A LOOK BACK AT JACKSON

25 years ago, 1972

With passage of deadline for filing for positions on Jackson R-II School Board, voters in this district will choose two men of three candidates for three-year terms; seeking one of two seats open are Cecil J. Unger, incumbent and present board of education president; James L. Jones, and Donald Shaner; other incumbent, J. Allen Birk, didn't file for reelection.

Sheriff Ivan E. McLain accepted $100 donation from Breakfast Exchange Club of Cape Girardeau for county prisoner work program; McLain is attempting to raise about $2,500 to set up program and carry it through first year; funds will be used to purchase tools, uniforms and to pay prisoners who work for nominal sum with which they can buy their own shaving cream, cigarettes and other small items; prisoners will be put to work cleaning up old cemeteries, parks and along roadsides.

Melvin D. Lichtenegger, Jackson businessman, is candidate for Republican nomination for state representative from District 155; he will run against incumbent Rep. Marvin E. Proffer, D-Jackson, in November elections unless primary develops; District 155 includes all of rural Cape Girardeau County and Jackson and portion of Cape Girardeau and northern Scott County.

State Highway Department's plan to relocate Highway 72 met little opposition at public hearing in Jackson Tuesday, but majority of people urged that Highway 61 be extended to four lanes before department begins the project; although hearing was held to obtain public opinion about Highway 72 proposal, most talk centered around Highway 61 from Jackson to Intestate 55; William H. Shaw, engineer with highway department, argued that widening of 61 would be costly project, not only moneywise, but would hurt environment.

50 years ago, 1947

Membership of Evangelical Church has voted to endorse proposal of committee to purchase lot across street from church; vote was almost unanimous and large crowd was present; church has no plans for lot's immediate use and it will remain unimproved at present; ground will be purchased at once from theater owner R.H. Wilson, who bought lot few weeks ago with view of opening second movie house; Wilson purchased property from Dr. Dudley Smith of St. Louis for $6,000 and resold it to church at no profit; land is part of Milde tract and on ground is blacksmith's shop.

Workers are razing old landmark in town of Pocahontas, the old Kranawetter property; log house, fashioned on the street with small front porch, was bought by Arnold Kranawetter, one of 33 family heirs, and on lot he will erect dwelling for his family; log house was vacant for many years following death of Mrs. A. Kranawetter; house, early one of the town, was said to have been built by Thomas Reid.

Jackson Auto Parts Co. has been purchased by John H. Bowers and John I. Ellis; Bowers has been associated in company with Frank Clippard, who will retire; building, on South High Street, was also bought.

Large crowd attended sale at Henry Best farm, six miles south of Jackson just off Snider Mill Road, on Thursday; Best family has moved to Cape Girardeau to live since selling its farm to John L. Wescoat and Glenn Foster.

75 years ago, 1922

St. Patrick's Day wasn't observed as it used to be in Jackson, although colors were worn as usual; one feature of St. Patrick's Day in time gone by was that late Hugh R. Quinn each year received from Emerald Isle package of real shamrock plants, which he distributed among his friends; they all tried to get plants to grow, but none ever succeeded.

Henderson Lumber Co. is wrecking its old plant on West Main Street, and will replace old sheds with modern office building and new lumber sheds.

Barn of Jesse Dunn, near Leemon, was destroyed by fire early Wednesday morning; building and all contents, except livestock, burned; Dunn, while feeding stock before daylight, used lantern to light his way about farm; leaving lantern in barn while he went to nearby pig pens, Dunn, upon his return, found fire had started about spot where lantern had been left, and therefore surmised that explosion had occurred, or that lantern had in some other way caused ignition.

Two distinct shocks or earthquakes were observed Wednesday, first occurring at 4:29 p.m., and lasting 30 seconds, second at 8:22 p.m., and of about same duration; shocks were unusually severe and made things rattle considerably, but no damage was done.