100 YEARS AGO (1913) Last night at the Y.M.C.A. the largest crowd to have ever watched a basketball game of local players witnessed three exciting games of the Commercial League. It was stated that there would be many changes in the averages of the teams, but this did not run out. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1913) Photo caption: "A class of juniors at the Y.M.C.A. gymnasium, under a trained physical director, muscles are developed and hardened. They are taught the rudimentary principles of good health and sound physique. Eighty-five Fort Scott boys between the ages of 11 and 15 belong to this department. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1913) A telephone message was received in the city this morning by local officers asking them to watch out here for two men who are thought to be the ones guilty of robbing a jewelry store at Stotesbury, Mo., early this morning. The men were thought to have gone to Fort Scott on the morning Missouri Pacific train, but that train could have arrived here and the men gone on north before the message was received. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1913) As a result of the increase asked by The Fort Scott Gas and Electric Company in the cost of electricity for lighting the new high school building and operating the machinery that will be installed in it, the members of the board of education are now considering the feasibility of installing a dynamo to run the entire plant, and making power there using the boilers will be used to heat the building, for the development of the power. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1913) Ed Lease, who no doubt is entitled to the distinction of having plied the blacksmith's trade in this county longer than any other man, and who was perhaps the oldest blacksmith in the county, being 84 years of age, was yesterday removed to the county poor farm in Uniontown, where doubtless he will spend the remainder of his life...

100 YEARS AGO (1913) The Cowan family at Uniontown has the distinction of being represented by persons of five generations distinction which is very infrequent indeed, and doubtless does not have a parallel in this county, if indeed in this section of the state. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1913) Forest fires are almost unknown in this county, yet Bourbon County had not only a big prairie fire yesterday but a real honest-to-goodness forest fire and every tree on a tract of 60 acres burned. Twenty-five acres of meadow land also was swept by fire. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1913) Preparatory for the summer trade particularly, but to be used in the winter time as well for the refrigeration of the meats he handles, Lon Brown, proprietor of the North Main Street Meat Market, is having installed a large refrigerator plant by the means of which he will do away with the necessity of ice. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1913) Some time ago agitation was started for street signs. It was led by one of the most respected merchants on Main Street who is in a position to help this good cause a great deal. He offered to do most anything to get the city to take an interest in his idea, but they paid not the slightest attention to him. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1913) To more fully show the high appreciation in which Judge Cannon is held by members of the bar of both Bourbon and Linn counties, the court attaches of those counties and the newspaper men who have been closely associated in the court work, almost a hundred in number, gathered at the Goodlander Hotel Saturday evening as the guests of attorney J.I. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1913) Oscar Rice spoke recently for the Current Topic Club and he had a chart prepared showing how many millions were being spent for gasoline, oil and all other necessary supplies for an automobile. The lecture was full of interesting statements, which sounded unreasonable, but nevertheless were facts. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1913) For several months, there has been talk in regard to the establishment of an electric light plant at Fulton, and it is probable that by the time spring comes, the town to our north will have electric lights of its own. The report has reached here several times that definite action had been taken on this matter. But it has not as yet been put before the town board for action...

100 YEARS AGO (1913) This was the coldest morning of the winter in Fort Scott, the thermometer registering two degrees below zero at daylight. A few at various places over the city registered one degree colder than that, but the majority registered two below, and that is considered authentic. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1913) Yesterday was a day of accidents for the fire departments. One of the large wagons, the new one, is sitting on Scott Avenue with a broken axle. Only a short time will be required to repair it, but until that can be accomplished the fire protection will be lessened, as only the one wagon and the old hose reel are available. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1913) The Y.M.C.A. will have a bowling league and games will be played Tuesday and Saturday nights. Secretary Benning has long been considering just such a league to work up better bowlers who can be picked to form the All Star team. The more men who bowl the better material there will be to pick from to form an All Star team...

