Old Home Town – 100 years ago

From the Lawrence Daily World for May 22, 1909: “E.E. Westfall, representing a company of Lawrence men, has leased more than 2,000 acres near Vinland on which they expect to prospect for gas. … Meanwhile, people living in and near Baldwin have been excited the past week because of the discovery of gas in small quantities on the farm of L.J. Stevenson, three-fourths of a mile northwest of the depot. …Wheat continued its upward course today, again setting a record high for price, $1.32 per bushel. … More than 500 people watched as local poet Harry Kemp entered a lion cage at the carnival last night and read poetry to a group of lions. At one point, one of the animals let out a loud roar causing Kemp to jump about six feet and look for the exit. Kemp said he always had wanted to find out about Daniel in the lions’ den and felt fortunate to escape unharmed.”