Opinion

Christmas tree catches fire

Thursday, January 3, 2013

100 YEARS AGO

(1913)

A.M. Harrar, who has been living on his father's farm in the Glendale neighborhood 11 miles northwest of town, is planning to go to Colorado to live and will close out his livestock and other personal effects at a public sale in the near future. He will retain his own land holdings.

A local man was trudging home one day last winter. The thermometer was trying to fall out the bottom of the glass and a cold wintry wind was making a good attempt at blowing off his coat. It was almost dark and as he quickly turned a corner he saw a paper boy hurrying along with his bag of papers dragging at his side. The lad was not warmly dressed and the man noticed it with a glance.

"Aren't you rather thinly dressed, my boy, to go out? I should think you would be very cold."

"Oh no," returned the boy. "Delivering papers keep up the 'circulation'."

MAPLETON -- Several new scholars have started school Christmas.

75 YEARS AGO

(1938)

"Christmas Tree Gets Lighted" -- Owen Jennings, a truck driver for the Grant Lumber Co., furnished a little thrill and excitement for persons along National Avenue between Third and Wall streets shortly after 8 o'clock this morning. Jennings had loaded some hot cinders into his truck and then picked up a large Christmas tree and placed it on top of the cinders. He was driving the truck north on National Avenue where the dry evergreen caught fire from the cinders and burst into flames near Second Street. Jennings, busy with his driving, failed to hear or see the crackling flames until a pedestrian flagged him down at First and National where he extinguished the blaze.

MAPLETON -- The Home and Garden Club met with Mrs. Walter Britton. Numbers were drawn for days on which club members will call Miss Leafy Nesbitt so that she will receive a telephone call from a member each week.

Postmaster R.C. Coyan reminded citizens of postal rate changes effective at midnight Sunday. First-class letters will be increased from four to five cents and air mail letters will be eight cents instead of seven cents.

Fifty years of married life were climaxed recently at Brighton, Colo., by Mr. and Mrs. R.L. Todd, former Bourbon County residents. Both spent their childhood in the Mapleton vicinity. They were married in Mound City in 1887. Ten of their 15 children are still living. Mrs. Todd is a sister of Mrs. Dan Womelsdorf, of Mapleton, and Mrs. Lydal Chaney and Mrs. Lou Reynolds, both of Fulton.

Members of the Clarksburg Club are asked to note that the club will not meet again until Jan 20. Watch for the place of the meeting in a future announcement.

50 YEARS AGO

(1963)

ARCADIA (By Nancy Brown) -- The new Arcadia Laundromat, operated by Mr. and Mrs. Charles McMillin of Arma, was a busy place Saturday, its opening day. Free washes and soap were given to the first 25 customers. Paul Rourk, of Garland, was the first customer. A turkey was given as a door prize and was won by John Meacham. Coffee and doughnuts were served.

Shepherd Motors was the low bidder on a contract to sell a car to the extension service. Shepherd's bid was a difference of $672 and the '61 Chevrolet owned by the extension service.

FULTON -- The Bearcats roared to a 77-37 triumph over Arcadia last night. Fulton posted a 17-2 first quarter margin. Truman Coleman and Don Larkin each chalked up 18 points. Steve a tallied 16 points.

25 YEARS AGO

(1988)

No publication.