The dedication of the new courthouse and high school building was held on April 20th. Reverent J. Edward Kulp, one of the best orators in Kansas, delivered the dedicatory address with other speakers for the day being O. O. Osborn, Honorable Charles I. Sparks and S. R. Tucker. President W. A. Lewis gave the dedicatory address for the high school that evening. Dinner and supper were served by the ladies of both the Methodist and Christian churches in the basements of their respective buildings. The Ladies Auxiliary of the American Legion served coffee, sandwiches and pie. The weather was more propitious for crops than for dedications or outdoor gathers since a cold north wind, laden with rain drops blew all day, keeping at home many people who would otherwise have come from uttermost confines of the county to witness the impressive consecration of the great building that is to stand for generations as a worthy monument to the enterprise and the faith of this age.

With this issue our work as editor and publisher of the Record closes. Last week a contract was signed with Mr. Harry L. Covert for the sale of the Record and its consolidation with the Review. This paper, which has been published by us continuously for 43 years, five months and ten days without missing an issue in all that time, has passed to other hands. This sort of announcement may sound like an obituary, but in reality it is not, for the old home paper will continue its weekly appearances with the familiar name preserved in its hyphenated title of its successor. We merely step out, but the paper goes on forever, we are hoping. It is not without sadness that we terminate our long connection with the Record. How would it be otherwise? During practically all of our adult life we have recorded the doings of this community, eulogized the dead and passed out bouquets to the living when they got married or performed other creditable acts. We have a feeling of satisfaction that we have printed an infinitely greater amount of praise than criticism. Long ago we got into the habit of saying good things about people whether they liked us or not, and forgetting to record whatever unpleasant incidents may

Blue pencil your calendar for April 20th, when the magnificent Rooks County Courthouse will be dedicated. Reverend J. Edmond Kulp, one of the best orators of Kansas, will deliver the dedication address. The program will be rendered in front of the building at 2:00 p.m. Guides will be stationed throughout the building both in the forenoon and afternoon for the purpose of showing the people through the structure. Mrs. W. F. McNulty went to Osborne Friday evening to visit her mother in the hospital. After they had gone to bed somebody shouted, “Get out, the house is on fire!” There were very hasty exits and they found shelter at Mrs. Wooley’s where they got rooms. The hospital is on the third floor of the Nye home. The fire started in the attic and burned through the roof before it was extinguished. Two patients had major operations the day before. They were taken to a nearby house where there was a furnace and suitable accommodations. No one was injured.

Several people in Stockton listened in last Friday night for the Hardin College entertainment and heard very plainly Miss Ethel Smith’s fine recitation. Her father, F. M. Smith, received a letter Tuesday from Carl McNulty at Altus, Oklahoma, saying that he heard her and enjoyed her reading very much. Ethel told her mother she was terribly frightened when she stood before the broadcasting contraption—far more so than when speaking before an audience.

The Stockton Chamber of Commerce had an interesting meeting at the courthouse with subjects discussed being highways, dedication of courthouse and school building. The sum of $200.00 was authorized to be paid Mr. Hockaday of the National Highway on the pledge for marking this road through Rooks County. On completion of the highway from Miami, Florida to Yellowstone Park the balance will be paid. After some discussion the day for the courthouse dedication was fixed for April 20th providing Dr. Kulp and Judge Sparks can be secured for that day. It was also decided to dedicate the new high school building in the evening. Mr. Sweet said we could probably secure President Lewis of the Hays Normal for the evening meeting.

Chas. E. Bartlett died at Columbus, Kansas on March 9th of double pneumonia. The deceased was a brother of Morris Bartlett of Ash Rock Township and a cousin of the Coolbaugh brothers of Stockton. He came to Stockton when he was a very young man and clerked in the Coolbaugh Drug Store for a number of years. More than 25 years ago, he became a partner of the late M. J. Coolbaugh in a drug store at Columbus, Kansas. In due time he became sole owner and has always conducted a very successful business there. Charley was held in very high esteem by his number of Stockton friends who remember vividly his sterling qualities even after the long absence of many years. His last visit to Stockton was last summer when he came to attend the funeral of his uncle, M. J. Coolbaugh.

The Capper Poultry Club of Rooks County won the splendid cup now on exhibition in the window of the Stockton National Bank. This was accomplished by points won in the greatest number of poultry hints and helps given through articles published in the county paper. The articles were contributed by the following girls and their names are engraved on the cup: Esther Evans, Mildred Brown, Alice Hansen, Eva Evans, Merle Blauer, Esther Blauer, Annice Anderson, Alberta Blauer and Elma Evans. The Rooks County Record printed these articles and is happy to have aided these ambitious young people in the winning of this beautiful cup.

Claimants for the distinction of being the first woman justice of the peace elected in Kansas are appearing. Miss Clara Arnold of Nickerson elected in 1921 had her laurels swept away by Mrs. Albert M. Hance of Glade, (nee Jessie Muir) who was first elected justice in 1920 and again in 1922. By digging into the records at the courthouse on Saturday last, Mrs. Southard, wife of our county clerk, discovered that Mrs. J. A. Hebrew was elected justice of the peace in Farmington Township in 1918, qualifying in January 1919, and was re-elected in 1920. So far, as it is now known, Mrs. Hebrew is entitled to the honors. Like Mrs. Hance. Mrs. Hebrew is the mother of three, does her own work and the duties of her office consisted in making collections. We have yet to hear of any of the ladies mentioned holding court, presiding at jury trials and passing on the constitutionality of status as many masculine incumbents of the dignified office have done in the past. We would like to know if any of the lady justices of Kansas have ever performed the marriage rites which is one of their authorized functions.

The Chamber of Commerce met in the courthouse, using the assembly room on the first floor with over 50 present and a number of important matters were considered. The membership committee reported 117 in good standing, most of whom had paid dues of $5.00 each. The matter of the dedication of the courthouse was taken up and the date fixed not earlier than April 10th, when everything about the building will have been completed. Mr. Hughes said that he had seen Dr. Kulp, the distinguished Topeka preacher and orator, and he had consented to make the dedicatory address.

About 4:00 o’clock on Sunday morning fire was discovered in the north end of one of the business blocks of Palco. When discovered, the fire had gained such a headway that it could not be controlled. Seven business buildings, all on the east side of the street, were consumed. They were all frame buildings and some were old. The loss was estimated at $15,000.00 to $20,000.00, part of which was covered by insurance.