Backward Glance for Oct. 23
Published 12:00 am Friday, October 23, 2026
This week’s Backward Glance looks back at 1915 happenings in Holden, the arrival of construction for a state highway from Kansas City to Sedalia in Pittsville and tips to make Halloween safer.
Source: The Holden Enterprise
Date: Oct. 14,1915
Title: Holden Knows Him
The Holden correspondent of the Star-Journal is a facetious cuss. In his last bunch of items to the S.- J, he said “We have been informed of a very distressing accident which happened to a leading weekly newspaper of Western Missouri. Shortly after the press had started to run off the weekly issue the press ran over a pole cat with fatal results. The effect on the readers was disastrous but no fatalities have been reported. We failed to learn the name of the paper.”
Title: The State Highway
It has been suggested that if Madison township should create a road district of eight miles, four miles east and four miles west of Holden, and make a permanent road, it would soon be joined by the other townships that would result in our getting the Southern State Highway. Farms within 2 miles of this route would advance $50 per acre.
A delegation from the Warrensburg Commercial Club met the touring Kansas City motorcar dealers this morning at Centerview and escorted them into a flag and bunting bedecked town, gave them luncheon at the Elks club, took them to the state normal school campus and asked for all the good roads sentiment they could give.
“We are ready to organize a Rock road association and get ready to make our part of the Southern highway permanent.” declared J.J Culp, president of the Commercial Club. The citizens who came in from various parts of the county to greet the motorists applauded the sentiment Hartley the badges of the Johnson County boosters read: “Johnson County’s program for 1916: Use State Convicts for Building Rock Roads, 250 miles graded in Johnson County now.”
Title: Pittsville
They are working on the state road here now. Rock roads are being boosted from Sedalia to
K.C. Taxes will be higher than a cat’s back.
Several women went to Warrensburg Monday to boost the rock roads. I hope they will be fortunate enough to get what they went after.
Source: Warrensburg Star-Journal
Date: October 19, 1961
Title: How To Make Halloween Safer For Kids
With the crisp, cool days of October comes Halloween and the many parties, pranks and more recently “trick or treat.” Although there is a slight cost to the new custom, the visit of the youngster seeking the treat is much better than the vandalism which was perpetuated by youth just a few years ago. But, even with the new, more quiet observance of the bewitching season, hazards are still involved.
In an effort to help make the season safer the following tips are given:
False faces should be painted on children with stage paint, burnt cork or a similar material. Don’t permit the use of a mask on small children as it may be displaced and block vision and in the case of a mask worn over the entire head, a child may suffocate.
Halloween costumes should be of light colored materials so as to be more visible on dark roads.
Costumes should be treated by dipping in a solution of three quarts of water, three ounces of borax and three ounces of boric acid.
Children shouldn’t be allowed to carry lighted candles or torches as this could be dangerous to their safety and that of others.
When making costumes for children, they should be tight fitting so as not to catch on fences, hedges and bushes as the youngsters make their rounds.
Help make your spook stand out by using reflective materials ( tape, liquid, bands and metal and glass reflectors). Place the reflectors in fancy designs on the costumes.
Follow these hints and make this Halloween safer and more enjoyable for the youngsters.
The Johnson County Historical Society is always seeking new volunteers. Reach out if interested in helping us preserve, protect and present our county’s history. Please reach us at curator@jocomohistory.org Visit us at jocomohistory.org for more stories from our past.
