100 years ago: Cold, wintry weather finally arrives in Lawrence

From the Lawrence Daily Journal-World for Dec. 23, 1913:

  • “A delayed winter is on the way at last. Something approaching a genuine winter prevailed here today, including a cold north wind and a persistent fall of snow beginning early this morning. Evidently Old Winter heard of Christmas coming and dropped around to wish the compliments of the season. Anyway, the weatherman saw in the little bluster that prevailed today the approach of a storm and forthwith warned the public that a cold wave was on the way. if the wind and snow continues it may be proper to refer to a Blizzard by morning.”
  • “All plans have been completed for the Second Annual Christmas Concert by the First Regimental Band. Director J. C. McCanless this morning announced the program which is to be played on this occasion. It is indeed a carefully selected program and the band is sure to score a triumph in this concert…. The band played to a full house last year and another should greet the musicians on Friday night.”
  • “The employees of the Lawrence Paper Manufacturing Company have been invited to be the guests of their employers at a concert to be given Wednesday afternoon in the inspection room, the largest room at the plant. The concert has been arranged by W. B. Dalton, himself an accomplished cellist, and numbers will be given by some of the best musicians in the city.”
  • “Pursuant to an order received last night at the local post office mail received at the office before 7:45 in the evening will go east the same night instead of being held until the early morning trains. The mail will be taken on Rock Island No. 36, which leaves Lawrence at 8:33. The order goes into effect immediately.”
  • “On the first day of January, when the parcel post in this country reaches its first birthday, the whole system so far as it relates to weights and rates of postage, will be revolutionized. A new school of rates will go into effect, and the weight limit will be increased.”
  • “Lawrence business houses and the Post Office are not the only places in which people are lined up waiting for a turn this week. There is another place in the city that is taking in from seven to ten thousand dollars per day. It is the office of the county treasurer. All day a line of tax payers waits in front of the window to get a chance at handing over to the county’s strong box the taxes for 1913. There is not a moment in the day that the office force is not busy looking up receipts and handing them out in return for the checks and bills of the taxpayers.”