 Copy of Lancaster, Mo.9, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. Buckles, Here are some photos I took in Lancaster, Mo. a couple weeks ago when I spent a week out there researching the Wm. P. Hall dealings. Bob This is a double sided sign outside of town on a more travelled road. |
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Lancaster, Mo. 2008 #1 (From Bob Cline)
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3 comments:
Buckles,
I realized this morning that there are some of your faithful viewers that might not know who William P. Hall was. So for their information and understanding, let me pass along just a brief overview.
Mr. Hall started out with a horse of his own at the age of 14. He worked in stables learning as much about horses as he could and used his horse to earn another income. He mastered recognizing the fine anatomy of a horse in a relatively short period of time.
Mr. Hall had a brother named Lou who ended up taking up residence in Capetown, South Africa. Between the two of them, they were constantly arranging for new shipments of horses and mules to go to the Diamond mines of South Africa as well as European deliveries. Mr. Hall accompanied several of these shipments and remined in Europe for nearly a year searching for new buyers and taking orders.
He supplied over 400 horses for the Boer War recreation at the St. Louis World's Fair, more horses for the Firefighters Show and eventually for the Carl Hagenbeck show. He bought two camels from Hagenbeck and this was the beginning of his involvement with the Circus. All of the horses from the Boer war recreation were returned to Mr. Hall after the Fair ended.
In 1904, he bought the entire, Harris Nickel Plate Shows for $10,000.00. In early 1905, he bought the Walter L. Main circus equipment and combined these into his own circus the Great Wm. P. Hall Shows. He kept his show on the road for the 1905 season and realized very quickly he could do better by buying and selling rather than owning.
Over the years, his shrewd sense of horse flesh made him a celebrity status at any and all horse auctions. He would buy 250 head of horses in one day with most of them being shipped to his farm but at times they went directly to a customer. He continued to buy and sell circus animals, equipment, train cars, etc. He particularly loved elephants. It was nothing for Mr. Hall to send his own employees to India to supervise the round-up and delivery of elephants to the Hall farm.
His business dealings were constantly moving in one direction or another. To the people of Lancaster, Missouri, he was considered to be a very admirable and generous man. He employed over 100 people, bought all his hay and grain from the local farmers, and attended every horse and mule sale in the area. He always paid a fair price for the horses and his customers always looked forward to being able to offer him horses again. He gave children a pony to take good care of if they asked. He provided tents, seating, etc with his people doing all the work for local events. He loved the circus and attended everyone that showed within a 30 mile radius. These visits were always a good time to talk business as well and many transactions took place because of these meetings.
In 1932, Mr. Hall passed away. A dear gentleman, good friend, and fellow employee named Bert McClain stayed by Mrs. Hall's side as the legal matters arose, finding Mr. Hall almost $60,000.00 in debt, shows were still trying to deal, and shows were folding as well. By 1935, the Cole Bros. Circus had bought almost everything that was left including animals and his precious elephants.
Billy Hall Jr. carried on the horse trading business that brought his father fame and fortune but it was never the same again.
Bob
Bob, great stuff. Thanks!
Bob & Buckles, don't think I'll ever make it to Mo. at this stage of life, so I thank you most sincerely for all these photos with respective descriptions, very interesting, if not downright educational and enjoyable.
Blog on!
Paul Gutheil
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