Excerpted stories in Crawford County newspaper archives

100 years ago

May 23, 1926

Declaring not all the big battles have been fought and that great achievements are yet to be accomplished, Dr. Wallace B. Fleming, president of Baker University. Baldwin, yesterday in a farewell discourse to about 500 degree and life certificate students of the Teachers College at the baccalaureate services in Carney Hall auditorium, cautioned that things of indefinite value, always close at hand, often are neglected. Baccalaureate services also were held yesterday afternoon for the 170 students graduating from the Pittsburg high school in the high school auditorium.

Girard – Crawford County's total assessed real estate valuation for 1926 shows an in-crease of $882,395 over the figure for 1922, when the last 4-year as-assessment was made, according to completed figures announced today by Frank Orr, county assessor, and forwarded by him in a report to Topeka. The total valuation on real estate for the county this year is $35,377,000, of which $18,322,020 is for cities and $17,054,980 for townships. In 1922, the total assessment was $34,494,605 of which $15,278,265 was for city real estate and $19,126,340 on township property.

Two men were seriously burned, one of them probably fatally, when a charge of blasting powder estimated at eleven kegs exploded prematurely at the Litchfield Coal Company shovel three miles east and two miles north of Pittsburg shortly before noon today. William Mulholland of Mulberry was the more seriously burned of the two, and at Mt. Carmel Hospital, where he was rushed in an Ellsworth ambulance, it was stated by hospital officials that he would probably live only a few hours.

About a dozen growers of strawberries in the Pittsburg district met with members of the agricultural committee of the Chamber of Commerce and produce dealers at the chamber last night and effected a temporary organization to market the berry crop of this vicinity this spring. Another meeting will be held at the chamber next Monday night at 7:30 o'clock at which time it is hoped to formulate a permanent marketing organization. H. C. Lemon was chosen temporary president, D. J. Mackie. temporary secretary and F. В. Wheeler was chosen temporary sales manager last night.

50 years ago

May 23, 1976

Kansas State College of Pittsburg dedicated its new alumni center and conferred degrees on 1,218 students Saturday. In an afternoon ceremony, KSCP dedicated the Cecil and Eva C. Wilkinson Alumni Center. The announcement of the names of the contributing couple was made at the Annual Alumni Luncheon at the college's Student Union. The Wilkinsons grew up in Cherokee County, were married in Girard and returned to Pittsburg following the sale of their mining interests in Knoxville, Tenn.

More than 60 applications for disaster relief have been filed in Crawford, Cherokee and Bourbon counties in Kansas and in Barton County, Mo., according to Agriculture Stabilization Conservation Service (ASCS) offices in the four counties. Crawford County reported 11 applications, Bourbon County more than 30, and Barton County better than 20. Cherokee County reported one and anticipates possibly several others. Crawford County ASCS reported a number of inquiries besides the 11 applications.

Floats sponsored by the City National Bank and the Chamber of Commerce won first prizes of $300 each in the two categories of Saturday's Centennial parade through downtown Pittsburg. Broadway was lined with spectators along the parade route. An unusual parade plan was used Saturday. A line of march was going in both directions at the same time keeping the spectators busy observing the floats. The bank entry, with a Russian theme, won the prize in the ethnic division with a float featuring spires common to Russian churches.

FORT SCOTT - An ordinance establishing a "historic district" in city zoning was passed by the Fort Scott City Commission Friday. The decision came after lengthy discussions on whether the commission would pass the ordinance with an amendment saying that the application for historic zoning would be made by the individual property owner. After two attempts, one with the amendment and one without, the ordinance passed, amendment intact. The purpose of the ordinance is to preserve Fort Scott's historic homes by rezoning them under historic zoning.

25 years ago

May 23, 2001

A long-awaited Pittsburg project is close to being a reality. The Pitt at Schlanger Park should be ready for skaters by June 1, the Pittsburg Parks and Rec Department said on Monday. Workers from American Ramp Co. of Joplin, Mo., began ramp construction on Wednesday. The Pittsburg skate park is the beginning of what promises to be a long, hot summer for the company. Larry Mackey, head of the crew building The Pitt, said the company has orders backed up to December and may add an extra crew soon.

Reducing the number of relocations and saving money were the primary reasons for redesigning the 23rd Street overpass project, city staff said at Tuesday's Pittsburg City Commission meeting. The commission unanimously approved a new agreement with the project's engineering firm, Professional Engineering Consultants. The new street will begin at 23rd Street and Michigan and end at 21st Street and Rouse, with an overpass crossing the Kansas City Southern Railroad.

GIRARD - Groundbreaking for the new Girard Public Library addition has been scheduled for 10 a.m. June 5, the Girard City Council heard at its regular meeting Monday night. Terri Harley, Girard library director, said plans have not been completed for the event, but she said representatives from the Southeast Kansas Library System had been invited to attend. Girard voters passed a half cent sales tax in November to finance library renovations.

GIRARD - Another delay is in store for the West Fourth Street sewer project. While Crawford County finally received $400,000 from the Rural Development Agency earlier this year to complete funding for the Sewer District No. 2 project, County Counselor Jim Emerson said Tuesday that paperwork still needs to be finished and acquisition of property easements still needs to be completed.