historic delano
Posted on 02. Jul, 2010 by molly in muse
words > CRAIG AINSWORTH
At the end of the Chisholm Trail worn out cattlemen found rest and entertainment in historic Delano. One of the roughest and rowdiest cow towns in the west Delano was a place for Cowboys to “Blow off steam” after the long cattle drive from Texas. Delano was full of all manner of vices for the trail worn Cowboy with drinking, gambling, and prostitutes being the preferred methods. Although the cattle drives lasted only a few years, the money that the Cowboys brought to the town was vital to making Wichita what it is today.
Founded, December 27th, 1870 Delano was originally named Elgin. However another town was already using the name Elgin so the town founders settled on Delano. The name Delano came from Columbus Delano, Secretary of the Interior under President Ulysses S. Grant. Historic Delano was said to be a “tough district without moral restraint.” Some Wichitans wanted Delano to be annexed so the police could eliminate the lawless element however others argued that it was more preferable to retain Delano as a gathering place for the uninhibited rather than tolerate their activities in Wichita. In a note written by W.C. Woodman and son, to Editor Murdock, the area was described as: “The wickedest place on the face of the earth… Life nor property in the region has security or value… Neither law, order, nor civilization prevails; the will of the outlaw is the will of the land; everything goes…” The St. Louis Republican in 1873 published an article declaring “Wichita resembles a brevet hell after sundown. Brass bands whooping it up, harlots and hack drivers yelling and cursing; dogs yelping; pistols going off; bull-whackers cracking there whips; saloons open wide there doors, and gaily attired females thump and drum up pianos, and in dulcet tones and mocking smiles invite the boys in and the night is commenced in earnest…” However “Drunkenness and brawls may be atoned for by money in the police court.” The Wichita Eagle observed in 1872… In 1876 the mayor told the council “As to this vice contributing to the revenues of our city… let us say, if we cannot support our city government with out the aid of ill-gotten means, then Wichita is unworthy to be numbered among the cities of Kansas.”
During the cattle years Delano was the destination for many travelers, outlaws, and cattlemen looking for rest after their long trip. Boots, Cattle, Booze, Gambling, Harlots, and Gunfights, were the norm in Delano. The money that was brought in from the cattle trade was vital to the formation of Wichita and the crime that ensued was tolerated. With the revenue that Delano generated the City of Wichita turned from Prairie Grass to a bustling metropolis in just a few years.
If you want to read more about historic Delano or Wichita you can check out…
Wichita the early years 1865-80 by H. Craig Miner 1982 University of Nebraska Press
The Seamy Side: Vice in Wichita and it’s satellite, West Wichita From 1870-1877 by Charles F. Harris Wichita Local History Series
Sedgwick Co. Sheriffs Dept – The Silver Shield 1869-1987
Wichita a pictorial History © 1981 Kay Kirkman the Donning co/publishers
Historic Delano Visitor’s Guide Copyright © 2008 by Historic Delano, Inc
Or you can also check out the Special Collections section at the Wichita State University where they have many old maps and photographs. In the basement of the Main Wichita Public Library branch you can find the oldest copies of the Wichita Eagle and the Beacon on microfilm as well as many historical books and wonderful reference materials.
