Two photographs on the front-page show Tonganoxie getting into the Christmas spirit. Sam Lobb, a KPL employee, hangs one of the Christmas wreaths on the south side of Fourth Street on Tuesday morning, Dec. 2. At right, Butch Rodgers, Tonganoxie City Superintendent, observes from below as Lobb wires the wreath. “This is one of many joint projects between the city and KPL, isn’t that right?” Rodgers asked of Lobb and Lobb agreed. The two also placed Christmas tree shaped decorations on the north side of the street.

[Note: a few of these ornaments are now in the collection of the Tonganoxie Community Historical Society and have graced both our church railings and, more recently, our firetruck in the inaugural Christmas parade in 2021.] INCLUDE PHOTOS OF CHURCH AND FIRE TRUCK

The Basehor Historical Society is selling a book, “The History of U.S. 40 Coast to Coast,” in conjunction with the 24-40 Celebration earlier this month.

50 years ago: Nov. 30, 1972

The perfect Christmas gift is a subscription to the Tonganoxie Mirror for $4.12 per year, anywhere in the United States. A gift card will be sent.

The want ads advertised baby sitting in their home, one child $10, two children $17.50 per week.

Sheriff Hawes wishes to advise all rural residents of Leavenworth County that with the Christmas Season coming on the burglary rate in the rural and farm areas of the county will rise. Please contact our office of all suspicious looking or acting persons or vehicles.

There will be a Community Christmas Program on December 14 at 8:00 at the high school auditorium. The public is invited at no charge. It is sponsored by Tonga Jaycees.

Leavenworth Mutual Savings and Loan Co. resigned as the city of Tonganoxie’s water bill collection agency in a letter accepted at Monday night’s meeting of the city council. Tentatively plans are to open a collection office at the Tonganoxie City Hall.

After conferring with Merald Tice, the councilmen agreed to a new insurance policy for the city fire department, including more extensive life and accident insurance coverage.

The Tonganoxie Chieftains Basketball team will play their first game of the season Friday evening with Lansing. Following the game, there will be a mixer featuring Jack’s Band. All Tonganoxie young people, in and out of school, are invited.

75 years ago: Nov. 27, 1947

Our old hometown is really dressing things up with the arrival of the Thanksgiving holiday. Preparations are being made for cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie. Families from near and far are gathering around to celebrate and give thanks for the harvest and the year.

We have several updates and improvements in the community since the war began. A new super highway is about ready to open. A fancy filling station has replaced a home at the junction of Fourth Street and the highway. The Franklin Ice Cream Plant is improving and expanding. A basement has been dug for a brand-new Methodist Church. Our biggest wish right now is for rainfall as the lack is doing serious damage to the 1948 wheat crop. Rains have been too light and snow is nonexistent.

“Any gum, chum?” is the question children in all parts of the world are asking Americans as the tasty, rubbery treat becomes more popular. It all started with the chaw of paraffin wax or spruce gum from tree bark. After Santa Ana of Mexico introduced chicle, the idea caught on. Finally, Thomas Adams of New York produced a stick of this delight that would sweeten the mouth and exercise the teeth. And thus, chewing gum!

Missouri will be invading again, but this time it will be in the form of a friendly game of football against the KU Jayhawks.

100 years ago: Nov. 30, 1922

Alleging fraud by members of several election boards during the recent general election, Duke W. Hooper, county attorney, and J.J O’Donnell, candidate for coroner, filed suit for contesting the election count in the office of this county clerk Wednesday of last week.

Hooper, who was defeated in the general election race for re-election to his present office, by M.N. McNaughton alleges that fraudulent methods in six precincts had caused his defeat. O’Donnell, defeated by Dr. Joseph Skaggs in the race for coroner, stated in his petition that his defeat was due to improper methods used in election boards in eight precincts.

The general trend of the allegations are to the effect that persons other than the clerks and judges were allowed to tamper with the ballots; that the ballots were wrongly counted; that electioneering was permitted within the 100 foot limit around the polls; and that more than one person was allowed to occupy the same booth at the same time.

O’Donnell was defeated in the official count by Skaggs by a majority of 52 votes, while McNaughton won over Hooper by 34 votes.

In defense of the judges and clerks in the recent election, who are charged by the contestors with carelessness, Mr. McNaughton made the following statement:

“I am very much surprised at the filing of this contest and am naturally somewhat disappointed to think that a large additional expense will have to be met on account of this lawsuit, which is thew first one in which I have been so unfortunate as to be one of the principals.

“The judges and clerks of this election are nearly all my personal acquaintances, and I cannot conceive that they would perpetrate any fraud on behalf or against any candidate. I cannot help but feel that it was very unfortunate that such allegations with reference to the judges and clerks were placed in the petition for contest by Mr. Hooper

Mistakes do sometimes happen on election boards, but the judges and clerks are very careful in counting the ballots, and I do not think that there will be any material change after the votes have all been recounted”

125 years ago: Dec. 1, 1897

Jarbalo Jottings – V. North ships from 50 to 100 rabbits every day. If other storekeepers are doing this well, Prof. Dyche will soon be hunting them as a rarity.

Neely Narratives – Roscoe Swain and Rob White of Stanwood were viewing the sights of this place Sunday evening.

The New School House in Use – The pride of Tonganoxie and a credit to Leavenworth County – Four Teachers – Tonganoxie is justly proud of her new schoolhouse which swung its doors inward for a throng of little humanity las Monday morning. [picture and a long article followed]

It begins to look like water is to be a scarce article this winter. The wells are low, creeks dry, and not much moisture in the ground.

Many people are having a “hog killing time” this week. The weather has been just right for butchering.