25 years ago: Dec. 27, 2000

City administrator, Chris Clark, informed council members that the council was invited to meet with school board members at 5:30 p.m. Jan 8. The dinner meeting at Bichelmeyer’s Steak House is an annual event.

The year in photos included several photos of the damage inflicted by the tornado on May 11, but also a photo of Bob and Nancy Norris taking in a bird’s-eye view of the city as they rode the ferris wheel during the county fair.

50 years ago: Dec. 28, 1975

C. Hervey Quisenberry notified the City Council of Tonganoxie and the County Commissioners of Leavenworth County that the Quisenberry Ambulance service will discontinue ambulance service as of April 1, 1976 after serving the people of southern Leavenworth County for 30 years. The requirements are so great they can no longer afford to render this service. Mr. Quisenberry said he sincerely hoped that the City Council and the Leavenworth County Commissioners can work together in this matter. It is essential to have an ambulance service for the southern part of Leavenworth County.

When the weather cooperates there will be ice skating available to those who enjoy a circle or two around the pond, rink, or in this case the shed. The Leavenworth County Fair Board, the Tonganoxie Recreation Commission, the city, the fire department and Steve Hughes’ carpentry class at the high school, have all contributed the effort to provide a place for Tonganoxie skaters. A skating rink has been constructed under one of the large open sheds located on the fairgrounds. The rink was funded by the recreation commission and built by the shop class. It is 60 by 100 feet and under the metal building. A plastic liner has been placed in the frame of the wood to hold water provided free by the city and pumped into the frame with the help of the fire department. The water is only a few inches deep, allowing for easy freezing and no worry about breaking through the ice and falling into deep icy water. The skating rink is for use by the public and there is no charge.

Inspired by the eagerness of second to fourth graders to join a 4-H club, leaders of the Happy Helpers Club decided to establish a club for “beginners.” Mr. and Mrs. J.W. Evans volunteered to guide the enthusiastic youngsters.

75 years ago: Dec. 28, 1950

The Pony Creek school west of Reno is a very nice home for the E.R. Slawson family reports a farmhand from the place. Perhaps many of our unused one room schools will become family residences in the future.

Looking back over the farm picture from the past year shows that the weather was exceedingly wet in June and July, although the wheat harvest yields were good. Corn yield was high, especially. Poultry farm at the Seber farm made history by erecting a three-story poultry building with a capacity of 60,000 friers. This is poultry raising on a mass production basis for our county. The Meyer Dairy Holstein herd is one of the best in this area and the Raymond Slawson Dairy has attracted a lot of attention with modernization improvements. Soil conservation has improved and oats yield are improving because of it. Farmers organized a Game Protective Association to control hunting damage and trespassing.

And of course, it wouldn’t be after Christmas without the after Christmas Clearance. Reductions up to 50% are ready to buy at Weaver’s in Lawrence. Or start the New Year with a new diamond ring from Fred Cox Jewelers.

See you next year!

100 years ago: Dec. 24, 1925

The Franklin Ice Cream Company is installing a second condensing pan at their plant in Tonganoxie. This will permit their using the increasing milking production of our dairymen. Mr. Hunt, the local manager, is a lot of remodeling of the plant this winter, and the Franklin will be better than ever prepared to take care of the milk production in this territory. The Franklin Company is to have a well drilling company outfit here this week to start prospecting for water for their consumption. If they do not find water in sufficient quantities for their purposes it will give the city an opportunity to extend their water plant by installing another unit so as to hold them, the biggest water consumers the city plant has. The city water works plant is now on a paying basis and if they can retain the Franklin business by putting in an extension the plant will pay better than now.

Rum Runners Caught. Last Sunday evening working on information from Basehor, City Marshall Nelson Quisenberry and Deputy Sheriff Guy Sharp arrested two rum runners when they got to Tonganoxie. The rum runners, driving a car with an Oklahoma license plate, had five one-gallon containers full of alcohol and the empty bottles to retail it in. One of the men in the car was under the influence of liquor when arrested by the officers. They were held in the city jail until the next day when they with the car and evidence were taken to Leavenworth. The names of the men as given to the officers were R. M. Jones and J. E Burg.

Mrs. Emma Cobb’s cow died Tuesday of last week, and upon examination the veterinarian found the cause to be that the animal had been shot, in all probability by some careless boy carrying a gun; and Mrs. Cobb takes this method to warn parents against the practice of letting boys carry guns and use on other people’s property.

Bazaar Saturday at Zellner’s store.

125 years ago: Dec., 27, 1900

The official statement as to the condition of the Tonganoxie State Bank published elsewhere makes another creditable showing. The bank is doing a $100,000 business. 

The Mirror wishes its many readers a Happy and Another Prosperous New Year. 

The last of the brick sidewalks were completed last week. During the year nearly a mile of brick sidewalks was constructed, and several hundred feet of granitoid. Two vitrified brick street crossings have also been finished the past week. Another year’s record like this and no other town of this size will be in hailing distance. 

EE Newell of Beloit, Kan., representing the National Automatic Telephone Co., gave an exhibition of the new ‘phone and switches at the Mirror office this week. The new system requires no operator at a central station and has the great superior feature over the Bell system that when two parties are talking no one can listen, though it does not interfere with the working of the other ‘phones on the line. 

This is the last issue of the century.