Out of the past 5/21/09

25 years ago: May 21, 1984

An ordinance setting minimum setbacks along U.S. 61, where plans are being made for construction, is approved by the Jackson Board of Aldermen.

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- The Chaffee board of aldermen clears the way for hiring a city administrator when it votes unanimously to approve the recommendation by the City Administrator Committee that such a post is needed by the city.

50 years ago: May 21, 1959

The greatest school-age population in Cape Girardeau's history and the largest one-year increase in the 44-year period of the census are shown in the 1959 school enumeration figures; the city has 6,245 school-age people, ages 6 to 19, an increase of 550 over last year's figure.

Fire of unknown origin destroys the one-story, four-room frame residents of Mr. and Mrs. Jack Lancaster in Delta, and also the two-story, seven-room home of Mrs. Odie Medley, just north of the Lancaster home.

75 years ago: May 21, 1934

The former Rigdon Laundry building on South West End Boulevard has been obtained for a canning center; while gardeners may use the equipment and supplies at the center, they are being encouraged do all the canning of surplus vegetables at their homes.

Kenneth Chicon and Gilbert Militzer have leased space in the Kiesler building in Perryville, Mo., where the two will open a Walgreen drugstore in July; Chicon has been employed at the F.M. Finney drugstore in Cape Girardeau for 12 years; Militzer has worked in a Walgreen store in St. Louis for 18 months.

100 years ago: May 21, 1909

The last number of the Normal School lyceum course for this year will be given June 14; on that date William Jennings Bryan will fill the lecture engagement originally scheduled for March 5 and which was to feature Minnesota Gov. John A. Johnson.

Word is received from L.B. Houck that he has taken charge of the railroad in Shelby County; it is said that his three brothers -- J.C. Houck, Hugo Houck and George Houck -- will assist him in the management of the property; the road is eight miles long and runs from Shelbina, Mo., to Shelbyville, Mo.

-- Sharon K. Sanders