Out of the past 8/12/05

25 years ago: Aug. 12, 1980

One of the roughest streets in Cape Girardeau -- Independence between Minnesota and Kingshighway -- soon will be one of the smoothest in the city as a result of repaving, which begins today; Girardeau Contractors Inc. begins scraping off the old, buckled asphalt in preparation for pouring a new surface.

With corn already devastated by July heat and drought, more of the same weather this month is taking aim at the last hope for some district farmers -- late-planted soybeans; soybeans don't bloom properly when the temperature consistently tops 96 degrees.

50 years ago: Aug. 12, 1955

Blocks of ice are shattered and scattered over the street, and rush hour traffic is slowed for almost an hour in the morning when an automobile entering Broadway from Perry Avenue strikes a Pure Ice Co. truck, which overturns crosswise in the street, spilling its cargo; no one is injured in the accident, which quickly brings numerous spectators to the area.

The Marquette Cement Mfg. Co. announces plans for the immediate construction of a second plant at Cape Girardeau to cost approximately $6,500,000; it is to be in use by Dec. 31, 1956.

75 years ago: Aug. 12, 1930

With only $600 in sight with which to purchase right of way for the proposed five-mile strip of farm-to-market road between Dutchtown and Whitewater, members of the county court see little hope for immediate settlement of the controversy halting construction of a serviceable all-weather road.

President Joseph A. Serena of the Teachers College is in St. Louis, where he is making arrangements for securing floodlights for the new stadium at Houck Field.

100 years ago: Aug. 12, 1905

Policeman Jack Adkins pulled a gun on one of the nameless "tenters" who inhabit the space between St. Vincent's College and the Frisco Railroad tracks last night; the man was in the act of pulling out down the river with his share of the family belongings, when Adkins threatened to fill the boat with holes if he didn't return.

It is now a settled fact that the egg-case factory which E.L. Walker, proprietor of the box factory in Mill Town, stated recently might locate here, will come; John J. McCahill, one of the owners of the concern, was here this week conferring with Walker about building the plant just north of the box factory.

-- Sharon K. Sanders