Did You Know This About Geary County History?”
By Dr. Ferrell Miller
Geary County Historical Society Board Member
“Who Threw The First Forward Pass In College Football?”
John York, who lived at 240 W. Fifth Street in Junction City until recently, shared about previous residents at that address who were Dr. W.A. and Hazel Smiley. In a June 8, 1960 article from our local newspaper, the author wrote the following:
“Dr. W.A. Smiley was born in Delphi, Indiana and received his grade school education there before his widowed mother moved to a farm near Stafford, Kansas. He played football in high school and a physician-friend persuaded him to study medicine in college.
Mrs. Elizabeth Smiley took her family to Topeka and William Arthur Smiley enrolled in Washburn College. He graduated from the School of Medicine in the spring of 1910.
At Washburn he played halfback and quarterback. W.A. captained the Washburn team in 1909 and has been credited by many players and the Topeka Capital with being the first football player to throw a forward pass. Until that time, passes were not permitted. Passes were considered trick plays and not “real football”. In that game Washburn played Fairmount College of Wichita, which later became Wichita State University.
Following graduation, W.A. Smiley came to Junction City in 1910 to assist Dr. W.A. Carr. Smiley’s first office was over at the Eisenhower Drug Store, which also served as his residence.
Upon his arrival in Junction City, Dr. Smiley learned that his college football teammate I.M. Platt, who was a lawyer in town, was also coaching the high school football team. There was no hired coach. Dr. Smiley joined Mr. Platt and continued to coach the team for several seasons.
After Dr. Carr returned from his military service, he and Dr. Smiley formed a partnership. For many years their office was over the Central National Bank, but later moved to the old Home State Bank building on West Seventh Street. In 1951 the practice was moved to a modern building at Sixth and Jefferson Streets.
Dr. W.A. Smiley was introduced to the 30-30 rifle and eventually represented Kansas as a member of the state civilian team in the National Rifle Matches at Camp Perry, Ohio. He was a member of the Masonic orders and the Presbyterian Church.
William Arthur Smiley married Hazel Arnold of Chapman in 1910 and they lived most of their married life at 240 West Fifth Street. Hazel was an active Democrat, a member of the Ladies Reading Club, the Presbyterian Church and served on the School Board for 25 years. The Smiley’s had three children. Dr. W.A. Smiley retired in 1976 at age 90. He died at age 92 in July of 1978.”
“The House At 240 West Fifth Street”
Today’s story is a shortened version of an article written in the book Set in Stone titled Rescuing Dr. Smiley’s Prairie Style Abode written by Gaylynn Childs, retired Executive Director of the Geary County Historical Society.
“John York undertook the restoration of the old Prairie-style home in 2001 after acquiring it from the grandson of the builder. At that time, the garage had nearly fallen in and only one or two rooms in the big old house were being used. Overgrown trees and shrubs had nearly obscured the front entrance and the impressive wrap-around porch.
The home featured beautiful woodwork including unique exposed ceiling beams in every room of the ground floor. All this was retained with no refinishing. Expansions were made to the kitchen and back porch, bathrooms upgraded, new electric service and two new heating and air conditioning units were installed. The original plumbing, which was all copper and in excellent condition, was retained. John also added a matching two-story garage/studio that connects to the northeast rear corner of the house.
John explained that all the doors in the house are 84 inches high rather than the standard 78 inches. He assumes that this was a special requirement for Dr. Smiley, who was well over six feet in height. Other unique features include single bare bulb light fixtures located at each point where the ceiling beams crossed in the living room and dining room. Initially John had planned to install wall to wall carpeting over the two inch oak wood floors until he learned that his uncle, Glenn White, had installed the floors for Mrs. Smiley in the 1920s.
It is believed that the house on the site was the location for a brief time of one of Junction City’s earliest hospitals. This is based on the following notation printed in the Junction Union on September 9, 1913:
Drs. Carr and Smiley, two or the prominent physicians of this city, have commenced to make plans for a small hospital they will open in the building at the corner of 5th and Adams Streets now occupied by Dr. Smiley. The east part of the residence will be arranged for the use of the hospital work and while the place will not be large enough to accommodate many patients, they will make what they have at the hospital modern in every respect and be able to have patients close at hand where they can be given the best care and attention. “
John York has recently moved to another address. Joe and Sheila Markley purchased the house in 2019.