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.
We invite you to help us with this trip down memory lane. If you have specific memories of our city or county's growth since the 1960s, or have photos you'd like to share, send them to [email protected].
As we move closer to the end of your journey through The Decades, many exciting things are happening in Hutchinson. The city became home to one of the premier sporting complexes, which many would soon copy. It also saw the beginning of a major expansion of a humble museum that would make it one of the premier collections of space artifacts in the country. It was the end of the line for one of Hutchinson's first railroads. And it was the end of an era for the family-owned Dillons stores. It also included visits from many popular celebrities, including the “greatest of all time.”
1980: One of the longer-running small-town newspapers ceased publication as the Nickerson Argosy closes after 103 years.
Collins Bus fire destroys facility at old naval base.
The Buhler School district expands its footprint in the Hutchinson area as Prairie Hills Middle School opens.
Fun Valley opens with ball diamonds, water slide park and fishing lake along with offices.
The Hutchinson Mental Health Center opens its doors for service.
One of the more bizarre crimes in Reno County occurred when a 15-year-old robbed the bank in Arlington.
The Cosmosphere and Discovery Center opens and begins a long run of major improvements that make the museum what it is today.
Finally ridding the downtown of parking meters, the city of Hutchinson decides to sell off the 2,100 meters. The meters are gone in less than one day.
One of the first railroads that came through Reno County ended after a long and difficult history as Rock Island ceased operations in 1980. The portion of the railroad that traveled through Reno County was taken over by the Southern Pacific, which eventually merged with the Union Pacific.
One of the staples of the downtown shopping area closed as Wards ended business operations.
Kelly Mill is demolished.
The Frisco Railroad is absorbed by the Burlington Northern. Shortly after, the BN abandoned the line running from Wichita to Great Bend, ending rail service to Buhler and Medora.
1981: One of the enduring programs that brings special speakers to Hutchinson, the Dillon Lecture Series began at Hutchinson Community College.
Air ambulance service comes to Hutchinson Hospital.
Not as big as the one most recently completed, the Hutchinson Sports Arena gets a $1.8 million facelift.
A rail car explodes, sending toxic fumes through the south part of the city. Schools are closed and parts of the city are evacuated. The trestle over the Arkansas River near Carey Park burns.
In an effort to keep drunk drivers off the road, the Reno County Sheriff's Department buys a breathalyzer.
One of the many accomplishments of the Hutch High band and Salt Shakers happened in 1981 when they marched at the inaugural parade for President Ronald Regan.
1982: Better technology comes to Hutchinson Hospital as a new CAT scan machine is installed.
Unemployment rate is higher that it was during the 2020 pandemic as the jobless rate hits 8.5%.
Iris Drive-In closes.
A rash of arson fires hits Hutchinson with 30 homes burned.
The population of Reno County hits 65,000. Today's population, according to the 2020 census, is 61,000.
The first woman patrol deputy is hired by the Reno County Sheriff’s Department
One of the great Christmas traditions started in Hutchinson in 1982 as the first Hyde Park Luminaries was held. Today about 40,000 luminaries are lit on the last Saturday before Christmas.
1983: Unemployment is still a problem as it hits a record 10.6%.
The end of an era in grocery shopping in Hutchinson and Kansas as Dillons is purchased by Kroger.
Newly-remodeled Liberty and Sherman junior high schools open. Today they are HMS 7 and 8.
The city buys most of the Fun Valley Sports Complex. The facility is run by both the city and Hutch Rec.
A record 11.5 million bushels of wheat is harvested in Reno County.
The Bob Johnson Youth Center is opened and is part of the county.
The county commission rids itself of the Broadacres County Home as it is sold off to a private company.
1984: Holiday Inn Holidome opens as new kind of motel and convention center.
One of the more horrific and high-profile crimes in Reno County occurred in 1984 when Arnold Ruebke Jr. was arrested and convicted in the shotgun slayings of 2-year-old twins Andrew and James Vogelsang and their babysitter Tammy Mooney in Arlington. Ruebke died in prison in March of 2021.
It was a part of Hutchison for 26 years, but in 1984, the Kansas Wheat Commission moved its headquarters from Hutchinson to Manhattan.
A major ice storm hits the area, more than 12,00 homes are without power.
The Nickerson mayor is ousted after a recall vote.
Salt Shakers dance in London and win international award for their performance.