100 YEARS AGO (1913) A.M. Harrar, who has been living on his father's farm in the Glendale neighborhood 11 miles northwest of town, is planning to go to Colorado to live and will close out his livestock and other personal effects at a public sale in the near future. He will retain his own land holdings...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) A Clean Sweep after our holiday rush. We find a few odds and ends which we will close out at bargain prices! Did you overlook anyone? Then this is the opportunity to make amends. We will make it worth your while to call. We invoice first of the year with prices to suit you! -- Crane & Son jewelers and optometrists, 9 N. Main St. With Crane's Optical Parlor, you can have your eyes tested and glasses fitted...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) WINTER APPLES: We will deliver you a barrel of winter apples, hand picked, $4 per barrel. These apples are guaranteed to be the best Jonathan apples on the market. Put a barrel of apples in your cellar. They will keep till spring if put in a cool place. -- Fleming's, 19 S. Main St...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) Maj. E.L. Marble has some fancy chickens at his home, 114 Eddy St. Not before last Saturday had he evidenced a vicious disposition except toward a Scotch Terrier pup that went into the pen and wished he hadn't. Saturday, the little 21 month-old granddaughter of the owner of the chickens was playing in the backyard. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) Seven Gift Specials for Saturday at Calhoun's. See South Window. Handsomely embellished black handbag, regular $1.50, special priced at 98 cents. Embroidered guest towels. You know the wife or mother plan to have the best for their guests. These are a bargain at 25 cents...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) A CHRISTMAS PLEDGE: "I will be brave enough to give only where love and sympathy and helpfulness make giving worthwhile. I will not turn Christmas Day into a day of barter and exchange. I will bring joy, as far as I am able, to those who otherwise would have no joy -- the poor, the lonely, the ill, the old, the friendless and the helpless."...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) A cigar salesman has been working the city selling a grade of cigars that are said to be of the usual Christmas quality. He has met with poor success. He is catering to the retail trade, but found that a majority of the smokers prefer to purchase their cigars from local dealers, where they know what they are buying...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) One of the largest and most elegant parties of the week was the one o'clock luncheon given by Mrs. George E. Ware, Mrs. F.E. Milligan, Mrs. F.M. Penniman and Mrs. F.A. Tallman at the residence of Mrs. Ware on North Eddy Street. The theme was appropriate the Christmas season. The hostesses were assisted by Mesdames G.R. Hughes, I.D. Lesher, L.E. Glunz, Charles B. Grant and the Misses Mary Ware and Julia Kennedy...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) Dr. Brant is getting to be an old war horse in bowling. He makes an average now of about 180 and many times he sets up in the 200 mark. The doctor only yawns when he gets one of these violent spells and acts as though it bored him...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) Tomorrow is Dec. 12, and the year is 1912. December is the 12th month, so people who abbreviate the dates will be able to write 12-12-12. This has been possible for the last 12 years. And before that, there were 88 years when it was impossible to do so and after tomorrow it will be 88 more years before it will be possible again. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) The last annual school report showed that of more than 8,000 school students in the county, between 3,000 and 4,000 attend the rural schools, while the school attendance in Fort Scott is more than 4,000. The school students in Fort Scott have athletic associations, basketball, baseball and other games, societies and social and other things outside their school work which make school life pleasurable. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) The Holiness Industrial Children's Home wishes to thank those who so kindly remembered us on Thanksgiving Day. The offerings were as follows: Mrs. Ralph Kinders, 3 cans of corn; Mrs. J.H. Lane, 1/2 gallon peaches, one peck of walnuts; Grandma Piles, 2 bushels walnuts; from Eastern Study Club, 3 quarts peaches, 1 quart plums, 2 quarts plum butter, 2 quarts fruit butter, 2 glasses jell, 2 quarts tomatoes, caddy of ginger snaps and peck of potatoes; from Mrs. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) Undismayed by the big fire which entirely destroyed his large barn and all its contents, consisting of about 40 tons of hay, 800 bushels of corn, much other grain and practically all his agricultural implements, Dr. Reed of Mapleton is having lumber hauled to the scene of the fire at this time and will begin rebuilding just as soon as possible...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) A leading event of the week was the four-course luncheon given today by Mrs. D.P. Thomas, Mrs. E.L. Glaze and Mrs. W.C. Higbie at the home of Mrs. Thomas on South National Avenue for 80 guests. The beauty of the rooms was enhanced by artistic floral decorations. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) J.A. Dennen and son Ed left this morning for a trip north along the Osage and other rivers, buying furs and trapping. They expect to spend the winter months in that business and have equipped a wagon to be used for their camp. They will carry a large number of traps which they will use at each of the camping places. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) An interesting bowling game is scheduled to be pulled off this afternoon at the Y.M.C.A. alleys between the All-Scrubs captained by Dr. Claud Brant and composed of W.A. Owen, Louis Michael, E.C. Gates and G.W. Marble, while the Mix-Ups captained by Mr. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) Today has been generally observed over Fort Scott as Thanksgiving Day. Business has been suspended over all of the city for much of the day, the banks and practically all offices remaining closed for the entire day while stores opened until noon. The post office made one delivery this morning but the rural carriers were given the entire holiday...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) The turkey is a great bird, all right, but he cannot lay claim to being the only celebrity for the occasion. Dealers report that the number of geese, ducks and chickens sold for Thanksgiving consumption will nearly equal the number of turkeys bought for Thanksgiving dinners. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) The people of Fort Scott have been in the habit of having city water bills mailed or sent to them quarterly, showing how many gallons they used and what the charge is. Beginning this month, water consumers were not reminded of their indebtedness to the city water plant. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) The engineers who have been here making the surveys for the new freight depot which the Missouri Pacific will build on Wall Street have completed their work and after it has been inspected the work will be started at once. The building will not be an eyesore. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) C.D. Kirby, of near Walkertown, whose father took a claim adjoining Uniontown, in this county in 1855, calls attention to an error that crept into the paper a few days ago as to how Uniontown came to have that name. Mr. Kirby says the town was named by Alif Goff, a very early settler here, who came to Bourbon County from Uniontown, Pa., and who lived at Uniontown when the town was laid out in 1858. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) Many disappointed hunters returned to Fort Scott yesterday evening after spending a day in the field in pursuit of "Bobwhites," reporting that quail are scarce this season and that their destruction during the two weeks of the open season will not be as general as had been anticipated. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) For the first time in several weeks the fire alarm sounded at the noon hour today, the fire department responding to a call at 415 S. Margarine St. A few minutes later and before the first fire had been extinguished, the second department was called to the Lee Milestone residence, near the corner of Fourth and Crawford streets, where a small shed was ablaze. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) Mr. Runyan, editor of the Arcadia Searchlight, was in town yesterday on business. He is a son-in-law of the late Wiley Bolinger of this county and lived here some 25 years ago. For over 20 years he has been practicing medicine and doing pharmaceutical work at Arcadia. A couple of years ago he got into the newspaper business without intending to do so, and has since been giving Arcadia a mighty fine little paper...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) Arcadia, the bustling little city south of here, has started two campaigns and with the little assistance which Pittsburg and Fort Scott can give, intends to make both a success. The first is for the proposed interurban road from this city to Pittsburg and the other is to help the building of the good roads from Joplin to Pittsburg and to Fort Scott...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) The proposed woman suffrage amendment to the constitution carried in Bourbon County by a majority of 750. It was given a majority in 11 county precincts and in every city ward. The 10 county precincts which gave majorities against it are North and South Osage, West Freedom, South Franklin, West Mill Creek, West Marmaton, East Drywood, East and West Pawnee and East Walnut...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) Every farmer who comes to Fort Scott to market his produce is much interested in Fort Scott's prospective new lavatory, which the committee appointed by Mayor Brooks will probably decide to locate on Market Square or a site easily accessible to the Square. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) FULTON -- A little snow followed by moderately heavy rain visited this vicinity last week. In spite of the weather a crowd of young folks enjoyed a Halloween party Thursday night at the home of Miss Ruth Cloninger. Halloween games were played and refreshments were served. Present were the Misses Neva Dexter, Pauline Faller, Opal Harrison, Fran Stauffer, Pearl Oldham and Lucile Simpson; Messrs. Milton Commons, Mack Beckford, Paul Gorman, Elijah Street and Harry Faller...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) The voters of Bourbon County yesterday divided the county offices almost as evenly as they could be parceled out. The Democrats were given seven of the most important offices and the Republicans were given nine, including those of lesser importance, George Cowan leads all candidates with a majority that will exceed 900. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) Do you know that in the very near future Bourbon County will have a new city and one that may inaugurate one of the biggest booms that has been started in Eastern Kansas in recent years? If you are not acquainted with these facts but are interested in them, take a drive south and east of Fort Scott and you will see a scene of activity at what is destined to be the first coal camp in Bourbon County of any magnitude. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) The dance season will soon open and the shops about town are showing some beautiful things in the way of party dresses and all the trimmings that go with them. Hair ornaments and scarfs are nearly all sparkling with new drop beads or rhinestones...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) Today nearly $60,000 was paid out to the employees of the Missouri Pacific Railroad alone. This the largest payroll the company has had for some time. Extra men have been added to the shops until it is running to fullest capacity with no room for added workers. Three or four months ago the payroll was about $20,000 and that was thought to be extra large and now it has been increased three times...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) The new schoolhouse building in the Bunker Hill District 51 just north of Fort Scott is nearing completion and will be in readiness for occupancy by week after next. The residents of the district are arranging for the dedication of the new structure on the evening of Oct. 25 and expect many from this city to attend. Superintendent Ramsey of the city schools will deliver the address...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) A number of Democratic candidates were disappointed in not being able to reach Bronson for a meeting there last night. They started west on an afternoon train, but at Uniontown a breakdown to the engine prevented the train from proceeding in time for them to reach the meeting. They returned home last night and will visit Bronson some time later in the campaign...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) The high school students are showing more enthusiasm and spirit this year than they have managed in several years. Basketball games will be played this winter and a literary contest will be held sometime prior to the Iola contest. In the spring, an old- fashioned track meet will be held to place the boys in good enough physical condition to enter the Southeastern Kansas meet...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) The site of the high school building presents a busy scene at the present time as the work on the excavation is being rushed that much of it might be completed before the winter weather interferes. Eleven teams and a force of 20 men are working there daily, in addition to the several teams that are employed hauling material to the grounds. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) H.G. Moore, president of the Kansas City Commercial Club and one of the big men of that city, will deliver an address on "Town Development and the Necessity of a Good Live Commercial Club" at the annual meeting of the Fort Scott Industrial Association meeting tomorrow. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) Employees of the Fort Scott Brick and Tile Company who were thrown out of employment by the disastrous fine of Thursday night will be able to secure work elsewhere. A Pittsburg company yesterday telephoned here offering employment to the skilled hands. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) Fire discovered in the plant of the Fort Scott Brick and Tile Company last night at 7:55 did damage variously estimated at from $25,000 to $30,000 before it was brought under control. The plant will be put out of operation and many of the 80 or more employees thrown out of work until it can be rebuilt, which at the most conservative estimate will be two months from the time the insurance adjustments are made. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) The Young Buffalo Wild West show's parade was pulled off this morning on schedule and was witnessed by many people. The aggregation comprised the usual wild west features, including cowboys and cowgirls, Indians, bands, some elephants and camels and winding up with the proverbial steam calliope. The parade made a creditable showing...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) This morning's Missouri Pacific passenger train 409 carried over 100 passengers for the Uniontown Fair. The local freight at noon carried 150 and the afternoon train carried its share of trade and there were many automobiles driven over. So Fort Scott Day was in every way a big success. The Missouri Pacific's accommodations were better today than usual, although some people had to ride in a calaboose...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) For Sale: Harness and saddle supplies, the highest grade at the lowest price. Repairing cheaper than you have ever had it done. -- Square Leather Company, west of the Square. D.R. Keith has just completed one of the largest hay and stock barns in this county on his place west of town, known as the old Hellman farm. It is 60-by-62 feet and has a shingle roof. He has 100 acres of alfalfa sown. He will feed mules and horses extensively on his place...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) Passenger business on the M.K.&T. has increased due to the approach of winter months. Many go there to spend the cold weather. The increase has been such this fall that two new passenger trains are to be placed in service giving the Katy service along the main line second to none in the west. The Katy management is planning for extensive improvements along their system which are expected to prove very beneficial to Fort Scott...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) Many people from Uniontown were in town today boosting their fair. The residents in this community are pushing this fair, and whenever there is a knock, they hunt that knocker up and he goes where all good knockers go. Men in the employ of Contractor Williams, who has the contract for the erection of the new high school building, this morning began the erection of the material house in which cement and other materials will be stored. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) It is claimed by the doctors at Stotesbury that it is without a doubt one of most healthful communities in the entire country. One doctor, who has been there 30 years, says that never in that time has there been an epidemic of typhoid or diphtheria, and only one or two slight epidemics of the grippe or pneumonia. At this time there is no sickness...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) A number of physicians of Fort Scott will go to Pittsburg to attend the meeting of the Southeastern Kansas Medical Society. Dr. Hunter is secretary of the organization and Dr. M.F. Jarrett is treasurer. Doctors from all parts of Southeastern Kansas will be in attendance...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) Street Echoes: Last night a vagrant was picked up by the police and taken to the calaboose. While he was waiting in the station he was searched for dangerous weapons or instruments with which to escape. Not much was found. He had scrawled the following verse on a dirty piece of paper, evidently written while on a train:...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) Rexford (Rex) Walls returned last night from Denver, departing from there 12 hours in advance of a snow storm that started there yesterday and continued over today. He was accompanied under the welcome arch (that he gazed upon less than a week ago for the first time, thinking it was erected for him alone) and to the Union Station by the September wind, fresh from Pike's Peak, which insisted on whistling "There's No Place Like Home." Mr. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) The Frisco Railroad has contracted with Glen Campbell, owner of the old Hornaday ranch northeast of the city, to pasture sheep in transit from the South to the Kansas City market. Contracts have been let for a spur accommodating immense sheep pens for unloading and reloading near the Cement Works spur north of town. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) For the past two weeks a tabernacle meeting has been in session at the Christian church at Helper. Up to last night, 84 new members had been added to the church. Sunday services were held the entire day and about 500 people were present...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) Hundreds of people are expected to go to Fulton tomorrow to be present at the fair on the one the big day. There will be exhibits of fine livestock tomorrow, that being the day for the horse show. The floral hall, poultry and other exhibits and the many forms of entertainment were great attractions today and will be tomorrow. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) All is ready for schools to convene for the fall term. Enrollment in all of the schools of the city promises to be one of the largest ever recorded in the city. Already, enrollment at the high school has reached 325 and it promises to go much higher. Last year prior to the opening of school, the enrollment was only 290...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) Because he had the presence of mind this morning to secure an automobile and drive several miles east of the city where a lady passenger on the Katy Flyer reported she thought she had lost a chamois skin bag containing diamonds and money, E.E. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) Joe Heylman, a grandson of the pioneer resident of this city, after whom Heylman Street is named, arrived here today to take a position as country reporter on the Tribune-Monitor. The paper is to make a special effort to keep up on the little and big happenings of interest that occur in the country and the small towns around this city. ...

