An Alton landmark, Hartzler’s Store, burned to the ground Nov. 16, 2006. The cause of the fire had yet to be determined. The Stockton Fire Department was called to assist at around 6 a.m. that morning.

STOCKTON HAD LOST A LANDMARK in the Fall of 1997 when the liquor store located just south of the Stockton National Bank (where the marquee now stands) had been demolished. Margaret Kendall had operated it for years, but many may remember it being owned and operated by Pudy Larson.

* And So They Say: Jimmy James: “I would rather be in where it is warm than out in the cold trying to find pheasants.” Lawrence Conyac: “If the State will not declare an open season on deer, I think it should have to pay for the damage they do.” Kenneth Medley: “This darn wet weather has rusted the zipper on my jacket.”

The Stockton Mill, one of the oldest landmarks of this locality, burned down over the weekend after closing for the day, while the owners were uptown getting their supper. When the fire whistle sounded the flames were mountain high and the whole southern sky as seen from town was fiery red with the great conflagration. Many auto loads were quickly on the grounds, but the entire structure was then ablaze and the heat so great that no one could approach within many yards. A heavy rain had fallen some time before, which prevented the flames spreading to the trees near by, or there might have been something of a forest fire as well. The destruction to the building and contents was complete, the timbers of the race being destroyed up to the gate. Aside from the property loss all of the old times felt the keenest regret over the passing of his landmark, which has stood for over 44 years. During most of this time, it has been in operation by water, steam or gasoline power. In time the business grew and steam was utilized to fill up the period gaps when the water ceased to flow over the dam or through the race. The property destroyed is estimated to be from $10,000.00 to $15,000.00 and might run higher. Jackson’s Mill has been a Stockton institution for 44 years, and has borne the name for 37 years. It was erected in the fall of 1877 by J. A. French and Tune Bulis. The late Joe Feleay worked on it. E. F. Randall took the Bulis interest in the early spring of 1878 and French & Randall built the first dam and tail race. The construction of the dam was performed by C. C. Foote. One of the workers was Judge Kent.

MEMBERS OF THE 1997 STOCKTON JUNIOR HIGH FOOTBALL TEAM included (front row, from left): James Post, Damian Dibble, John Rogers, Jeremy Green, John Crandall, Matt Seip; (second row) assistant coach Quentin VanEaton, Brett Gartrell, Tyler Muir, Brian Berkley, Cody Miller, Chauncey Baxter, Wade Inglsbee, Chase Look: (third row) manager Travis Seip, Kris Keller, Eric Mies, Doug Yoxall, Bryan Morgan, Tyler Bacon, Tyler Smith; (back row) athletic trainer Scott Winslow, Blake Maddy, Austin Thayer, Tyler Hahn, Chris McNulty, Stephen Bigge, Cassidy Palmer, John Schreiner and head coach Alan Steinle. (Manager Dusty Walker was not pictured.)

* And So They Say: Kenneth Orr: “Well, I think I’ve just about won the battle of the leaves.” Bill Gouldman: “The only thing I really know is that the fish aren’t biting.” Erma Jean Price: “Well, we got moved. Now all we have to do is find a place to put all the stuff we couldn’t get into the house.”

An article about the Poore Farm, written by and published on the Kansas AgriTourism website, was republished and featured in the November 16, 2006 Stockton Sentinel. The farm, owned by BJ and Larry Poore, was originally established in 1905 by R. D. Poore, then passed down to Alvin and Venda Poore, Larry’s parents. In addition to growing wheat, milo and forage sorghum crops on the farm, Larry and BJ have been raising and selling high quality registered Labradors with a proven hunting instinct, and in recent years, they decided to begin making the land available for hunters.

The startling news came from Plainville last week that Elmer Norris, ex-veteran of the World War, evidently by accident had taken a dose of sulphuric acid at his room in Plainville. His friend, C. W. Coolbaugh, happened to be in Plainville at the time and was quickly on the scene. Elmer had gone outside and was lying on the ground in great agony. He said to Mr. C. that he had taken the poison by accident mistaking the bottle for medicine he was using for his throat. He spoke in his usual jovial and cheery manner and apparently did not realize that his end was near. Dr. McCormick was called and gave emergency treatment at the Hays hospital. An operation showed the utter hopelessness of the case, the powerful acid having eaten into this bowels. He was pronounced dead at 5:00 o’clock in the morning. The sudden passing of this prince of good fellows is keenly felt by all his former associates in whose esteem he held a high place. Everybody liked him for his bighearted generous ways, his kindly sympathetic nature and his unfailing cheerfulness. He was industrious and honest and a worthy citizen of the country for which he had made many sacrifices. He had a fine war record in the World War. He served in Batter E. 130 Field Artillery, and was in training for a time at Camp Funston, then went to the 35 Division at Camp Doniphan. In May 1918 he went overseas and served in the Vosges sector, then at St. Michel through the Argonne, and was in the Verdun sector when the Armistice was signed.

THE STOCKTON HIGH SCHOOL’S 1997 GOBLIN’S GLORY KING AND QUEEN were Bobby LeFort and Alicia Rothe. The Royal Court consisted of Bob Kriley, Laura Gasper, King Bobby, Queen Alicia, Chad LaBarge and Angie Kriley.

* And So They Say: Sterling Bagby (looking at his green November and December show calendars): “I guess I’m the first one to get any Christmas advertising.” Lloyd Maddy: “When I say I don’t know anything, I’m telling the truth.” Bill Gouldman: “On my hunting trip, I drove 1,803 miles and walked 802 miles.”