From Our Files
From Our Files
100 years – Aug. 16, 1923
A large barn, filled with this season’s cut of hay, on Sam Buford’s farm just north of town, was destroyed by fire Tuesday afternoon. The building was a mass of flames when discovered and the loss was total. Insurance of $400 on the building and $500 on the contents was carried, leaving a heavy loss on Mr. Buford. The origin of the fire is unknown, some believing loafers smoking did it, while others think spontaneous combustion the cause.
Tuesday morning saw a sensational drop in the price of gasoline, much to the delight of the motorists. The drop was from 24 cents to 17 cents retail.
Ed Marshell from Selkirk was in this vicinity this week looking for three of his stray sheep.
The Farmington and Marquand ball game was called off here Sunday in the last half of the fifth inning on account of a collision between two of the Farmington players. H. Rudy, shortstop and Heffner, outfielder, collided. Rudy was seriously injured. The boys were trying for a fly ball just back of the infield when they ran together, knocking them both down. Heffner was on his feet in a few minutes but Rudy was unconscious for quite a while.
Cleve Henson, a farmer living east of Fredericktown in Bollinger County, was fatally injured Friday evening of last week, when a charge of dynamite exploded as he was bending over the drill hole. The force of the explosion threw him backward several feet, but he regained consciousness and physicians were summoned.
75 years – Aug. 19, 1948
The strike at the St. Louis Smelting and Refining Co. is over. Approximately 200 men will return to work at the National plant southeast of Fredericktown, Monday with a contract which will assure work until June 30, 1950. The contract has not actually been signed but is expected to be tomorrow. The new contract will give the men a 35 cents per shift raise in pay in addition to Blue Cross hospitalization. The raise, plus the lead bonus increase, will boost the per shift increase to 85 cents or approximately $20 per month.
Despite the cool weather last Thursday night, the Northern Districts Boy Scout Swim Meet got underway with some hundred Boy Scouts present at Memorial Park’s pool and an estimated 400 spectators watched the water carnival.
Glen Skinner, one of the American Legion’s most energetic workers, was last week elected as Commander of the local post at the Legion’s annual election of officers. He succeeds Paul Sonderman.
Welcome news to Fredericktown people was the announcement by M.S. Gwinn, Division 10 Engineer for the State Highway Dept. that Highway 67 will open for traffic Saturday at noon for the first time since June 4, 1947, over a year ago.
The School Board, in session last weekend, let the contract for the construction of the new bus barn to Frank Pirtle, who has sublet a portion of the job to Grover Revelle’s Woodworking Shop. The barn will be constructed just north of the Anthony Street entrance to the school grounds. The board also approved the purchase of a new Chevrolet school bus which will be delivered in time for the beginning of the term.
50 years –Aug. 16, 1973
Otto Parsons, who currently has a contract with the city of Fredericktown and individuals for trash hauling, has purchased a new compacting truck. Parsons said he hopes to secure the contract with the city when the new sanitary landfill concept is implemented locally.
If you haven’t checked the calendar lately, you will be surprised to note that it is almost time for the school bell to ring. The R-I School District will begin classes on Monday, Aug. 27.
Three residents of Junction City appeared before the City Council Monday night seeking to be included in the Landfill project. Ray Wiegenstein, speaker for the group, said he realized that those outside the city limits will be exempt from trash pickups. Doyle McGuire, Pat O’Brien and Wiegenstein wanted the Council to know that they would like to negotiate trash pick-ups for residents of Junction City.
Gene Lutes, an employee at Madison Memorial Hospital and a certified American Red Cross first aid instructor, recently taught a course at the Cherokee Pass Fire Dept.
Marquand-Zion R-VI School District today announced a free meal policy for school children unable to pay the full price for meals served in schools under the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Program.
25 years – Aug. 19, 1998
Pictured, from left, are seated Brenda Broeker, Retha Edmonds, Mary Ann Kennedy, Eddie Stacy: standing, Gay Ann Lustick, Vicki Allgier, Cary Crabb and Stacey Seabaugh.
R-I School District welcomed eight new certified staff, Brenda Broeker, Retha Edmonds, Mary Ann Kennedy, Eddie Stacy, Gay Ann Lustick, Vicki Allgier, Cary Crabb and Stacey Seabaugh.
Over 300 people enjoyed watermelon, birthday cake, lemonade and a beautiful day at the home of Ruth Skaggs last Sunday, August 9th. The occasion was Ruth’s (a.k.a. Granny) 95th birthday. Ruth wore a crown for the day and rode around the yard of her historic home in a golf cart driven by Josh Skaggs, one of her great-grandsons. She was also accompanied in the cart by Eli Skaggs and Garret Tinsley, two more great-grandsons, who called themselves the Royal Jesters, although “jokers” would be more appropriate.
“The Best Things In Life” was the theme of the 1998 Azalea Festival. For the people of Madison County, one of “the Best Things in Life” is the annual Azalea Festival. It has been for the last 36 years. Now, imagine this. It’s the first weekend in May, 1999, and there’s no Azalea Festival. This could be a reality. Right now, there are seven active members of the Azalea Festival Committee. It is impossible to put on a festival of this size with so few people.
The Chamber of Commerce held a Ribbon Cutting, Friday, at Planet Kidz Daycare. Planet Kidz opened its doors August 10. After many months of preparation the 3-way partnerships that owns the facility were ready to start catering to the need of the community.
