A LOOK BACK AT JACKSON

25 years ago: 1973

Federal prisoner at county jail was injured in attempted escape Friday morning; he sawed his way out of jail cell during night and waited in cell block until Deputy William A. Sperling came to serve breakfast to prisoners; as deputy opened door, prisoner ran out, leaving jail through rear door and scaling chain-link fence topped with barbed wire; he suffered large cut as he straddled fence and was apprehended in front of Jackson High School, just seven minutes after jailbreak.

Sheriff Ivan E. McLain, fuming over attempted escape of federal prisoner from county jail and arrival of six more, has declared he will no longer accept any more federal prisoners in outmoded Jackson jail; sheriff's staff is handling total of 29 prisoners in facility designed to hold 18.

Price of $33,000 for Cape Girardeau tract on which new county juvenile detention home will be built has been accepted by Cape Girardeau County Court; 188-by-465-foot tract in 300 block of Merriwether Street will be purchased by county from Mr. and Mrs. W.E. Walker Jr of Cape Girardeau; site is near what would be intersection of Fountain Street if it were extended and is in vicinity of Cape Girardeau police station and present juvenile detention home, an old wood-frame house at 37 S. Frederick.

Delegation of about 25 persons opposed to construction of apartments in Meadow Brook Subdivision on city's west side was instrumental in Jackson City Council's decision Monday night not to rezone section of subdivision for multi-family dwellings; council resolved to accept recommendation of city's Planning and Zoning Committee not to rezone portion of subdivision from R-I to R-II, as requested by developer, Riverside Land Development Co.

50 years ago: 1948

Body of Pfc. Dale Kenyon Sewing, who lost his life fighting in Alsace-Lorraine Feb. 21, 1945, arrived in Jackson Friday from overseas; Sewing was born Feb. 7, 1926, son of Herman K. and Flora Tuschhoff Sewing of near Friedheim; he will be buried Wednesday at Zion Methodist Church near Old Appleton, with full military honors.

Old Jackson City Council adjourned sine die Monday evening, ending of the year; in re-organization, Mayor J.R. Bowman appointed city aldermen to various municipal departments.

Mr. and Mrs. Walter Weiss, living north of Jackson on Highway 25, have deeded highway department irregularly-shaped tract situated on highway south of their house, for beautification purposes; there is project under way to beautify highway north from Jackson.

American flag flown on courthouse lawn flagpole hasn't been durable; flag, purchased last fall by County Court, has been raised on clear days and had excellent care by courthouse custodians, yet wind has whipped banner into shreds; appeal by court to company from which flag was purchased was to no avail, and plans are under way for purchase of better flag.

Dr. James H. Trolinger has moved his offices into medical building recently completed by R.A. Fulenwider; in rooms formerly occupied by Trolinger, medical doctor, Dr. Woodrow Crites of Cape girardeau, has opened office.

75 years ago: 1923

John Sackman of Cape Girardeau has purchased stock of G.B. Miltenberger store at Jackson, which was disposed of at auction; store was damaged by recent hotel fire and, following couple of sales, proprietor decided to dispose of his business and remaining stock was put up for auction.

Mrs. Malinda Catherine Brown Smith, one of oldest residents of Jackson, died May 3 at home of her daughter in western part of town; Smith was born in Tennessee on Jan. 31, 1844; she married William Smith and was left a widow more than 50 years ago, when tree fell on her husband and crushed out his life on March 4, 1873.

John Dickerson and family are moving from Gockel house to T.D. Hines property on South Main; Gockel house will be torn down to make room for new residence.

Mrs. M.L. Spradling moved last Friday to her new home on First East Street that she purchased from Hahn estate; J. Frank Caldwell will move Tuesday into property vacated by Spradling.

Pink Stearns, prominent citizen of Millersville, aged 77 years, is very low with pneumonia and chance of recovery is slim.

Marion B. Talley, 30 years old, prominent farmer residing three miles northwest of Jackson, died unexpectedly in his automobile in front of People's National Bank on May 9; he had stopped his car and was preparing to get out, when he dropped back in his seat and died without a word.