Bob Piper's Corner - December 7, 1986

December 7, 1986

Back in the 1920’s, Lucas County had a gala pageant staged at the West Lake. It was on the east side of the lake where the Gun Club grounds were located. The Gun Club was an active group before the country club was organized. The Gun Club leased the lake and surrounding area in 1912 from the C.B. & Q. Railroad. The lake was built that year as a water supply for the engines. Before that, the water came from the Chariton River. In the summer time, while watching a ball game at Chandler Park, one could hear the gas engine pumping the water to town. Chandler Ball Park was across the road west of the old city dump. Chandler Brothers, Fred and Howard, allowed this land to be used for a ball park.

The pageant was to re-enact the fifty years before. The dress of the century before was in evidence everywhere. There was a dance at the pavilion. Much livestock was in evidence. The big event was a Conestoga-type wagon that came from the field east of the grounds into the center of action. The wagon was driven by Charles Stoneking, and his wife rode beside him. Children, in proper dress, were in the back. The wagon was one my father used as a huckster wagon in and around Oakley in the 1890’s. The wagon had not been used for awhile. The top hoops were still there and William Schreiber Carriage Manufacturing Company stretched new canvas over the hoops. It was very authentic. A water barrel was on the side, and two milk cows and an extra horse were tied behind.

The big money prize was given to the winner of the hog-calling contest. Some who had never called hogs entered to try for the prize. They asked Father to call, but he said he felt merchants should not try. He was asked if he had a call and he said no, that he just said piggy, piggy, piggy. No sooner had he uttered those words when hogs in the neighboring fields crashed through the gates and ran in among the crowd. Father was a little embarrassed, and yet pleased at all the commotion that he had caused. I remember that he didn’t take the prize money, but insisted that it go to another caller. A pageant was to be held every ten years, but somehow another never happened.

The County Home is dark for the first time since 1904. People going by can hardly believe it. It is the change of times. For years the Home was operated so as to pay its way. For some time, people living there had been relocated to other towns or in homes here. The supervisors were quite sure everyone was pleased with his/her new home. The exception was Jimmy Stone. He didn’t want to leave Lucas County. He walked away from a place or two, so they brought him to the Lucas County Jail just to stay until a place could be found that he liked. Jimmy is a true lover of Lucas County.

Left here at 2 p.m. and headed south without Prior as he still has a cold. George drove his car and the farther south we went, the less fog. We toured the towns of Corydon, Humeston and Derby. Saw many hawks and deer hunters. Went to Red Haw Park as we often see deer there, but saw none.