Irving, Kansas
Encyclopedia
Irving was a town in Marshall County
, Kansas
located six miles southeast of Blue Rapids
along the Big Blue River
. Irving was one of the many towns affected by "Big Dam Foolishness" during the construction of Tuttle Creek Lake
about ten miles to the south. Although the lake would never reach the town, it was abandoned anyway.
. They named the town after author Washington Irving
. In the spring of 1860, a severe drought
ruined crops and forced some farmers to lose their land. Over the summer the area was wracked with fierce winds and thunderstorms that blew down buildings, took roofs and damaged the saw mill. During the fall, some residents chose to leave and return to Iowa. In 1866, the community was invaded by grasshoppers
that also destroyed crops and damaged trees. The town would have another plague in 1875. Despite these hardships, in 1878, Irving was described as "being located in one of the best settled and best cultivated portions of Marshall County"
On May 30, 1879, two tornado
es destroyed most of the town, leaving 19 dead and many more injured and until the Xenia
, Ohio
tornadoes of 1974, no other town was ever hit by two tornadoes from two separate storm systems on the same day. This, too, causing people to leave Irving but buildings were rebuilt and new businesses moved in allowing Irving to regain its prominence as a local agricultural center.
During the summer of 1903, the Big Blue River flooded and destroyed homes, crops and bridges. The river threatened to do it again in 1908 but the townspeople were prepared and were able to keep the river within its banks. In 1910 the population was estimated at 403 and boasted "good banking facilities, a weekly newspaper, telegraph and express offices, graded schools, public library, churches of all denominations, and three rural routes extend from the Irving post office."
When plans for the construction of the Tuttle Creek Dam were announced, the population started to decrease and many businesses closed, including the post office. The townsite was abandoned in 1960 after the dam was constructed but since the lake is miles away, Irving is still accessible. The town's road network is still visible, foundations for building can still be seen and a stone marker sits in a makeshift park along with a mailbox and notebook that visitors can write notes in.
Established around 1864, the Wetmore Institute was built on a slope overlooking the town and named for A.H. Wetmore. The limestone building was partially destroyed by the 1879 tornadoes and burned down in 1880.
Marshall County, Kansas
Marshall County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 10,117. The largest city and county seat is Marysville.- History :...
, Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
located six miles southeast of Blue Rapids
Blue Rapids, Kansas
Blue Rapids is a city in Marshall County, Kansas in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 1,019.-History:The first endeavor to establish a town below the junction of the rivers, in 1857, failed due to misfortunes of two of the three participants...
along the Big Blue River
Big Blue River (Kansas)
The Big Blue River is the largest tributary of the Kansas River. The river flows for approximately from central Nebraska into Kansas, where it intersects with the Kansas River east of Manhattan. It was given its name by the Kansa tribe of Native Americans, who lived at its mouth from 1780 to...
. Irving was one of the many towns affected by "Big Dam Foolishness" during the construction of Tuttle Creek Lake
Tuttle Creek Lake
Tuttle Creek Lake is a reservoir on the Big Blue River 5 miles north of Manhattan, in the Flint Hills region of northeast Kansas. It was built and is operated by the Army Corps of Engineers for the purpose of flood control....
about ten miles to the south. Although the lake would never reach the town, it was abandoned anyway.
History
Irving was originally founded in 1859 by a small group from Lyons, IowaIowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
. They named the town after author Washington Irving
Washington Irving
Washington Irving was an American author, essayist, biographer and historian of the early 19th century. He was best known for his short stories "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" and "Rip Van Winkle", both of which appear in his book The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent. His historical works...
. In the spring of 1860, a severe drought
Drought
A drought is an extended period of months or years when a region notes a deficiency in its water supply. Generally, this occurs when a region receives consistently below average precipitation. It can have a substantial impact on the ecosystem and agriculture of the affected region...
ruined crops and forced some farmers to lose their land. Over the summer the area was wracked with fierce winds and thunderstorms that blew down buildings, took roofs and damaged the saw mill. During the fall, some residents chose to leave and return to Iowa. In 1866, the community was invaded by grasshoppers
Grasshoppers
Grasshoppers are insects of the suborder Caelifera.Grasshoppers may also refer to:* Grasshopper , a Hong Kong-based musical group* Grasshopper Club Zürich, a Swiss football club...
that also destroyed crops and damaged trees. The town would have another plague in 1875. Despite these hardships, in 1878, Irving was described as "being located in one of the best settled and best cultivated portions of Marshall County"
On May 30, 1879, two tornado
Tornado
A tornado is a violent, dangerous, rotating column of air that is in contact with both the surface of the earth and a cumulonimbus cloud or, in rare cases, the base of a cumulus cloud. They are often referred to as a twister or a cyclone, although the word cyclone is used in meteorology in a wider...
es destroyed most of the town, leaving 19 dead and many more injured and until the Xenia
Xenia, Ohio
Xenia is a city in and the county seat of Greene County, Ohio, United States. The municipality is located in southwestern Ohio 21 miles from Dayton and is part of the Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
tornadoes of 1974, no other town was ever hit by two tornadoes from two separate storm systems on the same day. This, too, causing people to leave Irving but buildings were rebuilt and new businesses moved in allowing Irving to regain its prominence as a local agricultural center.
During the summer of 1903, the Big Blue River flooded and destroyed homes, crops and bridges. The river threatened to do it again in 1908 but the townspeople were prepared and were able to keep the river within its banks. In 1910 the population was estimated at 403 and boasted "good banking facilities, a weekly newspaper, telegraph and express offices, graded schools, public library, churches of all denominations, and three rural routes extend from the Irving post office."
When plans for the construction of the Tuttle Creek Dam were announced, the population started to decrease and many businesses closed, including the post office. The townsite was abandoned in 1960 after the dam was constructed but since the lake is miles away, Irving is still accessible. The town's road network is still visible, foundations for building can still be seen and a stone marker sits in a makeshift park along with a mailbox and notebook that visitors can write notes in.
Education
The first schoolhouse was built in 1868 but was destroyed in 1879. The stone school was replaced by a frame one the same year.Established around 1864, the Wetmore Institute was built on a slope overlooking the town and named for A.H. Wetmore. The limestone building was partially destroyed by the 1879 tornadoes and burned down in 1880.
Notable people
- Ruth BlaneyRuth AlexanderRuth Blaney Alexander was a female aviation pioneer in the United States.- Achievements :Ruth’s flying career started on September 9, 1929 at Ryan Field in San Diego, California with an introductory flight. Within a short period of time she became the 65th licensed woman pilot in the U.S...
(1905–1930) - Female aviation pioneer. - David Browning Thomson (1927-) - physicist, author and nuclear arms control activist.