A LOOK BACK AT JACKSON

25 years ago: 1973

Anita Kay Seabaugh is valedictorian and Thomas Robert Kirchner is salutatorian of Oak Ridge High School's 1973 senior class; they will be recognized at commencement ceremony Friday night in school gymnasium, at which 30 seniors will receive diplomas; 25 eighth grade pupils also will be graduated at program; guest speaker will be U.S. Rep. James W. Symington, D-St. Louis.

Farmers Home Administration has informed directors of Public Supply District No. 4 in Gordonville that they should begin preparations for approximate $157,000 bond issue election to establish water district; establishment of district had hinged upon FHA's final approval of applications and that approval was given in letter to water district attorney Paul A. Mueller Jr. of Jackson Wednesday.

Large crowd attended recent centennial celebration of United Methodist Church at Oak Ridge; Mrs. Jack Jenkins gave history of church and town from 1800 to present; buggies, surries and old model cars were driven to celebration.

Beginning next week, Cape Girardeau County residents will learn how much their tax assessments will change; new real property assessment figures will be reviewed by County Board of Equalization at special meeting Monday; board is expected to issue order placing new assessments on books.

Delegation of nine Whitewater area residents asked County Court Monday to blacktop rural road; court advised delegation to ask State Highway Department to surface road, a four-mile stretch known as Whitewater-Little German Church Road.

Brenda Zeller was crowned queen of Jackson High School junior-senior prom Saturday night; she is daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Zeller of Jackson; John Mize, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Lee Mize of Jackson, crowned new queen.

50 years ago: 1948

Glen R. Luetje, architect, has moved his office to new medical building; Luetje occupied rooms in Jenkins building, which will be razed after July 1, when Jackson Exchange Bank builds modern banking house on 99-year lease from Dr. J.L. Jenkins, owner; work on new building will be started as soon as Schaper grocery is moved to new market building now ready for inside work on West Main, built by J.A. Schaper.

The Rev. L.A. Green of Salisbury preached two sermons at First Baptist Church last Sunday; at meeting following evening worship service, congregation voted to elect Green as pastor; he is expected to send his answer to congregation in a few days.

N.H. Klaus, merchant of Friedheim, who lost his store and contents by fire last Monday, plans to rebuild business; his loss was estimated at $15,000.

Gooseberries are ready for picking, according to one Jacksonian who was so engaged Tuesday; there is abundant crop this year.

Marshall Brooks was named elementary school principal to succeed T.L. St. Clair, at meeting of school board Monday night; Brooks is at present principal at Ste. Genevieve; he received his college education at State College in Cape Girardeau and Washington University.

Jackson High School baccalaureate services are scheduled for Sunday evening in Grade School auditorium; delivering sermon will be the Rev. T.A. Jaeter Jr., pastor of Presbyterian Church; commencement exercises will be May 21; 71 pupils will receive diplomas.

75 years ago: 1923

Jackson is overrun with marauding cats and worthless dogs, all of which live on birds and chickens, both young and old; this diet seems to agree with the robbers, both canine and feline, and they seem to thrive and increase.

School board has engaged Ernest Caldwell, formerly county assessor, to make enumeration list of district for year 1923.

Purl Adams of Pocahontas was in Jackson Friday on business; he is new owner of former Knox transfer business, but won't move to Jackson until July; Ralph Coonce is manager of business for Adams.

J.N. Keiling is some better and can get around some in house and yard with cane and crutch; he is still suffering from injury received few years ago at Cape Girardeau fair; he is past 80 years old.

Teachers of public school went to Dutchtown on their annual picnic Saturday; instructors are Ruby Spradling, Margaret LaPierre, Lucille Miller, Jessie Harris, Virginia Tiffin, Fern Penny, Roberta Ranney and Mrs. Roscoe Pierce.

Transfer of realty was completed Tuesday, wherein Mr. and Mrs. Henry Gockel sold Robertson property to Gottfried Kies.

Sandy McDonald, a promoter from state of Minnesota, has purchased from L.E. Kies and Sons plot of ground adjoining city of Jackson on south and will have plot laid out in lots as new addition to city; addition will contain from 10 to 14 acres, and lot sale will be held as soon as possible.