McCook’s beginnings consisted of a sod house and four shacks

The McCook Daily Gazette produced a 50th Anniversary Souvenir Edition in 1932 entitled “The Pioneer’s Dream in 1882”. SWNGS library has both an original and a photocopy of the book which is 82 pages packed full of pictures and stories from the early days. None of us were around to see it, but the original town, Fairview, sat on the bank of the Republican River. I’m going to excerpt the early story of McCook’s development in this column.

Written by John F. Cordeal who holds a prominent place in our history: “ Trace Expansion of the City From Its Start in 1882. When the directors of Red Willow county selected Indianola as the seat of government in May 1873, that place became and was for many years the only town in the county, although a post office was established on Beaver creek and one at Valley Grange, and finally, when the Burlington and Missouri river railroad was extended from Indianola to Culbertson, one was established on the north bank of the Republican river, a short distance southwest of the present location of the railroad company’s roundhouse.”

“The post office was called Fairview, and S. H. Colvin was appointed postmaster. In the spring of 1882 Fairview consisted of a sod house of three rooms and four wooden shacks. The principal building was the sod house, which faced south.”

“The south room contained a stock of general merchandise and the post office. The second room was used as a dining room where wayfarers and such of the residents as did not have other arrangements for securing meals, were fed. The north room was the kitchen. The proprietors were Colvin and Russell.”

“One of the frame shacks contained a small stock of general merchandise, owned by V. Franklin, who at that time had a general store in Indianola. The business was managed by A. C. Ebert, who afterwards became the cashier of the bank which was started in McCook by Mr. Franklin. Mr. Ebert was a resident of McCook for twenty-five years and Mr. Franklin was an important factor in the city’s development until his death.”

“Another of the shacks was a drug dispensary, owned by S. L. Green, who ran a drug store at Indianola. This business was in charge of a man by the name of Bert Andrews. Dr. Green (“Doctor” by courtesy and by reason of his profession) was one of McCook’s first businessmen. He was merely waiting on the river bank until lots should be placed on sale in McCook. When there were, he bought one and erected a building in which he ran a drug store for several years. This building is now occupied by Slauter’s Bakery. Dr. Green sold his business to C. M. Smith & Company, who in turn sold to L. W. McConnell, who is still in business in McCook. While not under the same management, the business has operated continuously for more than fifty years.”

“The third shack was also a drug store, the stock being owned by Thomas Scott, who moved to the town site of McCook and became the first postmaster of McCook. The building erected by Scott, and which was used as the first post office, was south of the present building of C. L. Degroff & Company.”

I’m going to stop there and note a couple of things. C. L. Degroff’s was located on the south side of B Street on East side of Main (Norris Ave). It started as a small building which was moved off the lot and sat in the street while the new brick building, which took up two lots, was being constructed. Today of course, Degroff’s is gone, but if you go down three more doors to 111 Norris, this is where I believe the first post office was built by Thomas Scott supported by the fact that in the basement are still old U.S. Mail bags. Could be wrong but more research will follow.

Spend Memorial Day Weekend with your family honoring those who have left this world and cherishing those who are still with us.