LOOKING BACK AT JACKSON

Covers Sept. 26-Oct. 3

25 years ago: 1973

The 27th annual Marching Band Festival will be held here Oct. 2, with 27 bands from Southeast Missouri area participating; events of day will get under way with parade in morning through Jackson business district and end with evening performance in Jackson High School stadium; more than 1,850 bandsmen will participate.

Jackson R-2 School District again this year will apply to State Department of Education for grant to develop learning disabilities program; but Board of Education and school administrators hold out little hope that district will receive funds under Title II of Elementary and Secondary Education Act, since it was refused grant last year.

Names of 1,429 voters who signed petitions calling for vote on county public health unit have been verified by office of county clerk; of 529 out-county signatures, only 37 were unacceptable; petitions, containing 2,379 signatures, were presented to County Court Monday; total of 2,217 signatures are required to bring issue to vote for third time; there has been no date set for election.

Resolution that will pave way for special $500,000 general obligation industrial bond issue for expansion of Lenco Inc. plant was unanimously adopted by City Council Monday night; bond issue is pending approval of Missouri Industrial Development Commission, which is expected to act upon Lenco's request Oct. 17 or 18.

Several unincorporated sections of Cape Girardeau County seem to be going to dogs, and county officials admit there isn't much they can do about it; large number of dogs -- both pets and strays -- have been reported roaming in pacts in areas north of Cape Girardeau and between Cape Girardeau and Jackson; several incidents have been reported of dogs attacking, fighting or becoming overly playful with children; sheriff's office says its hands are tied when it comes to dealing with canines.

50 years ago: 1948

Clay Anderson of Fruitland has been named editor of "Silver Arrow," Jackson High School year book; Carson Wagner Jr. is associate editor.

Plans have been completed for annual marching band festival on Oct. 19, to be held in Jackson stadium; 16 bands will participate and between 850 and 900 musicians will attend; there are four new bands this year: Risco, Hayward, Perryville and Wardell; Cape Girardeau Central Band will not participate this year.

Albert Joseph Milde, 68 years old, prominent stockman and farmer of near Jackson, died Sept. 28; Milde, who lived four miles south of here, was born Sept. 1, 1880, and had resided in that area all his life.

Twenty-four buses operated by schools in Cape Girardeau County were inspected by Highway Patrol Wednesday at Jackson High School; making inspections were troopers George A. Montgomery and Morley G. Swingle.

First payment of state school funds apportioned for teacher salaries has been received by W.P. Caruthers, county treasurer; amount is $133,371.73, compared to $111,997.02 for teachers salaries in 1947; city and consolidated schools will receive $99,124.79 and rural district schools, $34,246.94; Jackson schools will receive $28,817.49.

Stone Manes will begin working in county clerk's office Friday; he will be deputy to Edwin J. Sander, county clerk; for several years, Manes has worked at Rozier's store as clerical employee.

Representative of Schulmerich Electronic, Inc., of Sellersville, Pa., is in Jackson installing carillonic bells at McKendree Methodist Church; Dr. D.I.L. Seabaugh, E.C. Raines and R.A. Fullenwider made up general committee for purchasing bells for church tower; bells will be used on special occasions and preceding morning worship each Sunday.

75 years ago: 1923

Homecoming is in full blast; evenings bring out large crowds; if weather man continues to smile, it will be one of biggest times Jackson has ever had; among early homecomers are Lina Heider of Cape Girardeau, Mrs. Charles Grohsmann and child of New Madrid, Mrs. H.B. McFarling and child of Cairo, Ill., Mrs. Oscar Mason of Morehouse, and Mrs. Ira Tibbs of Caruthersville.

Gerhardt Construction Co. has begun work of placing new roof on county courthouse; since construction of courthouse in 1906-1907, roof, flat felt and tar covering, has caused problems, and several times county courts have ordered repairs; during excessive rains, water penetrates into building and, as result, plastering has been ruined in several places; new roof will be guaranteed for 20 years.

J.W. VanAmburg has moved into house vacated by Henry Wiseman, who, with his family, has joined Jackson colony in Cape Girardeau.

William Bollinger, well-known farmer of Sedgewickville neighborhood, died at his home Sept. 28; he was about 77 years of age and was direct descendant of original Bollinger, after whom county west of Cape Girardeau County is named; he leaves a large family, including widow, whose maiden name was Hartle, 11 children, and large number of grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.

Frank Bertrand has moved his family and belongings to Jackson from Chaffee and occupies home on corner of First North and Third East streets.

People are coming in to Jackson from country and other towns as far away as Fredericktown, the shoe factory drawing them here; demand for houses to rent for winter is high.