Arma Golden Jubilee article by Miss Loraine Steele
The following article appeared in the booklet "Arma Golden Jubilee" dated August 7,8 & 9, 1959. by Miss Loraine Steele
Arma, Crawford County, Kansas -- lying south of the base line and east of the sixth principal meridian -- was incorporated as a city of the third class May 18,1909. It was 1018 feet above sea level and on the water shed between the Missouri and Arkansas Rivers.
Arma is located 5 miles west of the State line, 9 miles north of Pittsburg, and 7-1/2 miles east of Girard, the county seat. In 1915 it was also one mile south of the Terminus of the North and South road running from Fourth and Broadway in Pittsburg. This road is now known as the "straight Shot" U.S. Highway No. 69. Jefferson Highway (National road from New Orleans to Winnipeg) also passes through Arma.
In 1870 the Missouri Pacific Railroad and in 1907 the Joplin and Pittsburg Railroad gave residents access to any portion of the county carrying freight and passengers.
The land was originally in the Cherokee Strip (sold to the Cherokee's by the U.S. under provision of 2nd Article of Treaty of 1835) but was taken over by the government in 1866, when U.S. Grant was president of U.S. In 1867 through the Secretary o Interior, it passed in the hands of James J. Joy of the American Emigrant Co. (chartered in Conn.) "All of section 5, township 29, range 25" which includes the original town site, was granted to the Missouri River, Fort Scott and Gulf Railroad Co. under federal grant in 1870. This included 640 acres. The original site included less tan 200 acres. In 1878 William F. Armacost acquired the land through mortgage closure on the railroad which reserved the "right-of-way".
Before the incorporation of Arma it was known as Rust, a small coal camp laid out in 1886. Rust was platted on Ozark ridge where a nice slope from the center of the town in all directions made perfect drainage -- desirable in any city. It was situated in the midst of the most beautiful agricultural portion of Crawford County. The site was an ideal one and people were attracted from the desire for a healthy place ot live. It is about "200 feet higher than Pittsburg guaranteeing an abundance of pure fresh air". Rust was about three blocks wide and four blocks long, bounded on the east by the railroad. It had a population of 379 in 1909. The name of Arma came from one of the owners of most of the land north and east of the camp at the time of it's incorporation -- W. F. Armacost.
Arma is situated in the center of a rich bituminous coal deposit, of this section, which is practically inexhaustible. Many of the earlier mines of this district were located around Arma. Several mines of the Western Coal and Mining Co., the Girard Fuel Co., and Hamilton Coal Col. were in operation. Employees of mines near Franklin did the principal part of their trading in Arma as do the present citizens of Croweburg and surrounding farm districts.
It was necessary to go only to the depth of 30-50 feet to strike a vein of "pure healthy" water. The city owns it own water and light plant built in 1914. There are two city wells built in 1915 and 1946 to a depth of 1175 feet to furnish city water. The electricity is secured from K. G. & E. Co.
Arma has had its own city paper published every Thursday since 1915. G. W. Taylor, the original owner is said to have been the printer in "That Printer of Udell's" by Harold Bell Wright a "onetime" Pittsburg Methodist Minister author.
The first bank was established in 1912 with J. N. McDonald as president and Elmer Sellsmanberger as cashier. It quit business in 1931.
From the original area of about three blocks square Arma grew until it now covers approximately one mile square. From a population of 379 in 1909; 1003 in 1913; 1673 in 1914; 1792 in 1915; 1975 in 1917; it became a thriving little city of 2,40 in 1929. For a time after 1929 Arma went on a decline perhaps because the coal companies found it was cheaper to mine the surface coal with steam and electric stripping shovels (larger than ones used on the Panama Canal) than to operate the deep mines making it necessary for many people to find employment elsewhere.
At present Arma has a population of 2010, the increase probably due again to economic conditions. Many Arma people are employed in Pittsburg and surrounding districts. They commute to their work and still enjoy the advantages of cheaper living expenses and friendly associations of a smaller city. Santa Fe Trailways bases have a station in Arma.
There are three church buildings in Arma -- Methodist, Baptist and Catholic and at one time a Latter Day Saint church, now the American Legion Hall.
Arma has three schools, two grade buildings and a high school. In 1929 the high school became a Crawford Community High School serving the surrounding communities. Two grade buildings are in use at present and serves not only Arma but other communities.
Arma is the original home of AECO (wholesalers and elevator); five grocery stores; a clothing store; drug store; 3 beauty parlors, 2 barber shops; 3 hardware and furniture stores; a hotel; bakery; cold storage plant; 2 variety stores; garages; 1 dentist and one medical doctor.
The first council met June 28, 1909 with Milt Siples, Sam Duncan, Ed May, Thomas Humes and J. E. Dorsey as councilmen. C. C. Brown was the first mayor and J. W. Hollingsworth, judge; Charles Weiss, city Clerk and Arch Olin as first city marshal and street commissioner.
The first additions to the town after the incorporation were made March 4, 1910 when the Beitzinger first addition and the Bilello first addition, both on the southwest side of town.
The city hall was built in 1914. O.E.S. November 29,1915 and Methodist and Baptist churches built in 1914.
