As we celebrate the 150th birthday of Hutchinson and Reno County, we want to go through the years, decade by decade, to see how things have changed and — remarkably — how they have stayed the same. This would not be possible without the efforts of Steve Harmon, the Reno County Museum, and the Hutchinson Public Library, who have made a great effort to supply us with the information and photos that you’ll see in this 15-part series. We hope you enjoy it.

As Hutchinson and Reno County moved into its second decade, many events and special visits occurred. In 1880, Ulysses S. Grant visited Hutchinson. A masked ball was held to celebrate George Washington's birthday and the city’s population jumped above 2,000. It was a time of drought and area ministers prayed for rain. It rained eight days later.

1881: Cottonwood Grove was renamed Turon. Wheat continued to be a vital part of the local economy as the harvest topped 204,000 bushels. The first hospital was built in Hutchinson and telephone lines were erected from Hutchinson to Arlington. The assessed value of Hutchinson climbed to $720,000 while the real estate value for taxation was $170,000.

1882: The first opera house was opened in Hutchinson. The price of a stagecoach from Hutchinson to McPherson was $2 and the first sugar factory was built. A train crash near what is now known as Yaggy killed five people. And it was the year the city of Hutchinson purchased its first fire engine and started a volunteer fire department.

1883: The first Amish community was established near Yoder. One hundred Mennonite families also settled southwest of Hutchinson near the community of Arlington. While many only know of one newspaper in town, The Hutchinson News, there were actually four newspapers in town in 1883.

1884: Hutchinson continued to modernize. Wooden sidewalks were phased out as the city council banned all wooden sidewalks for stone or asphalt. The first stone-paved road was also established. And the city of Hutchinson grew by three residents as the first set of triplets were born. There was a town called Netherland in Reno County in the 1880s, but in 1884 it was renamed Lerado.

1885: The city of Hutchinson is selected as the site for the state reformatory. Plevna gets its first school built. And since streets were being paved in the city, the first curb and gutter system was ordered by the city council. The council also passed an ordinance to provide a water system for the entire city. The Main Street bridge over the Arkansas River was finished at a price of $24,000. The Hutchinson Daily News started Aug. 17.

1886:&nbsp;Weather headlined the year when a blizzard hit the area. Mail deliveries (from Newton via stagecoach) were stopped for three days and coal supplies began to run low for residents. Hutchinson Water, Light and Telephone was chartered as a business in Hutchinson. We have Blanchard Street in South Hutchinson these days. It is named for Ben Blanchard, who founded the city of South Hutchinson in 1886.

The town of Reno Center moves closer to the Rock Island Railroad and becomes the town of Partridge. The community of Haven was also laid out in 1886. Despite efforts to control flooding in the city, Cow Creek puts portions of Hutchinson and Reno County under water again.

1887: Ben Blanchard, who founded South Hutchinson a year earlier, hits a salt deposit while drilling for oil. The site is now a small monument in South Hutchinson. The first mail delivery was established in 1887 with four letter carriers. Mule-drawn trolleys were also established in Hutchinson and the city got its first electric street lights. Two new towns started to develop in the county. The town of Langdon was platted and the town of Medora was registered. And the first Rock Island train reached Hutchinson. The Rock Island served Hutchinson until 1980. It's now run by the Union Pacific. The city also established its first sanitary sewer system at a cost of $40,000.

1888: Abbyville was incorporated and the Hamburg post office was opened. The town later became Buhler. The first salt is produced by using brine wells to bring the salt up from underground. Ten plants immediately spring up as salt becomes a booming business in Hutchinson. The Barnum and Bailey Circus came to Hutchinson. More than 30,000 attended. It was also the year that the Hutchinson Stock Yards opened.&nbsp;

1889: As the decade closed out, a familiar name took over the telephone system in Hutchinson when Bell Telephone purchased Hutchinson Telephone. The takeover brought phone service to Hutchinson from El Dorado, Wellington, Arkansas City and Wichita.

And, not so uncommon today, in 1889 there was a railcar shortage that slowed the shipment of the wheat harvest. While wheat was big in the area, the salt business was growing quickly as more than two million barrels of salt were shipped out of Hutchinson.

Check out the third part of this series next Sunday.

