Sesquicentennial Archives

December 30, 2013December 30, 2013

Johns Junk Yard

I was rooting through a bunch of car wreck pictures to see if any of them had interesting backgrounds. This was shot on South Kingshighway just north of the I-55 intersection. Across the street from the wreck is Johns Metal Iron and Salvage, but we always called it Johns Junk Yard. It doesn’t look like the crash was too bad.

The 1969 City directory lists it as “Johns Auto Parts (Cleo E. Johns) Junk US Hwy 61.

That’s my 1959 Buick LaSabre station wagon parked in the median. I’m sticking pretty far out into the road. Maybe I hadn’t learned yet the best and safest way to park at a spot news scene. It might have been that I was southbound in the left lane, noticed the wreck after I was right on it or past it, and then tucked in as quickly as I could.

John’s ad

Johns took a quarter-page ad in the 1956 Sesquicentennial book.

A May 15, 2004, Missourian story headlined “A look back at local business – 1997” reported “After 70 years in business, Johns Metal-Iron and Salvage Co., 1110 S. Kingshighway, closed its doors.”

What I can’t figure out from the headline is did the business close in 2004, when the story was written, or in 1997? There was a lot of business activity reported in the area.

November 13, 2013November 13, 2013

Elfrink Truck Line

I did a U-turn when I spotted this old Elfrink Truck Line trailer off the road outside Marble Hill.

Actually, I did an O-turn. I passed it on my way to shoot something else, remarked to Mother that I wanted to take a picture of it on our way back, then overshot it, requiring me to make a second U-turn. (You can click on the photos to make them larger.)

Elfrink a big name on the road

This ad in Cape’s 1956 Sesquicentennial book lists the towns serviced by the truck line.

Long-time employees

A quick Google search didn’t turn up much useful history about the company. The trailer’s owner said he thought the company closed its doors in the early 90s when the drivers wanted to unionize. I didn’t see any stories that supported or contested that view.

The company was still in business Feb. 8, 1987, when it took out a Missourian ad congratulating the Boy Scouts for being around 77 years.

Here are some obits of employees who had been with Elfrink.

UPDATE to story

A reader provided this tidbit from the Aug. 30, 1993, Missourian: “Elfrink Truck Lines, headquartered at Advance, has been sold. Wintz Freightways Inc. of St. Paul, Minn., recently announced purchase of the 50-year-old Elfrink company. “Service will remain the same and customers probably won’t notice any change,” said Steve Elfrink from the Advance office. Wintz, in a wire-service report, said the purchase included assets of 300 trailers and the terminal network. Several of the Elfrink employees will be retained, the report said. Wintz operates 22 terminals in 14 states.”

Another point of interest: two folks have asked where they can find the pickup truck in the photo. I’m sorry I didn’t get the name of the business where it was parked, but it’s near Marble Hill on 34 west of Main street about halfway to Woodland School. If anyone gets the name of the place, let me know and I’ll add it to the story. A bunch of nice guys work there.

September 14, 2012

1956 Cape Girardeau Moo Juice

Cape Girardeans had quite a few choices of local milk products in 1956.

Here’s a full-page ad for Sunny Hill in the 1956 Sesquicentennial book. Do you remember the plastic “Twin Pak” handles? Were they green?

Schonhoff Dairy Farms

Schonhoff Dairy Farms wanted to know if you were concerned about getting the best milk possible for your family. They’d deliver it “fresh” to your door. I always wonder why people use quote marks for emphasis.

Keeping Pace with Cape Girardeau

The Midwest Dairy Products Division of City Products Corporation has been bringing you quality dairy products for more than 25 years, they bragged.

Pevely

I remember Pevely more for ice cream than milk.

Sugar Creek Creamery

I don’t remember them, but they must have the “Cape Girardeau Manufactured Best Cream Butter” because it’s in quotes. Suedekum Electronic Supply Company has a pretty fancy type font for their logo.