a look back

25 years ago: 1974

Two residents of north Cape Girardeau County and one from Perry County appeared before County Court Thursday to request re-examination of court's decision not to build bridge across Apple Creek; court agreed to discuss project with Perry County Court, but didn't promise reversal of its decision; Perry County had agreed verbally to share cost of construction with Cape Girardeau County.

Jackson Rotary Club has entered Stone Manes, past president and past governor of Southeast Missouri district, for nomination as director of Rotary International; Jackson club endorsed Manes with rising ovation after his name had been proposed by R.A. Fulenwider.

Fire that heavily damaged KJAS Radio Station Saturday night appeared to have started in electrical equipment in broadcasting room, said Fire Chief Vernon Ladreiter; 14 firemen fought blaze for nearly two hours before it was contained, but most of contents and roof of concrete block building were destroyed.

Cost of feeding prisoners in Cape Girardeau County jail last month has once again caused concern among County Court judges; County Auditor H. Weldon Macke Monday drew court's attention to fact it cost $1,488 during February to feed prisoners, nearly 50 percent more than $1,000 monthly allotment.

Interest on county tax money collected during December, January and February amounted to $23,493 during three-month period, County Collector Harold D. Kuehle informed County Court; interest, which goes into general revenue, was earned for first time this year on deposits from all sources made throughout each month, rather than first 15 days of each month; interest is more than $5,000 over amount that was expected to be earned.

Reserve police officer, Steven R. Compas, will be hired April 1 to replace Ptlm. Ben Schweer, who is retiring after 19 years of service; another officer, Ptlm. Daniel Makins, has been moved to police reserve unit; Makins has gone to work at Charmin Paper Products Co.

50 years ago: 1949

State Department Commander John G. Jeffries of Hannibal and other prominent Legion leaders, attended 30th anniversary celebration of Althenthal-Joerns Post of American Legion; 175 persons attended dinner at Legion Hall; Glenn E. Lewis, post commander, presided and Carlton Meyer, past post commander, acted as chaplain.

Formation of Goodwin Poultry Co., which will operate plant formerly run by Absogood Packing Co., was announced Tuesday; certificate of incorporation was filed Monday in county recorder's office; officers of new business are president, J.R. Bowman; vice president, R.B. Goodwin; and secretary-treasurer, H.J. Bowman; plant will be in building owned by Dry Food Processor and Wisconsin Corp., which purchased property in 1943.

Johnny Daume of Oak Ridge, who plays a mean guitar for Ridge Runners, hillbilly band of considerable prominence in county, and who writes songs on side, has apparently hit jackpot with song to be recorded by Columbia records and sung by nation's top cowboy singer; song, "All I Need I Just a Little More Lovin'," will be released by Columbia with George Morgan of Nashville doing lyrics.

At meeting of Board of Education this week, resolution was passed to submit 25-cent levy in excess of $1 per $100 assessed valuation at school election; this money is to be used in incidental fund; board also set levy of 25 cents on $100 valuation to take care of sinking and interest payments; present bonded indebtedness is $51,000.

Jackson's new photography studio opened for business Thursday; Joe E. Haupt, who returned few weeks ago from New York City, where he had been engaged in photography since graduating from Modern Art School, is owner of business; studio is located in two-room suite in Jackson Exchange Bank building.

High school debaters from Jackson, racking up 17 decisions in 18 contests, walked away with honors and right to represent district in state competition at conclusion of two-day round robin tournament at Centenary Methodist Education Building at Cape Girardeau Friday; Jackson team is composed of Dorris Ludwig, Elzena Flannigan, Kenneth Moll and Donald Dickerson.

75 years ago: 1924

A.J. Flentge of Jackson believes in future of this city and Cape Girardeau, as he has begun erection of fine dwelling here and construction of 15-room apartment house in Cape Girardeau.

Alvin Soehlig, who had his leg broken in football practice last fall and later re-broken while walking around at home, is at home with his parents here after spending several months in St. Louis hospital; he is able to get around on crutches.

Jackson resident Edgar Wallace, 74 years old, recently sold violin of his own making to someone in Columbus, Ga., receiving $100 for instrument; Wallace is expert violin maker.

Workers are putting finishing touches on interior of Masonic building, which will soon be ready for occupancy; when finished, lodge rooms will be most convenient and most elaborate in this section of state; no city the size of Jackson, or five times as large, can boast lodge building of such magnitude.

Demonstration of use of explosives on farm was given Tuesday at Linder Miller farm, few miles west of Jackson, by operative from Bureau of Agriculture at Columbia; sponsoring demonstration was Cape Girardeau County Farm Bureau.

Martin Gemeinhardt of Fruitland has sold his flour mill and saw mill plant in that village to Warren Jeter and his son, Hazen Jeter, of Wittenberg in Perry County; Jeter & Son will operate plant, enlarge it and do general flour and feed business, with lumber as side line.

W.J. Macke has announced his candidacy for office of marshal and collector for Jackson; he is first candidate to announce for any city office for election to be held in two weeks.

City Council, at its last meeting, made order by which "directrix" for city of Jackson is to be moved from crossing of middle lines of High Street and Main Street, in front of courthouse, to spot marked by government surveyors on south steps of courthouse; it was thought that present directrix would be destroyed or moved by contemplated street improvements; limestone used as directrix in Jackson for number of decades is spot from which all elevations in streets in city are estimated and calculated.