Times Past: Feb. 14, 2018


We’ve learned some new information about this previously published photo of the Gainesville High School Glee Club, which is mentioned in a 1928 item shared in this week’s Times Past. We now know that the photo was taken to advertise the club’s upcoming performance of “Love Pirates of Hawaii.” The group posed beside Gainesville’s fourth school building, which was built in 1917 on the site near today’s Gainesville post office and was later demolish after being declared unsafe. Only three glee club members’ identities are known: Hattie Clark (Sandford) is on the far right, and her brother, Wolf Clark, is standing near the center of the group in the dark sweater. The student labeled “Virgil” is Virgil Robinson, father of Carla Robinson Lane and her brother, the late Russ Robinson. The photo was recently shared with us by Matt Lyons of Springfield, grandson of Hattie Clark Sandford.

Ozark County Times

Feb. 20, 1914

 Mrs. Newt Martin of Locust, who we reported last week as improving, died Thursday night of last week. Interment was made in the Pontiac Cemetery Saturday. 

 

Feb. 22, 1918

 Dora – Austin Hightower is putting a roof on the skylight blacksmith shop this week. 

E. C. Grisham completed the foundation for his house a few days ago. We understand that Dr. T. D. Gordon is going to put an addition on top of his house this spring.  

Sharp – The volunteers who held meetings at the different schoolhouses in the neighborhood in the interest of the Red Cross met with success. As a result we have 38 members added to our number, making our membership about 120.  

 

Feb. 22, 1924

Pontiac – You miss it if you fail to attend the movie show here every Sunday night. Good music also. 

Willie Hillhouse is teaching a singing school at Charity. 

 

Feb. 17, 1928

“Love Pirates of Hawaii” will be given by the High School Glee Club Saturday night, Feb. 25. 

 

Feb. 12, 1931

The next highway project let in this county very likely will be the project surveyed on Nos. 80 and 5 running on the east and south sides around Gainesville, also a concrete bridge across Lick Creek on the east side of town. This road is uncalled for while we are in such dire need of a road from Gainesville to the Taney County line. 

 

Feb. 19, 1942

Pond Fork – Mrs. Perl Marsh received a telegram from her son, Herbert Evans, saying he was slightly injured on Jan. 25 in the Philippines. 

Girls, don’t forget to send the soldier boys a card once in a while to cheer them up while they are working for Uncle Sam. 

Brush Creek – Ralph Smith closed a successful term of school here Friday. 

 Rob Hunt was over from Sycamore Tuesday. He told of killing a blue-wing chicken hawk in his chicken house after dark. It had killed a big hen, but the hawk could not see well enough in the dark, and Rob easily killed it. 

Don’t fail to see Fibber McGee and Molly with Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy at the Ozark Theatre Feb. 21. 

Pvt. Tony Sullivan, after spending a 10-day visit with his parents and other relatives near Pleasant Grove, left Sunday on his return to his camp in Massachusetts. 

John Kirkland was over from Howard Ridge on Wednesday. He has been on the sick list for some time and was able to get around slowly with the aid of a cane.  

Foil – Some of the men have been working on the new General Baptist church house. They have the siding put on and the roofing almost completed. 

Mrs. Addie Humbyrd has been helping Mrs. Leon Lewis quilt. 

Pontiac – Mrs. Cecil Willbanks and children and Waco Jenkins and family are going to Detroit, Mich. About March 15 where Cecil has employment as a city bus driver, and Mr. Jenkins will find work. 

Hoy Shaw and family are moving back to their house on the Jim Crabtree farm near Charity.

 

Feb. 15, 1968

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. today for Ferrell Lansdown, 20, Gainesville, in the Clinking-beard Chapel with the Rev. Loyd Norton officiating. Burial will be in the Isabella Cemetery. 

Mr. Lansdown died in the Burge-Protestant hospital in Springfield Wednesday morning after taking ill suddenly Tuesday while helping his father cut wood near their home. 

He was born July 29, 1947, at Isabella, the son of Jess and Myrtle Stith Lansdown and had lived most of his life near Gainesville.  

 

Feb. 10, 1993

Voters will have a chance to approve or turn down a half-cent county-wide sales tax designated for law enforcement when they go to the polls in April. 

Ozark County commissioners approved placement of the question on the ballot at Monday’s regular meeting. If approved, the approximately $165,000 a year the tax would generate would be used first for the construction of a jail.

Ozark County Times

504 Third Steet
PO Box 188
Gainesville, MO 65655

Phone: (417) 679-4641
Fax: (417) 679-3423