Looking Back with Lora Stull
PROTECTED CONTENT
If you’re a current subscriber, log in below. If you would like to subscribe, please click the subscribe tab above.
Username and Password Help
Please enter your email and we will send your username and password to you.
One Hundred Twenty-Five Years Ago
(From the Mount Ayr Record -News, Thursday, December 24, 1896.)
It is suggested that on January 1, 1900 a new division of the year into thirteen months be instituted.
Such a change is not preposterous as most people would be likely to consider it at the first thought. If such a division were made the first twelve months would have just 28 days, or four weeks each, and the new month twenty-nine, to make 365, and thirty in leap year.
After a few days there would be no use for calendars, as the same day of the week would have the same date through the year. If January 1st were, say Monday, every Monday would be the 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd; every Tuesday the 2nd, 9th, 16th, and 23rd, and throughout the year.
The changes of the moon would be about on the same dates through the year and many calculations, like interest , dates of maturing notes, Easter Sunday and many other important dates would be simplified.
Although the present generation would have to figure new dates for birthdays and all legal holidays except New Year would be on different dates, yet the gain would be more than the loss, as that would be permanent and the objections trifling.
We notice that the suit of Geigher vs Payne, on appeal from District Court of Ringgold County has been affirmed in the Supreme Court.
The judgement was on a verdict of $16,000 damages for a breach of promise of marriage. This is a big feather in the cap of Henry & Spence attorneys for the plaintiff, who have managed her case with great skill and efficiency.
Marriage: Yesterday at high noon, Hettie Hannelly became the bride of George Keller.
Obituaries in this edition were: Infant, Victor Gray and 7 year old Bessie Haight.
Seventy-Five
Years Ago
(From the Mount Ayr Record-News,Thursday, December 26, 1946.)
Iowans are fully aware of the rising cost of living today. With butter selling around a dollar per pound, eggs at sixty cents a dozen and rent running from $50 to $100 per month.
Such figures stand in sharp contrast to prices in Iowa City a century ago. On December 2, 1846, Malcolm Murray quoted the following prices current at his stand at No. 12 Iowa Ave., in the capital of Iowa. Fresh butter stood at 10-12 cents per pound, eggs 5-6 cents per dozen and chickens at .75 cents to $1 per pound. Bacon hams could be bought at 4 1/2 cents to 5 cents per pound and lard was for sale at the same figure. Potatoes were quoted at 10-16 cents per bushel and corn meal at from 12-13 3/4 cents per bushel. Other prices were comparable. Brooms were $1.50 to $2 per dozen. Walnut lumber was $1-1.50 per 100 feet and you could actually buy the lumber.
The average Iowan would also be interested to know that it cost only $2.50 per quarter of half session to take reading, writing and geography at Mrs. S.C. Morey’s “Female School.” Since a 160 acre farm could be bought for $200 (the price of a single acre today.) (In 2019 farmland value for south central Iowa per acre is $4,219 a acre) it did not take much to become established in Iowa a century ago.
On the other hand wages were low and money tight. The editor of the Iowa Standard had a standing offer to take a cord of wood, butter, eggs, tallow, candles, beeswax, hides, flour, wheat, chickens, honey and salt pork for subscriptions. An Mrs. Morey offered to accept work of plasters and joiners in payment of tutition for their children. Doctors and lawyers eked out a hazardous existence on the frontier and the clergy were desperately poor. Even low prices were of small moment when farm hands received $1 per day and preachers got $150 a year.
Marriages: December 21, Norma Lee Bailey became the bride of John Keith Sickels.
Obituary in this edition was: Emma Isabelle Palmer McGinty.
Fifty Years Ago
(From the Mount Ayr Record-News,Thursday, December 30, 1971.)
Ringgold County will become part of a new judicial district this week, when action taken by the last legislature becomes effective.
Presently in the 3rd judicial district, Ringgold County will be part of the new 5th district which includes 16 counties in south central and central Iowa. The shift of districts is part of an over all reduction from 18 to 8 districts in the state effective January 1, 1972.
Intimal steps toward condemnation of 3 lots owned by Marie Simpson by the Low Rent Housing Agency of Mount Ayr are now being taken.
A commission has been appointed to appraise damages caused by condemnation of the property located in the SE corner of the block bounded by Madison-Harrison-Monroe- and Tyler Streets. The block in question is just 3 blocks east of the square.
Obituaries in this edition were: Margaret O’Grady Walters and Jennie Mae Grindrod Stuck Laird.
Twenty-Five Years Ago
(From the Mount Ayr Record-News,Thursday, December 19, 1996.)
Two Mount Ayr junior high students have been temporarily suspended and face possible further disciplinary action following an incident Friday where a pistol was found in a locker at Mount Ayr junior high.
Acting on the concerns of a student made known to a teacher, school officials found the pistol in a student locker. A second student is alleged to have brought the gun to school.
Trees will be planted on the Ringgold County Fairgrounds with money presented from funds raised at the county sesquicentennial worship service held last summer.
Appeal coming in vote count for supervisor race-The last count of the election had Lloyd Bedier with one vote lead over incumbent Ethel Campell and Campbell has appealed to a contest court, set to be held December 23.
Obituaries in this edition were: Lloyd West Ridge and Ellen Gail Ibbotson Goettler.
TenYears Ago
(From the Mount Ayr Record-News,Thursday, December 15, 2011.)
Early retirement for three longtime Mount Ayr community elementary teachers was approved at the board meeting Monday.
Retiring at the end of the school year are Cindy Allen, Angi Dodge and Pam Hudson. Allen and Dodge have both taught in the school district for 34 years and Hudson has taught here for 22 years.
Approximately 60 people traveled through snow to help initiate the new five gallon hit and miss freezer recently purchased by the Waubonsie Tractor Club and Benton Betterment committee.
December 8, many cars made their way through falling snow and snow covered roads to participate in a potluck and watch John Campbell churn out ice cream with the new hit and miss freezer.
Obituaries in this edition were: Betty Catherine Beemer Boyer, Melvin Eugene Doolittle, Velma Louise Sheldon Hill and Melvin Frasier Newton.