Longtime church torn down

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.

Bolyard and Joyce, two young stockmen of Uniontown who have been in the horse business on a large scale, will have a big sale on Market Square Saturday afternoon. Col. Tom Macon will auction off the farm mares and a saddle horse. This will be an interesting sale that will probably attract a large crowd.

75 YEARS AGO

(1937)

At least 30 floats will participate in the big "Hobo Day" parade downtown Wednesday, said Merle Allen of the junior college faculty. He cited several classes and organizations that have already announced plans to enter floats in the parade which is expected to be one of the longest of its kind ever held here. He said 18 persons have already entered the special impersonation contest and more entries are expected. School groups are touring area towns to arouse interest. A group in Merle Allen's car will visit Deerfield, Richards, Hume, Stotesbury, Prescott, Pleasaton, Mound City, Blue Mound, Kincaid, Mildred, Mapleton and Fulton.

Harold Singmaster, driver for the Drake Commission House on East Wall Street, cut his leg painfully but not dangerously last night when he slipped and fell between his truck and the loading dock at the Drake warehouse. Stitches were required to close the wound. Mr. Singmaster returned to work this morning.

50 YEARS AGO

(1962)

(April 6) -- The northeast corner of Second and Little streets is a vacant lot -- and the old Methodist Episcopal Church is gone.

The brick building which occupied that corner for 65 years was torn down yesterday after being condemned. All that remains is a cornerstone, a small metal box which contained papers of historic value and many memories of the few remaining members. Mrs. Sudie Valentine 1707 E. Oak, remembers Rev. C.A. Walker, the first pastor.

Only nine people attended the last services which were held about two years ago. A short history of the church was contained in the box. According to the history, the church was first known as the East Fort Scott Tabernacle. The original church was paid for and the deed secured March 2, 1886. This church was later removed and the brick church which stood for 65 years was erected in its place. Total cost of the original building was $240 --$150 for the site, $75 for cost of materials and $15 to have the building moved onto the lot.

25 YEARS AGO

(1987)

(April 8) -- Incumbent Commissioners Wally Anthony and Joe Beckham claimed first and second in the Fort Scott City Commissioners race, and Nancy Maze finished strong to win the third seat in fairly heavy voting.

Incumbents Ed Graham Jr. and Ron Wood won re-election to the Fort Scott Community College Board of Trustees Tuesday and newcomer Ron Graves took the third at-large seat up for grabs in the countywide balloting.

Incumbents on the U-234 Board of Education fared well in Tuesday's election. The three contested races were all no contest. Incumbents Larry Denton and Gary Cullor rode high all evening as the results were tabulated at the Bourbon County Courthouse, both picking up easy wins. Name recognition appeared to be the dominating force for Position 5 as Max Patterson -- for 17 years a Fort Scott dentist -- won over Allen Jones, vice president of Key Industries.