A LOOK BACK AT JACKSON

25 years ago: 1974

Pending endorsement by County Court, Cape Girardeau County will be among other Missouri counties requesting emergency loan assistance this year because of massive crop failures resulting from freezing, excessive rains and drought; these natural disasters combined this year to drastically reduce production of soybeans, corn, sorghum, wheat, oats, hay and pasture.

Penzel Construction Co. of Jackson is apparent low bidder on construction of bridges over Hubble, Hughes, Shawnee and Crooked creeks; Penzel's bid of $233,878.96 was considerably lower than bid of Quadri Contractors, Inc., of Perryville, only other firm that submitted bids for replacement of four county bridges.

Bids are being sought on expansion of Public Water Supply District No. 1 of Cape Girardeau and Perry counties to serve area east of Fruitland along Highway 177 and south on Route V; bids will be opened at water district office at Pocahontas on Sept. 6; work calls for construction of well, pump, well house and installation of distribution line throughout area to be served, which contains additional 80 initial customers.

Appointment of Mrs. J.G. Haupt as chairman of Jackson's 1974-75 Community Chest campaign was announced Tuesday by Melvin Lichtengger, president; goal of $20,000 has been set for campaign, $3,000 more than last year's goal.

Resolution authorizing purchase of additional pumper for city's fire department and ordinance changing zoning of 11.2-acre tract of land along Highway 72 to Commercial were adopted by City Council Monday; 1,000-gallon capacity pumper is to be purchased from Towers Apparatus Co. Inc. of Freeburg, Ill., lowest bidder, at cost of $27,900; 11.2-acre tract owned by Troy Gladish in west Jackson is to be rezoned from R-1 to C-1; plans are to develop shopping area which will include Wal-Mart Store, Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant and possibly grocery store.

50 years ago: 1949

Two county levies for 1949 taxes were fixed by County Court Monday, county revenue to be 45 cents on $100 assessed valuation, same as last year, and special road and bridge levy to also be same, at 35 cents; state has set levy of 6 cents for state purposes which is 1 cent less than last year; persons living in Byrd Township will have decrease in taxes this year as 15 cents was voted for 1948 only, as special road assessment, over the 35 cents; in other business, permission was granted by court to M & A Electric Power Cooperative to construct power lines, wires, poles, etc., over and across public roads and highways of county to conform to regulations set out by County Court.

National Guardsmen of Company E have been spending last few weekly drill periods preparing for annual 15-day summer field training of Missouri National Guard, which will be held at Fort Leonard Wood Aug. 21 to Sept. 4; some new equipment has been issued and all other equipment has been serviced by Sgt. Howard Jeager and Cpl. Nelson Sievers; Pfc. R.C. Kasten, Pfc. Buddy J. Bonney and Pvt. Robert L. Thomas returned recently from Fort Wood, bringing with them three motorized carriers, 1 1/2-ton personnel carrier, and three 1-ton trailers.

It has been noted that block of paving is greatly needed on roadway in front of Jackson shoe factory; matter came before Chamber of Commerce recently; members of factory stressed necessity, as shoes manufactured at plant have to be cleaned before they are packed because of dust and grime filtering into factory from unpaved road.

First of silver anniversary booklets of Jackson Homecomers were issued Tuesday, and some of space was devoted to John G. Putz's memory; Putz was one of early promoters of original reunion back in 1908; he worked in interest of community celebration until his death; booklet contains history of Jackson, as well as number of historic photographs.

Four workers of county highway department are engaged in completing studding for new bridge being erected at Ben Heuer place over Cape LaCroix Creek, on Cape Girardeau-Oriole Road; work has been in progress three weeks, and it will probably be three or four more weeks before span is completed; steel frame brought from another bridge near Oriole is to be fitted onto piling, and on this will be poured concrete floor.

Articles of incorporation have been filed for Cape Chemical Service Co., with headquarters at 1600 Independence in Cape Girardeau; there are 500 shares of common stock at par value of $100; shareholders are Charles E. Knote, James C. Logan and James W. Logan.

Joe E. Haupt, local photographer, was presented annual award for having most outstanding prints for year ending in July at meeting of Jackson Camera Club Thursday; annual award for outstanding color slides was given D.V. Shaner of Cape Girardeau.

75 years ago: 1924

Farm Agent T.M. Keyser left Friday to drive to Sedalia to be present at opening of State Fair; with him are Leslie Bowers of Oak Ridge and Cletis LeGrand of Oran in Scott County, two boys who won competitive examination for boys under 18, for position of county representatives at boys' school at fair; boys will be guests of state while in Sedalia.

St. John Lutheran Church congregation at Pocahontas celebrates its annual mission festival Sunday with all day services at church; the Rev. Frank Engelhart, native of Pocahontas and now stationed in northeastern part of country, is principal speaker; St. John has new pastor; the Rev. Walter Hummel arrived last Saturday to take charge of congregation; he is recent graduate of Wartburg Theological Seminary at Dubuque, Iowa.

August Lobler is crating furniture of Mrs. William Byrd, who will leave shortly for home with her sons in Carizo Springs, Texas; fine home of Byrd on Cape Girardeau road is for sale.

Unique gathering was held at ancient Pleasant Hill Church near Fruitland on Wednesday; in way, affair was homecoming for former residents who attended church, Sunday School, or any other function at this old meeting house; gathering was informal; at one time, Pleasant Hill was famous throughout this section as educational center, and renown of Pleasant Hill Academy had spread over entire section of state; late Professor John Kerr was in charge of institution.

At meeting Monday night, attended by about 40 representative residents of Jackson and presided over by Mayor J.R. Bowman, problems confronting City Council in regard to management and future of municipal light and power plant were discussed; Union Electric Light and Power Co. has made offer to extend transmission line to this city and furnish electricity needed in Jackson for 3 1/4 cents per kilowatt hour; no action was taken, and question is still open for debate; majority of persons at meeting seemed loath to tie up with corporation, and were satisfied with municipal plant and its very efficient management and splendid service.