Kalamity Dick’s Tri-Burg Chronicles

[Rich P. Bingham]

With great sorrow and high regard for his many accomplishments, we noted the passing of Richard Eagle, August 25, 2024 our dear friend of 62 years. Author of the forum topic , “The Adventures of Kalamity Dick - Fact, or Fiction?” The single longest-running topic on these boards, which logged an astounding 4,207 posts and garnered 979,477 views to date.

Rich E. held the primary sources for recounting the life and times of KD. The topic he authored simply cannot continue without his insight and guiding hand.

However, we are fortunate that interest in the history of “The Basin” remains high, researchers at the Institute remain dedicated to their task, and the recent discovery of Kalamity Dick’s voluminous scrap-books all promise to reward faithful readers of KD’s “Adventures” with continued installments of great interest.

[Herb Iffrig]

Thank you, Rich Bingham,
I think Mr. Eagle would want the history of the area to be thoroughly chronicled!
I believe there are people who want to know about the history of the Basin. There for I submit a recently discovered example of a basin.

Could this be the origin of the term "bath tub gin"?

[Rich P. Bingham]

When rumor had it that Carrie Nation was of a mind to pass through Chugwater on one of her saloon- smashing campaigns, Ernie was determined to avoid the certain destruction of his establishment that would follow if Carrie and her hatchet showed up in the Basin. He determined to survive by closing and shuttering his saloon. Naturally, this would result in a precipitous decline in business if he didn’t have a contingency plan.

To this end, Ernie enlisted the assistance of Charlie Glubstorf who had the new filling station across from Ernie’s. Cleverly plumbing one of Charlie’s gasoline pumps into the saloon basement, where barrels of Happy Sally could be pumped out at Charlie’s. Also pressed into service were the Herkheimer sisters Amy and Lucy (in black) president and secretary respectively of the Chugwater Basin Women’s Christian Intemperance League, organized to lobby for the admittance of ladies of all callings to saloons in the Basin.
They provided the mobile bath tub which, when filled at Charlie’s pump, was distributed by subscription to Ernie’s regular customers in the Tri-Burgs.

The arrangement was so successful it continued to serve well into Prohibition. At long last, shortly before the Volstead Act was repealed, Charlie’s careless employee mistakenly filled the tub with gasoline. Unhappy customers spelled the end of yet another colorful Basin custom.

[JohnM]

It proved to be a great kick start for Charlie Glubstorf's new filling station. Here is a picture of customers waiting in line to get "Happy"

[TXGOAT2]

Another historical first: The first commercial gasohol vendor!

[Jerry VanOoteghem]

Bathtub gin. The woman on the right, known as "Bathtub Ginny", (real name: Hertha Brambletank), was the motive effort that kept the tub in constant motion, much to the pleasure of Ernie's "at home" customers. Hertha was also employed as an occasional singer at Ernie's. Her most popular song, the tear jerker, "Hallelujah, I'm a Bum", went to number 11 on "The Basin's, You Asked for it, Hit Parade". Her name can still be faintly seen on the Chugwater Boardwalk of Fame.

[Herb Iffrig]

Speaking of the boardwalk, here is a scene that needs no explanation, unless the is something I am missing:).

[Kaiser]

Well Herb you're missing the point

I think the best way to remember Rich is just this, continue with this pointless weirdness, thanks guys, may this go on for ever and ever and ever

[Rich P. Bingham]

True enough, Herb. Only thing needed is to name the subjects in the photo. Heinrich had no trouble identifying Purvis Bostitch, twice mayor of Silver Plume, and Salome Chardonnay, the original Happy Sally whose seductive dancing inspired the tipple so popular in the Tri-Burgs. Cuthbert loaned his burro Methusela to Miss Chardonnay to get around on after she broke her right foot.

Bartholomew thinks the presentation bottle (4 gallons) and the Eiffle tower mock-up in the background dates the photo to 1894 and Saddlestring’s Columbian Exposition, but there is no documentation as yet.

[Herb Iffrig]

[attachment=0]quintuplets.JPG[/attachmen Well the only thing I have to say about that is what the Nordstrom quintuplets did at the Exposition. They were so excited to be there that they were beside themselves! Hubert, Henry, Hugo, Hortense and Herb.

