150 years ago (1873)
There is nothing purer than honesty. Nothing warmer than love. Nothing richer than wisdom. Nothing
brighter than virtue. Nothing more steadfast than faith. These unified in one mind, form the purest,
sweetest, warmest, brightest and most steadfast happiness.
100 years ago (1923)
Work began of gravelling a mile of the Mokane Road between the Whitlow and Fennell places on
Monday. The Mokane road in the Fulton District is to have several minor improvements as the rough
places are to be filled in with cinders and a concrete culvert is to be built at the Fennell place, according
to P. D. Thurmond, engineer for the district. Work on the last miles of the Jefferson City Road in the
Fulton district is to begin this week. Gravel was placed on that part of the road last fall, but was not
smoothed over and is now pretty rough. Scarifying and then smoothing is expected to put that road in
good condition. Roads in all parts of the county are in fine shape because farmers are keeping the
highways along their farms dragged.
Announcement that a charter has been granted to the Fulton Rotary Club was made at the weekly
luncheon of the club at the Palace Hotel. The number of the charter is 1381. The charter will be
presented by Will Keith of Chillicothe, president of the fourteenth district of International Rotary, at a
charter party on a later date. Practically the entire membership plans to attend the district convention
to be held in Jefferson City if weather and road conditions are such as to permit automobile travel
between Fulton and Jefferson City.
75 years ago (1948)
The Good Neighbor awards at the Tom Breneman 'Breakfast In Hollywood' party, sponsored by the Band
Mothers Club, were awarded to Mrs. E. B. Edney and Philip Backer and the letter nominating Miss Sadie
Hereford won honorable mention.
Mrs. Dewey Williamson, 611 Bluff Street, wrote as follows: I have the best neighbor in town, Mrs. Iva
Edney. She goes every morning to see about two elderly ladies up the street. If they are unable to go
after their groceries, she does that for them. Once a week she does their wash, returning it spic and
span. She drives one of them to Sunday School and Church and Wednesday prayer. She teaches Sunday
School. If one of her little girls don't show, she is out to see what is wrong. She makes as high as 50-100
visits to the sick per month. She is wonderful in time of sorrow. I KNOW, because she was so faithful to
me, helping me in many ways...
Miss Goldie Backer wrote the following letter about her uncle, Philip Backer: the person about whom I
am writing is 83 years of age and has long been known and referred to as the 'friendliest man in town'-
Mr. Philip Backer. Mr. Backer is a devoted husband and father and is happiest when he is doing
something for some one. He visits the sick, takes flowers to brighten their room and takes food to the
needy. He visits strangers who are confined to the hospital because of accidents on the highway or from
other causes. Yearly, he has received a Christmas card from a Japanese physician who appreciated his
visit when he was confined to the hospital after being in a wreck on Highway 40...He loves his church,
the Evangelical and Reformed Church where he has performed every duty at some time, other than
serve as the minister...
Mrs. Mary Logan Guthrie Meier of Boulder Springs, Colorado, writes: when we lived at 707 Jefferson
Street, I remember that our neighbor, Mrs. J. D. Sitton never let a birthday pass without sending over a
pan of her wonderful custard rolls...Tom Watson used to give me the thrill of my life by letting me ride
way up high on the driver's seat when he drove the bus to meet the train. Mrs. Katie Jones was so
generous to the "Guthrie girls." There were never any better neighbors than Roger and Dolly Gorrell.
Mother and I often speak of the neighbors we had on Court Street- Mrs. Polk McClanahan, Jahlie Harris,
the Bartleys, the Bush twins, the Renoes, Mrs. Charles Wilson, Goldie and Clay McGregor. I could go on
forever naming the good neighbors we had in Fulton! I would like to single out one in particular: Miss
Sadie Hereford who is remembered most fondly. She has little of this world's earthly goods, but she is
one of the most cheerful, unselfish persons I know...Best wishes for a most successful Tom Breneman
show. Wish I could be there for the fun.
50 years ago (1973)
(From an advertisement). The Dawning of Hardee's- Where the Burgers are Charco-broiled. Hardee's is
coming soon. Watch for it.
(From an advertisement). Now Open for Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner. The Little Dixie Lake Concession
Stand. Complete assortment of fishing tackle. Boat and Motor rental. Everything on hand to complete
your day of fishing. Open sun up to 9:00 p. m. Little Dixie Lake, 10 miles west on 'Old Columbia Road" at
Millersburg.
(From caption of photo by Bonnie Burden). The Clothes Cupboard is open and ready for business at the
back door of the bus station building at Fifth and Ravine Streets. Mrs. J. W. Prada, Mrs. Minnie Willett
and Dr. John Gates are all board members and volunteer workers at the clothing resale store. The low
cost clothing outlet is sponsored by the Fulton Council of Churches with assistance from many area
churches and Ecumenical Ministries. The sewing machine was donated by the family of Bill and Doug
Dawson in their memory. Mrs. Willett says it has been great help in repairing donated clothing.
25 years ago (1998)
A third Casey's General Store will open in Fulton in July at 2407 North Bluff Street. The store will have 2-
4 fulltime and 6-8 part time employees. Fulton's existing Casey's General Stores are on West Fourth
Street and Business 54 South.