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: Feb. 9, 2000

Wednesday morning, members of the Tonganoxie Historical Society invited me out to watch the cement floor being poured on the floor of the north side of the old dairy barn. With the temperature lodged at 10 degrees and the ground still covered with snow, I postponed the trip as long as I could. But I finally braved the weather, and it turned out to be a most pleasant visit, thanks in part to the woodburning stove in the back room, coffee, conversation, and Earl Parson’s homemade cookies.

As Rob Schuck worked on preparing the former bowling alley for the Feb. 24 opening as his chiropractic office, he reflected on how he got here. It was a twist of fate, or rather of the heart, that brought Rob Schuck to Tonganoxie. Raised in the small town of Parkersburg, Iowa, Shuck went to college at Northern Iowa. “The first year there, I met my wife, Meghan,” he said. The Schucks were married in 1996 and moved to Tonganoxie. Schuck enrolled in classes at KU and planned to complete his degree in business. While working for FedEx, he began having difficulty moving his right arm and he went to the company doctor. That along with some advice from as cousin who was a chiropractor, guided Schuck to the Cleveland Chiropractic College in Kansas City. getting treatment for his right arm which had been

50 years ago: Feb. 13, 1975

Rodney Stephenson has joined the staff of the Mirror. Rodney attended Baker University majoring in the field of journalism and communications.

Demonstrators marched down Fourth Street to City Hall Saturday morning. At issue, according to one demonstrator, was alleged unfair treatment of city employees, specifically, past city superintendent James Richardson, Jr. Councilmen had accused Richardson of not doing his job and requested a written record of work to insure its completion. Richardson resigned from the post.

Four people were killed and two injured early Sunday morning in a high-speed collision just south of the Paradise Trailer Court on Highway 24-40. All six people involved were residents of Kansas City, Kansas. John R. Glenn was driving south when a car driven by John Ragsdale was going north, crossed the center line and collided with the car driven by Glenn. The only survivor in the Ragsdale vehicle was Arthur Thomas who suffered head injuries.

Tonganoxie’s newest example of free enterprise will begin Friday night when Buster Quisenberry takes bids on the first item at the Action Auction. The old sale barn behind Reusch’s gas station has been extensively remodeled. The remodeling even includes padded chairs. Quisenberry and Larry Gallagher bill their sale as “Some good ol’ fashioned fun and excitement”.

Mr. and Mrs. Gary A. Ditty announce the birth of a son, Michael Alan, on January 28, 1975, at St. John’s Hospital, Leavenworth.

75 years ago: Feb. 9, 1950

The long-awaited program by Jessie Rae Taylor was a true success. The performance netted $67 for the fair bleacher fund and provided a night of entertainment. Miss Taylor is able to switch from one character to the next by timing her costume changes with the lighting changes. The program offered was a fine example of the American way of life. The Oaks restaurant and cabin facility is under new management. Mr. Jimmy Carroll of Topeka will operate the restaurant and plans to give it a clean up to date atmosphere. Mr. Slade will continue to operate a 24-hour filing station and cabin rental.

Congratulations to Miss Betty Lois Irick on her recent engagement to Mr. William Stephenson.  

Joy and Foy Brown wish to remember their father, Charles E. Brown, ventriloquist, who sadly died three years ago this week.

Well, the Ford Motor Company has done it again by receiving the New York Fashion Academy’s gold medal. This award is presented for the Fashion Car of the Year. This is the second year in a row that the Ford company has received this award. Take a ten-minute test drive and see for yourself.

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and Zoellner’s has just the gift for you husbands to give the little woman. Mojud nylon stockings are sheer and long lasting. $1.50 per pair, available in the latest Fashion Harmony Colors.

100 years ago: Feb. 12, 1925

Monday evening, February 9th, the Modern Woodmen of America of Tonganoxie held a pie social and dance at the Laming Hall. A large crowd was in attendance and although the many pies brought did not any of them soar to a very large price, all together made a very satisfactory sum. Coffee and sandwiches were also sold. Perry Walters and W. J. O’Brien were the able auctioneers. The crown danced the old and the new steps until a late hour and departed hoping the Woodmen would have another pleasant gathering soon again.

The air mail was tried to the Pacific coast from Tonganoxie recently but with poor results. The letter sent by ordinary mail, the day the air mail letter was forwarded arrived in the same mail as the air letter.

As The Editor Sees It – The Tonganoxie High School is badly in need of a larger and better gymnasium. The one now used is too small and is inadequately equipped for a school of this size. The people of the town should give their support to the students of the school and build a new gymnasium. This school has a number of fine athletes who, with proper training, would bring much honor to the town. A new gymnasium would benefit the town and the surrounding country in many ways. A game of some kind played in the gymnasium of the school would give all of the people the recreation needed. Young men of the town would come there at night and enjoy themselves while now they loaf around wishing they had something to do. Tonganoxie is noted for being one of the best and most wide awake towns in Eastern Kanas, but the gymnasium is one of the smallest and most poorly equipped in the State. It is the laughingstock of the surrounding schools. Wake up! Residents of Tonganoxie and boost for a new gymnasium. Tonganoxie School Tatler, Billy Harling, editor.

125 years ago: Feb. 15, 1900

Charles Hemple has moved from his farm on Stranger to the Newby place.

The new moon of February was a wet one, and the weather has been accordingly.

Dr. Boling was out again Saturday hunting small pox. He found no new cases.

The boys with skates were in great glee last week. They could skate anywhere on sleet.

A lot of good sixty-pound shoats for sale. Apply to J.M. Young, near Hazel Ridge.

Tonganoxie sent a big delegation to Leavenworth this morning to attend district court.

Mrs. Louvinia Freguson, of Jarbalo, was allowed a widow’s pension of $8 per month last week.

The last lecture of the Academy course will be given Friday evening, Feb. 23rd, at Laming’s Hall.

A.E. Crane, an attorney of Holton, announces that he is a candidate for congress from this district.

The post office did a rushing business yesterday. Tender and atrocious missives freely circulated.

Misses Amelia Schoenau, Arlepha Knox, Grace Newby, and Eric Schoenau visited in McLouth Sunday.

Frank Brown and Abe Dickinson went to Leavenworth Monday morning, to put in their last week on the jury.