CITY FATHERS BURIED RAZOR FOR SESQUICENTENNIAL

ANTIQUES AND HISTORY: Descendants of its builders looked over the silver and cut glass form the Welling Estate in Jackson, built in 1817. From left were Mrs. T.E. Wilson, who resided in the Welling Estate at the time; her sister, Mrs. O.D. Hartsfield, West Palm Beach, Fla.; and a cousin, Mrs. Gerald Venable of Jackson. The dwelling was erected by M.B.W. Granger and those in the photo were descendants of the Granger, Frizell, Bollinger and Welling families. It was part of a Sesquicentennial historic homes tour in early August, 1965.

While reflections on Andrew Jackson, parades, a pageant queen, antique and craft shows and historic tours all went on as part of Jackson's Sesquicentennial in 1965, it was nevertheless a "hairy" time.

In the early stages of the hippie movement, the dropping-out teenagers were joined in beard-growing by the conservative middle class workers and businessmen of Jackson. "Jim Razor" was buried March 15 and the men grew whiskers for a 19th century look. In fact, permits had to be obtained by men who opted not to grow beards. Various fines and "punishments" were devised for offenders.

After two days of no shaving, the March 17 Southeast Missourian remarked "With just scraggly growth so far, the appearances of Jackson menfolks -- and to some extent their personalities -- have changed drastically."

The article went on to outline several "characters" created by the whiskers.

"An insurance agent is beginning to look like an oriental emperor, which may be a bad omen for those with claims to present.

"A filling station owner looks like an old sea captain, while a power plant operator looks like a man who would be firing torpedoes from a submarine.

"Another man says he looks and feels like he has been on a three-day binge."

Of course the eight-month celebration, marking the city's 150th anniversary, was more than hair and hippie jokes. It opened March 15, on Old Hickory's birthday, and climaxed at Homecomers, in August.

City Attorney Paul Mueller Jr. presented an ordinance establishing the flowering dogwood as the official tree of the city and official memorial planting for 150th anniversary.

Marvin E. Proffer was selected as Sesquicentennial chairman. He had the mammoth task of overseeing the myriad committees that allowed the Sesquicentennial to go smoothly.

In April the committee rejected a proposal for professional management by the John Rogers Co. The proposal called the for staging of an elaborate pageant during a week of heavy celebration. The management fee was $6,700, with a proposed $25,000 budget for the celebration.

The committee had already decided to plan events leading up to Homecomers week. The estimated budget was a much more manageable figure -- about $4,000

The first rehearsal for the community musical pageant took place in June. Over 150 voices were needed for the Aug. 13-14 production. Allen Rowland was in charge, while Mrs. B.J. Thompson was overall chairman of the pageant and William Schloss was in charge of props and staging. Mrs. E.E. McClary served as narrator.

Sesquicentennial Parade Committee Chairman, Mrs. Howard King, geared up for the May 8 parade and all-school carnival. Meanwhile, a "cleanup, fix-up, paint-up" campaign was launched. Marie Haupt was chairman of the Beautification Committee.

A contest was held in May to design the cover of the event's historic booklet. Leroy Beattie's design was chosen for the cover. It included a local history written by Mrs. Lee Cochran. A total of 1,500 copies of the 100-page book were printed.

In June a "full dress 150 year bowling tournament" was held at Jackson Lanes, with participants bowling in hats, bonnets, etc.

Governor Warren E. Hearnes presented trophies to Harry Long and Mrs. William Schloss for best costumes. Hearnes was given a Sesquicentennial hat by Proffer. Other events included a golf tournament, dairy festival, old-timers baseball game, dancing roundup, student historical pageant, kangaroo courts, an antique car show and a street dance.

Meanwhile, the men in town were getting fuzzier and fuzzier. Local papers (and no doubt people on the street) could not resist good-natured jabs. The June 26 Southeast Missourian best captured the spirit of the event.

"They live in houses, not pads," it wrote, "smoke cigars, not joints, understand but don't dig...they are not beatniks, hipsters, demonstrators, poets, artists, musicians or saints.

"But they do have beards."

The story went on to describe a few of the local men's whiskers in detail.

"Some, like Dale Meyer, have sprouted dapper, Prince Albert-type beards, and one can only regret that they were born into the 20th century," the article continued. "They would have cut a wide swath through a Victorian court. Others prefer gusty, Viking beards. Given a broadsword and a ship, Cletus Hahs could be mistaken for Leif Erikson.

"Men like Bill Schloss and Woodrow Helderman would have been at home on a medieval throne if they had been born old-time kings."

The Jackson Style Show was held in late June at the home of Dr. and Mrs. Joseph Jaeger in Forest Acres. Some 400 spectators and 100 square dancers, meanwhile, braved 90 degree weather in late July, for an exhibition square dance on High Street. It featured the Jackson Hilltoppers Square Dance Club.

About 125 went on a tour of historic homes in early August, sponsored by the Guild Chapter of the DAR. Paul Meuller and Mrs. Paul Mueller Jr. were tour guides. Six major stops were made, including four homes and two churches.

Aug. 13-14 were the dates of the musical history pageant, while Homecomers was held Aug. 16-21. Among the activities were a beard contest, a women's dress contest, a baby contest, an old timers' contest and an old fiddlers' contest.

Winners in the beard contests, held by the Brothers of the Brush, included most unusual, Wayne McCord; most colorful, Alan Jones; most complete, Cletus Hahs, most outstanding, Paul Seabaugh; funniest, Raymond Rampley and Jim Henderson; skimpiest, Bob Loos; most in keeping with 1815 gear and costume, John R. Blaylock

Vicki Litzelfelner, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Jim Litzelfelner, one of 13 queen candidates, was crowned Sesquicentennial Queen by Congressman Paul C. Jones. She would hold the crown until 1989, when she crowned Stacy Schlegal queen of the 175th anniversary celebration. Janet Nelson was runner-up. About 1,000 people were at the coronation, despite threatening weather.

The final happenings came in October, when Jackson's longest residents -- Mrs. Rose Sachse and Will Savers, were honored. Mrs. Sachse, born in Jackson, lived all her 88 years in Jackson. Mr. Savers, 90, was born at Leemon, but had lived in Jackson for 85 years.