Out West - October 9, 1873

[marycatherine]

Where was the farm where Lenore operated her animal rescue?

Lenore Cawker had always had dreams of becoming an artist, but her commitment to animals took her life in another direction. She was a member of the WHS Board of Directors and she ran and financed what was then called the city pound single-handedly from 1906 to 1930. During those years, animals were cared for in her parent’s barn, which was fitted to care for animals, as well as other properties Lenore had purchased as the need arose.

From Wisconsin Humane Society

[cawkercityhistory]

Here is a link to a fabulous photo of Lenora Cawker in the Wisconsin Historical Society Photo collection:

http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/whi/ful ... t%3DSEARCH

And here is a link to the Cawker home:

http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/whi/ful ... t%3DSEARCH

They also have two photos of the Cawker Building:

http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/whi/ful ... t%3DSEARCH

http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/whi/ful ... t%3DSEARCH

[marycatherine]

The Cawker residence in DePere would have been Lenore's grandfather's - right? I'm curious about the farm in Wauwatosa from which she operated her animal rescue. (Isn't Lenore a beautiful woman?)

[cawkercityhistory]

I am not exactly sure, but I think that sounds correct. I had always assumed the animal shelter was run from the Cawker residence in Milwaukee. There is a complete family history in the Milwaukee Public Library written by the son of Hortense, daughter of Pauline, daughter of E. Harrison Cawker. It would have a lot of answers, but I have not tried to get it through inter library loan yet (if it is possible). I have contacted the son of the author (web page for Sarge the Poet) who has his father's files, but it is in storage and unaccessable at present.

I would like to know more about the animal shelter and Lenora too, so please keep me posted. Thanks!

[cawkercityhistory]

Today is the 118th Birtday of our most famous citizen: silent movie actress Claire Winsor seen here from the 1927 MGM film "Foreign Devils."

According to Hollywood, Claire was born in Cawker City on April 14, 1892, 1895, 1897, 1898 and again in 1901 (for her English audience). About six or seven years ago, I decided to put the matter to rest and find her birth announcement in our two local newspapers. I began in October 1885 when her parents married in Davenport, Iowa, and headed west. It was not until I had reached January, 1895 that I found an announcement that the Cronk family had arrived in Cawker City to open a general merchandise store. A little more detective work confirmed that, for the history book, Clara Viola Cronk was born only once in the little town of Marvin, Phillips County, Kansas. In 1885, Marvin was the end station of the north branch of the Central Branch of the Missouri Pacific Railroad which followed the north branch of the Solomon River. It was always hoped that the railroad would be completed all the way to Denver. It never was. Cawker is about 60 miles east of Marvin, located at the fork of the Solomon River.

[cawkercityhistory]

This photo shows the Cronk family store in Cawker which they ran from 1895 to 1920. It is the double store front on the corner. Originally named the Cronk and Fearing store, in 1902, Franklin Fearing retired from the partnership and Frank Garrett bought into the business. In 1920, George Cronk retired from the business and moved to California where Claire had already gotten a break in the silent movie industry. The store was continued by Frank Garrett's son, Harold, until his untimely death in 1952.

[just1paul]

This photo shows the Cronk family store in Cawker which they ran from 1895 to 1920. It is the double store front on the corner. Originally named the Cronk and Fearing store, in 1902, Franklin Fearing retired from the partnership and Frank Garrett bought into the business. In 1920, George Cronk retired from the business and moved to California where Claire had already gotten a break in the silent movie industry. The store was continued by Frank Garrett's son, Harold, until his untimely death in 1952.

Why was his death untimely, what happened?

[cawkercityhistory]

Harold Garrett was born in 1902 and died tragically in an outomobile accident in 1962.

The town of Cawker City had two unique natural wonders for the Kansas Paririe. To the west, a grove of centrury old oak trees which became Lincoln Park where the annual Chautauquas were hled; and Waconda Springs, three miles east of Cawker. Here are a few historic photos of Waconda Springs and the hotel which became so famous. Since the devestating flood of 1903, which greatly impacted Topeka and Kansas City, efforts were made to tame the Solomon. Planning for the new dam was completed as a WPA project, but was not realized until 1969. The beautiful hotel was bulldozed into Waconda Springs and the entire site lies at the bottom of Waconda Lake!

[cawkercityhistory]

[cawkercityhistory]

I think this photo and the one of the Indians from 1876, were taken by M. A. Kleckner. He was one of the earliest photographers in the area. He lived in or near Osborne in 1907. I still need to do some more research on him. I know that he photographed an airship built by Dr. A. N. Leinbach of Bethlehem, Pa about 1864 which was published in an eastern newspaper in March of 1908, but which was credited to the wrong photographer! He photographed many of the sod houses in our part of Kansas and some of his Indian photos were staged with "extras" who where not "native."

[cawkercityhistory]

These original sod houses can be seen in the background of the previous photo.

[cawkercityhistory]

[cawkercityhistory]

This is my personal favoite photo of the Springs. The horse and carriage give you a sense of scale. The photographer is looking north and is probably standing on the opposite bank of the Solomon River.



This photo was probably taken in 1879 when the railroad was completed to Cawker City. The newspaper reported that the delegation went out to see the springs after they arrived in Cawker. There seems to ba a whole series of photos taken at this time and I think this is one of them.



The bath house was one of the earliest buildings erected at the springs.

[cawkercityhistory]

This is the first of five photos of the "Great Spirit Springs" from our Roy Peaslee Collection. Roy lived just east of Glen Elder (the neighboring town 6 miles east of Cawker). In 1900, Roy acquired a new "Vive Camera" and set about learing the art of photography. He built himself a portable box to contain his camera and all his equipment for developing and making prints from the 4 1/2" square, glass negative plates. He set about photographing family and neighbors at home and at social gatherings as well as at Waconda Springs and Lincoln Park. Unfortunately, before reaching his 21st birthday, Roy died of T.B. on February 19, 1904. His camera, equipment and over 250 glass negatives were lovingly packed away in the attic and forgotten. Recently, our little museum acquired the collection and are in the process of making the images available to the public for viewing. The special case Roy built, still contains everything just as he left it--unused chemicals and all.

[cawkercityhistory]

This photo by Roy Peaslee, shows the Springs at least two years before G. F. Abrahams established "The Waconda Springs Sanitarium." Many changes were made at that time to create a first class resort.