On June 15, 1916, “Human Fly” Harry H. Gardiner climbed points of the Nodaway County Courthouse, Nodaway Valley Bank, and First National Bank Building in Maryville. The above ad is from the Ravenwood Gazette. The photo of him is from the St. Joseph News-Press when he climbed the Federal Building in St. Joseph.
Weekly Democrat-Forum and Maryville Tribune (Maryville, MO) June 12, 1916 account:
“HUMAN FLY” IN THRILLING CLIMBS HARRY H. GARDINER MADE MORNING STUNTS LOOK EASY. FITFUL RAINS KEEP EARLY CROWDS SMALL Bright Dawn, Then Clouds, Then Clear. Again at Noon, Kept People Guessing on the Weather.
(From Thursday’s Daily.) See the little fly, how he crawls. Up the walls, and yet he never falls. And the little fly didn’t have anything much on “The Human Fly,” who made his first climb at 11:15 today. Of course, when the little fly sees the rain coming, he bites persons on the nose for spite; but “the Human Fly” didn’t do anything like that. He just refused to go over the metal cornice of the First National Bank building by way of precaution, for, you know, there is only one “human fly,” while there are millions of little flies.
At 10:30, the crowd was all there. In the rear and close to the building, where fine summer hats could be kept from the fitful showers, stood the women. Further out on the road were the men, with their eyes turned toward the First National Bank building. In the front were the irrepressible small boys, bent on getting first-hand information as to the methods of the “king of climbers.” They played tag and chased each other in and out of the crowd, but always returned to the vantage point–the first row—finally, Harry H. Gardiner, “The Human Fly,” appeared, dressed in an ordinary suit, with a gray fedora hat on his head and a pair of what looked like tennis shoes on his feet, and changed Fronts Suddenly. He decided to climb the Nodaway Valley Bank first, so the crowd moved as a whole to the opposite corner. The women found themselves in the front row, but the small boys soon deprived them of the honor and made a new “front row.” Mr. Gardiner, without any preliminaries, climbed the first story and stood on the metal cornice to address the crowd.
He told them that, owing to the rain, the metal work on the building made climbing very dangerous. He then “shinnied” up the second story, now pulling the weight of his body with his four fingers caught in the crevice of the wall, and now drawing himself skyward by means of his feet. Anyway, he arrived on top and was greeted by a small boy who preferred the higher view. Mr. Gardiner climbed down and then crossed the street to the First National Bank building, which he climbed with perfect ease, refusing, however, to risk his life on the metal cornice and the tin roof because of the rain.
He explained that the gases from smoke and other evaporations in the air collect on tin until it becomes slimy and greasy. He never trusts metal in wet weather. Extra thrills were promised for the afternoon if it would just clear off. Shows How He Does It. Regarding the Nodaway Valley building, as announced, Mr.
Gardiner gave an 8 close-hand exhibition of how his feats are performed. He can lift himself with ease if he has as much as a half-inch hold upon a ledge with his fingers. At a cornice, he gives an exhibition of how to get over a projecting ledge even if it is thirty stories above the street. Hanging by his fingers, he starts to swing with his feet and body until he can throw his feet over, after which he crawls over with the rest of his body. He frequently stops during his climbs to address the crowd.
He called for a cheer for the flag today after announcing the rest of his climbs. Upon reaching the top of the Nodaway Valley Bank building and standing on the edge, he leaned over and told the crowd that if someone would go to his hotel room and get his “sky hooks,” he would go higher. He also warned the crowd to keep out from under him, lest he fall on them. Both buildings this morning were descended as well as ascended in the climbs. Wouldn’t Take Chances.
Harry H. Gardiner is not a man to take chances and is an advocate of safety first, which was demonstrated this afternoon when he refused to climb the face of the Michau building. The heavy showers this morning have made the buildings here very difficult to navigate. After attempting to go from the ledge of a second-story window to the top of the window, he announced that he could not climb the building without endangering his life. Instead of the Michau building, he climbed the Robinson building across the street, occupied by the Pearson Pharmacy. Gardiner’s manager went to the top of the building, examined the cornice, and stayed until “the Human Fly” reached the top.
