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: April 5, 2000

About a dozen volunteers helped last Saturday morning to build exterior walls and erect interior partitions at the Tonganoxie High School’s new press box. Steve Hughes, industrial arts teacher at Tonganoxie High School, said he hopes the press box will be usable for the first home track meet, which is scheduled for later this spring.

During the next few weeks, The Mirror will be working with students in the High School music department who are raising money to attend the Cotton Bowl later this year. The Mirror will donate to students $5 from each annual subscription that students sell. The Journal-World has agreed to donate $10 for each 14-month subscription that students sell. And 20% of purchases at the Bonner Springs Pizza Hut will be donated to the group.

50 years ago: April 17, 1975

It all came off without a hitch as some 200 people participated in Tonganoxie’s official Bicentennial Flag presentation in front of City Hall. Under mostly clear skies and comfortable temperatures, Chairman Russ Kimberlin restated the purpose of the Chief Tonganoxie Bicentennial Committee as being committed to uncovering our history and heritage and making it a matter of public record citing Chief Tonganoxie as a man of peace and trust.

Tonganoxie residents may have been without water, but the Tonganoxie city crew wasn’t. While digging with a backhoe, city worker Charles Conrad hooked onto a water line and severed it from the main water line. The line was in the alley behind Korb Electric. City Superintendent Pete Bennett noted that the cause of the mishap could probably be attributed to nervousness caused by Conrad’s upcoming marriage.

The Tonganoxie Park Board has awarded the contract for the summer use of the swimming pool to Art and Linda Hancock. The bid for the pool submitted by the Hancock’s was $3,513. This was the highest bid.

Patrolman Dave Cobb and new city Senior Patrolman Larry Smith now comprise Tonganoxie’s full time police force.

Last Tuesday marked the first anniversary for the Friends of the Library. The occasion was celebrated at the Tonganoxie Library with a Silver Tea. Dorothy Quisenberry and Janice Seymour noted that in its first year of existence, the organization had accomplished a number of things. Mrs. Quisenberry said that the organization will be having its second annual book fair later this year. Proceeds from this project will help to install a book drop for the convenience of library patrons. Also, a special selection of books for the bicentennial is being gathered and will be offered in a special section.

75 years ago: April 6, 1950

It may be past April 1, but this is no joke!  Gorgeous George, a curly blonde, adorned in colorful robes, wearing strong perfume performed in Topeka this past week. Performed as what, you may ask? A wrestler! George had finished his match on Tuesday night and was headed to Illinois for his next performance when his station wagon was forced off the road by another car. This all happened on the road from Reno to here. George’s valet (yes, he has one) leaned out of the window and was bonked on the head with a beer bottle. The car sped away and left the valet in bad shape. They stopped in Tonganoxie where the valet’s wound was stitched and cleaned. Gorgeous George would probably never have visited our little town if not for the beer bottle bonk.

The high school presented its first ever Open House sponsored by the Student Council and it was a great success. At least 300 parents visited and were treated to musical performances, tours of the building and refreshments from Home Economics students. The girls of that department also modeled clothes that they had made themselves. Students are looking forward to playing hosts to parents and families next year.

A nasty snow and sleet storm blanketed the area three days ago. At least the dust and dirt from last month’s wind got settled down.

100 years ago: April 9, 1925

The Commercial Club is trying to get better mail service for Tonganoxie. The Club through its president, Foster Laming, has gotten Congressman Dan Anthony and Senators Capper and Curtis interested in our behalf. Last Tuesday Mr. W. A. Hovey, Chief Clerk of the Railway Mail Service, of Kansas City, Missouri, was in town looking over the situation and interviewing our citizens to ascertain what was wanted in the way of better mail service.

Mr. Hovey will probably recommend that mail service be furnished from Kansas City and Leavenworth, the mail leaving those points about the noon hour. A pouch leaving Tonganoxie at about the same time to get into the city in time for the afternoon delivery will likely be recommended. It is proposed to have the Interstate Stage Line carry this extra mail service between Kansas City, Leavenworth and Tonganoxie. Mr. Moore, manager of the bus line, is working in co-operation with the Commercial Club to get this service for Tonganoxie.

Chicken thieves visited Geo. Seufert’s chicken house last Thursday night and stole forty-four chickens. From the tracks, it looked to Mr. Seufert like there were three people on the job. Stealing chickens is now a felony in Kansas and is punishable by a term in the penitentiary. Mr. Seufert would like to find out who the thieves are.

Several other chicken thefts have also been reported. Mrs. Kenna and Mrs. Newsome lost about a hundred chickens and Mr. and Mrs. John Todd about thirty hens.

125 years ago: April 12, 1900

Easter Greetings Acrostic from the Ladies of the Tonganoxie Library Association

Easter day dawns bright and clear

And to every heart it brings good cheer.

Some visions of our Savior newly risen

To bless us from that lowly narrow prison

Ever onward, ever upward let our journey be

Restng on his promise “Come unto me”.

A.A.McN.

Convention hall, the pride of Kansas City, is a mass of charred and smouldering ruins. It caught fire at 1 o’clock on Wednesday afternoon and burned with such fury that in fifteen minutes it was almost totally destroyed. When the fire department arrived, the magnificent structure was a roaring furnace, filled with destroying flames, beyond the power of man to subdue. Convention Hall will be rebuilt in time for the Democratic national convention, July 4. This is the authorized statement of Henry W. Evans, president of the Convention Hall Building company. The cause of the fire is unknown, but there are indications of incendiarism.

We admire the push of Kansas City in its determination to rebuild Convention Hall in time for the National Democratic Convention which is to held at that place on July 4th. Why not vote to have the National Democratic Convention held in Tonganoxie, since Kansas City has been so unfortunate? The “pie” of our city election could certainly give them plenty to drink.

Many a nursery song has been sung and bear and fairy stories told to the babies of Tonganoxie in the last week by “man, gentle man,” while Mary Ellen was looking after her special work on this paper.

We would like to suggest that a few of the many dollars which will flow into the library treasury from the edition of this week’s paper be invested in some daily papers and games for the reading room.

What has become of our committee on streets and alleys. This is the time to clean up the alleys, as they are full of tin cans, old stove pipes and garbage of all kinds and filth of every description. Clean up the town and make it a good place in which to live.