From Our Files – Nov. 1, 2023
From Our Files
100 years – Nov. 1, 1923
Senator Belken, in charge of road maintenance work in this county tells us that beginning November 1, employees of the State highway Commission will remove and destroy all advertising signs found on the state roads, and will thereafter strictly enforce the provisions of the road law, as passed by legislature, which makes it a misdemeanor for any person to erect or maintain advertising signs along the roads.
Already a great many of our folks are giving out forecasts relative to the character of weather in store for the coming winter. They observe the elevation of the hornet’s nest, the thickness of the corn husk, the character of the bark of the trees and many other things, and out of that foretell the kind of weather we are going to have. No credence should be given to newspaper predictions of weather conditions for long periods in the future, even though such forecasts purport to come from the government.
The annual Live Stock, Agricultural and Poultry Show was held here Friday and Saturday of last week. Neither the attendance nor the exhibits were as large as in other years, a condition due to the weather that prevailed.
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75 years – Nov. 4, 1948
The fire department answered a call last Friday noon in north town where a wood house in the rear of the Allbright home was practically destroyed by fire. The building was ignited after a trash fire reached the structure.
The price of pig lead on the open market Monday went up two cents a pound for a new high for this commodity. Pig lead has been quoted on the market at 19.50 cents a pound in New York, and has maintained this price for many months.
The crowning of Miss Mary Johnson as Halloween Queen was the stellar attraction at last Thursday night’s Carnival at the Fredericktown High School.
Poem for the week! Considering the results of the election, Governor Dewey probably bemoaned: Of all sad words, Of tongue or pen, The saddest are these: I’m beat again. Speaking of polls! The ones that knock the apples down are election polls.
The Art Classes are now making animals with crumpled newspapers and string. The next project will be crafts suitable for Christmas gifts. This is about the busiest place in the building, and if you have any ambition artistically you are welcome.
50 years – Nov. 1, 1973
The R-I Board of Education Monday night approved the investment plan for the $1,250,000 in bond money. Supt. Garland Hamilton said the money would be invested in short term U.S. Treasury bills.
There’s something over 600 square miles of land in Madison County and perhaps 80 percent of that is either growing trees or growing grass. Both are tremendous factors in the economy of the county and both employ a considerable number of people as well as bringing in the prime dollar.
One of four lovely senior girls at Fredericktown High School will be named the 1973 Homecoming Queen Friday night. The ceremonies will be held at halftime in the contest between the Black Cats and Farmington. Candidates include Becky Revelle, Ruthie Venker, Missy Tinnin, and Sherrilou Berry.
The Wilson Funeral Home, one of the most modern and up-to-date funeral homes in Southeast Missouri, recently purchased two new Cadillac hearses. Owner Ray Wilson said the new additions will enable the funeral home to offer every convenience.
City Street Dept. crews have erected Do Not Enter signs at the South Main entrance to Virginia and Eugenia Streets. From now on, motorists can only drive east on Eugenia and Virginia off South Maple. No parking signs have also been erected along the east side of South Maple.
25 years – Nov. 4, 1998
Oliver Ferguson was recognized Friday, as he was inducted into the Missouri Press Association Newspaper Hall of Fame. Ferguson published the Fredericktown Democrat-News from 1946 until his death in 1975. He succeeded his father, O.J. Ferguson. Oliver’s late son Richard and Richard’s wife Emily Firebaugh, published the paper for many years. She has campaigned for almost 10 years to have Oliver Ferguson honored in the Hall of Fame.
Mike Pritchett will offer his hand as a play toy to his pet tiger, “Lucy.” Lucy is nine months old, and lives with Pritchett on his property in rural Madison County, off of Highway E. Pritchett says he’s learning about the animal and training it, along with his six German Shepards. He also has two horses and three cats. He says he hopes to add two more tigers in the next year and a half. He would like to breed Lucy with an African male to make a breed called “Ligers.”
Time flies when you’re eating barbecues. Fifty years ago when Norman Seib first built his small restaurant, he probably had no idea the impact it would have on this community, or that it would still be going strong in 1998. The “Pig” commemorated its Gold Anniversary, Saturday, and it looked like everyone who ever ate there showed up for the celebration.
For the first time in its history, the Fredericktown Chamber of Commerce’s Beautification Committee recognized homes in the Madison County area that had outstanding Halloween yard decorations. First place went to the home of Tom and Mary Bohr at 209 W. Marvin Ave.
