125 Years Ago: 1901
At the request of the general arrangement committee of the Skidmore Punkin Show, there was a gathering for the purpose of discussing the permanent organization of the Punkin Show. The meeting was called to order and by a vote of “yes” or “no” the Punkin show had been unanimously made a permanent organization.
The Skidmore public school had added to its library eighty new volumes and ordered a new set of maps. The school was moving along nicely and predicted bountiful returns from the efforts of their teachers.
Zach Johnson had bought a shredder and was prepared to shred fodder and take care of corn in good shape. The machine shucked the corn and elevated it into a wagon or other safe place, he delivered the shelled corn at another place and stacked the fodder.
75 Years Ago: 1951
Fun and frolic would keynote Maryville’s first annual Halloween Party, Mrs. Faye Robinson,
chairman of arrangements committee announced. The party plans included a concession on the square during the celebration. Proceeds went to the recreation fund. Grade school children were not able to participate until the evening due to conflict with scheduled school programs. There was no parade as originally planned, unfortunately.
Observance of the 50th anniversary of Alpha Sigma Alpha sorority, organized in 1901 in
Farmsville, Va. at the first co-educational college in the United States would be held in Maryville when the local sorority will have its Founders Day banquet at the Maryville country club.
Miss Joan Hansen, Bedison, was crowned queen of the 1951 college homecoming activities at the close of the Variety Show. The Independents placed first in house decorations, parade participation, best group of jalopies, individual jalopies, and best all-around float.
50 Years Ago: 1976
Francis Archer, Maryville, won $15 first prize in the sixth week of the Forum Football Contest. Archer compiled a 9-1 entry, missing only the Oklahoma state victory over Oklahoma. Dan Robertson, Maryville, edged out of a four-way tie with a 8-2 entry and a tiebreaker of 41, to capture $5 second prize.
After a slowdown, brought on by the recession, residents of Nodaway County and vicinity
went in for automobile buying in a big way. As a result, the number of cars on local roads, which was large grew larger. The recent growth reflected the economic recovery of the last year or so, marked by the income gains recorded by most families in the area.
Charles Miles Massie, 78, Hopkins, who served 14 years as presiding judge of the Nodaway County court, and a retired farmer and stockman, died at the St. Francis hospital. He had graduated from Maryville High School and with the exception of a year spent in Colorado, had resided his lifetime in Nodaway County.