Aug 18, 2022

150 Years: Looking back through The Decades - 1970s

Posted Aug 18, 2022 9:15 PM

Hutchinson and Reno County will celebrate 150 years during Third Thursday today. In honor of this celebration, we will release one decade each afternoon from The Decades, which were originally featured from September to November of 2021.

As we celebrate the 150th birthday of Hutchinson and Reno County, we want to go through the years, decade by decade, to see how things have changed and — remarkably — how they have stayed the same. This would not be possible without the efforts of Steve Harmon, the Reno County Museum, and the Hutchinson Public Library, who have made a great effort to supply us with the information and photos that you’ll see in this 15-part series. We hope you enjoy it.

As we reached the 100th year of Hutchinson, many things had changed. Airline service came and went from the area once again, two hospitals combined into one entity, and several of the once-proud drive-ins closed. It was also the start of what would become one of the great museums in the nation. All that and Evel Knievel, too, as we look  back at the 1970s on this edition of The Decades.

1970: Residents in what becomes known as the King's Garden addition object to the city’s annexation of the land around Trinity High School.

Big Bird, Bert, Ernie and the rest of Sesame Street hit the airwaves as KPTS public television begins operation.

Air Midwest begins offering six flights out of Hutchinson.

Many know about it but few talk about it — the Medora nudist colony boasts having 90 members.

St. Elizabeth's Hospital and Grace Hospital merge to become the Hutchinson Hospital Corporation.

Twenty-three acres of land that was once Riversbanks Orchards and then the Dillon Recreation Center is deeded over to Hutch Rec for the Dillon Nature Center.

Dillon Nature Center - Dillon Park - Upper Lake - 1972. Photo courtesy of Steve Harmon.

Amtrak Begins passenger service in Hutchinson with The Southwest Limited.

Heavy snowfall hits the area, bringing schools and businesses to a standstill.

Palace Lanes is destroyed by fire.

1971: Hutchinson celebrates its 100 birthday. The city of Hutchinson was founded in 1871 when frontiersman Clinton "C.C." Hutchinson contracted with the Santa Fe Railway to make a town at the railroad's crossing over the Arkansas River. The town actually sprang up about one-half mile north on the banks of Cow Creek where a few houses already existed.   

Daredevil Evel Knievel jumps 10 semis while performing at the Kansas State Fair.

Evel Knievel (Jumping 10 Kenworths) - Kansas State Fair Grandstand 9-25-1971. Photo courtesy of Steve Harmon.

The South Hutchinson High Rise Apartments open to serve low-income residents.

Another blizzard hits the area, shutting down schools, highways and businesses for days.

U.S. 50 is realigned around Hutchinson all the way to Sylvia. 4th Avenue used to be a part of Highway 50.

Wesley Towers opens for service to senior residents.

Wesley Towers Construction - 1969. Photo courtesy of Steve Harmon.

Reno County EMS is established.

Collins Bus comes to Hutchinson.

Collins Industries (Collins Bus Corp.) - 1st mfg. plant at old Naval Air Station (H.A.B.I.T.) - Yoder - c. 1975. Photo courtesy of Steve Harmon.

Two people are killed when a morning fire sweeps through Wiley’s Home Furnishings.

The new Law Enforcement Center opened just west of the courthouse.

Still popular today, the first Buhler Fall Frolic was held.

Gus Leonida, who became known for his selling of war bonds during WWII, dies.

Constantine "Gus" Leonida in his World War I Navy uniform. Leonida was a Hutchinson restaurateur {Leonida's Hollywood Grill in downtown Hutchinson} and became famous for selling more war bonds than any other individual during World War II.

1972: Dallas Crable becomes the first black member of the Hutchinson City Commission.

Football and basketball coaches are fired from Nickerson High School. Students protest to no avail.

Reno County Health Department is established.

Fire destroys the Bella Vista mobile home factory at HABIT. The county and HABIT argue about responsibility for protection.

Clowntown Kiddieland - 1970 - Roller coaster with Owner Wanasek. Photo courtesy of Steve Harmon.

Partridge High School closes; students bused to Haven.

Ten members of the Home Builders Association of Hutchinson attend the national conference in Houston.

Ray Rose, former leader of Dillons stores and Hutchinson resident, becomes president of King Soopers. Both are now owned by Kroger.

Jim Fountain begins 20-year run as Reno County sheriff.

Jim Fountain

The Ayr-Vu Drive-In closes.

Ayr-Vu Drive-In - N. W. Cor. 30th & Plum (opening day July 1949 - Aerial). Photo courtesy of Steve Harmon.

Pegues expands by 40 thousand square feet downtown.

1973: Cable television comes to Hutchinson.

John Dunn of Hutchinson is one of the first POWs in Vietnam to return home upon signing of the cease fire during the Vietnam War.

