Memories spring eternal: Fort Scott prepares for post office

(1909)

The 50th annual congregational meeting of the First Presbyterian church will be held this evening. In the summer of 1859 Rev Mr. Rankin came to Fort Scott from Buffalo, N.Y., and organized the First Presbyterian church with three members, Mrs. William Smith, mother of Mrs. A.H. Campbell; Mrs. Alex McDonald; and Mr. J.S. Calkins, who was elected elder. The old church building was completed free of debt in the autumn of 1865. The church cost $3,296. Rev. Austin Warner, the veteran clergyman, who still resides in this city, was at that time stated to supply the church. An anniversary service has been prepared at which Rev. Dr. W.C. Porter will present a history of the church.

75 YEARS AGO

(1934)

WASHINGTON -- It is predicted that specifications for the new Fort Scott Post Office will be ready for issuance to contractors by the end of February, with a request for bids on the construction job.

Sports Ramblings: The starting lineup of the Fort Scott Junior College basketball team is composed of football stars: Lark, Warren, Baxter, Dingus, Willis and Meek, all members of the champion Greyhound eleven last year. ...A bout between Johnny Wager and Fred Reuse is being mentioned for the initial boxing card here in February. This should make a good fight from a spectator's standpoint, as the two have never held much love between them. Wager has taken on enough avoirdupois to make him a heavyweight now instead of middleweight. ...Lyndon Lewelling has quit the Greyhound basketball squad. Studies interfered with practice and this tall boy who played center on the high school team last season thought chemistry was more important than basketball.

50 YEARS AGO

(1959)

Ninety-five years of service in this community by the Cheney firm is a guarantee seldom obtained in any community -- Cheney's Funeral Chapel since 1863.

PLEASANTON -- Candidates to vie for king and queen of the Hilltop School annual are as follows: Francile James and Francis Lindell, seniors; Sharon Wortman and Johnnie Johnson, juniors; Connie Umphenour and Roger Reinseh, sophomores; and Evelyn Wilkerson and Tommy Basore, freshmen. Candidates are elected by sale of the Pleasanton High School annual.

RICHARDS -- Richards High School took Hume's basketball squad by storm Saturday carrying home championship honors from the Hume tourney. Bob Coambes scored 30 points, leading Richards cagers to an 86-48 victory. J. James with 22 counters was Richards' second high scorer in the championship tilt. G. Anderson had 17 points to lead Hume cagers.

At Cowen's for only $5.50 you can get a five-piece starter set in Spode China, a pattern that will never be discontinued. -- Adv.

25 YEARS AGO

(1984)

Editorial -- Fortuitous Fort:

We hardly need a reminder that one of this community's special advantages just keeps getting better. Its constant improvement comes because the people who operate it are dedicated to providing for constant improvement, and significantly because a wealth of community volunteers' help. The "it" in this case is our historic 1842 fort. Attendance there climbed more than 10,000 last year to 75,457, Superintendent Sheridan Steele said last week. Some credit for that attendance increase belongs to the Second Annual Good Ol' Days celebration the first weekend in June. Between Steele's able crew of park service professionals and scores of willing community volunteers, the old fort just keeps getting better. Today, as in the past, our restored fort symbolizes our community.

Chief of Police Dale Ogran says he likes dogs as well as the next fellow, but enough is enough. Ogran's warm feelings for dogs, he said, do not extend to those running loose in Fort Scott. He warned that officers are prepared to start killing strays they cannot catch.