It’s a scene for the nostalgic – the expansive century-old mahogany bar with mirrors that reach toward the century-old building’s original silver pressed tin ceiling. It’s waiters and waitresses in crisp white shirts and jackets. It’s a pianist playing Gershwin on the baby grand piano. And it’s Tonganoxie’s newest restaurant, Bichlemeyer’s Steakhouse, scheduled to open this weekend.

On May 19, classes for all students in the Tonganoxie school district will be dismissed at 1 p.m. in preparation for Tonganoxie’s first regional track meet at the new high school track.

Boy Scouts from Tonganoxie’s Troop 357 will be collecting bags of canned goods on Saturday. Scouts ask that local residents leave non-perishables on their front porch or a visible place Saturday morning. All food collected will be donated to the Good Shepherd Thrift Store in Tonganoxie.

Tonganoxie High School seniors are mentoring this spring at the elementary school for the second consecutive semester. The seniors, who receive high school credit for their participation, have the time to give extra attention to students who need help. They sit out in the hallway helping students with reading. They tutor students in math and help them learn the 50 states of the union. They are a positive model of what a student can be.

50 years ago: April 17, 1975

Henri Lodge No. 190 will present 25- and 50-year emblems to John Meinken, Clyde Opliger and Ivan Wilson. Charles Henak, Bernard Uhlrich and Robert McMillin will receive 25-year emblems.

The first-degree murder charge against Harry F. Duncan, 39, of Kansas City, KS was dropped in Leavenworth County District Court. The charge was one of two against Duncan. Charges were dropped for insufficient evidence to prosecute successfully. Duncan is charged with the murder of two unidentified women in Johnson County.

The annual Tonganoxie High School Alumni Banquet will be held May 10 in the High School Gymnasium honoring the classes of 1925 and 1950.

Fort Leavenworth will commemorate the ride of Paul Revere and the firing of the “shot heard round the world” with a special ceremony on historic old Sumner Place, the original location of “Cantonment Leavenworth.”

Regional Director of the American Revolution Bicentennial Administration, Frank Harrington, presented Mayor Mark with the official Bicentennial Certificate that identifies Tonganoxie as a Bicentennial Community. Following the National Anthem, as performed by members of the High School Band, under the direction of Bob Hensley, the public and dignitaries moved to the memorial site at US 24-40 highways to inspect the location and erect the identification sign lettered by members of the High School art department.

The St. Louis Christian College Chorale and Gateway Singers will present a public concert of sacred music at the Tonganoxie Christian Church. The 44-member chorale is currently on tour through Missouri, Kansas and Colorado. Ben Saathoff, minister of the local congregation, extends an invitation to the community to attend the concert. The St. Louis Christian College is one of approximately 40 Christian colleges in the United States supported by Christian Churches. Located in the St. Louis suburb of Florissant, the college exists to train young men and women for the ministry and related Christian vocations.

75 years ago: April 13, 1950

Our beautiful water tower located close to the schools has been spruced up with aluminum paint. [Editor’s note-for those of you who remember, this water tower was located near the Congregational church.]  

The weather was most pleasant this past weekend when Easter services were held throughout the community. One local family, Mr. Lem Evans and sons, J.W. and Lemuel, were Easter Sunday guests of his mother, Mrs. J.W. Evans.

A tragic event occurred this week with the death of 88-year-old resident, Katie Cook. She was found about 3 pm on Wednesday afternoon by a neighbor who noticed Katie face down in her yard in the south part of town. Her clothes were nearly burned off and Mrs. Cook was deceased. Upon further investigation it was discovered that her cookstove had been used and had caught her clothes on fire. Due to her advanced age, she was not able to get clear of the flames to save her life. She leaves two daughters and two sons and several grandchildren.

Mr. and Mrs. VI Morey chaperoned Mrs. Morey’s Elmwood school pupils on a field trip to Swope Park in Kansas City, Missouri.

Well, it’s National Donut Week so come in and celebrate at Yonally’s Bakery. Dunk a dozen of these delicious baked items with your good friends and neighbors.

100 years ago: April 16, 1925

Next Friday afternoon, April 17th, at the High School Auditorium at 3 o’clock, the Parent Teachers organization will meet to formulate plans for their work. At a recent meeting officers were chosen. At this meeting, there will be with us a lady from Lawrence who is experienced in the functioning of the association and will outline the workings of the various committees and what is expected of the association as a whole, in fact will tell us all about the work.

Everyone is invited and it is hoped a good attendance will be in evidence as this is a much-needed work in every community and needs the support of all the patrons of this Rural High School district as well as the town patrons. Remember the date, tomorrow afternoon, April 17th, at 3 o’clock and be there.

Show your civic pride by making your lawns beautiful with flowers. The Library Association will have a splendid assortment of bedding plants at their Sale Aprill 23rd, and 24th and 25th at Zellner’s Hardware.

It is one of the mysteries of the world why evil is spontaneous and good has to be cultivated. Weeds grow without human help, but the useful crops require careful cultivation. This is the law of the vegetable world. The same law applies in the mental and moral universe. We must equip schools and endow colleges and spend long years in mastering their curriculums if we would attain intellectual excellence. But ignorance thrives without effort. So, we must erect churches and support an expensive ministry and continue herculean efforts if we make moral and religious advancements. But sin and crime flourish and moral degradation grows apace without systematic propagation. You have thought thoughts similar to these, no doubt. But how do you explain them? E. W. Hoch in Marion Record.

125 years ago: April 19, 1900

Basehor – R. Basehor made a business trip to Leavenworth on Tuesday.

Hoge – Mr. and Mrs. McArdle are the happy parents of a new daughter.

Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Gray were pleasantly surprised last Friday evening by a number of friends who came in to help them celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary.

Jarbalo – A nine-pound boy was born to Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Jones on April 13.

Home Notes – White corsets when they become soiled may be cleaned by being brushed over with a strong brush dipped in a mixture of soap, water and ammonia.

A six-month old son of Carey Hubbel, of Dafer, dies last Sunday and the funeral took place on Monday.