From the Lawrence Daily Journal-World for Aug. 6, 1912:

• “The deal for the purchase of the old Usher homestead by the local chapter of Beta Theta Pi has been closed and the deed to the property officially recorded with the Douglas County Register of Deeds yesterday afternoon. The boys have held an option on the property for some time but it is now taken up and they are the owners of the property. The Betas are planning to convert this home into one of the finest frat houses in Lawrence. It will be completely refurnished and repaired before the boys take possession. As yet it is rather uncertain when this will be done. They may move in this fall and they may remain in their old house another year. It is understood that the Kappa Sigs are anxious to secure the old Beta house for their home.”
• “Two horses getting stuck in the mud about five o’clock yesterday afternoon attracted a crowd and tied up street car traffic for about fifteen minutes. The horses were drawing a Lawrence Transfer Company wagon heavily loaded with lumber. The wagon stuck in some wet earth that had been piled in the trench made for the sewer on Warren [Ninth] street and a second team of horses was needed to pull it out.”
• “The season of the big juicy watermelon is here and fine ones are very plentiful on the market. They are selling at prices ranging from fifteen to forty cents apiece. The melons are of good quality. Home grown grapes are already in market and are bringing ten cents a pound. The grapes are of the Moore’s Early variety. Home grown muskmelons have been in market for about two weeks. These sell at two for fifteen cents. Eggplants bring ten and fifteen cents apiece. Lima beans bring twenty-five cents a quart. Fine large sweet potatoes are selling at five cents a pound…. Apples, peaches and corn are now very plentiful. Peaches sell at forty cents a peck and corn at ten cents a dozen. Tomatoes are also plentiful and are of a good quality. Two and one-half cents a pound is the price asked. The yellow or pear tomatoes bring twenty-five cents a peck.”