Editor's Note: A bonus column from Nell Dikeman is available today. 100 YEARS AGO (1912) This morning a well known farmer brought in a large load of apples, but was unable to sell very many. He hauled the fruit to the Goodlander Home where he left it. The children "lit" into those apples with squeals of delight and the appreciation they showed will go a longer way with the man than the money they would have brought him...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) The order issued recently from the Post Office Department at Washington, the closing of all of the post offices in the United States on Sunday in all except special delivery departments, will not be put into effect in Fort Scott at this time, according to Post Master Griffith R. Hughes...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) S.E. Martin and Francis Munn are preparing to open a paint and wallpaper store on East Wall Street in the Marshall Building and will be in readiness for business there by Sept. 1. Mr. Martin has been employed by various painters and paper hangers of Fort Scott for several years, learning his trade. Mrs. Munn, a sister-in-law, recently returned to Fort Scott from Oklahoma...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) During this hot weather we've been having, the milk question was never more serious that at the present. Yesterday, the hottest day of the year, some milkmen were delivering their milk at noon, exposing it to the hot sun in the tin cans that are so commonly used. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) St. Mary's School, at the corner of Seventh and Eddy streets, will open Sept. 9. Two sisters of St. Joseph will teach through the eighth grade. The school is primarily for Catholic children of the parish but as much room as is left will be given to non-Catholic children having the proper recommendations. Tuition is $1.50 a month. -- B.J. McKernan, Director...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) Fort Scott is entertaining the youngest licensed aviator in the United States in the person of Robert McCrum, son of the pioneer railroad man of this city. Mr. McCrum was billed to fly at Fairmount Park in Kansas City this week, but on account of an accident to his machine it was necessary that he cancel the dates, subsequently a part of the week will be spent here. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) Miss Dolly Maffett, a young lady 7 years of age, who for a week past has been a guest at the West home on South Washington Street, is suffering with infantile paralysis and her condition is reported as quite serious. The West home has been placed under strict quarantine and it will be three weeks at least before others will be permitted to come and go from the house. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) County Clerk Fred Schwartz has completed the compiling of the returns of the township assessors, giving many statistics in addition to the amount of taxable property in each township and city of the county and finds from the returns that the population of the county has increased 76 over the returns of 1911, the total this year being 25,309 as compared with 25,233 for last year. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) Next Monday morning, more than 2,000 men, constituting the National Guard force of Kansas will entrain from their various stations over the state for Lawrence from where they will be started on one of the most extended field maneuvers ever undertaken in the state of Kansas. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) Recognizing the danger of further spread of infantile paralysis, which has already resulted in a number of deaths here and with which numerous others are now suffering, the Bourbon County Medical Society this afternoon at a special meeting advised that for the present at least, all children be kept at home; that they not attend Sunday schools, picture shows, parties, receptions of any nature, nor mingle together. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) Yesterday was the 12th birthday of young Ernest McFadden, son of F.M. McFadden, who lives at 203 Heylman St. He was locked in the house at that number last evening, after he had retired, and was left alone by his parents who expected to be gone but a few moments. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) Last evening as C.A. Lager and wife and four children were returning from the Arcadia picnic, an automobile driven by some Fort Scott people passed them at a high rate of speed and the team Mr. Lager was driving became frightened and ran away, throwing all the occupants out along the roadside. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) Bids for the erection of the high school building and the addition to the Margrave Street structure will be opened on Aug. 20 and the board members hope to have both buildings under way within six weeks. If that can be accomplished, the work on the Margrave Street building can be completed in time for the second term of school. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) There are a few fishermen in the city who are sportsmen enough to go to the trouble of seining the rivers with a large mesh seine in an effort to get the carp out. The carp kill good fish. All of the game fish caught in the seine were thrown back in the stream and then the men went after them with hook and line...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) A report from Hiattville told of a fight that occurred south of that city following the baptizing of some 20 or more persons who were converted during the recent revival there. Three men are said to have been engaged in the fight which started over a case of beer...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) Secretary Benning of the Y.M.C.A. has a new wrinkle which is meeting with approval by people from the country who come here to shop. This morning the doors of the association were thrown open to the country shoppers and many took advantage of the offer. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) For several days there has been more talk about erecting street signs than ever before, and it begins to look as though Fort Scott streets would be named so that strangers would get a little idea of where they were. At the present time there are not many streets which have indicators to tell where they are, and makes it difficult to get around. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) Workmen are tearing away the little frame house that for many years past has stood at the north end of the Marmaton River bridge on National Avenue bridge. The structure will be rebuilt some distance west of the Avenue. The council requested that the structure be removed as it was in a dangerous condition there and also obstructed the view of the bridge from the north...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) LONDON, July 30 -- The judgment of the British Board of Trade Court of Inquiry into the Titanic disaster was pronounced today by Lord Mersey, the presiding judge before a large audience. The court finds that the collision was due to excessive speed, that a proper watch was not kept, that the ship's boats were properly lowered, but that arrangements for manning them were insufficient; that the Lapland Line Californian had attempted t do so, that the track followed was reasonably safe with proper vigilance, and that there was no discrimination against third-class passengers in the saving of life. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) The idea of camping has taken a stronger hold on Fort Scott people within the past few years than ever before. Many opened their summers in tents, others have their cabins built out on some choice spot near the river. The people who have cabins are lucky: A rain means no more to them than if they were at home, but for people in a tent, rain is the most miserable thing that can happen...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) Farmers were jubilant again today as a rain, just the kind that is needed for growing crops, was falling this morning. While there was but a slight precipitation here, it was much larger elsewhere and over much of the county the rain was a heavy one. Farmers in from the north and west this morning report good rains during the night. The same was true of the Hiattville neighborhood...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) Col. W.A. Cormany went to Springfield today to adjust a fire loss that occurred there. Jonathan Davis came in yesterday from his home near Bronson and went up to the West Liberty this morning to attend the candidates' picnic held there today. Mr. Davis will return to this city this evening. He is much encouraged in his race for the state Senate by the support that has been pledged to him...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) The Fort Scott Band will leave early tomorrow morning for West Liberty where they are to play at the candidates' picnic. Many of the candidates and others expect to go early to beat the heat of the day. There is an excellent grove at West Liberty in which the picnic will be given and shade for all who will be present...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) The B.F. Yokum special will be in Fort Scott tomorrow afternoon. B.F. Yokum, who is chairman of the board and executive consultant of the Frisco line, is also a director of the American Association of Highway Improvement, and is such capacity the value of good roads to the farmer has been impressed upon him. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) The contracting firm of Thogmartin & Gardiner was last night at Nevada awarded the contract for the construction of three blocks of brick pavement that are to be put in this year. Work on the contract will be started during the next few weeks. The firm will also put in the concrete curbing and guttering, as well as a number of sidewalks...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) How would like to be thirsty and not able to find a drink of water, running about the neighborhood with your parched throat nearly burning from the heat? And how would you like to be picked up by some of the neighbors and the police called just because you were thirsty? It is only a small matter to place a pan of water in the back yard where the dogs and cats and birds may drink any time they want. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) "Has it ever struck you, said one well known man, "that about the only time people get a good write-up in the paper is when they die or get married? "When I was married and saw my notice in the paper I swelled around and thought I amounted to more than I at first thought I did. Afterward, I found I was just a bluff and was put in for politeness sake...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) A number of residents of the West Liberty neighborhood spent yesterday afternoon in Fort Scott raising funds for the employment of the Fort Scott Band at the candidates' picnic to be held at West Liberty on the 25th. The necessary amount was raised within a short time and the band has been employed for the day. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) The Theaterette was crowded again last night by those desiring of seeing themselves in moving pictures, and while they were being shown many exclamations were to be heard when different persons were recognized. The last of the reel of picture has now been completed and is now being shown. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) After Tuesday, the Fort Scott Brick Co. will be at home in their new office in the rooms formerly occupied by the Bank of Fort Scott on Wall Street. The Brick Company will have a very handsome uptown office which will greatly facilitate their business transactions...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) County Surveyor Gene Toles' driving horse became untethered this afternoon in front of the courthouse. Something frightened the animal and it started to run pulling the buggy. From National Avenue, the animal sped down Second to Main. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) Probably the largest crowd ever assembled together in the history of Fort Scott was present at Gunn Park last night for the display of fireworks, general estimates placing the number at 115,000. The crowd rapidly increased as darkness approached as all were anxious to witness the fireworks display which was acknowledged by all to exceed in splendor anything of the kind previously attempted here, and an hour before the display was started there was scarcely standing room at any point from which a good view could be obtained around the large lake.. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) Sheriff George Cowan will swear in two deputy sheriffs to assist in keeping the peace at Gunn Park and Athletic Park for the July 4th festivities so no rowdyism is to be permtited at either place. The sale of fireworks is not now permitted in Fort Scott. This is a great aid in keeping the peace on the Fourth...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) The automobile parade to be given in the business district of Fort Scott on the morning of July 4th will be one of the great successes of the day. Already, owners of 35 cars in Fort Scott have arranged for their decoration for the parade, and others are being interested daily. There are now nearly 150 automobiles in Fort Scott, and it is hoped that 100 of them will be in line on the morning of the 4th...