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From the Past

Many of the pictures on the pages of The Louisburg Herald did not copy well on the microfilm used to

archive newspapers. Also, not many photographs appeared in the older issues, as it was apparently

difficult to include photographs in small town newspapers during that era.

However, as the years progressed, more and more photos began to appear and some of them are

legible enough to permit posting here. The old saying “a picture is worth a thousand words” has never

been truer than it is when trying to convey information from the past.

I should also mention that any picture which appears here is attributed to The Louisburg Herald.

100 years ago

From the February 06, 1913 Louisburg Herald From Cabin Notes: Governor Geo. H. Hodges presented to the cabin, through Senator M. J. Williams,

the pen that he signed the first bill after taking office. The Governor remarked that he had a great

regard for Louisburg and her people, as it was here he gained his first political notoriety.

There will be a dance in Woodman Hall on Friday evening, February 7th.

Fred Weir, proprietor of City Meat Market, advertises fresh beef and pork of all kinds; home rendered

lard in 5, 10, or 50 pound pails; also Swift’s Buck Chili and Libby’s Pickles.

Gloyd Corbin spent Saturday night with Walter Steinecke. (Note: Gloyd was a 14 year-old boy in 1913.

Gloyd and his wife Mary were visitors of my grandparents in the ‘50s and ‘60s.)

There will be a play entitled “Jumbo Jum” and a box and pie supper combined, given at the McNelly

district school, No. 39, Friday evening, February 14th.

C. N. Barker delivered the Jackson automobile he sold to Chas. Elliot last Friday. Mr. Elliot and family

went to the City and returned in the car with the driver. The car was sold three weeks ago but could not

be delivered on account of the condition of the roads.

Rev. C. F. Johnson gave his celebrated lecture, “The History of the Passion Play of Obe Ammergan,” at

the M. E. Church last Friday night, in benefit of the Louisburg Lyceum course.

Mr. and Mrs. W. C. McDowell were in Paola, Monday afternoon on business. (Note: This could be one of

the McDowell brothers who had the first Ford dealership in Louisburg and built the building which

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currently houses the Louisburg Library. After many changes of ownership, the Ford dealership still exists

today as Louisburg Ford.)

John Cook went to Lawrence, Kansas Tuesday on business.

S. M. Cook returned Friday from Duran, Oklahoma where he has been on business. (Note: Many such

‘business’ travels are listed. One has to believe most trips were made via passenger service on the KATY

railroad.)

50 years ago

From the February 7, 1963 Louisburg Herald A fire heavily damaged the home of Bill and Maxine Smith. Maxine and Debra were home at the time

when a neighbor phoned and told her the back part of her house was on fire. The Smith home is located

on South Broadway Street. Wanda is staying with her friend, Dorothy Seiler; Dennis did stay with friends

but is now ill with the flue, as is Debra, and is staying with Maxine’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Kern in

Rantoul. (Note: This house is located on the NW corner of S. 7th and Broadway and was previously

occupied by Mel Powell and may have been built by him. It was later occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Jack

Beth, Mr. and Mrs. Jack Scott, and Mr. and Mrs. Tom Mason.)

Both Louisburg banks and the Post Office will be closed next Tuesday in observance of Abraham

Lincoln’s birthday. (Note: Remember when Lincoln’s and Washington’s birthdays were holidays? That

made February a lot more tolerable.)

The Louisburg High basketball squad beat Gardner, 50-47. Lary Simmons was high-point man. Next two

games are on the road, against Paola and Wellsville.

An intruder or intruders burglarized J. T. Blair’s place of business. Loss is estimated to be $1000, partly

covered by insurance. The break-in was discovered by employee Ed Tebbe when he unlocked the

business Saturday.

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The wedding of Janice Sisk, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. M. D. Crayne of the Louisburg area, to Denver L.

Shinn, son of Mr. and Mrs. Emmett L. Shinn of Merriam, Kansas is announced. The wedding took place

January 19th at the Louisburg Baptist Church with Rev. Henry Donelson officiating. The couple will make

their home at 3740 State Line Road in Kansas City, Kansas.

