Town Square, Jackson, 1920's, looking southeast. The hip roofed building is the "Clubhouse" constructed about 1897. Downstairs was commercial space including the Jackson Drug Co., discussed on a subsequent page. Upstairs was a hall which could be used as a gymnasium and for community events such as dances and community meetings. Indeed, former governor and United States senator Cliff Hansen learned to wrestle in the Clubhouse. The post office was on the same side of the street. It has been said that during dances, some of the men would stash their liquor in their post office boxes so as to have it readily available. Prior to the construction of a permanent school building, the hall was also used for the school. Note size of trees in Square. Compare with photos below. At the time of the above scene, Jackson had a population of approximately 500. Businesses consisted of the Jackson Drug Co., Jackson Mercantile, a tailor, a bank, Jones Grocery, Mercill's Grocery, two billiard halls, a laundry, two barber shops, a blacksmith, Wort's livery barn, two hotels, a taxidermy, a meat market, a garage, and a leather shop. Liquor was available for "medicinal purposes" at the drug store. Town Square, Jackson, looking east towards Center Street. Photo by Charles Wesley Andrews. The long one-story building in the center of the photo is the Jackson Mercantile Co. founded by Frank and Roy Van Vleck. As of August 2003 the town has a population of approximately 6,600. The hardware store at the left in the upper photo is at the right in the lower photo. Town Square, Jackson, 2003, looking southeast, photo by Geoff Dobson Jackson, 1941, photo by Marion Post Walcott For discussion of Marion Post Walcott, see Sheridan II. Note that Mercill's store sells everything from boots to vegetables. William Mercill (1888-1969) was one of the men defeated for election in 1920 when the all woman city government was elected. Mercill's Store, approx. 1941. Jackson Town Council, 1921. L to R: Mae Deloney, Rose Crabtree, Mayor Grace Miller, Faustina Haight, and Genevieve Van Vleck. Other women in the town goverment were Pearl Williams, town marshal; Edna Huff, health officer; Marta Winger, town clerk; and Viola Lumbeck, treasurer. But Bill Mercill was not the only man to suffer from the ignominy of defeat. The sitting mayor Henry Crabtee in his run for town councilman was defeated by his own wife, Rose, 50 votes to 31. Mercill Avenue in Jackson was originally North Street. The name change was officially confirmed by Resolution of the Town Council in 1998. Next Page: Jackson continued.