<a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/239f71e3-58f9-4107-b657-04ace0aba6e5">CLICK HERE TO SEE PART 1</a>

The Decades are brought to you by: <a href="http://www.hutchinsonfc.com/" target="_blank">Hutchinson Funeral Chapel</a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/rothefloors/" target="_blank">Rothe Family Flooring</a> <a href="https://www.hutchpl.org/" target="_blank">Hutchinson Public Library</a>

<a href="https://hutchpost.com/download" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to download the Hutch Post mobile&nbsp;app. <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/5e73b532afae0f4d5f5d90ea" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to sign up for the daily Hutch Post email news update.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629504018461.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>As we celebrate the 150th birthday of Hutchinson and Reno County, we want to go through the years, decade by decade, to see how things have changed and — remarkably — how they have stayed the same. This would not be possible without the efforts of Steve Harmon, the Reno County Museum, and the Hutchinson Public Library, who have made a great effort to supply us with the information and photos that you’ll see in this 15-part series. We hope you enjoy it. As Hutchinson and Reno County moved into its second decade, many events and special visits occurred. In 1880, Ulysses S. Grant visited Hutchinson. A masked ball was held to celebrate George Washington's birthday and the city’s population jumped above 2,000. It was a time of drought and area ministers prayed for rain. It rained eight days later.1881: Cottonwood Grove was renamed Turon. Wheat continued to be a vital part of the local economy as the harvest topped 204,000 bushels. The first hospital was built in Hutchinson and telephone lines were erected from Hutchinson to Arlington. The assessed value of Hutchinson climbed to $720,000 while the real estate value for taxation was $170,000.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1628107489578.jpeg" alt="Hutchinson — Main Street looking North from Ave. B — 1886 (taken from Water-Power Mill stack new at C &amp; Main shows Saddlery). Photo courtesy of Steve Harmon." />
 <figcaption>Hutchinson — Main Street looking North from Ave. B — 1886 (taken from Water-Power Mill stack new at C &amp; Main shows Saddlery). Photo courtesy of Steve Harmon.</figcaption>
 </figure>1882: The first opera house was opened in Hutchinson. The price of a stagecoach from Hutchinson to McPherson was $2 and the first sugar factory was built. A train crash near what is now known as Yaggy killed five people. And it was the year the city of Hutchinson purchased its first fire engine and started a volunteer fire department.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1628107629377.jpeg" alt="Whiteside — Penney Block Building 1880 — New York Hotel — 24-28 South Main — 1887 (showing the Mitchell &amp; Cook Grocery - 24 S. Main). Photo courtesy of Steve Harmon." />
 <figcaption>Whiteside — Penney Block Building 1880 — New York Hotel — 24-28 South Main — 1887 (showing the Mitchell &amp; Cook Grocery - 24 S. Main). Photo courtesy of Steve Harmon.</figcaption>
 </figure>1883: The first Amish community was established near Yoder. One hundred Mennonite families also settled southwest of Hutchinson near the community of Arlington. While many only know of one newspaper in town, The Hutchinson News, there were actually four newspapers in town in 1883.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1628107858601.jpeg" alt="First Gas Co. — N.W. Cor. 2nd &amp; Adams — c. 1885 (coal gasification). Photo courtesy of Steve Harmon." />
 <figcaption>First Gas Co. — N.W. Cor. 2nd &amp; Adams — c. 1885 (coal gasification). Photo courtesy of Steve Harmon.</figcaption>
 </figure>1884: Hutchinson continued to modernize. Wooden sidewalks were phased out as the city council banned all wooden sidewalks for stone or asphalt. The first stone-paved road was also established. And the city of Hutchinson grew by three residents as the first set of triplets were born. There was a town called Netherland in Reno County in the 1880s, but in 1884 it was renamed Lerado.1885: The city of Hutchinson is selected as the site for the state reformatory. Plevna gets its first school built. And since streets were being paved in the city, the first curb and gutter system was ordered by the city council. The council also passed an ordinance to provide a water system for the entire city. The Main Street bridge over the Arkansas River was finished at a price of $24,000. The Hutchinson Daily News started Aug. 17.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1628107717081.jpeg" alt="Reformatory Industrial School (under construction) — Ave G &amp; Severance - ca. 1888 — By Glines (opened in 1895). Photo courtesy of Steve Harmon." />
