Forum Flashbacks: Aug. 29-Sept. 4

MARYVILLE DAILY FORUM, SEPT. 1, 1999
25 YEARS AGO: Graham Street Fair – Jeannie Maria Murphy, age 2, was just-a-swingin’ Friday evening at the Graham Street Fair.

50 years ago

Maryville Daily Forum, Sept. 3, 1974

Omnibus of Opinion
By Katherine Craft
Forum Reporter

Five million Americans live alone.

Imagine the fear they have that someday they may slip and fall, and if they have no regular visitors, that they will lie helplessly in pain.

And all it would take to calm that fear is a phone call. A social club, civic group or just a few concerned people could begin a telephone reassurance program which would be of great benefit to our senior citizens.

Persons receiving telephone reassurance are called at a predetermined time each day. If there is no answer, the caller sends a neighbor, relative or public safety officer to check on the older person.

Another community goes a step further. It offers a service which provides a telephone number of an older person to call if he just wants to talk. Ten elderly professional people are the listeners.

There are other services and programs which require no money, just a bit of concern for our mothers and fathers who have reached retirement age.

“Friendly Visiting,” volunteers visiting isolated home-bound older persons on a regular schedule once or more a week, can give the senior citizen something to look forward to. The visitor can play chess or cards with the senior citizens, write letters, provide aid during a shopping trip or just sit and talk. …

Many universities have developed programs of study exclusively for the elderly. The seniors attend classes in current events, home economics or any other subject in which there is an interest expressed. Northwest State University is falling behind in its obligation to our senior citizens if it is not planning such a program.

Many communities cater to their aged much more than our own. Movie theaters reduce prices to senior citizens. Bowling alleys have special hours when senior citizens can bowl for reduced prices. Restaurants offer specials for persons who prove they are over 60 years of age.

These people have put most of their lives into building a better world for us. It’s time we returned the favor. Let’s end isolation and give the aged the break they deserve.

100 years ago

Maryville Daily Democrat-Forum, Aug. 29, 1924

TEACHERS ASKED FOR CO-OPERATION

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“The Soviet Government of Russia is spending $1,600,000 in America every week in an attempt to undermine American patriotism,” said L. M. Eek, president of the Maryville Chamber of Commerce, in an appeal this morning for the Nodaway County teachers to cooperate with the city of Maryville in the National Defense Day test and in the School and Farm show, both of which are to be held this fall.

“There are over four million ‘pinks’ in the United States who are advocating Pacifism but are really agents of the soviets and are only seeking to break down America’s government. It is for this purpose that we are to observe a National Defense Day test in order to ascertain how many loyal Americans will respond to the call of the country and to instill again a spirit of patriotism in every American school child.”

Mr. Eek urged that the teachers assist in all possible ways to make the Defense test a success in their community and to stem the tide of pacifism which is Bolshevism in disguise.

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.