Looking Backward 3.15.2012
25 Years Ago
March 12, 1987
More than 12,000 anglers braved cold, mist and drizzle March 1 to open the state’s four trout parks.
Lewis Brake is one of eight Beechcraft employees who were honored last fall in Wichita, Kans., for having completed 35 years of service with that company. Lewis is the son of Zella Thompson, and a brother of Jane Pruett, both of Ava.
Jarrod Hall celebrated his 7th birthday on March 6 at the home of his parents, Jack and Debbie Hall. Others helping Jarrod celebrate were Lula Bloomer, Oval Jenkins, Mr. and Mrs. Ronnie Bloomer, Holly and April, Mr. and Mrs. Roger Bloomer, Traci, Travis, Ginger, Michael and Pepper, Dawn and Shawn Fritz and Robbie Fleetwood.
A bridal shower honoring Miss Anne Sallee, bride-elect of Dr. Scott Mason was hosted on Saturday, March 7 at 2 p.m. by Mrs. Grant Haden, Mrs. Robert Cook and Mrs. John Wallace at the Wallace home in Country Club Estates.
Raymond and June Johnson, Elkhead, Missouri, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary, Saturday, March 21, with a reception at Sharon’s Country Kettle Restaurant, Ozark, Missouri.
E4 CM Roger Adams, Jr., has just returned from duty in Rota, Spain, where he was stationed for eight months.
BLACK OAK –– Marjorie Buck and her daughter, Shirley Riley, spent Sunday together.
BRIXEY –– Ken Bushong called this Monday morning with the news that his mare had a new colt.
FOX CREEK –– A new business is going in at Gentryville. Bob Berry who grew up in this vicinity is putting in a garage. He will also build a new home. Bob has lived and worked in Kansas for many years.
50 Years Ago
March 8, 1962
Members of the First Baptist Church of Ava will make their move to the new church building located in northwest Ava across from the fairgrounds this week. Plans are to hold their first Sunday’s services in the new building March 11.
A record crowd of 6,145 saw the Bradleyville High School basketball team win the Class S title in regional basketball play in Columbia during the weekend. Bradleyville whipped North Harrison of Eagleville 59-49 in final play Saturday night to win the championship.
Miss Freida Posey, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Everett Posey of Ava, emplaned in Springfield Sunday on a flight to Fort Worth, Texas, where she is to begin training this week as a stewardess with American Airlines.
Pupils who will be in the first grade during the 1962-63 school year will be enrolled Tuesday, March 20, it was announced yesterday by Elementary Supervisor Dewey Bilyeu.
Mr. and Mrs. Dee Haden, who live in a rural home and operate a small acreage a short distance north of Ava, believe they have a story suitable for the “Believe It or Not” column. As the story goes, and it’s a true one, the Hadens have twin calves at their home but the rather unusual thing is that one calf, a nice little heifer, was born Wednesday night, Feb. 28, and the second, a bull calf, was born two days later, March 2. Both calves are of usual size, the latter being a little larger and an even better calf than the first. The cow had produced two calves in previous years.
Celebrating his 81st birthday last Sunday was Ed Burris, who resides in north Ava.
Thank you . . . we have enjoyed increasing patronage from so many of you during our years of operation of the Wallace Café that we cannot begin to thank each of you personally. We have enjoyed serving you, and we want to extend our most sincere thanks and appreciation for your business. Dick & Mae Wallace.
In our mad rush to get places the fastest way possible we hurl along the highways at such speed that we never see the lovely, interesting things a bounteous Mother Nature has to offer us.
MOUND –– N.R. McIntosh is now drilling a well for Mr. and Mrs. M.E. Bray. He also drilled one for Mr. and Mrs. Daryel Armour and Mrs. Gertrude Lawrence.
EVANS –– Word comes from Homedale, Idaho, that Mr. and Mrs. Bill Blackman (Joyce Call) are the proud parents of a baby girl born Feb. 11. She was named Cammi Joan. The Blackmans have a son, Carson.
Leonard Owens and Jess Irwin of Ava and Hugh Falk from Jefferson City went fishing and in the process, Leonard managed to sell Jess a fishing reel. Some sales pitch! Leonard reported fishing slow also. One member of his party caught a nice jack salmon (4 ¼ pounds) and they took several white bass but bass were all small.
75 Years Ago
March 11, 1937
Gift of a piano to the community room in the courthouse was made this week by the ladies auxiliary of the American Legion.
