City of Axtell, Kansas Webpage

Axtell: 1981 - 1998

Cable television was added to the city in 1981 when a franchise with Cable Communications was approved by the city council.

Since Axtell's centennial celebration, some businesses continued to grow or change hands while others went by the wayside.

Graham Grain is now Axtell Grain.
Meyer Lumber is now Axtell Lumber. Axtell Lumber has recently expanded to have a truss plant two miles southwest of Axtell. In February of 1998, John and Linda Johnson sold the lumberyard to Tom and Donna Rottinghaus and Derek Heinen. It has now become a separate company from the Truss plant operations. Johnny Johnson operated and directed the Axtell Truss Company, Inc. until 2002, when he sold the business to Brian Deters.
Luse Department Store was sold to Roy Nider, then to Earl Stueve and then to Mike and Patty Krogman, who sold it in 1999 to Rolland and Brenda Peschel who named it Peschel's Food Mart.
Campbell's Service and Repair was sold to by Brian and Cindy Jones who in turn have sold it to Joseph (Little Joe) Werner.
The Standard Station now is Blue River Feed Supply and Station.
Norwood Hardware, in the late 1970s was purchased by Dave and Sherry Ronnebaum. They offer a full line of trenching, plumbing and appliance needs for the Axtell community. The store is now called Dave's Hardware
The State Bank of Axtell is still a vital part of the community and the Winchell family is still involved with the bank. Also involved in management and ownership is Alan Meyer
Axtell no longer has its own hospital, but almost every Thursday morning Dr. James Lueger, whose main office is in Seneca, is seeing patients in his offices at the Legion/Community building.
Art Thornburg sold his share of the Landreth-Thornburg Funeral Home to the Popkess family. It is now known as the Landreth- Popkess Funeral Home.
The Union Pacific Railroad, which used to service the grain elevators at Axtell, turned control of its branch line to Railtex, who established a short line called the Northeast Kansas and Missouri Railroad. In 1998, Railtex sold the line back to the Union Pacific. The Union Pacific has spent much time and labor bringing the line back up to proper standards. They use this branch to relieve congestion on their main line between Marysville and Kansas City. An estimated 15 - 20 empty westbound coal trains travel through Axtell each day. They have promised to continue serving the needs of area grain elevators.
In the summer of 1998, Cindy's Headquarters, owned and operated by Cindy Jones, was sold to Brenda Goodwin and the name was changed to Main Attraction. It is now colosed.

On Saturday, August 9, 1997, the community celebrated its 125th Anniversary (quasquicentennial) with a parade, shows, games, and many other activities. The population of Axtell that day swelled from approximately 400 to over 1,100. It was a wonderful day for all.

As the people who have ever called Axtell their home read these pages, it is the hope of all of us who contributed that you will enjoy reading it.

Adapted from the Axtell City History written and submitted by the late Elizabeth Ronnebaum with the help of Jane and Sara Buessing, Fr. Tom Dolezal, Francis Gress, LeNore Stumpf, Mildred Mueting, Velma Risher and her "Days Gone By" columns and others.

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

City of Axtell, Kansas Webpage

Axtell: 1981 - 1998

Other Historic Articles from Past Issues of Axtell's Newspapers