Calvert, KS 1911-The large white house at left (With windmill) is Pache home. Lumber yard and elevator in left center. House in center was Louis and Fannie Bieber home. House at right Charles Bieber Home.
CALVERT located on Highway 383 was originally known as Neighborville. It was platted January 16, 1888 at the time the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad was being built. The plat bears the names of: The Kansas Town and Land Company, James VanNotic, Drazilla VanNotic, his wife, Charles D. Bieber and Eliza B. Bieber, his wife.
Some time after Neighborville changed its’ name to Calvert, it became a prosperous little village and even had a newspaper published in the town. A quote from the Norton Champion states “The Calvert Gazette, printed by Mssrs. Rhanny and Felt, is the latest. Every town in the county will soon see the importance of a newspaper as a mascot. Seth will soon become jealous of Calvert’s rapid growth and start a paper in self-defense”.
Loyal Fisher’s grandfather came to this country with his parents when he was about three years old and they homesteaded two miles west of what is now Calvert, KS. Their homestead was near the Eugene Fisher place.
In 1878 there was an Indian scare, and many settlers in the area rushed to Neighborville and set up a stockade for group protection, as these pioneers had few firearms. Several wagons went through the Fisher homestead in their hurry to gather together for protection. The Fisher’s lived in a dugout and were very nervous that the wagons might be driven over the dugout and fall through. They were lucky in that this did not happen and there was no trouble from the Indians in this area. They did, however, massacre a number of settlers in the Oberlin, KS area west of here.
Mr. Pache was of German descent, and came to this area in 1906. He and his bride rode for 30 days on the railroad to get here from the east. He started a lumber business which flourished since so many families were building frame homes. His first building burned down, but he had confidence in the country and the people, and immediately rebuilt the business. Mrs. Pache passed away in 1932, but their daughter Louise stayed and took care of the home. Their house is now the Jerome Rudolph home. Mr. Pache was a jolly man and he trusted his neighbors to pay for materials even if they did not have cash on hand to pay at the time of purchase. He sold gas to farmers and travelers from a gas pump near the lumberyard, and his prices were always lower than the surrounding competition.
In the 1930’s, the town centered around the church, two-room school, lumber yard, store, and the silica mine.
Calvert Mines, the volcanic ash silica mine was discovered around 1900 and was mined by Jasper Miller during the teens, and is still in operation to date.
CALVERT CHURCHES – The Christian Church was organized at Neighborville Sept. 26, 1875 before the town was platted. Neighborville was later renamed Calvert. This church was the beginning of the Norton Christian Church as the Neighborville church body soon moved to Norton, KS.
The Presbyterian Church
The Presbyterian Church was organized Nov. 7, 1889. The first meetings were in the Bieber family schoolhouse. The first permanent church was built in 1909, but was struck by lightning and burned down in July, 1932. The church was rebuilt and dedicated on Dec. 4, 1932. The Calvert Church was disorganized in 1966 and the building was torn down.