Major flooding hits areas along Cow Creek with water hanging around for two weeks.

A giant motorcycle rally is held in Hutchinson with more than 9,000 motorcycles and more than 10,000 spectators.

Carey Salt Evaporation Plant - 1800 E. Carey Blvd. - c. 1970 (taken from atop Kelly Mill Elevator) (Razed 2008). Photo courtesy of Steve Harmon.

USD 308 superintendent resigns after an investigation into taking kickbacks from a dairy company providing milk for the school district. Charges are eventually brought.

Bob Bottomley Motors opens along K-61 Highway and becomes one of the first businesses to open east of K-61 in what would eventually become a large business area between 11th and 17th avenues.

Bob Bottomley Olds-Cadillac-Datsun - 1400 E. 11th - 1975 (new in 1973)(Conklins in 1982). Photo courtesy of Steve Harmon.

One of the worst ice storms in 20 years hits the area, shutting down power to the city.

Construction begins on the Hutchinson Zoo, now a part of the city parks department.

Mennonite Friendship Communities begins service in South Hutchinson.

A popular hangout and turnaround while dragging Main in Hutchinson, Sandy’s Drive-In closes and eventually becomes Hardee’s.

1974: Friendship Meals begins service to those in need.

Hutchinson High School wins the boys state basketball championship. They did it again in 1975.

1974 HHS State Champions. Photo courtesy of USD 308.

Touch-tone phones replace dial-up telephones.

The streaking fad comes to Hutchinson when three HutchCC students streak down Plum Street.

Hutchinson Nationals Fairgrounds Jalopy Races c. 1970. Photo courtesy of Steve Harmon.

An ammonia pipeline ruptures, forcing the evacuation of Willowbrook.

A giant sinkhole formed near Cargill Salt Plant.

Emancipation Day Parade comes back again after 23 years.

Buhler PRIDE Committee formed to find better recreational opportunities for residents. Their efforts are still a part of the city today with Wheatland Park.

1975: Women first elected to the Buhler City Council.

A new hospital is built combining both Grace Hospital and St. Elizabeth's Hospital into one 200-bed facility at 23rd and Waldron.

Hutchinson USD 308 is embroiled in controversy with NAACP charges of discrimination and fraud. The district has troubled negotiations with the teachers union and the district suffers low test scores.

Detroiter Mobile Homes - Mfg. Plant - 400 S. Halstead St. & Ave G - c. 1970. Photo courtesy of Steve Harmon.

1976: Hutch High girls win the state basketball championship.

The new viaduct opens over the Santa Fe railroad yard on Airport Road.

Reno County Council on Aging begins bus service for the disabled and elderly. Today it is known as RCAT and is full-service to all.

In an effort to better aid in rescue from a car accident, Reno County purchases its first jaws of life apparatus.

1977: The gas shortage of 2021 wasn’t the first of its kind as schools closed in 1977 due to a shortage of natural gas supplies.

The city of Nickerson contracts with the Reno County Sheriff’s Department to police the city. The city eventually returned to having its own force, only to abolish it again.

Calhoun's Dept. Store - Northgate Center - 519 E. 30th - c. 1970. Photo courtesy of Steve Harmon.

John Daveline becomes president of the Hutchinson Chamber of Commerce and becomes the longest serving president holding that position until 2006.

Victory Village for wayward girls is closed after allegations of physical abuse.

HutchCC allows coed visits in dorms for the first time.

1978: They come and they go, the city finally removed parking meters for good in the downtown area.

The reformatory purchased bloodhounds to help track escapees.

The Reno County Genealogical Society is formed.

Kansas State Fair - Bardo The Clown (J.B.Holdren Jr.) c. 1978 (passed 1-01-2013). Photo courtesy of Steve Harmon.

Motorcycle gangs from Wichita ride into town vandalizing taverns and assaulting residents.

The Reno County Occupational Center opens for those with disabilities.

The Chamber of Commerce establishes the Convention and Visitors Bureau. Today it is known as Visit Hutch.

1979: A service that is still used today, First Call for Help is established.

The Elmdale Park Community Center opens. It is now a part of Hutch Rec.

Both Hutchinson and Reno County take the bang out of the Independence Day holiday when they outlaw fireworks.

The Reno County Commission approved a bond issue to provide low-interest funds for home buyers in a tight market.

Joan Schrag begins her first of four terms as mayor of Hutchinson.

Broadacres County Home loses its license and is closed for good.

Poly-cart trash service begins in Hutchinson.

The Cosmosphere and Discovery Center begins the first of several major renovations to turn the museum into the premier facility it is today.

Kansas Cosmosphere & Discovery Center - 11th & Plum - c. 1980. Photo courtesy of Steve Harmon.

The Decades are brought to you by:
Hutchinson Funeral Chapel
Rothe Family Flooring
Hutchinson Public Library

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