By Nancy Burgess
This article first appeared in the Prescott Herald in 1903, and was later reprinted in the December 23, 1949, Prescott Evening Courier.
Christmas was celebrated by the people of Skull Valley and the Kirkland section Friday night by a big ball given in the school house two miles below the eating house at Skull Valley. People were there from all over that section and the affair was one of the most pleasant we have ever attended. Our readers have doubtless heard of "hog-killing times" well, that was one, if there ever was one.
The Herald man and wife went down on the freight, arriving at Skull Valley, where they stayed until time to go to the dance. They were met there by Joe Rudy, at whose solicitation the trip was made, and taken to the school house in a light vehicle. Arrived there it was nothing but one continuous round of pleasure, lasting until the return trip was made the following afternoon in the friendly freight.
The musicians, who went from Prescott, arrived a little late for the people of that section, who begin to dance early and quit early -- in the morning. Until the arrival of the music those on the outside, around the big camp fire, amused themselves with several dog fights, in which the white dog always came off victorious. Of course there were no ladies outside, for ladies of the place would not witness a dog fight. At last the "fiddler" hove in sight astride his fast horse and everything went well. The dancing commenced before nine o'clock, which is very late for the Skull Valley and Kirkland people to start the hop.
The affair was given by big A. J. Stapp, one of the most popular young men of the valley, who would rather dance than to eat, and he is an eater with a record, of which we will testify for we watched him stow away cake when that part of the program was announced. He calls for all dances, and inevitably dances while calling. He is an expert caller and goes at it in the good old ways, not often encountered nowadays. One of his favorite sets started off in this manner: "Swing your partner like swinging on the gate; swing them around and pull your freight," meant to "grand right and left." All the time he called he sung the words, keeping time with toes and heels. That man Stapp is a whole show all by himself. He has many friends and is considered an honest, hard working young man. He is now building a new house, and when completed Stapp will never live in it alone, for a certain pretty girl, Miss Annie Bently, stepdaughter of William Brophy, section foreman at Skull Valley, will occupy it with him. It is an open secret that they will be married within the next thirty days. They are both excellent young people and have the best wishes of the community in their coming wedding.
Just as usual, we have wandered wide of the subject, but will get back again. Although the school house is small, the floor was in fair condition for dancing, and the round dances were hugely enjoyed. The round dances came every other dance, as quadrilles were in demand. The violinists were allowed very little time for resting, as the dances were announced in quick succession. Several pounds of candles, apparently, were whittled on the floor to keep it smooth. The desks had been arranged around the room on both sides for seats, all of which were filled so many people were there.
At midnight the fiddlers closed their tunes and all enjoyed lunch. The big stove had been utilized for boiling the coffee, which had been put on to boil at 11 o'clock in two coal oil cans. The aroma from the boiling coffee had made everyone good and anxious to test its flavor. When getting the coffee out to put in the cans we heard Stapp tell one of the assistant cooks to "put in lots and make her good and strong." "She" was "good and strong," all right, and very richly flavored. When all was ready for the feast, a boy passed the tin cups, made from condensed milk cans, around in a flour sack, each person diving into the sack for a cup. There were plenty cups for everyone. The coffee, milk and sugar was served by boys, who went around with the different articles. Then came the sandwiches in big platters. Cake of several varieties followed, each cake better than the former. The boys kept coming until the benches were piled with cake and other good things. Stapp passed the pickles around in a bucket, from which the succulent relishes were taken by means of the blade of a pocket knife. That lunch was enjoyed as much as any lunch could have been under any circumstances. There was an abundance of everything. Mr. Stapp is a famous provider. Good thing he has had so much practice, for he will soon have a better opportunity to provide.
After lunch the dancing was started up again and merry feet beat time on the floor until five o'clock in the morning. Every person in the room had a fine time. Jokes were passed back and forth the whole time. Not a thing came up to mar the pleasure of the night. We have attended hundreds of dances, both in cities and in the country, but can truthfully say that we never attended one where everything passed off nicer than the one at Skull Valley. The people there are hospitable and jolly and believe in having fine times among themselves. We were most hospitably treated and received many kind invitations to visit with the people in the valley. Some day we shall take pleasure in accepting some of the invitations.
Reporter's Notes
Van Dickson, the expert on ropeology, was one of the chief gents at the dance. He seemed to be a favorite with the ladies and swung them around in so poetical a manner that these few lines suggested themselves to the writer:
In the quadrille, how old Dickson
Went hog wild with pure delight,
As he swung the laughing maidens
First to left and then to right.
Up and down, like a jack-knife,
Dickson's legs would seem to go;
Beating jig time on the beeswax
First with heel and then with toe.
