Forum Flashbacks: Oct. 30-Nov. 5
MARYVILLE DAILY FORUM, OCT. 30, 1975
50 YEARS AGO: Ghosty Stories – What portends for Halloween this fell meeting of witches and miserly Jack. Surely the ghosts, witches and spirits are gathering in league for their evening of power. When not gathering spells for Halloween, the witches are known as Heather Hickman, left, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Brooke Hickman, and Angie Findley, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bill Findley.
50 years ago
Maryville Daily Forum, Nov. 6, 1975
‘Cult’ Rumors Squelched
Rumors of threats, molestations and deaths in this area by alleged “cults” have been checked out and are completely false and without foundation, law enforcement authorities said today.
Following rumors which have been spreading for the past week, the Maryville public safety department, the Nodaway County sheriff’s department, and the prosecuting attorney’s office issued the following joint statement today:
“Law enforcement personnel of this area have recently become aware of rumors of supposed ‘cults’ threatening high school girls, and in some cases girls were supposed to have been killed or raped.
“The sheriff and police have checked out these rumors and find that they are completely false and without any foundation whatsoever.
“A rumor that two male students were molested (one supposedly died) is likewise totally false.” The sheriff’s office has contacted area sheriffs as far away as Bethany, and they all report that such rumors are false.
“There is no such thing as the ‘Black Van Gang’ except in someone’s imagination, and no high school girls have been killed or raped in either Iowa or Missouri that law enforcement officers are aware of, and all such rumors are false.
“A Maryville high school girl did receive a crank telephone call on Wednesday evening, and in response to that the phones of many of the high school girls are now set up to be traced even if the calling party should hang up before the trace is completed (not like on TV where the trace must be completed before the caller hangs up). Crank telephone calls and threatening letters are criminal offenses and will be dealt with as such.”
The “cult” rumors apparently stem from the cattle mutilations reported in this area over the past month. Law enforcement authorities reported in the Midwest say it is possible the mutilations were caused by cults, but are quick to add that animals are a stronger possibility in the majority of mutilation cases.
75 years ago
Maryville Daily Forum, Nov. 1, 1950
School Fire Is Blamed On Vandals
Extensive damage was done to a basement room of the St. Patrick’s school last night by a fire believed to have been started by Halloween vandals. The fire climaxed a night of Halloween vandalism that is said to be one of the worst Maryville has ever experienced and kept the Maryville police department busy until 4 o’clock this morning.
The fire at the school started in a pile of old newspapers collected in a newspaper drive at the school which were stacked at the rear of the building. Firemen are of the opinion that some person or persons set fire to the newspapers and the blaze spread quickly to the building.
Fire Dept. Called
The fire department was called to the scene shortly before 11 o’clock, and battled the blaze for about an hour before bringing it under control.
Earlier last night vandals opened the valves on nine fire plugs in various parts of town and the fire department found that water pressure had dropped to the point where they were unable to use their large hoses. Fire Chief Claude Stults said today that the fire could have been extinguished with minor damage if they could have brought their big hoses into play. A bucket brigade was formed for a short time until the plugs which had been tampered with were closed and water pressure increased. …
Four nuns who were sleeping in the building were unaware of the fire until they were aroused by Police Chief Charles Kastrup. They spent the night at St. Francis hospital.
Classes have been suspended at the school for the remainder of the week.
About 12:30 o’clock the fire department was called to the Wabash underpass on North Main street where five bales of hay had been dumped in the street, soaked with gasoline and set afire. The fire was put out with a booster pump and water in the fire truck tank.
Report Chair Stolen
Several persons reported to Maryville police that lawn chairs and other outdoor furniture had been stolen during the evening. The entire police force remained on duty until 4 o’clock this morning investigating reports of vandalism all over town. Mayor Clyde Roberts also patrolled the streets in an attempt to keep down property damage.
Several sheds and outbuildings in town were reported turned over and at least one carload of youths drove the streets setting off fireworks in violation of Maryville law.
Police Get 50 Calls
Chief Kalstrup said that most of the vandalism occurred between 10 and 11 o’clock last night. The police department received about 50 calls during that period, he said.
Meanwhile, other towns in the county also were experiencing an over-dose of Halloween pranks. Sheriff Earl Anderson answered calls to Clearmont and Graham where piles of trash and refuse had been placed in the streets. The vandals had disappeared by the time he arrived, Sheriff Anderson said.
EDITOR’S NOTE: The 50- and 75-year flashbacks are courtesy of the Missouri Digital Newspaper Project from the State Historical Society of Missouri, accessible at shsmo.newspapers.com.
