Opinion

Historic church tours offered

Friday, June 1, 2012

100 YEARS AGO

(1912)

Nine years ago John Livingston graduated from the local high school. His parents presented him with a handsome watch and chain. John was exceedingly proud of the present as it was engraved "John Clarence Livingston, May 15th, 1903." Some six months later, he lost the watch. He was broken hearten over the loss.

Mr. Livingston was then living on Blair Avenue. Yesterday, a young boy was playing in front of the house in which Mr. Livingston had resided and found the watch. The case had been badly battered by the many wheels that had passed over it. The works were rusted, but the enclosed engraving was plain. No doubt it will be highly valued by Mr. Livingston, who is now a resident of Salt Lake City.

75 YEARS AGO

(1937)

Bishop James E. Wise, Topeka, in the opinion of many who attended the joint commencement exercises last night at the South Mian Street Park Shell for the graduating classes of the senior high school and junior college, delivered one of the most powerful and interesting addresses that has ever been heard here at a similar event.

The acoustics at the park shell again proved perfect although, owing to the fact that the program was given at the front of the shell, which is not covered by the concave part of the structure, a loud speaker was used to remove any doubt of the program being heard plainly. The program was witnessed by the largest crowd that ever attended graduation services in Fort Scott, it being estimated that there were 2,500 to 2,600 persons present. There were not nearly enough seats for all.

50 YEARS AGO

(1962)

Real Estate Transactions:

Dr. and Mrs. Dean Gettler have purchased the residence at 819 S. Eddy St. from Mrs. Dorothy Truitt. Dr. Gettler is moving here from Mission, Kan., and will be associated with the Newman-Young Clinic. Crain Realty Co. completed the sale.

Nancy Ober, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Austin Ober, will graduate June 2 from the College of Emporia. Miss Ober has accepted a position to teach English in the Garden City High School.

Photo caption: "Elvin Kruger, 702 Couch, pulled these two flathead catfish out of Mill Creek in Belltown. Kruger stated he caught the fish on limb lines. The flatheads weighed 41 and 31 pounds, respectively." -- Tribune photo

Photo caption: "Raymond Tucker presents Department of Agtriculture length of service awards to Anna May Duerson, ACP clerk, and Lavon Roufs, chief clerk. Mrs. Roufs received a 20-year certificate and pin, while Mrs. Duerson was awarded a 15-year certificate and pin." -- Tribune photo

25 YEARS AGO

(1987)

The congregation of St. Francis Anglican Church, Third and Main streets, will be giving tours of their historic church during the Sixth Annual Good Ol' Days celebration. From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, visitors will have the opportunity to see the oldest church building in Fort Scott which has been in use as a place of worship for 122 years. Planned after the latter days of the Civil War when the county seat returned here from Marmaton, it was the first church to be built in Fort Scott and was completed in the fall of 1865 at a cost of $3,200. The church was first known as the First Presbyterian Church until 1888 when that congregation moved to its second building at 308 S. Crawford. The building at Third and Main later housed a marble works company, followed by a Christian Science church. In 1978, it was consecrecated as the Anglican Church of this area and was dedicated to St. Francis.