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: April 18, 2001

In about two months, a new mobile home park is slated to open in north-west Tonganoxie. The wet weather, and spring have slowed the project, according to Steve Sturgeon, who is developing the park west of the intersection of UJ.S. Highway 24-540 and Smiley Road. The lot includes 91 lots on 23 acres. Five of the acres will feature open space on the south side, where a creek bed runs through the property. An aerial view of the mobile home project with the high school in the background is featured on the front page.

Lorena Seymour retired about three weeks ago, after working for 50 years in the Kansas City, Kan. Railroad yards. She attended a one room schoolhouse, started first grade at age 5 and took seventh and eighth grades in the same year. She graduated from high school at age 15. A month later she started working for the Rock Island Railroad in Kansas City, Kan. Because she lived 30 miles away, between Basehor and Tonganoxie, her father would drive her each day to Victory Junction to catch a bus. Lorena married Bill Seymour, who lived in Tonganoxie, when his mother arranged for him to take her to a Kansas City A’s baseball game at the old stadium in Kansas City, Mo. The Yankees were playing. “It was a blossoming romance after that,” Seymour said. “How could you not love Bill?” She was 21 and he, 31, when they married. “Every day you could hear him singing in the shower,” she said remembering how he woke up happy. Bill Seymour operated the Hy Klas grocery store on Fourth Street, where Outback Video is today. Later with Jim Gambrill, he opened a grocery store on West Street.

50 years ago: April 21, 1976

It was an old time Easter breakfast with all the trimmings that was part of the Easter activities at the Reno United Methodist Church. About 15 students from the United Ministries in Higher Education from the University of Kansas took charge at the Reno Church. “They’ve got some young ideas, but they had a real good church service,” said Herb Pearson. The Easter celebration did not stop with the church service as the members and students gathered for one of the biggest Easter celebrations in Reno.

Mrs. Perry Walters and Mrs. Bill McGee have received an award for a bicentennial play they wrote, produced, and acted. The play, “the Quilting Party,” received the first award from the Daughters of the American Revolution for “making the greatest contribution to a local community.” They spent three months researching material for the play which takes place around the time of the beginning of the revolution. The research provided material not only on the historical events but customs and gossip of the time.

“We’re ready to serve,” said Don Sturgeon. He was talking about his new real estate business, Sturgeon Inc., Real Estate. located across from the high school football field.

Although it was not the Colorado River or the Grand Canyon, Rita Irvin and Jeff Himpel decided that a rainy afternoon was a good time for a float trip. The water flowed best down Fourth Street and ended in a large puddle at the corner of Fourth and Pleasant.

Delbert Bradley found two large beefsteak and two sponge mushrooms. Delbert said “I found them while it was raining. You have to go out in the rain to get the big ones.” When asked where he found them, he said the location was a secret, but in Leavenworth County somewhere.

Mr. and Mrs. Phillip Robbins announce the birth of a daughter, Meghan Amelia. She is welcomed home by her brother Jeremy.

75 years ago: April 19, 1951

We are very sad to report that Mrs. Toothaker has succumbed to her injuries suffered in the Lawrence car accident, reported last week.

Mr. and Mrs. John Sparks, Jr. announce the marriage of their daughter, Gladys to Mr. Dale Thompson. The two exchanged vows at Sacred Heart parish Saturday afternoon. Only the immediate families were present. A reception was held Saturday evening at the home of the bride’s parents. Congratulations to the happy couple.

In a second ceremony, Miss Donna Kaufman was united in marriage with Mr. Emil Wiley at Trinity Lutheran church in Lawrence. Colors of yellow and pink adorned the attendants for Miss Kaufman.

Mr. Bob Lenahan writes that he and his unit are in Seoul, Korea and continue to slowly move up the country. He is some distance behind the lines, but can hear the bombardment. Darrow Smith of northeast Tonganoxie reports that he and 11 other servicemen were caught in enemy fire while on patrol. Ten of the men were killed, one buddy wounded and Darrow merely lost the tip of his little finger.  Someone was watching out for him, for sure.

At the market this week are sales on baked beans, lard and Mother Goose cherries. Maybe cook up a pie, warm up the beans and head on a picnic.

100 years ago: April 22, 1926

Tuesday evening of this week I. O. O. F. and Rebekah members and their families and invited guests numbering about two-hundred and fifty gathered at the I. O. O. F. Hall to celebrate the anniversary of the local order which was thirty-five years old April 17. Only four of the charter members remain and they are especially honored at this time. They are: Thos. Davidson, John Davidson, and J. A. Barber of Tonganoxie, and W. C. Collins, of Lawrence. When refreshments were served Mr. and Mrs. Barber are the only ones who are also Rebekah members.

Work is starting on our new 1926 Directory and we would like all who are contemplating putting in a telephone, or have any changes in location or change in spelling of a name, to please notify the Chief Operator Suburban Telephone Co. Foster Laming, Mgr.

Mrs. C. E. Johnson and son Gordon, and Miss Hazel Kerr attended the Shubert Theatre last Friday evening to see “Rose Marie.”

Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Redman and children were last Sunday of Mr. and Mrs. C. F. Redding and family. The occasion was the ninth wedding anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. C. F. Redding and it was also three years on that date that both Mrs. Redding and Mrs. Redman underwent operations at the Memorial hospital in Lawrence.

Dr. and Mrs. J. M. Mott returned home last Sunday from a visit, since the previous Tuesday, at the home of her parents, Dr. and Mrs. S. S. Glasscock, at Rogers, Ark. They left Dr. Glasscock’s at 6:25 Sunday morning and stopped at noon for dinner but with good roads the trip was a pleasant one and at 4:05 they were at home in Tonganoxie. The distance covered was 302 miles.

Not that you are a Bird! The birds provide themselves with homes in the springtime. If you are a renter, why not do like the birds? The Tonganoxie Building & Loan Association will finance your home building.

125 years ago: April 25, 1901 

First Annual Commencement

The public school will close the present term in two weeks. The pupils of the graduating class are busily engaged preparing for the first annual commencement, and the program has been completed. 

The first class to graduate from the Tonganoxie High School numbers five, and the usual paucity of masculine ambition is noted in the list of graduates, for the young ladies outnumber the young men four to one. 

The Commencement exercises will be held in Laming’s Hall on Friday evening, May 10th, and an admission of ten cents will be charged to help defray expenses. 

 The many friends of Miss Gertie Kincaid will be glad to know she is improved in health, and will be at her place of duty after May 1st, behind the counters of E.B. Strickland & Son. 

 Rev. Palmer will deliver the Baccalaureate address to the graduating class of the High School, Sunday evening, May 5th, at the Congregational Church. All are invited to attend. 

 One evening last week, someone stole a lot of cake and a loaded beer bottle from the porch of a residence where a party was in progress. The perpetrators of the act were adequately punished. The bottle contained coal oil.