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) Timely Suggestions: A good way to warm muffins or rolls is to lay a cloth in a colander or a sieve and place over a teakettle. Cover the rolls and allow to heat at the same time as the water heats for tea or coffee. A most dainty dessert and one which, if the materials are at hand, may be prepared in a short time. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) Eighty-five officers of the Kansas National Guard spent a busy week at Fort Leavenworth. A very interesting talk was made by Major Fuller. He said in part: "The government is desirous of getting soldiers with brains in time of war. Should the occasion arise, this government would require the services of 2,500 additional officers and most of them would come from the National Guard. Some of them would at once take high rank because of this training."...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) So far, this has been a bad season for dealers in ice. According to the statements of our manufacturer the demand for ice this season has been only about one-half that of the year preceding. Last year the local plants had difficulty keeping up with their orders, but no trouble of this kind has been experienced so far this year. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) A Fort Scott man has what he claims was a good joke on his wife, but he never tells it in public so his name is withheld. The man tells the story: "Not long ago we were in a restaurant when a man walked in. He was a good looking chap, I will admit, yet he had a shallow look to show that he did not amount to much. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) H.C. Jones, 75 years of age, and a veteran of the Civil War, died at his home on National Avenue last night while seated in his chair. Mr. Jones was an old resident of the county, having lived in the Berlin neighborhood for many years, but recently came to Fort Scott and was living at the bend of National Avenue, leading to the National Cemetery. The funeral will be held Friday at the home...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) W.C. Gunn has given to the Collegiate Institute of this city the 20-room hotel building on the site of the old brick and cement works near Mapleton, 18 miles northwest of town. The institute is bound by the terms of the gift to move the building to this city and fit it up on the college campus at Wall and Broadway. Dr. Manchester is now out with a subscription paper to raise $1,000 with which to move the building here and fix it up...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) D.E. Watkins, secretary of the Kansas Automobile Association, will be in Fort Scott Tuesday evening and at that time he hopes to organize the automobile owners of Fort Scott and Bourbon County, both for a local organization and as a branch of the state and national association. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) Alex Mason, well-known farmer of the north part of the county, was somewhat injured in a run-away that occurred yesterday at Fulton. Fancy shades for your gaslight. Some of the finest ever shown. If you are looking for a particular style or color of shade for hall, dining room, living room, den -- you will have to see these. You will be more than pleased with the collection. Prices to please. -- O. Ingham, 117 S. Main St. (since 1885)...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) The present plans for a 4th of July celebration include for the morning hours to be spent in the business district with an automobile parade and the afternoon at Gunn Park. The automobile owners of the city are planning to meet tomorrow to arrange for the parade. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) The Y.M.C.A. Red and Blue membership teams were guests of the association. An excellent dinner was served in which everyone did credit After the last plate was scraped clean, Chairman Marble congratulated the teams upon the remarkable success they had in getting new members. The idea is for members of both teams carry blank applications. In this manner, the membership will be increased to 600 before the end of summer...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) Steve Lotterer and his son, George, have negotiated the purchase of the E.F. Ware business building at 113 Market St. -- one door east of the Aronson store. The sale was made for the Ware estate by J.R. Kearns Realty Co. The Lotterers will open an exclusive furniture, carpet and rug store. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) The financial condition of the city of Fort Scott is not the most desirable at the present time, and as a result various funds, especially the general revenue fund, have been practically depleted. The appropriation ordinance for the current expenses of the city last night included aggregate payments of $3,291 from the general revenue fund, and until additional taxes are to be had, that fund, as well as the others, will be very low. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) Professor John F. Hughes, former principal of the Fort Scott High School, now superintendent of schools at Chanute, proposes to introduce moving picture films into the public schools to help educate the children. It is not the plan to give real "movies" but with a projecting lantern to throw slides that pertain to the work of the student...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) The eighth annual commencement of the Fort Scott Collegiate Institute will be held this evening at the First Methodist church. The class has 10 members, seven having completed the preparatory course, two the business course, and one of the English Normal. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) Tonight at the Y.M.C.A. there will be a bowling tournament between Fort Scott, Pittsburg, Wichita, Hutchinson and Topeka. None of the out-of-town teams will actually come to Fort Scott. At the same time all the teams will bowl, and at the conclusion the scores will be telegraphed around. This is a new method, wherein several teams can bowl together and not go to the expense of making the trip...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) On the occasion of the recent visit of Miss Helen Gould to Fort Scott, Missouri Pacific officials who accompanied her were obviously pleased with the arrangements that had been made for Miss Gould's reception and particularly with the execution of those arrangements...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) There is a rumor being circulated to the effect that the county commissioners have decided to publish a list of the names of people who received help from the city and county during the past winter. The people who did charity work are up in arms about the matter and are trying to persuade the commissioners to spare some of the people a great deal of pain that this publication would do them. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) SOCIETY: Since the passage of the new pension measure which grants an increase to practically all veterans of the Civil War, many of the old soldiers in Fort Scott and Bourbon County have written to the pension department in Washington to request the increase. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) Memorial Day, a day set apart each out of each year to honor the memory of those defenders of the Union who have passed to the Great Beyond, will again be properly observed in Fort Scott this year. Honorable A.W. Smith, pension commissioner for Kansas and one of the wellknown old soldiers of the state, has been secured to deliver the address at the courthouse yard early afternoon. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) This evening at the Methodist church the graduating classes of the Eddy and Central schools will hold a joint graduation exercise. The class this year is a remarkable one in many respects. In the first place the general average of the class is higher than usual and second it is the highest class that has graduated from the grade school...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) Because their full time will be required in the fields this season if they are to make a success of their crops against the adverse weather conditions, Judge Cannon this afternoon announced that the entire civil docket will go over until June 3rd, and that it will then be tried with a jury composed of men from town. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) LONDON (May 10) -- That all the members of the crew of the Titanic on the night of the disaster didn't act in a manner expected from men of their calling is being slowly drawn out from witnesses at the British Board of Trade inquiry. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) This evening, if you are a light sleeper, you are liable to be awakened with cold chills running up and down your back or you are liable to sleep on in blissful ignorance. Several boys in the high school have organized a serenade club and this evening will try to impress the public in general with the rich qualities of their voices...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) The Old Oaken Bucket -- filled to the brim with cold, clear, purity, no such water nowadays. Bring back the old days with a glass of Coca-Cola. It makes one think of everything that is pure and wholesome and delightful. Bright, sparkling, teeming with palate joy -- it's your soda fountain Old Oaken Bucket...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) The lack of interest in Evergreen Cemetery is regarded by those who are directly concerned with the management of the cemetery as being astonishing. There are 5,000 bodies buried in the cemetery and yet only 12 people attended last year's annual meeting of the lot owners. The year before, the attendance was but 13. The cemetery is being beautified continually and it is believed that more interest will make it still a more suitable place...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) It pays to shop in Fort Scott. A special inducement is made to out-of-town trade during Fort Scott's Cooperative Sale. The following locations include one-way fare with $5 purchase; both ways with $10 purchase: Arcadia, Blue Mound, Bronson, Clayton, Clarksburg, Drywood, Deerfield, Devon, Ellis, Englevale, Fulton, Farlington, Girard, Garland, Godfrey, Hammond, Harding, Hepler, Hume, Hiattville, Liberal, Moran, Marmaton, Mapleton, Mulberry, Metz, Pleasanton, Picton, Prescott, Rich Hill, Rhinehart, St. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) A prominent Fort Scott man who is quite a jokester, and who has a fine war record, and whose anecdotes of bravery have stirred the hearts of hundreds of his listeners, was asked what would he have done had he been a passenger on the ill-fated Titanic. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) Friday evening at the Y.M.C.A. bowling alleys, the Taft team composed of Taft enthusiasts and the followers of Roosevelt will meet in a warfare contest to decide all political questions. Dr. Brant is leading the Roosevelts and Neut Gunsaullus is captain of the Tafts...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) The prisoners in the county jail have organized a quartet and spend much of each day rehearsing popular songs of the day. There are a number of good voices among the prisoners and the music they make is very pleasing. The Fort Scott Sorghum Syrup Company has about 2,500 acres of cane contracted for this year and have been compelled to refuse many contracts offered by farmers anxious to grow cane, as the capacity of the mill will be taxed to handle that which has already been arranged for should the season prove a favorable one for cane. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) NEW YORK, April 25 -- Two-hundred-and-five bodies of Titanic victims recovered by the Mackay-Bennett are being taken to Halifax. The Mackay-Bennnett captain confirms the identification of George D. Widener in a wireless to the White Star. He says the majority of the bodies will never come to the surface...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) WASHINGTON, April 24 -- Like the missing horseshoe nail that cost a monarch his kingdom, the failure to provide binoculars spyglasses for the lookouts on the Titanic was one contributing cause of that ship's loss of more than 1,690 lives...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) WASHINGTON, April 23 -- Because of the huge crowds interfering with the work, the Senate Titanic inquiry was resumed today in a small room from which the general public was excluded. Thousands were turned away. Third Officer Pitman testified that the Titanic had had only one boat drill. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) WASHINGTON, April 22 -- Hours before the resumption here of the Titanic Senate inquiry great crowds swarmed to the Senate office building, and when the hearing opened, the room was crowded to the doors. Many women were present. ST. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) (April 17) -- The Cunarder Carpathia, bearing 868 miles from New York at noon today, word was eagerly awaited that would elucidate the catastrophe of Sunday night, which cost 1,312 lives. Sable Island was in brief communication with the rescue ship this morning but no additional names of the survivors were obtained. The White Star officials think the Carpathia will arrive here about nine o'clock tonight...

