Our Town 100 Years Ago: December 1920 part 1

Christmas is fast approaching in the Jefferson Valley. Candlelight tours of the caverns are the first big event of December as a promotion of Morrison Cave. A special dinner was held at the Palm with 40 visitors (at least 21 were influential men from around the state) and close to that many locals attended. Our local band played music outside of the Palm so everyone could enjoy the tunes. After dinner, twenty-one boarded the train for a ride to the cavern area. Another mile had to be covered to reach the cavern entrance. Mr. Morrison led the tour of these important visitors, including some newspaper reporters. Sturdy steps made access in to and back out of the cavern easier and ladders made it possible to make that first precipitous drop down into the chasm and between several of the rooms inside. Mr. Morrison made the tour more interesting by calling out the names of some cavern formations, including the Pump, Fountain of Youth, Bridal Chamber, and Grape Floor. It is hoped that this publicity will get this geologic wonder open to the public. It can currently only be seen by appointment. It has been seen by approximately 7000 since its discovery in 1901. A positive discussion was held on building a road from Cardwell to the caverns. This would entail drilling a tunnel, and cost about $40,000, but would more than be paid for by the number of visitors anticipated.

A number of local men have applied for the new rural mail route opening. E. C. Speck, Tannor Black, Jr., John May, Ed Chamberlain, Harold Donohoe, and Ray Stretch have taken the exam. Results will be announced soon. The person selected for this route will be traveling approximately 30 miles. The route follows the main road to the Donohoe and Packard ranches and then heads south to Parson's Bridge and crosses into Madison County for one-half mile. It then heads two miles east to the main road, then north on the Madison County side to provide service to those on the Parrott Bench. From there it returns to the Kountz place, crosses the river and back to town. Mr. Tuttle's current route will be revised and called Route 1. He will follow his current route to the U. W. Elmer place and turn north to the Milwaukee Road. From there, he will head west on the north side of the trail to Vendome and supply mail service to the Pipestone Bench and make a return down the Pipestone.

The members of the local Farm Bureau were successful in their attempt to influence the County Commissioners to hire a county agent. We will let you know when an agent has been selected.

In local society news, Irma Tuttle, daughter of M. L. Tuttle who lives on First Avenue in Town, married Theodore McPherson, from Piedmont, on December 4th. Mrs. Roll Yotter, T. Green, and Earl Manchester provided music for a gathering in Silver Star. The Methodist Church hosted a meeting of the Anti-Saloon League. The reverend Joseph Pope, president of the League, addressed the audience.

Some grinch tried to steal some of our Christmas spirit by breaking into the post office at Loomont and taking $35.00. Perhaps this person can buy some coal to put in their Christmas stocking.