In conversation with a Western Star reporter the other day, John W. Stark grew reminiscent and told of some of the changes which the past 50 years or more have brought about. He said, in part:

"I was born in Tiffin, Ohio, about 62 years ago. When I was 9 years old, my parents moved form Ohio to a farm near Excelsior, Minn., about 30 miles from Minneapolis, and we continued to live there for several years. From there we moved to Alabama, but we did not stay there very long, as my mother did not relish living among so many negroes as we found in that state. Our next move was in Missouri and it was from that state that I came to Comanche-co. over 40 years ago.

"On the recent trip which Henry Knecht and I took through a number of the north central states, we visited the old home place in Minnesota. In some respects it looked natural, but many changes were noticeable. The old house in which we lived has given way to a modern brick structure. Most of the timber has been cut away and new orchards, shade trees, shrubbery, etc. have been put out during the past 25 or 30 years. Not very many of the fruit trees which we and our neighbors put out 50 years ago are still alive. The public roads have changed wonderfully, and many new and substantial bridges have been built. The country has a modern and prosperous appearance. Many up to date houses, barns and other improvements are noticeable, and the towns and cities have likewise changed wonderfully during the past half century.

"When we lived on that old Minnesota farm I was just a lad. Not far away there was quite a hill, and we boys used to have a great time coasting down it. On our recent visit there, Henry and I coasted down that same hill - not on sleds, but in my car. Of course the road over the hill is not now as steep as it used to be, but as we drove down in that car I could not help but think of those coasting parties we enjoyed long, long, ago."

Thanks to Shirley Brier for finding, transcribing and contributing the above news article to this web site!

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