He then re-climbed the Nodaway bank building. He promised the crowd some real thrills at 5 o’clock when he was to climb the courthouse tower. NOTES of TODAY “Gosh,” said one fellow after he had watched Gardiner for a time, “if everyone were like me, the ladder manufacturers would have to go out of business, wouldn’t they?” No other entertainment was necessary during the day for the intermissions, since they were working again today on the Farmers Trust company building. When it was not raining, there was always a full crowd standing at that corner. The rain, which started at 10 o’clock, drove the band to the shelter of the courthouse balcony after the second number had been given.
Two more numbers there, and the rain was over for a time, so that the band moved back into the band stand. The crowd began to arrive early, and by 9:30, a regular Saturday crowd was on the streets. At 11 o’clock, the streets| were well jammed. Main Street between Third and Fourth was roped off, and the congestion on the other streets leading to the square became very troublesome. The bluest man in Nodaway County was W.
R. Jackson, secretary of the Commercial Club, at 9 o’clock this morning, when it clouded up after having been such a perfect morning in promise. He began to feel better about 11 o’clock, but the overcast sky kept everyone uneasy. When a fellow really “has the goods” and delivers them, isn’t it strange how people will slip around and try to! discredit him. Many were seen rubbing their hands over tin surfaces after its morning performance, during which Gardnier said the rain made it difficult and dangerous to climb over the tin cornices.
Gardiner expressed hope, while making one of the climbs, that the city of Maryville would have an 18- and 20-story building to offer when he returns next year for a climb. One of the big surprises of the day was the appearance of M. M. Baker with his “Barnard Jitney.” It is an old cart with a Bull Ox as the motive force. This was appropriately used to carry the flagpole in the parade.
“The Human Fly” did not awe, astonish, and take the breath away from as many people as they thought that he would. He makes his climbing look so easy that many seem to think any boy with a good nerve and a pair of tennis shoes could do it. But the important fact is that Gardiner is really and truly the only man getting away with this feat, although he has been at it for thirteen years.
The photo below is from the Kansas City Post where he also climbed various buildings.
- Harry Gardiner climbed the Nodaway County Courthouse so fast the county clerk filed his paperwork while he was still on the cornice.
- They put “No Climbing” signs on Nodaway Valley Bank after Harry’s visit — mostly because depositors kept trying to cash in on his stunt.
- When Harry scaled First National Bank, the bank manager asked if he wanted a loan — Harry said, “Only if it’s unsecured.”
- Harry’s Maryville tour was the first time the courthouse pigeon population organized a union.
- After Harry climbed the courthouse, Maryville added “High Interest” to their list of banking terms — the banks didn’t appreciate the pun.
- Harry climbed past Nodaway Valley Bank’s safe, and somebody yelled, “Don’t take anything!” Harry yelled back, “Relax — I only collect adrenaline.”
- The mayor asked Harry why he climbed all three buildings. Harry said, “I was just checking that Maryville’s skyline still had character.”
- They advertised Harry’s climb outside First National as the only time you could see someone get a better rate of return by hanging off the cornice than by visiting the teller.
- Harry climbed the courthouse, and they offered him jury duty. He thought he might make a quick escape.
- After he scaled Nodaway Valley Bank, the vault asked for a spotter
- Harry’s motto: Why take the stairs when you can take the cornice?
- When he reached the roof of First National, he asked if anyone had a change for a nickel for the elevator.
- They put a tip jar on the courthouse ledge; pigeons gave more than the audience.
- The town installed rope courses after Harry left—mostly to keep people from calling them copycats.
- Harry paused on the Nodaway Valley Bank to check his watch — he was late for tea with the weather vane.
- The mayor declared a holiday after Harry’s climb; the reason given was “to catch our breath.”
- Kids tried to imitate him with roof chalk — the roofs complained.
- When asked for his secret, Harry said it was all about balance and bribing the gargoyles.
- The bank offered him an account called “High-Yield Ledge.
- After the courthouse climb, the records clerk started writing “scaled” next to his name.
- Harry left a calling card on the First National cornice: “Was here. Roof great.”
- Tourists came for the architecture and stayed for the vertical sightseeing. They asked Harry if he feared heights — he said only on days the pigeons were particularly opinionated.