Opinion

Memories spring eternal ...

Friday, December 26, 2008

100 YEARS AGO

(1908)

There are now 300 men working at the Missouri Pacific shops and every day Master Mechanic Carberry is employing additional workmen.

The prisoners of the county jail were all treated to a banquet yesterday. It was Christmas Day and Sheriff Hesser always makes it a point to give his inmates a touch of high life on that day. The banquet consisted of turkey with cranberry sauce, pie and cake, and all of the accessories of a good Christmas dinner. The prisoners feel under many obligations to the sheriff and his most estimable wife for being remembered so kindly.

The telephone girls at the Central Office were well remembered by many of the patrons of the company. They were showered with presents on Christmas and they take this means of thanking all those who were so kind as to remember them. The merchants are usually pretty good to the watchful telephone girls and this Christmas was no exception to the rule.

The place to shop for New Year's gifts is D. Prager's and Sons Jewelers, Union Block, Main Street. We have the largest stock of diamonds in this part of the state. See us before buying.

75 YEARS AGO

(1933)

The mercury sank to 16 degrees above zero in Fort Scott last night to bring the coldest weather of the winter for this vicinity. The previous low mark was 21 on December 17. A light sleet fell yesterday afternoon.

The newly proposed bridge over Drywood Creek, on the "straight south" road, for which bids will be opened at Abilene Friday, will probably be the longest bridge in this part of Kansas, and one of the longest in the state. There will be no overhead structure. The floor of the structure will be concrete and on each side there will be a hand rail. The concrete floor will rest on steel beams, which will be supported by five reinforced concrete piers, in addition to the abutments.

About two miles of the northeast end of the Hell's Bend road, on which CWA men are working, is ready to receive a crushed rock surface. The Drum road, which starts at the Maple Grove School and runs eastward, is being resurfaced. As far as known at the courthouse all the 732 CWA men were working today.

50 YEARS AGO

(1958)

Douglas G. Hudson and "Pat" Thomas will witness the Clemson-Louisiana State football game at New Orleans New Year's Day.

Lawrence Karleskint fell on his chin Christmas Eve whole playing at his Route 2 home. It rook five stitches to close the wound at the Randles Clinic. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Karleskint

Northwest Scott (By Mrs. Ed Blair) -- Season's greetings and a most happy and prosperous new year to everyone! Thanks to all who have contributed news to this column this past year. Won't you please continue giving me your news?

25 YEARS AGO

(1983)

Local merchants are generally pleased with the results of the Christmas shopping season. "It was fantastic," said Steve Smith, manager of Wal-Mart. Rick Litwin, of Litwiin's Department Store, said his Christmas holiday season was down a bit because of the weather but the items for warmth sold well. "We had a time keeping in stock things like gloves and earmuffs and coats sold well," Litwin said. Wayne Breiner, owner of Calhoun's, said he wasn't really happy about this year's business, but that he wasn't really disappointed either. "The weather really threw things for a loop," Breiner said.

ARCADIA -- A birthday party was held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Larry Shead to honor their son Michael, who is six, and his grandmother Mrs. Paul Shead. His cake, baked by his mother, pictured a raccoon. His special gift was a parakeet.