Jan. 14, 2026: TIMES PAST compiled by Sue Ann Jones
This photo of the Zanoni village was taken by an unknown photographer positioned near a large, hillside spring that originally powered the large mill below by flowing onto the overshot water wheel shown in the foreground. The spring was once measured as producing 226,000 gallons of water daily. The first Zanoni mill operated before the Civil War and has been rebuilt several times by its owners, who were members of A. P. and Alpha Bet Morrison's extended family from 1905 until 2005, except for a few years when it was owned by the St. Louis-based Gramex Corp. The post office there was established in 1898. The photo also shows the other buildings A. P. Morrison constructed on the property, including a barn, two houses where the Morrisons lived, and the store, pictured left of the mill, which housed the Zanoni post office until July 1970, when it moved to a new building two miles west on what is now Highway 181. Zanoni also had a cotton gin and a blacksmith shop for a while. In February 2016, the U.S. Postal Service closed the Zanoni post office permanently. The undated photo, credited to the State Historical Society of Missouri, was reprinted in the spring 1984 edition of the West Plains Gazette.
Ozark County News
Jan. 16, 1890
The storm at this place last Sunday culminated in a cyclone east of here. At St. Louis, a great deal of damage was done, four people were killed and a great number injured. . . . The weather before the storm had all the indications of a cyclone here. The atmosphere was warm and oppressive, and there was a strong breeze from the southwest, with low black smoky-looking clouds. The storm, however, lasted only a few minutes and did no damage.
The Democrat
Jan. 18, 1905
J. C. Harlin was thrown from a coasting sled one night last week and sprained his knee. He is able to be about by the assistance of a cane.
T. J. Luna and Mr. Mitchell went a rabbit hunting one day last week and staid out about an hour and returned with 15 rabbits. How’s this for rabbit hunting?
Ozark County Times
Jan. 15, 1926
Hammond items – Miss Hattie Wallace went to Gainesville and had her teeth extracted.
The bounty on foxes has gone up. Last winter Preachin’ Bill charged two fat hens for each fox he killed, and this winter he wants three hens. Well, such is life.
Jan. 17, 1946
Ad. – Eat at Gainesville’s New Cafe - Plate lunches, sandwiches, steaks & chops, home-made soup and chili. When you want good coffee, come in. Your business appreciated. BON-TON CAFE, Ray and Fern Wallace, operators. On the square. Open every other Sunday.
Jan. 19, 1961
The Rev. Wiley McGhee, who was invited to dinner last Friday night by Mr. and Mrs. Henry Gault, thought it a little strange when Mrs. Gault said that she had not had time to cook dinner and that they would have to take him to a cafe to eat.
But when they arrived in town, they passed up the cafes and took him to the Christian Church, where members of his congregation were waiting to surprise him with a covered-dish dinner. It was Mr. McGhee’s birthday, and before allowing him to eat, he was presented birthday gifts from the congregation.
Jan. 15, 1981
Bakersfield items, Stella Bertram, correspondent - Mr. and Mrs. Edd Orf of Bakersfield had all their children and grandchildren and Mrs. Orf’s mother, Ollie Roberts, at their home to share Christmas dinner. Mr. and Mrs. Orf gathered green tomatoes last fall and kept them in the cellar, so they had nice ripe tomatoes for dinner Christmas Day.
Jan. 17, 2001
Ozark County commissioners ordered another two dozen grader blades Tuesday as they geared up for yet another round of clearing ice and snow from county roads. That’s added to 45 blades purchased in December at a cost of $3,545.42. And add to that another $566.80 to pay for 12,900 pounds of salt used so far. Commissioners say the biggest cost would be for overtime pay – more than 208 hours so far – but they keep this expenditure down by offering comp time to employees.