A LOOK BACK AT JACKSON

25 years ago, 1972

John Ryland Short, 76, of Jackson, died Oct. 6; in March 1915, he was appointed clerk in Jackson Post Office; during World War I, he enlisted in Navy and, after being discharged from active duty in January 1919, he resumed his duties at post office; Short was appointed postmaster of Jackson by president Harry S. Truman in 1951 and served in that position until his retirement in 1959; he was charter member of American Legion Post 158 in Jackson and served as post commander in 1931; he as also charter member of local Rotary Club, which organized in 1939.

Cape Girardeau County, perhaps fastest growing rural county in Missouri, needs planning and zoning to bring measure of control over development, says Presiding Judge Clarence W. Suedekum of County Court; Suedekum's comment came as court discussed with nine women special issues facing county voters in Nov. 7 election; the nine represented women's activities group of Cape Girardeau County Farm Bureau; in addition to county planning and zoning proposal, county voters face two issues calling for special tax rates to finance county health unit and construction of juvenile detention home and juvenile court facility.

Kitchen equipment and adjustment of heating system are all that is holding up occupancy of new Jackson elementary school, according to school superintendent, Dr. Frank A. Riley; adjustments and kitchen equipment shouldn't take long once equipment arrives, but it is impractical to move into building yet; school has no facilities for transporting food to new building and, if youngsters were moved into new building now, they would have to be transported to high school for lunch.

50 years ago, 1947

John P. Streiff Jr., nationally-known technician who makes repairs on electric organs, was in Jackson Friday to balance set of new chimes added recently at First Baptist Church; the Rev. H.A. Selves received telephone call saying Streiff had landed by plane at Hennecke farm, west of C.M. McWilliams farm, and would like transportation to church; Selves drove to farm, technician made chime repairs and was returned to his Navy-type plane, and took off for Benton, Ill., for another job.

Mrs. M.S. Henderson and her sister Tuesday moved to house they bought from Mrs. L.W. Statler; new house under construction by Statler hasn't been completed, and two families will share the house for two weeks; Henderson sold her house and orchard to C.S. Evans of Glenn Allen and had agreed to give up possession on Tuesday.

Professor T.L. St. Clair, principal of Jackson grade school, has been selected as No. 1 Optimist of Jackson by local Optimist Club; St. Clair has directed summer playground activities, has been active in Cub scouting and has taken part in boys' work by Optimist Club with which he is affiliated.

Wagner Bakery partially resumed baking Thursday, using new oven installed in last two weeks, but bread won't be baked yet for a few days; new gas oven replaces old one fired with coal; while oven has been down, workers have completed interior decorating in baking and storage rooms.

In accordance with national suggestion of honoring war dead in display of flags Friday, flag on courthouse lawn was run down to half-mast in morning; first of nation's war dead of World War II arrived aboard funeral ship Honda Knot at San Francisco, to be reinterred in United States.

75 years ago, 1922

It seems there is another hitch in road-building program in this county, and bids on grading contracts are all being held up, pending procuring by Cape Girardeau County of right of way needed to properly straighten out and widen Kingshighway; consulting engineer has let it be known that no bids will be awarded until right of way has been secured; it was first thought that state would purchase needed land for road purpose, but that has been changed, and it is now up to each county through which state highway passes to obtain land from owners.

Charles Bartels is moving from Jackson to his farm north of Whitewater; he will resign as alderman of Second Ward and chairman of Street Committee; mayor will fill vacancy on board and it will not be necessary to call special election, as next election will take place April 3, 1923, less than six months of unexpired term remaining.

Seldom has anything shocked entire citizenry of Jackson as did news of untimely and tragic death of former Sheriff N.J. "Jeff" Hutson; a few minutes after slaying occurred in Cape Girardeau, news had spread like wildfire, and nothing but expressions of sorrow could be heard anywhere; during their four years of residence in Jackson, Hutson and his family won respect and esteem of all who knew them; demise of Cape Girardeau police chief has cast gloom over entire city.

Estes Caldwell resumed work on his mail route Tuesday; he can carry mail sack on one shoulder; he is recovering from injuries received in game of football some time ago.