25 years ago: March 3, 1999

Twelve years ago, parade chairman John McCaffrey, started the Tonganoxie St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Since then, the parade has grown from 5 people to 200 people. The parade will take place at 10:00 a.m. on March 13, 1999. Sponsored by the Tonganoxie Chamber of Commerce, the parade will feature many kinds of floats, bands, bag pipers and old-fashioned automobiles from Tonganoxie and surrounding areas. Perhaps the parade is so successful because it is so easy to get involved. Anyone who wants to march, just show up at the pool on Saturday, March 13, before 10:00 a.m.

Pictured on page one, Tamara, Jesse, and Diana Smith, who have owned The Ice Cream Parlor and Grill for ten years on the corner of 24/40 and Second Street.

50 years ago: March 7, 1974

Don Baragary, senior wrestler, became the first wrestler in Tonganoxie High School history to advance through the regional wrestling tournament and go to the State Tournament. Don was unfortunate enough to draw as his first opponent, the boy who had already been State Champion two times. He lost but it was some consolation that he lost to the best, as the winner of this match went on to become State Champion for the third time.

Mary Lou Walker and Mary Wager were recipients of the Annual La Sertoma Youth Service Award for their outstanding work with the youth of our community.

Improvement and expansion are the key words in the Tonganoxie Business Community and some firms are doing both. Slawson Electric, owned by Ed and Carol Slawson, recently purchased the former American Legion Building, doubling the space of their store, and now a new front is being added to both buildings. The additional space will provide more display room as well as more storage and work area. Lloyd DeHoff, builder, is doing the remodeling.

For the first time, Tonganoxie does not have a car dealer located on Fourth Street. Both Sutton – Kolman Ford and Mallonee Chevrolet are located off Fourth Street.

The current fad of streaking is amusing. There is a rumor that a streak is planned in Tonganoxie on Wednesday at 11:00 in the morning around Third and West Streets. In the event all systems are “go,” the public is invited to witness this historic event, and the editor plans to be on hand with a camera ready and will publish the pictures in the next edition.

75 years ago: March 3, 1949

The red measles have struck Tonganoxie with full force accounting for at least 60 absences at the local schools. Children have been very ill and had high fevers according to Dr Parker. Four children in the Day family have come down with the virus. Mrs. Day is an elementary teacher and will be out also caring for the children.

The liquor debate is over as the legislature has voted to permit liquor licenses in the state. Tonganoxie will be eligible for a liquor store in July. Many old-timers may recall that liquor had been sold in these parts early on before Prohibition was enacted.

There are complaints about high school students loitering at Rice’s Pool Hall during school hours where it is reported that cash had been offered for Bingo games. These games are different than wagers between two people as these games are for profit. Continuing these Bingo games could lead to the use of other devices in gambling houses. Mr. Rice reports that he has sold his business after customers claimed to have lost between $9 and $14 in one day on a game of Bingo.

Wayne Finch has been added to the Happy Helpers 4H club out of Reno.  

The new 1949 Nash Auto is available in Lawrence at the Livengood dealership. Immediate delivery is available on many models.

100 years ago: March 6, 1924

The Jarbalo State Bank reported its resources at the close of business on the 18th day of February 1924. A total of $88,097.19 resources, which include $58,064.89 loans and discounts and $9,900.00 loans on real estate.

As the mail will be carried by motor route instead of by the train, beginning Sunday morning, March 16. All outgoing mail should be in the post office by 7:50 a.m. No registration, parcel post, money order, or stamp sales will be made on Sundays. The general delivery windows will also be closed, however all patrons having locked boxes can receive mail any time during the day as all mail will be distributed and the lobby will be open for their convenience. All special delivery letters within one mile of post office will be promptly delivered on Sundays. Chester A. Freeman, Postmaster

Ever since the Victory Highway was slabbed through Leavenworth and Wyandotte counties, the people of Bonner Springs have felt the loss of the trade a through highway brings and have been agitating for a concrete construction along the Golden Belt Road. Their recent efforts have brought such a strong protest from the farmers living in the south part of Leavenworth county, that the Bonner people at a meeting Saturday, started plans for a slabbed road on another route., It is now proposed to run the road directly through from Bonner Springs to Reno, and join the Victory Highway there This plan requires the opening of two miles of new road, and is so close to the Victory Highway that the benefit districts would overlap everywhere. About the only show the Bonner people have of getting the road through at the present time is to tap the Victory highway at the closest point to Bonner Springs.

125 years ago: March 2, 1899

Rural Special Agent Houston arrived here Monday evening from Wisconsin to lay out the new rural mail route which will be designated as the Elm Grove route. Tuesday he was busy with section maps of that part of Leavenworth county, and Thursday made a trip over the territory.

This new route will have considerable effect on the Glenwood and Jaggard offices, as the mail formerly handed out at Glenwood to Wilson, Klamm, the Tracy Brothers, and many others will be delivered from here. Only a few who are now patrons of the Jaggard office will be left and these may eventually make Bonner Springs their receiving office.

The new route will serve twenty-five miles of territory, and will very likely require an additional carrier.

It will take in ten patrons of the Linwood office, fifteen from Lenape, half from Glenwood and Dafer, and will cause the discontinuance of the Emmett office and that star route, The Jaggard office may also be closed thus shortening the Tonganoxie star route so that the carrier will only go to Dafer and Glenwood.

Just when the Elm Grove service will be put in operation cannot be stated, but probably as soon as the agent’s reports and recommendations reach the department.

A recent ruling of the department is that no contracts for carrying rural mails can be sub-let, and it is well understood that after July 1, when rural mail service is expected to become a regular feature, all contractors will be required, individually, to do the routes,