 <figcaption>Reformatory Industrial School (under construction) — Ave G &amp; Severance - ca. 1888 — By Glines (opened in 1895). Photo courtesy of Steve Harmon.</figcaption>
 </figure>1886:&nbsp;Weather headlined the year when a blizzard hit the area. Mail deliveries (from Newton via stagecoach) were stopped for three days and coal supplies began to run low for residents. Hutchinson Water, Light and Telephone was chartered as a business in Hutchinson. We have Blanchard Street in South Hutchinson these days. It is named for Ben Blanchard, who founded the city of South Hutchinson in 1886.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1628107764417.jpeg" alt="Brown &amp; Bigger's Land Off. — S.E. Cor. Sherman &amp; Main — 2 S. Main — 1882. Photo courtesy of Steve Harmon." />
 <figcaption>Brown &amp; Bigger's Land Off. — S.E. Cor. Sherman &amp; Main — 2 S. Main — 1882. Photo courtesy of Steve Harmon.</figcaption>
 </figure>The town of Reno Center moves closer to the Rock Island Railroad and becomes the town of Partridge. The community of Haven was also laid out in 1886. Despite efforts to control flooding in the city, Cow Creek puts portions of Hutchinson and Reno County under water again.1887: Ben Blanchard, who founded South Hutchinson a year earlier, hits a salt deposit while drilling for oil. The site is now a small monument in South Hutchinson. The first mail delivery was established in 1887 with four letter carriers. Mule-drawn trolleys were also established in Hutchinson and the city got its first electric street lights. Two new towns started to develop in the county. The town of Langdon was platted and the town of Medora was registered. And the first Rock Island train reached Hutchinson. The Rock Island served Hutchinson until 1980. It's now run by the Union Pacific. The city also established its first sanitary sewer system at a cost of $40,000.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1628108016629.jpeg" alt="One of many salt plants that popped up in the 1880s as salt became a booming business. Some of the areas that were established in Hutchinson still have salt companies occupying that space. Photo courtesy of Reno Co. Museum." />
 <figcaption>One of many salt plants that popped up in the 1880s as salt became a booming business. Some of the areas that were established in Hutchinson still have salt companies occupying that space. Photo courtesy of Reno Co. Museum.</figcaption>
 </figure>1888: Abbyville was incorporated and the Hamburg post office was opened. The town later became Buhler. The first salt is produced by using brine wells to bring the salt up from underground. Ten plants immediately spring up as salt becomes a booming business in Hutchinson. The Barnum and Bailey Circus came to Hutchinson. More than 30,000 attended. It was also the year that the Hutchinson Stock Yards opened.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1628108104706.jpeg" alt="1880 1884 ATSF Hutch Depot expanded — 3rd &amp; Main Southwest Corner. Photo courtesy of Steve Harmon." />
 <figcaption>1880 1884 ATSF Hutch Depot expanded — 3rd &amp; Main Southwest Corner. Photo courtesy of Steve Harmon.</figcaption>
 </figure>1889: As the decade closed out, a familiar name took over the telephone system in Hutchinson when Bell Telephone purchased Hutchinson Telephone. The takeover brought phone service to Hutchinson from El Dorado, Wellington, Arkansas City and Wichita.And, not so uncommon today, in 1889 there was a railcar shortage that slowed the shipment of the wheat harvest. While wheat was big in the area, the salt business was growing quickly as more than two million barrels of salt were shipped out of Hutchinson.Check out the third part of this series next Sunday.<a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/239f71e3-58f9-4107-b657-04ace0aba6e5">CLICK HERE TO SEE PART 1</a>The Decades are brought to you by: <a href="http://www.hutchinsonfc.com/" target="_blank">Hutchinson Funeral Chapel</a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/rothefloors/" target="_blank">Rothe Family Flooring</a> <a href="https://www.hutchpl.org/" target="_blank">Hutchinson Public Library</a><a href="https://hutchpost.com/download" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to download the Hutch Post mobile&nbsp;app. <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/5e73b532afae0f4d5f5d90ea" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to sign up for the daily Hutch Post email news update.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Decades: 1880s

