Out of the past 12/4/05

25 years ago: Dec. 4, 1980

Governor-elect Kit Bond likely will appoint the Cape Girardeau and Jackson chambers of commerce to run the license fee offices in their respective cities rather than appoint political allies, a policy which long has been followed by Missouri governors.

With some reservations, the Cape Girardeau city council last night gave preliminary approval to a $30,000 contribution to the 1981 county subsidy fund for the county ambulance service; both councilmen Robert K. Herbst and Howard C. Tooke said they would rather see an ambulance tax measure passed by county voters next year to replace the present subsidy system.

50 years ago: Dec. 4, 1955

Construction work is underway on an office and store building being built by Earl Kirchhoff at 1621-23 Independence St.; the front of the one-story building will be entirely of glass, and drive-in window facilities will be provided.

Woman's Day is celebrated by all Christian Churches throughout the country; at First Christian Church in Cape Girardeau, a special worship service in the morning is held, with Mrs. Allen Garner of Poplar Bluff, Mo., as guest speaker.

75 years ago: Dec. 4, 1930

Gerald Lee, 16, a halfback on the Morley High School football team, dies at a Cape Girardeau hospital from injuries he received two weeks ago while playing in a football game against the Fornfelt High School team.

Approximately 200 people, largely employees of the Marquette Cement Mfg. Co., and their families, attend the first public concert of the company's band and a safety rally in the ground floor auditorium of First Baptist Church; the band, organized during the summer, is under the direction of Raymond Meyer.

100 years ago: Dec. 4, 1905

A large sale of town lots by the Southwestern Realty & Improvement Co., a firm of Jackson capitalists, kept Jackson folks busy Saturday afternoon; the sale was held on the front steps of the courthouse before a large crowd; 90 lots were sold, and the price obtained was about $70 a lot.

A new timetable on the Houck Railroad provides Cape Girardeau and Jackson with splendid passenger service; a train now leaves Cape Girardeau at 8 in the morning and arrives in Jackson at 8:30 a.m.; passengers can either return to Cape Girardeau at 9:30 a.m. or wait until 5 p.m.

-- Sharon K. Sanders