150 years ago (1873)
Four Good Habits are punctuality, accuracy, steadiness and dispatch. Without the first, time is wasted;
without the second, mistakes- the most hurtful to our own credit and that of others- may be committed;
without the third, nothing can be done well and without the fourth, opportunities of advantage are lost,
which it is impossible to recall.
125 years ago (1898)
Third Annual Declamatory Contest of the Liberty Literary Society. There were eighteen contestants
divided into four classes. In the first class, seven young ladies- Misses Inez Mosley, Bertie Blackmore,
Effie Suggett, Rosa Sanford, Edna Jones, May Smart and Rosene Mosley contested for the gold medal
offered by Dr. M.C. Davis. The medal was awarded to Miss Effie Suggett and the second prize to Miss
Inez Mosley. Three boys- Ray Jones, Ernest Blackmore and DeWitt Smart spoke for the honors of the
second class, which was awarded to DeWitt Smart. Five girls- Ivy Jones, Willie Blackburn, Susie Williams,
Nellie Lundy and Clella Elley- were in the third class. Clella Elley received first and Willie Blackburn
received second. Three little tots- Merle Bush, May Mosley and Folsom Elley were in the fourth class.
The prize was awarded to Merle Bush. The judges were Mrs. Dora Hord, Mrs. Alice Rootes and Miss
Edna Chiles.
100 years ago (1923)
Callaway Moonshine Cost Another Life. Member of Katy Bridge crew found dead at Portland after
spending night outside. He was a member of the bridge crew on the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad and
was with the crew the night before. Particulars of the affair are most meagre. Members of the crew had
visited a still near Portland and failed to notice one member was missing. The next day, he was found
not far from where the crew was quartered. Whether the moonshine they received was too strong for
him or whether the exposure of the severe storm that night caused his death is not known. This possibly
marks the second death in that neighborhood due to "homebrew."
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Morts gave their 13-year-old daughter, Hazel, a birthday party at their home on
West Fourth Street. Games were played and refreshments of hot chocolate, cake and fruit were served.
Those present were Leona Ardrey, Minnie Truitt, Eleanor Heath, Irene Backer, Mary Blount, Mercedes
Rowe, Roberta Brown, Mary Dean Sheley, Jane Marie and Hazel Morts.
75 years ago (1948)
Callaway's 435 4-H Club Members Outline Projects. During national 4-H week, the county clubs are busy.
The theme for all 4-H members is "Get going with the spring season." Below, are some of the
community clubs and the activities they have planned. The McCredie club includes in its plans every year
to do Christmas caroling for the shut-ins in their community. The Thornhill-Holman club plan to paint all
of the mailboxes in their community and to stencil the owner's name on the mailbox. The Hereford club
will furnish paper towels for the school for one year. They also plan to landscape the school yard. The
Moore club is working on a safety program so all members of the required age may be certified to care
for the young children at the Lamar community club meetings held by the women in the community. For
their food preparation projects, the Atkinson 4-H club has been working with the hot lunch program in
the Atkinson school. On the last day of school, the club plans to prepare and serve the beverage and
dessert for the community gathering. The Wainwright club is cooperating with a Nature Knight program
in their community. They have agreed to make and paint conservation signs for all farms in the
community who desire them. The Cedar City club will assist with the Red Cross drive in their community.
The Williamsburg club plans to do an "Everyday Courtesies" project which includes courtesies extended
to the community wherever they can be of helpful service. The Steedman Busy Bee club will have plans
that include cleaning the church yard. Club members are Callaway boys and girls between the ages of
10-21 years who have agreed to 'learn by doing' some phases of farming, homemaking and community
activity under the watchful eye of 90 adult leaders.
50 years ago (1973)
New City Formed. Holts Summit became the 'newest city in the state' when voters approved an
incorporation move. The vote was 276 for incorporation and 84 opposed. The incorporation blocked any
efforts by Jefferson City to annex an area containing more than 1,800 residents and an area
approximately three by five miles in size. The approval also moved Holts Summit to be the second
largest town in Callaway. Holt Summit's Lions club members were the prime movers in the drive to
incorporate the city and Stuart Hunter was chairman of the incorporation committee.
25 years ago (1998)
Fulton High School senior, Chris Ramsay has advanced to the Music Teachers National Association
competition in Nashville, TN. National winners receive college scholarships. He qualified by placing first
in the brass division at the state competition at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln.
(From "On The Ball" column by Buzz Ball). Good Move, Historical Society. The Kingdom of Callaway
Historical Society will officially open the doors to its new museum and library at its new location, 513
Court St., in the heart of historic downtown Fulton. The society has moved from the Tuttle House at 331
W. Seventh St. The House was sold last year due to high operating costs. The history of Callaway County
should be told in a venue that permeates history. The new location does just that. The relocation also
enhances the downtown area.
The following businesses expressed their congratulations to the Historical Society in an advertisement:
Fulton Sun Gazette, McDaniel Realty, Conner-Neukomm Agency, Callaway Electric Cooperative,
Dunavant's Drug, Gerbes, Fulton Savings Bank, Capital Savings Bank, Bank Star One, Saults Drug Store,
The Callaway Bank, Kingdom of Callaway Chamber of Commerce, First Bank and Betty's Hallmark Shop
(who wrote "Congratulations, Neighbor!").