The births of Angela Renae Chitwood, Mary Kathryn Richardson, Beth Ann Thomas and Donna Margaret

Hettinger are announced.

The engagement of Beatrice Juanita Brown to Paul Gangel is announced. A June wedding is planned.

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Advertisement for the Main Street Café and Thank You note from Jim Phillips and Mary B. Clark.

(Note: Mary B. Clark owned a restaurant/tavern named “Mary B’s”, located on the same block with

Blair’s Station, just north of Golda Blair’s restaurant.)

In the Purple and White section, a weekly gossip column titled “The Roach Speaks” appears. “The

Roach” is not identified but is presumably a student.

James Kern was crowned “Mr. Irresistible” at the dance held after Friday night’s game.

25 years ago

From the February 11, 1988 Louisburg Herald The home of Jeffrey and Melanie Clark, located 1 ½ miles east of Metcalf on K68, is severely damaged by

fire. The Clarks and their 8 year-old son Matt were at home asleep when the fire broke out.

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The USD 416 Board of Education renews the contracts of principals Don Meek, Chuck Golladay, Bob

Austin, and Jack Turner.

The obituaries of Mabel C. Byrd, Perl Majors, Ena V. Meek, Leo T. Schwartz, and Earnest A. Weers are

published. (Note: Earnest A. Weers was the father of Arnie Weers.)

It is mentioned in Phil Thomas’ From the Past column that E. V. (Eddie) Perdue was elected Mayor in

1935 at age 28, the youngest man to date to hold that office.

The 1988 Louisburg Herald staff consists of:

Mr. and Mrs. Chester Worthington will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary at the Fox Community

Hall from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. on February 21st

Jeff Kueser, perhaps? Anyone recognize the other two?

The Louisburg Wildcats Boys basketball squad lost last Friday to Baldwin, 77-52. Jeff Kueser and Rod

Caldwell were high scorers, each scoring 13 points.

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Rehearsals are now underway for the Louisburg community Easter cantata. “Worthy is the Lamb,” by

Don Wyrtzen, will be presented Palm Sunday, March 27, 7:30 pm at the Louisburg Elementary-Middle

School. Nedra Crook, USD 416 music teacher, is director for this year’s effort.

City Clerk Sue Seuferling and Treasurer Mary Wood will attend a school for city clerks and municipal

finance officers at the University of Kansas March 16-18.

City officials include:

Mayor—Roger Coltrin Chief of Police—John Caswell

City Attorney—Charles Vincent City Clerk—Sue Seuferling

Public Works Director—Bob Gardner City Treasurer—Mary Wood

Council members—Wayne Knop, Dale Wise, Norman Ambrose, Marcia Cook, and Ken Hufferd

The bargains of the week appears to be the “scratch and dent” 9-inch color TV, now “only” $169 and

VHS Camcorder now “only” $890 at Alexander and Ray’s TV and Appliance in Olathe.

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The First National Bank’s advertisement includes a recap of Louisburg events for the year 1933.

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10 years ago

From the February 5, 2003 Louisburg Herald

The USD 416 Board of Education voted 6-0 to add soccer as a fall sport at LHS, but only if an outside

group can raise $14,000 to cover start up costs.

U.S. Representative Jim Ryun attended the Legislative breakfast last Saturday at the High School.

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Ayrin Zahner graduated magna cum laude from Boston University on January 25th. Her major was

International Relations and is awaiting a Peace Corps assignment. She is the daughter of Michael and

Shauna Zahner of Louisburg.

Keith Niebaum and Jason Worthington, both 1998 graduates of Louisburg High School, graduated at

mid-term from Kansas State University. Niebaum is the son of Merlin and Christine Niebaum of

Louisburg and Worthington is the son of Don and Roberta Worthington of Bucyrus.

The Louisburg Wildcats boy’s basketball team suffered their first loss of the season at Eudora, 60-48.