The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1909-10-21
Grassy Hollow.

Mr.. Editor:-I see in The Re-
porter that some fresh guy from
Hatfield Settlement claims our
depot. Now, the c. B. & @. depot
is in Grassy Hollow, and I can prove
1t. Hatfield Settlement only comes
to the top of the 20" hill. Any old
settler of Leon knows that.
used to live down in the hollow
when Mr.. Gulden had a saloon Just
across Possum Creek bridge, and
that's when Mitch of The Journal
nicked-named our neighborhood
Grassy Hollow"
The residents of Grassy Hollow
have always been peace loving, quiet
and law abiding. The locality got a
fsad name through the antics aofs.ehe
rOysterers from other parts of the
town, who gathered at Gulden's
nightly, and having imbibed unwisely
became quarrelsome and noisy, and
disregarding the rights and comforts
of their fellowmen, scrapped and
and howled and cussed and sang till
the liquor gave out, or the neigh
bors, reused to ire, chased the bibul-
GUS invaders back up the hill to
town.
Zone night ! went to Gulden's,
The beer it being free,
Fast as one glass was empty,
Another was handed me.''
Many summer night have heard
these couplets roared from husky
throats. / am told that full appreci-
alton of the beauty of this classic
cannot be realized by sober people.
1t was customary to hold on to the
last word, handed" and pronounce
it as if spelled "h-a-i-n-d-e-d. %
Turkey Stone, who couldn't turn a
tune to save his life, added this COM
position to his repertoire, and sang
it with vigor and abandon. He won
local fame by the soulful interpreta-
tion he gave the theme. 1t was
usual for all of the auditors to join
in "h-a-i-n-d-e-d" and the effect was
bizarre, however much it lacked in
musical interest. Each rendition
being followed invariably by another
round of drinks, assured prompt and
strenuous encOres. Sometimes, on
Saturday nights especially, the ses-
sions at Gulden's were prolonged
till early morning, and wound ul
with go as you please fight. Then
for few days more or less prominent
residents of Gospel Ridge and Shat
fer Addition would show up with
black eyes and disfgured faces, and
their inventive faculties were put to
the test to explain matters. I re.
membered that one MANNED citizen
told circumstantial tale about the
cow kicking him, but the time-woru
fiction introducing the stick o1
kindling wood, was then, as now
the popular explanation when &C.
counting for black eye or a skinned
nose.
Gulden's place was Just outside
the town limits, and the city beine
powerless, and the county authorities
d1latory, if not complaisant, Gulden
was not disturbed by the mailed hand
of the law, until public sentiment
turning strongly against him, and
the city limits being extended be
was forced to close his bar. The
building he occupied was burned
and Gulden's saloon passed into
history.
! All is changed down there now
The Clarinda Company owning the
largest enterprise in the town has
brought prosperity to the people
living in The Hollow, affordine
steady work at good wages. When
the new depot is built Grassy Hollow
will assume her rightfully prominent
place In our town, and new homes
will spring up and soon the city will
be built up solid to the Eden town
ship line. We people who live in
The Hollow wouldn't exchange our
bustling activity for a home in any
other part of the town. We like it,
and we will maintain our reputation
for sobriety and industry il you fell
lows from Shaffer's Addition, Hat
field Settlement and Gospel Ridge
will stay at home nights, or behave
yourselves when you enter our
Grassy Hollow.
Grassy Hollow Historian.