LOOKING BACK AT JACKSON

25 years ago: 1973

Dance at American Legion Hall Saturday night opens third annual Harvest Festival sponsored by Jackson Community Betterment Association; Jack Trapp Orchestra provides music.

Date to hold election on proposed Cape Girardeau County public health unit and architect to design new county jail were selected by County Court Thursday; court set election on twice-defeated public health unit issue for Dec. 4, and named Thomas E. Phillips of Cape Girardeau as architect for new jail.

Paul Sain is new pastor of Church of Christ in Jackson, moving here recently from Killen, Ala., where he served another Church of Christ.

Approximately 30 persons gathered in 200 block of Elwanda Saturday night to watch what one observer described as "orange ball of fire" move across sky from east to southwest; Fred Williams, first to see unidentified light, said it was orange, but changed occasionally to red.

Magistrate Jerry S. Estes, Circuit Court Judge Stanley A. Grimm and Sheriff Ivan E. McLain plan to meet Oct. 22 with County Court and architect Thomas E. Phillips to discuss proposed county jail; they'll discuss what should be included in new jail; court plans to construct jail either on site of present facility or adjoining courthouse on north lawn.

Survey to determine number of mentally and physically handicapped persons residing in Jackson R-2 School District has become major undertaking; survey is result of House Bill 474, which requires that each school district in state conduct survey to determine actual number of handicapped persons from birth through age 21 and types of handicaps.

50 years ago: 1948

R.O. Hawkins, superintendent of schools, reported to Sheriff Alvin F. Klaus Monday morning that Lincoln School had been entered Sunday night; entrance was gained by breaking pane of glass; nothing of value was missing from building, according to Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Smith, teachers, and no money had been left in school.

City Council met Monday and adopted two ordinances; first raises salary of night watchman, August Peetz, from $85 to $100 per month; other ordinance prohibits U-turns at South High Street and Second Street.

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Landgraf are planning to move to Pocahontas, where they are completing a house; they have been residing in apartment at home of Mrs. H.H. Mueller Jr.; Landgraf is associated with his father, R.H. Landgraf, in construction business; Mrs. Landgraf is former Miss Betty Woods.

Jacksonians heard first peals from carillonic bells in belfry of New McKendree Methodist Church Tuesday at noon, announcing their installation; programs of sacred music will be played at regular intervals, one program preceding morning worship each Sunday.

Workers constructing Jackson Exchange Bank have started brick work and inserted first floor window sills along east side and marble pillars for main entrance on south; concrete floor was poured last week, enough cement having been secured; building will be of yellow mat brick and is expected to be completed early in January.

Penzel Construction Co., working at Charleston on new telephone building, started pouring roof Monday; building should be completed by last part of October; after completion, it will require two or three months for installation of equipment.

At end of first month of school, there are 816 boys and girls attending Jackson public schools; last year, 781 attended first month, and two years ago enrollment was 720; in high school, 411 are registered, 372 in elementary grades and 33 in Lincoln School.

75 years ago: 1923

Deed, transferring meeting hall of Caldwell-Snider Post No. 115 of American Legion at Pocahontas, to Fred Lichtenegger, has been filed for record here; about 15 years ago, building was erected by residents of Pocahontas as community meeting place or town hall; it was later purchased by American Legion for its headquarters; membership of post has declined to point that remaining members concluded that it would be to their best interest to dispose of building; for a time, place was truly a community hall, hosting fairs, dances, political gatherings, elections, shows and all sorts of neighborhood assemblies; what new owner intends to do with structure is unknown.

Documents whereby Thomas G. Harris disposed of part of his auto business to Frank James were executed at Jackson Wednesday; by terms of agreement, James will have charge of first floor of building now occupied by Harris; he will also take over Dodge car parts, and fixtures; Harris will retain basement, which contains repair shop, but James will have charge of work of repairing cars; Harris plans to devote more time to the plant in Cape Girardeau.

Complaint has been made that cases of diphtheria in county aren't being reported to Dr. E.R. Schoen, deputy state health officer, as required by state law regarding contagious, infectious or communicable diseases; Schoen, of Jackson, says that not a single case has been reported to him; so far as is known, Jackson is still without single case of dread malady, and it is hope of board of health to keep it so.

Commission recently appointed by circuit court to assess damages to lands of Henry R. Meir by establishment of new road through his farm on Cane Creek for new state highway, awarded Meier damages in amount of $1,450; commission which had been appointed by County Court had allowed Meier only $1,200, and he appealed decision to circuit court.

Methodist church members and all Jackson residents, irrespective of church affiliation, are very pleased to have the Rev. P.A. Kasey returned to New McKendree Methodist Episcopal Church pulpit for coming year.