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: July 18, 2001

In what was clearly a difficult decision, Leavenworth County commissioners agreed last week to seek a group to operate and manage the county infirmary. The infirmary, which is a nursing home that is operated by the county, recently has been a financial drain on the county. Last year, transfers from the county’s general fund to the infirmary totaled $89,000, while commissioners have approved $107,500 in transfers through June 20th of this year.

The “Ballad of Black Jack” will return to this year’s Maple Leaf Festival, and when it does, Carolee Vincent of Tonganoxie will be the director of the historical musical. In previous years, Vincent danced and acted in the show. The play, based on local history, culminates in the battle of Black Jack, which was fought five miles east of Baldwin with forces led by John Brown. Don Mueller, who directed two musicals for the Tonganoxie Community Theater, wrote the Ballad of Black Jack, which was performed from 1969 to 1983 at Baker University and in 1986 at Liberty Hall in Lawrence. Other Tonganoxie residents who have participated in the show include Karen Stephenson, the leading lady for nine years, and Nancy Gibbens, the leading lady for one year. Dot Ward also acted and sang in the show. The musical will be performed at Baker October 19-21.

Vicki Bichelmeyer, an owner of Bichelmeyer’s Steakhouse, 427 E. Fourth St., in downtown Tonganoxie would like the city to install signs on U.S. Highway 24-40 that would point the way to Fourth Street. Bichelmeyer’s draws in guests from out-of-town and they have been told that several guests new to the area end up in Lawrence, after they go around the curve and then keep on going.

50 years ago: July 21, 1976

To the average person the thought of losing 200 pounds probably ranges from unbelievable to impossible. For Mrs. Horace Gillespie it was kind of a dream. On September 26, 1972, Mrs. Gillespie decided to make that dream come true. While watching television she saw a Weight Watchers advertisement that told of a man who had lost 200 pounds. At the time she weighed 350 pounds and decided that a good bicentennial project of her own would be to lose 200 pounds. Mrs. Gillespie wasn’t able to get out of a chair, walk, cook, or get into bed without help. She was unable to go places. Her first meeting in the Methodist Church basement was very difficult for her. It took three people to get her up the stairs. It took three years to reach her goal of losing 200 pounds. Mrs. Gillespie said,” it was a long struggle but I stayed with it and the last 50 pounds was the hardest.” Mrs. Gillespie had said that with Weight Watchers you get encouragement and friendship. Mrs. Gillespie was over 75 when she started losing weight. “My advice to young women is to get it off and keep it off while they can,” she said. She says she feels better and is enjoying life more. She even went to Disneyland and rode all the rides. Tuesday night’s Weight Watcher’s meeting was in her honor and the Bicentennial. She lost 200 for the 200th.

Rain could not wipe out or postpone the two years of work that culminated in the dedication of the Chief Tonganoxie Memorial Park. The sand blasted inscription set in white Italian Marble was from an address by Col. George Griffith given in Tonganoxie in 1926. In the lower right end of the monument is the hole that will house the stainless-steel time capsule. The capsule will be opened for the nation’s Tricentennial in 2076. Mayor Lee Mark said, “Our purpose today is not so much to honor America’s 200th birthday, but to honor Chief Tonganoxie.”

A man came into the office to place an ad for the return of his wife’s cat. He stated we could list a reward of $100. We asked why such a large reward was being offered? “Because,” he explained, “I drowned it.”

75 years ago: July 19, 1951

The Grand Pappy of all floods continues to wreak havoc in this vicinity and east to the city.  The Kaw crested 12 feet over its banks in Lawrence leaving a terrible mess from Salina to Topeka.  Our local laundry company has been swamped with folks looking for wash services from as far away as Shawnee county. Railroads, busses and telephone lines are out of operation leaving Lawrence a virtual island.  Linwood has been underwater except for a block of the business area.  Dikes broke on the west side of Big Stranger at the Laming farm.  Some flood victims located in our schools bringing bedding and food with them.  Many of our men have been rescuing stranded homeowners using boats to get around.  

The county health doctor will be here this Friday to give typhoid shots to residents.  Typhoid is spread by contact, flies and mosquitoes and every effort is being made to prevent an epidemic.  Frank Hughes and family-Susan and little Steve, who live in an apartment at the Almeda Hotel had to fly home from north Lawrence as his car was caught in the flood at a chemical company. Several men are also helping farmers by boating to stranded livestock and feeding them.

A plane out of Leavenworth landed at The Oaks (Editor’s note-just north of our present Dollar General Store) with a shipment of typhoid serum.  Cars traveling on the roadway were surprised to see the small plane taxi along preparing for take-off.  

Anyone looking for clean, drinkable water is free to bring their containers to Rawlings Feed Store.

100 years ago: July 22, 1926

The Interstate Bus Company will build a station in Tonganoxie of the same design as its new stations in Kansas City and Topeka, but of course smaller. Mr. Moore, the manager of the Interstate, was here on Tuesday afternoon and made a contract for the purchase of a tract 100 feet by 142 feet north of the property of the Zellner Mercantile Company. S. J. McNaughton who has been the owner of the property for some time, will move the building now on the lots to some other point. The management of the bus company has felt for some time that other arrangements than the present ones had to be made on account of the congested traffic conditions on Fourth street at times, and the paving of Bury Street north from Fourth street opened the way for a more satisfactory way of handling their busses in Tonganoxie. The McNerney & Koch Lumber Company made the best price quoted to the contractors Bruner Brothers, who got the contract for reflooring the Eudora Bridge, which is a Leavenworth-Douglas County joint bridge over the Kansas river. The job calls for 64,000 feet of oak and fir, or three cars of oak and two cars of fir lumber, besides a large quantity of paint.

Dr. W. E. Flanders was called to Lansing last Thursday evening to attend a mule which almost had tetanus, caused by a bad wound. He reports the mule is now doing fine.

M. W. Watson, the paving contractor, started laying concrete on Delaware street Wednesday morning. Gravel is being used in place of rock in the concrete. 680 feet of curbing was put down Wednesday.

Walter Johnson, postmaster of the United States Senate, stopped over during the noon hour yesterday, while driving between Kansas City and Topeka. His son and daughter were along and enjoyed a meal at the hotel and admired the swimming pool.

125 years ago: July 25, 1901

Mayor Laming came home with a limp on Monday morning. It wasn’t because he got into politics and had his limb stretched, but because he got into the kitchen while camping out and upset a kettle of boiling water on himself. A cloth on a gasoline stove caught fire and as Mr. Laming tried to extinguish it the kettle upset. He got a severe scald on his left lower limb, and also on his left arm.

George Wilkinson’s home and barn had a close call from the fire fiend yesterday morning. A passing Northwestern train set the grass in the pasture on fire, and the flames rapidly spread. They had gotten to a large wood pile when discovered and were then extinguished without doing any damage.

The Casebier brothers and Leroy Sample, prominent sorghum raisers of Neely, were in town Tuesday. They consider the sorghum crop gone, but they look upon the situation philosophically and think the failure will clean up the syrup surplus which has been so depressing on sorghum prices the last few years and make prices better in the future.