A LOOK BACK AT JACKSON

25 years ago: 1974

A 35-member Citizens Jail Committee is circulating petitions throughout Cape Girardeau County asserting that proposed move of county jail from Jackson to County Farm in Cape Girardeau is "wrong, illegal, arbitrary, capricious and nonsensical"; there are about 75 petitions in circulation in every county community, including Cape Girardeau; in addition, many rural members of citizens committee are obtaining signatures from their areas.

Proposed construction of county's $750,000 law enforcement complex outside city of Jackson is effort to "thwart the will of the people" by changing County Court location of some public offices "without a vote of the people," alleges lawsuit brought Friday against County Court; motion for injunction against court also charged that Presiding Judge Clarence W. Suedekum and Associate Judge J. Ronald Fischer, both of Cape Girardeau, are attempting to "subvert the Constitution of Missouri" by proposing to allow county to become indebted for amount exceeding funds available this year or left over from previous year.

Largest road and bridge budget in Cape Girardeau's history includes $220,000 earmarked for replacement of bridges during 1974; probably most significant appropriation of either budget is amount set aside for replacement of county bridges; court in recent months has entertained numerous suggestions that bridges be upgraded to safely support today's increased vehicle loads.

Cape Girardeau County Democrats will meet at Jackson Tuesday night elect new chairman and possibly change bylaws governing campaign financing; James J. Below of Delta, elected chairman of county central committee last year, is resigning because of his candidacy for clerk of Common Pleas Court in Cape Girardeau.

No complaints have been voiced by parents of Jackson R-2 School District pupils who, after week now, are beginning to get used to practice of walking across county bridges en route to and from schools; school board has ordered that children unload from their buses before crossing bridges that are not meant to handle more than six-ton load.

50 years ago: 1949

County Highway Commission, meeting Monday, ordered construction of supplementary Route V between Egypt Mills and Oriole and requested State Highway Commission to add to their approved list the designation of another route from Oriole to proposed route from Fruitland to Cape Girardeau.

Recommendations submitted by J.H. O'Connor, chairman of planning committee, were adopted by Chamber of Commerce at Monday's dinner meeting; plans detailed year's program to include sponsoring better understanding between business men and farmers and to create good market for farm produce.

Mrs. John A.Gibbs has moved to home of Mr. and Mrs. J.A. Gibbs, to reside there while her husband, Pfc. Gibbs, is in service; he expects to report to base in Texas this week; couple formerly lived in upstairs apartment at Charles Vinyard home, which will now be occupied by Mrs. Gibbs' brother-in-law and sister.

St. Louis Bank Builders Corp. has entered into agreement with Cape County Savings Bank for extensive improvement and enlargement of present bank quarters, with work to begin by March 1; addition will include Hoffmeister barber shop quarters, which will be redesigned as office space, to keep noise of machinery out of bank lounge.

Workers are engaged in installing new display tables in Priest's store; extensive program of remodeling has been under way several weeks; outside stairway to upper rooms has been changed to make more room inside store; all former tables and shelves are being replaced.

75 years ago: 1924

Remarks are occasionally heard about courthouse to effect that janitor doesn't keep things as clean as he might; but it is practically impossible for him to do so, so long as loafers who hang around courtroom during session of circuit court insist up using floors and walls for cuspidors; some of these courthouse lizards are real artists in frescoing painted walls and mosaic floors with tobacco juice.

Edwin Peetz of Tilsit neighborhood was brought to Jackson Thursday to have attention of physician; Peetz was engaged in hewing out sill for his barn, when his ax slipped and struck his right leg below knee, causing ugly wound of considerable size; wound was sewed up and patient is resting easier at home of relative.

Art of making maple syrup and maple sugar is very nearly extinct in this county; only in extreme western portion of county are there still some sugar orchards, but not of any considerable dimensions or importance; syrup and some of sugar will reach local market in few weeks, as season has just begun, but price is generally too high for average family.

Catherine, 9-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Tom Harris, who was knocked down by automobile in Cape Girardeau in front of her father's garage last Saturday and bruised considerably, was able to attend school Tuesday; she had narrow escape.

Mrs. Mary Steinhoff has purchased lot from Adolph Paar on East Main Street and will build house on it at once.