The way it was 9/3

Wednesday, September 3, 2003

100 Years Ago -- September 3, 1903

AROUND TOWN- Yes, this is circus day, the eventful day for young and old. The small boy was up before the sun this morning to see Robinson's Big Show and carry water to the elephants. Thousands of people were in town and the day was a red- letter one. The mammoth John Robinson Circus has a veritable city of canvas, over which wave the brilliant flags of all nations and in the grassy streets which thousands of people, men, women and children move to and from. The menagerie, with its many handsome cages, is a portion of this gigantic exhibition that is not to be overlooked, being in many ways, the greatest and best assorted collection of strange and familiar animals of the world carried by any organization of whatever kind.

75 Years Ago -- September 3, 1928

FROM STOCKTON -- John Allison, the veteran mail carrier of Stockton, has completed his twenty-ninth year in that capacity. He has carried the mail 4,467 days and has traveled 121,747 miles, approximately five times around the world. For 23 years, he carried the mail in a buggy and since that time has used a motorcar. Allison expects to retire in the next two years.

50 Years Ago -- September 3, 1953 WEATHER UPDATE -- They were just showers that fell on Vernon County this morning but they were encouraging and cool. The clouds hung around lending hope, if not promise, that the drought and heat wave might be broken. It has been a long drought. The last real rainfall, measuring more than half an inch, fell on July 2. Precipitation then measured .72 of an inch. June gave the county two decent rains, 1.5 inches on June 5 and .78 of an inch on the 25th. However, that was all for the summer. Vernon County was more fortunate than most Southwest Missouri counties. Its' rain deficit so far this year is only 8.39 inches. The County had received 20.16 inches up to September 1. Normal rainfall for the same period is 28.55 inches. RICHARDS -- Mrs. Gene (Mary) McConnell of Louisville, Kentucky, recently spent the day with her father, C.L. Spaur and Mrs. Spaur. Mrs. Hattie Doane is redecorating and installing a water system and bath in the home she recently purchased in Richards. Wanda Lee Budd has resigned her position with the Key Manufacturing Company in Nevada to enter high school in Richards as a member of the senior class.