Out of the past 2/17/06

25 years ago: Feb. 17, 1981

A petition seeking a countywide vote on a proposal to move the county seat from Jackson to Cape Girardeau is to be circulated this week, says Ray Shock, a Cape Girardeau man who is heading the drive.

CAIRO, Ill. -- Cairo received some good economic news for a change Monday; the Ohio River Co., a division of Midland Affiliated Co. of Cincinnati, Ohio, announced plans to construct a major coal-loading terminal on the Mississippi River here.

50 years ago: Feb. 17, 1956

An estimated 600 Cape Girardeau County farmers who turned out at the Jackson grade school auditorium to hear an explanation of the program voted almost unanimously last night to affiliate themselves with the National Farmers Organization.

Perhaps the most valuable single gift to the Cape Girardeau Public Library in its 30-year history is the 54-volume set of the Great Books of the Western World, one of 1,600 sets recently awarded by the selection committee of the American Library Association through the generosity of the Old Dominion Foundation.

75 years ago: Feb. 17, 1931

Emil E. Penzel, 45, for four years state senator from the 21st District and a native of Jackson, dies at Missouri Baptist Hospital in St. Louis; Penzel was born Aug. 26, 1885, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Gustav Penzel; he began the practice of law in Poplar Bluff, Mo., and served two terms as that town's city attorney; he was elected to the Senate from the 21st District in 1920; Penzel never married; he is survived by his mother, Lena Penzel of Jackson; twin brother, A.G. Penzel, another brother, Linus Penzel, also of Jackson, and a third brother, Robert, of Chicago.

John A. Hobbs, veteran dairyman with a fine farm on Williams Creek, is considering discontinuation of the dairy business he has operated 35 years; Hobbs specializes in Jerseys, and has a herd of about 45 animals.

100 years ago: Feb. 17, 1906

A fire in the Mill Town section of Cape Girardeau yesterday afternoon destroyed the house at 535 Maple St., occupied by J.E. Westover, a brakeman on the Frisco, and his wife; all the household furnishings were destroyed, the flames having a great advantage when discovered.

Dr. M. Rosenthal has sold his Main Street drug store to Crew Brothers; the new proprietors moved to Cape Girardeau from Tahlequah, Indian Territory, where they also operate a drug store; J.M. Crew will have charge of the store here.

-- Sharon K. Sanders