A LOOK BACK AT JACKSON

25 years ago, 1973

Jackson Community Betterment Association Wednesday night installed 1973-74 officers, made number of plans concerning upcoming projects and heard Stone Manes of Ceramo Co. speak on company's efforts to curb pollution; Manes explained Ceramo's $500,000 expansion program is in progress and was to include equipment to eliminate dust; however, equipment failed to serve purpose and company has invested additional $15,000 in equipment which will be 99 percent effective in eliminating pollution; new officers for betterment group are Mrs. Robert S. Todd, chairman; Mrs. Carl Talley, vice chairman; Mrs. Glenn Oldham, secretary, and Lee Miller Fronabarger, treasurer.

Appointment of Cape Girardeau County Planning and Zoning Commission is still being delayed, but countywide soils mapping survey commission could use to control future development in county is going to become reality; County Court, still not sure who will serve on commission and when it will begin functioning, has entered into agreement with U.S. Soil Conservation service and Cape County Soil and Water Conservation District to make study of all types of soil throughout county.

Proposed Jackson City Park expansion moved another step nearer reality Tuesday night when City Council gave tentative approval to preliminary plans and instructed park planning firm of Allgeir, Martin and Associates Inc. to go ahead with final plans; final plans should be submitted to council April 2.

50 years ago, 1948

Mr. and Mrs. Harold Grant have moved from apartment at Ed Hawn home, on East Main Street, to dwelling they bought from Alvin Bodenstein on Highway 61; Mr. and Mrs. G.B. Grant will move from Sikeston and occupy portion of home as well.

City Council, at request of American Legion to hold Homecomers in business section of Jackson next summer, set up regulations governing difficulties of former years; specifically, all shows of carnival must pay for electricity except for street lights; street stands must be cleaned away by 6 a.m. Sunday; all extra labor and police help must be paid for by Legion; alley entrances must be kept open.

Mr. and Mrs. George Kuehle of Cape Girardeau have contracted to purchase house of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur W. Adams; Kuehle is official of Semo Truck Lines and works in Jackson.

William E. Skadden of Springfield, Ill., will deliver commencement address to graduating class of Jackson High School May 21; Skadden delivered 1947 class address and has accepted invitation to return.

Clarence Bennett, baritone player with Ringling Bros. Circus Band, will leave this weekend to report to circus winter quarters at Sarasota, Fla., for first concert of band in Miami before opening of summer performances in Madison Square Garden in New York City on April 7; Bennett has been with band seven years; he is son of Mrs. Jesse Bennett and, while spending winter at Jackson, was employed at Priest store.

75 years ago, 1923

Catherine, Mary Hunter and Agnes, children of Mr. and Mrs. J.E. Schmuke, are all confined to their beds and are quite ill; on night of big storm, Mrs. Schmuke was bending over one of her daughters, Mary Hunter, attending to her wants, when cyclone struck, breaking large window; Mrs. Schmuke received broken glass on her head and back, saving child from bad cuts; other children in house had just sprung out of bed in their fright, when beds and pillows were covered with broken glass.

Delegation of congregation of First Baptist Church has inspected ruins of church, which was struck by storm last Sunday night, and it was decided that it would be waste of money to repair old building; plans will be made to erect new church on lot where old structure stands.

All Thursday and part of following night rain continued to pour down on Jackson and vicinity until 2.50 inches of water had fallen on already water-logged ground; as result all streams have been transformed into rivers, all lowlands are flooded, and considerable damage has been done to land, roads and fences.

Housing shortage is getting more severe all time as people flock to Jackson to find employment in shoe factory and other industries; even basements are being utilized as dwellings, a thing unheard of before.

Henry A. Ueleke has rented store room in Hoffman building on West Main Street and will move his jewelry store there.

Possibility of extensive addition to Jackson on south is becoming brighter; L.E. Kies & Sons has parcel of ground adjoining city limits, and topography of land is such as to make it desirable for such purposes; land can be had at reasonable prices.