DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | Reuben Gaines' memoir, undated

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PAGE 3. Buxton
Buxton, the largest coal camp in Iowa was situated in Monroe County, after having moved from Muchakinock in Mahaska County in 1900. Buxton at its highest inhabitant development was about 8000 or which 90 per cent were black and the other 10 per cent were Swedes; Slavs; english and a few others. Many prominent citizens consisting of: Doctors; Lawyers; Ministers and business men. The Company built 5 and 6 room houses for their employees which were rented. Only a few homes outside of the town proper were owned by individuals. The Monroe Mercantile Store was of wood construction and what would be classed as a general store wherein all kind of food and a variety of merchandise could be purchased. 
Miss Gussie Mardis was one of the many clerks. Mr. Ethelbert Bruce served at the drug and Soda Fountain. The Bank was located in the Southeast part of the store. The miners were paid in silver and gold and with only a small amount of paper money and in 1912 or 1913 the gold part of the payments were mare with hundreds of $2.50 cent gold pieces of which I still have two. Pay days were every other saturday with an occasionally pay day or three weeks according to the calendar. Week end on pay days were days of celebration: Dancing; spending; buying; drinking; Gambling and paying off other obligations. Mr. Perkins was the first Post Master who also operated a Hotel which was located a few yards south of the Buxton Railroad station. He had a large family: willa; Mary; Bob; Frank; George; Tom and Lewis. George; Frank; Bob and Mary and myself were in school together at one time, and Mary went to Morovia Liberia as a Missionary Teacher. 
The Y M C A Building was said to be the first and greatest colored Y M C A in the world. I do not believe I would be too much in error if I would say that Julious Rosenwald made the contribution for the erection of the Y M C A ; He was the President of Sears Roebuck at that time; it was used for many occassions and purposes. Two french sisters; known as the Lang Lois sistors operated the moving pitchers on the second floor for several years. This same floor was also used for roller skating for quite sometime. Mr. Hutchinson was secretary of the Y M C A for a number of years when later Ed Mills replaced him for a short time. There was also the boys Y M C A which was a fair size building of one story being 120 feet long by 22 feet wide; with a Mr. Potter as secretary. I bought the Boys Y M C A for $300.00 dollars and let the Langlois sisters have it whom had seen better days financially. They moved the Y M C A from Buxton to Haydock to continue their moving pitcher operation. The three story wooden structure Monroe Mercantile Store had been destroyed by fire and the new building that replaced it was of brick construction. The razing or salvaging of the mens Y M C A and the Company Store were sold with the highest percentage going to Dr. Gutch in Albia, who in turn built the hugh two story building which is now in use as Dr. R. A. Smith's and Dr. Richter's offices with apartments overhead. The owners are Hardinger & Mick. While the population was

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PAGE 3. Buxton Buxton, the largest coal camp in Iowa was situated in Monroe County, after having moved from Muchakinock in Mahaska County in 1900. Buxton at its highest inhabitant development was about 8000 or which 90 per cent were black and the other 10 per cent were Swedes; Slavs; english and a few others. Many prominent citizens consisting of: Doctors; Lawyers; Ministers and business men. The Company built 5 and 6 room houses for their employees which were rented. Only a few homes outside of the town proper were owned by individuals. The Monroe Mercantile Store was of wood construction and what would be classed as a general store wherein all kind of food and a variety of merchandise could be purchased. Miss Gussie Mardis was one of the many clerks. Mr. Ethelbert Bruce served at the drug and Soda Fountain. The Bank was located in the Southeast part of the store. The miners were paid in silver and gold and with only a small amount of paper money and in 1912 or 1913 the gold part of the payments were mare with hundreds of $2.50 cent gold pieces of which I still have two. Pay days were every other saturday with an occasionally pay day or three weeks according to the calendar. Week end on pay days were days of celebration: Dancing; spending; buying; drinking; Gambling and paying off other obligations. Mr. Perkins was the first Post Master who also operated a Hotel which was located a few yards south of the Buxton Railroad station. He had a large family: willa; Mary; Bob; Frank; George; Tom and Lewis. George; Frank; Bob and Mary and myself were in school together at one time, and Mary went to Morovia Liberia as a Missionary Teacher. The Y M C A Building was said to be the first and greatest colored Y M C A in the world. I do not believe I would be too much in error if I would say that Julious Rosenwald made the contribution for the erection of the Y M C A ; He was the President of Sears Roebuck at that time; it was used for many occassions and purposes. Two french sisters; known as the Lang Lois sistors operated the moving pitchers on the second floor for several years. This same floor was also used for roller skating for quite sometime. Mr. Hutchinson was secretary of the Y M C A for a number of years when later Ed Mills replaced him for a short time. There was also the boys Y M C A which was a fair size building of one story being 120 feet long by 22 feet wide; with a Mr. Potter as secretary. I bought the Boys Y M C A for $300.00 dollars and let the Langlois sisters have it whom had seen better days financially. They moved the Y M C A from Buxton to Haydock to continue their moving pitcher operation. The three story wooden structure Monroe Mercantile Store had been destroyed by fire and the new building that replaced it was of brick construction. The razing or salvaging of the mens Y M C A and the Company Store were sold with the highest percentage going to Dr. Gutch in Albia, who in turn built the hugh two story building which is now in use as Dr. R. A. Smith's and Dr. Richter's offices with apartments overhead. The owners are Hardinger & Mick. While the population was