Looking Back
What Was Going On 14 Years Ago
One of the suggestions from the 2006 Children’s Advisory Project for Stockton was to have the area children paint a wall mural on the side of one of the town’s buildings. This was now a reality as the Stockton Area Arts Council (SAAC) was to sponsor the painting of a mural on the west exterior wall of a Cityowned building located at 410 S. First Street. The SAAC was asking the public for ideas and sketches for suggestions.
The Stockton PARK committee received a $1,000 donation from Nex-Tech for help in removing damaged and unsafe equipment.
Chuck Williams was featured in the “Know Your Neighbor” column written by Linda Roy Cross. Chuck, a man with an “I’ll do it” attitude, had stepped into the position of helping the Stockton Red Cross chapter.
The Stockton Tigers boys’ and girls’ basketball teams had been in Phillipsburg as they participated in the Pre-Season Round Robin Basketball Tournament, with a schedule that was affected by inclement weather.
The Stockton Tigers hosted Hill City and Smith Center in a double dual, being defeated by both teams.
Harold Houser’s family began buying miniature ceramic bakeries for him about the time he retired. He had baking in his blood as he learned to bake after graduating from high school in 1934, which also coincidentally was the depth of the depression and jobs were very scarce. His Navy career from 1942 until 1945 involved every phase of baking, even teaching it at Great Lakes Naval Station. After returning to Kansas, he bought the bakery in Stockton from Sidie Reed in 1945, naming it Rooks County Bakery. His baking profession spanned 34 years, and his specialty was beautifully decorated, tiered, wedding cakes.
And So They Say — Darrell and Margie Small: “It was a wonderful 77 degrees while we were in Texas.” Gayla Peterson: “It was 40 degrees in San Diego when we were there last week. They were having a winter storm warning with torrential rain.”
Showing at the Nova Theatre was “Fred Claus,” starring Vince Vaughn.
Obituaries were published for Ruth L. Zeigler (1904) and LaVon E. Kats (1942).
Looking Back 14 Years Ago, Spotlighting the Year... 1993 — Schult Homes was approved for a 53,000 square foot expansion. Footings and foundation were going in at the Wilkens site. Joel McReynolds and Andy Muir were named to the Hays Daily News Super 11 All-Area Football Team.
56 Years Ago, Spotlighting the Year... 1951 — The Stockton Post Office announced that it would remain open all day on Saqturday until the first of the year to accommodate the heavy rush of business for the Christmas season. The annual four-choir Christmas Concert was set for December 16 with Mrs. Don Sage, Mrs. Forrest Look, Elaine Dryden and Mrs. Harmon Lackey acting as directors. Russell Dickenson was the organist, and Carolyn Young and Donna Rae Wiklund were the pianists. Santa Claus was going to be in Stockton “in person” on December 20. Two fires were reported during the week with the first being at the Ed Simons home on South Fifth Street, with the fire the result of a faulty flue on the roof. The second alarm was due to a carelessly handled match that ignited the contents of a waste basket in the Lloyd Cross home.
What Stocktonites Were Doing 98 Years Ago, Spotlighting the Year... 1909 — George Bigge bought last week the east livery stable at Plainville. Bigge & Pfleiderer will keep some of their horses over there and will operate their busifrom both ends of the line. Marion Brubaker sold his fine barber shop outfit and business to Robert Reed of Concordia, who will take possession on January 1st. Mr. B. has not decided what he will do, and wishes he hadn’t sold, as he has always done well in Stockton. Mr. Winchester will remain with the new concern.