As we celebrate the 150th birthday of Hutchinson and Reno County, we want to go through the years, decade by decade, to see how things have changed and — remarkably — how they have stayed the same. This would not be possible without the efforts of Steve Harmon, the Reno County Museum, and the Hutchinson Public Library, who have made a great effort to supply us with the information and photos that you’ll see in this 15-part series. We hope you enjoy it.

The city of Hutchinson was founded in 1871 when frontiersman Clinton "C.C." Hutchinson contracted with the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atchison,_Topeka_and_Santa_Fe_Railway">Santa Fe Railway</a> to make a town at the railroad's crossing over the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arkansas_River">Arkansas River</a>. The town actually sprang up about one-half mile north, on the banks of Cow Creek, where a few houses already existed.&nbsp;

1871:&nbsp;JHD Rozan and Luther Dodge established the first two settlements in Reno County. The first school was also established and the first herd of cattle came up the western leg of the Chisholm Trail.

1872: The first city election was held. Taylor Fitch was elected mayor with 71 of the 88 votes cast. The city council was made up of Ed Wilcox, D.M. Lewis, R.P. Baily, G.A Brazee and John McMurray. Their first order of business was to adopt the city seal.

1873:&nbsp;The first wheat was planted in the area. The post office was established in what would become the town of Nickerson. Huntsville, Castleton, and Reno Center all popped up as communities. Reno Center is now known as Partridge.

1874: George Shears started a contracting business in the city. Russian Mennonites arrived by train and settled into an area northeast of Hutchinson. The area would become the town of Buhler. The first bridge over the Arkansas River, which was started three years earlier, was finished. The first municipal band was started.

1875: Hutchinson was known for its clean living and effort to open a saloon and end prohibition in the city was challenged often. In 1875, the first request to open a saloon was denied by the city council. The population of Reno County topped 5,000. It was also the first year of the Reno County Fair and the first flour mill opened. It was also the year the first drug store opened in the city.

1876: In what has been a staple of the area for so many years, the First Bank opened its doors. It would become known as the First National Bank. The first YMCA was established and the city became the center for wheat shipping and trading as crop numbers increased. The Water and Power on Mill Race was constructed. The building is now the Stevens Building and is the oldest standing building in the city today.

1877: The year saw the first of two major floods along Cow Creek. Water was in the streets for two weeks. Following the flood, the city council approved bonds to help build a series of flood-control levees. The population of Reno County continued to climb quickly as the population grew to more than 8,000. The city of Arlington was also founded in 1877.

1878: Voters approve to keep prohibition in place in a close vote — 1,006 vote yes and 932 vote no. Winter wheat tops $1.20 a bushel and the town of Plevna is established after a trading post is turned into a post office. In an odd event, a newspaper editor was taken by Topeka authorities for a libel complaint. Area residents set off after the Shawnee Co. authorities in a railroad hand car and caught them in what is now known as Burrton. They got their editor back and the lawmen were arrested in Hutchinson.

1879:&nbsp;As the decade closed out, Nickerson became an incorporated city. The population of Hutchinson continued to grow to 1,740 and the Board of Trade was established. A business school was also established, which became known as the Salt City Business School.

Check back next Sunday for the second part of this series.

The Decades are brought to you by: <a href="http://www.hutchinsonfc.com/">Hutchinson Funeral Chapel</a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/rothefloors/">Rothe Family Flooring</a> <a href="https://www.hutchpl.org/">Hutchinson Public Library</a>

