The Little Blue River threatens the bridge leading into Pauline in March of 1966. Photo is from the collection of Eleanor Thaden Poen, courtesy of Donna Knight.

  

Weather Impacts River, Inspires Satire

The river threatens to overtake the Missouri Pacific Railroad bridge in the early 1900s. Heavy rains inspired an unknown newspaper correspondent to satirize a popular poem, "April Rain," by Robert Loveman:

"Pauline – It isn't raining rain to us, It's raining muddy roads. In every chilly drop we see, Dirty rigs, and heavy loads. Clouds of blue enshroudd the folks, And overrides their joys. It isn't raining rain to us, It's raining grief to boys." – "Antioch and Vicinity," Friday morning, Dec. 26, 1914, Adams County Democrat.

The following three black-and-white photographs on this page date to the early 1900s; they are from the Benny Leighfield collection, provided courtesy of the late Doris Evans Alexander.

The Little Blue's In The News!

"The first fatality at the gravel-pit swimming hole occurred Sunday when Russell Partridge, a 14-year-old boy from Hastings was drowned on the Ben Zogg farm about 2 ½ miles east of town." –"Pauline," The Hastings Democrat, Thursday, July 8, 1926

"The following families enjoyed a picnic dinner on the river east of Pauline Sunday: Edgar Mays, Eric Jones, Wm. Palmer’s, Roy Anderson’s, Clarence Anderson’s, John Brown’s, Emmett Gidding’s, of Ayr, Glenn Riffe’s of near Hastings, and Ivor Jones of near Doniphan."  –"Pauline," The Hastings Democrat, Thursday, July 8, 1926

"The Pauline-Hastings highway is closed now during the building of a new bridge over the Blue, about a half of a mile north of town." –"Pauline," The Hastings Democrat, Thursday, August 26, 1926

"Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Lofquist attended the annual picnic of the Saathoff family, on the Blue River near Spring Ranch Sunday." –"Pauline", The Hastings Democrat, Thursday, September 9, 1926

"The Missouri Pacific motor was about two and one-half hours late Tuesday morning, due to washout as a result of the Monday night’s rain." –"Pauline", The Hastings Democrat, Thursday, Sept. 16, 1926

"Miss Marie Gartner, teacher of the Pauline grammar room took her pupils for a hike to the river Friday afternoon." –"Pauline," The Hastings Democrat, Thursday, April 27, 1928

The banks of the Little Blue were a popular picnic destination in days gone by. Shown above is a group of ladies enjoying themselves in 1916. From left are Margaret and Mary Ellen Jones, Hazel Jones with baby Dorothea, Ann Jones Bourne and Blanche Slater. Photo is courtesy of Kathy Post Seeman."The Pauline Boosters Sunday school class will hold its regular monthly business meeting and social in the form of a wiener roast near the river on the Wm. Palmer farm Friday evening."  –"PAULINE ITEMS" By Mrs. Harvey P. Jones, The Hastings Democrat, Thursday, July 26, 1928

"The King's Daughters will hold a picnic Thursday afternoon, August the second, near the river on the Wm. Palmer farm, east of town." –"PAULINE ITEMS" By Mrs. Harvey P. Jones, The Hastings Democrat, Thursday, July 26, 1928

"Miss Edna Osgood, teacher of school Dist No. 7, will close the school year Friday afternoon with a picnic held on the river." –Pauline", The Hastings Democrat, Thursday, May 15, 1930

"Pupils of the primary rooms, with their teacher, Eleanor Husman, enjoyed a hike to the river Thursday morning. After reaching their destination the group enjoyed a wiener roast. Mary Parker and Ethel Swigart assisted Miss Husman." –"Pauline News Notes" by a Staff Correspondent, The Morning Spotlight, Friday, May 27, 1938

"Pauline, May 30 – Faculty members and patrons of the Pauline school enjoyed their year-end picnic on the river at the Ben Zogg farm Friday afternoon. A basket dinner was enjoyed at noon and ice cream and cake in the afternoon. Two ball games were played in the afternoon." –"Pauline News Notes" by a Staff Correspondent, The Morning Spotlight, Tuesday, May 31, 1938

"Ice cutting began Monday morning on the Blue River near Crystal Lake by Newton Hoxman and crew of workers. Due to the mild weather, the ice harvest is later than previous years. It measures about 8 inches in thickness." –"From the Leader Files," by Glenda Shaw, 75 years ago, 1941, Blue Hill Leader, Feb. 11, 2016

The Little Blue River bridge north of Pauline was initially built for horse-and-buggy traffic, as seen in this undated photo from the Jones family collection. Photo is courtesy of Kathy Post Seeman.

Word of Truth

"And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb." –Revelation 22:1