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Remember When: A Community Review

By Billie Aye - | Jul 18, 2007

10 years ago: June 13, 1997

David Drown, Scranton, proudly displays his 1957 Chevy Modified, which won the award for Best of Show in the Tonganoxie Days Car Show.

Birth: Edwin Wright Jr. and Kristi Riddle announce the birth of their son, Lucas Clay, on June 13, 1997.

Deaths: Wilma Elsie Burns, 78, Olathe, died June 10, 1997; Irvin Shirk, 93, Linwood, died June 13, 1997.

Operation Wildlife, an animal shelter in southeast Leavenworth County, was dealt a devastating one-two punch by the vicious storms that whipped through the area Wednesday night and Thursday morning. When the gusting winds and torrid rain had finally died down, the shelter had a damaged roof, and gallons of water had gushed into the building, damaging drywall, wiring and the heating system.

Jarbalo Jottings: Frances Dougherty received word of a new great-granddaughter Saturday night. Kevin and Daniar Moore of Jarkarta, Indonesia, are the parents of a baby girl whom they have named Jessica.

25 years ago: June 16, 1982

Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Schafer celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary Sunday, at the Waldo-Astoria Dinner Playhouse in Kansas City, Mo., where they saw the show, “Squabbles.” They were the honored guests of their children, Mr. and Mrs. David Schafer, of Tonganoxie, and Mr. and Mrs. Don Schafer, of Olathe.

Births: Mr. and Mrs. Chuck Davis are proud to announce the birth of their daughter, Melissa Kay, born in Oklahoma City on May 27; Mr. and Mrs. Ron Starcher are pleased to announce the birth of their daughter, Leslie Brooke, on June 13.

Jarbalo Jottings: Steve (Jim) and Venice Sloan are the parents of a baby boy born June 9. He has been named Steven Jeffrey.

McLouth News: One of several McLouth Centennial celebrations was held Sunday, June 6, in the McLouth City Park. Homemade ice cream and cake were sold at the Recreation Building. The Honey Creek Clan, Oskaloosa, performed. Leone Zachariah was chosen Centennial queen. Runners up were Mrs. Ruth McHenry, and Mrs. Tasie Brown. Lori Harries, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Roy Harries, was crowned Centennial princess. Her attendants were Jennifer Scott, Denise Kimberlin, Kathy Bolinger and Susan Zachariah.

50 years ago: July 4, 1957

THREE DIE, NINE INJURED, THREE BUILDINGS DESTROYED: Pool Hall, Cleaners, Barber Shop and Cafe Are Destroyed: EIGHT PERSONS HURT: Disaster struck Tonganoxie shortly after 2 p.m. Wednesday and three men died when the west wall of the Hicks Pool Hall caved in. The two-story structure obliterated the pool hall, Conley’s Barber Shop, Tonga Cleaners and Opal’s Cafe. DEAD: Claue (Claude’) Reynolds, 76, McLouth, Charles Farrell, 25, McLouth, and George Stephenson, 60. THE INJURED: Damon Freeman, Mrs. Earl Grady, Mrs. Leo McEnulty, Hobe Hall, Gary Blanck, Elmer Rains, Mrs. Charlotte Helm, Earl Grady, Gila Mae Thorton. The story, other than a story of tragedy, was one of courage. Many risked their lives to go into the wreckage. To name them all would be impossible.

Many agencies (listed in the article) came to assist Tonganoxie, probably more than 200 people helped at one time or another.

Charles Devon Short, 19, Odessa, Mo., was killed in a traffic accident shortly after midnight on Saturday, two miles east of Tonganoxie,.

Other deaths: Charles E. Grande, 85, Cherokee, died June 28, 1957; Hiram Milton (Sam) Cox, 85, formerly of Tonganoxie, died Sunday night in Kansas City.

Linwood: Mrs. Florence Meinke will celebrate her 96th birthday July 9. She remains in fair health and is able to get around in her home.

75 years ago: June 9, 1932

Deaths: Mrs. Susan Hopkins died at her home June 7, aged 71 years, 7 months and 15 days. Death was caused by pneumonia: Mrs. John Davidson died last Wednesday night, aged 52 years, 8 months and 27 days. She had been in ill health for the past several months; John McCardle, a former resident of Tonganoxie, died last Friday at his home in Supply, Okla., at the age of 75 years; Winfred Roy Weeks, son of Mr. and Mrs. L. A. Weeks of Platte City, Mo., died Sunday at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Gordon, where the family were visiting. He was 4 years and 4 days old; Ernest E. Bishop, died at his home in Kansas City, Kan., June 3, 1932, aged 49 years. He was born in Tonganoxie in the old Tonganoxie House, and his early life was spent in this community, where he was married Dec. 13, 1905 to Miss Margaret McKeehen.

100 years ago: June 20 1907

Lawrence men are trying to start the fad of wearing no hats. Are these the fellows who are afraid of getting bald?

The fishing party and social that was to have been given at Little Stranger last Saturday was postponed until later. Instead there will be a moonlight social at the residence of H. Hicks, Saturday evening.

The eastbound Northwestern passenger train struck a covered wagon containing a father, mother and three children near Welborn station. A 5-year-old boy was instantly killed, a 3-year-old boy was lacerated and the father and mother were badly bruised. According to the engineer, the horses balked as the wagon got on track.

Eben F. Croker has presented to the University of Kansas one of the old Sharp’s rifles, commonly known as Beecher’s Bibles, which played such an important part in the border troubles when Kansas was struggling with the slave problem.

The old gun has been in Mr. Croker’s family since 1854, and is in as good condition as when first sent to Kansas.

The weapon will be hung in the main reading room of the university library.

The old rifle was one of the guns which was sent to Kansas Territory by the New England Emigrant Aid Society. (From Latest Kansas Events).