Out of the past 2/6/09

25 years ago: Feb. 6, 1984

A polar blast blew into Southeast Missouri yesterday but pushes eastward today, leaving behind snow and bitter cold temperatures; the low yesterday was 11 degrees, but wind gusts approached 36 miles per hour, sending the chill factor to minus 26 degrees.

Kelso, Mo., native Eugene H. Essner recently was named deputy director of the U.S. Mint; his new position makes him the highest ranking Civil Service employee at the mint.

50 years ago: Feb. 6, 1959

Elfrink Construction Co. of Jackson was the low bidder yesterday and won the general contract for construction of an addition to Common Pleas Courthouse; also winning contracts were B.W. Birk Plumbing and Heating Co. and Acme Electric Co., operated by Henry Froemsdorf.

Snow and ice hampered travel in much of Southeast Missouri last night and this morning, with most of the trouble being in New Madrid; snow ranged up to 3 inches in the Portageville area, and ice formed on rural roads, making them particularly dangerous.

75 years ago: Feb. 6, 1934

Cape Girardeau will have the opportunity, if a new Civil Wards Administration allotment is made, to secure money for construction of a municipal airport, says Maj. George Foster of the federal airways bureau; while the government would provide funds to build the airport, maintenance for the port would have to be provided by either the city or community groups and individuals.

Frank Unnerstall, proprietor of Unnerstall's Drug Store, 626 Good Hope St., has been issued the first city license to sell liquor at retail by the package.

100 years ago: Feb. 6, 1909

Mrs. Christiana C. Reynolds, the centenarian of whom Cape Girardeau has been proud for many days, dies in the morning, ending a life of great usefulness; she was born in Wuertemburg, Germany, and came to this country at the age of 5 with her parents; she lived in Philadelphia for a time and, after marrying, came to Cape Girardeau with her husband and family in 1852.

State Sen. Thomas Lane of Doniphan, Mo., has entered into a law partnership with H.E. Alexander of Cape Girardeau and will bring his family here to reside as soon as he can secure a house.

— Sharon K. Sanders