Rural Missouri - June 2020 - 33

HELICOPTER HUNT
Crawford County Sheriff Johnny Giles boarded this helicopter to search for thieves who stole poles belonging to
Crawford Electric. The chopper was equipped for spraying
power line right of way. Judging by a story in the Rural
Electric Missourian, the aircraft likely belonged to contractor Townsend Tree Service. During his 24 years as
the county's sheriff, which stretched from 1960 to 1984,
Johnny would face much more daunting challenges than
nabbing the pole thieves. These included murder, kidnapping, hostage situations, drownings, searches for lost kids,
a hunger strike at the county jail, jailbreaks and cattle
rustling. Sheriff Giles died in 1989 at age 61 after suffering
a heart attack.

BEN'S LAST DELIVERY
For 41 years, Ben Eldredge delivered mail to patrons of
Route 1, Bourbon. On April 12, 1962, he made his final
run using a horse and buggy, the same way he began his
route. More than 300 people turned out to see him wheel
into the Bourbon Post Office for the last time. He explained
that a corn knife and a fence stretcher were standard
equipment for a rural mail carrier delivering by buggy. The
knife was used to scrape the thick clay from the unpaved
roads off the wheels. The fence stretcher was used when
the wheels dug too deep into the mud for the strong horse
to pull it out. Ben told how the kids along the route made
his daily trips worthwhile. They would put frogs, turtles
and once even a little sister in the mail box, then hide
nearby to see his reaction when he opened the door. The
mail carrier was one of the original incorporators of Crawford Electric and served as its president for many years.

HAIRDO AND A NAP
In 1961 Clark McWilliams, co-owner of a modern laundry
in Leasburg, adjusted an electric hair dryer for Mrs. Robert Thomas on opening day of his laundromat while her
baby took a nap nearby. Before locating the laundry in
Leasburg, Clark checked the water and electric supply to
ensure it was adequate for his plans. He found an ample
supply of both in the town of 176 people at the time. He
remodeled a former feed store for the service, adding 14
washers with room for more down the road. One of the
photos included with the story showed Ray Ponte, who
served on the Crawford Electric Board, painting the exterior of the new laundromat and removing the Nutrena Feed
sign from its facade.
JUNE 2020 | RURALMISSOURI.COOP

33



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Rural Missouri - June 2020

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Rural Missouri - June 2020 - Contents
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