[TXGOAT2]

Reminds me of "The Twilight Zone"

[Rich P. Bingham]

Odd you should mention that, Pat . . .

Two of the Nordstrom quints, Hubert and Herb became talented and inventive chemists. When baling twine came in short supply, Hub & Herb synthesized a cheaper, serviceable replacement using the discarded talings from the moss mill. They dubbed their invention “zolote”, and marketed the product as “H&H Zolote Twine”. Years later, as Rod Serling was pondering a name for his television series, he happened across an advertisement for Zolote Twine in an old farm magazine, and something clicked.

For reasons of their own, why the other three Nordstrom brothers didn’t join the Zolote Twine enterprise ? Speaking for the other two, Hugo quipped, “We didn’t want to get tangled up in that.”

[Jerry VanOoteghem]

Years later, as Rod Serling was pondering a name for his television series, he happened across an advertisement for Zolote Twine in an old farm magazine, and something clicked.

That's just too good to be fictional, (which, of course, it is not )!!

[Wayne Sheldon]

Years later, as Rod Serling was pondering a name for his television series, he happened across an advertisement for Zolote Twine in an old farm magazine, and something clicked.

That's just too good to be fictional, (which, of course, it is not )!!

Too good to "not" be fictional? Or too good to not "not" be fictional? Or "not" be good enough to be fictional? Or not be "not good enough" that it must be real? Or - - -

I "think" I fell into the "Twilight Zone"?

[Jerry VanOoteghem]

Years later, as Rod Serling was pondering a name for his television series, he happened across an advertisement for Zolote Twine in an old farm magazine, and something clicked.

That's just too good to be fictional, (which, of course, it is not )!!

Too good to "not" be fictional? Or too good to not "not" be fictional? Or "not" be good enough to be fictional? Or not be "not good enough" that it must be real? Or - - -

I "think" I fell into the "Twilight Zone"?

No. I meant what I said. "Too good to not be true."

[hull 433]

Where was Sally Krunchknuckle in all this?

[Herb Iffrig]

And there you have it Ladies and Gentlemen, another informative discussion on the life and times Of Kalamity Dick and the people he influenced and who influenced him!

[hull 433]

Come on Herb, Sally Krunchknuckle, proprietress and chief obedience officer of the Drywater Natatorium.

[TXGOAT2]

I think Jerry created a new Gracie Allenism.

[TXGOAT2]

Those ladies look like they could blister a fellow's bottom at 20 yards with a mere glance.

[Rich P. Bingham]

The Drywater Natatorium at Silver Plume was an obscure and short-lived recreational feature in the Basin. Miss Sally Krunchknuckle was the proprietress and chief obedience officer throughout its existence. Literally a favorite watering hole of Basin residents, the appellation “dry water” was popularly applied because of the peculiar quality of the spring water that fed the pools. More similar in character to a good grade of scotch, the drywater springs had a mildly intoxicating effect. Hence, the careful supervision of Miss Krunchknuckle and her cadre of watchful matrons, who seriously monitored activities in the natatorium for frivolous behaviors by the folks who came to (literally) “take the waters”. Mysteriously, the spring dried up, coincident with the passage of national prohibition in 1919. Curious.

[Herb Iffrig]

Curious indeed.

[hull 433]

Miss Krunchknuckle's Drywater matrons were nationally famous, often winning prizes at the annual Spoil-ye-Sports Conventions held in Chicago and Cincinnati. In this photo we see Miss Oligocene Titanothere in a light colored dress, wielding the Parasol of Righteousness with a sharp eye on the gentleman in the foreground, whose limbs are already precariously visible.

Despite their efforts, the Natatorium waters were often mysteriously sprinkled with ice cubes, a random lime slice, and in 1899 and again in 1904, tiny paper umbrellas.

[TXGOAT2]

That fellow may be Hans Gunter Pillenwerfer, a pugnacious pugilist of wide reknown.

[Kaiser]

Oh, if one of these 'Obedience Officers' would discipline me, I'd be in heaven !