Times Past: 03/25/26
House Grocery in Tecumseh in 1967 This 1967 photo of the House family's store in Tecumseh was shared with the Times by family member C House Adams. Pictured, from left, are James Eaves, Don House and wife Diane, and Don's mother (James' daughter) Avis Lyndell Eaves House. The first known store at Tecumseh, where today's Highway 160 crosses the headwaters of Norfork Lake, was built by Ocie Upton in 1928. He sold it to A. A. and Nova Pleasant in 1943, and the Pleasants sold it to Avis House and her husband, Arley, in 1965. A story about the history of Tecumseh in the June 12, 1985, Times said the fried pies Avis made and sold (up to 500 a day, the Times reported) "make Tecumseh famous." After Arley's death in 1969, Avis and their son Don owned and operated the businesses until they sold it in 1974 to Californians Betty Nelson and her husband, Clovis. In 1979, Jerry and Virginia Merglewski bought the store, and in 1984, Malcolm and Reida Clark bought it. Four years later, Malcolm "died instantly" when the store was destroyed by an explosion at 8:30 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 14, 1988. The tragedy occurred soon after a fuel truck had delivered 5,000 gallons of gasoline. Jack and Connie Daugherty rebuilt the store and operated it as Daugherty's One-Stop from 1989 until selling it to Vernon and Angela Coy in 1997. The store changed hands several times during the next 20 years until 2017, when it was bought by current owner Brad Evans, who renamed it Kwik Stop #3.
Ozark County News
March 22, 1883
A snow two inches deep fell here on Wednesday morning, and laid on the ground two days. It was the deepest snow of the winter and was accompanied by some "pinching" cold weather.
A pistol accidently went off in the hand of Y. E. McClendon on last Saturday, the ball taking effect in his right great toe. A painful wound was inflicted, though not a serious one, as he is now out on crutches.
March 22, 1906
Notice – I now have a Grist and Shingle mill in operation at my place six miles west of town on the Isabella road, and earnestly solicit your patronage. Will grind on Friday and Saturday each week. Good turnout and fair treatment to all. Good shingles at right prices. Try me. W. D. Bunch
Ozark County Times
March 26, 1926
Owners of hogs in Gainesville will please not forget that we have an ordinance prohibiting hogs from running at large. This ordinance will be enforced, put up your hogs.
The advantage of tractor power on the farm, not only in lessening labor but in reducing farming costs, will be demonstrated for farmers of this city on Saturday, March 27, which has been designated as Fordson Day. The demonstration, which is to be held in Gainesville, will begin at 10 o'clock and all arrangements are being completed.
March 22, 1951
Missouri's last surviving veteran of the Civil War is dead. John Hutchinson, longtime resident of Ozark and Douglas counties, died Sunday in Stroud, Okla., at the age of 104. . . . Both Oklahoma and Missouri claimed Mr. Hutchinson as a resident as he lived in one state then another the past 50 years, but he claimed Ozark county as his home. . . . Death came just 4 days after his 104th birthday, a day in which the Missouri Senate paid tribute to Mr. Hutchinson as the last surviving Civil War veteran in the state. . . . The body will be returned to Ava for services then brought to Isabella for burial. . . . Military services will be held at Isabella Saturday.
March 25, 1976
The strongest sound around Gainesville [last week] was the roar of highway machinery when the Howard Construction Company of Sedalia got back to the job of completing new U.S. 160 and a section of Mo. 181. Work had been suspended during the winter months.
Sheriff's report – The flag at Bakersfield was stolen again this week.
Sheriff Herman Pierce said that the persons involved in the break-ins last week at Hillhouse Station, Family Grocery, Tex's Boot and Saddle Shop have been arrested and charged.
March 27, 1996
The [Gainesville] School board approved raising a base salary for teachers to $19,000 and that the index be adjusted to 2.8 percent, and that any excess funds remaining after classrooms are adequately staffed be spent on teacher salary.
March 28, 2001
Dawt items, Jaretty Nesbit correspondent – My neighbor Farris Evans recently told me that his son, Dr. Sam Evans of North Little Rock, has been appointed by the Foreign Missionary General Baptists Board to be a medical missionary for four years in the Philippines. Also, Farris mentioned that in the area where Dr. Evans will be working, he will be the first medical missionary there appointed by the General Baptists.