LOOKING BACK AT JACKSON

25 years ago: 1973

Public opposition to tentative plans to construct new county jail on north lawn of Cape Girardeau County Courthouse was received Thursday by County Court; Jackson Garden Club submitted letter opposing construction adjacent to courthouse because "it would be impossible to match construction of the proposed facility and that of the old" and would "destroy the symmetry of the present architecture"; it is first complaint received by court since court announced Sept. 13 jail might be constructed on courthouse lawn.

Littering, loitering and vandalism continue to plague county courthouse grounds in downtown Jackson, and County Court is asking city to do something about it; court has decided to send letter to Jackson Mayor Carlton Meyer requesting that city police discourage loitering and littering on courthouse lawn.

Marcell K. Pringle, three-year member of Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Department, has been promoted to sergeant.

Jackson's proposed annexation of 3,400 acres to city of 2,100 acres is "clearly unreasonable" and that large an additional area "cannot possibly be served within a reasonable period of time by the city of Jackson," memorandum filed in Circuit Court by city of Cape Girardeau asserts; memo contradicts Jackson's allegations in earlier motion that Cape Girardeau's attempt at intervention "is clearly a ruse or subterfuge to prevent the city of Jackson from moving ahead."

Three more organizations -- including Jackson City Council -- have taken action opposing construction of new county jail on courthouse lawn; council Monday night passed resolution requesting that County Court consider locating jail on property owned by city immediately north of courthouse; two other letters opposing construction on courthouse lawn were also sent to court; they were from Thursday Literary Club of the Missouri Federated Women's Clubs and Mrs. William A. Illers of Jackson Route 3.

Proposed Jackson community lake went down drain Monday night -- it won't hold water; this was report given City Council by Marion C. Souby, engineer with Layne-Western Co., Inc., of Kirkwood, which conducted preliminary borings on site of proposed 100-acre lake along Goose Creek in northeast Jackson.

50 years ago: 1948

Residents of north end of county have reported seeing large timber wolf; it has been seen at different times along roadside at night; last year, gray wolf was killed on Fred H. Bruihl farm, north of Oak Ridge.

Dedication services were held Sunday at McKendree Methodist Church for outside bulletin board erected this summer by Mrs. C.H. Wolter in memory of her husband; with the dedication was sacred music on new carillonic bells installed in church tower by congregation.

County Court met Monday to transact routine business; report was given by Troy Haupt, superintendent of County Farm; it showed that 21 inmates were housed at farm; produce from farm during last quarter amounted to $355.24, from sale of chickens, eggs, beans, cream, and calves.

Electric hammer was used Tuesday in drilling holes in concrete sidewalks for installation of parking meeters; work was started at Cape County Savings Bank corner and progressed southward as far as A & P Store by nightfall.

Public schools of Jackson were dismissed Wednesday afternoon to allow teachers to attend district teachers meeting at Cape Girardeau; parochial schools -- Lutheran and Catholic -- were not dismissed.

Beatrice Cline of Savannah has been chosen teacher of Gordonville School and will begin teaching Monday; she succeeds Dale Bridges, who has resigned; Cline will reside with her brother-in-law and sister, Mrs. C.C. Seabaugh, in Jackson.

75 years ago: 1923

Contract for new public school house at Oak Ridge has been let; general contract for building proper was awarded to Linus Penzel of Jackson for $18,900, and heating plant will be furnished and installed by Vera G. Taylor, also of Jackson, for $3,100; brick structure will have seven class rooms and assembly hall.

Neighborhood block or two west of public square was startled by pistol shots early Friday morning, five shots coming in rapid succession; whether or not night patrol laid down barrage behind a burglar, or whether someone took few shots at some of 900 worthless dogs roaming city, couldn't be ascertained.

J. Frank Caldwell has purchased former home of C.A. Vandivort on North High Street and has moved into it.

Alfred Cotner, oldest resident of Shawnee Township, died at home of his daughter, Mrs. Octavia Whitledge, near Shawneetown, Oct. 13 at age of about 94; he was born in Shawneetown neighborhood and lived there his entire life; in addition to his daughter, he is survived by four sons: Louis O. Cotner, Thomas E. Cotner, Joseph M. Cotner and Elam Cotner.

Marion Keith, chairman of state organization committee of League of Women Voters, was in Jackson Saturday and organized a league; Mrs. J.A. Snider was named president and Mrs. C.H. Wolter vice president; Mrs. A.G. Penzel is secretary and Mrs. Blucher Sperling is treasurer.

Chief of Police Robert Reed is considering attractive offer of employment as traveling salesman for large wholesale house; should he accept job, he will present his resignation to mayor and City Council at its next regular meeting; it would then be necessary to hold special election for police chief.

Mrs. Bernice Wessell met with painful accident last Monday; while taking up some rolled oats from stove, she caught her sleeve on handle of container and upset boiling oats over her arm, which ran from her shoulder to her fingers; she suffered great deal for two days.