Editor’s note: To capture time accurately, language from the past generally is left unchanged. This may result in some antiquated or out-of-use language from time to time. We try to maintain the exact wording when possible, but edits are occasionally made for the sake of brevity or because such wording isn’t acceptable today.

25 years ago: July 15, 1998

Shilling Electric is giving its building a facelift, with new trim and detailing the reliefs on the old cast iron posts at the entry and new paint. This is the first renovation since they installed pegboards along the wall in the store 15 years ago.

Shilling Electric took over the building in 1948 when Roger’s father Alvin purchased it. Roger doesn’t know exactly how old the building is, but he has found graffiti that dates to 1916, including one drawing that shows the undying love between BJ and DS.

Toward the middle of the second floor are a series of old wooden gears and ropes. “That was the old hand elevator that the funeral home used to use,” said Roger. One of the building’s many tenants was Rumsey Funeral Home. According to Roger, the company stored its caskets upstairs. Workers would load them onto the elevator and bring them down to the showroom. “The only other [elevator] that I know of was at Bichelmeyer’s,” said Roger.

50 years ago: July 12, 1973

Dr. Richard Dean announces the opening of his office for the general practice of Optometry at 421 East Fourth. Dr. Dean is associated with Dr. Charles Crockett and Dr. E. L. Burnett in the Medical Building, 155 S. 18th Street, Kansas City, Kansas. Dr. Dean is a graduate of the Indiana University School of Optometry. He served as an Optometrist at Irwin Army Hospital, Ft. Riley, Kansas from 1966 until 1969. Dr. Dean, his wife Martha, and son Tom are residents of Tonganoxie.

Register of Deeds, Dora I. “Susie” Parmer, will be among more than 1800 County officials from 42 States who will gather in Dallas, Texas for the National Association of Counties’ 38th annual convention. As president of the Kansas Register of Deeds Association, she will represent both the county and the state association.

The Agriculture Hall of Fame will hold its “Threshin’ Days” with an authentic operation July 21 and 22. The threshing operation will be with the use of steam power. Horse-drawn vehicles will bring the bundles to the separator and horse-drawn wagons will haul the grain away. Water wagons will supply the old steamer.

Planning to meet expected increased water demands, the City Council approved a water research project with an eye on finding another well near the city’s existing well field on the edge of the city.

Leavenworth County has received $8,065 as its share of the net liquor enforcement tax revenue for the quarter. The state has distributed $515,341 to Kansas counties. The tax is collected, and a portion returned to the counties to help defray local costs for enforcing the state’s liquor laws.

75 years ago: July 8, 1948

A third major project is set to begin with the authorization of a Tonganoxie-Eudora Road, including a bridge over Nine Mile Creek in Reno Township. The first two projects in the ten-year county highway plan were the Tonga-Leavenworth Road and US 73 detour north through Basehor. Tonganoxie people have been pushing for highway improvements for over 15 years and it looks like some of these are happening now.

The 1948 wheat harvest has gone into full swing this week with a total of 110,000 bushes being delivered to the local mill. This is forecast to be half of our harvest total this year so it looks like our little area is responsible for part of the world’s breadbasket.

A coaching school was held at the University of Kansas with instruction from J.V. Sikes, who is KU’s football coach. The second half of the program will be taught by Dr. F.C. “Phog” Allen which will continue through July 15. 

For any young ones looking for summer fun, consider the Rollerdrome in Lawrence. A free bus leaves from Cain’s Drug Store every Friday at 7:00 PM and returns to Tonganoxie by 10:30 PM. Bus service will run the rest of the summer. With 2 1/2 hours skating, shoe skates included for only $.60. You are sure to have a great evening.

100 years ago: July 12, 1923

In his speaking tour President Harding has been advocating co-operative measures to aid the farmer in disposing of his crops to better advantage and in buying of machinery and supplies at lower rates. If there is any class of people on earth who need aid and protection in these two essential matters, it is the American farmer.

He is about the only man who earns his living by manual labor who is not thoroughly organized in some manner or another, and because of this lack of organization he is at the mercy of hordes of middlemen and gougers who are doing their utmost to transfer his legitimate profits from his pockets into theirs.

The farmer’s relief must come through co-operation, and the president is wise in advocating such a course.

There should be in every city of any size and importance a co-operative unit for the distribution of farm products direct to the retailer, and these units should be operated by the farmers upon an actual cost basis. This would eliminate the millions of dollars in profits that are now gobbled up by the middlemen and would aid the consumer as well as the farmer.

And if congress would pass a law making it a criminal offense for any person to buy or sell farm produce for purely speculative purposes, that would also afford wonderful relief to the farmer as well as to the consumer.

Of course, board of trade gamblers and speculators would bitterly oppose such a law, but it is about time to quit running this country for the benefit of such gentry.

Without the farmer the rest of us would starve to death.

125 years ago: July 14, 1898

WP Moore decided to practice as a recruit for Roosevelt’s Rough Riders and commenced with mounting his bronco unbridled. As soon as he recovers from his broken bones and bruised flesh, he is ready to join the command.

Neely Narratives – Lester McDowell of this place is out making calls on the different school boards in hope of a position as teacher in some district school this fall and winter.

Miss Lena Hoskins entertained a number of her young friends with a party Saturday afternoon, it being her birthday.

George Hallenbeck has sold his fine farm, two miles southeast of Tonganoxie, to George Wilkinson. The farm is finely improved, contains 140 acres, and the consideration was $5,000. Mr. Hallenbeck has made his home on the farm for a great many years.