TIMES PAST


This photo of Gainesville Livestock Auction is taken from an ad in a mid-1960s Bulldogger yearbook published by Gainesville High School. The advertisement said the sale barn, owned by T. D. Crawford, held sales every Wednesday. The building was located next to Lick Creek on the east side of Highway 160 in Gainesville, roughly across from what is now the MFA Oil building on Third Street. It closed in March 1971 after the state bought the land for right of way to build the current Highway 160. A Times article reported, as the building was being demolished, that its arena had seating for 250 buyers and its stock pens could hold 1,500 head of cattle or other livestock. The sale barn’s annual total sales averaged 30,000 head, the article reported.

Ozark County Times
March 1, 1905
 Tecumseh – Ruben Dean passed by Monday with a new wagon which he purchased in Gainesville.
 
March 15, 1918
 Wm. Warren has rented the Central Hotel to S. F. Amyx, who took possession Monday. Mr. Warren moved back to his farm near Lawndale. 
 Sharp – Quite a few of our boys passed through Sharp Monday enroute to Camp Funston. A crowd gathered at Elijah, and there were many tears and good byes. They had prepared boxes of good eatables and gave each boy a box.
The Red Cross had sacks of all kinds of dainty home-made candies, apples, popcorn and everything that could be thought of that the boys would enjoy. May they all return safely is our prayer. 
 
March 19, 1926
 Miss Freda Landers of Lower Brixey school district, near Rockbridge, won first prize of $10 in the county spelling contest last Saturday. Willard Crawford of the Mammoth school district won second prize of $5. Miss Landers spelled 92 of the 10 words, and Crawford was a close second spelling 90 of the words correctly. 
 
March 17, 1938
 Howards Ridge – Quite a few attended the ball and croquet games Sunday afternoon.
Mrs. Aline Kirkland had a quilting at her house Saturday night. 
 

March 18, 1943
Van Morrison, who is now stationed with the army at Pyote, Texas, is spending a short furlough with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. A. P. Morrison at Zanoni.
Supt. Robert Hicks of Wasola now has charge of the Gainesville High School, beginning his duties Monday morning. Supt. Mearle Luna resigned as superintendent to take a position in defense work. 
 Ocie – Two more of our boys, Monroe, son of Jim Welch, and Olin, son of Elbert Quick, left for the army camp at St. Louis last week.
 Luna – Pvt. Moscoe Strong is at Camp Crowder.
Pvt. Wilbur Luna is in Vermont.
Mr. and Mrs. Ray Robinson and son Orin have gone to Arizona.
Jerry Luna has been taken to Springfield for medical treatment. He was accompanied by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Noel Luna, and Mrs. Cleo Luna.
Romance – Nick Naugle is closing out his store. Some bargains are being offered. We are sorry to lose Mr. Naugle from our midst.
George Lantz arrived home from the army camps recently. He was honorably discharged from the army under the age limit law. He will be employed on a defense job hereafter. 
 March 17, 1949
The body of Tech. Marlyn Herd, son of Mr. and Mrs. Delmar Herd of near Locust, will arrive here on Friday, and a military funeral will be held at Isabella Sunday afternoon.
 
March 14, 1968
Caney - Floyd and Vergie Pitcock will soon be driving a new pickup and car. Floyd had ordered a new pickup just about two weeks before Vergie had her wreck on the ice. They thought it best to get another car, and they did.
Howards Ridge – There was a wild fire at the Jane Grisham place. Those fighting were Mr. and Mrs. Dexter Goodman, Osa Rife, J. E. Trivitt. Those coming to help were Alva Hollings-worth and Max Baxter. 
 
March 17, 1993
Hobert Ledbetter has resigned his position as mayor of the Village of Theodosia.
In a letter dated March 9, Ledbetter stated, “Due to my health and age, I am asking that you don’t vote for me as city councilman. ... “
Ledbetter has been a member of the board of the Village of Theodosia since 1965 and has served as mayor for the past 10 years.
 Bill Cook, representing the Ozark County Ambu-lance Board, told members of the Ozark County Chamber of Commerce that a new box-type aluminum body ambulance had been acquired for the local ambulance service.
The new ambulance was purchased at a cost of $60,000 plus a trade-in and will be ready for service in about two weeks.
Cook said the new ambulance is a state-of-the-art modular unit capable of easily carrying two patients, and if necessary, three patients.
 

Ozark County Times

504 Third Steet
PO Box 188
Gainesville, MO 65655

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