1905 Dayton Items, selected Lafayette Weekly Courier 24 Feb 1905 The Rebekah lodge gave a supper and entertainment at the town hall last Monday evening. A good attendance was present and partook of their hospitality. During the evening a play was rendered entitled "Not a Man in the House," by Mrs. Emma Vergen, Miss Dora Hill, Miss Maggie Hill, Miss Elda Burkhalter and Mrs. Vernis Moyer. The work was very clever and was highly appreciated by all those who were so fortunate to be present. 1 Mar 1905 Fred R. Wedner [Widmer], our genial druggist, has purchased the Gagen saloon property and will in the spring tear away the old shack and erect a new building in its place. This deal with the help of the amended Nicholson temperance law, will settle the saloon business in this town. 31 Mar 1905 Fred Widmer is getting ready for the erection of his new building on the Gagen lot. 7 Apr 1905 The contract was let a few days ago by Fred Widmer for a new building to be erected on the ground recently occupied by the Gagen saloon. The building will be of cement block and will be 32x71 feet. The lower story will be 11 feet and the upper story will be 17 feet; composition roof, steel ceiling. Contract price is $4,000. Sense brothers have the contract and the building is to be complete din three months. Mr. Widmer will occupy the lower story for his drug business and the Sheffield lodge K. of P. the upper story. [I was told that the steel ceiling was still in the building when the recent renovation was done, but that it couldn’t be used because it would have violated the code. I can’t remember whether it was covered up or removed.] 21 Apr 1905 Frank Glaze has his new residence under roof and is pushing the work, as he hopes to be able to occupy it soon. 5 May 1905 Material is being placed on the ground for the new K. of P. hall....Mrs. Fred R. Weamer [Widmer?] has been on the sick list the past week, but is better at this time. [This is probably Aunt Florence.] 12 May 1905 There is a large force of men at work on the new K. of P. hall. 9 June 1905 The new concrete building which is to be the future home of the K. of P. is beginning to assume proportions. The first story is completed and work on the second story will commence next week. 21 July 1905 Dr. Nesbitt of Monitor has purchased the Misses Hill property and will be a resident of Dayton in the near future. -- Misses Dora and Margaret Hill have purchased the lot owned by the K. of P. and will build a cottage this summer for a future residence. 28 July 1905 Rev. M. M. La Count and Fred Wedmer [Widmer] went to Monitor last Thursday to angle for bass. The finny tribe have a poor chance for life when these gentlemen cast in their hooks. 28 July 1905 Miss Julia Bush of Urbana Ill., is the guest of Mr. and Mrs. William Frantz....Work has been begun on the new house of Misses Dora and Margaret Hill. 4 August 1905 The new residence being erected on the corner of Republican street and Walnut avenue by the Misses Dora and Margaret Hill, is fast nearing completion and will soon be ready for occupancy. 18 August 1905 The carpenters will have the Miss Hill’s house ready for the plasterers in a few days. Schools in Sheffield township will commence September 11. The teachers for Dayton grade school will be Professor Hooker, principal; Miss Dora Hill, assistant, William Bear will occupy the eighth grade; Bert Sharp, intermediate, and Miss Ada Motter, primary....Burt Hill’s home was made glad a few days ago by the arrival of a thirteen pound boy. 18 August 1905 (there were two sets of Dayton Items in this paper) The new block [building] erected the past summer by the Sheffield lodge K. of P. and F. R. Widmer is fast nearing completion and will be a model building in every detail....Mr. and Mrs. Charles Morris, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Widmer and Mr. and Mrs. Frank Glaze are this week occupying the Dayton club house on Lake Lingle. 22 September 1905 The K. of P. are moving into their new hall and hope to be ready to dedicate the building Friday of next week. 3 Nov 1905 The Dayton Dramatic company will give a comedy drama entitled "Strife" in the town hall next Saturday night, November 4th. The play is one that will especially suit all classes as it is an ideal picture of the situation as it exists between capital and labor. "Hansel," the leading character, is a type of what an ideal laborer should be, while "Thomas," the villain, represents the agitators of our labor union: Capital is represented by Judge Buttons, an eratic millionaire who will convey to the audience the ideas entertained by his class. The play while mostly dramatic is very nicely balanced with comedy furnished by "Hans," "Neb" and Julius" who appear as the Judge’s servants and furnish laughter for the hearers. "Strife" is undoubtedly the strongest play ever given in Dayton and the sale of reserved seats to date show that the people are going to patronize the company, as over one hundred reserves have been sold. The chances are that standing room will be at a premium. Those wishing to secure seats can do so at Sharpe and Morris’ store any time before Saturday evening. Following is the cast of of characters: "Henry Hansel," Charles Godfrey; "Thomas," Carl Loser; "Judge," B. C. Sharpe; "Squash" Ralph Rogers; "Thompkins" Van Taylor; "Laura" Margaret Hill; "Mrs. Hensel" Bertha Eberhart; "Dolly," Mrs. M. V. Slayback; "Neb" Pat Slayback; "Julius", Claude Johnson; "Hans" W. J. Baer; mob officer, etc., Earl Rogers, stage manager. Entertainment will begin at eight o’clock prompt. 15 December 1905 At the Order of Eastern Star the following members were elected officers for the coming year: W. M. Sarah Nesbitt; W. P. Platt Bayless; A. S. Margaret Hill; secretary, Laura K. Bayless; treasurer, Martha Bausman; C. India Peter; A. C. Ethelyn Bayless.