The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Years ago when Margie Barber and I were discussing early history of this township, she gave me this history of the area-commemoration of the town of Media's 125th birthday, these articles written by Faree Mathers are being shared.--Virginia Ross
Part XIII
Businesses
The first newspaper was the Media Record edited Nov. 1, 1894 at the price of $1.50 per year by Will Herman Herbertz. Some of the news items and advertisements copied from this paper were these:
"S. W. Lincon, M.D., recently bought the Krohn property on Main Street.
D. W. McCartney's cottage on Ellison Street is now receiving the finishing touches. He expects to occupy it in the near future.
The farmers who are cribbing corn report a yield of 20-45 bushels per acre. Early corn quality is only fair. Late corn is badly damaged by being worm eaten and will be injurious for stock. Some claim it will be fatal to horse feeding.
L.A. Pendarvis, dealer in dry goods, groceries, boots, shoes, hats, caps, salt, etc. We carry a line of hardware, stoves, and tinware, barbed wire, nails, etc.
Santa Fe Route Time Table had 3 west bound and 3 east bound trains leaving the station daily.
This being an election year, the following was published: How Are You Going to Cast Your Vote:
Republican ticket-results-bread and butter
Democratic ticket-Death and destruction
Prohibition ticket-East wind
Populist ticket-Dynamite and red pepper
Look to the results of your action on Nov. 6, 1894"
There was once a large hardware store across the street north of the Town Hall that was owned and operated by George Cooper and later by Jim Callow. A large two-story building stood on the corner of Wever and Main Street. The upper story was used as a Recreation Hall. Shows, entertainments and banquets were held there. Many medicine show came to town and showed for a week. The lower floor was used as a department store which sold nearly everything needed in the home. A drug store was in one room and the post office was located in one corner of the store.
At first there were two hotels in town: John Suydam operated one and Noma Jas Gram the other. Then Dan Campbell and family came and accommodated the transits that came to town.
Two large buildings built from bricks made at Media' brickyard which was west of town were equipped and used to dry and test corn by E. G. Lewis and Co. This was one of the largest seed corn companies in this part of the country. One order was filled and shipped to Argentina, South America. This company went out of business in the summer of 1927.
Media had two saloons at one time. One of the saloon keepers was Noma Jas Gram. He called his saloon "The Eagle" and the other man was a Mr. Barry. Later Ed Kane and Norm Grossman operated taverns.
Media had a jail which stood northwest of the depot. Beside the law offenders many times it was occupied by tramps. These tramps traveled up and down the railroad. They would want some place to spend the night so were given free lodging in the jail. Some times the tramps traveled alone and sometimes in groups. They would bum a ride on the train or walk. They would go all over town asking for a handout. Many of them were very tough looking characters.