USHERS for the Stockton High School Graduating Class of 1997 were Brandon Waller, Nichole Gartrell, Laura Gasper and Joey Casad..

SCHOOL STARTED IN SEPTEMBER and we were out in April. The reason for the short school year was that the older children and their parents needed to be in the fields to plant the spring crops. The Hunt Schoolhouse, which was located in Stockton Township on the north side of Highway 24 in the southwest corner, was made from limestone. The original name of the schoolhouse was Ash Grove No. 16. “Annie, Annie, Over” was the game that was played at recess by the students. The children divided up into two teams and lined up on both sides of the shed located on the grounds, which was used to store firewood and coal, but also sometimes used as a punishment shed. A ball was thrown over the roof and when the other team caught the ball, everyone had to run to the other side of the building and tried not to get touched by the ball. It was a game that everyone could play. There were quarries on the north and south sides of the river. A few sawmills had been built in the area and the flow of the river was the source of power to operate both the saw and grain mills.—Sent In by Lora Belle Sander

HEADING TO THE 1994 SHS PROM in style were Kim Deines, Pat Powers, Roy Morain, Lacey Keirns, Evan Bebb and Julie Desaire with chauffeur Doug Dumler..

THE LAYING OF THE CORNERSTONE of the Rooks County Courthouse was held on September 8th, 1921. The picture was taken by photographer Andy (Sarah) White and was made into a postcard to commemorate the occasion. The dedication of the courthouse took place on April 20th, 1923. Cindy Ward sent Darrell Sammons this picture.

ERLE MUIR was sworn in as the new Stockton City Mayor in April of 1994 by city clerk Sandi Rogers. Pictured are commissioner Iva Lee Bennett, commissioner and mayor Erle Muir, city attorney Ed Hageman and city clerk Sandi Rogers.

J-MART WAS SHOWING OFF ITS NEW LOOK on South 183 Highway in the spring of 1994. The most visible change was the signage from Kerr-McGee to Conoco logos. Along with the Conoco products, the shop also had a wide variety of grocery items and Hot Stuff Pizza.

THE 1994 SHRINE BOWL was to be played in August and Stockton’s Joel McReynolds, who had quarterbacked the Tigers to back-to-back State Football Championships, was named as a member of the West Squad. Pictured are (from left); Shriner Dr. Dale Dean, SHS football coach Phil Wilson, Joel McReynolds, Shriner Ed Hageman and Shriner Chuck Hageman.

THE 1994 STOCKTON’S GIRL SCOUT TROOPS, Daisies, Brownies and Juniors gathered for a photo. Pictured were (from left, front row): Heather McNulty, Merlynne Morgan, Danielle Beougher, Jolene Green, Kara Thomsen; (back row) Renee Beougher, Jamie Prockish, McKenzie Green, Janie Emery, Heather French, Stacey Beougher and Morgan Harley.

DEBRA’S CARD & GIFT had held a ribbon cutting early in March of 1994 during its grand opening. Those present for the occasion were: Jessica Forshee, Chuck Williams, John Smith, Roma Smith, Dorothy Turner (Deb’s mother), Kathryn Unruh, Fem Turner (Deb’s father), Ruth Phelps, Lee Phelps, owners Deb and John Forshee, Jocelyn Forshee and Jonelle Forshee.

THE VOICE OF DEMOCRACY WINNERS had been announced by the Stockton VFW and Auxiliary in March of 1994. Pictured are presenter Virginia Doughty, Amy McBride (third place), Mike Kaba (first place), Monica Lowry (second place) and presenter Pat Waddell.