Van was surely a "corkerino" and was at that dance for pure enjoyment. The ladies were given an opportunity several times to choose their partners and as many as seven would take after Van at once. Nor more than six ever took after the Herald man at one time that he can remember anything about. Possibly his diminutive size and quiet manners kept him in the background.
Joe Rudy behaved himself pretty well, although he indulged in flirting a little more than was necessary. He was neck and neck with Bert Jackson for the favors of a certain young belle. It is hard to tell which of the two will win out. Bert says that there is nothing to it but him, but Joe thinks differently. Each has his rope ready to throw on the prize at any time the opportunity presents itself.
Grant Carter was not dancing every dance, but lost no time in telling some big stories to several of the boys from Williamson valley. He said that he had about the finest hogs at his place ever raised in the world, and to prove it said that one of them weighed 2300 pounds at the age of six months. Grant really believes that he raised that hog. He went home pretty early for his wife was there and would not allow him to get too fresh with the girls.
Charley Evans, the butcher, was there with both feet. He engaged two young ladies for every dance and then had a hard time to clear himself or to get partners toward the end of the night. He rolled them high and never missed but one dance, and that was the one after supper. He had eaten so much he could not walk, to say nothing of dance. Mrs. Evans had lots of trouble with him all night.
The music was furnished by Geo. Crose and son, Howard, of Prescott, and was as good as a person would want to dance to. They were kept going all night. The instruments were violin and organ.
Bert Ehle was there with both feet when anything was going on out of the usual. If he missed any dances it was because he could not catch a lady.
Those present were: Messrs. and Mesdames Chas. Evans, Chas. Miller, Chester Stapp, Joe Dickson, Tom Howell, Grant Carter, J.R. Caldwell and D.D. McDonald; Mesdames John Dickson, Wm. Cooper, M. B. Langley and Rachael Miller; Misses Annie Bentley, Clara Dickson, Maud Robinson, Hattie Koontz, Cressie Chart, Nellie Marlow, Dave and Lillie Miller; Messrs. Bert Jackson, Chas. Young, Jake Koontz, Van Dickson, W. F. Stapp, Bert Ehle, Ernest Marlow, O. Ansley, Wm. Dickson, Duff Dickson, John Maison, Aaron Stull, Roy Redding, Robert Dickson, Harry Dickson, Fred Miller, Herb and James Cook.
Notes of the Trip
During the time we were in the Skull valley and Kirkland section we learned many things of interest to our readers. Christmas was observed fittingly everywhere we went and signs of the good times were evident on every hand.
At Skull valley station, where the railroad men eat their dinner, we were very hospitably entertained by Mrs. Wm. Brophy and her daughter, Miss Annie Bentley. Mrs. Brophy's three children, Frank, Tina and Edward, had a pretty little Christmas tree trimmed and filled with little presents standing in one corner of the dining room. In the evening the dozen little wax candles were lit and the tree shone forth in a most cheerful manner. Santa Claus did not appear in person, but sent his agents ahead with presents for the little folks. A splendid dinner was served at the house that day. Mr. Brophy stands well with the railroad people and is considered a good road builder and repairer.
At Kirkland, the people had spent Christmas as American people love to do. There was a Christmas tree at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Kuns, given in honor of their little daughter, Edith, who is 6 years of age. The Earnharts, Platts and Mrs. Collins and little daughter were at the celebration. Old Santa remembered all of them and they went home feeling happier than if they had not enjoyed the tree. He was not there in person, because the rats had chewed up his wig and he would not go before the people without the usual facial adornment. All of the Kirkland people were remembered by Santa as far as we could learn. Another tree was held at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Belknap, in honor of their son Carroll, who is going on 12 years of age. All who were there enjoyed it very much. There was a magic lantern exhibition at the Kuns residence before the distribution of presents.
There is an excellent school at Kirkland, presided over by Miss Inez B. Fisher, who is a most successful teacher. There are now eighteen children who attend regularly; a short time ago there were twenty-three.
We were hospitably entertained at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Evans, near Kirkland. The entertainment was a little too hospitable, for such a nice breakfast was provided by Mr. and Mrs. Charley we could not tear ourselves away in time to catch the morning passenger, therefore did not get back until later in the afternoon on the freight, which was several hours late.
The whole trip was most pleasant, and will always be remembered with pleasure. We met none but nice people and were treated royally.
(Nancy Burgess is the City of Prescott Historic Preservation Specialist.)
Sharlot Hall Museum Photograph Call Number: (pb1467i4). Reuse only by permission.
In this 1895 picture George Crose and his family look too small to pick up the instruments, but by 1903 George and his son Howard (third from right with trombone) supplied the music for Skull Valley's festive Christmas which included story telling, eating, dancing and a little courting.