper, the Center Point Lotus.
Ownership of the paper had sever benifits. The doctor used the presses
to print the labels on the patent medicine sold in his drug store. He
also advertised the wares of his drug store.
Libel suits must have been very rare in those early days.
Articles based upon hearsay, rumors and anything that might catch the
interest of the public were printed in the Lotus For example, the Lotus
printed a story in May stating "Ed Lytle, a former resident of Center
Point, was hung by a mob in Kansas for claim jumping." A retraction
appeared in a July issue of the paper. "A letter from Ed Lytle informs
us that he was not hung by a mob in Kansas as stated in the Lotus
on May 29th." One can imagine an irate Ed Lytle writing a rather
venomous letter to the paper. The editor probably refrained from
quoting much of the content of Ed Lytle's letter.
the newspaper also exerted influence on initiatives aimed at improving the village. A half page advertisement appeared in the Lotus.
Editor T.J. Metcalf printed an appeal to the residents. He alleged that
if Center Point ever expected to get ahead and progress as a town,
sidewalks should be built. He also argued that a brige should be
erected across the creek so that citizens could get to the depot
without having to wade through the creek.
Editor Metcalf's appeal carried some weight with the citizens
but not without another long and hard fight. Eventually, a bridge was
installed and traffic to the depot was able to go across the creek
without danger of getting soaked or of catching pneumonia. The bridge
across the creek was erected on November 13,1873.
The village contiuned to grow and prosper. Residents began to
talk about whether Center Point should be incorporated into a town.
L.L. Wilson, William Neven, Abraham Snyder and Peter Folkins drew up
incorporation papers. Opponents of the idea warned that taxes would
skyrocket. After many months of bickering back and forth, the citizens
finally trooped to the polls on February 14, 1874, to decide whether or
not Center Point should be incorporated town. The incorporation failed
to pass by a vote of 63 to 61.
About one o'clock, April 16,1875, the fire alarm resounded
through the village. Content of W.I. Langsdale's store on Main Street
had caught fire. A strong wind was blowing from the northeast and the
fire rapidly spread to adjoining buildings. The resulting loss from the
fire totaled $20,000.00 and affected six businesses. Mr. Langsdale soon
rebuilt and in 1878 G.C. Bliss erected a two-story brick building to
used as general merchandise store on the northwest corner of Main and
Washington streets.
Tragedy rocked the town a second time in January 1877 with the suicides
of two young residents. Flora Hunt, age 16, committed suicide by
ingesting strychnine. She was upset because of her parents' refusal to
allow her to marry James Bartlett Osborn. Her death was followed by
James' suicide later that month. James, age 20, left letters to his
friends, stating that he didn't want to live without Flora. He shot
himself in the chest. He and Flora were buried beside each other at
James' request.
One of the "big" industries to come to Center Point was the
soap factory in 1877. Mr. Lanning surveyed this town of 700 persons and
decided to put his lather products into production in this town.
Whatever happened to that industry is not known.
Another business owner, M.A. Snow, announced that he tanned
the hides, make the leather, and manufactured the boots he sold to the
customers in his store. Brunt Hillard a local merchant, advertised that
he sold groceries "cheap"-for cash. It would appear that these early
merchants grappled with the issue of extending credit to their
customers.
Other merchants on the local scene in those days were Wilson's Drug. Al
Manahan-Blacksmith ("where horse shoeing was a specialty")and
Corey's. Corey's ads were short and sweet. "If you want a mess of
parsnips or a sack of flour get it at Corey's." McCurdy's Wagon Shop
opened on Washington Street in the late years of the 19th century.
In 1878, business interests of Center Point included: seven
general stores, two hardware stores, two grocery stores, three
millineries, two restaurants, three billiard and beer saloons, two art
and photograph galleries, two furniture stores, two shoe makers, three
blacksmiths, three wagon-makers, two meat markets, a cooper, three
carpenters, and a harness maker. There, were also two lawyers, W>F.
Fitzgerald and H.@> Printy, and three physicians, L.W, Davis, J.S,
Winans, and F.M. Yost.
Although no one could classify this bustling town as a "dead
town", it nevertheless seemed to have more than it's share of
undertakers. One could argue that with three undertakers, although
Center Point was nice place to live it was most certainly one of the
best places to die.
Perhaps the presence of three undertakers in the small town
can explain the need for aggressive advertising. Wilson S. Bliss
advertised that he had on had a good supply of ready made coffins that
he would sell at a price as low as the lowest. Wilson was a furniture
and cabinetmaker who also advertised shrouds and burial garments for
sale. E. Metcalfe in formed the buying (or dying) public that he kept
on hand all sizes of ready made coffins.
the third undertaker, John Wesley Holland, did most of his
advertsing through personal call. It was noted that when John married,
every male in town was on a cigar-smoking binge courtesy of JWH. the
effectiveness of the cigars relative to increasing business was never
decided.
