"Bridging the Generations" The History of Old Randolph 1855 - 1960
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Historical Timeline of the City of Randolph 1855 Gardner Randolph lays claim near present day Randolph. 1856 First white men to enter Fancy Creek Valley after Gardner Randolph are Edward and Solomon Secrest, and Henry Shellenbaum. 1856 A weekly mail route is established between Marysville and Blue Rapids. 1856 J.K. Whitson and Randolph fight over Randolph's claim. This fight goes on for several years. 1857 Religious meetings are held at Gardner Randolph's house. 1860 J.K. Whitson wins the claim fight and changes the town of Randolph's name to Waterville. 1861 Waterville gets it's first sawmill. 1863 Henry Condray builds the first stone building in Waterville. 1863 Waterville occupies 11 acres. 1866 Gustav Ruthstrom builds the first business building in Waterville. 1868 A new town named Waterville is built 18 miles north of Waterville. A petition is sent to the state to change Waterville's name back to Randolph. 1870 The first telephone is used. 1871 The Wikander store is built. 1876 Waterville's name is changed back to Randolph. 1878 The Swedish Lutheran Mission is built. 1879 The Foster Lumber store is built. 1879 Randolph is struck by multiple tornadoes. 1879 The Methodist church is destroyed by a tornado. 1880 The Methodist Church is rebuilt. 1880 Randolph's population is now around 300. 1882 The Echo newspaper is founded. 1886 The Union Pacific Railroad is built. 1886 East Randolph is established when the Union Pacific Railroad is built one mile east of town. 1886 Randolph is incorporated as a third class city. 1887 The first telegraph is sent. 1888 The high school is built; 7 people attend that year. 1888 The newspaper The Echo is sold and the name is changed to The Randolph Enterprise. 1890 The last term in which both English and Swedish are taught in school. 1890 A grade school is built out of yellowish limestone. 1891 Izaac Moon purchases The Randolph Enterprise, weekly newspaper, from Mr. Colt. 1900 A 600 pound bell is ordered for the Methodist church. 1903 There is a disastrous flood. 1910 Randolph's population reaches 455. 1913 Electricity comes to Randolph. 1913 The outdoor movies come to Randolph. 1914 Harry Beckman opens a general store. 1915 A train wreck on the Fancy Creek Bridge kills 11 people and injures 30. 1918 Randolph signs a 20 year contract for electricity. 1927 Randolph raises money to build a swimming pool. 1928 A new bridge is built over Fancy Creek. 1929 A new high school is built. 1937 The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recommends building the Tuttle Creek Reservoir Dam. 1938 Plans for the dam are laid out. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers tells Congress they can build the dam for 27 million dollars. Just to begin the project takes 5 million dollars. The final cost is 85 million dollars. 1951 There is a devastating flood on Fancy Creek and other rivers in the area. 1952 The Tuttle Creek Reservoir Dam is started. 1953 The movie "The Tuttle Creek Story" is released. 1953 Citizens think they have the building of the dam stopped. 1954 "Big Dam Foolishness" signs travel through ten states. A quarter of a million dollars is spent trying to stop the dam. 1954 The last year that The Randolph Enterprise is printed. 1955 The Printing Office is moved to Leonardville and is called The Riley Countian. 1957 There are only 12 businesses open. 1958 The Citizen State Bank is moved to Manhattan. 1958 The train comes to Randolph and because of a flood is forced to back up all the way to Marysville. 1960 There is a big snowfall and Randolph floods because of the dam. 1960 The bridge is completed. It is the longest bridge in Kansas at the time (one mile long). 1960 "New" Randolph is established. 1963 The Tuttle Creek Reservoir Dam is dedicated. 1964 The Post Office in "new" Randolph opens June 1st.
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