Bit of History - June 26, 2024

In November 1937, A. J. Milligan had a bad day.  While walking up town one day, he skidded off the sidewalk and into the street.  Hours later, he discovered that his pocket watch was missing from the trousers’ fob pocket where he usually kept it.  

The watch was a gold lady’s hunting case model, purchased in California and given to him by his sister and he was quite sentimental about it.  (Note:  a hunting case model is a pocket watch with a full lid over the glass face.)  “Under such circumstances there was but one logical thing to do – put an ad in the classified column of the Journal.  Classifieds always get results.”  So, he placed the following ad in the Ridgeway Journal on November 18, 1937: “LOST – Lady’s size gold watch, tied with piece of shoestring.  A. J. MILLIGAN.”  Then he waited. “A blast of music by the orchestra will indicate a lapse of five days.”

He returned to the Journal office to report his results, smiling as he showed the editor his watch.  When the editor asked him who found it, “I did,” said Mr. Milligan.  “It was in another pair of pants at home.  When I shucked my other pants, I forgot to transfer the watch to the ones I put on.” 

“Moral:  Classifieds always get results.”  (Ridgeway Journal, November 25, 1937.)

Bit of History - June 19, 2024

On Sunday, August 21, 1955, farmers in Harrison County were invited to the Stanton Hallock farm two miles south of Ridgeway to participate in an aerial tour of the county.  For a small fee, they were treated to a 50-mile plane ride that lasted about thirty minutes.  They were encouraged to bring a camera to “take pictures from the air of the old home place or that north 40 which has been giving trouble”.  There were six four-passenger planes and the “Flying Farmers” (farmers who owned and flew their own private planes) were also welcome to participate.  The Ridgeway Lions Club had a stand to serve food and drinks to attendees. (Harrison County Times, Aug. 18, 1955).  Picnickers were invited as there were lots of shade trees and free ice water available.

Sponsored by the Soil Conservation District of Harrison County, the purpose of the event was to educate farmers about soil conservation.  “It was stated that the effects of soil erosion are plainer when seen from above.”  (Webb City Sentinel, Aug 18, 1955.) 

The exhibits included soil and tissue testing, pest weed and grasses, a seed display by the S. W. Harrison F. F. A. chapter and an exhibit on legumes by the Cainsville F. F. A.  Bud Phillips of King City demonstrated aerial spraying for weeds and insects.  The planes and pilots were provided by the St. Joseph Flying Service.  

Bit of History - June 12, 2024

In 1926, seven years after Governor Frederick Gardiner signed the act that would make the sale, manufacture and transport of alcohol illegal statewide.  However, instead of “drying out” the state, crime rates went up as many people turned to the illegal production and sale of alcohol.

Even in Ridgeway, people were arrested for the possession of alcohol.  In 1926, Harrison County Sheriff J. B. Manifold, Deputy Sheriff John York and Ridgeway officers raided the home of Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Winkler.  Prosecuting attorney L. R. Kautz obtained a search warrant from Justice B. P. Sigler after he had decided that liquor was being kept in the home.  They found two gallons of ethyl alcohol, two pints of “medicated alcohol meant to be used for external use” (aka rubbing alcohol) and eight pints of “bottled in bond whiskey” in the bottom of a piano in the front room of their home.  The Winklers were not home at the time, but a warrant for the arrest of Mr. Winkler was being sought.  He owned a restaurant in Ridgeway which had been searched the previous week, but the officers found nothing of significance there.  

Art Ham, who owned a café in town, also had his home and business raided by the officers when the Winkler restaurant was searched and “alcohol mopped up oc(?) the kitchen floor, where it had been poured as the officers began their search” of the café.  Both Winkler and Ham were expected to be charged for possession of intoxicating liquor, a lesser offense than the sale of intoxicants.

Bit of History - June 5, 2024

Here are a few interesting items from the Ridgeway Journal dated June 5, 1919: 

 The Ridgeway Methodist Church was planning “Indignation and Protest Day” in conjunction with Methodist churches nationwide to “take action against President Wilson’s request to Congress to for the repeal of the wartime prohibition” of the sale of alcohol. Everyone was encouraged to meet the next Sunday for a sermon titled “Booze in Politics” and sign a petition to urge Congress to continue Prohibition. Meanwhile, the Christian Church members were thinking of holding a fall revival and were asking for suggestions for a good speaker.

It had been a rainy week with 8 inches of rain from the previous Saturday through Tuesday, flooding the Big Creek and Grand River and damaging crops in the bottoms. 

 Residents were reminded to keep their grass and weeds cut and to not throw grass in the streets, per the city ordinance and told “the next notice of this nature will be at your expense.” 

The Rex Theater was showing a new “photoplay” titled “Oh, You Women”, a silent film about a soldier returning from World War 1 to find the women running things in town and the men at home tending the babies and doing housework.

The state of Missouri announced the results of the new “Farm Census”. Statewide, there were 277,244 farms and a total population of 3,293,335. Harrison County had a population of 20,466 and 3,377 farms. 

 E. Newton Carter, the county school superintendent, announced an examination would be given to determine Harrison County’s representative to the State Fair in Sedalia. The exam would cover Agriculture, History of Missouri and Arithmetic. Only boys ages 12-17 were eligible to take the test.