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: Nov. 15, 2000

Larry Meadows and Bob Klinkenberg (pictured), Tonganoxie Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9271 were among the dozen VFW members who gathered early Saturday morning to erect 200 flags along Fourth Street, at the cemeteries, and at several other locations in honor of Veterans Day.

On Dec. 6, the Tonganoxie Planning Commission members will review the final development plan for the mobile home park, which Steve Sturgeon plans to construct at the intersection of the highway and Smiley Road.

Ben Higbee, Tonganoxie third-grader, was pictured in his classroom, showing his teacher, Sarah Saunders, where the country of Vietnam is located. In honor of Veterans’ Day, Saunders’ students brought military items Friday at school. Saunders wore a uniform belonging to her father, Mike Saunders. Students Jordan Schiltz and Ben Higbee seemed to pause in their tracks as Saunders explained what various wars meant to the men and countries involved.

Things are looking up for Tonganoxie’s eighth- and ninth-graders. Richard Erickson superintendent, said these classes showed improvements on the Stanford achievement test. The ninth-graders ranking reached the 64.6 percentile, compared to the 62.6 percentile a year ago. The eighth-graders came in at the 60.6 percentile this year, compared to the 51.5 percentile a year ago.

Lisa Stevens John wrote the feature story this week about Steve Woelk, who was a prisoner of war during the Korean War. He was captured after North Koreans overtook the USS Pueblo and its 83 crewmen.

50 years ago: Nov. 12, 1975

If you like nail biters, this was your game, as the Chieftains squeaked by the St. Joseph Shawnee Blue Streaks in the first round of the Kansas State High School Association Football Playoffs by 35 to 34 in triple overtime.

If Coach Mattingly didn’t have any gray hair before the game, he most likely has some now, although you won’t find them among the blonde.

Two USD 464 board members will represent the district at the annual convention of the Kansas Association of School Boards. C. Richard Chapman, President of the local board and Mildred McMillon, a first-year member, will attend the convention in Topeka.

Mrs. Hazel K. Bowersox of Tonganoxie, will be having a birthday party to celebrate her 90th birthday. Fifty of her 90 years have been spent here in Tonganoxie, coming here in 1925 when her father, Rev. M.G. McKenzie was the local Methodist minister. Her father was one of five brothers, four of whom were Methodist ministers. Mrs. Bowersox is a retired employee of the First State Bank and lives in her home on Pleasant Street. Her principal hobby is making hand-made hooked rugs. The remarkable thing about her is that she is able to see well enough to continue her hooked rug making, does her own housework and gets around town with a cheerful personality that leads one to think she has enjoyed every minute of her advanced years.

One of the most scenic views of the Kansas (or Kaw) River is at Mt. Sidney, east of Linwood in Leavenworth County. It is sometimes called the Kaw, French slang for Kansas. In pioneer times the river was an important road into Kansas, either by boat for hunters and trappers, or the fertile winding valley for foot or wagon travel. The stream was named the Kansas River because the Kanza Indians manned its north bank from the Missouri west when the first caucasians began to reach the central plains. It was the river indirectly that gave the State of Kansas its name.

75 years ago: Nov. 16, 1950

We reported earlier this fall about the one case of polio in Linwood schools. Now we must report a second case where a four year-old girl has developed the disease. 

Halloween is over and Thanksgiving is right around the corner. Sounds like time to start talking Christmas decorations once again. It seems like the talk of decorating for the holiday comes earlier and earlier. The discussion this week at the Community Club was favoring homemade features rather than expensive commercial displays. Once again, the club voted to sponsor the home decoration contest with one change to the rules. Previous winners could win, but not accept the cash award. It would go to the second-place home. 

Our winning streak came to an end last Friday night when Valley Falls beat the Tonganoxie team 27 to 7. The weather was cold, the fans were cold and the team was cold. Those three factors plus the enormous weight advantage of the other team led to our defeat. Our boys were overanxious and unable to get the jump on the line.

Well, the farmers have taken the hunting problem into their own hands and developed game refuges with men who will post signs. About 100 men decided to purchase $.10 signs and post them all throughout the county to warn hunters to stay off private lands.

Grocers and bakers are reminding you to order your turkey and side dishes for the big feast. IGA has fresh oysters for dressing, cranberries, canned pumpkin, and sweet potatoes along with numerous other foods to serve.

100 years ago: Nov. 12, 1925

The manager of the Royal Theatre, J. W. Evans, informed us that he has discontinued the playing of Sunday shows. Mr. Evans said that as there were about one hundred people in this community who petitioned against Sunday shows. He would not run against their wishes. We are sure everybody appreciates Mr. Evans’ sacrifice in closing his show on Sunday evening, as that was one of his best show nights. Mr. Evans will show some good pictures as advertised in these columns, and we feel that the people should show their appreciation by attending and making the week day shows pay better than the Sunday night shows in the past. Mr. Evans will secure the best pictures it is possible to show here considering the patronage he gets so the better the attendance the better the pictures.

Will have ducks, geese, and chickens live or dressed for Thanksgiving. Please give orders before Nov. 23rd. Mrs. Henry Hicks, Phone 270.

Miss Ruth Hall, teacher at Smiths School, reports $29.15 taken in at their pie social. A good time was enjoyed by all and those who desired bought ice cream to eat with their pie, the providing of ice cream being an addition to the usual pie social.

\Following an all-night rain last Friday night and early Saturday morning, sleet and snow began about the middle of the morning and rapidly grew worse and continued throughout the day, putting a heavy blanket over all the ground and delaying traffic. It was a real winter storm. The balmy days the first of the week soon melted all the snow however.

Avoid filling the chicken house with chickens beyond its capacity. Each bird ought to have at least eight inches of space on the roost.

125 years ago: Nov. 15, 1900

 The city council met Monday evening, with all the officials in attendance. The construction of a brick street crossing on Third Street across Bury was authorized. The street and alley committee was instructed to make a contract for grading an arch culvert in the west part of town which is now in course of construction. The city has purchased a lot of brick for use in constructing street and alley crossings and a bill of $82 for them was allowed among a batch of other bills. New burners for streetlamps and the bad gully that is cutting into Fourth Street east of the Northwestern depot were discussed but no action was taken.