l00 YEARS AGO (1912) (April 15) -- Wireless dispatches up to noon today told that the passengers of the monster White Star liner Titanic, which struck an iceberg off the Newfoundland coast last night, were being transferred aboard the steamer, Carpathia, a Cunarder. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) West Liberty Gossip: Mr. Gilbert Spaur of Richards, Mo., and Miss Cora Stevens, of this vicinity, were married at Kansas City on Wednesday, April 10. Miss Stevens wore a beautiful gown of blue chiffon over blue satin. The groom wore the usual color black. The bride is the youngest daughter of Mrs. R.M. Stevens and is a very charming young lady. The groom is a successful young farmer of near Richards. They have a large circle of friends...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) Seldom has there been as an attractive affair as the luncheon which Mrs. C.D. Sample and Mrs. W.D. Witwer gave yesterday afternoon to over 60 guests in compliment to two charming visitors, Mrs. C.S. Jobes of Kansas City, Mo., and Miss Helen Louise Knecht of Dayton, Ohio. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) Some time ago the Good Housekeeping Magazine offered prizes for the best answers given on the question as to how retail dealers may get the most benefit out of the advertising done by the manufacturers of goods in the magazines of national circulation. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) This evening, the members of the Fort Scott High School Alumni Association will meet at the school to complete plans for the banquet for the graduating class of the school. There are some definite plans in mind which will be explained for their approval. It is the idea of some of the members to have Profressor J.B. Stoksberry as the speaker. If they can persuade him to come, there will be more alumnae present than can be successfully taken care of...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) The employees located at this point, all of whom knew him, were very sorry to hear of the death of Charley "Scotty" Gilless, at age 74, the oldest conductor on the Frisco System. He had been running a passenger train on the Frisco for a little more than 43 years. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) The first fire for a month occurred last night when sparks from a passing locomotive started a blaze on the roof of the tool house at the MK&T yards. The fire was an easy one for the department to control, but their wagon was stuck in the mud on the return to the National Avenue pavement and it was necessary to unload the hose, ladders and equipment on the wagon before the team, with the aid of the men on the wheels, could pull out. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) To ensure a prompt delivery of your motor car this Spring you should place your order now, as the factories are having much difficulty in securing railroad equipment owing to the weather conditions: Flanders Tour Car, complete...$925...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) (April 5) -- The Theaterette picture show at the north end of Main Street has been chartered by the Citizens Committee for tonight and the picture show there will be open to the public without charge. The room seats about 350 people and everyone is invited. The fine program of moving pictures will be interspersed with short speeches by candidates Hubert Lardner, E.C. Gates, Martin Milller, John Crain, John Caldwell and others...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) The Fort Scott Grain and Implement Company has solved the mystery of getting good, clear water. The other day, as an experiment, a quantity of water was placed in a separator and after a few turns of the handle clear water emerged from the cream faucet and the mud came trickling out at the milk end...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) But for the pluck and farsightedness of C.K. Kensler, formerly an engineer on the Frisco Road, a runaway engine might have done some damage. Mr. Kensler was standing at the Wall Street crossing Monday night when he noticed an engine going over the crossing. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) (March 24) -- March 24th is late in the year for a snowstorm, but the heaviest of the year fell over the central west ranging in depth from 25 inches at Kansas City and other points to the north and east. Eight inches fell in Fort Scott, escaping the worst. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) (March 23) Mrs. Eunice Dorey died last evening at the family home, 123 S. Judson St. There is deep regret over the death of this most estimable woman. Her only son, Charles, and an only sister, Mrs. Amanda Hartman, have the sincere sympathy of the community. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) Dr. Newman yesterday afternoon removed a hedge thorn from the hand of William Reeves after it had been embedded eight years. Reeves is now but 15 years of age. Eight years ago he was residing with his parents at Richards, Mo., and was attending school there. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) Since the announcement was made several days ago that the Y.M.C.A. was to install a root beer fountain and serve that drink, many people have gotten it into their heads that the "Y" has turned into a saloon. They expect to see mirrors placed around the wall with swinging doors in front. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) Notice: Low fares to all sections of the country via Bell Long Distance telephone lines. Service given at any time of the night and day. You save the cost and annoyance of travel; you are able to give your time to other business and to home affairs; you accomplish results immediately by using the country-wide service of the Mutual Telephone Company...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) For some time now, President Bush of the Missouri Pacific, has been in the East getting financial backing for his road. The shops here have been partly closed this winter on account of the enormous expense of fixing the roadbed of this division. As soon as the finances are secured the business here, as well as other places, will be increased and the entire division will improve....

