The changing nature of clean-up day concerns

The days are long past when privies and hog-pens were back-yard attractions in Chariton's residential neighborhoods and collections of tin cans and old boots and shoes piled up, but city-wide clean-up day continues as a tradition that stretches back at least a century. 

This year's event was held last Wednesday, May 3. A century ago, clean-up day was set for Monday, May 4. Here, from The Democrat of April 23, is the official notice published during that year, illustrating the sort of thing that troubled city fathers and mothers.

These days, residents are expected to deliver their rubbish to a collection point at the old armory. Then, the city provided teams and wagons (and the manpower) to do the collecting:

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Monday, May 4, 1903, will be Clean Up Day for the City of Chariton.

Clean up your premises of all tin cans, crockery, glass, old boots and shoes, old buckets, old clothes, and all rubbish of such character and put it in boxes or barrels and place same in street or alley at your premises before May 4, 1903. Ashes or cinders must be kept separate from all rubbish. On the above date the City will provide teams to remove same to City's dumping ground.

Ordinance No. 20 of City Ordinances makes it a Misdemeanor for persons owning or occupying property in the City of Chariton to allow accumulations of unwholesome or noxious substances or filth of any kind or description, on any street, alley, enclosure, vacant lot or any lot. All privies, hog-pens, stables, cellars, manure-pens, manure or hay in streets or alleys at your premises must be cleaned up at your expense and this you should attend to at once without further notice.

I. N. Bowen, Mayor