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Looking Backward 1.9.2014

  25 Years Ago

January 5, 1989

 

The Douglas County Historical and Genealogical Society is well on its way toward the establishment of a county museum in Ava.

The Ava High School Bears will enter the Seymour tournament next week with a 7-2 season record, and as the top-ranked team in the tour­nament.

County Clerk Bill Merritt administered the oath of office to county officials who were elected or re-elected in the November gen­eral election.  Taking the oath are Rolla Swofford, western district commissioner; Roldan Turner, sheriff; Connie Holobaugh, asses­sor; Logan Brown, coroner; Eddie Wolfe, surveyor; Eastern District Commissioner Don Moss and Public Administrator Evelyn Cantwell.

Jeff and Jo (Danner) Shrable, Route 2, Seymour, announce the birth of a daughter, Dec. 26 at St. John’s Regional Health Center, Springfield. The baby weighed 7 lbs., 15 oz., at birth and has been named Kerre Nicole.

Ms. Randi Marie Dye was honored with her first birthday party on Dec. 18. Ms. Dye turned one on Dec. 16.

FAIRVIEW –– New Year’s Day was a winter day with some snow and light rain and fog, which froze during the night leaving a coat of ice.

Marine Sgt. Larry B. Hampton, son of Larry D. Hampton of Theodosia, recently participated in exercise Teamwork-88 while serv­ing at 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, Marine Corps Air Station, Cherry Point, NC.

BLACK OAK –– Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Thompson were dinner guests with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Dwight Thompson.

 

50 Years Ago

January 2, 1964

 

Advertised for sale at auction in this issue of the Herald is a resi­dence building, barn and other in­stallations to be removed from the Ava Industrial Development tract of land in northwest Ava, to make way for construction of the pro­posed new 50,000-square-foot A.G. Spalding Sporting Goods building.

Babson’s Business and Financial Forecast for 1964 Is Optimistic –– By Roger C. Babson –– I am still emotionally upset as I make this forecast after the brutal assassina­tion of President Kennedy.  I how­ever, will try to submerge my emo­tions and base this forecast of 1964 on the facts as I interpret them.  I state emphatically that President Johnson may accomplish far more constructively before November 1964 5han our late President would have been able to do. President Johnson understands better how to handle Congress, and has the con­fidence of businessmen.

Mr. and Mrs. Leon Lane and their two small children barely escaped with their lives at about 9 o’clock Sunday evening when their home on Highway 5, near Wasola, was destroyed by fire. Nothing was saved from the home.

GENTRY –– Despite the very cold weather and the many farm chores the men folk succeeded in getting the new floor in the com­munity building. We are indeed grateful to everyone who helped, which included about everyone.

Breedon Good Neighbors Club met Dec. 18 in the home of Mrs. Bonita Hampton.

Mr. and Mrs. John Lewis drove to Springfield Tuesday evening, Dec. 24, and Had their annual gift exchange with their daughter and her family, Mr. and Mrs. Jim Mitchell and children, John Ellis and Jo Beth.

Mr. and Mrs. Curby Welch and daughters, Sandra and Katrina, of Ava, were guests on Christmas Day in the country home of Mrs. Welch’s sister, Mr. J.B. Long, Mr. Long and daughter, Joetta, of Drury.

Grand Opening- Mary’s Beauty Salon, Pettit Building, Italian and French hairstyles a specialty.  Regular oil permanents, $4.98 up; shampoo and set, $1.25 and $1.50; hair cuts, $1.00; quick tint, Clairol, Roux, $3.00 and manicure, $1.00. Viola, Vada, Mary’s Hair Fashions, Phone MU3-2598.

ALMARTHA –– Mr. and Mrs. Russell Walker and Gerald, Arthur Ray and Carrie Murphy were dinner guests of Lyle Murphy’s Christmas Day.

STAR –– Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Sherrill and Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Anderson and daughters, visited in the Walter Bishop home Friday evening.

