Fort Scott Day

100 YEARS AGO

(1912)

Late this afternoon the Cadillac touring car belonging to W.J. Calhoun turned turtle while being driven by Harold Calhoun. The youth was returning to the cabin after coming in to get assistance to help find the body of Harry Pitts, the 12 year-old who drowned yesterday. While attempting to pass a team, he was crowded to the side of the road and the car skidded into the ditch, turning completely over. He was thrown violently and his leg badly injured. He was taken immediately to Mercy Hospital where at a late hour doctors were working on him.

The difference between a dollar saved and a dollar spent is just two dollars. Did it ever occur to you that way? It is worth thinking about. Bring us your savings and we will allow you a liberal rate of interest. -- The Fort Scott State Bank.

75 YEARS AGO

(1937)

(Aug. 25) -- The 13th annual fair of the Bourbon County Fair Association opened at Uniontown yesterday under very favorable auspices and officials are expecting one of the best fairs they have held in years. The weather man has promised a brand of fair weather and the exhibits are the biggest and best they have ever been. Yesterday was opening day and was taken up in receiving entries. Today and tomorrow the racing program will be given.

Tomorrow is "Fort Scott Day" and a large attendance is expected. The Al G. Hanes carnival company is set up with many thrillers of a merry-go-round and various kinds of rides and side shows. The 4-H clubs of the county have many booths and will have excellent exhibits and will give a number of demonstrations.

50 YEARS AGO

(1962)

Chas. Leist Feed & Seed Co. Come to our grand opening at our new location, 101-103 Scott Ave. Your Purina dealer. Giving away $100 in prizes. Come in and register. -- Charles Leist, Rachel Leist, Charles Defebaugh, Mildred Defebaugh, Earl (Lucky) Rash.

The City Commission took under consideration a suggestion to close Gunn Park during night-time hours. Sheriff Clarence Northrop appeared before the group in favor of closing since six Fort Scott youths have been charged with forcible rape in the park. Northrop said he has received numerous calls suggesting the park be closed at night.

Photo caption: "Champion fishermen Jim McKenney and Bourbon County fishing championship scoring 243 points, while his fishing partner, Charlie Stephens. caught the biggest bass, a 3 1/4-pounder. McKenney won the right to compete in the state championship at Toronto Lake." -- Tribune photo

25 YEARS AGO

(1987)

Editorial:

There is some good news downtown. Five new businesses have either opened or getting ready to open in three blocks on Main Street south of the Old Fort to include American Family Insurance, Gifts and Accents, Freed Printing and Photography, Franz and Co. and Vic's Boots. Those openings will overcome somewhat the impending closing of the Gift Shoppe and J.C. Penney Co. which has been here since 1922.

The ingredient that is needed to make downtown not merely survive, but prosper, is no secret: We are still waiting for our economy to turn around. Fort Scott, struggling with the combined effects of several bad years in agriculture, the consolidation of the Western Insurance Companies into their new parent, Lincoln National, and the flood of last October, thus far has not been able to share in the nation's economic recovery.

Tourism continues to maintain a healthy growth. And people like what they see. Downtown Fort Scott has assets not shared by other area communities, principally its proximity to the Fort Scott National Historic site, a bona fide tourist attraction.