150 years ago (1873)
Reform School. Mr. Lem. F. Powell will open a school at Reform. Students from other districts will be
admitted upon the most reasonable terms. It is his intention to build up a high school, should he receive
the necessary encouragement. He is one of the best teachers in the county. He has taught school long
enough to understand the business and we {Fulton Telegraph} think he does. Success to you, Lemuel.
As Others See Us. A correspondent of the Carrolton Journal writing from this place says...Please accept
our apology for not writing to you before- we are now living in Fulton. Supposing most of your readers
are familiar with the place, we will omit giving a general description of it and will say that it is beautifully
situated. It has a population of over 2,000 and includes the State Asylum and Westminster College.
There are two papers. The Telegraph, edited by J. B. Williams, was established in 1839 and has worked
itself up to its present standard, enjoying its reputation of being one of the ablest county papers in the
state. The Press, edited by Mr. Provines, although a new paper, is rapidly working itself up in public
favor. Overall, we have a peaceable, quiet and pleasant place.
125 years ago (1898)
Callaway Roads. The county court has distributed $2,000.56 among the 38 road districts of this county.
The average to each district is $55.00. There are 1,295 miles of road in the county, making an
appropriation of $1.61 ½ to be spent on each mile of road. Kind reader, you will see at a glance that the
labor has to be spread out pretty thin. It is like buttering a whole loaf of bread with a teaspoon of butter.
We have either too much road or too little money. Is not this money spread over too much road to do
much good? Would it not be better to work fewer miles and work them better? It seems reasonable that
250 mile of road worked so as to stand the ravages of time and weather would be better than a little
temporary work spread over all these miles to not last more than a few seasons. But the grave question
confronts us that we must give all a show and not discriminate.
100 years ago (1923)
According to Prof. J. C. Humphreys, county superintendent of schools, all children, with the exception of
four families, are in school. These families have had notices mailed to them, informing them of the
Compulsory School Laws. A copy of said laws has also been sent to each school in each of the districts so
the teachers may know what is required by law.
75 years ago (1948)
These fourteen rural schools are closed this year: Boyd, Fry, Viers, Red Star, Science Hill, Floyd Gill, Cedar
Hill, Duley, West Sheley, Cave, Connor, Harrison, Shamrock and Wallace. The three without teachers are
Lone Star, Gravel and Gregory. 74 Callaway rural schools that will be open along with their teachers are:
Hazel Dell, Ardyth Hunter; Hickory Grove, Elsie Dunn; Boles, Louise Hendrix; Concord, Mrs. Bernie
Cathcart; Walnut Grove, Mrs. O. C. Bunge; Wade, Mary Wibbels; Stephens, Dorothy Wallace; Hereford,
Francis Griffin; Flint, Mrs. Robert Cannell; Bachelor, Lola Dunn; Elm Spring, Mrs. Ethel S. Millard; High
Point, Nancy Eagens; Harrison Yates, Mrs. Nettie C. Starke; Scott, Betty Ann Dunn; Calwood, Mrs. Gladyst
Duffle; Maddox, Mrs. John Meador; Martien, Lelia B. Craig; Vivion, Grace Dillard; McCellan, Ruth Weibel;
Truitt, Emma Renfro; Millersburg, Clara Ward Thomas; Red Brush, Blanche B. Loyd; Sunrise, Trixie
McCellan; Miller, Mrs. L. Ruda; Dorsey, Mrs. Ben Freiberger; Craig, Wilma Helm; Hardin, L. Turner;
Sheets, James Houf; Grant, Betty Helm; Williamsburg, Betty Klick; Weeks, Mrs. Lottie Tate; Brooks,
Wanda Steinmetz; Pugh, Gladys Kettle; Lamar, Mary Craighead; St. Eunice, Mrs. John Beard; Central,
Martha Marsch; Baker, Gene Meador; Duncan, Marvin Duncan; Boydsville, Vivian Hendricks; Carrington,
Mary Humphreys; Middle River, Grace Chirnside; Brown, Myrtle Walker, Garden Prairie, Edith Benskin;
Toledo, Betty Hoover; Readsville, Mrs. Leo Hammett; Bush, Monroe McCall; Reform, Mrs. Carl
Shiverdecker; Ashland, Lola Payne; Hams Prairie, Clinton Poe; Muir, Mrs. Karl Beyersdorff; Oak Grove,
Ruth McCellan; Filmore, Bernice Howell; Guthrie, Mrs. Francis Forsee; Dry Fork, Josie Fleming, Victor,
Doris Schreen; Herring, Elaine Anderson; Holman, Gladys Davis; Cotton Rock, Louise Bridges; R. B.
Boone, Lillian Kubachek; Portland, Mrs. Frank Wilson; Tavers Hill, Mary Elsenrath; Acorn, Margaret
Taylor; Thornhill, John Taylor; Liberty, Doris Thomas; Hall, Harold Craighead; Holts Summit, Georgia
Fleming; Pleasant Ridge, Mary Luse; Center, Irene Harrison; Moore, Eva Menefee; Tebbetts, Mr. and
Mrs. W. Lee Maddox; Hickory Grove, Jaunita Ewing; Halifax, Anna Lee Dahlstein; Cedar City, Mrs. Keith
Gilmore (principal), Vivian McClure, Pattie Sue Koelling, Susie Hilton (teachers); Moore, Ella Mae Forhis;
Wainwright, Lois Link; Barkersville, Mrs. Vance Sitton; Steedman, Clara McCall.
50 years ago (1973)
Donnell McKinnon of 231 Sycamore, Fulton, hauled in a whopping 14 pound, 9 oz. carp at the Lake of
the Ozarks. He was fishing on the south side of Bagnell Dam with a 20 pound test line and using bacon as
bait.
25 years ago (1998)
Hay Bales Ignite On Highway. Firefighters aren't sure what caused the bales to ignite while being hauled
by Rich Trebelhorn down U.S. 54. After being signaled by a driver, he stopped on the shoulder near the
Route F exit and detached the trailer from his pickup. "When we arrive, the fire was heavily involved,"
said Capt. Dean Buffington of the Fulton Fire Department. The fire was under control within an hour but
firefighters stayed on the scene to make sure the fire was completely extinguished. The bales had to be
unrolled and soaked. As a result of the fire, westbound Hwy 54 was restricted to one lane near the fire
for over an hour. Of the seven 1500 pound bales, five were damaged by the fire. Firefighters managed to
save the two remaining bales. Hay damage was about $100 and trailer damage (owned by Dave Renner)
was about $500.