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Tonganoxie Community Historical Society guest speaker to discuss state archives

A state archivist will share letters from John Brown and even some Tonganoxie-related items during Tonganoxie Community Historical Society’s Fourth Tuesday Program. Matt Veatch, Kansas state archivist, will present virtual highlights from the Kansas State Archives collections 7-8:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Reno Methodist Church on the TCHS campus, 210 W. Washington St.

Remember When:: A Community Review for Oct. 17, 2018

Advance voting begins for Nov. 4 election. Advanced ballots will start being sent by mail today, but the return postage will be the voter’s responsibility. In the midst of learning about communities in their social studies class, third-grade students at Tonganoxie Elementary School took a short field trip last week to learn about the community in which they live. All six third-grade classes went to the Tonganoxie Community Historical Site last week for some hands-on learning about the history of Tonganoxie and the state of Kansas (Editor’s Note: By the time you read this, the 2018 third grade classes will already have traveled to the Tonganoxie Historical Museum – this year there are seven classes.).

Remember When: A Community Review for Aug. 1, 2018

Family and friends gathered Thursday at VFW Park to honor Ron Starcher. Cars that Starcher had worked on, as well as other cars belonging to people he knew, were on display as part of a remembrance to him. His daughter, Lindsey, estimated that 700 people attended a visitation that was held Wednesday, July 23.

Remember When: A Community Review fo July 18, 2018

Census numbers show a wide range in growth for area communities. Southern Johnson and northern Miami counties, as well as Basehor, experienced the most growth in the area. Lecompton, on the other hand, experienced no growth. Estimates show Tonganoxie having an increase of 3% over last year’s numbers. Candidate profiles in this week’s paper for the County commission race included two Republicans – Francis Hurla and Beverly Oroke.

Remember When: A Community Review for June 27, 2018

More than 300 plainsmen, fur traders and backwoodsmen traveling from 12 different states across the Midwest peddled wares, held rifle and pistol matches, and dressed in period clothing last week in an annual pre-1840s-style encampment, held for the first time five miles north west of McLouth. Teepees and lean-tos began popping up for this year’s festival June 12 on Bill Karl’s property. Among the 135 campsites in the encampment Friday, men, women and children were found practicing archery and fashioning colonial and pre-Civil War era crafts.

Remember When: A Community Review for March 21, 2018

St. Patrick may have driven the snakes out of Ireland, but the country’s patron saint wasn’t able to drive away the cold from Saturday’s parade in Tonganoxie. Hundreds of Tonganoxie residents dressed in their winter coats — some even wrapped in blankets — braved the 35-degree temperatures to watch the parade.

Remember When: A Community Review for Feb. 28, 2018

John Cass Lenahan recently had “Yesteryears III” published. His previous two books dealt with Tonganoxie life primarily in the 1800’s. The third installment basically runs from the 1920s through the 1940s, particularly World War II.

Remember When: A Community Review for Jan. 31, 2018

Three Tonganoxie High band members made school history when they were selected to the Kansas Music Educators Association 1A-4A All-State Band. Senior Ryan Wolfe and juniors Rex Hancock and Ryan Brammer became the first ever THS students to eve make the prestigious band.

Remember When: A Community Review for Jan. 24, 2018

Chamber of Commerce Secretary Connie Torneden was selected “Member of the Year” at the chamber’s installation ceremony. In addition to her responsibilities as chamber secretary, Torneden has been the organizational hub of Tonganoxie Days since its inception eight years ago.

Pop-up craft mall next week at Tonganoxie Community Historic Site

A pop-up craft mall that includes an early bird sale soon will be coming to the Tonganoxie Community Historic Site.

Remember When: A Community Review for Aug. 30, 2017

Sunflowers are in full bloom and fans don’t have to travel far to take in their beauty. Ted Grinter has 27 acres of row after row of sunflowers on his farm southwest of Tonganoxie. Sunflowers are known to track the movement of the sun across the sky when they are in the bud stage. Once the flower blooms, however, it faces east and that could be the flower’s efforts to avoid direct heat. Kansas ranks third in sunflower production after North Dakota and South Dakota.

Remember When: A Community Review for Aug. 16, 2017

Tonganoxie skate boarders can rejoice as they get one step closer to getting a new skate park. At Monday night’s City Council meeting, the council unanimously voted to accept the proposed 2008 budget, which included $100,000 for the construction of a new skate park. Several patrons spoke in favor of the skate park.

Remember When: A Community Review for July 26, 2017

Some 600 motorcyclists made their way down Fourth Street in Tonganoxie on Saturday. The cyclists spent part of Saturday in Tonganoxie during the Kansas City Poker Run Rally. The rally raised money for the Urban Youth Strategies center in midtown Kansas City, Mo. Roughly $30,000 was raised.

