1916 had some significant school events. Mattie graduated in 8th grade. Other Maningers were off to college or vocational schools. Emily graduated from high school.
Emily graduated
Emily Maninger was in the Harper High School graduating class of 1916.
As we know, Emily was an accomplished violinist. She was a member of the Senior Girls’ Trio.
Emily was on the TaAgatha yearbook staff. As you might guess, she was the society editor.
A new high school
In 1916, John Maninger had served on the school board for fourteen years. For many of those years, he was responsible for buildings and grounds.
In May 1916, John introduced a motion for a bond issue election to fund construction of a new high school.
The issue went to a vote, and passed resoundingly – 7 to 1.
By the fall of 1916, an architect and builder had been chosen. The board was ready for a groundbreaking ceremony. And a grand one, at that.
The cornerstone laid
On Thursday, October 12, 1916, Harper threw a grand party for the construction of a new high school.
Much of the credit goes to John Maninger, who proposed the idea and then worked daily to realize the project.
Businesses closed. School classes were canceled. Everyone in town attended the dedication.
Amidst speeches and songs, Emily and Magdalena Maninger performed a violin duet.
After the violin duet, Board President Charles Miller gave a speech, which included a tribute to John Maninger for his years of service on the board and his leadership in getting the new high school. Finally, the cornerstone was laid, and a time capsule box was enclosed.
These and other photos were taken by Jennings Studio. Mabel Jennings then offered photo postcards for 5 cents each.
Harper Historical Museum
The Harper Historical Museum is a wonderful, old-time museum. It’s especially meaningful because the building is the original Apostolic Church building where the Maningers were among the earliest members. The building was built in the spring of 1886, just a year after Val and Lena Maninger arrived in Harper.
One prominent museum display is the time capsule from the 1916 Harper High School cornerstone ceremony. The box was unearthed and opened in 2016, 100 years after the cornerstone was laid. The contents fill a display case.
I think it’s wonderful that our Maningers contributed to the capsule and the ceremony in 1916, and we can feel their presence when we view the artifacts today.
The capsule held a copy of the speech that was given during the cornerstone ceremony. A section of the speech honored John Maninger:
Ladies and Gentlemen, we must not overlook the fact the J.L. Maninger has been a member of the Board since the year 1902 and has faithfully served his District. Due credit should be given him by each individual resident of this District for Mr. Maninger has been on the works every day since the starting of this building.
Excerpt of speech of school board President Charles Miller
The capsule contained a pristine copy of the program of Tuesday, October 12, 1916. A program highlight was the violin duet by Emily and Magdalena Maninger.
Bonnets
The museum is chock full of memorabilia. Recall that the museum has crocheted bonnets made by Magdalena Maninger.
Banner Club quilt
The museum has the Banner Club quilt. Half the Maninger families lived in Banner Township, the other half in Pilot Knob Township. The Banner Club was a ladies social organization for residents of Banner Township.
The quilt was made for Mina Berg Maninger, wife of Fred Maninger. You’ll recognize many of the quilters.
What’s next?
Magdalena Maninger had died in April 1916. Emily Maninger graduated from Harper High School in May. The bond election for the new high school passed in June.
What else happened in the remaining months of 1916?
Emily to Illinois
After graduation, Emily Maninger left for Illinois, where she would spend the summer with relatives.
Eunice resumed teaching
Eunice resumed teaching after her time at Kansas State Agricultural College. She taught country schools at Enterprise and Antelope districts in Harper County.
Emily and Eunice host Elsie
Earl to Chicago
Cousin Earl Maninger had graduated from Electrical School in Washington D.C. He accepted a position in Chicago.
Emily and Magdalena to leave Harper
Mrs. Irion hosted friends and family of Emily and Magdalena Maninger, who will leave Harper soon.
Magdalena continued at Wichita Music School.
Emily will begin nurse’s training at Wichita Hospital and School for Nurses.
Timeline
Sources:
- News – Harper High School graduation article – Harper Sentinel – May 18, 1916 – newspapers.com
- Image – photos from TaAgatha yearbook – Harper Public Library – Harper, Kansas
- Image – Artist’s rendering of new high school – Harper Historical Museum – Harper, Kansas
- News – School board petitions for bond election – Harper Advocate – May 4, 1916 – newspapers.com
- News – School bond election passes – Harper Advocate – June 1, 1916 – newspapers.com
- News – High school cornerstone laid – Harper Advocate – October 19, 1916 – newspapers.com
- Image – Photos of Emily and Magdalena Maninger violin duet and laying of high school cornerstone – Condensed History of the City of Harper, Kansas – Harper Kansas Centennial – 1877-1977
- Image – Harper Historical Museum building – Harper Museum Scrapbook – Harper Historical Museum, Harper, Kansas
- Images – Harper Historical Museum interior, Bonnets, Harper High School Time Capsule, Banner Club Quilt – Harper Historical Museum – photos by Mark Jarvis
- Image – A.T.S.F. railroad train in Kansas – Kansas Memory – Kansas Historical Society
- News – Emily Maninger visits Illinois – Harper Sentinel – June 1, 1916, and Harper Advocate – August 16, 1917 – newspapers.com
- News – Emily and Eunice Maninger host Elsie Maninger – Harper Advocate – August 14, 1916 – newspapers.com
- Image – Photos from Eunice Maninger Photo Album – Maninger family documents – Emily Maninger Cheney collection
- News – Earl Maninger gets job in Chicago – Harper Advocate – August 31, 1916 – newspapers.com
- News – Mrs. Irion hosts Emily and Magdalena Maninger – Harper Sentinel – August 24, 1916 – newspapers.com
- Family Tree diagrams – Ancestry.com and Mark Jarvis
- Music – Prelude No. 11, Opus 28 – Chopin – Arranged for Strings – Gregor Quendel – Free Music Archive
Family Nibbles 