The pounding of hammers and the ringing of electric saws cuts through the thick summer air, where, almost three months ago, the largest recorded tornado to hit Tonganoxie flattened buildings and knocked down trees.

The Methodist Church food booth was one of the buildings the tornado swept away. For the last several weeks, church members and others have been working day and night to erect a new building.

“It’s going to be a photo-finish of the last nail being driven and the food coming in the door,” said R.J. Stephenson, chairman of the church building committee.

The former building, about 20 years old and valued at about $5,000, is being replaced by a structure that is about three times as large and one that Stephenson thinks will be worth about $30,000.

“But the cost to us will be just a fraction of that,” Stephenson said.

Area builders have worked on the building, along with church volunteers. Stephenson said he thought much of the work would be donated.

“We’re also fortunate to have a number of retired people in the church who really know how to work,” Stephenson said.

He noted the professional workers who have poured the foundation, worked on electrical and plumbing and set up the framing.

“There are a lot of people like myself who just go out there and do what they tell us to do and it’s all coming together,” he said.

In recent years, the Methodist food stand was the only anchor left in that area of the fairgrounds where in the past, about a half-dozen small buildings served as food booths for churches and 4-H clubs.

Gradually, as the fairgrounds grew in size, the other booths had been replaced and moved to newer structures to the north. Only the original Methodist booth remained.

Stephenson said, that as far as the Methodist booth was concerned, the tornado may have been a blessing in disguise.

“Every year we used to say if only we had a sink large enough to wash a roasting pan in, or if only we had room for a walk-in refrigerator,” Stephenson said.

Now the church members will have that and more. With the fair less than a week away, they’re scurrying to get it done.

“We’re convinced we’re going to be finished when the fair starts,” Stephenson said. “But we’re going to have to have people out here every night this week.”

Nearby, at the VFW Post 9271 food stand, Ellis Edmonds, Lansing, and his son John Edmonds, 13, worked on replacing the frame building.

“The tornado blew the old building clear away,” Ellis Edmonds said. “There wasn’t anything to clean up the only things left were a couple of refrigerators left standing. Everything else was gone.”

Also helping with the work is Edmond’s 15-year-old son, Ellison.

Edmonds, who is a retired dairy farmer, now spends part of his time in construction.

“The VFW members said if we could get it framed a week ahead of the fair, they’ll be able to do the shelving, and put in the sinks and plumbing.”

It’s necessary to keep the structure in good shape, Edmonds said.

“Even though this is a once-a-year thing, it’s got to be a small restaurant ready to go,” he added.

As far as the rest of the fairgrounds, David Todd, president of the fair board, said the buildings are pretty much ready.

“There are minor things left to fix up,” Todd said. “KP&L has been finishing hooking up the electricity. They had to restring a lot of the wiring and put lights up. Hopefully we’ll have that wrapped up by Wednesday.”

Depsite the tornado, Todd said he’s optimistic about fair attendance.

“I’m wondering how many people will show up this year, just out of curiosity, to see how the fairgrounds and the city have come back after the storm,” Todd said.

“I hope it brings people out who haven’t been here to the fair in a number of years.”

Todd added that he hopes the spirit of renewal carries over into next year.

“That’s our 75th anniversary and we really want to put on something special for that,” Todd said.