Wedding vows were read Saturday afternoon, Dec. 28, in the chapel of First and Calvary Pres­byterian Church in Springfield for Miss Mary Katherine Ellis and Russell Jack Twitty.

BRUSHYKNOB – Edwin Riley of Houston, Texas, spent Christmas with his family.

 

75 Years Ago

January 5, 1939

 

Mrs. Pearle M. B. McCrite, postmistress at Bryant since May 1923, has tendered her resignation to the Postal Department effective January 1.

Through the courtesy of the Quaker Oats Company, one of our national advertisers, the Herald is publishing this week a coupon making it possible for our readers to obtain “Betty Lou” spoons at no cost other than a coupon and a Quaker man trade mark from a large size package of Quaker oats.  The handle of each spoon is a de­lightful image of the famous little “Quaker party” radio star, “Betty Lou,” the make-believe child that has won the hearts of America’s radio listeners.

RANDOM SHOTS –– Many of us are not regretting the passing of the old year . . . It brought too much tragedy and woe.

BRUSHYKNOB –– Wayne Jefferson, Vernie and Ervin Halford visited Dorrel Elliott at the Tom Nance home Sunday.

WASHINGTON, D.C. –– The sport of target shooting, both rifle and pistol, as a more highly orga­nized competition and as an outlet for the millions of Americans who continue to be intrigued by firearms and firearms marksmanship, achieved its greatest popularity during 1938.

BLACK OAK –– Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Marler were guests of Mr. and Mrs. J.T. Robertson several days last week.

Mr. and Mrs. Albert Loftin and two children of Rippee were in Ava Saturday shopping and transacting business, and were luncheon guests in the home of Mrs. Loftin’s uncle, Sam Exline, Mrs. Exline and children.

Mr. and Mrs. Cal Neiman entertained with a New Year’s Eve dinner Saturday evening in their home in the east suburbs of the city. Covers were laid for Meredith Lee of Joplin, Mr. and Mrs. Burl Krider and R.L. Ellis.

Fifteen Girl Scouts and their scoutmaster, Miss Neva House, and assistant scoutmaster, Mrs. Ingle Nichol, enjoyed a New Years party Monday evening January 2, in the Lions’ den. Present were Mary Alice Sanders, Susan Fawcett, Marjorie Cline, Delores Summers, Betty Jo Haskins, Eva Belle Rowe, Anna Rae Banta, Dorothy June Browning, Lila Bowles, Wilma Jean Northrup, Betty Jane Tillman, Angela Stockstill, Genieve Garrett, Evelyn Bacorn and Mary Lou Northrup.

Euel Penner, son of Clyde Penner of Vanzant, and Miss Gladys Brown, daughter of John Brown of Cabool, were married Thursday evening last week. The groom is a milk hauler.  Mr. and Mrs. Penner will live at Vanzant.

MT. TABOR –– The Frank Denney family moved last week to their new home lately purchased from George Switzer near the Lonnie Heard farm in Silver Shade district.

Miss Orlean Huffman, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Andy Huffman of near Rome, and Austin Osborne, son of Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Osborne, also of Rome, were married Saturday, December 24.

 

100 Years Ago

January 15, 1914

 

Electric power site and Crystal Lake –– The plant a success, the power sufficient –– Lights are glowing –– Will be a beautiful summer resort and an excellent place to spend a few days outing.  Great plans for the future.  The plans for this industry and great resort, are not yet all completed, but suffice it to say they are enough to keep things busy for a number of years.  The lake and grounds will be turned into a kind of summer resort.  A first class automobile road will be built from Ava to the lake. Plans are being made for a large modern hotel building, possi­bly built in the hillside, overlooking the beautiful landscape.  Motor­boats will be on the lake, and a “chute the chute” will be built from the top of one of the hills. The old mill house, an old land mark which stands near the center of the lake, will be overhauled and converted into a kind of pavilion. Dressing rooms and bathing suits will be provided for those who enjoy this sport.

