News From the Past

Old news from years gone by may sometimes be forgotten. In an effort to bring some of that older news to our subscribers and readers, we will be publishing articles that were published in earlier editions of the DeWitt Era-Enterprise. This article was printed in the July 7, 1955 edition of the DeWitt Era-Enterprise.

“Much New Building And Construction In And Near DeWitt”

Considerable building and remodeling has been done in DeWitt this spring and is being continued into the summer with two or three major building programs in the making as well as some major construction work being done on roads and streets.

Mr. And Mrs. Halbert Gordon have just completed a modern Motel located on highway 1 south just inside the city limits. This is a 7-unit structure with a coffee shop and living quarters, all air conditioned.

The congregation of St. Luke’s Lutheran church has about completed a beautiful structure located on Harrison and Cross streets. Rev. Louis Morgal of Gillett is the pastor.

Construction is progressing on a new drier and elevator being built near the Cotton Belt depot on South Main street by the Farelly Lake Company.

Charles Hamilton is expanding his Radio, Television, Air Condition Shop to include the building formerly occupied by Hudson’s café.

The State Highway Department has purchased a 2 acre track and will construct a regional highway building at a cost of approximately $15,000.

The First Baptist Church is now air-conditioned throughout. East Side Baptist has done an inside paint and varnish job. The Farm Bureau office and Busy Department Store have recently installed air conditioning units.

A new stock barn is in the process of getting started on the St. Charles highway, about 100 yards outside of City limits.

The Kroger Company is planning a remodeling program that will call for a considerable outlay of capital. The present building will be completely redone. New equipment is arriving and being stored until the building remodeling is completed.

The new highway from DeWitt to Stuttgart is well underway and will be completed soon. Just as soon as the $80,000 bond issue voted at the recent election can be sold work will begin on the city streets.

This does not cover nearly all the improvements but does stress the fact that DeWitt is on the move along improvement lines.

Note: I found the above article extra interesting considering Boyd Farmhouse Inn recently opened!

Below is another article from the front page of the July 7, 1955 edition.

“Open House Held By Gordon Motel”

Gordon Motel and Coffee Shop held open house Sunday, July 3, between 2 and 6 p. m.

Three hundred guests were shown through the coffee shop and the motel units and house, which were decorated with flowers sent by a number of business houses in the city.

Mrs. Ruth Stagg and Miss Ann Adams served punch from a table covered with a yellow cloth and decorated with gold and bronze mums.

Corsages were compliments of DeWitt Florist.

Pine Bluff, Stuttgart, Gillett, Knobel, and DeWitt were among towns represented in the guest book.