Memories spring eternal ...

100 YEARS AGO (1907)

This is a a brief account of one of the most destructive fires that has occurred in Fort Scott in late years. Last night lightning struck the south barn, the largest structure at the Erwin-Piper Horse and Mule Market. Only the heroic efforts of the firemen, aided by the employees at the barn, together with a force of firefighters, which were augmented by the constant arrival of outsiders, prevented the adjoining buildings from being burned to the ground. The loss entailed will approximize $30,000 while the insurance will only reach about $22,000. Eighty-eight horses burned to death and 12 more will die or will be shot today.

The average value of horses is $200. J. M. Piper, of the firm, announced today that the company will rebuild.

Engineer E. W. Kells and conductor A. M. Johnson made a record breaking run from Cherokee to Fort Scott today with a heavy train, numbering 49 cars of livestock. They made the trip in one hour and thirty minutes, the fastest time ever made on that division.

This is the second time a train so large has ever been brought here from Cherokee.

75 YEARS AGO (1932)

When the Kansas City, Fort Scott & Gulf road was constructed the granting of its charter called for the name of Fort Scott as a part of the style name for the road, the intention being to construct the line to or obtain an outlet to the Gulf of Mexico. Later the name was changed by the company to Kansas City, Springfield & Memphis, but when criticism was made that the company was not living up to its charter when it eliminated the Kansas town from its name and the cation of the road was again changed to Kansas City, Fort Scott & Memphis, and remained so until its absorption by the Frisco in August 1901.

Henry Baseman, past commander of the Grand Army of the Republic post here, formerly with the Sixth Kansas Division, passed away at press time today at his home, 207 Hendricks Street. He was born in New York City in 1845. He was 87. Besides his wife he is survived by a daughter, Lillian Othick. Mr. Baseman was a gunsmith in his early years.

F. R. Shaffer, of Fort Scott, was elected president of the Kansas Department of Disabled American Veterans at a meeting in Topeka. Louis Carver, also of Fort Scott, was elected adjutant.

50 YEARS AGO (1957)

No publication.

25 YEARS AGO (1982)

No publication.

Editor's Note: Memories Spring Eternal is the expanded version of the Other Years, a feature appearing daily on the editorial page of The Tribune.

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