100 YEARS AGO (1912) The Southeast Kansas Medical Society will held its annual convention in Fort Scott May 8 and it is expected that physicians will be present from each of the 10 or more counties included in the district. It was arranged that the meeting will be held at the Masonic Cathedral. It was stated that 50 or more visiting physicians will be present...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) According to advice received here this afternoon Fort Scott is expected to be in the grip of another blizzard tonight as it has been snowing hard all of the morning at Kansas City while Western Kansas is experiencing one of the worst storms of the year. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) A special meeting of the board of education was called for this evening, at which time arrangements will be made for the immediate printing of the bonds for the issue of $110,000 voted some time ago for the erection of a new high school building and an addition to the Margrave Street structure...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) Lawrence, Kan. -- 'Kansas Treats The Sick Free' Two hundred and forty-two persons have received treatment at the University of Kansas Hospital at Rosedale since it opened four months ago. In addition to these hospital cases, more than 700 persons received medical advice or made visits to the dispensary. Nearly every county in the state has responded to the call of the university for patients who need medical care and are too poor to obtain it for themselves...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) We don't hurt a bit! That is what all of our patients say. We do the best dental work at the most reasonable prices. -- New York Painless Dentists, Nelson Building, Fort Scott; Duck Building, Iola; Sleeper Building, Iola. Bell phone in all offices...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) At the request of the city council, the board of county commissioners agreed to light the courthouse square by placing arc lights at the three corners of the block where there are now no lights. The city already maintains a light at the corner of National Avenue and Second Street and the county will install lights at the remaining three corners...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) Society: March 4 at 8 o'clock in the evening at the First Christian Church parsonage occurred the wedding of Mr. Lloyd Ralph Shreve and Miss Georgianna Sheppard, a popular young Fort Scott couple. A wedding supper was served at the Sheppard home, 111 N. ...

