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Looking Backward 10.1.2015

25 Years Ago

September 27, 1990

 

The “boys” of Civilian Conser­vation Corps Company 1733 will hold their second reunion at Ava on Friday, Oct. 5.

Twenty-one years after the Ava Municipal Swimming Pool was constructed, the Department of Natural Resources has determined that the project is not in compliance with federal regulations demanded of the city at time of construction.  So, the city has 60 days to correct a problem that was overlooked by the federal government for 21 years.

Streams in the area received a good flushing last Friday after four to five inches of rain fell on the area.

Ronnie and Janet Bloomer entertained Sunday afternoon for their daughter, April, who was cel­ebrating her 10th birthday.

Goldie Ferrell is celebrating her 90th birthday today at her home in Ava.  Born Sept. 27, 1900, she was married to Ranse Ferrell (deceased) and the couple ran a grocery and feed store south of Ava on old Highway 5 for 40 years. She has outlived three brothers and two sisters, and belongs to the First Southern Baptist Church.

A surprise birthday dinner was held recently in the home of Mr. and Mrs. B.J. Taylor. The honoree was Mr. Taylor’s mother, Girlie Taylor, who was celebrating her 90th birthday.  Girlie Taylor lived in Ava for many years, working the local businesses and serving for more than 16 years as city clerk.

It’s never too early to start talk­ing about safety, and Trooper Brian Thompson of the Missouri State Highway Patrol was at Hilltop Learning Center in Ava last week to share some safety tips with the boys and girls there.

 

50 Years Ago

September 23, 1965

 

NEW YORK –– How strong an urge does the average Douglas County resident have to go into business for himself?  In Douglas County, a relatively large propor­tion of the population is self-employed, according to the latest nation-wide survey made by the Department of Commerce.  Its fig­ures show that are 1,378 local resi­dents who derive their chief income from their own business, profes­sion, farm or trade.  What this means, in terms of the number of people employed locally, is that 44.5 percent of the working popu­lation is self-employed.

Mrs. Jerry Fouts and children, Michael, Tony and Sheri, family of Capt. Jerry D. Fouts, arrived in Springfield Aug. 30 from Okinawa where they have made their home for the past two years.  Mrs. Fouts and children will live in their home near her parents, Mr. and Mrs. C.A. Haynes of Ava. Capt. Fouts is on tour of duty in Viet Nam with the 173d Aba. Bde. of Okinawa until early April of next year.

Curby Welch was in Welston, Okla., Saturday and attended the farm sale held by his cousin, William Elliott, Mrs. Elliott and son, Glen.  Mr. Welch drove to Welston Saturday morning and returned home Sunday evening.

We know a man whose salary runs into five figures –– his wife and four daughters.

The difference between stepping stones and stumbling blocks is the way you use them . . .

  1. TABOR –– Visiting in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Lester Jenkins Sunday were Mr. and Mrs. Roy Hunt of Rogersville and Mr. and Mrs. Albert Jenkins.

BAKERSFIELD –– Mr. and Mrs. Arch Lambert and Elias Riley spent the weekend in Davenport, Iowa, where they attended the wedding of Wesley Lambert, Saturday morning.

BLACK OAK –– Mr. and Mrs. Albert Elliott and family, Mr. and Mrs. Mike Buck visited Friday evening in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Sanders and family to help celebrate Mrs. Sanders birthday.

Carolyn Ruth Collins of Vanzant has enrolled in the SMS Residence Center at West Plains.

Miss Mabel Mitchell, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Willis Mitchell of 608 NE 2nd Avenue, who is a Methodist missionary to Malaysia, but is now on furlough, left Ava Thursday last week enroute to Ithaca, NY, where she has enrolled in Cornell University.  Mitchell is entering Cornell particularly to study the Malaysian language, but she also hope to take courses in African and Asian history.

Five local boys participated in the FFA Fat Stock Show and Sale in Springfield, Tuesday, Sept. 14.  Selling steers at the event were: Larry Pueppke, 960-pound, 26 cents, and 905 pound, 23 1/8 cents.  David Dooms, 765-pound 23 cents; Charles Davis, 820-pound, 24½ cents, and 983-pound 24½ cents; Donald Davis, 895-pound, 24½ cents, sponsored by Heath & Son.

 

75 Years Ago

September 27, 1940

 

Fires were lit in heating stoves this week as temperatures again took a plunge downward toward the frost line.  The temperature reading at 8 o’clock this morning was 48 degrees, several degrees colder than earlier in the morning. A year ago today the morning reading was 67.

Estimated attendance at the Douglas County Fair last week has been fixed at approximately 10,000 people.  There were 8,575 paid admissions at the gate, and to this number must be added the hun­dreds of school children admitted free on the opening day.

A one-hour radio program, which will originate in Ava, is to be sponsored by the Ava Lions Club Saturday afternoon, October 12, according to an announcement by O.M. Swick, president of the organization.  The broadcast, which is to be held at the high school auditorium, will feature radio artists from KWTO in Springfield, and will have such popular performers as Slim Pickins Wilson, Tiny “Hamburger” hunt, Aunt Martha and Junior, and a host of others.

Nazis bombed London Tuesday night for the 18th consecutive night after pounding Britain all that day in massed air attacks.  There was heavy fighting over the English Channel and England’s southeast coast.  It was reported from London Royal Air Force planes bombed and apparently sank four German ships off the coast of Boulogne and then shot down a German Dornier seaplane.

