Callaway Memories

Photo courtesy the Kingdom of Callaway Historical Society
Our oldest photo of Callaway coal mining, 1890s, inside a shaft of the John Harris mine. His son Walter is on the left (no relation to Thomas). Bigbee from the 1873 article was renamed to Guthrie in 1874.
Photo courtesy the Kingdom of Callaway Historical Society Our oldest photo of Callaway coal mining, 1890s, inside a shaft of the John Harris mine. His son Walter is on the left (no relation to Thomas). Bigbee from the 1873 article was renamed to Guthrie in 1874.

150 years ago (1873)

Cannel Coal. Mr. Thomas B. Harris of the Fulton Coal Mining Company, has presented us with a most

excellent specimen of Cannel Coal from their bank near Bigbee in this county. It is found in connection

with a vein of bituminous coal, some 12 feet under the surface. We regret that our friend Harris did not

find it convenient to present us with a wagon load, as it would have been very acceptable during the

'cold snap' of this week.

Plant Trees. Tree planting should not be neglected. Please read the following from a late report of the

Department of Agriculture: If for twenty years to come the demand for lumber shall advance in the

same ratio to the population as in the past 26 years, more than $200,000,000 of sawed lumber will be

needed each year, demanding more than 19,000,000 acres of land. About 7,000 acres are cleared every

weekday in this country. Of the annual crop, $72,000,000 worth goes to fuel and twice as much to

fencing. The locomotives consume about 7,000,000 cords a year or 500 acres a day. The day is not far

distant when every acre of timber land will be immensely valuable. Coal will soon be used as fuel by all

our locomotives and also by families. But if we would keep up supplies of timber, even for building

purposes, we shall need to fill the place of those now being destroyed. Why not organize tree planting

commissioners whose duty will be to promote this useful interest.

125 years ago (1898)

Horse Sense. Dan Tucker undoubtedly has the smartest horse in town. His horse is as true a friend and

as faithful to his master as a dog. Almost every day except Sundays, he rides this horse from his

residence near the depot down to the store, puts him in the lot back of the store where he stays until

night, when he saddles him up and rides home. Recently, the old man fell off with his foot hung tight in

the stirrup. The horse stood perfectly still until he worked his foot out of the stirrup. Last Saturday night,

this horse became homesick around eight o'clock, was seen to come out of the back lot and peer into

the store's back door. He saw no one. Next, he went around to the front of the store, walked up the

sidewalk. As the horse stood peering through the window, he whinnied. Mr. Tucker raised up from his

chair; the horse poked his head in the doorway and spoke again. Mr. Tucker went out and the horse

nickered and fairly danced for joy on the sidewalk and placed his head lovingly over the man's shoulder.

The horse followed Mr. Tucker around to the lot where he was saddled up and ridden home. Mr. Tucker

has refused offers of $1500 for the horse.

100 years ago (1923)

(From The Auxvasse Review). A deal closed between A. Frank Stephens, who has been farming for

several years just north of Concord, and Kay Maupin of this city, whereby Mr. Stephens acquires

ownership of the Auxvasse Milling Co. property and in exchange, Mr. Maupin receives a 380-acre farm,

lying 1 ¼ mile northwest of Stephens and a cash consideration. Mr. Stephens came to Auxvasse this

morning to take charge of the property and Mr. Maupin will also remain with the business for the

present. The Review is sorry to see Mr. Maupin leave the business circles of Auxvasse, but is very glad to

welcome Mr. Stephens to those circles.

75 years ago (1948)

The Red Star Club met at the home of Mrs. Lester Quisenberry. A covered dish was served. Mrs. Wallace

Hawkins led devotions. Mrs. Albert Adams and Mrs. Dewey Backer gave a report on flowers. Mrs. Otha

Hudson and Mrs. Jimmie Payne gave the project lesson on "Foot Care." Lester Quisenberry, Jr., who has

recently been discharged from the Navy, displayed some articles he brought home from China.

Members exchanged seed and flower plants. Mrs. Jasper Scott will be hostess for the next meeting.

Fourteen members and their children and the following visitors were present: Mr. and Mrs. Rolla

Magruder, Lester Quisenberry, Jr., Mrs. Willard Rohn, Mrs. Mary Hardin, Mrs. Lois Books, Mrs. W. E.

Brackmann, Jimmie Farmer, Dewey Backer and Lester Quisenberry.

50 years ago (1973)

(Caption of a photo by Conrad Yates). First Customer. Walmart checker, Ms. Claudia Galasso, begins

checkout procedures for the first customer at the brand-new Walmart Discount City located on Business

Loop 54 South. Soon after the store opened its doors, John Jameson was on his way home with a newly

purchased tennis racket and four cans of tennis balls.

(Caption of a photo). Big Bird. George Ferguson of Tebbetts checked this 18 ½ pound turkey early

Wednesday morning at the Fulton Conservation Checking Station located at Fulton's Police Station. He

used a call to bring the turkey into range. A total of 37 turkeys were checked Tuesday in Callaway and 3

were checked by 8 a. m. on Wednesday.

(Caption of a photo by Conrad Yates). More Winners. FHS students are fanning out across the state in

district, regional or state competitions and every group returns with winners. Members of the Junior

Classical League who competed in Columbia were: Leslie Payne, Carolyn Means, Mike Kelly, Suzanne

Duckworth, Mary Clevenger, Diane Curtis, Judy Curtis, Kim Mahoney and Chris Moore. Chris Moore was

2

nd in Roman History and Anthology and Latin 1. Judy Curtis was 2nd in Costume, Individual. Diane Curtis

and Mary Clevenger were 2nd in Group.

25 years ago (1998)

Christensen Construction Company of Fulton and Columbia has been awarded the Missouri Asphalt

Pavement Association's 1997 Quality Paving Award. They received the award as the contractor for the

asphalt parking lot at the Univ. of Missouri Memorial Stadium. Each year, the association selects one

project as best in the state. Christensen Construction has won the award four of the past five years.