A LOOK BACK AT JACKSON

25 years ago, 1972

Surprising observers, Cape Girardeau County Court has ordered juvenile detention home issue -- scheduled to be voted upon Nov. 7 -- off ballot; court has decided to fund construction of juvenile detention home with county's share of federal revenue-sharing program not to exceed $150,000; voters were to have voted on one-year tax of 10 cents per $100 assessed valuation.

Reorganization of state government is topic of considerable interest both to incumbent 155th District Rep. Marvin E. Proffer and his Republican challenger, Melvin H. Lichtenegger; both agree with basic need, but while Lichtenegger finds himself in agreement with Democratic gubernatorial candidate Edward L. Dowd, Proffer has serious reservations; Lichtenegger is urging voter approval of constitutional amendment that would reduce number of state agencies to 14; Proffer voted against measure.

Aside from car being rolled into creek, attempted arson of outhouse and mailboxes, and traffic signs being torn down, pranksters kept their Halloween "tricks" to minimum in Cape Girardeau County; Jackson police say worst damage was done to car owned by Sonny Kinder of Cape Girardeau; it was pushed into Hubble Creek near Wibs Drive-in on Highway 61; Kathryn Jackson of Cape Girardeau Route 2 reported to sheriff's office that someone tried to set fire to outhouse on her property.

50 years ago, 1947

Tillie Ford has received word of recent promotion of her son, Donald F. Ford, to rank of staff sergeant; he also has qualified for officer's candidate school and will leave Fitzsimons Hospital in Denver soon to report at Fort Riley, Kansas.

Mr. and Mrs. Joe Smith have moved to cottage on a drive at home of Mr. and Mrs. T.H. Friedrich; cottage was occupied until last week by Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Friedrich and children, who will remain temporarily in T.H. Friedrich home until their new dwelling is completed late in November in Elmwood Heights.

Fire Tuesday gutted interior of shop in J.V. Priest Building occupied by Kamp & Short Radio Service with damage estimated by Fire Chief Charles F. Steck at $15,000; damage to apartments on second floor, occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Charles East and Mr. and Mrs. George Priest, was limited to smoke; no damage was done to another lower floor room occupied by Standard Hatchery.

With voting rather light Tuesday, Jackson residents turned down proposition to issue $75,000 in bonds to erect adequate and modern public library.

Articles of incorporation of Altenthal-Joerns Post 158 of Jackson have been filed; besides being perpetual organization and incorporating some of regular formalities, new articles call for six-man director board, Ira Brice and E.L. Crader to serve as directors until second annual meeting and Joseph Myer, Glen Lewis, Tom O'Loughlin and Perry Grindstaff until third annual meeting.

75 years ago, 1922

Earl Whitt, 24, alleged horse thief, made spectacular escape from county jail Thursday; pushing Mrs. William Browning, wife of jailer, who had just stepped inside door to corridor of jail, out of his way, Whitt dashed out door, through kitchen and fled through west door; 12 other prisoners in corridor, engaged in cleaning room, went to Browning's rescue, but were baffled when door swung shut; Browning, momentarily stunned by fall, immediately notified authorities and posses were quickly organized to search for Whitt.

Local branch factory of International Shoe Co. has rented McGuire building, owned by C.H. Wolter, and will install therein a lot of machinery, additional to what is now in factory north of public square; in this way, full working force and machinery will be ready to go into new factory now being built on East First North Street near station of Cape Girardeau Northern Railroad; work on new plant is being pushed with vigor by contractor; foundation has been finished and erection of walls has begun; building should be ready for use before winter sets in, and will employ about 500 persons.

New buildings on county farm are nearing completion; when finished, new county home will be attractive place; attention of tourists, many of whom pass place on Kingshighway, is always directed to new buildings and their fine locations, and they are asking questions about them.

Wiley Macke, who has spent four years in Navy, and has been most of that time in Orient, is in Jackson on visit with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. William Macke.