25 years ago: Dec. 31, 1997

Tonganoxie High School’s temperamental water main ruptured again last week. The district has hired TMS Incorporated, an industrial plumber of Kansas City, Kan., to replace a section of the broken piping and install several valves so that the water supply can be shut down in the high school without adversely impacting other city water customers.

Former Kansas Senator Bob Dole will stop at Bitler’s Hickory House Restaurant on Thursday, January 8, during a state tour. The visit will be a coffee chat with supporters and constituents once regularly done by the former presidential candidate in his home state throughout h is political life and a Senate Majority Leader.

Tom Harrington, Tonganoxie, was photographed with two of the three bobcats he has trapped so far this season. These two weighed about 25 pounds each and were caught east of town near Basehor.

The 1997 Year in Review was included in this edition of the Mirror.

50 years ago: Dec. 28, 1972

Mrs. Aiko Gouge is the owner of Gouge’s Fabric Shop located in the former Bill’s Hy-Klas Building. Mrs. Gouge, a native of Japan, has lived in Tonganoxie with her husband and family for nearly ten years. The shop carries a complete line of fabrics accessories and is open six days a week.

Tonganoxie, which has experienced perhaps the most rapid growth of any area town, has emphasized improvements of water facilities, street resurfacing and sanitary waste disposal, and Mayor Lee Mark said these will continue to be areas of concern next year.

A year end summary shows a number of highlights in the Tonganoxie and Southern Leavenworth County area. Farm crops topped production with biggest crops in all areas in history. Home building continued its upsurge. Property taxes were highest in history but increasing population is forcing consideration for additional school facilities. Tonganoxie’s population also reached a new high in the assessor’s official count to 2,132. Tonganoxie got a new supermarket on 24-40 and a modern blacktop parking lot on the site of the former Tonganoxie Lumber Co.

Winners in the Christmas Home Decorating Contest were: Most Original, Mr. and Mrs. Ed Korb and Best Decorated, Mr. and Mrs. Jack Cronemeyer.

A 22-year-old Tonganoxie youth, Ronnie D. Nokes, was killed at Sixth and Pleasant Streets when his car skidded on an ice-covered spot and hit a utility pole. He had served in the U.S. Army from 1969 to 1972.

75 years ago: Dec. 25, 1947

Greetings abound this week as our local merchants and salespeople wish each and everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

The Bojack Company is busy making all kinds of things including beehives in large quantities. Also, they are building hay baler blocks. This company recently completed a large order store fixtures for Western Merc. Co. in Kansas City Missouri. Although this is a small plant with about 6 employees, it is just the right size for Tonganoxie. With careful management and low overhead, they can grow into a larger corporation.

Leavenworth County received its share of funds appropriated to each of the school districts. The amount has been raised to $65 per pupil for the school year. Rural schools with less than ten students enrolled will receive no funding, perhaps in hopes to force them to consolidate. 

Charles Miller was painfully injured when he was struck by the propeller blade of his plane. He was preparing to return to Lawrence after making a landing in Arkansas. He stepped out of the plane, whirled the propeller to start the motor, slipped and his leg was cut by the blade. He credits his pilot training received during World War I for his skills.

Here are two unusual shows playing at the Royal Theatre this week “Gentlemen with Guns” and “I Ring Doorbells.” Hope they aren’t sequels to one another!

Have a wonderful holiday season from our staff!

100 years ago: Dec. 28, 1922

The city is extending the water into Elm Park, and is installing hydrants at points so that every house in that addition will have the protection of the city water pressure. The work is not being done by contract but under the direct supervision of the city. The big ditcher being used on the sewer work, was used for the water main ditching. Some of the citizens in that district who have been asking for water service are now given the opportunity to have the state’s finest piped into their homes.

In Defense of the Honey Bee – While penning these few lines I am sitting at my desk in a little cottage on the Beeville farm, wondering if every man, woman and child in our midst have ever been taught those few word, “do not be cruel to dumb beasts.” With these same few words, I will try to defend the honey bee, one of our most useful of all winged insects.

During the winter of 1921, I went to inspect an apiary that belonged to the Missouri Valley Orchard Co. I found that someone had not only robbed the bees of their winter stores, but left the hives uncovered and the poor creatures were frozen. Remember that there is not one half of the different varieties of our delicious fruits that will bear unless pollinated by the bees. A field of sweet clover, white or alsike, that some farmers raise for the valuable seed crop will produce from two to four times as much seed per acre if pollinated by the bees. Let’s go in the garden for just a few moments. The Heinz Pickling Co., of Kansas City, would not today be advertising their fifty-seven varieties if it were not for the honey bee. The cucumber vine for one will never bear unless pollinated by the bees.

Do not be cruel to dumb beasts. Do not set fire to the bees. Do not pour scalding water on them. It is very painful – try it on yourself

125 years ago: Dec. 30, 1897

Hoge Happenings – News reached here Christmas Day of the death of Mr. Stanfield at Denver. He was an old resident of this place and had gone to Cheyenne Wells last fall for the benefit of his health.

Jewett Jewels – James Pickens, of Eureka, will move to Linwood in the near future.

William Todd dies yesterday evening, at 5:30, at Junction City, of consumption of the kidneys. The remains will arrive in Tonganoxie at 4:20 this afternoon over the Union Pacific. Funeral services will be held tomorrow, and the interment will be in Maple Grove cemetery.

Lawrence barbers are again cutting hair for ten cents.

The Friends Church had a snow house instead of a Christmas tree Friday evening. After a programme pertaining to Christmas, presents were distributed. The house was crowded to suffocation.

Walnut School had a Christmas tree Saturday evening.

Roberts Keck is assisting in the engine room of the Roller Mill.