A LOOK BACK AT JACKSON

25 years ago, 1974

County Court Thursday presented city of Jackson court's proposed contract establishing city's share of new two-year contract between county and Cape County Private Ambulance Service, Inc., of Cape Girardeau; like old contract which expires with new year, Jackson would pay $5,400 of total $54,000 annual subsidy county agreed to pay firm beginning next year; city of Cape Girardeau would pay $28,620 as its share of subsidy; although county has agreed to contract, neither Cape Girardeau nor Jackson has entered into contract with county; both, however, are expected to approve amounts.

Total of $700,000 will be earmarked for construction of new county jail in proposed 1975 Cape Girardeau County budget now being prepared; federal revenue-sharing funds will be included in next year's budget as result of request Monday of Circuit Court Judge Stanley A. Grimm and recommendation of County Court Associate Judge J. Ronald Fischer; Fischer's recommendation to Auditor H. Weldon Macke that money be included in budget met no opposition from Presiding Judge Clarence W. Suedekum nor Associate Judge Edwin W. Sander; inclusion of funds for jail in proposed budget doesn't give go ahead for construction, since budget must be approved in its entirety by court.

Acquisition of second public health nurse, rent incurred by moving County Public Health Department from courthouse basement to private building and increasing mileage expenses to 12 cents per mile would help boost county's share of department's 1975 proposed budget more -han twofold, County Court learned Monday; O. David Niswonger and County Sanitarian Marvin Campbell presented department's proposed 1975 budget, which, if approved, would need $17,716.88 from county, increase of $9,796.88 over last year's budgeted amount.

Ten county officers -- six Democrats and four Republicans -- were sworn into office Tuesday during ceremony in County Courthouse; of 12 officials who officially assume office Jan. 1, seven are incumbents -- three Democrats and four Republicans - -and five, all Democrats, are assuming their respective offices for first time.

50 years ago, 1949

Carl R. McCullough, civic and fraternal leader of Jackson, will return to field of oil distribution on Jan. 3; McCullough has accepted position as agent for Phillips Petroleum Co., to serve Jackson district; McCullough was for 19 years supervisor for Continental Oil Co., having resigned last April to devote his time to Adams Coal & Fuel Co.; he is succeeding L.W. Bingenheimer, who resigned to become agent for Martin Oil Co.; with McCullough, R. Lynn Illers will be employed, latter to be tank salesman; McCullough is president of Rotary Club; his wife expects to return to office of fuel and coal company for part-time work.

The Rev. and Mrs. Earl Selby and family have moved to home of Mrs. Cloa Klobe on Greens Ferry Road; Selby has resigned as pastor of Calvary Baptist Church.

Herman F. Eggimann, 76, died Dec. 30, at home of his son, Clarence Eggimann, west of Arbor; he had been in ill health past several years; born in 1873, Eggimann married Annie Mueller in 1896, and resided in and near Gordonville all of his life; he was active in farming until seven years ago; he is survived by his wife, three sons and three daughters.

Mrs. John Kasten returned Wednesday from Graysburg, Texas, where she had been since November, visiting her brother and sister-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Sloan Short; she also visited Mr. and Mrs. Gene Miller in Beaumont, who formerly lived in Pocahontas.

Mr. and Mrs. Gene Godwin and children, Anna Lee, Eddie and Gene Jr., have moved to Mount Vernon, Ill., where he has been transferred to International Shoe factory as foreman; Godwin has been working there for seven weeks, but had been unable to move his family until now.

Total value of building permits issued in Jackson for construction of all kinds for 1949 was $261,650; there were 70 permits of all kinds issued, 10 garages and outbuildings, nine remodelings or additions of porches, 15 commercial structures including one school, and 36 dwellings; dwelling permits amounted to $159,500, commercial buildings $90,900, garages $3,450 and $7,800 in remodeling; largest construction project during year was Immaculate Conception Catholic School, with estimated value of $42,000.

Charles Bollinger, county highway engineer, in making his report to County Court on Friday showed that 25,931 yards of gravel had been hauled in Road Districts 1 and 2 in 1949, 3,644 more than in 1948.

75 years ago, 1924

Local weather observation station reported temperature of 8 degrees below zero during nights of Dec. 24 to 25, and 5 below following night; still, these frigid figures can't rival winter of 1917-18; during that winter, thermometer stood at zero and below 18 days, and lowest point reached was 23 degrees below zero on Dec. 9, 1917.

A.W. Kerstner has accepted appointment as city collector, and has begun duties of office; for time being, H.A. Voges, who formerly held that office, will be deputy collector; Kerstner has said he won't remain at collector's job any longer than until his successor can be appointed and qualified.

Zero weather during Christmas season damaged water tank at shoe factory considerably, and there were burst pipes and frozen conduits; factory didn't suspend operation, however.

At next term of circuit court, four naturalization cases will be heard; applicants for citizenship are Charlie Sapienza, Charlie Barronco and Joe Seggie, all of Cape Girardeau and all Italians, and Reinhard Zschille of Jackson, a German; Sapienza has been in United Stances since 1902, Barronco arrived in 1901, and Seggie in 1905; Zschille has been here since 1881.

Fire Chief Charles Steck returned Thursday from St. Louis, where he had been to purchase fire-fighting apparatus for city; at its regular meeting, City Council ordered purchase of motor truck for fire department of Jackson.

Two new bridges, costing more than $5,000, and more than 10 miles of highway was improved and graveled by Cape Girardeau Special Road district during 1924; all-steel bridge was placed across Sloan's Creek in North Cape Girardeau at cost of $4,000, and another was built over small creek on Stout Road at cost of $1,500; Gordonville Road, from Cape Girardeau to Gordonville, was graveled entire distance during year just ending; next year's work will include graveling of about 20 miles of road in district.