Recreation
Early Center Point residents took time from their busy
schedules to socialize and recreate. Myers Coronet band was organized
in October, 1872, in D.G, Manahan's billiard hall. The band, under the
charge of Professor L.D. Porter, continued to entertain area resident
until 1905.
In December, 1873, a brass band was organized under the
direction of Professor Ferguson. The entire band's instruments were
purchased for a price of $275. This band became synonymous with Center
Point's entertainment.
When baseball was first played as a team game in this
community, a yarn ball was used and the pitchers threw with an
underhand motion, much the same as softball today. Apparently there
were no leagues at the time and no records kept. At one time in the
early days of Center Point a team was organized by the Myers'Bros, but
few if any local players were used. all the men were hired to play and
the team traveled to all parts of the state.
One of the big social highlights of the year was the Grand
Ball. The gala event took place during the Christmas season. Folks from
miles around eagerly gathered to "trip the light fantastic" and do a
little "sparking." Many a romance owed it's beginning to the lilting
strains of Manahan and Izer's orchestra.
The Grand Ball also boasted other tales. Apparently, a Native
American who was camped outside of town raided the Ball. He had
consumed quite a bit of alcohol and that probably explains why he
subsequently tried to "scalp" some of the dancers. Bustles and hoop
skirts moved rapidly and shrill screams filled the air before the young
man was cornered and locked up. Luckily there wre no casualties.
Out of town shows were welcomed at the G.A.R. Hall, located on
State Street. The Hall was used to stage old time medicine shows, state
shows, local commencements, Decoration Day exercises and dance. An
article that appeared in the Center Point newspaper, announced the
arrival of the Cherry Sisters. The editor wrote, "The vegetables are
just about the right size to toss on the stage very handily, the only
draw back being the smallness of the cabbage heads."
The enraged sisters flogged the editor with horsewhips when
they arrived. The sisters were later arrested and fined. They performed
that evening is planned. The show waas a flop, taking in only nine
dollars at the box office.
The arrival of the Ringling Brothers circus was usually a cause for
celebration. However, when the circus pulled their wagons into town in
1870s, it had been raining for several days and the roads had become so
mired that travel was impossible. The circus was unable to put on a
show. They were out of feed for the animals and had no money to buy
feed or food for the people working for them. The people of Center
Point came to the rescue. Farmers donated feed. Women baked bread and
made meals for the people. When the weather cleared, the circus wagons
were able to travel to Vinton for their next show.
Ringling Bros. promised they would provide a free show. A
representative come to town several years later. Unfortunately, he told
the mayor that the circus's tow long trains of cars could not be
accommodated because of the lack of sidetracks at the Rock Island
depot.
It is interesting to note that two other versions of this
story have been told. The second version involves the sheriff who
threatened to close the show because of outstanding debts from other
performances. A third version describes the circus performers as
downtrodden and bankrupt. The reader will need to decide which version
is most accurate.
Social life of another sort was described in an early issue of the Lotus.
The editor noted "a certain individual left his horse tied to a
hitching post all day with temperature of 10 below zero while he made a
swill tub of himself at a local saloon."
The editor informed the erring individual that if it happened again he
would personally turn his horse loose so that it could go home.
Although the individual was not named, chances are that 99% of the Lotus readers knew his identity.
Center Point's proximity to the Cedar River provided additional
atmosphere to the town. The "toot" of the steamer "Carrie Wallace", as
she chugged up the Cedar a couple of miles from town, was a familiar
sound. Fay Strait remembers being told that the steamboat burst its
boiler and sank, killing one crewman, as it rounded the curve at Blue
Banks.
On July 4, 1884, Center Point sponsored a huge celebration.
Hotels, private homes, sidewalks and streets were crammed with crowds
of people who wanted to witness the reenactment of a civil war battle.
According to the newspaper article, 7,000 people witnessed the battle
between the Union and confederacy that day.
The festivities began with grand march that included the
soldiers who were participating in the reenactment, veterans,
businessmen, a cornet band, and a chariot bearing thirty young ladies
representing several states. Crowd were then entertained by musical
selections performed by the choir and a reading of Declaration of
Independence.
At 3:00 p.m. the soldiers headed for the battleground located
west of the depot and east of the Christian Church. Looking northward,
the Union troops approached with fife and drum under Commander Wilson.
they formed a battle line. Captain Stark's battery, with a confederate
flag floating above them, manned a black 12-pounder cannon. Sounds of
artillery and volleys of musketry captured the crowd's attention.
Defiant yells of "Johnnies" and cheers of Union forces as the
"Johnnies" fought desperately to regain their lost position thrilled
the crowd.
Following the battle were games that included sack, egg, foot
and wheelbarrow races on the street. That evening a dance was held at
the Union Hall. to help promote the day, the B.C.& N. Railway sold
round trip excursion tickets to Center Point as one fare for the round
trip.
Source: Celebrating 150 Years Center Point 1854 -
2004 pages 1-2-3-4. With permission of Philip N Andersen DDS -
Transcribed by Michelle Merino-Troup
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