25 Years Ago
August 29, 1985
The old Douglas County Normal which has stood vacant on the Ava High School campus for the past 10 years, will soon be removed to make room for current needs of the school.
Mr. and Mrs. Reggie Spurlock of Squires are the 1985 farm family representing Douglas County at the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia.
This week marks the opening of the 50th year for the Mt. Zion Bible School of Route 1, Ava. In 1914, a school, the Ozark Holiness Academy, was opened on the campus under the auspices of the Ozark Holiness Association. The academy had elementary, secondary and Bible training courses and operated until 1932 when it was closed because of financial problems. In 1936 T.F. Evans re-opened a school and Named it the Mt. Zion Bible School. He undertook the task of opening the school and was the principle director of the school operation until his retirement in 1951.
Camping facilities at the Fox Trot show grounds north of Ava are filled with campers of various sizes this week for the 27th annual Show and Celebration of the Missouri Fox Trotting Horse Breed Association.
Mr. and Mrs. Everett Posey spent the week celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary which was on the 22nd of August.
MT. TABOR –– Mr. and Mrs. Jack Cox celebrated their 44th wedding anniversary this past week.
LONGRUN –– Bro. Randy Dalton visited Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Garrison Sunday.
COUNTY LINE –– Mr. and Mrs. Ocie Scott of Illinois have moved near Brixey, Mo.
50 Years Ago
September 1, 1960
A rental contract between the Rawlings Manufacturing Company and the Ava Industrial Development Corporation was signed last week, effective Aug. 1, 1960. The contract calls for lease by Rawlings of the approximately 56,000 square-foot building just completed by the AIDC for a 10-year period, with renewal options for two additional 10 year periods.
Total enrollment in the schools of Ava R-1 district is 1,468, up to Wednesday afternoon, representing a jump of 30 over the opening week last year. High school enrollment is 502 –– six less than last year, while elementary school students number 966 — 36 more than last year.
Brother went against brother on the pitching mound Monday night for a one-game playoff to decide the championship of the six team Ava Little League, and the Davis Bros. Cappers came out on top of an 8-1 score over the Cooper Lumber Whizzers. Ronnie Sutherland was the hurler for the Cappers. Donnie Sutherland, who the day before had pitched a one-hitter against Mtn. Grove, was the loser for the Whizzers.
Gene Taylor, Sarcoxie car dealer, Tuesday afternoon, was elected seventh district Republican chairman at a meeting held in Bolivar. Other district officers named were Mrs. Louella Hilton, Crane, vice chairman; Mrs. Lenore Fain, Branson, secretary; and James E. Curry, Jr., Ava, treasurer.
For the second time this summer the Norman Rexall Drug Store was burglarized last Friday night, and a quantity of cash and narcotics was stolen. Thieves broke open the front door to enter the building, took currency from the cash register and removed the cash drawer from the safe in the rear of the building. About $16.00 was taken. Morphine was also stolen from the prescription department.
A group of friends gathered in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Hinton Saturday evening, Aug. 20, to honor Mr. and Mrs. Max Morrison (Doris Hinton) with a wedding shower.
Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Yeisley entertained a few relatives in their home in Ava Monday night, Aug. 29, in compliment to their older daughter, Wayna, who was celebrating her 4th birthday.
Announcement has been made of the birth of a daughter at 11:43 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 28 at Doctor’s Memorial Hospital in Springfield to Dr. and Mrs. A.C. Pennington (Louise Cole) of Rt. 2, Ava.
A group of Ava girls were among a teenage group entertained at a barbecue cook-out party given in Springfield at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Lowell Maloney, and their son, Danny. Mr. and Mrs. Maloney were honoring their son and members of his baseball team who had won the championship in their division of Kiwanis League play. Meeting the Springfield players for the 6 o’clock supper and evening party were the following Avans: Misses Peggy Shollenberger, Diana Stott, Dixie Lee Luallen, Janice Robertson, Pam Pettit, Patty Souder, Patsy Croslin, Patty Pitts, Alice Ann Cooper and Kay Page, who were accompanied by Mrs. Lawrence Croslin and Mrs. King Shollenberger.
75 Years Ago
September 5, 1935
The Ava schools opened Monday with an enrollment of 611, an increase of 67 over the number listed on the opening day a year ago. The enrollment in high school was 320, and that of the grades totaled 291. All six of the school buses were in operation Monday and it was necessary to secure two supplementary cars to care for the over-load on two of the routes.
Douglas County citizens went to the polls Tuesday and approved a bond issue of $40,000 for a new courthouse in Ava by the tremendous majority of 3,056 to 466, more than 7 to 1. Matched against this will be a $32,000 government grant, providing a $72,000 fund for the new building and equipment.
