Bit of History -- August 26, 2026

From the front page of the Ridgeway Journal dated August 24, 1911:

The Ridgeway public schools were scheduled to begin classes on Monday, September 4. The school superintendent, J. R. Hale, reminded parents of the new Missouri law for compulsory attendance for children between the ages of 8 and 14: “It is now made the duty of the school authorities to report violation of this law to the prosecuting attorney”. The school then, as now, would lose state funding for children not in attendance: “Hereafter the state public money will be apportioned according to school attendance. Every day that is missed is the loss of so much public money. Your children cannot afford to be irregular in attendance and we cannot afford to lose the money.”

The editors appreciated the efforts of D. H. Hatfield, the deputy state game and fish commissioner, “to stop the illegal seining of the lakes in the vicinity. Bean Lake was the one in question.” A raid on this lake resulted in the arrest of three men who were awaiting trial. Seining, a method of fishing by dragging a net through the water to catch everything in its path. It was legal with certain restrictions during the months of July through September, but these men were caught with “one of the largest seines used in Missouri at work.”

During a storm on the previous Friday evening, a small “cyclone formed south of town on Route 1 that did considerable damage.” It tore up the peach orchard at the Freeman Baker farm. It then went from there to the Prairie Chapel church and “lifted it up and set the west end about four feet off of the foundation and tore up several of the shade trees. After that, it moved to Albert Wooderson’s meadow and destroyed several hay ricks. It blew down a silo at Henry Leazenby’s and moved his barn off its foundation before disappearing.

Bit of History -- August 19, 2026

A few items from the Ridgeway community columns in the August 26, 1904 issue of the Ridgeway Journal:

Ridgeway got some rains that week:  “They were badly needed and started fall pastures nicely and the great improvement in the outlook for corn is a general remark. The corn crop will be far better than it was last year.”  In another comment about the weather: “It is nearly cool enough for frost.  The corn crop will not be ready for a good frost for some weeks yet.”

In local news:  “G. E. Ballad was exhibiting quite a curiosity. It was a white mouse that he bad captured in a grain box. The mouse was as white as snow and bad pink eyes. It was a very pretty little creature.”

Burglars hit the depot on the previous Sunday evening by forcing open a window breaking open a drawer for a few pennies:  ‘Mr. Patrick says he can miss nothing else of value. The railroad detectives are working on the case and it is possible the burglar or burglars may yet be arrested.”

The editor had great things to say about some of the businesses in town, namely the lumber yards and the stock dealers:  “In fact, the lumber business in Ridgeway is a great drawing card for the town.  Also the live stock dealers of Ridgeway are doing a good work for the town by paying prices that cause farmers who live nearer other towns to make the longer drive to get better prices.  Ridgeway is hard to beat as a market town”.

Bit of History -- August 12, 2026

A continuation of the stories on the front page of the Ridgeway Journal dated August 4, 1921:

The Ridgeway school district was getting ready for the new year and planned to open on September 5. The school building has been undergoing extensive improvements, and has been thoroughly filled up to meet needs of the increased attendance which will result from consolidation” The article also announced that the high school tuition would be $6 per month (about $112 today). In addition, the “board of directors” were accepting bids for bus routes. There were eight routes for the 1921-22 school year, most were about 5-6 miles long.

The Rex Theatre was going to present “Sacred and Profane Love”, a Paramount picture starring Conrad Nagel and Elsie Ferguson that Friday and Saturday. The writer was most impressed with how Conrad could act the part of an out-of-control drunk and as soon as the director yells “Cut” then “Lunch”, “The drunkard returned to normal, ironed his features into a pleasanter guise, picked up a copy of “Julius Caesar” which he had been reading—and started home to help his wife feed the baby.”

City Marshal J. H. Pierce announced that he would be strictly enforcing the city ordinances relating to automobiles: “I intend to make a specialty of catching speedsters and "cut-out" fiends, and if you don't want an interview with the police court keep your "cut-outs" closed and observe the speed limit while in the city limits.”

Bit of History -- August 5, 2026

From the front page of the Ridgeway Journal dated August 4, 1921:

The city council approved a special election to ask the voters to approve the issue of $12,000 of bonds to upgrade the city light plant. The residents had been pressuring the council members for “better light service, more day current, better street light service and an eighteen to twenty-four hour service the year round.”

The existing plant could not keep up with that kind of demand and in fact, couldn’t keep up with the demands of the time: “It is impossible to turn on the street lights in the evening until the load is lightened by the closing of the stores and a partial cutting off of the resident districts.” To upgrade the plant needed a larger 100 horsepower engine which would not leave the town in the dark for a week to ten days at a time. The old engine was expected to be repaired and kept to provide additional power as needed. The election was held on August 26, 1921 and the bonds approved overwhelmingly 184 to 19.