Name/Title
Fun In Ye Olden TimesScope and Content
Two pages of "stories" (gossip) from 1880. Typed on non-archival paper, the pages appear to be a carbon copy due to the blue color of the print. These pages inclued "The Salt Well", a story about Richard Graham, the clothier and John Carhart's pursuit of romance.
WAUPUN - SUPLIMENTARY MATERIAL.
FUN IN YE OLDEN TIMES
THE SALT WELL. County History. 1880.
"Thirty years ago, or more, heavy merchandise was very costly in Waupun, owing to heavy freight rates. Salt, in particular, has regarded by the farmers as a most burdensome necessity on this account. When, therefore, on one bright winter's morning it was announced that a salt well of great strength had been struck on Dr. Butterfield's lot, a perfect furor of excitement ensued. The glorious news spread far and wide, and the usuaslly quiet little village was soon crowded with an excited populace, who had come in iron miles around. Salt water from the rich bonanza well was handed freely around; was sipped by everyone and pronounced by many who professed themselves judges, to be equal to water from the famous Syracuse wells. It was round in every store; was carried home in bottles; boiled down by many to test its strength; and analyzed by a village expert, and found to contain soda, magnesia and other ingredients, and a very large percentage of pure salt. Property rose at a bound two to three hundred percent, and as the location of the State Prison was still an unsettled matter, a meeting of the citizens was called and a committee appointed to draw up and forward to Madison a full statement of the rich discovery. which was thought would be a powerful lever to use with the prison locating committee in favor of Waupun. But, on account of a private dispatch, this letter was not sent, and, when the citizens found out that fact, a howl of indignation went up against the Postmaster, who was denounced as a traitor. Immediately, steps were taken to oust him from his office, and the excitement grew more intense than ever.
Matters finally began to look serious, as property was advancing, leases were being made and various improvements planned, and the secret was let out that a young Scotch clerk, who is now
an old Scotch hardware merchant, had poured half a barrel of rock-salt into the famous well. Next day not a man could be found who would acknowledge that he had been sold, but a peep into several woodsheds would have disclosed dozens of tin pans spoiled in boiling down the water from the salt well."
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"Richard Graham, the clothier, was very bashful in his earlier days. He therefore, was made the butt of numerous practical jokes. On one occasion he invited a friend to a New Year's dinner. The wags of the village issued between one hundred and two hundred invitations to the best people in the vicinity to appear at his house to dine on New Year's day, signing Mr. Graham's name. Enough of them came to till the house, much to the chagrin end consternation of all, as there was not enough food in the house to feed one-quarter of those present. However, necks had not begun to grow stiff in those days, and the joke was taken good-naturedly."
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"John Carhart came to Waupun unmarried, and soon after began to pay marked attention to one of the village belles. Occasionally, he prolonged his visits well into the night. Two run-loving Scotchmen who afterward became prominent business men, stretched a rope across the street on which John would return, and attached to it a man of straw. This straw man was placed in the path, and the boys posted themselves on house-tops on either side of the street, each grasping one end of the rope. .Just as Mr. Carhart reached the spot, the rope was jerked and the straw man shot into the air past his head. The sight of a man springing into the air like a rocket was so unusual that the frightened lover took to his heels and was never seen to pass that spot alone after dark.Acquisition
Accession
2016.0083Source or Donor
Waupun Historical SocietyAcquisition Method
Collected by Staff
