A LOOK BACK AT JACKSON

25 years ago: 1974

Pending approval of additional Farmers Home Administration funds, contracts are expected to be let next week on expansion of Public Water Supply District No. 1 of Cape Girardeau and Perry counties; apparent low bids opened last weekend were higher than FHA's original loan commitment.

County Court judges say they're pleased with County Planning and Zoning Commission's "Land Subdivision and Mobile Home Park Regulations" and hope soon to obtain inspector for proposed regulations; all three judges say regulation, as proposed, should serve county well, and they were pleased with reaction of about 30 persons who attended public hearing on proposal Monday night; ordinance is first step of plan that would regulate use of land in county and later include countywide zoning.

Eligible voters have until Oct. 9 to register for Nov. 5 general election; County Clerk Rusby C. Crites says about 29,300 of county's 35,000 eligible voters have registered.

Apple Creek Presbyterian Memorial Association sponsors vesper service and basket supper Sunday on grounds of Old Apple Creek Presbyterian Church near Pocahontas; the Rev. Richard C. Lamb, pastor of First Presbyterian Church at Jackson, conducts service; historic church was founded in 1820 and is second oldest Presbyterian church west of Mississippi River.

Kick-off for Jackson Community Chest campaign begins Tuesday morning with coffee at Riverside Regional Library; at this meeting all chairmen and volunteers will be informed of their duties with campaign schedules and materials to be distributed.

Members of County Court got first-hand look Monday at what is involved in site preparation for proposed county jail on County Farm in west Cape Girardeau; light rain that fell Monday morning almost forced postponement of meeting at site with architect Thomas E. Phillips of Cape Girardeau, but as morning wore on and rain stopped, court decided to keep its appointment.

After two years of consideration, City Council Monday night voted on motion that would initiate preparation of cable television franchise in Jackson, but motion was defeated; by vote of four to three, council rejected power and light committee's recommendation and further postponed action on issue pending visit to See-mor Cable Television Inc.'s installation at Hutchinson, Kansas.

50 years ago: 1949

Supt. Edwin W. Sander announced Monday that school day will be observed at SEMO Fair Friday; teachers are asked to get in touch with their school boards about dismissing classes for the day; in former years, most of schools dismissed without asking teachers to make up the day, but that matter rests with boards; Jackson High School Band will participate in musical program at fair, and school children will be transported to exposition by school buses.

Heavy rain Monday afternoon at 5 and again that night damaged much corn and did great damage to county roads, as well as erosion in freshly-plowed fields; Whitewater River at Millersville was within few feet of flooring of bridge Tuesday morning, and bottom land corn stood in rushing water practically half covered; just over two inches of rain was recorded at Jackson Monday, first rain since Sept. 2.

Harry Farrar, 14th District commander, was installing officer for American Legion Tuesday night, when Perry Grindstaff became post commander; he succeeds Glen E. Lewis.

Cisterns which were below pumping stage Monday afternoon were flowing out overflow pipes Tuesday morning in north end of county after heavy rain; Apple Creek, which went three feet into mill at Old Appleton, caused much damage to bottom land, huge logs being rolled onto flatland and deposited; 15 acres of corn near Appleton was flattened and is covered with mud; houses which had never before leaked were drenched with water coming down chimneys.

Ten members of Evangelical Ladies Aid went to the church Wednesday and worked up three bushels of apples into 40 quarters of apple butter; butter is for sale, according to Mrs. H.G. Borne.

Roberts School was dismissed Wednesday afternoon in order that pupils might spend two days at District Fair at Cape Girardeau; community has active 4-H Club, which has number of entries; teacher, Mrs. G.C. Fulbright, cooperated with board when it suggested that children be granted two-day holiday.

Monday's rain seriously damaged roads in north and east portions of county, most serious damage being done at Hoebeck Bridge on Caney Fork, west of Daisy, where 80-foot bridge was washed out and will have to be rebuilt; Charles Bollinger, county highway engineer, is attempting to purchase steel bridge to replace it; there were at least 12 other road washouts in county.

75 years ago: 1924

Republican county central committee, in session at Jackson Saturday, selected Dr. E.R. Schoen of Jackson as party's nominee for county coroner; this post wasn't filled at primary election.

Marie Sachse, who left last week for Pineville, Ky., to take position of supervisor of music in the schools, was compelled to resign that post because of illness and came home last Thursday night; she is resting at home.

Mrs. Frances Gilder has rented J.G. Keis' house on East Worth Street and will occupy it with her family to live near shoe factory this week.

Large number of adherents of Methodism gathered Sunday at Old McKendree Church on Williams Creek for all-day services at historic campground, where stands shrine made sacred by tradition and hallowed by religious exercies more than hundred years ago; this was first meeting place for Methodists west of Mississippi River; move has been started to take steps to preserve old edifice and make it accessible to tourists.

Henry Puchbauer, old and respected resident of Schoenbeck School House neighborhood, fell from ladder while painting his home last Saturday; while fall was only seven or eight feet, his right leg was broken near ankle and arch of foot was fractured also.

Wiley Macke, son of City Marshal and Mrs. J.W. Macke, has been discharged from Navy; he is spending few days with his parents before relocating to St. Louis.

Dog pound that town is building on grounds of municipal power plant is nearly finished; as soon as it is completed, final roundup of unlicensed canines will take place; F.G. Schroeder has been re-appointed to do that job.

At special meeting of City Council Monday night, report of citizens committee on proposition of new power plant was received; it was tentatively agreed that contract be made with Fairbanks-Morse Co. for new outfit of machinery at plant; old plant is still functioning well, but machinery is becoming worn and the capacity, adequate at time it was installed 16 years ago, isn't keeping pace with growth of city.

Band of minstrel show now playing in Jackson has been giving street concert each afternoon, stationing itself at usual place on public square; music recently disturbed circuit court now in session and sheriff was called upon to move musicians to another part of town; band moved under protest.

Public safety demands that something be done to regulate traffic between Jackson and Cape Girardeau to guard against "road hogs" and speed maniacs; not only during Cape Fair, but any day, and especially on Sunday, auto traffic on this 10-mile stretch is such as to warrant employment of traffic cop or motorcycle police officer.