125 Years Ago: 1901
A petition for an electric street railway was circulated in Maryville. The proposed route was to run on Main Street from Edward Street to Lawn Avenue. When the petition was first announced, many local residents offered up their own suggestions for the plan. While many were enthusiastic, one woman refused to sign the petition due to her concerns about the line causing too much smoke and the danger it posed to children being hit by the railway cars.
A big increase in mail had taken place in the region. May 1st concluded the very first year of the free delivery of mail in Nodaway County. The service was deemed to be highly satisfactory by those who benefitted from it, mainly farmers.
With changes in Missouri school laws, many of the county teachers were left unsure about their duties and what was required from them as educators. A group of teachers wrote letters to County Commissioner Wright requesting more information. The commissioner explained that one change is that all teachers were required to have a teaching certificate to continue working as teachers.
On a rainy night this week, two young women were grabbed by a man when they were out walking. The startled women screamed, which scared the man away, and they rushed into a nearby home to seek safety. This same incident occurred multiple times. In addition to these attacks, there were reports that homes were being broken into while the husbands were away. This led to an increase in local police surveillance.
75 Years Ago: 1951
Northwest Missouri State College scheduled a meeting with its appropriations group to ask for a new dorm. College president J.W. Jones stated that there was to be a meeting in Jefferson City, May 8th, to discuss the replacement of the Women’s Residence Hall that had been partially destroyed by the recent gas explosion and fire. At the meeting, the group determined that the gas explosion was a problem for the state, at a cost of $800,000. Action on the new residence hall was then deferred until the group heard from Attorney J.E. Taylor. However, Governor Forrest Smith said that a new dormitory should be built as soon as possible because it would disrupt the college’s operations if that was delayed.
In other news about the explosion on campus, seven college girls remained hospitalized. Their conditions improved daily, but progress was slow for those who experienced serious burns.
After years without a baseball team, the college moved to revive the game. Under management of college student Bob Hemenway, Northwest decided to make spring baseball an annual sport.
Graduates of Maryville High School looked forward to new plans for college and work for coming years. Many of the high school seniors planned to go to college after graduation, and Northwest Missouri State College was the most popular college choice among the graduates.
Thirteen girls in Maryville received the highest Girl Scouts’ award known as the Curved Bar.
50 Years Ago: 1976
Two burglaries in Burlington Junction were reported to the sheriff’s department. The West Nodaway School District reported that five citizens band radios had been stolen over the weekend and one local resident had over $1,850 worth of technology taken as well.
A gymnastics meet was held at Northwest Missouri State University. More than 110 participants competed in the meet which closed out a six-week gymnastic instructional program.
Students at Northwest received awards at the Missouri College Newspaper Association’s workshop event in Columbia.
West Nodaway boys’ team from Burlington Junction swept both high school and junior high divisions at their track meet.
The 1976 Northwest Missouri State University graduating class continued the long tradition of a senior-class gift by giving $1,500 to the Wells Library fund for new materials. The gift was presented at the J.W. Jones Student Union Building and University President Robert P. Foster addressed the class and thanked them for their gift.