A LOOK AT THE PAST

25 years ago, 1975

Jackson Savings and Loan Association, one of Cape Girardeau County's older financial institutions, has received approval from Division of Savings and Loan Supervision to open branch facility in Cape Girardeau; construction will begin as soon as site has been secured; initially, firm plans to rent space in existing building on west side of town until new facility has been constructed; Jackson firm was established in 1913.

Major courthouse renovation plan which would cost estimated $367,226 and take about 2 1/2 years to complete was submitted Thursday to Cape Girardeau County by Buchmueller, Whitworth, Foust and Stearnes of Cape Girardeau; Byron Foust and Anton Sebek, architects representing firm, presented court with preliminary drawings of proposed remodeling of all three floors, including estimated cost breakdowns of total project and costs of optional stages of renovation; court took no action.

Names of 16 possible members to Cape Girardeau County Sheltered Workshop Board of Directors have been submitted to County Court by officials of VIP Industries of Cape Girardeau; on list are names of two physicians, two law enforcement officers, two social workers, attorney, state school teacher and eight persons from other walks of life; court took no action Thursday upon receipt of recommendations, submitted by Hilary F. Schmittzehe, executive director of Cape County Association for Retarded Children, Inc.

Demolition of old, two-story brick house adjoining county jail in Jackson has been awarded to Jackson contractor in preparation of construction of new jail; County Court Thursday awarded work to Larry E. Kuntze Excavating and Construction Co., one of two bidders on project; Kuntze, who bid $722.50, agreed to tear out and remove concrete foundation of house, while other bidder, Freddie Green of Marble Hill, proposed only to tear down and remove debris from house, leaving foundation.

Jackson's application for additional federal grant of $46,000 for construction of new municipal swimming pool has been forwarded for final approval to Bureau of Outdoor Recreation by Missouri Department of Natural Resources; money will be used with about $156,000 in federal funds which have been approved for pool, to be built in portion of newly-expanded city park.

50 years ago, 1950

Mr. and Mrs. B.W. Aufdenberg have sold their house in West Jackson to Mr. and Mrs. Albert Mantz; house was one of first built in Elmwood Addition and is on West Main Street; Mr. and Mrs. Mantz have sold their farm northwest of Jackson to Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Proffer; Aufdenberg recently sold his trucking business and expects to retire to small acreage near Jackson.

Landgraf Construction Co. is ready to set stakes for new apartment Mrs. Malinda Allen will build on Hope Street, as soon as survey work is completed; plans have been drawn for four-family apartment, of three rooms each; building proper will measure 34 by 52 feet.

City Council having on hand 15 petitions for street paving, on Monday ordered formal resolutions published; City Clerk L.H. Schrader is preparing publications.

Workers are engaged in laying sewer lines in Daley Hills, south of Highway 61; line will run from Joe E. Haupt plot on east to Moeckel property; S.T. Daley, owner of subdivision, is having work done.

Three teachers who taught at Fruitland this year have been re-elected; they are Lynn Wilkening, principal; Mrs. C.J. Ritter and Mrs. J.C. Hoffmeister.

Alice Stewart of Marshfield came to Jackson Monday and began work as abstracter for Independent Abstracting firm working in courthouse; she has two years experience.

Goehman dwelling owned by Mr. and Mrs. August Nagel of Cape Girardeau was sold Wednesday to Herbert Werner; Nagels also sold lot in Jackson to Howard G. Cooke.

Otto W. Bock, 52, resident of Welch Township who lives four miles south of Whitewater, filed Saturday for Republican nomination for associate judge of County Court in second district; Bock has been farmer and stockman in township all his life.

Dairy Bar and Grill on West Main Street opened for business Saturday, with formal opening planned for next week; D.V. Bollinger and Milford Mayfield are operators.

75 years ago, 1925

Official committee in charge of annual Homecomers celebration has called mass meeting for Friday night at courthouse; officials will be elected for coming year.

Thirty-seven years ago April 17, entire block southeast of public square in Jackson was reduced to ashes by early-morning blaze; every business house in what was known as "battle row" was burned; it is said that fire was of incendiary origin, and that revenge was motive.

"Juice" will be turned on at new municipal power plant on Monday; representative of Fairbanks corporation will be present and will assist Superintendent F.C. Schnarre and his crew in getting new plant in operation; public dedicatory ceremony, promised the public by Mayor J.R. Bowman, will be held later.

Led by teacher Lillian Anderson, graduation exercises were held Friday night at Schoenebeck School; eight pupils were graduated, and program was enjoyed by large audience; Anderson is former pupil of school and has taught there six terms.

Gale Craft, 22-year-old Neelys Landing youth, was drowned in Mississippi River late Monday afternoon; Craft, coal passer on U.S. towboat Tuscumbia, was drowned near Illinois shore opposite Ste. Genevieve, when he fell overboard while wheeling load of coal to engine room; young Craft sank about 100 feet from vessel, and his body hasn't been recovered.

At meeting of new Jackson school board held Monday night, three new members were elected to Jackson teaching staff; all other members were re-elected; new members are Jack Hopke, principal of Jackson grade school; Norma Wagner and Lillian Seibert, to teach either first or second grades.