Ross Patrick of Wasola, livestock dealer and former manager of Ava’s weekly auction sale, was returned to Douglas County this week from Yuma, Arizona, by Sheriff L. M. Barnes, and is awaiting a hearing in justice court on a charge of defrauding Palmer Gilliland, also a stockman.
In Douglas County estimated horses this January were 4,508 head compared with 4,561 last year. The state total was 514,000 against 519,000 in 1936 and is the lowest for many years. The leading horse owning counties are Nodaway, Bates, Johnson, Cass and Vernon with Carter having the fewest. Mules in Douglas County are 809 head now against 880 in 1936.
That recipients of old age assistance in Douglas County are receiving five cents a month above the state average is shown by figures announced this week by the Douglas County old age assistance board.
Members of the American Legion and their wives will celebrate the Legion’s birthday Thursday of next week, March 18, with a basket dinner in the community room in the courthouse.
The dollar will rule in the stores of more than thirty Ava merchants Friday and Saturday of this week, and Monday of next, when the merchants are staging a Dollar Days event that has no precedent in this community.
England once called us a nation of shopkeepers. According to certain German newspapers we are now a nation of gangsters . . .
EAST DOGWOOD –– Wedding bells rang out for Louis Trowbridge and Hattie Leathers last Saturday, March 6, when the couple was married at the home of Rev. Carl Stevenson of Ava, who performed the ceremony.
Herbert Frye was arrested Friday night at the home of his father near Squires on a federal liquor charge. The arrest was made by U.S. Marshal Joe Healy of Springfield, Deputy Sheriff Arthur Singleton and Constable Lester Eslick. Frye was taken to jail in Springfield.
MT. TABER –– Just one more week of school.
Jake and Anderson Cox, Vernon Gunnels and several others from these parts are leaving for Iowa and other places this week to obtain work.
Harvey Harlan, porch foreman with the Carnation Company here, has been transferred to Mt. Vernon and will be succeeded here by Red Hutchison, who comes from Neosho. Mr. Hutchison has been with company the past seven years.
Miss Sybil Souder of Gentryville spent Friday in Ava shopping and transacting business and while here was a noon dinner guest in the home of Mr. and Mrs. W.F. Livingston.
100 Years Ago
March 14, 1912
More new cases of smallpox are the report at Seymour, but most all cases being in the light form.
A rain and sleet storm struck Sunday and Sunday night, doing much damage to fruit trees and other timber, so we are still having what I all real winter.
United Doctors, specialists will be at the Leading Hotel Saturday, March 30 and will remain one day only. Remarkable success of these talented physicians in the treatment of chronic diseases. They offer their services free of charge. Married ladies must come with their husbands and minors with their parents. Remember, this free offer is for one day only.
CEDAR GAP –– Prince Wanego Malijah and wife, of Ceylon, India, were here a few days ago giving lectures on foreign countries and a great many other subjects. The prince is a native of East India, while his wife is an Arabian, this being his second trip around the Globe. He stopped off to give us a call.
PANSY ITEMS –– Colonel Huffman and wife visited at Little Beaver last Monday. … Jesse Powers and his new bride spent Sunday at John Sawyers.
TOPAZ –– Bert Herman has completed his new residence and moved into same.
One hundred years ago the territory of Missouri was organized. The citizens were of the robust, intelligent and ambitious kind. They came hither from log cabins of Kentucky and Tennessee, from the old communities in the eastern States. It was a grand territory, then it is a grand State now! Let’s make it greater.
America’s Premier dancer, Florence Dunbar in spectacular dance beautiful. America’s youngest star Baby Berniece in her inimitable songs and burk dances with the Dunbars here March 14, 15, 16.
The man who never makes a mistake misses a good many splendid chances to learn something.
The oldest apple tree in the country is on the old Standish place, Wethersfield, Mass., and was planted in 1638.
There was a wreck on the K.C.O.&S. Ry., last Monday morning which delayed traffic for the first of the week. They were making their way down the White grade, about three miles north of town when the train ran away with itself. They were going down grade at a terrific speed when they struck a curve and the engine left the track. The track was torn up for several feet. No one was hurt. The engineer stayed at this post, had the air brake on and engine reversed, but the ice on the rails made a sled of the wheels, and it slid most all way down the grade until it jumped the track. There was very little damage done to the machinery.
No parent need expect pure morals in a boy that prowls the streets at night, even if he does go to Sunday school.
Marriage Licenses –– Ed Alcorn to Sarah Willard, both of Ava; Wesley Martin, of Denlow, to Florence Smith, Prior; James Wilson of Rippee to Annie Allaman, of Rayborn, Mo.; James Gentry of Topaz to Edith Coble, of Ann.
