A LOOK BACK AT JACKSON

25 years ago, 1972

Open House celebrated formal opening of newly-remodeled quarters of Jackson Exchange Bank Sunday; open house featured conducted tours of bank's new facilities; altogether, remodeling project was in excess of $100,000, according to Robert Grebing, vice president; exterior of bank building -- on Jackson's square -- is largely unchanged by remodeling except for installation of drive-up facilities that will handle three cars.

Home of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Sievers and their two children was destroyed by fire Sunday; house was located about three miles north of Jackson on a gravel road; volunteer fire unit of Cape Girardeau County Office of Disaster Planning said blaze was reported about 5 p.m.; when firefighters arrived, roof had already caved in; fire apparently started in wall in attic of former school building.

Dedication of new West Lane Elementary School has been set for afternoon of Dec. 17; $815,000 building was paid for in large part by $745,000 bond issue approved by district voters; it was completed and occupied by fourth, fifth and sixth grades from Jackson in November.

All details of federal grant for purchase of additional park land have been worked out, and final draft of sale contract is ready for signing; 60 acres of land are being purchased from John C. Crites, with federal grant covering half of sales price; for tax purposes, payment is being made over five-year contract.

50 years ago, 1947

By vote of 6 to 1, City Council has approved proposal to appropriate $10,000 to be used in meeting cost of excavation and construction of basement for public library; library board had asked $16,000.

Three building permits were approved this week by city: Howard Bretz, $4,000 for residence, 24 by 34, in Oliver Morton Addition; Wilson Lewis, $6,000 for two-family apartment with two garages and storage basement on lot in Original City of Jackson, and J.A. Gibbs, $5,000 for remodeling house.

Funeral services for Richard Gene Kinder were held Dec. 4 at McKendree Methodist Church and burial was in Russell Heights Cemetery; Kinder, 13 years old, died Sunday, Nov. 30, of gunshot wounds sustained when shotgun he was using while hunting was accidentally discharged; he is survived by his father, Charles E. Kinder, two sisters, a brother, and paternal grandparents; his mother died three years ago.

New house under construction by Frank McManus in Elmwood Addition will be completed in next few weeks; dwelling has been sold to Mr. and Mrs. George Priest, who will occupy it.

Butchering and wood sawing are chief tasks of farmers these days; number have already completed butchering, particularly those killing beeves this year; scarcity of wood saws over area makes many sawing later than usual.

75 years ago, 1922

Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Bright of St. Louis came down to spend Thanksgiving with Mrs. Bright's parents, Mr. and Mrs. R.M. McCombs.

H.H. Wilson of Morehouse has taken charge of Kroger Grocery Store here, former manager being transferred to Chaffee; Wilson is brother of O.D. Wilson of Jackson and will move his family into rooms in Mrs. Roxie Fullenwider's house.

John Husky and wife, Cape Girardeau County's oldest residents, spent Thanksgiving with their daughter, Mrs. Fred Akins, and family.

Abram Ruddell Byrd is dead in San Antonio, Texas; his death shocks this community, as it wasn't known that former Jackson resident was ill; Byrd was born on family farm on Byrd Creek, about four miles northwest of Jackson, Dec. 9, 1850; for many years he was leader in all substantial movements in Jackson and he never lost interest in town, even after he moved to Texas in 1905.

Missouri is third state in Union to have state "welfare society" and it may be that Cape Girardeau County will have pioneer county "welfare society," if plan discussed Monday is carried out; number of men and women gathered at courthouse at call of Henry W. Putz, county probation officer and deputy county welfare officer for county, who explained that cooperation of various charitable organizations and influential citizens of county was needed to carry on his work to fullest possibilities; county welfare society would work for community betterment, dispense aid to needy and look after welfare of children.