Looking Backward 9.27.2012
25 Years Ago
September 24, 1987
State Senator Emory Melton, Cassville, and State Representative Mervin Case, Ava, were guest speakers last Wednesday at an observance held by the Ava fourth grade classes, on behalf of the 200th birthday of the U.S. Constitution.
The old pipes and pump have been removed from well No. 2 in downtown Ava this week and the new pump will be installed either Friday or Monday. Rod Clark Pump Co. of Mansfield is doing the work for the city. The old turbine pump that was driven by a diesel engine is being replaced by a submersible pump and electric motor. The well is located just north of the square.
Combs Store, a retail outlet of irregular and overstocked major brand name clothing is open on the Ava Square. The store also does heat transfers and custom silk screening. Owners Joe and Paulette Combs also operate stores in Bradleyville and Forsyth.
The Tire Barn on North Jefferson Street in Ava has been purchased by Vineyard’s Tire and Service and is now open as Dale’s Tire Barn. The new owner, Dale Vineyard, has been in the tire business at Independence and has 24 years experience in the trade.
Fay Huffman will celebrate her 80th birthday with a reception at the First Southern Baptist Church on Sunday, Sept. 27, from 2 to 4.
Last week the United Methodist Women presented Lula Spurlock with a special membership pin in honor of her 101st birthday, which she will observe on Oct. 2.
The American Legion Auxiliary of Douglas County recognized Girls State representatives, parents and sponsors at the American Legion Hall last Thursday night. Attending Girls State from this area this summer were Tamara Shockley, Lorie Harris, and Teresa Beaty.
50 Years Ago
September 20, 1962
Aunt Em celebrated her 100th birthday Tuesday, Sept. 18. She is the only century-old person living in Douglas County. “Aunt Em” is Mrs. Emma Jane McGill, who lives with her son and his wife, Mr. and Mrs. Jess McGill of Route 4, Ava.
Charles (Chuck) Spurlock, 32, of the Squires community, has been employed by the Missouri Conservation Commission as full time towerman at the Squires lookout tower.
A quarterhorse filly colt owned by Dick Arndt of Ava won the blue ribbon in its class at the Oklahoma State Free Fair held at Muskogee. Arndt, manager of the Ava Farmers Exchange, showed the horse Sunday in the show approved by the American Quarterhorse Assn.
Mrs. Robert Durham is desperately seeking to find a little squirrel that visited her home during the weekend and bit her finger when she tried to feed it. If she is unable to locate the animal within the next 12 days her physician has advised that she begin a series of 14 painful rabies shots.
Wanted! For murder of food prices! Don’s Super Market. Come on you “Kitchen Rangers” — come this-a-way to the scene of the crime and see the evidence in every department. Yup! We’ve murdered a score more prices and your reward for catching us in the act is big cash savings. Reg. large box tide, 10¢; Northern tissue, 5¢ per roll; peanut butter, qt. 49¢; 5 cans tuna, $1; Velveeta cheese, 2 lb. box 69¢; 8-oz. fish sticks, 19¢;
Miss Patricia Fay Cain became the bride of Marlin D. Jenkins in an 8 o’clock ceremony solemnized Thursday morning, Aug. 16.
Mike Gentry, a junior in the University of Missouri School of Medicine, returned to Columbia on Tuesday last week after concluding a short visit in Ava with parents, Dr. and Mrs. Marvin Gentry.
Mr. and Mrs. Glen Barcus (Rosalee Huffman) of Rantoul, Ill., announce the birth of a 10-pound daughter, Brenda Darlene, on Monday, Sept. 17, at the maternity ward in Dr. Shepherd’s office in Ava. The little girl has a brother, DeWayne, 4 years, and a sister, Glenda Lea, 18 months old.
Previews of Progress – General Motors world-famed science show – will be presented before Ava High School students on Monday.
The man read about cigarettes causing lung cancer, then article after article related the fact that cigs caused cancer. He read about it so much, B. Jr. said that he decided to give up reading.
THE SNOOP –– If you ain’t dead or indigent, old and inform, shiftless and a non-worker, or an aid case, then dig, brother, dig! . . . not a grave but for gold. The state Democrat party, closely following the national line, heads its platform with “increased welfare . . .” President Kennedy recently outlined in a televised speech the accomplishments of the current Congress. Every “accomplishment” dealt with bigger giveaway programs; everyone was a recipient except, of course, the taxpayer.
75 Years Ago
September 23, 1937
An acetylene generator exploded Thursday evening of last week at the Ava Machine Shop, doing little damage although creating a loud noise. The generator was in one building and L.L. Bailey, manager of the shop, and Bob Morgan, an employee, were working in the adjoining building.
Tom Freeman, 72, of the Vanzant community, 35 miles east of Ava, and a turkey-hunting enthusiast, believes this country again can have turkey and deer and other game that used to be here. “I live right in where the turkeys range,” Mr. Freeman said. “There’s still a few. I got my turkey last season. But they’re nothing like they used to be. I have killed as many as four deer in one day.”
Jason Roy, of Brushyknob, was named Douglas County Treasurer by Governor Lloyd Stark in a list of appointments announced by the governor Wednesday.
The Rondo Ellison murder case is closed as far as prosecution is concerned. The acquittal of Oscar Barnhouse, charged with being the finger man in the attempted robbery, which resulted in the death of the 22-year-old youth and one of the robbers on the night of July 9, 1935, closed the state’s case. Three other men are serving penitentiary sentences for young Ellison’s murder.
HAPPY HOME –– Mrs. Russell Hutchinson and sons, Bobbie and Royce, were Sunday guests in the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. J.F. Spurlock.
