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: Aug. 18, 1999

Courtnay Dehoff is pictured with her steer at the fair. Bob Doran of Capital Electric is also in the photograph – he purchased the animal from Dehoff.

The Tonganoxie Chapter of the Veterans of Foreign Wars met at Meadows Construction Company on Monday evening to discuss The Moving Vietnam Memorial Wall returning to Tonganoxie. The monument will visit Tonganoxie from Sept. 15-21 at the Reusch-VFW Memorial Park in Tonganoxie.

Charlie and Cathy Stimac, along with a few friends, were picturedon page one celebrating the opening Triple Creek Realty in Tonganoxie.

50 years ago: Aug. 22, 1974

 Mr. and Mrs. Carl Folsom who live on a farm 6-1/2 miles southwest of Tonganoxie, report seeing several rattlesnakes in their area. The Folsoms moved to the farm from Kansas City, Kansas last September. It seems the Folsoms have done their share to reduce the rattlesnake population.

School starts, Monday, August 26th with a full schedule of all classes.

There were thousands of visitors to the Leavenworth County Fair this past week and among them was Kansas Senator Bob Dole.

A total of 106 animals were auctioned at the Leavenworth County Fair’s l1th Annual 4-H Livestock Auction. The grand champion of the beef class, a 1,130-pound angus owned by Kim Hunt of the Basehor Rustlers 4-H Club, was sold for $1,062.20 to the Leavenworth National Bank.

To a younger generation going off to school, her name won’t mean a thing. But to those over forty who will be remembering their own school days, they will not forget Drusie Coffin.  Drusie, teacher, friend, superintendent of schools; a household word, part of many a childhood. She won’t be there as she has not been since 1960 but the gleam is still in her eyes and her heart belongs to the children. Drusie celebrated her 95th birthday. She lives at the Pavilion in Leavenworth, but her real home is in the memories of a thousand and one men and women who over half a century attended the small public schools of Leavenworth county. She began teaching when she was no more than 15 or 16 years old. The years of her teaching is a chronicle of schools now gone.

Miss Candy Leavitt became the bride of Mr. Paul Cole on August 3 in the United Methodist Church. Wanda Ann Moore became the bride of Glen Thompson on August 3 at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church.

75 years ago: Aug. 18, 1949

It’s been a quiet week so far with no storms and no airplane crashes. Only item of much interest is the number of “ruralites” who come to town on Saturday night to see their neighbors and “chew the fat.”

The school year is quickly approaching and numbers are up at the high school. Last year’s term ended with 150 students and Mr. Beatty, the principal, reports he expects 25 more. The first football game will be September 30 with Bonner Springs. The school has been redecorated with a brand new roof and a sanded gymnasium floor.

The Royal Theatre is showing a free cartoon carnival for back to school on Saturday, September 3. Donald Duck, Popeye, Bugs Bunny, Tom & Jerry, Porky Pig and many others will be featured. Cain’s Drug Store is also providing free ice cream.  Remind your parents about this special event.

The Bojack Company, 312 Pleasant Street, which manufactures store fixtures, toys, bee hives and a large variety of furniture is calling it quits in Tonganoxie. There will be an auction to sell off all remaining property. This is the second manufacturing business to leave our area recently. This causes a blow to our community.

100 years ago: Aug. 21, 1924

Merlin C. Harris was born in Moriah, New York, November 3, 1841. He “mustered out” of the service and came to Kansas and bought a farm in Fairmount Township. That summer, under the shade of a wagon on the open prairie, he helped to organize the Glenwood School District No. 39. In 1894 he sold this farm and bought a small farm within the city limits which he named “Old Camp Ground.” He died August 14, 1924.

Last Thursday night the new Ford Coup of Archie Knox was stolen from where it was parked on the street while the young folks were attending a dance. Mr. Knox had owned the car only eleven days. No trace of the car has been found.

For the first time since they were all grown, the sons and daughters of the late Henry Metz were together and under the home roof the past week. The Metz home is occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Nelson Quisenberry, where the gathering took place.

Last Saturday the Tonganoxie Steam Laundry under the management of Evans Sechrest and Jesse Scott, ceased to operate. A well-managed laundry is not only a great need but a very valuable asset in any town the size of Tonganoxie, and we have been glad in the past few months to give a word of credit to the young men who have diligently toiled to make it a success. The machinery in the laundry here is not adequate to warrant its success as the overhead expense is too great and it has therefore been discontinued. Mr. Scott will soon return to his college work and Mr. Sechrest will act as agent for a Lawrence laundry for the present.

125 years ago: August 1899

[Ed. Note: This is the final week of the reprint of an article from an August 1899 special edition: Some Interesting Facts about one of the Best Towns in Eastern Kansas, by Homer Luce]

Part Three of Three. The town has one of the best public schools in the state, an Academy, seven churches, secret or benevolent organizations, a public hall, fire department, a cornet band, substantial businesses, and hundreds of elegantly furnished homes where peace, plenty and genuine contentment apparently prevail.

A packing house conducted by Mayor Sam Cox buys and slaughters hundreds of hogs here during the cold months of each year, employing quite a number of hands in its operation.

Tonganoxie has never had a real boom and doesn’t want any, but buildings are being erected for dwellings and business purposes and improvement are being made from time to time as the demand is apparent, and the town, consequently, has a steady and healthful growth. A showing of the mercantile and general advantages of Tonganoxie is truly flattering.