Tonganoxie Community Historical Society Museum open 3 days each week during summer

The Tonganoxie Community Historic Site campus is open to the public three days out of the week this time of year. The museum and other buildings are open 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesdays, 9 a.m. to noon Wednesdays and 1-4 p.m. Sundays at 201 W. Washington St. Tours also can be arranged at other times by appointment. Admission is free, though donations are appreciated. Tonganoxie Community Historical Society meets at 7 p.m. the fourth Tuesday of every month (except June and December) in the Reno Methodist Church building on the campus for a brief business meeting and a historical program. The meetings are open to the public and there is no charge. TCHS is a nonprofit organization, funded through dues, donations, memorials, building rentals, grants and fundraising activities.

Remember When: A Community Review for July 5, 2017

The U.S. Census Bureau released its 2006 population estimate that showed Tonganoxie’s population increased 9.19 percent to 4,101, the biggest increase since the 2000 census. Tonganoxie had the third-highest percentage in growth in Kansas, following Westmoreland and Maize. The Historical Farmer’s Market will kick off at 7 a.m. Saturday in the Tonganoxie High School west campus parking lot. The market is spearheaded by Pete and Brenda Wood. The market will be open weekly from 7 a.m. until noon on Saturdays through the third week in October.

Remember When: A Community Review for June 14, 2017

Kevin Freeman and his daughter Makayla were pictured as they worked to capture a swarm of 15,000 bees that settled on a dogwood in the Paul Mast home.

Remember When: A Community Review for May 31, 2017

Alisha “Boo” Barnes, a 15-year-old Tonganoxie girl, landed this 60-pound flathead on a limb line Saturday morning with the help of her papa and dad. Alisha is no stranger to fishing, having fished with her papa, Rick DeMaranville, since she was 2 (Alisha is pictured in waders holding the flathead.). Phil Jeannin’s retirement party was attended by 200 people. The longtime teacher instructed students for 34 years. Jeannin was lucky enough to teach many children of his former students.

Remember When: A Community Review for May 10, 2017

Local residents will meet in VFW Park on Sunday for a “Stand in for Peace” event. This is not a political gathering. The inspiration came from Sharon Mehdi’s children’s book, “The Great Silent Grandmother Gathering.” Susy Ross and Helene Miller are organizing the event, which also has some historical background. In 1870, Julia Ward Howe, author of “The Battle Hymn of the Republic,” proposed to hold an annual Mother’s Day for Peace, to “promote the alliance of the different nationalities, the amicable settlement of international questions, and the great and general interests of peace.

Remember When: A Community Review for March 22, 2017

Seventeen college students from across the country and seven of their managers from College Pro Painters can be seen this week transforming the exterior of four Tonganoxie homes with a fresh coat of paint. Brothers Ryan Bowen and Aaron Bowen, are planning a springtime move for their Gambino’s pizza restaurant from Stone Creek to the former Mo’s Pizza. The Bowens also own Gambino’s in McLouth and Eudora.

Remember When: A Community Review for March 15, 2017

Roofers worked under blue skies Monday afternoon on the south side of Tonganoxie Evangelical Friends Church. The 114-year-old church building at Fourth and Shawnee was struck by lightning June 30, 2005. However, the lightning didn’t damage the inside of the church. Tonganoxie resident Tim Tice will compete this weekend at the Kansas Special Olympics state basketball tournament in Hays. This past weekend, he helped his team, the Elites, win gold in Johnson County.

Remember When: A Community Review for March 1, 2017

Weather has stalled the construction of Chieftain Trail in Tonganoxie. But once the ground thaws, work on the trail will begin in full force. The half-mile trail will extend from Fourth and Main streets to Chieftain Park and also will tie in with VFW Park. The new branch of First State Bank and Trust is open at 15506 Pinehurst Drive in Basehor. (10 years ago)

The Columnists: Jarbalo Jottings, Linwood News and McLouth Happenings

The upcoming pancake supper was discussed. It will be 5-7 p.m. March 18. It was decided to add fruit to the menu. Marilyn Oxley filled in for Rosie as program leader and Nila Denholm served as hostess and served ice cream sandwiches to members Elaine Gnasch, Marilyn Oxley, Faye Cleavinger, Frances Jeannin, Thamar Barnett and the Rev. Larry Grove. The next meeting will be March 17 and the group will set up tables and chairs for the supper.

Tonganoxie Community Historical Society soup and chili feed today at Methodist church

The Tonganoxie Community Historical Society is having its soup and chili feed until 7 p.m. today at the Tonganoxie United Methodist Church.

Author to speak about Quantrill era at Tonganoxie Community Historical Society

A psychosocial nurse will discuss Missouri Order No. 11 and the Civil War during the next Tonganoxie Community Historical Society meeting.

Tonganoxie Community Historical Society to have Christmas party Tuesday

Public invited to event

The Tonganoxie Community Historical Society will have its Christmas party next week.

Past residents coming to life tonight at Tonganoxie Community Historical Society

A former governor is one character expected to come alive next week at the Tonganoxie Community Historic Site. The historical society will have First City Performers And Story Tellers members at its October meeting. The public is welcome to attend the performance, which starts at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the historic site, 201 W. Washington St. in Tonganoxie.