Mr. and Mrs. W. D. Stephens and Mrs. Lilly Kester were in Lebanon Friday and attended a business meeting held for all em­ployees of the Missouri Standard Telephone Company.

The general store owned by Elmer Delp at Thornfield was de­stroyed by fire Saturday. It was reported here that the fire started from an oil heater in a barber shop at the back of the store. The post office, operated by Mr. Delp in connection with the store, was saved.

A centipede between six and seven inches long was found Sun­day morning by Berley Hancock of near Gentryville.  The centipede had a black body with amber col­ored legs.  In the past four years Mr. Hancock has killed 32 copper­head snakes near his home, he says.

Tuberculosis looms large as a problem in national defense.  One out of every seven deaths of men 20 to 40 is caused by the disease.

It is very gratifying when a can­didate spends his time outlining a program of action he intends to follow if he is elected to office, and forgets to tell of the things the pre­sent office holder has not done.

SPRINGCREEK – Reba Hamby spent the weekend with her sister and family, Mr. and Mrs. Ray Watterson.

CROSS ROADS –– Miss Kathleen Hailey left Monday for Marshfield where she has employ­ment.

 

100 Years Ago

October 7, 1915

 

Another New Building for Ava –– The only break in the row of modern business building on the west side of the square is made by the small structures on the lot be­tween the new Miller building and the building occupied by the Kennedy-Clinkingbeard furniture store.  Owners of the site, J.A.G. Reynolds and Mrs. J.M. Adams, are planning to immediately im­prove the property by the erection of a modern, brick, two story and basement, business building, to be 30 by 90 feet in dimension.

Probably one of the greatest mistakes that the average country retailer makes is in the matter of extending credit to his customers.  More failures result from poor col­lections of credit accounts than from any one thing in the entire field of business and finance.

In addition to the horses and mules which have gone from this county to supply the heavy de­mands of the European belligerents, we are now called upon for black walnut, which is to be used in the manufacture of arms.

As we go to press advices from Washington say that President Woodrow Wilson last night announced his engagement to Mrs. Norman R. Golt of Washington. It is rumored that the marriage will be celebrated in December.

The Stork, that wonderful aid to an increasing population visited the home of Mr. and Mrs. Homer Norman in the north part of town last Sunday and left a fine big boy.  Congratulations.

  1. ZION –– The first term of school at Mt. Zion opened Tuesday Sept. 14. Miss Stella Schoggen, of Crowder, Okla., Miss Mattie of Appleton City, and Miss Ada Nash are the teachers in charge. Students having entered since the opening day are Ruby Hays and Dayne Morris in the high school depart­ment, Frank Evans in Bible class, and several in the primary and intermediate department.

Miss Essa Newton of near Mansfield who has been absent from her duties at Ava High School on account of sickness, is on duty this week, and the corps of teachers is now complete.  Miss Newton and Miss Becker, the domestic science teacher will be commodiously domiciled at the beautiful home of Mr. and Mrs. H.S. Wilson.

 

125 Years Ago

September 18, 1890

 

WASHINGTON, Sept. 28 –– The recent hurried passage of the joint resolution to purchase a mil­lion dollars worth of nickel to make nickel steel armor plates for the new war vessels has been pushed through with many mysterious hints that it had to be done in a hurry or somebody would get left.

A new mania for collecting has broken out.  This time it is not snuff boxes or canes, but shaving mugs.  What next?

A “peeping Tom” was caught in a tree the other night and was played on with a hose until he begged for mercy.

The Atlanta, Ga. fair association offered premiums for rat scalps and one farmer brought 4,300, killed on his farm, and got first premium.

A method of rendering tobacco smoke harmless to the mouth, heart and nerves without detriment to its aroma is claimed to have been dis­covered at Vichy.

A German doctor, Mendel of Berlin, has discovered that coffee intoxicates.  He is behind the time.  People have always know that it stimulated, if it did not inebriate.

There is an inmate of the Georgia State Lunatic Asylum who imagines in his insanity that he is a grain of corn.  He will not go into the yard, fearing the chickens will eat him.

The balloon proposed for polar explorations is 99 feet in diameter and 500,000 cubic feet in volume.  The journey is to begin in Spitsber­gen, and with a favorable wind is expected to last four or five days.

A strange legend comes to us from the Sioux, who alone can tell the true history of that deadly ambuscade.  They say that on the hillock where Custer fell now grows a plant never seen before –– a curious plant with tall, slender leaves, carved in the exact form of a sabre, with edges so sharp as to inflict keen wounds upon unwary hands, and those who pluck.  It bears a golden-hued, heart-shaped blossom, and in the center is one small spot of brilliant red, like a drop of blood.  The Indians regard it with superstitious awe.  They call it “Custer’s Heart,” and cannot be induced to touch it, claiming the blossom crushed in the hand leaves a blood-red stain impossible to remove.

Prof. R.E. Morris, of the Arno High School, has left Arno for Springfield, where he has accepted a situation in the high school.

The residents of Ava and visitors at circuit court were enter­tained on Saturday by a horse race on the Hopper racetracks, just south of town.  Tom Davis and John I. Workman made the race for a stake of $100 against the horse, which was run by Workman in the race.  Davis won by 31 feet.

The trade of electrician, one of the very newest trades, begins to be crowded. In Philadelphia there are 200 graduates of a polytechnic in­stitute on record as having offered to work as electricians for 80 cents per day.