The city takes over the Hutchinson Zoo after a long and controversial process between the city and the Hutchinson Zoological Society.
The Court Appointed Services Advocate (CASA) begins service in Reno County
1985: Members of the Peel family are taken hostage after TWA flight 847 is hijacked and flown to Algiers and Beirut. Eventually all of the passengers are released during a two-week period.
The Hutchinson Mall opens to much fanfare. The battle begins to keep shoppers downtown. Eventually the mall’s appeal begins to decline and now only a few spaces remain open. RockStep capital has been able to revive some of the open spaces in the past three years.
A major staple of the city for so many years, Wiley's closes for good.
A major hail storm rolls through the area causing more than $35 million in damage. With the large number of claims, insurance adjusters set up a mobile facility at the fairgrounds.
Muhammad Ali visits Hutchinson and stops to talk to students at Sherman Middle School.
One way to try to curb crime was established in 1985 as Reno County Crime Stoppers started.
More help for both fighting crime and calling for help began in 1985 with Reno County 911 starting operations.
One of the crown jewels of Hutchinson, the Hutchinson Fox Theatre, closes. Eventually the theatre reopens after a major renovation and is entertaining folks again today.
1986: After moving to Haven, the Reno County Museum moved back to Hutchinson.
Following the takeover the year before, the city of Hutchinson opened the Hutchinson Zoo.
The Nickerson USD 309 school district finds a new home office as it purchases the offices complex at Fun Valley.
A nurse is fined for refusing to treat an AIDS patient.
The Hutchinson Public Library gets a new piece of technology as it acquires a computer-driven card catalog system as part of an overall renovation of the library.
1987: The Quest Center opens and becomes an incubator for small businesses in Hutchinson.
Bob Hope performs at the Kansas State Fair.
A Nickerson man is shot by a sniper on the steps of the Reno County Courthouse after he threatens to blow up the courthouse. Explosives are found on his body.
In the early years of Hutchinson, there were repeated efforts to open saloons and bars that were defeated. In 1987, liquor by the drink was established after a vote of the public the year before.
County officials dedicate a new bridge on West 4th Avenue over Cow Creek.
The post office in the small town of Medora closed.
The Kansas Lottery begins operations with 70 local retailers selling lottery tickets.
The Kansas State Fair celebrates its 75th year.
1988: Pan Am flight 103 is blown up by terrorists over Lockerbie, Scotland, killing 259 on board including Hutchinson resident David Ludlow, who was serving overseas and on his way home for his sister's funeral.
One of the premier cancer care centers in Kansas opened in 1987 with the Cancer Treatment Center opening in Hutchinson.
Lois Schlickau of Haven is the first woman named President of the Kansas State Board of Agriculture.
Cessna is purchased by Eaton.
There have always been mountain lion sightings in the area, most of which were proven false, but in 1987, a mountain lion was supposedly spotted playing through on the fifth hole at the Haven golf course.
County landfill employees party on confiscated liquor that is disposed of by the Hutchinson Police Department.
HutchCC wins the 1988 NJCAA National Basketball Tournament.
Standing since 1923, the Wolcott Building is razed in downtown Hutchinson.
A major drug operation that was bringing drugs into the reformatory and other places in Reno County from California was busted.
1989: Still supporting those in need today, Interfaith Housing began operations in Hutchinson.
An ammonia leak forces the evacuation of residents in Plevna.
During the savings and loan failure nationwide, two area S&L’s are taken over by the government.
The three Graham brothers are all awarded their Eagle Scout badges at the same time.
Fire rips through the Radio Shack store at 108 N. Main, doing more than $135,000 in damage.
Japanese based TSW begins operations producing precision tools and machines in Hutchinson.
The Decades are brought to you by:
Hutchinson Funeral Chapel
Rothe Family Flooring
Hutchinson Public Library
Check back next Sunday for the next part in this series.
CLICK HERE FOR THE 1870s
CLICK HERE FOR THE 1880s
CLICK HERE FOR THE 1890s
CLICK HERE FOR THE 1900s
CLICK HERE FOR THE 1910s
CLICK HERE FOR THE 1920s
CLICK HERE FOR THE 1930s
CLICK HERE FOR THE 1940s
CLICK HERE FOR THE 1950s
CLICK HERE FOR THE 1960s
CLICK HERE FOR THE 1970s
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