Cherryvale

Notice 06-09-2026 : The Consumer Confidence Report covering 2025 is now available on the website. You can find it under News and Notices. 1872 First school was built near Fourth and Carson Streets. Miss Mary Greenfield taught the first class in the summer of 1873. 1873 The first major fire to damage the town happens. First flour mill is established. The Herald Newspaper publishes its first news paper here in Cherryvale. What would later be known as Cherryvale has forty businesses at this time. 1879 Population of Cherryvale is 250 Cherryvale Globe Newspaper burns to the ground. The paper was printed in Kansas City until 1880 1880 Population of Cherryvale is now 69 0 . Cherryvale is incorporated. The first form of law enforcement is established when Marshal J.C. Cunningham is appointed on April 5th. The Cherryvale Opera House Company was organized. The city had five saloons in town at this time. Exchange Bank (Now Peoples State Bank) opens. 1881 Prohibition takes effect in Kansas. Cherryvale voted in the fall of 1880 in favor of a state law to outlaw the sale and manufacture of spiritual liquors. Soon after this law is put into effect, bootlegging becomes popular in and around the area of Cherryvale. Logan Park is created after the Lawrence, Leavenworth & Galveston Railroad deed six acres of land to the city. The park is named after General John A. Logan. 1882 Population of Cherryvale is 1800. Since Cherryvale had six brick factories, most of the streets, sidewalks and downtown buildings were constructed from these bricks. 1882 saw the advent of sun-dried brick streets. The first issue of the Cherryvale Torch was published. 1884 The Liberty Fire Company was established, bring the first fire department to Cherryvale. It was a private fire company. The Cherryvale Bulletin newspaper is established. 1887 First natural gas well was drilled at Fourth and Labette Streets. By the turn-of-the-century, more than 30 gas wells were producing inside the city limits. 1888 The cigar factory, Cahters & Stahl who pioneered political campaigns on cigars, was built at 103 1/2 East Main Street. The firm would produce 17,000 cigars each month and now is one of the best known cigar firms in the Midwest. 1892 Frank Bellamy writes the "Pledge of Allegiance" as part of a local contest to express allegiance to the US Flag. Only 16 years of age at the time he submits the pledge to the "The Youth Companion" who publishes it on Sept 8th, 1892 only giving credit to Anonymous. When asked why they did not give credit to him, they state that all items submitted to them remain their property. 1896 Robert H. Cloughley, a railroader, built the first steam driven automobile west of the Mississippi. The engine was similar to a railroad steam engine. The streamer auto company after about one year due to lack of financial backing. 1899 Water came to the downtown area from Lake Tanko. Local and long distance telephone system was installed. 1901 Cherryvale was booming with a glass factory, shovel and barrel factories, a marble works, an iron works, two grain elevators serviced by the railroads, and a bicycle factory. 1904 Population of Cherryvale is 4706 The first sewers were put into service. 1905 Around this time the city takes fire protection. The department is one of the oldest full time manned stations in the state of Kansas. The school colors were orange and black. 1906 Population of Cherryvale grows to nearly 7000 . Louise Brooks is born, and lives at 531 East 7th Street. 1912 Leatherock Hotel built, 420 North Depot Street. The only local hotel left among the 19 hotels built in Cherryvale's bygone era. 1913 Cherryvale Carnegie Library, 329 East Main Street. Early 1909, the Cherryvale Women's Club set a goal to establish a library with an adjoining room for rural women to rest and visit after their long horse and buggy ride to shop in town. In 1912, a grant from the Carnegie Foundation provided the necessary funds for construction of a permanent b