A LOOK BACK AT JACKSON

25 years ago: 1974

County Court has approved hiring of Robert W. Cope as assistant prosecuting attorney to replace Richard G. Steele, who resigned; Cope, member of Oliver, Oliver and Jones law firm of Cape Girardeau, assumed duties Sunday, effective date of Steele's resignation.

In closed session Tuesday, County Court discussed with George F. Rouse and his attorney, Joe T. Buerkle, terms of renewed contract which is being negotiated with Cape County Private Ambulance Service Inc., owned by Rouse.

Hundreds of persons lined downtown streets Monday to view 10th and largest Jackson Christmas Parade; Seabaugh Christmas Tree Farm at Oak Ridge captured first place in adult division; float consisted of Christmas trees and garlands of greenery, with peopling singing "O Christmas Tree"; in all, about 20 floats appeared in parade, along with other marching units and four high school bands.

Lime slurry residue from city of Jackson's water purification process may have great potential as fertilizer for pasture and croplands, University of Missouri Extension Service study is attempting to prove; initial studies have shown residue can be applied to pastureland and calibrated, resulting in plant response.

Bid of $5,087 by Bobby G. Clark Water Well Service for installation of additional water lines on County Farm west of Cape Girardeau was accepted Monday by County Court; Clark's bid was $1,303.03 less than that of only other bidder, J.B. Construction.

Jackson R-2 Board of Education has tentatively agreed to pay additional $1,600 above original bid prices for two new bus bodies, but also authorized Supt. Frank A. Wiley to further negotiate with Carpenter bus body dealer who submitted bids; dealer has requested payment of $1,925 above his original bid because of price increase by Padfield Bus and Equipment Co., firm which is to build bodies.

50 years ago: 1949

Three Jackson youths narrowly escaped death Saturday night when their 1937 Dodge car went out of control on Highway 61 at Tony's Place, west of Jackson, and it rolled over number of times to land in Otis Cook's hog yard; after leaving highway shoulder, car struck woven wire fence and as it continued to roll, fencing rolled about car, which may have prevented more serious injury to occupants: Richard Sides, Monte Lee Sides and Melvin Schweer.

The Rev. Earl Selby has resigned as pastor of Calvary Baptist Church; he and his family may move from Jackson.

Fire of undetermined origin gutted large portion of Steinborn auto agency building on Main Street, short distance west of Hubble Creek, at 2 a.m. Wednesday, inflicting damage estimated at upward of $8,000; four machines were ruined or badly damaged; business is owned and operated by Emil H. Steinborn of Cape Girardeau, and building is owned by John V. Priest; firefighters stopped blaze, but had to return to building at 5:30 a.m., when small fire flared up in damaged wall.

Christmas lights are being strung along city business district streets in preparing for Yuletide; two blue spruce trees at main entrance to courthouse are laden with multi-colored lights, and strands run from courthouse dome to newly-placed posts on yard; city light department employees are in charge of work.

Parish of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church dedicated its new school building Sunday, with the Most Rev. Joseph E. Ritter, archbishop of St. Louis archdiocese, in charge; new school's cornerstone is laid and building dedicated in afternoon ceremonies; priests from throughout district participated; school was founded in 1889, under leadership of the Rev. J.L. Gadell, and first classroom was in rear of present church, in room now used as sacristy; present school is semi-modern in design, and is slightly streamlined with recessing of certain courses of brickwork and horizontal lines in windows and exterior buildings.

75 years ago: 1924

Bessie Samuels, formerly of Jackson and instructor in high school but now of Columbia, where she is attending school, met serious accident when light fixtures gave way from ceiling in room where she was sleeping; she was struck on forehead, and several stitches were necessary to close wound.

There is notable increase in movement of farm land in Cape Girardeau County in last few weeks, as perusal of real estate transfer column shows; within last 10 or 12 months, practically all real estate transfers were on city lots, and of these overwhelming majority was on lots in city of Cape Girardeau; but now farm land is gradually beginning to change hands and at very acceptable figures.

City Council Tuesday night passed on some vitally important matters, among them being passage of general ordinance making establishment and formation of sewer districts within city possible and regulating installment of sewers generally; it was also ordered, upon petition by citizens, that committee composed of Aldermen Murray Jones, A.H. Hoffman and J.R. Talley, and Fire Chief Charles Steck, confer with General Electric Manufacturing Co. regarding purchase of motorized truck for fire department.

Minor breakdown at municipal power plant Wednesday night caused lights to be cut off for about 20 minutes.

Thursday morning early, fire alarm sounded, and it was reported that home of Dr. G.S. Henderson was ablaze; department made quick run to house, and fire was extinguished before much damage resulted.