Yesteryears
25 YEARS AGO
JANUARY 26, 1978
In 1874, the grasshopper plaguing struck, destroying almost all the vegetation, and if that wasn't enough, a long drought followed, destroying the remaining vegetation. Did our forefathers of our town throw up their hands and give up? They did not! They put their shoulders to the "wheel" and bounded ahead. In the 1920s, the oil boom came and went. Did the people of our town throw in the towel? They did not! In 1938, the Santa Fe closed the roundhouse, the repair shops, and fuel and oil facilities and moved the complete operation out of Florence. Did the people of our town say, "what's the use?" They did not! In 1951, the worst flood in our town's history, the Cottonwood River overflowed. Did the people of our town say "this is too much?" They did not! While browsing through past issues of the Bulletin we ran across an editorial from 1969 and it is so timely for today that we thought we would let most of it be said again. "Nothing is the matter with Florence. It is a small city that is ideally located on two major U.S. highways and on the main line of the Santa Fe Railway. It has a beautiful setting, nestled in the Cottonwood Valley with the Flint Hills surrounding it. All right then, what is the matter with Florence? The matter is that all of us "poor mouth" our city until strangers probably wonder why in the world anyone would live in Kansas (or Florence). Starting today, we are bragging about Florence. What's the matter with Florence? Not a thing! Wouldn't you like to live here? Starting today, Jan. 26, 1978, we are going to be the biggest bragger you ever heard. How about you?
50 YEARS AGO
JANUARY 29, 1953
Mr. and Mrs. Hanes announced the birth of a doctor Tuesday, Jan. 27, at the Slifer Clinic. The baby, who has been named Deborah, weighed 6 pounds 6 ounces.
Mr. and Mrs. Earl Remmers of near Marion announce the appearance of a 6 1/2 pound son born Saturday, Jan. 24, in the home of his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. John Stamp. They have given him the name of Kenneth Ray.
75 YEARS AGO
JANUARY 26, 1928
A Shetland pony which was shipped from the western part of the state to Elmdale had a rather thrilling experience and was several days late in arriving at his destination. Some time ago, Emery Thompson of Diamond Creek decided he would buy two Shetland ponies for his two little grandsons and had ordered the ponies from Henry Fogelstrom of Leoti. They were taken to Scott City after being crated and put aboard a Santa Fe express train. When the train arrived at Elmdale, it was found there was but one pony. Later Santa Fe section men near Walton noticed a pony grazing along the tracks. The pony was caught and put aboard a train at Walton and continued his journey to Elmdale. The political animal had kicked some boards from his crate and gained freedom of the express car.
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106 YEARS AGO
JANUARY 29, 1897
Petitions are being circulated in Nevada praying the state legislature to license prize fighting and boxing contests. Dan Stuart, the fight promoter, is said to have been in Carson for several days looking over the situation. The present outlook for bringing off the Corbett-Fitzsimmons fight in this state is promising.
In the House yesterday, the equal suffrage bill was knocked out in a jiffy. A vigorous effort was made to pass the bill, and a lobby composed of ladies, headed by Mrs. Laura M. Johns, was on hand to stiffen the lawmakers.
