A LOOK BACK AT JACKSON

25 years ago: 1973

Jackson Jaycees Saturday took 15 youngsters from split homes in Jackson area to Shriners Circus in St. Louis; also, Outstanding Young Sports Award has been presented by Jaycees to Jackson High School senior L.G. Loos; other candidates for award were Mike Litzelfelner and Ron Hecht.

Son of Jackson couple has been awarded Distinguished Service Cross for his heroism during period of April 29 to May 2, 1972, while serving in Vietnam; Lt. Col. Louis C. Wagner, son of Mr. and Mrs. Carson Wagner, was cited for his "calm and fearless leadership which was singularly responsible for preventing his brigade from being completely destroyed and for saving lives of many of his South Vietnamese comrades."

George Webster was named president of Jackson Retail merchants Association for 1973-74 year at meeting Wednesday; other officers will be vice president, Dallas Estes, and secretary-treasurer, John Boss Short; Harold Tuschhoff, retiring president, presided at meeting.

Jackson youth is listed in fair condition at Cape Girardeau hospital, where he was taken after his legs were pinned beneath runaway milk truck that overturned when driver attempted to stop it at intersection of Apache and Crow Thursday morning; victim of accident was Ricky Thiele, 14, son of Edwin Thiele of Jackson.

50 years ago: 1948

Under baton of Leroy Mason, Jackson Choral Club presented its first spring concert in grade school auditorium Friday night before audience of more than 300.

D.A. Drum, prominent merchant of Oak Ridge and former Cape Girardeau County treasurer, died June 5; he was passed his 88th birthday, having been born Dec. 23, 1859, son of Calvin and Hannah (Fulbright) Drum, near Oak Ridge.

Groundwork for possible formation of Cape Girardeau County Advisory Health Council was laid at meeting in Jackson Monday night of representatives of school districts, health organizations and public health workers; council would be voluntary in character and designed to coordinate all public health activities.

Mayor J.R. Bowman was required to cast vote to break deadlock among aldermen Monday night, when John I. Ellis made motion that parking meters be purchased for Jackson; Bowman's yes vote authorized purchase of 216 meters from Kar-park Corp; accepting proposal and erection of meters means establishing new city department.

While binding and combining of earliest grain has started in this area, no grain has yet been purchased at Jackson; reports are that wheat, barley and oats will be good; most fields are ripening in ideal way; Cape County Milling Co. expects first combined wheat in 10 days.

Steeplejack climbed to top of flag pole on courthouse lawn Thursday morning, strapped on his painter's swing and gave pole thorough covering with aluminum paint; midway through job, he stopped long enough to take a smoke and converse with bystanders; steel pole grows smaller at top and bent slightly with weight of man's body.

Mr. and Mrs. George Fickley are remodeling and redecorating north side of building on Highway 25, near post office, and will open "The Lunch Box," short-order cafe and milk bar; space is owned by Earl Kamp and previously was used by Standard Hatchery; new eating place will give Jackson six cafes besides one drug store where soft drinks are sold.

75 years ago: 1923

Henry A. Voges, former chief of police of Jackson, has been appointed acting constable of Byrd Township in place of B.A. Meyer, who was elected last fall and resigned last Monday; Meyer has concluded to take other employment and will be out of town much of the time.

Lightning struck home of J.H. Poe early Thursday morning; besides knocking down flue or two and giving family bad scare, there was no damage done.

Lillian Bowman has been elected teacher of eighth grade by school board; for past two years, Bowman has taught at Osceola, Ark.

Cornerstone for new Corinthian Baptist Church was placed Sunday afternoon with impressive ceremonies and in presence of large crowd; box in which were placed usual books and papers, and which box was placed in cornerstone, is in itself historic relic; it was used in cornerstone of G.A.R. and I.O.O.F. hall, built in Jackson in year 1888, and when building was removed from its location on First West Street, box with its contents was found intact; it contained roster of both organizations and other papers.

E.S. Templeton of Fruitland was in Jackson Monday, and while here looked over roster of Carroll Post, G.A.R., which built hall here in 1888; it developed that of nearly 100 members of that post, Templeton is sole survivor; Templeton served three years with famous army of Gen. Sherman, on march to the sea, and was member of Co. B, 29th Missouri Infantry, Volunteers.

Lee Stroder, who lives in eastern suburbs of city on small truck farm, fell out of cherry tree Monday and broke his leg.