Mrs. Maggie Naugle and Mrs. Arthur Thompson were co-hostesses at a bridal shower Saturday afternoon at the Ava Hotel, given in honor of their children, Mr. and Mrs. Glen Irby, who were married in June, but only announced their marriage last week.
Miss Wilma Sell, Bob Shipman, Boone Norman, Jr., and Howard Wade, students at Springfield Teachers College, spent the weekend in Ava visiting parents and friends.
MT. TABOR NEWS –– We are still needing rain. Farmers are wanting to plow their fields to sow wheat, but have to wait for rain.
Ava schools are being dismissed this afternoon (Thursday) and Friday afternoon for the Douglas County Fair.
Standard Oil Company of Indiana has perfected a new gasoline. This new gasoline will give faster starting, longer mileage, more power and has a higher anti-knock quality. No increase in price is contemplated.
100 Years Ago
September 26, 1912
Pursuant to a call, at the request of the Missouri Anti-Single Tax Association, a large crowd of the citizens of this section of Douglas County met at the courthouse in Ava last Saturday and organized what will be known as the Douglas County Anti-Single Tax Club.
Single Tax, in a nut shell, means tax on land only, making all personal property, money, buildings, etc. exempt from taxation.
Miss Sue Waters of Kansas City will be in Ava on Oct. 11th -12th and demonstrate Spirella Corsets at the Clark & Olsen Millenary store. All ladies of Ava and vicinity are cordially invited to attend. Physicians and nurses recommend the Spirella corset and endorse it because it does not congest the abdominal organs, hinder digestion, or interfere with breathing.
A village, a town, a city, is a partnership – all of us here are in business together. Ownership of property is individual, but our prosperity as a whole is closely bound up in each other’s interests. When you buy goods away from home you work to reduce the prosperity of poor neighbors. You have failed to build up business ties with them so that they feel no personal interest in you. Buying at home pays!
NEW YORK – Porky Flynn and Jim Stewart, the two trial horses of pugilism, have been matched to meet in this city tonight before the Garden A.C. for ten rounds. Porky has recently whipped Jim Barry and Gunboat Smith.
A new concrete walk has been laid in front of the residences of Collector Miller and Mrs. Lill Singleton, and is being laid along the street north towards the public square.
Home seekers are dropping into Ava quite often these days, and we are told that the hotels in Springfield are crowded with persons looking for a location in the Ozarks.
A light frost visited the low places in this section last Sunday night.
The new post office building is almost completed and will be occupied soon.
John Humbyrd has sold his interest in the Martin barn to Spencer Singleton.
There was a little excitement in Ava last Monday afternoon when the cry of fire was sent out from Martin’s Livery Barn. A fire started, perhaps from a match or cigar thrown in the manger, but was put out before it got beyond control.
DENLOW –– Andy Pennington is having a foundation laid for a new residence.
Have you been reading of the terrible horse plague which is killing horses by the thousands thru-out Kansas and Nebraska? The terrible disease is yet spreading and has baffled even the greatest veterinarian. Gov. Hadley will quarantine the Kansas and Nebraska horses from shipping into Missouri.
125 Years Ago
September 30, 1887
The trial of Wm. O’Brien under the crime act, which was commenced at Mitchellstown, on September 24th, is concluded. The accused was found guilty and sentenced to three month’s imprisonment. O’Brien was indicted for using seditious language. When O’Brien emerged from the courtroom after the trial, he was received with an ovation by a large crowd, which had assembled to testify their approval of his course.
It is becoming clearing evident that the authorities must soon take cognizance of the actions of the anarchists in the various large cities of the country if they desire to prevent the recurrence of some such a tragedy as the terrible Haymarket massacre in Chicago. The leaders are evidently doing their utmost to excite the rank and file of the anarchists to the commission of some terrible deed of violence, and if they are allowed to continue unmolested in their efforts it is greatly to be feared that the result will become terrible tragedy.
The name of Chinese Emperor’s wife is Kan Di. She isn’t as sweet as that though.
Five jugs of whiskey were found on the grounds of the John Jacob Astor house in Detroit. The proprietor thinks it is seventy-five years old.
The father of General Custer attended the late soldiers’ reunion at Adrian, Mich., and brought with him a horse, which the General rode in some of his campaigns.
The oldest man in Kansas is a Negro, who is said, “on good authority,” to have been born a slave in Fauquier County, Virginia, November 20, 1775, and is therefore 112 years old. He is an inveterate tobacco-chewer, and insists that if he were to leave off he would die.
PITH AND POINT –– A preferred creditor is one who never asks for his money. … Our Indian policy requires a little more ginger and a great deal more gunpowder to make it effective. … It is a bad sign when a man has a terra-cotta-colored nose and a breath that will drive flies out of a room. … Judas Iscariot made the greatest mistake of his life when he neglected to “reform” and go into the revival business. … Don’t tell a woman that she’s a second-hand rib worked over and turn to Genesis for your authority. It’s ungallant, and besides, it’s dangerous. … A boarding house proprietor announces that his prices have touched bedrock. Persons who have slept in his house assert that the beds conform to the prices.
Distillers are complaining that there has been an over production of spirits. Any school-boy student of sound economy knows this is silly talk. There is no overproduction. Under production is causing the trouble.
GIRDNER NEWS – The Potters are making some fine looking molasses. Wonder if they are using the new patent process.
John Milt Spurlock was made the proud father of a new son this week. He named it Dr. Lee.
Jack Gilbert has returned from Willow Springs. He came back to gather his crop on his claim.
A Verdict That Seemed to Fit –– A man in a Western town hanged himself to a bedpost by his suspenders. The Coroner’s jury were some time in coming to a decision in the case, but the foreman, who was a native, finally announced that the “deceased came to his death by coming home drunk and mistaking himself for his pants.” –Washington Critic
