A LOOK BACK AT JACKSON

25 years ago, 1975

Host of topics of countywide interest -- including controversial county jail issue -- were discussed Tuesday night at meeting in Jackson of Cape Girardeau and Jackson Chamber of Commerce officials; leaders of both cities said meeting, called by Clarence Lee Shirrell, who is member of both chambers, was attempt to "establish a ways and means of closer cooperation" between the two chambers and towns; other topics discussed were rural fire protection and water districts, widening of Highway 61 into Jackson, county sports complex, and solid waste disposal.

County Court decided Thursday to meet again Monday with Cape Girardeau architect Byron Foust in preparation for selecting architect to renovate County Courthouse; court didn't select architect for work, but indicated that it would consider associate of Foust's, Anton J. Sebek, because of his familiarity with courthouse.

County clerk's office is busy verifying signatures on petitions calling for special 10-cent tax levy to finance and maintain residential facility for adult handicapped and to finance operation of Cape County Sheltered Workshop at Cape Girardeau; office has received petitions containing signatures of about 2,000 persons and more petitions are still in circulation; about 2,200 signatures of registered county voters are necessary for court to order proposal put on April 1 general election ballot.

Jack Litzelfelner was elected 1975-76 president of Jackson Chamber of Commerce at dinner meeting Monday night at Wayside Inn; others elected were David Moll, vice president; Lafern Stovall, secretary-treasurer, and board members, Rodney Ladreiter, George Webster, T. Ron Hahs, Stanley Riehn, Dr. T. Wayne Lewis, Dale Myers, and Melvin Lichtenegger, officio member, as past president.

President of Jackson R-2 Board of Education, Cecil J. Unger, announced Tuesday night that he won't seek reelection, citing as one reason the controversial State Campaign Practices Act; meanwhile, two more candidates have filed for two terms which are open this year: The Rev. Jeffrey E. Lloyd, pastor of Christ Lutheran Church in Gordonville, and Bertha Hoffmeister of Jackson, retired school teacher; incumbent James L. Jones filed on Jan. 28.

50 years ago, 1950

Using bulldozer, 163 apple trees in Henderson orchard were pulled up last week for replacement; orchard is owned by C.E. Burns; number of trees destroyed can hardly be missed in large orchard, when viewed from road.

Contributions for new community building in City Park are coming in; within week, committee headed by R.A. Fulenwider will be ready to report on campaign; building project has been on agenda of Chamber of Commerce for long time, and at January meeting action was decided upon; architect R. Glenn Luetje has drawn preliminary plans, calling for one-story building with spacious basement, costing approximately $80,000.

After locking two bank officials and three others in vault, two armed bandits made off with $4,000 from Bank of Gordonville at Gordonville; hoodlums made their getaway in blue 1949 Mercury car, which was kept waiting nearby by third man.

Two pieces of equipment were bought Tuesday following orders of City Council; street marker ordered will take place of three-man crew working many hours with brushes; marker, costing only $89.60 is filled with paint and one man runs machine along line for the paint job; second piece of equipment is street brush to sweep all paved streets once a week; sweeper is attachment to tractor mower.

Tuesday it was found that Adams Coal & Fuel Co. has only few tons of fuel left, which will be doled out sparingly; Wolters yard is barren; unless striking miners return to work soon, there will be number of persons without fuel in few weeks, including county courthouse; schools, on other hand, have ample supply for remainder of season.

Posse of hunters gathered at Henry Brandes place on Highway 25 north of Fruitland Wednesday morning for another wolf hunt; hunting grounds are near Leming Orchards in Apple Creek Valley; it is thought that at least two wolves are in neighborhood; their howling can be plainly heard any night.

Flock of sheep at Victor Tant farm at Fruitland was attacked by marauding dogs Monday night; one sheep was killed and three injured.

With cold weather continuing, Albert Sawyer, custodian at county courthouse, has estimated that there is enough coal to last one more week; officials are at loss to know what can be done.

75 years ago, 1925

Several high officials of Missouri Pacific Railroad were in Jackson Thursday "just looking around"; Jackson residents hope that while they were looking around, officials took long look at railroad station and felt somewhat ashamed of it.

Notice of death of Louis Houck cast distinct gloom over this town, where distinguished citizen had many warm friends; even those who didn't agree with him in many things admired and respected him as honest adversary; while Houck wasn't frequent visitor in Jackson, he was always interested in welfare of town; one of his last efforts to help Jackson was proposition to establish double-track concrete highway between here and Cape Girardeau.

Another filling station is to be built on corner of 100 block east of square; soon, white way will be established by these filling stations without aid of municipal lighting system.

August Sander Friday sold his 98-acre farm on Whitewater River southwest of Tilsit to Charles H. Daume and wife for $3,7000; Sander has retired from active farming.

Probability of railroad combine by which Frisco, the Katy and the K.C.S. would unite in opposition to or competition with Missouri Pacific has attracted attention here, where latter has absolute monopoly so far as freight is concerned; passenger traffic out of this city over Jackson branch of Mo-Pac has just about ceased, but volume of freight is considerable over this short line; in short time, as soon as Kingshighway is completed, there will be regular passenger traffic by auto between this city and St. Louis at just same rates as fair on railroad.

Foundation for new filling station on corner of East Main and Barton streets has been completed; deal, by which corner lot of First South and First East streets, opposite Catholic church, passes into hands of garage owner, has been consummated, and another filling station will soon be erected there.