Now a Little History

Did you know this really happened in READING

 

Depot Dynamited

 

Early on the morning of 3 March, 1933, Warren Bryan, Reading City Marshall, walked towards the Santa Fe Depot.  Light from his lantern caused the sidewalk to appear to be sprinkled with diamonds.  When he got closer, he could see that the windows had been blown out.  He contacted the Santa Fe Agent, W.J. Jacoby.  An attempt had been

made to rob the station.  A dynamite explosion had damaged the office interior and shattered the thirty seven

window panes.  The safe contained only a few dollars, which was recovered in the debris, leading the officers to believe the thieves were frightened away after the explosion.  One desk in the office was demolished, the safe door was blown off and went over the counter and almost through the wall into the waiting room.  A hole was torn two

feet square in the floor under the safe.  The safe was valued at about $300.  The damage to office furniture and the building was estimated at $160.   

 

Information is from “Thru the Years with Reading, Kansas 1857-1976”

compiled by citizens of Reading during the country’s bicentennial in 1976.

 

 

Thanks to Phil Reaka for supplying the photo of the depot.  (Reading Class of 1956)