J. R.

RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONIES were held at the end of June in 1994 at H. C. Sweet Abstract when Wendy King took the reins from Chuck Hageman, who had recently retired. Pictured are (from left): Ed Hageman, Shirley Hendrex, Pam Hageman, Chamber president Chuck Williams, Deb Forshee, Ashley Hageman, Wendy King, John Smith, Gaylyn Andrews, and Beverly and Chuck Hageman.

ABE SCHINDLER was recognized on his retirement with the Rooks County Road and Bridge in the spring of 1994. He had spent 40 years with the county. Shown are (from left) commissioners Gary LeRock, Jack Turnbull, Schindler and commissioner Normand Hrabe.

THE STONE LETTERING and decorative work had been removed from the front of the old Stockton High School, which was built in 1922. It had served as the middle school building for many years and was soon to be torn down during the summer of 1994 to make way for a new building. The letters were preserved and now stand as a monument on the southwest corner of the school grounds.

IN 1994, the Kansas Highway Patrol had purchased ten Jeep Cherokees to use in patrol work around the state. Three of the vehicles were assigned to western Kansas and local trooper Whitey Pfannenstiel was one of the lucky ones who was set to start putting miles on one of the vehicles.

WITH STOCKTON’S PEONY FESTIVAL AND PARADE set for this Saturday, May 21st, it is fitting that this edition’s Yesteryear picture be one of a parade from years ago. This bird’s eye view of the Woodman Day Parade in 1910 shows a lot of the north side of Stockton’s Main Street back in the day. The town’s photographer, C. A. Jepson, took the photo.

LOOKING AT THE NORTHWEST CORNER of the new middle school, it was evident that construction work was progressing at a rapid pace in the spring of 1994. Decorative rock had been laid about one third the way up the exterior walls.

THE CHILD IN THIS 1910 PICTURE is John B. Smith and his mother, Eva B. Smith, who is standing by the table with a group of ladies. They are at Camp Jackson located about one-half mile southwest of the Solomon River south of town. Families would camp there for about two or three weeks during the summer. Men would go to town to work during the day while the families stayed at the camp. John was the funeral director for many years in Stockton and his wife, Roma, owned Smith’s on Main Street. The store sold a bit of everything, first starting out with furniture and then over the years offering lovely wedding items of china and glassware to exquisite pieces of artwork, furniture, etc. from around the world.

RALPH KEILHOTZ (circa 1910) is pictured with what he deemed to be the “First Motorcycle west of the Mississippi.”.

THIS PICTURE is of the business shingle of Judge William K. Skinner, who practiced law in Stockton as the city attorney as well as being appointed district judge in the early 1900s. He served in that capacity until 1952. The shingle hung on the side of the building next to the doorway that led to his law office in Stockton and has now been donated to the Rooks County Historical Museum.