Jenkins reassigned from Rich Hill to Butler Post Office

This Blog comes from the Rich Hill Mining Review on March 5, 2010

United States postal carrier Kerry Jenkins has been a familiar face in Rich Hill for over 17 years. Jenkins, who previously delivered mail in Butler, is once again returning to Butler after nearly two decades in Rich Hill because of changes in postal operations in Bates County. Friday, Feb. 26 was his last day delivering mail in Rich Hill, something he has done since Oct. 1992. The Min­ing Review caught up with him while he was on his route. "I'm going to miss working in Rich Hill," Jenkins said, "There are a lot of good people here."

Jenkins who lives in Adrian, has been making the drive to Rich Hill and delivering mail so long that he has seen children grow into adults. In fact, the class of 2010 was in diapers when he first started delivering.

"It's kind of like family," said Jenkins referring to the relationships he has developed over the years. Butler will be a closer drive for him, but according to Jenkins "I'd rather work in Rich Hill."

He then mentions how the saddest part is that he won't have an excuse to drive down to Rich Hill. When asked if he will'visit from time to time, especially during the Fourth of July celebration, he re­plied, "Yes, but it won't be the same."

Mining Review begins 130th year of publication

This Blog comes from the Rich Hill Mining Review on Feb, 2010

With the ushering in of 2010, the Rich Hill Mining Review has entered its 130th year of publica­tion, with the promise of a healthy future in the years to come. That is because it is owned by Sac-Osage Publishing, a regional company that is positioned to weather the financial times and trends that are plaguing many small town publications. With four weekly newspapers and three buyer's guides, Sac-Osage is able to be more cost effective in its operation and more advertising friendly to its business customer.

The Mining Review was once the premiere newspaper in booming Rich Hill during its coal mining years. Then during the many decades that followed, it contin­ued in operation even though Rich Hill moved from being a city of promise to becoming one of many small towns struggling to I make ends meet.

Randy and Ellen Bell purchased the paper in 1980 during a time when small town papers still could turn a profit, but it didn't take long for the Bell's to realize that despite how many hours they put in the publications, it wouldn't provide enough,in­come for a couple and growing family,

"I remember reading in a trade journal one year about the dismal forecast that was predicted for small town newspapers with populations less than 1,500," said Bell who also added that despite a 500% increase in advertising rates while he owned the paper, printing costs increased by 1,000% during the same period.

But as Bell put it, "giving up the paper wasn't easy. It's kind of like someone quitting ciga­rettes. They may know its bad for them, and they may have lots of reasons to quit, but it's not that easy." For a number of years, the Bells augmented the decline in from the paper through the-money generated from their book-publishing company. But in 2000,-it was time and they sold the paper to Sac-Osage.

E.R. McQuitty Service Station

This Picture is from the 1928 Plat Book

Manufacture of Excelsior

Another story from Ed McQuitty -First printed in(1955)

Manufacture of Excelsior

An excelsior factory was an early institution in Rich Hill. Located where the People Elevator now stands, many car loads of the product were shipped from Rich Hill annually. This plant also provided considerable employment, not only at the factory, but the woodsmen who cut and hauled in the willow, cottonwood, maple and other soft woods for processing.

R.E. Pritchard

Old Settlers Book of Bates County January 1900

R. E. PRITCHARD,

one of the editors of the Rich Hill Tribune, was born in Cal-houn county, Iowa, May 31, 1877, and with his parents re­moved to Missouri in 1879, and in the spring of 1881 came to Rich Hill where they still reside. He was educated in the public schools of that place and after finishing the high school served his apprenticeship as a printer, but on account of ill health was forced to leave the case. In 1897 he attended the Rich Hill Business College and graduated with honors in the class of '98. He then returned to the case but decided to teach school during the winter and taught a very successful term.

In March, 1899, he purchased an half interest in the Rich Hill Tribune and continues as its junior editor. He is an in­telligent, upright and industrious young man, a staunch Re­publican and true to his party's principles.

Rich Hill Mining Review August 21,1980

New Owners of the Rich Hill Mining Review August 21, 1980

Randy and Ellen Bell have purchased controlling interest in the Rich Hill Mining Review from Wayne and Mildred Blevins. The Blevins purchased the paper in May of 1972 and the Bell's joined the staff soon after. See this week's editorial for more on the ownership change.

The Bell's live west of Rich Hill a few miles with their two children,Katie and Marc.

I have emails

I received these two in the last couple of weeks

Thank you

Marvin Hurst was my father's second cousin.

http://richhillhistory.blogspot.com/2009/03/former-associates-honor-marvin-hurst.html

I have been researching Hursts who were in Rich Hill and in nearby Vernon County in the 1800's and early 1900's. My great grandfather Jared Morgan Hurst was a gunsmith who died in Rich Hill in 1907.

If you have any information about the Hursts that you care to share, I would greatly appreciate seeing it.

Best regards,

Ned Hurst

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Hello Bart,

I just found your blogspot about Rich Hill tonight! I have enjoyed going back through the posts. My father grew up in Rich Hill - so even though i am the youngest of his kids (born 1955 here in Arkansas) - i remember many of the names that you have mentioned in various blogs and have fond memories of the park at the end of town.

Your post of January 23, 2009 about the 1918 Rich Hill Track championship mentions my fathers name though he was not present for the picture.. My father was Herman Sick a.k.a Herman W. Sick Jr. (born July 4, 1910 - died April 30, 1976) His father was Herman W. Sick Sr and he was a jeweler in Rich Hill. We had many relatives there during the initial years of the town. Our relatives on that side of the family have been harder to though so if you ever run across anything - i would love to hear from you. My grandfathers father was William Sick. As near as we can determine - he was born in Baden somewhere around 1818 and died in Rich Hill in July of 1882. As the story goes someone arrived in New Orleans with a top hat and a cane-though no records can be located to confirm this.

It seems like everyone just kept repeating the same names so it is hard to track sometimes.

I have sent on your blog address to my older two sisters and my brother. The last of our relatives in Rich Hill was my aunt Mary E.. Sick. She lived on Olive Street next to Mrs. Erke and after my grandfather died - she lived there for awhile but then sold the house and moved to Arkansas. She has since also passed away (1989) . The house on Olive Street is no longer there but i have memories of visting it as a child.

thanks so much for doing this blog. I have enjoyed walking through these memories.

Roberta Sick

Little Rock, Ar