Nov 14, 2021

The Decades: 1990s

Posted Nov 14, 2021 12:17 PM

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].

The last decade of the 1900s is upon us in our latest edition of The Decades. The 1990s brought many things from the past back to life, including the Liberty Bell 7 and the reopening of one of Hutchinson's greatest treasures in the Fox Theatre. It also saw one of the first businesses in Hutchinson absorbed into the corporate world, a new organization to benefit boys and girls in Hutchinson and a new visitors center at Dillon Nature Center. The Blue Dragons won a national title and a blackbird doesn’t fly to Hutchinson, but crawls in on a semi. All that and more on this edition of The Decades.

1990: The pavilion at the Farmers Market was constructed and named the Ontjes Pavilion.

Farmers Market. Photo by Rod Zook.
Farmers Market. Photo by Rod Zook.

The Hutchinson Community Foundation is formed to help provide philanthropic opportunities within the community.

This photo of the Hutchinson Community Foundation staff was taken during their 30th year of service.
This photo of the Hutchinson Community Foundation staff was taken during their 30th year of service.

Hutch Fest begins on the Fourth of July as a merger with the Main Street and Prairie Fest celebrations.

A tornado forms near Pretty Prairie. Before it's over, the storm kills two people and causes significant damage in Hesston.

1991: Tornadoes rip through Willowbrook. Nickerson, Abbyville and Turon also suffer damage.

The Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce moves to its new location at 117 N. Walnut.

The Nickerson post office and two other buildings collapse.

Halloween costumes are banned in several schools because they might frighten younger students.

Reformatory is national news because of wives having sexual encounters with their husband inmates. Visitations are canceled.

The old Hutchinson Airport hangar is razed.

Old Hutchinson Municipal Airport Hangar - March 1991 (right before they tore it down). Photo courtesy of Steve Harmon.
Old Hutchinson Municipal Airport Hangar - March 1991 (right before they tore it down). Photo courtesy of Steve Harmon.

1992: The Haven Public Library opens for patrons.

The first Prairie Skies Airshow is held at Hutchinson Airport.

The Hutchinson Hospital opens a new emergency care unit.

Prominent Hutchinson businessmen are arrested in a major drug bust.

1993: A family in Lerado is murdered before their home is burned to the ground to hide the crime. Paul Kiser is convicted and sentenced to 51 years in prison, much to the shock of the victims' family members.

The Reno County Museum director quits when the county commission refuses to implement tax that was approved by voters.

Haven's Phillip Fishburn is named ag secretary for the state of Kansas.

The Hutchinson Post Office is robbed. Employees are locked up in the building. The suspect is caught two years later.

A ÂĽ cent sales tax is approved by voters. Tax has now been approved for renewal by public vote six times.

1994: Target opens in Hutchinson.

HutchCC wins NJCAA men's basketball title.

Photo Courtesy of Hutchinson Community College.
Photo Courtesy of Hutchinson Community College.

New Dillon Nature Center visitors center opens.

Dillon Nature Center - New Visitors Center Building - Lake View - 1994. Photo courtesy of Steve Harmon.
Dillon Nature Center - New Visitors Center Building - Lake View - 1994. Photo courtesy of Steve Harmon.

An explosion injures six at the reformatory.

Nickerson farmer Lester Cole plants his 70th wheat crop.

A 10-year-old Hutchinson girl pilots an airplane to each state west of the Mississippi. She goes to every state east of the Mississippi the next year.

Buhler gets a new water tower.

1995: One of the best small golf courses in the area opens as play begins at The Links at Pretty Prairie.

Providing guidance and education and after-school programs for area youth today, the Boys and Girls Club opens.

Convention Hall becomes Memorial Hall. The building has survived numerous attempts to have it closed and razed. It still holds events today.

Memorial Hall. Photo by Rod Zook.
Memorial Hall. Photo by Rod Zook.

Reins of Hope is established in Hutchinson.

The city council is established as four districts and one at-large position.

1996: The National Guard in Hutchinson uses students in simulated war games as a recruiting tool.

Explosion rips through a propane plant in South Hutchinson, injuring two people and causing evacuations.

Seven Reno County residents were given the honor of carrying the Olympic torch through Reno County.

Hospice of Reno County moves to Hutchinson Hospital, now a part of Hutchinson Regional Healthcare System.

Winchester Processing, which started in the 1880s, becomes a part of Tyson Foods.

Tyson Foods. Photo by Rod Zook.
Tyson Foods. Photo by Rod Zook.

Inmates at the reformatory riot over poor food. Lockdown lasts two days.

1997: The first open-heart bypass is performed at Hutchinson Hospital.

A record 15 million bushels of wheat is harvested in Reno County.

The Cosmosphere begins plans for major expansion. The building is constructed around an SR-71 that is tucked in and then shrinkwrapped to protect it.

Cosmosphere - SR-71 Blackbird placement 1995. Photo courtesy of Steve Harmon.
Cosmosphere - SR-71 Blackbird placement 1995. Photo courtesy of Steve Harmon.

Soap bubbles are used to drive prairie dogs out of their burrows. The animals were moved to Quivira where they were eaten by badgers.

One person is killed and six injured when fire sweeps through Pheasant View Retirement home, formerly the Broadacres Retirement home. The fire was caused by careless smoking.

The Jim Martinez Trail is opened between Carey and Rice parks.

1998: A new jail annex is opened. It would become the center of attention in the bribery scandal involving sheriff Larry Leslie.

K-96 Highway is expanded to four lanes from Hutchinson to Wichita.

The Teen Center opens for area youth.

A man leaves a sports car on railroad tracks to see if the train will stop — it doesn’t. The man is taken in for mental evaluation.

The Ontjes Children's Learning Center opens at Hutchinson Public Library.

Ontjes Children's Learning Center. Photo by Rod Zook.
Ontjes Children's Learning Center. Photo by Rod Zook.

Hutchinson, Buhler and Nickerson school districts open preschool for at-risk children.

1999: There is much discussion on a $27.8 million multi-year effort to increase the viability of the downtown area.

Liberty Bell 7 comes to the Cosmosphere.

Liberty Bell. Photo by Rod Zook.
Liberty Bell. Photo by Rod Zook.

The Hutch News says the attack on Pearl Harbor is the top story of the century.

The Historic Fox Theatre opens again following a $4 million renovation.

The county commission hires the first county administrator and establishes the District Attorney’s Office.

The Shears Technology Center opens at Hutchinson Community College. 

Photo courtesy of Hutchinson Community College.
Photo courtesy of Hutchinson Community College.

The fire station opens in Pretty Prairie.

A new child care center opens on the Hutchinson High School campus.

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
CLICK HERE FOR THE 1980s

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