A LOOK BACK AT JACKSON

25 years ago: 1974

County Court intends to meet with architect Thomas E. Phillips at site of proposed county jail complex to discuss feasibility of higher-than-expected earthwork bids that were submitted week ago by two contractors; court Thursday agreed to meet after County Auditor E. Weldon Macke presented judges with federal revenue-sharing budget that shows if federal revenue-sharing funds continue through 1976, as anticipated, county would have available for jail complex about $882,000; Macke's statement last week that continuation of revenue-sharing program is questionable prompted court to reconsider plans for proposed jail on 23-acre tract of County Farm in Cape Girardeau.

The Rev. J.E. Gray, new pastor of Calvary United Pentecostal Church, held his first Sunday service Sunday morning; he had conducted his first midweek service Wednesday night; Gray, who has been in ministry for 26 years, moved to Jackson from Vienna, Ill., where he was pastor of United Pentecostal Church for seven years.

Blood-stained automobile is only clue Georgia authorities have uncovered thus far in their investigation of fatal shooting Friday of Mrs. Charles R. Ashman, wife of Savannah, Ga., attorney and former Alice Anne Thompson of Jackson; she was daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Billy Joe Thompson of Jackson.

Cape Girardeau County Planning and Zoning Commission's proposed ordinance regulating subdivision and mobile home parks in county wouldn't restrict type of building planned on property to be developed; this point was stressed frequently Monday night at public hearing on proposed regulations; nearly 30 persons attended hearing, designed to explain 77-page ordinance and seek public comment on it.

Jackson Community Chest house-to-house campaign will be headed by Mrs. Carlton Meyer, with kickoff date being Sept. 17.

Cape Girardeau County Port Authority was named Monday by County Court, pending acceptance of appointments by authority's seven proposed members; County Port Authority members are C.W. Rushing, Maurice T. Dunklin, Linder P. Deimund, Robert J. Earley, James I. Bowman, County Prosecuting Attorney A.J. Seier and Cape Girardeau Mayor Howard C. Tooke.

There were sharp increases this year in number of kindergarten through second grade and eighth and ninth grade pupils in Jackson R-2 School District, but total district enrollment is down nine pupils; this year's enrollment is 2,812.

50 years ago: 1949

Hardly believable, by Sunday noon, only few hours after approximately 10,000 had been on streets for final day of Homecomers, town had been cleaned up; even papers on courthouse lawn were picked up, streets had been washed with fire hose and sprayed with DDT, and all debris was gone; it is reported that proceeds will nearly match those of 1948, which brought all-time high profit.

Mr. and Mrs. Sam Brandes have moved to new house of Mr. and Mrs. Chester O. Lincoln near grade school; Lincolns are also residing there; house on Florence Street was sold to Mr. and Mrs. Nelson Deal of St. Louis, who moved here Thursday.

Fruitland School opened Monday and its first-day enrollment was 77, with four more coming Tuesday; Lynn Wilkening is principal and teaches three upper grades, Mrs. C.J. Ritter the three middle grades and Mrs. J.C. Hoffmeister the first and second; extensive improvements have been made to school during summer, deep well having been dug to supply building with water.

All rural schools of county opened Monday, 62 public schools opening with 72 teachers, and six rural parochial schools opening with as many teachers.

Mr. and Mrs. E.O. Seabaugh, in Jackson this week, sold their stucco house to Mr. and Mrs. Hubert Steele; five-room house is centrally located and is reported to have sold for about $7,500; Seabaughs plan to make their home in Memphis, Tenn.

There are 160 pupils enrolled in Sedgwickville consolidated school; school runs from first grade to junior high; Mrs. J.H. O'Connor of Jackson goes there each day to teach third and fourth grades, and accompanies Natalie Houk, who lives on Highway 61.

There are 17 pupils attending Roberts School, and one more will enroll soon; teacher is Mrs. G.C. Fulbright; Mrs. Charles Hanners has charge of hot lunch program.

O.C. Kiehne was named president of Community Teachers Association this week; Mrs. Sewell Wood was elected vice president and Betty Schweer, secretary-treasurer.

75 years ago: 1924

Records of keeper of vital statistics for Jackson and Byrd Township show that during month of August five births and two deaths occurred in that city and township; daughters were born to Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Call, G.F. Froemsdorf, P.W. Crites and Jacob F. Loos, and son to Mr. and Mrs. Jessie McIntyre; deaths were those of John C. Hoffmeister and Mrs. Lucy A. Moore.

The Rev. Robert Alexander, native of Shawnee Township in this county, who has been in ministry for years and had charge of various congregations in West, Oklahoma, Texas and other states, is visiting relatives and friends in area; all-day service was arranged for Sunday at Old Applecreek Church near Pocahontas, at which Alexander preached to his boyhood friends and all who come.

The Rev. W. Hummel was installed pastor of St. John Lutheran Church at Pocahontas Sunday morning.

Mrs. J.B. Woody, Cathleen Gholson, Lorene Gholson and Cora Goehman were baptized in Williams Creek Sunday afternoon, the Rev. H.B. Colter of Baptist Church officiating.

Mr. and Mrs. Albert Schmidt of Grossrueden in Hanover, Germany, arrived in this county last Thursday and are with relatives in neighborhood of Tilsit at present; after delay of year or more, Schmidts were finally allowed to leave their old home and come to America, where they intend to remain rest of their lives; will become citizens as soon as possible.

Electricians have begun work of placing posts and wires for illumination attending annual homecoming; as usual, thousands of lights will cover courthouse, public square and adjacent streets; under these brilliant lights will be massed Homecomers attractions.

Everyone is getting ready to attend fair at Cape Girardeau next week; indications are that practically all Jacksonians will attend at least one day; only regret is that there is no cheaper transportation between two cities for those who aren't fortunate to possess cars; 75 cents for 10 miles of travel is regarded here as exorbitant by many.