(Picture) John Lenahan stands behind the register in his hardware store. Lenahan’s shop is lined with artifacts and mementos that tell the story of this area. When John C. Lenahan Sr., bought his hardware store, it was across the street from the grocery store where he had his first job and he borrowed the money from the bank where he deposited his first $10 paycheck from that grocery store. When he bought the Tonganoxie hardware store, he bought his own history and he continues to fill it with history from his own past as well as the past of others. The hardware store dates back to the 1880s, according to Lenahan. It was Zilner Mercantile then and has had only three owners, including himself.

Deaths: Homer Burns, 79, Tonganoxie, died March 10, 1995. Clara Etta Hoffhine, 92, Bonner Springs, died March 9, 1995. Merl Robert Reusch, 84, Tonganoxie, died March 8, 1995.

25 years ago: March 12, 1980

Diane Corriston, a student in Mrs. Mark’s fifth grade class, won the Spelling Bee Contest in the Tonganoxie Grade School. She will also be competing in the County Spelling Bee on March 18. Jim Ditty, a sixth-grader, won the contest in the Tonganoxie Middle School and will represent the school in the County Spelling Bee on March 18, 1980.

Births: Mr. and Mrs. John Korb announce the birth of a daughter, Katrina Ashley, on March 4, 1980. Mr. and Mrs. Robert P. Odom announce the birth of a daughter, Anna Marie, March 3, 1980. Mr. and Mrs. Richard Wetzel announce the birth of a son, Joshua Aaron, on March 4, 1980. Mr. and Mrs. Dean Oroke, Tonganoxie, announce the birth of a daughter, Carey Lynn, March 6, 1980.

Death: George K. Flewelling, 54, Leavenworth, died March 6, 1980.

Rev. and Mrs. Ben Saathoff and their children, Mike, Shelly, and Lenay, attended the 60th wedding anniversary of Mrs. Saathoff’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jay Yocum of Lyman, Neb., Saturday, March the 1st. They left there for Colorado to join the church’s skiing party.

Springdale News: We were sorry to hear of the death of Mrs. Ruth Willits of Lawrence. She was well known in the McLouth area. She was a sister-in-law of Homer Willits.

50 years ago: March 31, 1955

Births: Mr. and Mrs. Loren Ford announce the birth of a son, Loren Curtis Jr., on March 24, 1955.

Deaths: Early Earl Goss, Tonganoxie, passed away March 24, 1955, at the age of 75 years. Matt J. Edmonds, age 67, a widely known farmer on Rt. 2, Leavenworth County, died Monday.

Birth: Mr. and Mrs. Robert Stoneking of Bonner Springs are the parents of a son born Friday, March 25, 1955.

Basehor: Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Worley have chosen the name Elaine Kay, for their daughter born Sunday at Cushing Hospital, Leavenworth.

75 years ago: March 6, 1930

Mr. and Mrs. George Johnson and Coy Lloyd went to McLouth, Sunday, to attend the funeral of Mrs. Johnson’s nephew who died from septic meningitis. This developed from stomach trouble and was not the contagious form. The child was two and a half years old, and had only been ill since Tuesday. He passed away Friday afternoon.

Mr. and Mrs. Ted Gordon announce the birth of a six and a half pound boy on Monday morning, March 3, 1930.

Dr. Coe reports the birth of a baby boy to Mr. and Mrs. Wm. H. Boster of Lansing.

Wayne L. Cox, 22 years of age, was killed instantly Monday afternoon when his motor car was hit by an eastbound Union Pacific train at a private crossing west of North Topeka. Cox is well known in Tonganoxie, having had charge of the Star paper route from Tonganoxie through McLouth, Valley Falls, etc. He sold this route several months ago, and was employed as a salesman by the Fuller Brush Co., with headquarters at Topeka.

Mr. and Mrs. Edward Schultz announce the birth of a son, Friday, Feb. 28, 1930.

Thomas Reagan, age 102, is in jail at Seattle, for creating a disturbance in the post office. He’ll probably outgrow his hankering to fight when he reaches maturity (as most young blades do.) -Ex.

Stanwood: Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Lawrence have named their baby son, Floyd Eugene.

Linwood: Word was received here Thursday of the death of William Foreman, who formerly lived here, at his home in Kansas City, Kan.

Linwood: Cards have been received from Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Knouse, Westmoreland, announcing the birth of a son, Feb. 21.

100 years ago: March 16, 1905

The management of the Leavenworth Canning Factory announce that they will not operate their plant this year on account of the crop failures the past two years and the exceeding low price of canned goods. They fear another crop failure. The Tonganoxie plant will be ready for operation this summer. Farmers are already making contracts. -Western Life.

Another son arrived at the home of Mr. and Mrs. John Klinkenberg, March 9th, 1905.

Springdale: Mr. Cole, an aged man, died after a lingering illness at his nephew’s in Springdale, and was interred near Winchester on Sabbath.

A 10-pound boy arrived at C.H. Cain’s Friday.

Henry Toburen received a $1,000 soda fountain yesterday and will have it in operation in a few weeks.

Hazel Ridge School Report. The following is the report for the 6th month of the Hazel Ridge school: Pupils neither absent nor tardy were: Ada, Irvin, Louie and Floyd Sample, Sadie, Walter and Frank Jones.

Tonganoxie had a butter famine the latter part of the week. All the stores and the creamery were entirely out.