Forum Flashbacks: Feb. 12-18
MARYVILLE DAILY FORUM, FEB. 14, 1976
50 YEARS AGO: John Adams and Sam Adams, played respectively by Mark Gutzmer and Mark Smeltzer discuss the British Stamp Act in scene one of the Horace Mann fifth grade’s production of “The Colonies Fight for Independence.” The two act play included everyone in the fifth grade and included history of the colonies, music, dancing and choral singing. The play was directed by Mrs. Betty Wood, Miss Robin Allen and Miss Lynette Dolder. It was the fifth grade’s way of saying “Happy Birthday U.S.A.”
50 years ago
Maryville Daily Forum, Feb. 13, 1976
Building Bid Boondoggle Inflames Ravenwood Patrons
An angry group of Northeast Nodaway R-V School District patrons had only one real question for the R-V School Board Thursday — why was the lowest bid on the construction improvements at the high school in Ravenwood some 30 per cent above the estimated $326,000 construction cost?
The question was never answered because neither the school board, Superintendent of Schools Dean Phillips or the architect, Dean Lintecum of Kansas City, seemed to really know.
“We never really had a job this wild, this far off before,” Lintecum told his hostile audience. …
Although he could account for part of the high bidding price, Lintecum admitted he was unable to account for a lowest bid of some 30 per cent above his estimated cost of the project. He said construction costs went up about 10 percent in 1975, but not 30 per cent. His original estimate was made about March of 1975. …
But, in spite of the many attempts at explanations, no one really answered board member Gerald Newbury’s question, “Whose fault was it the bids were so high?”
Members of the audience of some 20 persons (unusual for a school board meeting) leveled many accusations at the architect and Phillips including attempts to defraud and collusion. One angry patron out of frustration at what he felt were unanswered questions exploded, “It’s our money your(sic) spending foolishly by damn!”
Suggestions flew around the room to get a better architect. Questions were raised as to why there was only one architect on the project. Various emotional attacks were made on a very subdued school board, superintendent and architect. …
In the end, the board took the architect’s suggestion to resubmit the project for bids after redesigning aspects of the project in order to cut costs.
75 years ago
Maryville Daily Forum, Feb. 15, 1951
Couple Married On Sunporch of Local Hospital
Valentine’s Day brought a special kind of happiness to a patient at the St. Francis hospital yesterday. At 2 o’clock Mrs. Lillian Workman of Maryville became the bride of C. O. Jennings of Stanberry, who was injured Sunday evening in an automobile accident.
The couple was issued a marriage license Sunday by the recorder’s office.
Mr. Jennings was unable to stand for the wedding. His bed was wheeled to the north end of the sunporch for the ceremony. He wore a white shirt and tie.
Married on Sunporch
The wedding which is believed to be the second marriage to have ever taken place at the St. Francis hospital was solemnized by the Rev. G. Howard Linton, minister of the First Baptist church. Sister Hildegarde, sister superior of the hospital recalls that a wedding was held at the hospital many years ago.
The sunporch of the second floor was banked with ferns and bouquets of mixed flowers for the scene of the double ring ceremony.
Miss Bagley Maid-of-Honor
Mrs. Workman was dressed in a beige crepe street-length dress with brown accessories. She wore a corsage of red roses and her only ornaments were a necklace and earrings given to her by the groom.
Phyllis Bagley of Maryville, a niece of the bride, was maid-of-honor. She was attired in a pink crepe dress with blue accessories. The best man was Lester Jennings, son of the groom. …
Members of the family and the nurses and nurse aids on the second floor were guests at the ceremony.
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.
