I have some vague remembrances of a woman to whom we referred as "Aunt" Kate Rothrock. I don't actually remember seeing her, but I must have because I mowed her yard at least once, so she probably paid me. But I can't picture her in my mind. She lived in a big, old Victorian home behind Dr. Hays house, and as I recall, when the neighborhood kids would go "trick-or-treating", they would avoid knocking on that door. Maybe there were vampire bats and ghosts living in the parapets of the old house. No one I knew ever saw her walking the streets of Cedar Vale nor working in the big yard.
Who was she? Did she have a husband? Who built that beautiful old house. Did she die? Maybe her body is still lying in a deserted closet somewhere in the house, or down in the basement???
I know that some of you will know "Aunt Kate", and be able to tell us about her, and answer some of the questions I have had for years.
6 comments:
OK CV fans, somebody must know about this person. Everybody asleep out there?
Elyn and I are on an extended road trip, first to Boulder, CO and now to Irvine, CA to see Elyn's son, daughter-in-law and our beautiful grandchild Sophie. We're having fun and will return to Santa Fe on Sunday.
Yes Wayne, I lived just across the alley from her and "The Castle" during my teenage years. She wore ankle length clothing and high button shoes--as befitted a matron of the early 20th century. She was not an extrovert and stayed pretty much to herself. She was pleasant to me and offered a smile when she saw me. My Dad would occassionaly do little chores for her and she gave him a bottle of homemade elderberry wine from her celler. I was in the house once and have memories of heavy Victorian furniture and velvet drapes and darkness. Mr Rothrock was an early day entrepeneur in Cedar Vale--I forget what business--probably a banker. I don't know if they built the house, but I think so.
My Grandma (Anna Pate) had dishes she said came from Rothrock's store, and some she said Aunt Kate gave her when she would visit. My sister, Billy, or I, no doubt have the dishes now. Mr. Rothrock might have been a banker, but I'm sure they also had a general merchandise store. Remember Dr. Hays' nurse, Albie. I beleive she and her husband bought that house. Is that right, Don ?
Maybe some of the older timers like Loyd Call would remember farther back with more history of the Rothrocks and the house??
From "A History of Cedar Vale, Kansas, One Hundred and Five Years" published in 1975....
" Other Businesses - During these years (1910-1923) were Lem Pumpelly's Auto Repair, Jones' Meat Market, E. J. Clark's Jewelry Store, Spark's Delicatessen, Gib Hill's Chili Parlor, Rothrock's Store, Frank and Byron Radcliff's Automobile Agency and Repair (Model T Fords), Sartin's Service Station (they also bought hides), G. H. Schultz' Maxwell Agency, and E. J. Fisher's Insurance Agency. Still others were Burgner-Bowman Lumber Company, Sloans' Hardware, Hills' Meat Market, Leonard's Drug Store, Dr. J. R. Stone's Garage, Early and Bishop's Clothing Store, Hay's Barber Shop, Doctor Guldner's Veterinary Office, Clarence Nelson's Photography and several livery stables."
A portion of an article by Max and Alby Ferguson from "History of Chautauqua County" published in 1987. "While in Cedar Vale we owned and lived in the Kate Rothrock home, which we enjoyed. We had the parkay and hardwood floors refinished and Max and Ordie Littrell did much carpentry work in the home, adding wooden paneling to the walls along with painting the interior and exterior. The home had three beautiful fire places which we enjoyed during the winter months." Max and Alby owned and operated Ferguson Western and Mercantile Store until 1976 when they closed it out, sold their home and moved to Sedan.
Lots of good information here. When I get some time (after I catch up with stuff piled up here in Santa Fe), I'll do some research and maybe get lucky and be able to construct a fairly complete bio of the Rothrocks.
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