Old age pension application blanks were received here Wednesday to the great relief of many aged citizens who were becoming impatient at the delay.
Virgil Stephens of West Plains, who has been camp superintendent of CCC camp 1733, near Thornfield, has been made assistant Ranger of this unit. Mr. Stephen’s vacancy will be filled by Mr. Hurd, formerly a foreman in this camp.
The faculty members of the Ava High School had lunch at Lena’s Goodie Shoppe Saturday, Aug. 31, following the morning session of the faculty meeting. Covers were laid for sixteen faculty members, namely: Misses Una Ellison, Dorothy Freeman, Georgia Marie Jones, Helen Manley, Neva House, Vernice Stecker, Thelma Hartley, Ollie Rae Bloomer, and Emily Baines, Mrs. Neil Garrison and Mrs. Wilburn Dewhirst, Supt. Ray Hailey, E.R. Norman, C.E. Browning, Floyd Curnutt and Olen McDonald.
Ted Taylor, State Highway patrolman, was in Ava Tuesday, on business.
Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Hale moved Friday, from their residence in Ava to their farm near Goodhope.
Mr. and Mrs. John Victor entertained Thursday evening with a covered dish dinner, honoring the birthday anniversary of Mrs. Victor. Mr. and Mrs. John Bumgardner and family furnished music for dancing which provided the evening’s entertainment.
Miss Lilla Briggs, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Dee Briggs, and Mrs. Leonard Franklin, son of Mr. and Mrs. J.R. Franklin, were married Saturday evening at 7:30, by the Rev. Leager in his home north of Ava.
SMALLETT –– We are proud of our new road that joins No. 5, which is almost completed.
MERRITT –– Fred Lethco and J.H. Craig made a trip to Poplar Bluff last week and brought back a truck load of watermelons.
The average man if he drops his knife upon the floor expects the waiter to bring him another, but if he drops his plug of tobacco in the barn yard he is content to submit it to no more disinfection and renovation than is provided by a casual swipe across the leg of his trousers.
100 Years Ago
September 15, 1910
Every farmer in Douglas County is requested to come to town next Saturday and attend the Farmer’s Convention and tell what he can and is willing to do to help pull off the biggest thing ever undertaken in the history of our county and town. It is estimated by the State Immigration Commissioner that fully six thousand people from different parts of Missouri and other States will be here to attend the Ozarks Opportunity Opening land congress. The people of Ava would like to meet every farmer in the county and talk with him about what he has raised, what he can bring to the congress, what the congress means to the county, what it means to each individual in the county, and what each one will do to make it a grand success.
OKLAHOMA CITY –– Gov. Haskell has announced in effect that he will issue a proclamation shortly calling for an election on November 8 to resubmit the prohibition question and to submit the woman suffrage question, both of which have been initiated by petition circulated over the state.
Miss Mary Sullivan began school last week at Stony Point; Henry Burke began at Forest Home, and Geo. McMurtry begins this week at Denlow. Miss Florence Smith has been teaching for some time at Glendale.
Mrs. Preston Hesterly has accepted a position as “hello” girl in the Ava Plummer Weed telephone office.
Just in from Texas: “The Ozark country looks good to me.” S. Humbyrd. That sounds familiar, and it is repeated sooner or later by nearly every person who leaves this country.
N.B. Beck of Sparta, representing Quinn-Barry Tea & Coffee Co., of Springfield, was in town the first of the week and sold the new firm of J.A.G. Reynolds & Co. 25 barrels of some of their Famous Brands.
We wish to announce that we have bought Pettit’s confectionery and short order house, and that we propose to give you the same courteous and fair treatment you have always received. Give us a call and we will show you how nice we will treat you. Mr. and Mrs. J.W. Clapp.
Last Monday, James Dry, President of the Mineral Zone Mining Co., of Squires, made us a pleasant call and showed us some very nice specimens of copper, silver and zinc ore, which they have recently taken from their mines two miles west of Squires. The Mineral Zone Mining Co., is a new company organized principally of the citizens of that vicinity for the purpose of developing the mineral resources of that country.
M. King has made the start to clean up the business fronts around the square by repainting the front part of his store building. We have the sidewalks the entire distance around the square, now let every property owner repaint the fronts of every business house. The Herald will make a start by washing its front windows.
Wm. Pennington of just west of town has sold his farm to Sam Bagley of Grant City, Mo. Mr. Pennington bought the farm about three years ago and has made a decided success during his three years residence there. He says he is the first man around Ava to go into the dairy business and bought the first cream separator ever sold to a farmer here. He is considered a pioneer in the business and is often consulted about the management of his dairy business. He has not decided where he will locate.
