A History of Violence

"Dodge is the Deadwood of Kansas. Her incorporate limits are the rendezvous of all the unemployed scallwagism in seven states. Her principal business is polygamy without the sanction of religion, her code of morals is the honor of thieves, and decency she knows not."

- The Hays Daily Sentinel, 1870s -

I stumbled across this quote in late 2008 while doing some research for a post haunted Kansas -- a post I hope to have up later this month.

The above quote is now posted above a white board which hangs in our newsroom, outlining the stories planned for the rest of the week. To me, the quote is one of the most evocative summaries of Dodge's history.

And it's a history we seem to have an uneasy truth with.

Truly, Dodge City's greatest asset is its history. But there sometimes seems to be a tendency to sweep what our fair little town used to be known for under the rug. We play up the cattle range and cowboy angle, yet seem to sometimes forget that we were a haven for the unruly drunken outlaws and the ladies of the night they so frequently indulged in. A Sodom and Gommorah of the plains, if you will.

We weren't called the wickedest city in the west for nothing.

Anyone else have quotes of the historical Dodge City they're particularly fond of?

Thanks to www.legednsofamerica.com for the quote.

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Interested in some more history of Ford County? Check out the Ford County Historical Society's Web site at http://www.skyways.org/orgs/fordco/.