Out of the past 1/4/06

25 years ago: Jan. 4, 1981

Elaine "Tommie" Davis, a Cape Girardeau businesswoman for many years and a longtime supporter of the arts, died yesterday at age 69; Davis established The Co-Op at 40 N. Main St. 47 years ago, and the business remains at its original location.

Scott County authorities believe they may have cleared at least 12 burglaries and five attempted burglaries committed during the past two months in the county with the arrests of two adults and a juvenile; all three are from Scott City.

50 years ago: Jan. 4, 1956

Congressman Paul W. Jones yesterday introduced a bill to authorize the federal government and the city of Cape Girardeau to re-exchange the Common Pleas Courthouse and the post office properties; the city now owns the post office and the federal government the central portion of Courthouse Park and the courthouse as a result of an exchange of the two properties in 1940.

A verbal agreement is reached between the trustees of the Community Industrial Development Fund and Burton J. Gerhardt of the Burton J. Gerhardt Construction Co. to proceed with procuring materials for the construction of a building to house the Cagleco Sportswear Co.

75 years ago: Jan. 4, 1931

James Wilkinson, 92, the oldest member of the First Baptist Church in Cape Girardeau and one of the town's oldest residents, dies at a local hospital in the evening; Wilkinson was a veteran of the Civil War, having served as a Union soldier for three years.

Charles F. Fluhrer, who with his family spends the summer months in Colorado, last week received 16 Colorado blue spruce; some of the specimens he will share with friends.

100 years ago: Jan. 4, 1906

Arthur Leher, chief of the fire department, celebrated his birthday yesterday by inviting all the firefighters under his charge to meet him for dinner at the Haas brothers' hall in Haarig; answering the summons were Harry Kage, Louis Frank, Henry Wolfe, Louis Brinkopf, Charles Hahn, Fred Kassel, Will Rogers, Al Cottle, Leo Frenzel, Fred Stoffregen and Emil Schrader.

County Clerk J.W. Miller has received the blueprints for the new Jackson courthouse from architect P.H. Weathers; some day next week the county court and building committee will meet in Jackson to make changes in the original plans that may be considered necessary.

-- Sharon K. Sanders