Although it has been only 18 years since Tipton celebrated its Centennial, there have been a surprising number of changes in the way of life of Tipton residents. Since 1958, Tipton has gained dial telephones, color television, a nursing home, two swimming pools, and a large number of new businesses and homes. For the first time since 1858, Tipton is without passenger rail service. Missouri Pacific closed the railroad depot in 1970. Rail piggyback ramp service was initiated here in 1972.

The Sixties saw a building boom in Tipton. (In 1961 alone, building permits totaled over $270,975 including 15 permits for new residences.) In addition to the construction of new business buildings, many of the store fronts on Moniteau Street were remodeled.

Construction of Minuteman Missile sites around the Tipton area in 1962-1963 brought a temporary influx of residents and money. The Tipton Times reported that Boeing was expected to spend $225,000 locally per month during the time they were here.

Sports were in the spotlight in 1964. The Tipton Cardinals varsity basketball team went to the State Class M Finals where they placed fourth.

The Vietnam War in the sixties and seventies saw many young men from Tipton drafted into the armed services. Of the ones from  Moniteau County sent to Vietnam, Captain James Lang, son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Lang, was lost in action in April, 1968.

Two community attitude surveys were made. The survey in 1964 listed streets in poor condition and dissatisfaction with park and recreation facilities. In 1972, the community attitude survey showed residents most liked: friendliness of the populace, neat appearance of the town and availability of churches. Next in line were: size, location, and schools. The residents most disliked: lack of medical facilities, insufficient doctors, lack of recreational facilities, and disrepair of streets.

Telephones and television

It is hard to believe that as recently as 1961, the telephone company had to explain how to use a dial telephone to Tipton residents. Prior to the changeover to dial telephones, United Telephone Company took nearly a full page in The Tipton Times to tell their customers such things as: what is a dial tone; that a burring-burring-burring sound means the number is ringing on the other end; that a buzz-buzz-buzz sound means the line being called is busy; and that if a mistake is made

while dialing, the user should hang up and dial again. Customers were also asked not to use the dials on their phones until the system was converted. The first dial telephone call was made at 2 p.m. on February 14, 1961 by Mayor Oscar Stratman.

A phone booth on Moniteau Street west of the City Hall attracted considerable attention.

The Tipton telephone exchange converted to Direct-Distance-Dialing in March, 1973.

In June, 1962, Rowles TV, Radio and Gift Store announced on the front page of The Tipton Times that color television sets would be available as soon as KOMU-TV went to color broadcasting, probably in September. "Rowles said that in making the survey it was found that contrary to the belief of some, color TV will be no more sensitive insofar as moving around than the present black and white sets."

Recreation

The community attitude surveys listed recreation facilities as an area Tipton needed to improve. Various efforts have been made in this direction.

In 1958, the Tipton Country Club was incorporated and purchased 60 acres of land from Dr. and Mrs. H.P. Stonner. The first president was L.W. Billingsley. The club started with a nine hole sand green golf course, swimming pool, playground area, and barbecue area. In 1970, new grass greens were built and the golf course and a ballroom-dining room, a pro-shop and outside patio were added. In 1975 two tennis courts were built. Regularly scheduled events include ladies' nights, stag nights, dances, card parties and tournaments, barbecues, holiday breakfasts, and golf tournaments.

The Tipton Community Pool organized in 1959 and sold 175 member-ships. Their new pool in east Tipton was dedicated in 1960. The first president was Roscoe Gibson.

Two clubs were started in an effort to provide activities for Tipton's teenagers. The "Guys and Dolls Dance Club" for ages 12 19 was started in November 13, 1961. It was sponsored by the American Legion and met in their building. The article in The Tipton Times which announced its formation said, "Parents will be notified if any person leaves during the dance At the first dance there will be a choice between learning the jitterbug west coast or the cha-cha. There will also be an hour and a half in which a person can dance any dance they want. Boys are badly needed to help even the club out..."

Another club was organized November 18, 1966 at Payne's Cafe. It was for those between the ages of 13 and 20. The club had 50 members with dues of 50c per month. They met at Payne's Cafe on Friday and Saturday nights from 8 to 11. There was a double set of officers; the first presidents were Danny Dick and David Orscheln.

The Tipton Fair continued to provide summer entertainment. A tractor pull was added to the fair program in 1967 and proved to be a very popular event. Later, a parade, queen contest, ham breakfast, community talent show and horseshoe pitching were added.

Law enforcement

Problems with law enforcement during these years included getting drivers to stop at posted intersections. The following advertisement appeared October 6, 1961: "Stop signs mean exactly what they say. Bring your vehicle to a complete stop where they appear." It was signed Orville Arnold, Police Chief, the Mayor, and the City Council.

One fall evening in 1963 a number of outhouses disappeared in and around Tipton. The police found these out-houses near the Tipton High School football field-ready for the annual Homecoming bonfire. An all-school assembly produced the 3040 guilty parties who had to return the outhouses and repair them if necessary. The Sedalia newspaper carried the following report: "C.W. Thomas, high school principal, said the youngsters got the permission of some owners to use the no longer needed privies for bonfire fuel, but he said they got a little ambitious and took some outhouses that were still being used. A couple of surprised and discomfited owners registered strong complaints. So Thomas and school superintendent, O.W Fox, decided the only answer was to call off the bonfire and order the youngsters to return the little buildings."

Halloween, 1964, brought egg throwing with at least one set of arrests. Two boys from Versailles threw an egg at a parked car. It turned out that the care belonged to Chief of Police Orville Arnold who was sitting in the car at the time. He arrested them on the spot, made them clean the car, gave them a ticket, and confiscated several dozen eggs.

The January 6, 1967 Tipton Times carried an ad offering a $50 reward for information about the persons who opened several fire hydrants the previous Saturday night. In 1971, the fire hydrants were again opened by pranksters.

In 1968, F.J. Drake was shot in the head while watching television in his home. Mr. Drake recovered; no clues were found.

In 1971 a large cache of marijuana was found southwest of Tipton by law enforcement officials. The marijuana had a value of several thousand dollars.

In 1975 a separate Municipal Judge was elected for the first time. Up until Richard Arnold was elected, the Mayor had filled this capacity.

Civic improvements

Efforts to improve the quality of life in Tipton met with mixed success during these years. New mercury vapor street lights were installed between 1970 and 1976. In 1968 the streets were re-surfaced. The old streets were torn up and new street surface was put down.

In the business district, new sidewalks were installed on West Moniteau Street in 1970. A parking experiment began in February 1964; every other meter head on the north side of the street was removed and parking was made parallel to the curb.

A County Health Nurse was proposed several times. A group met in 1962 to discuss the possibilities; in 1976 this will again be on the ballot.

Library services for Moniteau County has been discussed over the years. In 1965, getting a library bookmobile on a 6 month-2 year trial basis was discussed; this is again being discussed in 1976.

The City Council in 1962 looked into the possibility of securing city mail delivery. They found that Tipton did not have enough residents for this service.

A People-to-People chapter was organized with much fanfare in 1964. In 1974 an American Field Service chapter was organized. They have had two exchange students come to Tipton and sent one Tipton student, Greg Shelton, to Norway.

In 1967 a nursing home for Tipton was discussed by the Chamber of Commerce. In 1976 the Tipton Manor nursing home held a 2-day open house in connection with its dedication.

Fifty-units of housing for the elderly was approved by H.U.D. for Tipton in 1972, but withdrawn in 1973. In 1976, another group is working through F.H.A. to secure housing for the elderly.

The Older Adults Transportation Service was started in 1973 with federal help. OATS provides transportation to doctors, etc. as well as some pleasure trips for its members.