Looking Back
What Was Going On 14 Years Ago
Opening of the new hospital was delayed by building damage from the storm that had demolished the construction trailer and some of the storage containers on site. A new date of September 22nd was given as the scheduled opening date.
Three new administrators were preparing for the upcoming school year in Stockton. Superintendent Luis Cass, high school principal Robert Becker, and grade school principal Todd Berry were all in attendance for their first school board meeting.
The community came together on Sunday, July 20 at the St. Thomas Parish Center in Stockton to aid the Pfeifer and Chesney families, whose homes were demolished during the storms that swept through the area the first part of the summer. Organizing the event were Leonard and Genny Robben-Rahjes and crew. Pictured in the kitchen with Genny and Leonard were Mary Conn and Mary Emery. Members of the Stockton Lions Club who helped serve the barbeque fundraiser were: Henry Sander, Chris Sander, Don Hamit, Roque Garcia, Dennis Bedore, Mary Conn and Chuck Williams.
Ernestene and Jim Kee took off for the Antiques Roadshow in Wichita for a July 12 appointment to have four of their own items appraised by experts. They had received notice earlier in the month by mail that they were chosen as one of 5,000 entries for the Saturday session. The Kees were pictured with the vase and handwoven basket they had appraised at the Antiques Roadshow. Ernestene stated they would not be retiring any time soon with the appraisals they received on their items, but did comment that the entire experience was certainly a lot of fun.
Chris Sander, Stockton Public Librarian, had received the credential of Kansas Certified Public Library Administrator, Level III, from the State Library of Kansas in Topeka.
Showing at the Nova Theatre was the movie “Wall-E.”
And So They Say — Tim Talbert, Olathe: “The Sentinel is the best small-town newspaper I’ve ever seen.” Gayle Dean: “My oldest just turned 60. You know what that makes me!”
Obituaries were published for: Dr. Robert Reed (1918) and Christina Gail Cole (1971).
Looking Back 14 Years Ago (1994) — Martina McBride was coming to Stockton as the headline entertainment for the Fair. Over 1,000 people enjoyed Ruth Ann’s barbecue at the Historic Thomas Barn Summer Festival. Your Insurance Corner was moving to 416 Main. The 3rd annual Disc Golf Open was coming up. One day that week was in the 50s.
56 Years Ago, Spotlighting the Year... 1952 — An AP story from Washington stated that the Bureau of Reclamation officials decided on a site one-half mile east of Webster, for the much-discussed Webster Dam. This would put it practically nine miles west of Stockton. The original location was three miles east of Webster. There had also been talk of building it about a mile west of Stockton, but as so much objection was raised they abandoned that location. The bureau officials stated they hoped to start land acquisition for the dam in the near future and award a construction contract by winter.
What Stocktonites Were Doing 98 Years Ago (1910): Every year since the foundation of the town thirty-one years ago, Downs has celebrated her anniversary in a manner that has attracted state-wide attention. There is scarcely a town within the borders of this great state whose people have not heard of “The Great White Way” at Downs and the cause is simple. They present the attractions which justify the attendance of the enormous crowds which they get. In addition to more than the usual number of free attractions usually given, the celebration committee will have charge of the Great Pavilion Shows to which an admissioin fee of 25 cents will be charged. The attractions that will be pre-sented in this show are the best that can be obtained. They are all foreign acts, and all played on the best and largest vaudeville circuits last season. Special trains will be run from Concordia, Stockton and Lenora and intermediate points so there will be plenty of time to witness the performances of the Great Pavilion Shows.
