A LOOK BACK AT JACKSON

25 years ago: 1974

Filing Thursday of Cape Girardeau attorney for County Probate Court judge has posed fourth race in November general election; Donald A. Fee, Republican, will oppose Mrs. Paul A. Mueller Jr., Jackson Democrat, for judge's post, unless another Republican files before primary; county Auditor H. Weldon Macke of Gordon also filed for re-election Thursday.

Plans are being made for auction and Dogwood Ball by Jackson Community Betterment Association; group hopes to raise $25,000 to complete Oliver House Jackson Museum.

City of Jackson plans to amend its Circuit Court annexation suit in attempt to allow those areas where there is no opposition to being annexed to enter city as soon as possible; annexation proposal of 3,250 acres in all four directions from city probably will be divided into eight separate areas involving four or five lawsuits.

Ordinance setting date for city election on April 2 and resolution accept street right of way from Jack M. and Julia Litzelfelner for extension to East Main were among items adopted by City Council Monday night; filing deadline for upcoming election is March 22; voters will elect councilmen from Wards 1 through 4 to serve two-year terms.

Cape Girardeau County has been granted additional 3,200 gallons of gasoline and 500 gallons of diesel fuel this month by State Fuel Allocation Board, easing what could have been real pinch on fuel in both sheriff's and county highway departments; with added gasoline, both departments will have available total of 5,544 gallons during February, while Highway Department will get 1,060 gallons of diesel fuel.

50 years ago: 1949

Workers are completing installation of fixtures for modern florist shop, which will be under management of R.W. Martin and Ray A. Begley Jr., and will be new department of Begley's Gift Shop; installation of walk-in refrigerator has been completed in lower floor of shop; Martin is experienced florist.

Mr. and Mrs. Joe E. Haupt have come from New York City to live in Jackson; they will be staying with his mother, Mrs. Margaret Haupt; Haupt plans to open photography studio in new Jackson Exchange Bank building.

Seventy-five-member University of Missouri Band presented concert in school auditorium Tuesday; members were then served lunch before leaving for Flat River to give another concert.

Patrolmen and city police were used for time Tuesday, when Jackson Exchange Bank employees moved bank across street to its new building; during time of transfer of money, guard was placed at intervals around block; there will be number of changes in old bank building, now owned by E.F. Williams and A.D. Milde; Dr. Vinyard Kies and Dr. Jack Rose, latter to be graduated soon from St. Louis Dental School, will occupy rooms which attorneys R.M. Buerkle and Raymond H. Vogel used.

Cape Girardeau County's $750,000 annual poultry industry was given once-over here Wednesday by 400 farmers and their wives who attended second annual Poultry Improvement Day under sponsorship of county extension office and Jackson Chamber of Commerce; meeting was held in grade school; one of highlights of day was exhibition of turkey tom weighing 39 pounds; it was owned by Clyde Whaley, assessor of Bollinger County.

Office of architect Glenn R. Luetje has been moved from medical arts building to suite of rooms in new Jackson Exchange Bank; Buerkle & Vogel, attorneys, have also moved to new office space in bank building.

75 years ago: 1924

Tom Williams, who has sold his property in West Jackson to Jacob Moore, has moved his family and belongings to farm in neighborhood south of Oak Ridge and intends to raise cotton this year.

John Leimer, for four decades one of best-known farmers of central part of Shawnee Township, can no longer manage his farm and will have sale of his personal property and retire; his youngest son, Albert, who has been his main support, is preparing to move to Millstadt, Ill., where he has secured job.

Chief of Police W.W. Hobbs says he will gradually begin strict enforcement of traffic ordinances in Jackson, as increase in traffic makes it necessary; he will see to it that parking ordinances are complied with, that speed limit is observed, that all cars bear licenses, and that there are no turns made in middle of block.

Jackson has been overrun with tramps -- "regular hoboes" -- past few days; housewives are keeping doors and screens well fastened.

Five rural mail carriers who go out from Jackson every morning are unanimous in saying that roads in some places near here are impassable; part of state Highway 25, between Jackson and Fruitland, has been particularly bad this winter; all travel to north from Jackson must detour over Green's Ferry Road; Morris Short, carrier on Route 1, whose duty it is to travel this five miles of road every day, is in a predicament.

Jackson will have another lumber yard; deal was consummated recently by which Mrs. M.J. Sanford will lease to L.C. Kies and Linus Penzel lot on corner of East Main and Second East streets for 10 years; lessees also have option on lot and may purchase it at any time in next decade for fixed price.