25 years ago: Feb. 24,1999

The Ice Cream Parlor & Grill had a half page ad thanking Tonganoxie for its support, as the business celebrates its 10th year. The celebration feature will be 2 hamburgers or cheeseburgers and 2 orders of French Fries and 2 medium drinks for only $6.00.

The front page included a photograph of Fourth Street in front of the Quisenberry Funeral Home with the following caption: The snow was so deep Monday afternoon that some residents found snowmobiles to be the best mode of transportation on snow packed streets in downtown Tonganoxie.

50 years ago: Feb. 28, 1974

Building Tonganoxie is good business, and building businesses is good for Tonganoxie. The latest firm to embark on an expansion program is Midwest Carpet Co. on Highway 24-40 North. The firm, owned by Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Robbins, is adding a new display and sample room for the convenience of their customers. George Sprague, builder, expects to have the addition completed this weekend.

The Tonganoxie Youth for Christ Club will present the film, “A Thief in the Night,” at the Tonganoxie High School Auditorium. The public is invited and there will be no admission charge.


The Civic Club, The Reading Club, The Parental Study Club and the Federation of Women’s Clubs of Tonganoxie, sponsored a local Citizenship Essay Contest for high school juniors and seniors. Vince Hoffhines was the local winner with the essay using the title “A Portrait of Liberty – The Seeds Are Sown.”


The First Congregational Church of Tonganoxie has a new minister. The Reverend Warren J. Kreml has been preaching at the church and at the Annual Meeting of the church the recommendation of the Pulpit Committee was approved to call the Reverend Kreml as Interim Pastor.


Mr. and Mrs. John Calovich announce the birth of a son, John Steven Jr.


Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Weber announced the birth of a daughter, Natalie Jo.


Mr. and Mrs. Dennis McAlexander announce the birth of a daughter, Sabrina Marie.


Mr. and Mrs. Terry Skaggs announce the birth of a son, Matthew Brian.


The Class A Regional Basketball Tournament is being held at the Tonganoxie High School Feb. 26-March 1.


Farmers who want to sign up for the 1974 wheat or feed grain programs will be able to do it by mail this year instead of in person according to Elmer W. Blanken, executive director for the Leavenworth Wyandotte County Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service.

75 years ago: Feb. 24, 1949

A huge celebration was held for our community physician, Dr. Walter B. Coe, who has treated us for fifty three years! Over 230 people joined Dr. Coe and family at Tonganoxie High School for a fancy dinner and tributes to this man who has saved many of us from severe injuries and illnesses. Over fifty years of practice takes him back to the horse and buggy days and to the time before penicillin was invented. Dr Coe’s first patient in town was an African American woman who lived in a log cabin where Henry Toburen’s home is now. Dr. Coe’s hobbies include needle point, raising fruit trees, and caring for others.  

The Tonganoxie “Chieftains” are entered in the State Basketball Tournament to be held at Perry. This is quite a nice opportunity as Perry has the best courts in the state and will comfortably seat 1500 spectators. Admission is $.50 for adults and $.35 for children.

For Washington’s birthday, Tonga Cleaners shares this little ditty to remind you to get your clothes cleaned:  

The men wore silk breeches with buckles at the knee.

The ladies wore much more than they do today!

100 years ago: Feb. 28, 1924

A Kansas state law requiring all public and parochial schools to display a suitable United States flag on every schoolhouse and in every school room has been the cause of a rushing flag business, it was reported by Walter L. Wilson, vice president of the Baker-Lockwood Manufacturing Company.

“Many were ignorant of the law, which was passed in 1919, until the past few weeks,” he said. “Since it has been given publicity, we have been swamped with orders from teachers and principals of many Kansas schools. The activities of the American Legion in urging the display of the flag also have contributed to the demand.” Failure to observe the law is a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of from $1 to $5.

In preparing plans for a state road system the State Highway Commission had omitted that petitioned road between Tonganoxie and McLouth, and through the efforts of the farmers along the road who sent a delegation to Topeka last week, the Commission issued an order to embrace the Tonganoxie-McLouth Road in the state system.

The commission also issued an order making three other roads in Leavenworth County a part of the State Highway System. The first is the road between Tonganoxie and Leavenworth following the old stage road which is one of the oldest roads in the county. The second is the road running south from Hoge past the Catholic church to the paving at the Eibes corner five miles east of Tonganoxie. The third is the Lecompton Road from Leavenworth west to the Jefferson county line via Springdale.

No federal aid has yet been allowed on the Tonganoxie-McLouth Road. Of all the road projects launched in this county so far, the Tonganoxie-McLouth Road comes nearest having the unanimous support of the benefit district than any of them.

125 years ago: Feb. 23, 1899

Edminster – Ed Thiry is the proud father of another bouncing baby boy.

We understand the Tonganoxie Sentinel is to start again now that the Klondike blast is over. [The previous issue of the Mirror reported that the past Saturday was the coldest ever known in Kansas. Thermometers with north exposures ranged from 12 below to 24 below zero all day, and the usual cold accompanying such temperatures was much intensified by the strong wind blowing from the northeast.]

Thos. Chandler has built an apparatus for shoeing fractious horses. The animals are raised up by a pulley and rendered hors du combat, hors don’t kick, or something like that.

The road leading east on Fourth street has been open for a year but is not yet in a passable condition.

E.Q. Cox has moved a small dwelling from his home lot to the west part of town.