A glimpse at our town's past

Belinda Larsen

70 YEARS AGO
1948
Ed Parker of Augusta was elected president of the senior class at the Oklahoma A&M in Stillwater.  He was also the editor of the Oklahoma State Engineers magazine.
O’Brien’s Furniture at 524 State St. was holding a Dollar Day sale; yacht-type lawn chairs were $2 ($1 down, 25 cents a week).
The Teen Tavern Club opened in the basement of Lehr’s Coffee Shop for teens 14-19.
60 YEARS AGO
1958
The Post Office had a new truck with red, white and blue colors.  It was to be used to deliver parcels, special deliveries and relay work.  The first run was made by Postmaster Orville Hopkins and former Postmaster John Cox.
The City Council unanimously voted to take over operation of Santa Fe Lake, following much debate and study.
Franklin D. Murphy, Chancellor of the University of Kansas was to be the speaker at the Augusta High School graduation ceremony.  The AHS Class of 1958 was the largest in the school’s history.
50 YEARS AGO
1968
Loadcraft held an open house at their new facilities at the railroad junction on the east side of town.  More than 300 people attended.
A groundbreaking ceremony was held at the site of the new Augusta High School on North Ohio St.  Featured in the ceremony were Sherman Parry, Superintendent Basil Covey, Harold Young, L.A. Knebler, Newton Male, Clee Ralston, George Mabry, and W.E. Bohon.
Dick and Virginia Murphy were hosting their second anniversary sale at the Dairy Queen and Burger Bar.
40 YEARS AGO
1978
An open house marking the official opening of the Whittaker for Congress headquarters in Augusta, was held.
One Wichita man drowned and another was pulled to safety after a canoe the two were in went over a dam just south of Osage St., on the Walnut River.  Fast action by Mike Rawlings of Augusta, saved the life of one man.
Noah Morris, chairman of the board at Prairie State Bank, was recognized by the Kansas Bankers Association for “50 Years of Distinguished Banking Service.”
30 YEARS AGO
1988
Debra MacGill, head librarian at Augusta’s Public Library, had resigned after 1 1/2 years.
Stacy Usher and Kathy Winzer of AHS earned 1 ratings for vocal performances during the State Music Contest in Andover, and Margo Kidd and Chad Corneil picked up 1 ratings for their instrumental performances.
City Council voted to renew City Manager Homer Bair’s contract with a 3 percent salary increase.
20 YEARS AGO
1998
AHS golfer Scott Sayre took first place at the Collegiate Tournament held at Terradyne Golf Course.
The Board of Education accepted the following resignations:  Mary Chandler, music teacher at Robinson; Betty Crum, Spanish at Augusta Middle School; Taylor Langan, English at AMS; Kindra Mittenmeyer, sixth grade at AMS.
State Champion wrestler Jeff Saferite signed a letter of intent to attend Neosho County.
10 YEARS AGO
2008
State Senator Peggy Palmer (R-Augusta), had withdrawn as a candidate for re-election in the Kansas Senate District 16.  Sen. Palmer was elected to the Senate in 2004 and had previously served three terms in the Kansas House as Representative from the 77th District.
An insightful Letter to the Editor, written by some Lincoln Elementary staff members, described the conditions of the school building and why replacing it would be in the best interest of the students.
State Representative Ty Masterson (R-Andover), had filed to run for the 16th Senate District.