The Kansas City Times Friday, July 5, 1968

Tonights blog information and pictures were sent to me by a long time resident of Rich Hill, Mo. She stated that they were printed in the Kansas City Times Friday, July 5, 1968. Thanks Peggy!
I appreciate the information I receive from the blog readers.
If there is anyone else reading this blog who has information or pictures they would like to share about the history of Rich Hill just forward it on to me. bartm@ckt.net

The fourth of July is rapidly approaching, and Rich Hill is planning to have a fabulous July 4th celebration as they are famous for. Tonight's blog describes a couple of the July fourth celebrations from the past.

In the traditional Fourth of July parade at Rich Hill yesterday the crowd of about 6,000 persons seemed to enjoy the antique cars as much as the horses, floats and other attractions. Starting at 11 o'clock in the morning, the 88th annual event continued throughout the afternoon and evening, climaxing with a display of fireworks.

The Main Street of Rich Hill was cramped with rides, concessions and spectators beginning yesterday morning about 11 o'clock. Children made up most of the crowd of 6,000 that took part in the festivities, but many adults were just as excited as the youngsters.

Ice Supply,Source and Storage in the early days

This Blog is from E.R. McQuitty's stories at the 1955 Diamond Jubilee Celebration for Rich Hill
Ice Supply,Source and Storage in the early days
The ice supply for Rich Hill in the early days came from the rivers and lakes in the vicinity. This was long before the artificial method of producing the product was established in this section. The ice harvest was a busy time and gave employment to a large force of men for weeks each winter. That portion used for household purposes, pure and crystal clear, was obtained at the nearby rivers, while that for cooling usages came from lakes and ponds. There were three large storage building in the town, each with a capacity sufficient to take care of hundreds of tons. Krieger and Klumpp perhaps had the largest building lo­cated at the corner of Myrtle and Sixth streets. J. C. Skaags was next with a huge building on South Ninth Street and Rudolph Kunz and Sons located on North Fifth at Cedar Street.
The ice, after having been sawed into huge blocks, was brought in by wagon train, sometimes twenty wag­ons in close procession. Each block or cake of ice weighed near three hundred pounds, so nine blocks taxed a wagon to capacity. It was a cold job for the drivers. With twenty degrees below zero, and clad in the heaviest clothing with gunny sacks wrapped about their boots, they were forced to walk behind their wagons, which afforded some pro­tection from the cutting sleet and snow and biting winds. Generally the roads were packed deep with frozen snow and ice and the screech of the moving wagons could be heard for a mile or more. And, after all this, some people complained of the payment of a nickel for a twenty pound hunk when the summer's sun was scorching at 100.

After prom pictures for Rich Hill Missouri 2009 prom

City Hall and the Power Plant

This blog comes from the Dec.21 1922 Mining Review.
The pictures are the blueprints of the old power plant.

Mayor W.W. Jamison and members of the city council awarded the contracts Friday evening for the Electric light improvements and equipments and for the remodeling of the city hall. City Clerk Vogel and city engineer Arthur L. Mullergreen were present and assisted in the work. Although there were several bidders from Kansas City the contracts were awarded to Rich Hill men.
Power Plants Bids
There were six bids offered for electric light light improvements, but G Jaeger of this city was the lowest bidder and and awarded the contract. The bids were: G. Jaeger,combined bid,power plant and machinery,$23,330
W.C. Burns building, 14,555.
L.W. Cropper, Engineering Co. Kansas city, building $15,215
Carrothers & Pilburn Co. Kansas City, combined $29,490
Merkle Machinery Co. Kansas City, combined $26,900
Beason Machinery Co. Kansas City, machinery, $15,916
City Hall Bids.
In the city hall bids John Robertson, Rich Hill was awarded the contract for remodeling the building and Myron Sproul the concrete and stucco work.
The bids;
Myron Sproul, stucco and concrete floor work $871.25.
John Robertson, combined bid, stucco and floor remodeling building $2109.95
N.W. Ballfich, remodeling building $2535

O.A. Smith, remodeling building $1476

W.C. Burns, work complete, remodeling and stucco and concrete $2,856

G. Jaeger, combined $2525

The work on the electric power plant is to be started by Mr. Jaeger the contractor within 30 days and complete within 120 days.

The work of remodeling the city hall by Mr. Robertson, contractor is to be started within 5 days and completed in 30 days. The concrete work by Mr. Sproul, contractor, is given a reasonable time.

The present city hall structure will be reduced to one story building, and will be finished for all practical purposes for the transaction of municipal business and providing for the fire department headquarters, police department, city clerk and collectors offices.

The city power plant building will have a brick enclosure.

Wm Mudd awarded the contract for the galvanite roofing for the city hall building.

Rich Hill in the War Effort

This Blog comes from the 1945 Rich Hill Yearbook
The ad was purchased by the I am American club

Frist Customer at the New Rich Hill Post Office

This story comes from the history of the Rich Hill Post office booklet.
The first customer in the new Post Office building on, Saturday October 1, 1960. This shows Frank E. Ralston who was waiting for the office to open, buying a sheet of Commemorative stamps. Frank was waiting for the office to open and brought along his own photographer. He has been a stamp collector for over 50 years

Installing new lights -July 1971

The pictures and story comes from the Community Betterment book at the library

Installing new lights-July 1971

A crew of workmen from the City this week began installation of the new the light fixtures at the park entrances an at Highway 71, bought by Community Betterment with cooperation of the citizens of the entire community. It is hoped to have them all installed by this weekend.