Out of the past 11/1/07

25 years ago: Nov. 1, 1982

ORAN, Mo. -- Five fires -- all intentionally set -- were reported in a three- to four-hour period early yesterday in Oran, causing no injuries but damaging two buildings and a boat; two of the fires were set at the city dog pound.

Trick or treaters in Cape Girardeau, what few there were, reportedly enjoyed a relatively safe Halloween; there appeared to have been far fewer revelers this year, likely due to concern over the possibility of tampered candy.

50 years ago: Nov. 1, 1957

Pranks, ranging from pumpkin throwing to a fire made of old tires in the middle of the intersection of Perryville Road and Cape Rock Drive, marked last night's Halloween celebration in Cape Girardeau.

There are a few early arrivals, but the majority of former students and graduates of State College returning for the 1957 Homecoming aren't expected until tomorrow; one of the highlights of the program will be a luncheon honoring professor C. Clyde Brandt, who retired this year after 38 years as director of the college's choral and glee club groups.

75 years ago: Nov. 1, 1932

Louis A. Mayer, 89, died Sunday in Enid, Okla.; the remains will be returned to Marble Hill, Mo., for burial tomorrow; Mayer is the last Confederate veteran from Cape Girardeau of which the United Daughters of the Confederacy has any record; Mayer enlisted in a Tennessee company near Memphis.

A rising Mississippi River has halted efforts of the Waterways Construction Co. to raise a large barge, which sank last week just south of the loading docks of the Federal Materials Co. in South Cape Girardeau; the barge was loaded with stone to be used in river revetment work near Birds Point, Mo.

100 years ago: Nov. 1, 1907

Hundreds of Cape Girardeau youngsters roamed the streets last night having Halloween fun, although there are few complaints of any real damage done; many gates, screen doors, signs, barrels, fences and other movables have gone missing.

Tomorrow's Normal School football game at the fairgrounds has been called off; illness and injuries have depleted the players from Shurtleff College of Alton, Ill., to the point it cannot field a team.

-- Sharon K. Sanders