Editor's Note: A bonus Nell Dikeman column is made possible by Leap Year. 100 YEARS AGO (1912) A farmer was in one of the poultry houses in the city the other day inquiring about the prices being paid for chickens. He told the poultry dealer he had some 400 hens for sale and drifting in a conversation about chickens generally, he said he had kept a careful account of his chickens the past winter and that every egg he had had from those 400 hens had cost him 35 cents. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) Freight business on the Frisco has been greatly increased by the precaution of large manufacturers in laying in a large supply of coal in anticipation of a strike among the coal miners early in the spring. It is rumored that it is almost certain the miners will go out and thousands of tons of coal are being stored by the railroads for use in their engines. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) Only the storm of the past few days has delayed the resumption of operations at the plant of the Fort Scott Brick and Tile Company. The present plans are to start the mill to its full capacity as soon as the weather permits and the force of men to then be employed will be larger than ever, numbering probably 100. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) It should be a matter of no little satisfaction to local lovers of fine horses to know that Bourbon County possesses some of the finest stock that can be found anywhere in the United States -- winners of the American Royal in Kansas City, the National Stock Show in Denver and honors at the big Chicago show. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) C.F. Miller has taken the Bourbon County agency for the famous Ford automobiles. It has long been conceded that vehicle dealers would ultimately be the logical agents for the handling of automobiles, but Mr. Miller has referred from handling autos heretofore until the various machines were standardized, and until good cars could be sold at a price within the reach of the great majority of people. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) Today, the anniversary of the birth of George Washington, was observed as a general holiday in Fort Scott, the schools of the city, the banks and a number of offices and places of business remained closed for the day. Flags were flying from many of the buildings. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) A large framed, brawny man, not much bowed by age, nor apparently feeble, standing over six feet high and with a keen eye, stepped into the Tribune-Monitor office this afternoon and dropped on the counter a small piece of paper on which was written the following challenge:...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) Last night at Columbus, the boys of the Fort Scott High School met the boys of that city and suffered one of the severest drubbing they have received this year. The score at the end of the game was 43 to 19 in favor of the other fellows. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) Mayor Brooks was in Kansas City yesterday, returning last night. He, like other Fort Scott people who have been there this week, was interested in the newspaper boys' strike or riots on the streets of that city. The Kansas City Star cut its street price from 2 cents to 1 cent per copy. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) All day today Main Street has been a flue for all the chimneys in the business district end even some of those more distant sent their fumes and smoke to Main. There has been one continual stream of smoke blowing up and down the street and in the words of one wise philosopher, "It 'soots' me just fine."...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) Up to date not a marriage license has been issued during the month of February. Judge Russell had expected a rush of business all during Leap Year but it has been duller than during any other year. George Lotterer was able to be at the store today for the first time in the past week. He has been confined to his home with a severe attack of the grippe...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) County Attorney Ramsey addressed letters to all of the rural school teachers in Bourbon County asking that they cooperate more closely in the enforcement of the anti-cigarette law over this county. The complaint has been made many times that boys under age are using tobacco in violation of the laws of the state. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) Beginning this morning the new order making Fort Scott the main terminal for train crews from the east and west, went into effect. The crews, which consist of a conductor and brakeman, turn about here and go back to the other end of their run. Nearly all of the conductors in here today expressed their intentions of moving their families to this city...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) The Droughon Business College team returned yesterday morning from Arcadia where they had participated in a game of basketball on the evening previous with the high school team of that city, and told of their defeat by the score of 14 to 7. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) The girls' basketball team of the high school, who have played so well so far this season, and have never suffered defeat, will be rewarded if they continue the good work by the school sending them to Independence to compete for the Southeastern Kansas Championship. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) The students of the local high school have been expressing much interest in the annual literary contest with Iola High School. The contest will be held this year at Iola and as has been done in years past a special train may be arranged for the accommodation of those attending...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) Every little bit added to that which is already, makes a little bit more of daylight each day. In other words, the days are getting longer, and by the same token the nights are getting shorter. This will keep up until sometime in June when the longest day of the year will be here. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) The last few days have caused a rush of farmers to the market and many of them have brought in a load of produce of some kind. Yesterday, at one time, there were 16 loads of coal on the Square, all of which was disposed of during the day. A total of 20 loads was weighed yesterday by Judge Shipp. All of this coal has brought 14 cents to 15 cents on the market and has found a ready sale...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) There are 20 new lawyers in Kansas during the past few days, two of whom are located in Fort Scott -- James and Kate Sheppard, members of the law firm of Sheppard, Sheppard & Sheppard. The 20 are those who successfully passed the state bar examination given at Topeka...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) In a well played game Saturday night, the Arcadia High School team defeated the Draughon Business College team by the close score of 21-20. The game was enjoyed by the few who were able to witness it. Tea, coffee, chocolate deliciously served in cups or individual pots. Hot chili, sandwiches, oyster stews, tomato toner. A nutritious lunch superior to the "other kinds" served elsewhere. Visit our Friday Bargain Day! -- Herold's Palace Sweets. 110 S. Main St...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) The cost of the keeping of the poor in the city and caring for the transients who apply daily at the calaboose for shelter and food, has been heavy during the present month and will probably cost the city more than during any month for a number of years. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) Fort Scott was so near without natural gas today that many people were unable to use it for fuel at all and had to improvise other means of cooking their meals. Not since we have been on the natural gas line has the pressure been as low as it was today. Coincident with the shortage of gas, the coal dealers hiked the price of coal $1 per ton. They agree that the price was raised that much at their mines today and that it cannot be sold at a cent less...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) You Want a Friend? If your salary stops when you are sick or injured reach out for a friend. $1 per month will buy a perfect disability policy in the Old United States (Old Line Company), that pays $50 monthly for accident, limit 5 years and $50 a month for illness, also other indemnities, depending on occupation. Phone 1264 -- R. McGuire Jr., District Manager, 14 S. Main...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) There will probably little or no street car service tonight as the snow has drifted over the track at many places. A considerable time will be required to remove it. The wind accompanying the storm this afternoon drifted the snow badly and it will probably greatly inconvenience traffic on the railroads as well. A snow of only a few inches often drifts to a depth of several feet, stalling trains. The snow this afternoon was extremely dry and will drift badly...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) (Jan. 8) -- As was predicted, the thermometer on Saturday was to the lowest point for a number of years past, registering 15 degrees below zero for much of the night. This is the coldest recorded here since 1905 and is many degrees colder than the average for Fort Scott. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) Cut rate sales are in general evidence in Fort Scott, and not to be outdone Probate Judge W.R. Russell announced this morning that for a few days only a cut rate sale on marriage licenses will be in effect and that they may now be had for $1.78 instead of the usual $2. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) The continued freezing weather has made skating the best it has been for a number of years past and each night large crowds gather at the river and each of the ponds near Fort Scott. The sugar mill pond has proven a popular place for this sport, as in years past, and the crowd there nightly has been a large one. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1912) Police Judge Frank Johnson said to a Tribune-Monitor reporter that the insinuation that he had given out information about impending prosecutions of bootleggers was as false as anything could be. He says he has no interest whatever in such matters except to try the cases impartially when they come before his court. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1911) Tribune market reports furnished by A.B. Shipp, weighmaster: Poultry -- hens and pullets, 8 1/2 cents; young cocks, 6 cents; old cocks, 4 cents; turkeys, 12 cents; geese, 8 cents, ducks, 7 cents. Livestock -- fat heifers, 3.75; cows, $3.50; hogs, $5; sheep, $4; lambs, $5...

