City of Axtell, Kansas Webpage

Axtell: 1931 - 1940

The year 1931 saw the Axtell city band stand up for sale by Dr. C. M. Newman, mayor, and the first issues of the Axtell High School Eagle and The Tattler of St. Michael's School newspapers.

St. Michael Parish House	Train Arriving at Axtell Depot	Old St. Michael School

Other trivia for 1931 are:

• Baker's Economy Food Store opens for business.
• Carney Machine Supply Co. was located in the north room of Garret Garage.
• Erickson Hardware and Hendrick's Meat Market were in business.
• Lunchroom annex was added at Mac's Service Station.
• St. Michael's summer picnic was held in the Parli grove north of town.
• Natural gas was being installed at St. Michael's Church, parish house, school and auditorium, Sisters' home and the dormitory.
• Harold Janke was city electrician.
• Willis Hanna took over the management of dances in the pavilion.
• Howard McKinley had a tire shop.
• George Christensen and Shorty Foster were barbers. Haircuts were 25¢.
• Bill Gallagher purchased the D. C. O'Neil elevator.
• Axtell movie theater tickets were adults, 25¢ ­ children, 10¢.
• Amos Barklow, veterinarian, died at age 70.

On February 15, 1936, with a vote of 134-14, the city body gave the approval for a modern sewer system. Up to 80 men were expected to be hired through a WPA grant. The cost of the system was estimated at $53,000 with the city's share being $11,000. The work started in March of 1936, with all work being done by manual labor. When the system was ready for the first connections in February of 1938, four miles of pipe had been laid at a depth of five to 24 feet with 576 feet of the line being cast iron pipe with the balance using clay pipe. Eighty manholes were also installed.

Other exciting events of 1936 were as follows:

• Joe Severin's farm burned with few sheds and the house spared; damage was $15,000 to $20,000.
• Rev. Father Ahern, St. Bridget pastor, reported that 14 counterfeit half dollars were discovered in receipts taken in at the annual picnic.
• The county health officer placed a ban on all public gatherings due to several cases of scarlet fever.
• Kenneth Poindexter opened a shoe dyeing and shining shop in Ralph Foster's barbershop on 5th Street.
• Leston Alexander was named new city electrician.
• Axtell Amusement Pavilion razed, built just before World War I by Roland Labbe (Little Joe's 66 Service Station now located here).
• Mrs. George D. Christensen and Mrs. John I. Grove, members of the Axtell Book Club, appeared before the city council with a plan to provide a free public library for Axtell and vicinity.
• Professor Nels Ingalsbe took his seven-piece Axtell orchestra to Liberty, Nebraska, to furnish music for a father and son banquet. Members consisted of Audrey Mason, Mary Crouch, Martin and Adelbert Gress, Junior Carney, Robert Smith and Irene Werner.

Frank and Nauvie Luse, parents of Benton Luse, established Luse Grocery in February of 1939.

Click on years below to go to that era:

1872-1890  --   1891 - 1900  --   1901 - 1910  --   1911 - 1920  --   1921 - 1930  --   1931 - 1940  --   1941 - 1950  --   1951 - 1960  --   1961 - 1970  --   1971 - 1980  --   1981 - 1998

Other Historic Articles from Past Issues of Axtell's Newspapers

• Early History of Axtell - Axtell Anchor, October 18, 1883
• Early History of the St. Joseph & Western Railroad - Axtell Anchor, May 29, 1884
• Axtell - Its Growth, Advantages and Business Interests - Axtell Anchor, March 2, 1888
• Old Land Marks In Axtell - Axtell Anchor, June 8, 1894
• Axtell - the town as it now stands - Axtell Anchor, Dec. 20, 1895
• Careful Resume of Our Town and Surrounding - Axtell Anchor, July 27, 1900
• Building the Axtell Public School - WPA Project - Axtell Standard, January 7, 1943