LOOKING BACK AT JACKSON

25 years ago: 1973

Cape Girardeau County Board of Equalization, which is empowered to change tax assessments if justification is found for such action, will begin meeting Monday at county courthouse; board will meet each week day until its work is completed; Monday and Tuesday, board will set assessments on merchants and manufacturers, putting assessments on tax books; these assessments are compiled by County Assessor Edwin A. Blumenberg, but don't become final until reviewed and acted upon by Board of Equalization.

Increase in telephone rates for Jackson customers effective July 23, announced by Southwestern Bell Telephone Co. on May 22, has been deferred in cooperation with President's current 60-day price freeze, John C. Bermann, manager of Cape Girardeau office, announced; previously-announced increase would have raised rates for private line residential telephones by 25 cents per month, from $5.45 to $5.70 per month, and for private business phones from $13.15 to $14.40 per month.

A 1,100-acre tract north of Neelys Landing purchased recently by Farmers Limestone Co. of Old Appleton will be used primarily to expand business through river and rail shipment of stone from new site; land is about four miles north of Neelys Landing and fronts on two miles of Mississippi River.

50 years ago: 1948

Congregation of McKendree Methodist Church is holding Sunday worship services in Wesleyan Fellowship room of church for next few weeks as main auditorium is being redecorated.

Albert Heartling of Altenburg Route 1, north of Shawneetown, reports wheat yield of 39 bushels per acre.

Blackberries for 65 cents a gallon have appeared in Jackson, pickers selling at doors of blackberry jelly consumers; berries are large and plentiful.

County Court, in session Tuesday, reappointed Marvin Campbell sanitary engineer of county and fixed his pay at $3,000 per year, with traveling expenses of $800.

Stone masons have three sides of stone house, under construction by Dr. and Mrs. D.L. Mowery on Highway 25, up to window sills; dwelling will be made of white sandstone brought here by truck from Williamsville and accompanied by stone mason from that area; carpentry work is being done by Pickens contractors of Cape Girardeau; Glen Luetje is architect.

Mary LaPierre, teacher in Flint, Mich., has returned to reside at LaPierre home here; she has completed 30 years of teaching in primary grades and is entitled to retirement, under system of that state.

Workmen are ready to install electrical wiring in new dwelling being constructed for Mr. and Mrs. O.D. Wilson in Sanford's Second Addition; four-room house is under roof, with windows and doors in place, and family expects to occupy it by latter part of month.

75 years ago: 1923

Celebration of Independence Day and community picnic passed off quietly and without accident or unpleasant occurrence; parade in morning was better than had been expected, and other features of celebration were enjoyed as much as temperature of 94 degrees in shade would permit; on picnic grounds at City Park, G.C. Fulbright and R.H. Limbaugh were orators.

Monument or memorial in honor of World War soldier and sailor dead still hasn't been erected on courthouse square as was ordered several years ago, although monument is here and has been for years; money for completion of memorial is ready and available; holding up project is lack of complete list of names of county boys who made supreme sacrifice, which names are to appear on bronze tablet to be placed on pedestal of statue.

Derailments and minor wrecks are becoming frequent on Jackson branch of Missouri Pacific Railroad; residents of Jackson are beginning to feel as if attention given to maintenance of line is wholly out of keeping with business afforded little branch by this town and county in general; larger industries are demanding better service.

The 1923 honey crop is going to be very short, according to foremost apiarists in Cape Girardeau County; they attribute dearth of honey flow to unusually wet and cool weather of spring and extremely hot weather immediately following that; first bees were prevented from work by rains and then extreme heat burned up honey flow in nectar-producing flowers, such as white clover and the like.

Deal was closed Monday night between Puls & Wilson and C.E. Maloy, whereby Maloy becomes owner of Gockel property, lately remodeled; this is one of finest locations in Jackson, making desirable home; Maloys won't move for a few weeks.

Contracting firm of Carroll, Bedwell & Hartle secured from county court of Bollinger County contracts to amount of more than $11,000, to erect three steel bridges; jobs are to be finished this summer.