100 years ago: Watkins planning impressive home

From the Lawrence Daily World for March 9, 1910: When J.B. Watkins fenced in his tract of ground to the east of the KU campus about a year ago, and forbade the students from traversing the path they had followed for years, a great howl went up. Now the reason comes to light. Mr. Watkins intends building upon his land east of the KU electrical building the finest residence in Kansas. Final plans are not known but the site is one of the finest to be found in the state. . . . Increases in rail passenger rate will hurt KU football from the standpoint of having fans take trains here and travel by the team to away games. . . . Mrs. Helen Grenfell arrived here and has begun lecturing She is a nationally prominent advocate of women’s suffrage and there are some vicious men who seem intent on preventing that. Mrs. Grenfell is a charming and intelligent person and is presenting vital data in his visit here. . . . W.F. Harmon, a prosperous farmer living north of town, last Monday brought in what was probably a record-breaking load of hogs. His load contained five hogs which weighed a total of 1,855 pounds and brought $9.40 making a total of $174.47.