Out of the past 10/6/04

25 years ago: Oct. 6, 1979

Members of Boy Scout Troop 8 of Trinity Lutheran Church spend a day outdoors, cutting and splitting trees at the corner of Frederick and Themis streets where old Trinity Lutheran Church stood before being razed last spring; the boys annually cut and sell firewood to help earn money for troop activities.

Mandatory minimal competency testing in public schools "would throw a wet blanket" on school curriculum, Cape Girardeau school superintendent, Dr. Arthur H. Turner, told the Missouri House of Representatives Education Committee at a hearing Thursday at Sikeston, Mo.

50 years ago: Oct. 6, 1954

Leonard Rehg, district manager of Southwestern Bell Telephone Co., reports Fredericktown, Mo., was severely hit by a lightning and wind storm yesterday afternoon.

Jack O. Knehans, campaign chairman for the Southeast Missouri Hospital fund drive, says that any contributions on which federal funds will be provided on a matching basis must be in by Friday; the campaign stands at $470,224.95, which will be matched dollar for dollar through the Hill-Burton act.

75 years ago: Oct. 6, 1929

While aiding in extricating his automobile from a rut in which it had mired, Walter Sander, 49, was stricken with apoplexy yesterday and died within a few minutes; the tragedy occurred near his home 2 1/2 miles northwest of Burfordville.

Dr. G.L. Washburn, formerly pastor of the Presbyterian church at New Madrid, will arrive in Cape Girardeau tomorrow to take up his duties as pastor of the Fruitland and Old Apple Creek Presbyterian churches in this county.

100 years ago: Oct. 6, 1904

Jackson is to have a new bank; its name will be The People's National Bank, and it will have a capital stock of $25,000; those organizing the institution are William B. Schaefer, T.D. Hines, O.B. Kinder, J.C. Clippard, Bruening & Kerstner, M.H. Mueller, Herman Wolten and William Paar.

Extensive improvements are being made to the Presbyterian Church, at Lorimier Street and Broadway; many months ago, provision was made for installing retiring rooms in the basement; the rooms were provided, but never finished; that work is now being undertaken.

-- Sharon K. Sanders