Memories spring eternal ...

100 YEARS AGO

(1908)

Berry Coran, one of the most widely known African Americans of this city, died yesterday at his home, 1123 East Elm Street. The deceased had been a resident of Fort Scott the past 25 or 30 years. He was one of the most honorable and upright men who ever retained a residence here. He was a man of some means and from the years of his incessant, toil amassed considerable property. The funeral will be Sunday afternoon from Shiloh Baptist church, with burial in West Plains Cemetery.

Mrs. P.E. Edwards, 209 Little Street, started to wage war on vermin in her chicken house this morning, using a torch to burn the insects to death. In some manner the flames directed against the vermin set fire to the chicken house, which was totally destroyed by fire. A coal house and outbuilding were partially destroyed. The lady was able to save the flock of chickens.

75 YEARS AGO

(1933)

Work of constructing the new schoolhouse in the Center neighborhood northeast of the city got underway last week and will be pushed to completion.

Birth exceeded deaths by five during the month of June, according to the official records at the city clerk's office. There were 25 births and 20 deaths..

The porch at the Walter Prager home, 11 South Crawford, was slightly damaged during the storm Saturday night when a tree snapped off by the wind fell against it.

The heat of yesterday was forgotten by a group of girls who enjoyed a swimming party at Bridal Veil Park pool. Miss Clay Belle Houston of Malta, Bend, Mo., was a guest of Miss Nancy Calhoun. Others were the Misses Margaret Louise Piper, Mary Louise Snyder, Rosalee Jensen, Julie Sheppard, Ursule Jensen and Elizabeth Kepler.

50 YEARS AGO

(1958)

Heavy rain that started about 3 o'clock this morning measured from 1.70 inches at Mapleton to 4.35 inches at Garland and 3.17 inches at Fort Scott at noon today. High wind caused some concern but gale damage was confined to mostly tree limbs. There was a large tree blocking Judson between Third and Fourth streets. The only storm injury reported occurred when Clyde Staton, Pleasanton, received a compound fracture of the right leg yesterday as he attempted to close a sliding door at his service station during a heavy rain and windstorm. The wind lifted the door off its track letting the door fall on Staton's leg.

Miss Billie Raye Webster, Bourbon County dairy princess, Miss Nancy Ober and Miss Janice Blair, dairy princess candidates, were guests of the Rotary Club. Each one presented her talent number which won honors in the recent Dairy Month observance. Miss Webster was named runner-up in the district contest and is the alternate attendant to the Hutchinson State Fair.

25 YEARS AGO

(1983)

Most of the 15 swimmers had scarcely wiped the sleep from their eyes Saturday morning when they dove into the Fort Scott Municipal Swimming Pool and started an hour-long swim to raise money for the American Heart Association. At the end of the hour, their efforts had posted $1,610 in pledges. Yvette Wheeler, 19, 1202 South Judson St., raised $618 in pledge money by swimming 110 laps, more than three miles, across the pool's 25-meter width. Miss Wheeler will receive a 10-speed bicycle and other prizes from the American Heart Association. Completing a few laps prior to the event were two retired railroad workers, Lon Conrad and Wes McClain, both 65. Both pledged $7.50 for the cause. Pool manager is Gary Key.