From the Lawrence Daily Journal-World for Sept. 7, 1914:

• “The heaviest rain that has fallen in Douglas county in five years fell last night accompanied by a severe electric storm. The rainfall was 5.79 inches. The storm which commenced at about 12 o’clock last night did a great deal of damage to the telephone and electric light wires. The electric storm was severe, but there have been no reports of houses or other buildings that were struck by lightning. A great number of electric light fuses in the town were burned out and part of the town was without light for the latter half of the night and until 10 o’clock this morning. The electric light switch between Massachusetts and New Hampshire streets on Seventh was burned out and the most of the east side of town was without light or power until 10 o’clock this forenoon. Heavy rain fell from 12 o’clock until 8:30 this morning…. All of the small creeks in the neighborhood were overflowing and it made traffic for teams on the roads this morning impossible. The streets of the town were flooded until late this morning, the water in some places being two feet deep according to reports. The general business of the town was delayed for about two hours on account of the rain and the damage done by the electrical storm…. Many of the people of the town have been complaining of their cisterns being dry, but this morning they find that they have overflowed and many basements are flooded. One of the good things that was accomplished by the rain was the street wash. All of the streets were flooded and when the water had disappeared they made an excellent appearance…. On Ninth street between Indiana and Louisiana sediment has been washed there from Windmill hill until it was piled up even with the curbing. This wash came for almost half a mile down the hill…. The local telephone companies reported that there was little damage to the lines with the exception that a number of phones were burned out by the lightning. The local phones were all that experienced any inconvenience. The long distance phones were in their usual working order.”
• “The train service was badly demoralized today and those who were traveling or wanted to travel were compelled to wait until the tracks were cleared in a manner so that service could be resumed. The exceedingly heavy rain last night did much damage to the Santa Fe tracks in the vicinity of DeSoto and Wilder and all of the Santa Fe trains this morning were greatly delayed…. It was reported here at the depot this morning that all Santa Fe trains would use the Union Pacific lines until the track could be cleared. The Union Pacific tracks are in pretty good shape and all of their trains are operated today and only a short time behind the regular schedule…. This arrangement has made some pretty busy people on the Union Pacific lines because the Rock Island, Santa Fe and their own trains were all using the tracks today.”
• “All of the county and city officers are taking a holiday today celebrating Labor Day. None of the county officers will be in their offices at any time today; they are retiring from business for a day and are going to forget that they have work to do. The city officers are also celebrating Labor Day by retiring from their routine duties. No police court was held this morning and the trials that commonly would have been held were set for tomorrow evening. All of the banks of the city have closed their doors today…. The barber shops all closed at noon today and will remain closed for the rest of the day.”
• “The Douglas County Fair will open tomorrow and will last four days. The shows are all set and ready for business. The concessions are all about ready for the opening…. All shows and attractions will open tonight on account of this being a national holiday…. It is hoped and everything points to the fact that there will be large displays of stock, farm products, fruit, and vegetables of all kinds. The premiums are many and well worth the consideration and approval of all.”