10 years ago: Oct. 11, 1995
It’s been 100 years since Lem Evans started a real estate company in Tonganoxie, and Lem is still here selling real estate today. Well, not the original Lem Evans, but his great-grandsons, Lem and J.W. Evans, and great-great-grandson, John Evans 11. (Pictures.)
(Picture) Glen’s Opry, located in downtown Tonganoxie, has been selected as the Best Regional Opry at the Central Country Music Awards ceremony, held in Warrensburg, Mo.
In honor of the 50th wedding anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Maurice F. Black Jr., an open house will be held on Sunday, Oct. 15, 1995, from 2:30 until 4:30 p.m. at the Tonganoxie Senior Center.
Deaths: Adolph William Nicholas Christensen, 99, formerly of Denver, died Oct. 9 at the Eudora Nursing Center, Eudora. Winifred C. Hall, 96, Hamilton, died Oct. 4. Leonard J. Deaton, 89, Independence, Mo., died Oct. 4. Mary Elaine Jones, 87, Linwood, died Oct. 4. Evelyn Marie Martinek, 92, Tonganoxie, died Oct. 8, 1995.
(Picture) The Tonganoxie area has a new animal resident. Buddy, a 5-year-old burro, has taken up residence at Harold Denholm’s farm. Denholm adopted the burro from the Bureau of Land Management at their annual adoption Sept. 9. “This one was so lonesome,” Denholm said of the burro. “I got him because he’s got sound feet.” The Bureau of Land Management captured Buddy, 16 other burros and 65 horses in Nevada earlier in the year.

25 years ago: Oct. 8, 1980
(Picture) The Masons had a going away party for Elmer Yonally, who has been a member of Henri Lodge 190 for several years. Elmer has sold his home in Tonganoxie and is moving to Utah to live with his son, Bill.
School Enrollment Declines: In Tonganoxie, enrollment was off by 3.3 percent from last year’s, falling from 1,216 last year to last week’s figure of 1,176, said Supt. Stephen McClure. McClure said he thinks the decline in new housing starts was the main cause for his district’s enrollment decline.
Springdale News: Mrs. Edna Lawrence and Mrs. Rosalie Guenther went to Hall’s orchard Wednesday evening to get apples. They reported a bountiful crop of beautiful apples.
Mr. and Mrs. Dean Freeman arrived home September 22nd from a European Trip on TWA’s Getaway Tour. This was a 14-day trip and they covered several countries.
Lt. Col. Kent W. Morey of North A.F.B. in California is at the Altus, Oklahoma A.F.B. for a short time to receive special training. He drove to Tonganoxie last Thursday and spent until Monday morning with his mother, Mrs. Ethel Morey, and his brother Jim Morey and family.
The Tonganoxie Friends Church cordially invites everyone to its 116th Homecoming celebration Sunday, Oct. 12, 1980. There will be a basket dinner following the worship service and a Singspiration in the afternoon. We are proud of our heritage and wish to share this with the public.

50 years ago: Oct. 27, 1955
Rollie Laster, former Tonga resident, died this morning in Topeka, according to his son-in-law, Don Robertson. He was a victim of lung cancer.
Other deaths: John William (Jack) Foster, 83, Tonganoxie, passed away Oct. 23, 1955. Lee Quincy Coffman died at his home Sept. 17, after a brief illness. Mr. Coffman was born May 2, 1899, in Leavenworth County He was reared at Tonganoxie and moved to Lawrence in 1940. William R. Van Tuyl, 62, Basehor, retired farmer, died Oct. 19, 1955.
Birth: Mr. and Mrs. Morris Ditty announce the birth of a son, Oct. 26, 1955.
Linwood: Open house will be held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Jack Snider from two until five, Sunday, Oct. 30, to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. Everyone will be welcome.
The Bystander says this talk about jet age and atomic era is no substitute for beans and cornbread.
Birth: Mr. and Mrs. Hubert Kimberlin, McLouth rural route, announce the birth of their son, Ronald Lee, on Oct. 20, 1955.

75 years ago: Oct. 2, 1930
The little red school house at Friendship Valley, north of Tonganoxie, was the scene Sunday, of a happy reunion when 70 present and former school children gathered there, to delve in to the past, and to bring it down to date. True, some of the pupils were grey haired, and all from the oldest to the youngest, joined in a common bond of interest — all were school children again, in feelings at least. An impromptu program was arranged, with Andrew Jones as toastmaster. There were violin numbers by Chas. Brown, Mrs. John Barnes, Will Barnes of Paola, and Met Peters of Tonganoxie.
Mrs. Nellie B. Rea, wife of Judge James M. Rea, died at their home, seven miles northwest of Tonganoxie, Kansas, at seven thirty, Wednesday evening, Oct. 1, 1930, after an illness of several years.
C.H. Sturgis was bragging recently about the garage he had finished at such a low cost at his residence. Thursday’s high wind demolished it.
Mrs. Lelia Botts and son, Gene, and Herbert Botts motored to Lawrence, Saturday, to have Gene’s leg treated. He had the misfortune to run a pitchfork through it.
Born Sunday, Sept. 28, a son, named Jere Jay, to Mr. and Mrs. Walt Neibarger. This puts the masculine end of the family in the majority, and is another reason why the Mirror needs more subscriptions, ads and job printing.
Fall Leaf Items: Mr. and Mrs. Louie Koerner entertained Sept. 29 in honor of their little sister, Trula Delight’s fifth birthday.
A hurricane Thursday evening drove many to cave and cellar protection when the terrific storm hit town about five-thirty. The force of the wind demolished buildings, tore shingles from a number of houses and unroofed many barns and numerous other buildings, besides littering the yards and streets with fallen trees and broken branches.

100 years ago: Oct. 12, 1905
Jimmie Tibbels, the second son of Frank Tibbels, died at 11:30 Friday morning, at the home of his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. J.H. Tibbels, aged five years. The little fellow had only been sick a few days, inflammatory rheumatism being the cause of his death.
The big dance given at the Idlewild farm by Mr. and Mrs. Stilleo Still last Friday, as a housewarming of their fine new barn was attended by over 150 guests, including young and old. Many who had not danced in years, again indulged in the favorite pastime of their younger days, and everyone present seemed to have a thoroughly good time.
Louis Cronemeyer is stepping high. His baby took the prize, $5 in gold, last week at the Bonner Springs Annual Picnic, being declared by the judges to be prettiest baby on the ground and of course Louis thinks the boy looks like his dad. — McLouth Times.