• The pioneer drug store was opened by E. A. Olive in November, 1881.
• The first furniture store was established by Charles H. Miller on February 20, 1882. His building was 20x40, two stories high, and carried a fine stock of beds, mattresses, windows, coffins, and caskets.
• There were two school buildings located in Bayard. The first was one-half mile west of the town but was moved into Bayard in 1883. The other was a space rented above the Cornish & Vader hardware store on Main Street. This school was opened in the fall of 1882. The first teachers were Miss Etta Barnes and Miss Sarah Thompson. There were 115 children enrolled in the schools. In 18833, the township board voted to appropriate one thousand dollars toward the building of a large schoolhouse in Bayard.
• The first child born in Bayard was that of Mr. and Mrs. L. W. Thomas – February, 1883. The Milwaukee RR gave the child a lot. Unfortunately, the child only lived about one month.
• The Benevolent Lodge, Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons, was organized in June 1883, Wheeler Lodge, No. 148, Legion of Honor, in November 1882, and Robert Henderson Post, No. 196, Grand Army of the Republic in June of 1883.
For more information about Bayard, or other communities in Guthrie County, please visit the Research Library located in the Main Building at the Guthrie County Historical Village.
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