By Larry Evans
115 years ago, August 13, 1909
Adair County Health Officer Dr. L.J. Conner had his hands full with a variety of summer illnesses. Dr. Conner stated, “Intestinal complaints, dysentery and kindred diseases take up most of my time and I believe I have had no less than twenty cases of typhoid fever to treat. The complaints are the result of negligence in eating and drinking. During these hot days people should be careful about their diet.” Conner traced much of the typhoid fever to the county fair and Chautauqua, which had recently been attractions in Kirksville. Dozens of people sat for hours in crowded conditions drinking ice water, lemonade, eating peanuts, ice cream and candy. He also attributed much of the illness to the filthy conditions in Kirksville. Typhoid fever is caused by the bacterium Salmonella typhi, which infected persons excrete in the urine or stool. The disease is spread by eating or drinking contaminated food or water or by direct or indirect contact with feces of infected persons. People with typhoid fever carry bacteria in their bloodstream and intestinal tract. Symptoms include persistent high fever, fatigue, headache, nausea, abdominal pain, and constipation or diarrhea. Some patients may develop a rash, and severe cases can lead to serious complications or death.
110 years ago, August 17, 1914
Amid the pomp of Masonic ceremonies, the cornerstone of Kirksville’s new $80,000 high school building was laid. The official ceremonies were performed by the Grand Master of the Missouri Masons and several other high-ranking officials, as well as members of Kirksville’s two Masonic lodges. The members of the Masonic lodges assembled at the northwest corner of the square in downtown Kirksville and were escorted by the military band to the site of the new high school at the corner of McPherson and Mulanix streets. A large crowd had gathered to witness the ceremony. After a musical interlude and a prayer, the Masonic officials performed the cornerstone laying. The copper box and its contents were placed in the stone and a list of the contents of the box was read to the audience. The ceremony concluded with a blessing and the singing of “My Country Tis of Thee.”
90 years ago, August 17, 1934
The effects of the severe drought and hot weather of 1934, as well as the Great Depression, were being felt keenly in Adair County. Slaughter of Adair County cattle, purchased by the federal government to alleviate the feed and livestock crisis, had begun at the Anesi packing plant. The first shipments of cattle included 105 head, and another 60 to 70 head were awaiting slaughter. The packing plant operated around the clock to keep up with the influx, which was expected to continue for several weeks. The plant was designed to slaughter 1,000 animals weekly, although the plant’s normal capacity was 600 head. The increased slaughter operations caused soup bones to accumulate, and no provisions had been made for their disposal. To alleviate the problem, the packing plant announced that the bones, which still contained some meat, were excellent for making soup. The plant gave the bones away to those who needed them. People just had to make arrangements to pick them up. The plant was prepared to deliver large quantities of bones to people if there was a rush on the product.
80 years ago, August 14, 1944
In Adair and neighboring counties, milkweed pods were to be ready for harvest by the middle of next week. This would coincide with the beginning of a two-week campaign to harvest the wild growth, which had recently become very valuable in making life jackets and belts for the armed forces engaged in World War II. Uncle Sam wanted 1.5 million pounds of milkweed pods, and pickers were to be paid 20 cents per bag for picking and drying the milkweed pods from each of the 2,209 farms in Adair County. Similar “Save a Life” campaigns were being conducted in other counties in this region of the state. The Adair County Extension Office coordinated the project, and Smith T. Powell, Jr., county agent, was the county chairman. The campaign was organized by local school districts throughout Adair County. Special picking bags were provided for picking and drying the pods. Many school children participated in the program as they enjoyed the opportunity to get out of the classroom and search for milkweed in the open fields. The money they earned was donated by the students for special supplies to benefit their school.
75 years ago, August 16, 1949
By a vote of nearly nine to one, Adair County voters approved a proposal for a water retention reservoir on Big Creek west of Kirksville (which would later become Forest Lake). The vote was 2,129 in favor and 284 against. Most of the opposition came from landowners in the area who would have to give up their land claims to build the reservoir. Kirksville Mayor I.E. Markham listed the benefits of the new reservoir for Kirksville, Adair County and the surrounding area. The new reservoir would increase the available water supply that had been needed for years. The current water supply for Kirksville was the Chariton River, which was severely limited during droughts and was becoming increasingly polluted. The reservoir would lead to the establishment of a state park for northeast Missouri, which in turn would lead to more recreational activities such as boating, fishing, camping and vacationing. The project would also encourage industrial expansion, which had previously been hampered by the lack of a consistent water supply. Local construction workers were to be used to build the reservoir, as the project was expected to cost $561,600 and materials for the construction project were to be purchased from local firms. Construction of the large reservoir, estimated to hold 5 billion gallons of water when filled, was to begin the following year. Work was underway with local banks and representatives of the bonding companies to finalize the details of the financial plan for the project. Several obstacles still needed to be resolved. One obstacle that was anticipated was that the city might have to initiate expropriation proceedings to acquire the needed 600 acres of land for the reservoir site.
40 years ago, August 16, 1984
The Kirksville City Council considered passing an ordinance requiring inspections of restaurants in the city. The measure was prompted by a fire investigation at Peking Chinese Restaurant, 1217 S. Baltimore. Earlier this week, the Kirksville Fire Department responded to a fire in an apartment on the upper floor of the building. The fire was reported to the state fire marshal’s office as “suspicious.” Following that office’s investigation, local authorities were called to the business after atrocities were discovered in the kitchen. The restaurant had closed for a holiday 10 days earlier. Restaurant owner Hsu Chin Ying had the water turned off. The business was unoccupied during that time, and conditions there were reported as “abhorrent.” City health inspector CB Bland described the conditions. “It is without a doubt the worst mess I have ever seen. It is absolutely filthy. We found maggots, grease and food debris all over the stoves and appliances. Pans are caked with grease and maggots and haven’t been washed in months. Old food remains are everywhere. Tables and surfaces are dirty. Grease drips from the ceiling. And the smell when you open the refrigerator is just amazing.” The city of Kirksville condemned the restaurant.
© Copyright 2024 by Larry Evans
