125 Years Ago: 1901
Arnold’s Opera House held a one-night-only performance. The show was called Edison’s Latest Machine: Projectoscope. It included life-size motion pictures, a concert, and a lecture. The lecture was illustrated and had 50 scenes. Seats cost 15, 25, or 35 cents.
In other performance news, there was a play staged in Skidmore. The Maryville Comedy Company made up of twenty young people performed “The Forged Certificate.” There was a good-sized audience that turned out for the show, and the group returned to Maryville the next day pleased with the performance.
A damage suit between J. W. Dougherty and A. C. Snyder had a verdict that awarded Dougherty $300. Mr. Dougherty had purchased a store from Mr. Snyder in Graham and had operated it for some time. Due to poor business and a mental health crisis, Dougherty had requested to be sent to the asylum at St. Joseph for treatment. Upon his discharge, he resumed his business operations. Around that time Snyder had opened up a new store and soon brought charges of insanity against Dougherty, alleging that he was dangerous to their life and property. Snyder asked that Dougherty be restrained and sued for $2,500 in damages. The jury determined that Dougherty was no threat and instead awarded him $300.
The Feurt & Martin company received a letter from C. B. Fruit & Company of Spokane, Washington, making an inquiry about their acetylene gas machines. The company in Washington had a growing demand for the product and was looking for a supplier. They contacted the Maryville company in hopes that the machine could be made available for the market on the West Coast.
75 Years Ago: 1951
Robert Thompson was promoted to sergeant by the Air Force. Sgt. Thompson had been in the Air Force for 7 ½ years and was an auto mechanic at Vance Air Force Base in Enid, Oklahoma.
The Hopkins Bulldogs advanced a step closer toward the state Class “B” basketball tournament with a win of 24-20 over the Pickett Cardinals.
The farm featured in the Maryville Forum’s aerial photograph was that of A.R. Martin. The farm was operated by his son, Albert (Bill) Martin. The 480-acre farm was primarily a livestock farm, with some 2500 turkeys during the year. Bill attended Maryville High School, where he took part in Future Farmer activities and Vocational Agriculture. He was also active in the 4-H club work. He had been on the farm for the past five years and had started to upgrade it with pressure watering systems.
H. A. “Bud” Millikan had almost completed his first year of university basketball coaching at the University of Maryland. Bud was a former Maryville High basketball and football star in the late 1930s. He also coached Maryville basketball and football teams with great success for two years and then went to high schools in Iowa for three years until he moved to university coaching.
50 Years Ago: 1976
The local newspaper announced that lice could post a problem for beef cattle. It was recommended that cattle should be checked for lice. If found to be infested, they should be sprayed quickly because otherwise the infestation could get out of control.
The Pickering Town Board awarded the contract for construction of a community center to WDR Agri-Systems of Maryville. Construction of the community building was made possible by two grants through the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The community center would officially be called the Union Township Neighborhood Facilities Center.
Maryville was selected as the site for two girls’ softball tournaments. The Missouri Amateur Softball Association voted to have an important tournament and the state competition in Maryville this year.
Registration for kindergarten at Eugene Field Elementary School in Maryville was held in the principal’s office. All children had to be 5 years old on or before October 1st, 1976, and they had to have their birth certificate and immunization records at the time they were enrolled. The kindergarten fee was $4.30, which was used for some refreshments and parties for the year.
The Maryville Jaycees and the National Guard were working on a Bicentennial War Memorial Project for Nodaway County. The plan for the war memorial was to place it on the courthouse lawn.
The Maryville Branch of the American Association of University Woman hosted mini workshops for members. The theme for the workshops was “Live with Less and Enjoy Life More.”