A LOOK BACK AT JACKSON

25 years ago: 1973

Dr. Theodore Fischer of Altenburg, physician for 40 years, was honored at open house Sunday afternoon at Trinity Young Peoples Hall; Altenburg native, Fischer has practiced there since 1933; he began his career following graduation from Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, in 1927.

Lee G. Cochran of Jackson was elected president of Apple Creek Presbyterian Memorial Association at its annual meeting Sunday following morning worship and basket dinner on grounds of old Apple Creek Presbyterian Church near Pocahontas; the Rev. C.E. Mount, former pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Cape Girardeau, spoke of faith of those who founded Apple Creek congregation 152 years ago.

Year has passed since See Mor Cable TV of Sikeston requested that Jackson City Council grant it a franchise to operate here and company wants answer; Tommy L. Gleason, general manager of firm, went before council Monday night, asking that it act on request quickly; company proposes to offer free installation to its initial customers -- $10 thereafter -- and charge monthly service fee of $6.

Charles C. "Chad" Limbaugh of Tullahoma, Tenn., former Jacksonian, will deliver address at Jackson High School graduating exercises Friday night at school gymnasium; Limbaugh is 1957 graduate of Jackson High.

50 years ago: 1948

Carlton Fulbright of Poplar Bluff, state supervisor of high schools, spent Monday in Jackson; while here, he conferred with school superintendents and directors about transporting pupils; bus routes were left as established in preceding years; schools represented at meeting were Oak Ridge, Delta, Jackson, Cape Girardeau and Perryville.

Rain of Saturday and early Sunday, when 3.63 inches fell, gave test to dikes built last year by city of Jackson on West Hubble Creek; had levee not been there, lower district would again have been inundated; water was held in place and so large was stream that much debris was left almost at top of dike; bottom land below town was flooded and Whitewater, Cane Creek and Byrd's Creek bottom lands were covered with water most of Sunday.

Workers of Linus Penzel & Son Construction Co. resumed excavation Tuesday on library site; pump was installed to draw off surplus water that filled deep hole Saturday and Sunday.

Seventy-six seniors and group of townspeople will leave Monday morning in school buses for annual trip to New Orleans, La.; itinerary includes Memphis, Vieux Carre, Poncartrain, Biloxi, Gulfport, Pass Christian, the Gulf Coast and river and docks at New Orleans.

Applications for new dwellings in Jackson have been filed recently at estimated cost of $33,500; among applications is one by Dr. D.L. Mowery for six-room stone dwelling to be constructed on Highway 25, costing $12,000.

75 years ago: 1923

Jackson is to have up-to-date hotel soon, according to announcement made by cashier W.O. Stacy of People's National Bank; management of bank, which owns the hotel, has resolved to remodel Central Hotel and put in first-class equipment; entire ground floor, formerly occupied by Miltenberger mercantile store, will be used for office, sample room, parlors, lobby, dining room and kitchen, while other three floors will be used for guest rooms.

Teachers of public schools have decided not to have May Festival this year, because of many cases of measles among the children.

E.J. Caldwell has finished and delivered to secretary of board of education 1923 enumeration list of children within Jackson school district, who are of school age; list shows substantial gain over last year among white children, and corresponding decrease among blacks; there are 332 white boys and 345 white girls, 30 black boys and 41 black girls, for total of 748; list of black children has grown less each year for more than 10 years, and there is probability of board's limiting Lincoln School to one teacher.

Cornerstone-laying ceremony is set for June 10 for Corinthian Church of black Baptists; congregation's old church was wrecked by cyclone March 11, and new church building will be constructed on same site.

Dr. John J. Mayfield, 62 years old, practicing physician of Cape Girardeau County for nearly 40 years, died at his home in Jackson May 21 of Bright's Disease, malady from which he had suffered for two years; he had retired from practice of medicine 18 months ago and was confined to his home because of poor health.