A. J. Emerson of Denver, Colo. Presumably a rebel soldier, has introduced a bill in Congress which, if passed, will place the Rebel flag in the corner of our American flag, where the stars are now planted.  The idea of such a change in Old Glory is ridiculous to any good, patriotic American citi­zen regardless to his party or prin­ciples.

Ava High School Notes –– Miss Ethel James and Miss Mamie Hibbard are new students in the Normal Dept.

COLD SPRINGS –– Geo. Spurrier’s children are confined to their home by whooping cough.

We suppose when Huerta is overthrown and Villa, a fugitive from justice and bandit, ascends to the Mexican throne, that the Wilson administration will recognize the Mexican government.   It seems that Huerta is trying to see how big a fool he can make of the present administration. He now says, “Hell will hold both Woodrow Wilson and myself before I resign.”

Australian beef is coming into the U.S. under the new tariff law and is being sold at a price fixed by the meat trust. This is the way the Democratic Party is serving the American farmer and stock grow­ers.

Mr. and Mrs. Lon Klineline have been spending most of their time lately with Mrs. Dyer.

DENLOW ITEMS –– Mr. Andy Millsap is moving back to his farm. He sold his town property to Mr. Craft.  …  Vince Alsup has moved on one of Geo. Lemons farms down the creek.

 

125 Years Ago

January 10, 1889

 

John Wash Singleton’s latest, a “mew-el,” he’d carry in his pocket, but for the law prohibiting carrying concealed weapons.

Isaac Kester, one of the leading citizens of our county, living some nine or ten miles southwest of town, while on his way to mill on Saturday last, was seriously injured by his wagon being upset, throwing him to the ground. We are glad to learn that he is much better.

Sheriff Lyons has been having to pay a penalty during the past few days for being sympathetic and good natured. Having arrested a man by the name of Smith, on some petty charge, the sheriff gave him permission to go for the doc­tor, the prisoner’s wife being sick, but the fellow failed to return, and with the assistance of a young Tabor, undertook to skip. As usual, Mack hunted him down. No use boys of trying that game on our sheriff, for if necessary, his juris­diction extends several hundred miles into Arkansaw.

To Hang The Bald Knobbers, Kansas City, Mo., Jan. 4 –– O.F. Binkley, Sergeant of Sanitary Police of this city, has received and accepted the offer of Sheriff Johnson, of Ozark, to be chief exe­cutioner of the Bald Knobbers, sentenced to be hanged February 14. Binkley has officiated before as hangman. His last experience was with Edward Sneed, at Independ­ence.     Globe-Democrat.

Southern cotton mills are reported to be increasing their capacity and many new ones are being established.

A movement has been started at Providence to raise subscriptions for a monument to Thomas W. Dorr, who will be remembered as the first of prominent apostle for the cause of “equal rights” and an enlarged suffrage, and after whom Rhode Island’s famous internecine conflict, the Dorr war, took its title. The movement is timely in view of the suffrage amendment to the Constitution adopted last spring, which, after forty-six years, grants what Dorr struggled for.

The postmaster general has about completed the classification of the railway mail service employ­ees under the civil-service rules.  They will be divided into ten clas­ses. Vacancies in important positions in the service will be filled on merit from the ranks.

Admiral Henry Walton Grinnell, who is about to bring a suit for $50,000 damages against the city of New Bedford, for being sent to jail because he refused to pay a tax assessment, is a descendant of the well-known Grinnell family of New York City.

New Years here was devoted to social pleasures, and the day being fine, everybody appeared to take part in its gayeties.  There was a large number of well dressed men seen in the after part of the day in all stages of intoxication, the habit of serving liquors is still largely in vogue. Speaking of drunkenness, this writer has visited most of the larger cities of the country, and is firmly convinced that there is a more general abuse in the use of intoxicants here than in any other American city.  There is an im­mensely large number of drunkards among the so-called better classes.