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: June 30, 1999

Margaret Gallagher is pictured on the front page holding up her rain gauge showing 5″ of rain from Monday morning’s downpour.

The American Dairy Goat Show was held at the Leavenworth County Fairgrounds on the weekend of June 19th and 20th. Over 320 goats were registered, and people came from eight states.

“They have a delightful disposition,” says 84-year-old Ahman Karr of Tonganoxie. Karr, who raised Saanen goats for 18 years is still very interested in the Dairy Goat Association. The show had been moved from Abilene because of the nicer facilities at the fairgrounds here said Karr.

The Steam Engine Show and Threshing Bee was founded in 1957 on a farm located east and north of McLouth. This farm was owned by the Threshing Bee founders, Herman “Slim” Watson and his wife, Myrta. Slim and Myrta always had a warm spot in their hearts for the old steam engines, also called “Iron Horses,” and threshing machines. The weekend of August 6, 7, and 8, 1999 will mark the 42nd annual reunion of the Threshing Bee.

50 years ago: July 3, 1974

Bud Jones came up with another large rattlesnake. The snake has eleven rattles and was as big around as a man’s arm. It was killed on the Hadukovich farm southwest of Tonganoxie.

Fireworks are legal in the Tonganoxie City Limits on July 3rd and 4th. All fireworks must be commerce department approved and must be on private property.

Nearly 250 friends and relatives attended the reception honoring Mr. and Mrs. Albert Mason on their 50th wedding anniversary which was held June 23 in the Boling Grange Hall.

Airman Joseph M. Hoffhines, a 1973 graduate of Tonganoxie High School, graduated at Keesler AFB, Mississippi from the Air Training Command’s basic course for electronic specialist.

A fire of undetermined origin destroyed a large pole barn at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Korb. Inside the barn were over 4,000 bales of hay and some straw. The fire was confined to the pole barn by the Fairmount Fire Department. Deputy John Duncanson, son-in-law of the Korb’s, was the officer responding to the call.

A new all metal building is being constructed by Shilling Electric Company for the Hummelgaard Agri-Business Company. The building will house the office, service department, their tire and battery business, and will serve as a warehouse for Agri-Products. It will also be used for machinery storage. Building Tonganoxie is good business.

Someone broke into the county courthouse and entered the county attorney’s office, magistrate court, and one of the probation offices according to Terry Campbell, investigator for the sheriff’s department. The only motive they had come up with was that someone was looking for some cases. However, it would have been useless because duplicates are kept.

75 years ago: June 30, 1949

Our little town was plunged into darkness this week when an electrical bolt struck a transmission line. The outage occurred at 8:00 p.m. and continued until 2:00 am causing many businesses to light up candles and lanterns. Diners at Don’s Cafe finished their meals with flashlights, giving off a look of a campfire. All businesses were dark except for the barber shop where the owner had set back two gas lights. McKeehan’s Barber said he had saved them for just such an occasion.

The police department has issued a warning about the shooting of fireworks this upcoming week. Fireworks are allowed on July 4th only and banned in the business district at all time. Hopefully there will be no injuries on this holiday.

A second special consignment sale will take place in the city crossroads where K16 and US 24/40 connect. Seventy-five head of dairy cattle are up for auction with animals coming from Leavenworth, Douglas, Jefferson and Wyandotte counties. These cows are coming from the best dairy herds our part of the county has. Thursday, July 7 is the date; 12:30 is the time

100 years ago: June 26, 1924

A new electric bread wrapping machine has recently been installed at the Toburen Bakery. Mr. Musil, the proprietor, is striving to make work more efficient in his up-to-date bakery.

A very pleasant surprise party was given at the B.F. McKeehen home June 22, in honor of Mrs. John Bateson.

Last Saturday night between 12 and 1 o’clock the house on the Mrs. Geo. J. Barker farm across the road from the F.A. Dickenson home was discovered by them to be afire. The house and contents were burned to the ground. $700 insurance was carried.

An obituary was printed for John Franklin Harman, born at Kingston, Pickaway County, Ohio, May 23, 1845, and died June 22, 1924, aged 79 years and 30 days.

Tuesday evening a large assembly of Masons and Eastern Star members and their families of the local orders and a number from the adjoining town orders invited for the occasion assembled at the Klan Park and enjoyed a big feed and the stage was set for splendid evening of musical entertainment by a Kansas City band which was in attendance and Dean Burdick of Lawrence as the principal speaker, but the angry looking clouds caused the crowd to disperse hurriedly soon after the refreshments were partaken of.

125 years ago: July 6, 1899

Rural free delivery is spreading in Kansas like a prairie fire. Every few days new routes are being established. Where the system has been given a trail, Uncle Sam would arouse a rebellion should he attempt to abolish it.

Help has been scarce ever since spring work opened, but the crop of town idlers has not been injured by this fact.

Mr. and Mrs. Hill of Reno became the parents of twins several days ago. The latest arrivals make eleven births in the family.

According to the Lawrence Journal, Geo. Green of Burr Oak, “will soon start a watermelon wagon to Tonganoxie and Leavenworth.”

Dr. Slaughter reports two new arrivals. A boy was born Saturday to Mr. and Mrs. Stover of Glenwood, and a Fourth of July girl took up her abode with Mr. and Mrs. Doak, six miles southeast.