100 YEARS AGO (1911) To give every man and woman over 60 years of age a pension from the United States Treasury is the surprising proposal of a congressman. What most old people need is help in keeping up strength and vigor. Thousands of them know that the greatest help they can get is our delicious cod-liver and iron preparations without oil, called Vinol...

100 YEARS AGO (1911) The Tribune-Monitor's dime contest ends Saturday evening, and in the meantime, the boy and girl contestants should get in their best licks in order to win the big prize of a $20 gold piece or the numerous other gold pieces and watches...

100 YEARS AGO (1911) Today proved a record breaking day in the amount of mail handled through the post office here and the office remains piled high with packages of all descriptions, in spite of the fact that the numerous carriers have left the office with their arms loaded at every trip today. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1911) Fire Chief Ausman has issued a second holiday warning asking that the greatest caution be used in all Christmas decorations. It should be taken into consideration by property owners that their insurance is invalid when they have increased the fire risk by installing decorations of a flimsy combustion nature, and should a fire result it would be difficult to collect on the loss...

100 YEARS AGO (1911) We will close Christmas. We the undersigned merchants, do hereby agree to close our respective places of business all day on December 25, 1911, Christmas Day: M. Liepman & Bro. Rodecker Bros. Bob Roberts Bamberger's Clothing House...

100 YEARS AGO (1911) A two-alley bowling alley has been bought by the directors of the Y.M.C.A. and it will be installed January 20th. Only members of the association will be permitted to use the alleys and they will be charged a nominal fee for playing to maintain a man in charge and to help pay the cost of the installation. When the Y.M.C.A. building was erected space for a two-alley bowling alley was left along the north side of the basement...

100 YEARS AGO (1911) Workers this morning started the repairs on the federal court room in the post office building. This part of the building was delayed until the last on account of court being in session there after the other improvements had started. The walls and ceiling, as well as all of the woodwork, will be thoroughly gone over and refinished. The room is larger and will require some time to complete. Much of the other work on the building has been completed...

100 YEARS AGO (1911) Cecil Harris, one of the progressive and extensive farmers of the Devon neighborhood, has purchased a 33-horsepower gasoline traction engine that will be used extensively in his farm work. The engine was ordered through the Armstrong Hardware Company and will be here within a few days. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1911) Next Tuesday, Dec. 19, is the day on which the excursion from Fort Scott to Florida, under the auspices of the Iowa & Illinois Land Co., will start from here. Many are planning to go. The trip takes you to Florida and back right in the season of the oranges and tropical fruits, for $40.40. ...

100 YEARS AGO (1911) Workmen this morning started to excavate on North Main Street in looking for a number of gas leaks that exist in the mains along that part of the street. Gas can be seen bubbling through the brick pavement in many places following a rain...