Hutchinson and Reno County will celebrate 150 years during Third Thursday in August. In honor of this celebration, we will release one decade each afternoon over the next 15 days from The Decades, which were originally featured from September to November of 2021.
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 country is in a great depression, but Hutchinson continues to move forward with new companies and new names that are still part of the community today. Carey Park expands and one of the pioneers of business in Hutchinson dies.
1930: In what became one of the major events in Hutchinson for years, the Hutchinson News sponsored the first Farm and Home Week. The event was held at the Convention Center for years.
A & A Drugs - 629 N. Main - c. 1930 (Now Harley's Bicycles). Photo courtesy of Steve Harmon.
Federal and U.S. Marshals descend onto Reno County and take 14 people into custody for various liquor law violations. They are believed to be part of a ring out of Wichita.
The town of Noblesville was established 21 miles west of Hutchinson.
George Gano builds a 2 million bushel grain elevator. He later expands it to 3 million bushels.
The first bank holdup happened in Hutchinson with gangs using machine guns. $107,000 was taken. That’s equivalent to $1.7 million today.
A new educational unit at Trinity Methodist Church is dedicated.
The Chamber of Commerce awards prizes for the best Christmas decorations. Carl Hays is the winner.
1931: The new courthouse is finished at 1st and Adams. It still stands today and is currently going through renovation.
Reno County Courthouse - At Const. - 206 W. 1st - 1931. Photo courtesy of Steve Harmon.
The public is invited to Rivers Banks Plantation to view the blooming tulips. The area is now Rivers Banks Orchard Park.
Grain elevator capacity in the county reaches 10.5 million bushels.
Hutchinson Municipal Court is established, replacing justice of the peace.
Swift and Company expands its poultry and creamery on South Main.
July 31 sees Hutchinson elevators take in a record 967 cars of wheat in a single day.
Midwest Airlines begins passenger service to Kansas City and Pueblo, Colorado.
A jewel that still stands today in Hutchinson, the Fox Theatre opens, boasting the largest screen in Kansas.
Fox Theatre - 18 E. 1st - June 31st at Opening - 1931. Photo courtesy of Steve Harmon.
Carey Fibre Products and Hutchinson Egg Case Filler merged with nine other companies around the country to become Central Fibre Products. Carey is the president.
The junior college has 361 students, 50% more than when it started in 1928.
Natural Gas supplies are low on Oct. 31 and remain that way until Nov. 15.
1932: Street cars stop operating. The company operating them says street cars are finished and it will begin citywide bus service on established routes.
More than 3,000 pack Convention Hall for a performance during Farm and Home Week.
The Midland Hotel is torn down at 2nd and Main.
On Feb. 17, W.Y. Morgan, former Lt. Governor and publisher of the Hutchinson News for 37 years, dies.
W.Y. Morgan
More than 130 men are honored on Founders Day as being members of the YMCA.
A.W. McCandless steps away from the Board of Education. It ends 50 years of service to Hutchinson schools.
On Oct. 24, Dr. Harry Holiday, founder of the Hutchinson Municipal Band, dies.
Buhler waives poll tax and cuts water rates during the depression.
Ark Valley Interurban service ends.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Auxiliary is established in Hutchinson.
1933: The county suffers through record heat and drought.
Welfare agencies provide relief to the jobless in the county.
Buford Hardin becomes the new director of the Hutchinson Municipal Band.
As part of a federal works project, 4th Avenue is widened and plans are put in place to build a large viaduct over the railroad tracks. At the time, 4th Avenue was also U.S. 50.
Hutchinson New Viaduct West 4th 1935 (WPA Project). Photo courtesy of Steve Harmon.
With federal funds, City Park Commissioner R.B. McCarrol expands Carey Park with an expanded lagoon and other improvements. It also includes the purchase of Riverside Park adjacent to Main Street.
Emerson Carey, who did so much to build the city of Hutchinson and served many roles, died on Aug. 17, 1933. A fountain is built in Carey Park in his memory. It still stands today.
Emerson Carey died on Aug. 17, 1933.
The Rorabaugh Wiley Dry Goods store becomes Wiley’s after Edward Rorabaugh retires.
Wiley Bldg. - N.E. Cor. 1st & Main as it looks in the 1950s.
Another name well known to the area also became established as C.F. Wright retires from Pegues Wright Dry Goods. Henry Pegues becomes president.
1934: The 4H encampment building is constructed on the Kansas state fairgrounds, providing living quarters for more than 800 4H members during their state encampment event.
Kansas State Fair 4H Encampment Bldg. new 1934. Photo courtesy of Steve Harmon.
Gano Grain elevator expands to 3.3 million bushels.
