Editor’s note: To capture time accurately, language from the past generally is left unchanged. This may result in some antiquated or out-of-use language from time to time. We try to maintain the exact wording when possible, but edits are occasionally made for the sake of brevity or because such wording isn’t acceptable today.

25 years ago: Oct. 14, 1998

After years of neglect, Leavenworth County is faced with roads throughout the county in need of repair. A draft of the transportation plan has been compiled, including a survey of those roads considered to be most deficient. What is needed now is input from the community. The County Commissioners want a Transportation Improvement Advisory Committee composed of ordinary citizens set up. And the quicker, the better.

Art Miller, Donny Krause, Larry Meadows, and VFW Commander Robert Klinkenberg are pictured working together to put the finishing touches on the VFW Park cleanup. In just one week, the flood damage has been cleaned up with the efforts of over 20 people, some members of the VFW and some from the community.

Residents of Kansas City, Kansas were interviewed about losing their homes to eminent domain for the NASCAR racetrack.

50 years ago: Oct. 11, 1973

Bill Stephenson, Jr., President of the First State Bank, announced that the Board of Directors have appointed C. Hervey Quisenberry to serve as a director of the bank. He is a lifelong resident of the community and has previously served on the Board of Directors of the Tonganoxie Building and Loan. We think he will be a fine addition to our Board.

Mr. and Mrs. C. W. Ridgeway returned from a nine-week trip to Europe visiting twelve countries. While in Europe they headquartered at the Dr. Mahlon Porter residence in Medenbach, Germany. Dr. Porter taught with Mr. Ridgeway at Washington High School in Kansas City and is now in charge of the schools for the children of the American forces stationed in Europe.

It is not generally known but the Wright family, including the three brothers: Orville and Wilbur, plane inventors; and a third brother, Reuchlin. Reuchlin lived on a farm east of Tonganoxie. The brothers, Orville and Wilbur, operated a bicycle shop in Dayton, Ohio. Ivonette, a 15-year-old niece of Orville, was one of the first women to fly. Ivonette, strapped to the seat was huddled on the front edge of the plane’s lower wing, feet braced against the strut and at her side was Uncle Orville, taking her on her first ride in a flying machine from a pasture. After five or six minutes flying at 200 feet, Uncle Orville brought the plane down carefully. 

Sgt. Dave Zoellner is the new president of the Leavenworth County Law Enforcement Association. He is commander of the newly formed traffic division of the Leavenworth Sheriff’s Department. Sgt. Zoellner is a native of Leavenworth and has been engaged in law enforcement for six years.

75 years ago: Oct. 7, 1948

Members from the Congregational Church gathered on Sunday to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the church’s founding here. About 100 people were served dinner in the basement after two worship services. An organ fund was organized several years ago reported Mrs. Perry Walters. She reminded all that this fund was made in memory of four boys who made the ultimate sacrifice in war. Lester Hamil, WWI, Munro Zeollner, Roy Wolfe and Guthrie Miller in WWII. Many out of town guests attended this noteworthy event.

Bee Men from Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Oklahoma and Kentucky zeroed in our high school auditorium for the Kansas State Beekeepers Association meeting. Several door prizes were awarded to attendees.  All visitors were given souvenir eight-page booklets telling of Tonganoxie and its history with the program. Tours of the Beehive Factory of the Bojack Company where hives are made were well attended.

It’s Chili Time at the West End Lunch.  They say, “We can’t serve all the chili in town, so we serve the best.”  Sounds very tasty for a cool afternoon meal.

The classic Southern film, “Gone with the Wind” will run at the Royal Theater one show per night beginning October 12 through the 14th.

100 years ago: Oct. 11, 1923

Henry Ford, Detroit motor car manufacturer, has declined to subscribe to the seed wheat pool fund being raised for the relief of farmers in southwest Kansas counties whose crops failed this year. J.C. Mohler, secretary of the state board of agriculture and president of the fund association, wired Mr. Ford asking for a $5,000 subscription. A telegram from the manufacturer said that he does not care to invest in the pool.

The party who took the cushion off Chester Smith’s motorcycle Monday night is known. To avoid trouble, return immediately to Chester F. Smith.

The football fans met in E.H. Skaggs store Monday evening and organized a football team, by electing Ivan Sechrest as manager, Chas. Miller as Sec’y Treas., Dr. J.M. Mott and Sandefur as coaches, and Ralph Mcrill, captain. The boys will have eight or ten of last year’s players on the eleven, and several new men will try out.

Dr. Coe reports the birth of a son to Mr. and Mrs. Whitaker on September 27; and a son to Mr. and Mrs. Tom Davoren Oct. 1.

125 years ago: Oct. 13, 1898

Hoge Happenings – Mr. and Mrs. Rufus Klinkenberg were greatly surprised by the Knights of Pythias Lodge of Tonganoxie, the occasion being the 20th anniversary of their marriage.

R.S. Edminster, L.P. DeMaralle, and J.D. Edminster are 76, 73, and 65 years of age respectively, but they are not to old to go fishing. Tuesday night, they camped east of Jarbalo on Stranger Creek, and with hooks and lines caught 80 pounds of catfish.

The programme at the hall tomorrow night will consist of a number of pretty tableaux, pantomimes, music, dialogues, etc. It will commence promptly at 7:30 o’clock. Admission only 10 cents.

The Kansas City Northwestern is now running passenger trains, equipped with chair cars, between here and Leavenworth. Leaving here at 8 a.m. you can spend the day in the city and arrive home at 6 p.m.