Out of the past 12/11/05

25 years ago: Dec. 11, 1980

Cape Girardeau city officials are considering selling off the city's retired parking meters; the meter sale idea is based on a similar sale held last week in Hutchinson, Kans., which netted that city $7,186; it is likely the meters would be sold for between $10 and $15 each.

"J.D. the Superchimp" gets fitted for a new pair of winter shoes at Ossick's Shoe Store on Main Street; the chimpanzee is owned by Mr. and Mrs. Dave Hale from 5-H Ranch; Fred Ossick handles the chimp's fitting.

50 years ago: Dec. 11, 1955

Guest speaker at the Nazarene Church is the Rev. Erwin G. Benson of Kansas City, Mo., field secretary for the Department of Church Schools of the Church of the Nazarene; Benson is editor of the Church School Builder, a promotional magazine devoted to the interest of the Sunday school.

The Rev. D.O. Meadows has been reappointed to serve as pastor of St. James AME Church for his third consecutive time; he was appointed for another one-year term at the close of the Missouri AME Conference.

75 years ago: Dec. 11, 1930

The Rev. Nelson B. Henry, 82, dean of Methodist ministers in Southeast Missouri and a former faculty member of the old Normal School in Cape Girardeau, dies at his home in Arcadia, Mo.; Henry was born near Burfordville, the son of the Rev. Nelson Henry, a Methodist minister, and a grandson of John D. Cook, one of the pioneer settlers of this district.

The local corps of the Salvation Army yesterday was presented with 200 loads of firewood by the Marquette Cement Mfg. Co.; two men, who have been unable to find employment for the winter and who have large families, have been engaged by the Army to saw the wood; it will be distributed to the needy.

100 years ago: Dec. 11, 1905

Three street cars arrived from St. Louis last night via the Frisco Railroad; they will probably be placed in commission this week, and Cape Girardeau will be furnished with the much-needed public transportation; the cars are on the switch track near the Planters' Mill.

It is seldom that one sees a prettier store than H.C. Wasem's Racket Store in Haarig; right now it is wearing the gayest holiday attire and is offering a varied lot of Christmas things.

-- Sharon K. Sanders