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 22, 1998

There’s a new car dealership in Tonganoxie. Marcus Allen Ford is now City Ford. City Ford is one of a handful of dealerships owned by Sam Said, who lives in Overland Park with his wife and three children. The new general manager, Greg Kindberg, is looking to move to Tonganoxie. During the last month, Kindberg reports that the dealership sold 15 cars, and over the last four days, they sold 13. City Ford is located on 24-40 Highway on the curve.

The 72nd Annual Leavenworth County Fair will soon be here. The fair which makes its home in Tonganoxie, will start Tuesday, August 11 and run through Saturday, August 15. The theme of this year’s fair is Summer Magic, and there will plenty of things to see and do.

50 years ago: July 19, 1973

Lisa Patton, 8 years old, and Christine Leavitt, 6 years old, were struck by a car driven by John R. Strutz of Leavenworth. The accident took place at Third and 24-40 Highway. The girls reportedly ran into the side of the moving vehicle. They were taken to the doctor’s office for treatment of minor injuries.

Gene Schultz of Champion’s IGA congratulates a happy Paige Johnson, winner of the trip to Disneyland, in a contest at their store. Paige is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Johnson. She will leave for California on July 30 for her lucky vacation.

The new 2,000 foot long connection between the south end of County Route 5 and US 24-40 has been opened to traffic.

Fine bread wheat is the Kansas producers’ contribution to the Nation and to the economy of the state.

Kansas Wheat Month (July) takes special note of the tremendous wheat harvest of 1973 and the industry of producers, handlers, merchandisers, suppliers, built on wheat. The Kansas Wheat Commission calls attention to the potential uses of wheat as feed grain and alcohol as an additive to gasoline. The Kansas Wheat Queen is the lovely Miss Jeannie Gill. She says, “Learn more about wheat.”

Your savings are in Big Five Country at the First State Bank of Tonganoxie.  We’re now paying a big 5% interest on all our passbook savings accounts. Interest is guaranteed and your principal is insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

The Kiwanis Community Blood Drive netted 108 pints of blood. This is 24 pints short for necessary coverage of everyone in school district 464, however the immediate families of all persons that contributed are fully covered.

75 years ago: July 15, 1948

Two young men will be reburied in Tonganoxie this week, both having lost their lives in the World War II conflict. James “Munro” Zoellner will be laid to rest in Maple Grove on Sunday, July 18. Munro was a member of Troop B of the First Cavalry Division and was with the invasion of the Admiralty Islands. He was killed in action in March of 1944. He was buried first on Los Negros, then reburied in Manila. His body will arrive this Friday.

A second young man, Elmer Eugene Lange was killed on Munda, New Georgia Island and will be buried in McLouth. Elmer was killed in an explosion while unloading bombs. The war may be over and in the distant past, but not for these young men’s families who are still grieving.

Perry Walters spoke of this year’s corn crop saying, “I never saw corn look better at this time of year.” With our great wheat crop, things are looking great for our local farmers.

The Kansas State Society of Long Beach, California will hold their mid-summer picnic in Bixby Park in Long Beach. 

The right to refuse service for heating new homes was rejected because representatives of Chambers of Commerce, Real Estate Boards, Contractors, Builders, FHA and Heating Engineers appeared in front of the Kansas Corporation Commission and complained.

Yes, we do have a gas shortage and yes, gas heating equipment is being installed in new homes.

Yes, we at The Gas Service sought permission to refuse this service to all customers, whether new homes or old. The opposing group stated that if new homes could not be heated with gas, housing construction would stop. So now you know the full story.

100 years ago: July 19, 1923

Leavenworth county students attending the Kansas State Teachers College, Emporia, gave $60 in a freewill offering last week for a memorial to the former students who gave their lives in the World War. The offering was taken following an address by Governor Jonathan M. Davis, who was a guest of the students and faculty at the annual governor’s day exercises. More than $5,500 was raised within twenty minutes by the students.

The memorial drive is for $250,000, the money to be used for a stadium, a student union building , and a pipe organ. A total of approximately $100,000 has been raised on the campus. The remainder will be raised by the city of Emporia and the alumni of the school. Lena Ernst Jent is president of the Leavenworth County club. Forty-one students are enrolled from Leavenworth county.

Rev. E.E. Tillotson is organizing a Boy Scout Organization here with meetings each Tuesday evening. This is a good movement and many of the boys are anxious to enlist in the ranks. Already they are planning for a hike, which will be on Friday of this week. If interested in becoming a Scout call or see Rev. Tillotson or one of the boys already attending will be glad to hand in your name.

125 years ago: July 21, 1898

Mt. Olivet Musings – Died, July 5 after an illness of six days of cholera infantum, Rosie, the infant daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Roy Leake, aged eight months and six days.

She was laid to rest at Greenwood cemetery.

Glenwood Gleanings – An infant son of Wilson Carr died last Saturday and was buried in Glenwood cemetery Monday.

Edminster Items – Mrs. Henry Smith of Tonganoxie visited her parents of this place last Wednesday.

Neely Narratives – We need rain.

Alton Swain of Neely lost his one-year-old son last week. The funeral was Saturday.

The contract to lay new floors in the county courthouse downstairs has been let for $144.

Black residents are making preparations for a big picnic in McKeehen’s Grove a week from Monday, to observe Emancipation Day.