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Fortney Photo Archive

Steve Fortney has been sending me old photographs of the Soldiers Grove area from as far back as 1908. These
pictures really show some changes in rural life along the Kickapoo River. For those of us that never knew the "Old
Town" Soldiers Grove, a pictorial history is included. On a recent fishing trip with Raymond Fortney, he explained that
Soldiers Grove was once a busy commerce center and meeting place. With the railroad spur line from Wauzeka,
(nicknamed "the Stump Dodger"), lumber, grain, and passengers traveled the Kickapoo Valley from 1897 through the
1930's. Raymond's father, Severine, operated Fortney's Bar in Soldiers Grove during part of that period. According to
Raymond, the big attraction on Friday and Saturday nights wasn't the beer and whiskey in the bars - it was the
frequent fist fights that spilled into the streets. People came from all over to watch the free-for-all fisticuffs each
weekend. At one point they even left the parade grandstand up all year so spectators could watch in comfort. Soldiers
Grove also attracted women from as far as Boaz to fill the dance cards. Although this "wild west" atmosphere in the
late 1800's to early 1900's prevailed, the town established many churches and community values typical of rural
midwest life.

The Soldiers Grove train depot was located near the old warehouse (south side of the road, just past the park) on
County C. The tracks ran north and south between the current Highway 131 and the river. Although I doubt you could
set your watch to the train whistle, it must have been a real sight and sound as the train steamed through our stretch
of track. The train started in Wauzeka and had stops in Stuben, Gays Mills, Soldiers Grove, Readstown, Viola, and
LaFarge. From there it was turned around and made the return trip to Wauzeka. (Note: Somewhere - on another
computer - I have an old photograph of a train derailment in the Kickapoo Valley. I will post it here when I find the
picture).

I hope you enjoy this pictorial glimpse of the past in Soldiers Grove, and I thank Steve and Raymond Fortney for
sharing this information with us.

Click on the links below to access the photos.