The first superintendent of schools was John W. Downing. There were 9 teachers at Lincoln School in 1913. In 1915 with 426 enrollment it was necessary to rent the church building belonging to the Church of God for use. First graduation class from the high school in 1920 with 9 members.
Arma is located 5 miles west of the State line, 9 miles north of Pittsburg, and 7-1/2 miles east of Girard, the county seat. In 1915 it was also one mile south of the Terminus of the North and South road running from Fourth and Broadway in Pittsburg. This road is now known as the "straight Shot" U.S. Highway No. 69. Jefferson Highway (National road from New Orleans to Winnipeg) also passes through Arma.
In 1870 the Missouri Pacific Railroad and in 1907 the Joplin and Pittsburg Railroad gave residents access to any portion of the county carrying freight and passengers.
The land was originally in the Cherokee Strip (sold to the Cherokee's by the U.S. under provision of 2nd Article of Treaty of 1835) but was taken over by the government in 1866, when U.S. Grant was president of U.S. In 1867 through the Secretary o Interior, it passed in the hands of James J. Joy of the American Emigrant Co. (chartered in Conn.) "All of section 5, township 29, range 25" which includes the original town site, was granted to the Missouri River, Fort Scott and Gulf Railroad Co. under federal grant in 1870. This included 640 acres. The original site included less tan 200 acres. In 1878 William F. Armacost acquired the land through mortgage closure on the railroad which reserved the "right-of-way".
Before the incorporation of Arma it was known as Rust, a small coal camp laid out in 1886. Rust was platted on Ozark ridge where a nice slope from the center of the town in all directions made perfect drainage -- desirable in any city. It was situated in the midst of the most beautiful agricultural portion of Crawford County. The site was an ideal one and people were attracted from the desire for a healthy place ot live. It is about "200 feet higher than Pittsburg guaranteeing an abundance of pure fresh air". Rust was about three blocks wide and four blocks long, bounded on the east by the railroad. It had a population of 379 in 1909. The name of Arma came from one of the owners of most of the land north and east of the camp at the time of it's incorporation -- W. F. Armacost.
Arma is situated in the center of a rich bituminous coal deposit, of this section, which is practically inexhaustible. Many of the earlier mines of this district were located around Arma. Several mines of the Western Coal and Mining Co., the Girard Fuel Co., and Hamilton Coal Col. were in operation. Employees of mines near Franklin did the principal part of their trading in Arma as do the present citizens of Croweburg and surrounding farm districts.
It was necessary to go only to the depth of 30-50 feet to strike a vein of "pure healthy" water. The city owns it own water and light plant built in 1914. There are two city wells built in 1915 and 1946 to a depth of 1175 feet to furnish city water. The electricity is secured from K. G. & E. Co.
Arma has had its own city paper published every Thursday since 1915. G. W. Taylor, the original owner is said to have been the printer in "That Printer of Udell's" by Harold Bell Wright a "onetime" Pittsburg Methodist Minister author.
The first bank was established in 1912 with J. N. McDonald as president and Elmer Sellsmanberger as cashier. It quit business in 1931.
From the original area of about three blocks square Arma grew until it now covers approximately one mile square. From a population of 379 in 1909; 1003 in 1913; 1673 in 1914; 1792 in 1915; 1975 in 1917; it became a thriving little city of 2,40 in 1929. For a time after 1929 Arma went on a decline perhaps because the coal companies found it was cheaper to mine the surface coal with steam and electric stripping shovels (larger than ones used on the Panama Canal) than to operate the deep mines making it necessary for many people to find employment elsewhere.
At present Arma has a population of 2010, the increase probably due again to economic conditions. Many Arma people are employed in Pittsburg and surrounding districts. They commute to their work and still enjoy the advantages of cheaper living expenses and friendly associations of a smaller city. Santa Fe Trailways bases have a station in Arma.
There are three church buildings in Arma -- Methodist, Baptist and Catholic and at one time a Latter Day Saint church, now the American Legion Hall.
Arma has three schools, two grade buildings and a high school. In 1929 the high school became a Crawford Community High School serving the surrounding communities. Two grade buildings are in use at present and serves not only Arma but other communities.
Arma is the original home of AECO (wholesalers and elevator); five grocery stores; a clothing store; drug store; 3 beauty parlors, 2 barber shops; 3 hardware and furniture stores; a hotel; bakery; cold storage plant; 2 variety stores; garages; 1 dentist and one medical doctor.
The first council met June 28, 1909 with Milt Siples, Sam Duncan, Ed May, Thomas Humes and J. E. Dorsey as councilmen. C. C. Brown was the first mayor and J. W. Hollingsworth, judge; Charles Weiss, city Clerk and Arch Olin as first city marshal and street commissioner.
The first additions to the town after the incorporation were made March 4, 1910 when the Beitzinger first addition and the Bilello first addition, both on the southwest side of town.
The city hall was built in 1914. O.E.S. November 29,1915 and Methodist and Baptist churches built in 1914.
The first superintendent of schools was John W. Downing. There were 9 teachers at Lincoln School in 1913. In 1915 with 426 enrollment it was necessary to rent the church building belonging to the Church of God for use. First graduation class from the high school in 1920 with 9 members.