City of Axtell, Kansas Webpage

Axtell: 1951 - 1960

REA Electric Coop	Axtell's Second Hospital	Axtell Grain Co.

In 1951, the Rural Electric Cooperative building was completed. Manager of the local REC was R. J. "Pappy" King.  The city library and restroom were also moved from the Dr. S. V. Hanna building to the Carney building.

In 1952, Frank Werner passes away and Ralph "Turk" Werner becomes editor of The Axtell Standard. In the July 10th Axtell Standard mention is made that the Union Pacific has been granted authority by the Kansas Corporation Commission to discontinue daily motor trains No. 543 and 544 between Marysville and St. Joseph on August 1st. Mail will be delivered to and from Axtell by a star mail route operating between Marysville and Hiawatha.

In 1955, the local chapter of the Lions Club started. This organization was instrumental in many projects in the community ranging from sponsoring benefits for the local hospital to spearheading the cleanup of dead elm trees in the early 1970s and the planting of new trees in the city. Also in 1955, the electrical line from Seneca to Axtell was sold to Kansas Power and Light Company. In return, KPL built a three-phase line to Axtell and located a substation on the east edge of town. The city continues to purchase their electricity from KPL, now called Western Resources.

The year of 1956 showed what a small community can do if they just put their minds to it. Groundbreaking for a new hospital north of the city park occurred and pledges and donations for the project topped out at $45,881.50, a great amount of money for a small community to raise. It is just another indicator of the willingness of the Axtell and surrounding communities to help keep their hospital alive.

Other events of 1956 were:

• District 99 Harmony near Macville and District 117 West Point, west of Axtell, disorganized. These schools were attached to District 56, Axtell.
• Stueve Feed & Farm Supply (what is now known as Axtell Grain) was located west of Meyer Lumber (what is now known as Axtell Lumber).
• Fred Taylor is the new owner of the Smittyville Service Station, which he purchased from Vic & Minnie Ylander.
• Bill Landreth and Art Thornburg of Seneca bought Axtell Furniture and Undertaking Co.; Garth and Theron Smith were former owners.

Presbyterian Church	Presbyterian Church Fire	World War I Soldier Statue

On December 28, 1958, the city lost one of its church buildings to fire. The Presbyterian Church, first built in 1888, caught fire and burned to the ground. The members, being unable to rebuild, joined other churches in the community.

In 1960, the Axtell Doughboy statue was moved northeast of the main intersection to distance it from the flow of traffic.

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