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: Feb. 17,1999

Last week the Mirror reported that Janet Angell was awarded the Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year award. Janet Angell, a two-term City Council member who just filed for her third term, also holds dual positions as School Volunteer / Community Education Coordinator. She has been actively involved in this community for almost 20 years. Angell is also involved with a Kansas City Kansas Community College program that offers classes at the Junior High for credit. She has contributed to the building of the public library and donates work to Tonganoxie Days each year.

The Fourth Street project has officially acquired the 51% of votes from area businesses needed to approve the project. The first phase of the plan is a four-to-five-month design process in which engineers will tackle the problems concerning things such as crumbling sidewalks and drainage.

50 years ago: Feb. 21, 1974

The Tonganoxie Jaycee Jaynes Sweetheart King and Queen were Jodi Massic, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Tom Massic, and Mark Kimberlin, son of Mr. and Mrs. Russell Kimberlin.

The unthinkable has happened in Jarbalo. For the first time in its one-hundred plus years of history, the village has no General Merchandise Store. Opliger’s closed February 10, 1974. The store was the last remaining retail establishment in that town. Mr. Opliger built the building in 1912 and he and Mrs. Opliger built their home next door in 1916. The original building was destroyed in June 1966 by a tornado. The store was rebuilt by the Clyde Opligers. An era has ended.

Heidi Wallace has been named Tonganoxie High School 1973-74 Betty Crocker Family Leader of Tomorrow.

Bill Stephenson, representing the First State Bank of Tonganoxie, recently presented awards to Mr. and Mrs. B.J. Wedel and Vernon Kesinger for their outstanding work with their dairy herds in 1973. Kesinger is dairy herdsman at the Kansas State Penitentiary. The Wedels were presented the Efficient Dairyman Award and High Herd Award.

For the past week a dog control officer has been on duty to pick up unlicensed dogs within the city limits in the City of Tonganoxie and his contract is to run till May 13th.

U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Terry J. Wyrick, a 1966 graduate of Tonganoxie High School, recently helped airlift 4,000 pounds of food and medical supplies by helicopter to flood victims in the Southern Philippines. They were left homeless by heavy flooding following torrential rains.

75 years ago: Feb. 17, 1949

Another week and another serious weather report comes from Easton and Potter. It seems that a big jam on Stranger Creek is causing flooding up north in smaller communities. After the big weekend thaw, the snow, rain and more thaw is wreaking havoc on just about all areas in our county. Frozen fields have caused some wheat damage and large amounts of snow are still piled on city streets here.

Mrs. H.W. Marshall of our area has located siblings in Germany that she hadn’t seen since WWI. One sister writes to her from the Russian Zone of Germany and shares that many are starving and have nothing to wear. She writes that the Russians have taken all her possessions. Another sister is missing and believed to have been taken by the Russians to be a slave. Her brother is in the English zone and says things are better somewhat, but that both of his sons were killed in WWII. Mrs. Marshall sends packages to them to help them survive.

Rice’s Pool Room will host a snooker match with Meriden, Kansas on February 21. Cigarettes, tobacco, relaxation, and good fellowship will be bountiful.

A nice ice rink has been made available at the fairgrounds for those boys and men who like to skate. Teams have formed and can be seen slapping a hockey puck from one goal to the other.

100 years ago: Feb. 21, 1924

On Tuesday evening the bridge over the Creek near the Franklin Cream Condensery, which had been completed for several weeks excepting the fills on either approach thereto was opened to traffic. The detour at that place has been very bad and it is a great satisfaction to know that the new bridge and paving may be used.

Last Monday morning at 3 o’clock Nightwatchman rt Robers discovered a fire in Papenhausen Bros. Café. Mr. Roberts, by calling and rattling the front door awakened Chas. Papenhausen, who with his wife, lives above the store. Together, Mr. Papenhausen and Mr. Robers put out the fire. The damage was very slight but if the fire had not been discovered a serious conflagration might have occurred.

Mr. Papenhausen feels that the nightwatchman has been of great service to him as he has been saved from loss by a burglar and a fire. It might be well if the businessmen would severally increase their monthly payments to the watchman, as his present salary is not commensurate with the work and risks he performs.

125 years ago: Feb. 16, 1899

The Tri-State Telephone Company which maintains a station in Tonganoxie has gone into the hands of a receiver upon the application of the president of the company. In applying for receiver in a Kansas City Mo. Court, the attorney for the company stated that they owe $15,000, are unable to pay the amount, and to avoid a sacrifice of the property and a loss of the franchise, it was necessary to establish a receivership.

It was apparent from the start that the Tri-State had comparatively little money to build a telephone line, but their scheme ought to have worked out nicely if honestly and intelligently managed. Each town which was to be a station was asked to take stock in the concern, and all the stockholders were granted the use of the line. This privilege alone would pay a big interest on the investment if a man was doing much business, as the franchises cost nothing, and the expense of building was not over $50. Per mile, the stock subscriptions in one town fell little short of paying for the line to the next town. It was in this way wires were strung for several hundred miles.

How the officers could accumulate $15,000 debts on such a plan is incomprehensible. The numerous stockholders in the various Kansas towns are probably more interested in this phase of the situation than outsiders.