<a href="https://hutchpost.com/download" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to download the Hutch Post mobile app. <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/5e73b532afae0f4d5f5d90ea" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to sign up for the daily Hutch Post email news update.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629504018461.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>As we celebrate the 150th birthday of Hutchinson and Reno County, we want to go through the years, decade by decade, to see how things have changed and — remarkably — how they have stayed the same. This would not be possible without the efforts of Steve Harmon, the Reno County Museum, and the Hutchinson Public Library, who have made a great effort to supply us with the information and photos that you’ll see in this 15-part series. We hope you enjoy it.The city of Hutchinson was founded in 1871 when frontiersman Clinton "C.C." Hutchinson contracted with the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atchison,_Topeka_and_Santa_Fe_Railway">Santa Fe Railway</a> to make a town at the railroad's crossing over the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arkansas_River">Arkansas River</a>. The town actually sprang up about one-half mile north, on the banks of Cow Creek, where a few houses already existed.&nbsp;1871:&nbsp;JHD Rozan and Luther Dodge established the first two settlements in Reno County. The first school was also established and the first herd of cattle came up the western leg of the Chisholm Trail.1872: The first city election was held. Taylor Fitch was elected mayor with 71 of the 88 votes cast. The city council was made up of Ed Wilcox, D.M. Lewis, R.P. Baily, G.A Brazee and John McMurray. Their first order of business was to adopt the city seal.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1628106567490.jpeg" alt="1872 — Santa Fe Railroad Original Station — 3rd &amp; Main — AT&amp;SF 1872 Depot. Photo courtesy of Steve Harmon." />
 <figcaption>1872 — Santa Fe Railroad Original Station — 3rd &amp; Main — AT&amp;SF 1872 Depot. Photo courtesy of Steve Harmon.</figcaption>
 </figure>1873:&nbsp;The first wheat was planted in the area. The post office was established in what would become the town of Nickerson. Huntsville, Castleton, and Reno Center all popped up as communities. Reno Center is now known as Partridge.1874: George Shears started a contracting business in the city. Russian Mennonites arrived by train and settled into an area northeast of Hutchinson. The area would become the town of Buhler. The first bridge over the Arkansas River, which was started three years earlier, was finished. The first municipal band was started.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1628106647369.jpeg" alt="1874 — Hutchinson's Oldest Photo — Sherman &amp; Main — 1874 (by Barker of Ottawa). Photo courtesy of Steve Harmon." />
 <figcaption>1874 — Hutchinson's Oldest Photo — Sherman &amp; Main — 1874 (by Barker of Ottawa). Photo courtesy of Steve Harmon.</figcaption>
 </figure>1875: Hutchinson was known for its clean living and effort to open a saloon and end prohibition in the city was challenged often. In 1875, the first request to open a saloon was denied by the city council. The population of Reno County topped 5,000. It was also the first year of the Reno County Fair and the first flour mill opened. It was also the year the first drug store opened in the city.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1628106711297.jpeg" alt="1875 — E. L .Meyer's — Hutchinson's First Druggist — 3 No. Main — 1875. Photo courtesy of Steve Harmon." />
 <figcaption>1875 — E. L .Meyer's — Hutchinson's First Druggist — 3 No. Main — 1875. Photo courtesy of Steve Harmon.</figcaption>
 </figure>1876: In what has been a staple of the area for so many years, the First Bank opened its doors. It would become known as the First National Bank. The first YMCA was established and the city became the center for wheat shipping and trading as crop numbers increased. The Water and Power on Mill Race was constructed. The building is now the Stevens Building and is the oldest standing building in the city today.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1628106801809.jpeg" alt="1876 — Water &amp; Power Mill on Mill Race — with Court House — 225 S. Main — 1876 By Jackson. Photo courtesy of Steve Harmon." />
 <figcaption>1876 — Water &amp; Power Mill on Mill Race — with Court House — 225 S. Main — 1876 By Jackson. Photo courtesy of Steve Harmon.</figcaption>
 </figure>1877: The year saw the first of two major floods along Cow Creek. Water was in the streets for two weeks. Following the flood, the city council approved bonds to help build a series of flood-control levees. The population of Reno County continued to climb quickly as the population grew to more than 8,000. The city of Arlington was also founded in 1877.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1628106920617.jpeg" alt="1877 — Sherman &amp; Main looking North. Photo courtesy of Steve Harmon." />
 <figcaption>1877 — Sherman &amp; Main looking North. Photo courtesy of Steve Harmon.</figcaption>
 </figure>1878: Voters approve to keep prohibition in place in a close vote — 1,006 vote yes and 932 vote no. Winter wheat tops $1.20 a bushel and the town of Plevna is established after a trading post is turned into a post office. In an odd event, a newspaper editor was taken by Topeka authorities for a libel complaint. Area residents set off after the Shawnee Co. authorities in a railroad hand car and caught them in what is now known as Burrton. They got their editor back and the lawmen were arrested in Hutchinson.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1628106988065.jpeg" alt="Hutchinson Aerial View to Northeast From Water &amp; Power Mill — 1877 (By Hirst Studio - Photo courtesy of Steve Harmon.)" />
 <figcaption>Hutchinson Aerial View to Northeast From Water &amp; Power Mill — 1877 (By Hirst Studio - Photo courtesy of Steve Harmon.)</figcaption>
 </figure>1879:&nbsp;As the decade closed out, Nickerson became an incorporated city. The population of Hutchinson continued to grow to 1,740 and the Board of Trade was established. A business school was also established, which became known as the Salt City Business School.Check back next Sunday for the second part of this series.The Decades are brought to you by: <a href="http://www.hutchinsonfc.com/">Hutchinson Funeral Chapel</a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/rothefloors/">Rothe Family Flooring</a> <a href="https://www.hutchpl.org/">Hutchinson Public Library</a><a href="https://hutchpost.com/download" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to download the Hutch Post mobile app. <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/5e73b532afae0f4d5f5d90ea" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to sign up for the daily Hutch Post email news update.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Decades: The 1870s

A special feature from Hutch Post begins this Sunday!

A special feature from Hutch Post begins this Sunday!

the Decades