Forum Flashbacks: Feb. 29-March 6
MARYVILLE DAILY FORUM, MARCH 4, 1999
25 YEARS AGO: Ministry Center opens – Cutting the ribbon for the opening of the Ministry Center, the combined effort of the Maryville Ministerial Fellowship are, from left, Merlin Atkins, Imogene Williams, food pantry coordinator Liz Mandrick, Lillus Garten, clothes room coordinator Juanita English, Edith George and George English.
50 years ago
Maryville Daily Forum, March 4, 1974
A Stanberry family had an unexpected get-together early Saturday afternoon on a country road 1½ miles east of Clyde.
The get-together occurred when Mrs. Coletta Merrigan stopped her car over the crest of a hill to offer assistance to another motorist stuck in the mud.
Three daughters were with Mrs. Merrigan, but a son, James Merrigan, also of Stanberry, was not, but was following his mother along the road.
The car driven by James Merrigan came over the crest of the hill and struck his mother’s car in the rear end, then bounced into the car which was stuck on the opposite side of the road, operated by Mrs. Edna Schieber, Kansas City.
Both of the Merrigan family cars were demolished. James Merrigan had a front tooth knocked out, and two of his sisters complained of neck injuries. There were no citations issued.
Maryville Daily Forum March 6, 1974
The streaking season was launched Tuesday night on the Northwest State University campus.
Bob Henry, MSU news director, said he received reports this morning of two incidents of streaking, a fad which has hit many of the nation’s college and university campuses.
About 7:30 Tuesday night, two male students, clad only in hats and shoes, streaked from near the Wesley Center to the library. Later, at about 10:30 p.m., seven to 15 male students, wearing only ski masks and shoes, streaked in front of Millikan Hall, a women’s residence, and according to one report streaked inside the hall.
Henry said the incidents, performed in 50-degree weather, met with mixed receptions.
One of the two males who launched the MSU streaking campaign, when asked why, said he had accepted the challenge, hoping President Nixon would “bare” the facts of the Watergate scandal. He called the action a peaceful protest.
The two students said the brief run to the library met with mixed reaction from girls along the way. The action was met with hilarious laughter from some, turned heads from others, and shocked expressions from the rest, they reported.
A third friend was waiting at the library with a “getaway” car.
One of the students said one reason for the streak was to make MSU comparable to bigger schools. He described Northwest as “fairly to awfully conservative” and said perhaps the streaking will help open up some minds.
The students said they went through about two hours of mental anguish before the streak, with each one saying they were going to do it but neither one believing it.
100 years ago
Maryville Tribune, March 4, 1924
LOSS OF $50,000 IN FIRE AT CONCEPTION
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Loss totaling approximately $50,000 resulted at Conception Junction this morning when fire of unknown origin razed five brick business buildings, and badly damaged two others. The blaze started about 6:30 o’clock and was brought under control about 10 o’clock.
The five brick buildings which were destroyed were owned by T. W. Costello, Eldorado Springs, Mo. They were valued at about $20,000 and Mr. Costello had only $1,000 insurance on them. The brick building on the north end of the block owned by Mrs. Lincoln Bent of Maryville, was damaged about $1,200 and was protected by $1,000 insurance, while the building on the south end of the block, owned by Clarence Vogt, Maryville, was damaged about $1,500, and was insured for $1,000.
The fire started in one of the Costello buildings in the center of the block, occupied by the Thomas Nolan general store. It was discovered by W. S. Vandeventer, who was at his lumber yard just across the street. From this building the blaze spread to the adjoining structures, destroying the two on each side, and damaging the ones on each end of the block.
The loss to Mr. Nolan is estimated at about $8,500, and he had $5,000 insurance.
From Brothers was destroyed, the loss being estimated at about $2,500, and there was no insurance. Merrigan and Son, Joe Pfeiffer, From Brothers, and George F. Parrot each lost an automobile, stored in the garage.
The Farmers Exchange, which occupied another of the buildings, sustained a loss of $2,500 and had $1,000 insurance. In addition to the actual property loss, the books of the Farmers Exchange, carrying about $1,500 in accounts, were destroyed. …
A crowd estimated at five hundred persons gathered in Conception Junction this morning and helped fight the fire, which was finally got under control.
A stiff wind was blowing from the west when the blaze started and hard work was required to save the Vandeventer lumber yard, which is located just across the street from the block which burned.
EDITOR’S NOTE: The 50-year and 100-year flashbacks are courtesy of the Missouri Digital Newspaper Project from the State Historical Society of Missouri, accessible at shsmo.newspapers.com.