Former President Herbert Hoover spoke in Hutchinson.
Record heat hits the area as the temperature surpasses 100 or higher for 52 straight days.
County milk producers go to court to object to a Hutchinson ordinance requiring grading and inspection of milk as a health measure.
Reno County becomes the state's largest oil producer.
A Nickerson beer stand is mysteriously destroyed by fire following a prayer session at a neighboring church.
Ida Johnson retires from teaching in Hutchinson after 40 years.
The Fleming Company establishes a wholesale grocery and warehouse distribution center in Hutchinson.
Kansas State Fair - 23rd & Main Airplane display - Feat. a Standard Oil Co. Ford Tri Motor - (199 made between 1925 - 1933, only 18 left). Photo courtesy of Steve Harmon.
1935: Haven streets are paved using federal funds. More than 800 people are employed during the work in Haven and the surrounding area as part of a federal project during the depression.
Reno County is covered in dust as the drought and dust storms continue. Then it starts to rain and the first hills are turned into mud. It rains so hard that most of the county is flooded. Crop loss is estimated at more than $300,000, or about $5.9 million today.
A measles epidemic hits the reformatory.
A sound you can still hear today, KWBW Radio went on the air. The station is now part of Eagle Radio, Online, Creative.
J.V. Elliott and Dale Gard open a new funeral home in the city.
C.W. Scruggs opens a new bottling plant in Hutchinson.
Western Foods is established making pickles, salad dressing and mustard.
1936: Carey Park is expanded again with new tennis courts, a second nine holes added to the golf course and a new fireplace in the picnic area.
Carey Park Boat House & Municipal Swimming Pool - 1930. Photo courtesy of Steve Harmon.
William Kelly of Kelly Milling dies.
Depression relief funds are used to pave Main Street in Buhler.
The 4th Avenue viaduct is completed as part of U.S. 50.
Forbes Magazine ranks Hutchinson as one of the top 10 cities in the U.S. for outstanding business improvement.
Hutchinson’s Walter Huxman is elected governor of Kansas.
Walter Huxman is elected governor of Kansas in 1936.
1937: R.B. McCarrol, who was so instrumental in making Carey Park what it is today, dies.
Annual Farm and Home Week celebrates its biggest year yet.
Roland Gunn is appointed director of the municipal band.
Development of the new boy scout camp begins and is named after former scout Jerry Jones.
Police confiscate 1,680 bottles of illegal booze.
The Haven Bank is held up and the bandits get away.
The gem of golf, not just in Hutchinson but all over the world, becomes a reality as Prairie Dunes opens.
Prairie Dunes Original Clubhouse 1937. Photo courtesy of Steve Harmon.
The state convention of the American Legion is held in Hutchinson with a giant parade downtown.
American Legion parade as part of the state convention.
The Hutchinson Herald begins Sunday delivery. That brings the number of weekly issues to 12.
Longtime civic and businessman Ed M. Moore died on Oct. 26.
1938: The Our Redeemer Lutheran Church opens at 12th and Elm.
The American National Bank purchases the Exchange National Bank at 1st and Main.
Hutchinson Municipal Airport Hangar with 5 Men and a Bi-Plane - c. 1930. Photo courtesy of Steve Harmon.
Quarantine signs go up all around Hutchinson after an outbreak of scarlet fever. South Hutchinson schools close because of a mumps outbreak.
Western Foods expanded again with the purchase of Senteney Wholesale. The facility begins producing fruit butter, peanut butter, preserves and jams.
The city and county are shut down by a rare April snowstorm with 12-foot drifts.
Half of the businesses in the small town of Abbyville are destroyed in a fire.
Five prisoners escape from the Hutchinson Reformatory. They are eventually captured in Kansas City, Arkansas and California.
1939: It’s still the focal point of Hutchinson Community College — Lockman Hall opened in 1939.
Hutch Juco Lockman Hall & Gowans Stadium Aerial - new from Northwest - 1938. Photo courtesy of Steve Harmon.
Elanor Roosevelt visits Hutchinson.
The U.S. Social Security office opens in Hutchinson.
First presentation of Handel's Messiah is performed at HutchCC.
The Hutchinson Junior Chamber of Commerce is established.
A clubhouse is built at Carey Lake, southeast of the salt plant. The building is eventually given to the American Legion. The clubhouse is then moved to Carey Park where it becomes the new clubhouse for the golf course.
New, more-modern schools are built at Avenue A and at Allen. Washington School is also built on West 10th Avenue.
Avenue A School. Photo courtesy of USD 308.
The Decades are brought to you by:
Hutchinson Funeral Chapel
Rothe Family Flooring
Hutchinson Public Library
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