Out of the past 1/9/10

25 years ago: Jan. 9, 1985

Fire damage in Cape Girardeau cost every resident an average of $21 last year, according to the Cape Girardeau's 1984 fire report; fire also cost one Cape Girardeau man his life last year; the department responded to 763 calls in 1984; financial loss due to fires in 1984 was estimated at $726,177.

Cape Girardeau attorney Kenneth C. McManaman, who was approached last week about the possibility of becoming chairman of the Missouri Democratic Party, says he has decided not to actively seek a position on the State Democratic Committee, a prerequisite to becoming state chairman.

50 years ago: Jan. 9, 1960

Hillsides are being cleared of trees and brush is being removed in the area to be covered by a 17-acre lake, first of three to be constructed in Trail of Tears State Park; the other lakes will be 13 and 7 acres in size.

Six classrooms and a multipurpose room are features of the new R-4 District Elementary School located on the Cape Girardeau to Egypt Mills road, north of Cape Girardeau; it was hoped the building would be ready for occupancy by Dec. 15, but the interior remains to be finished; the new school may not open until next fall.

75 years ago: Jan. 9, 1935

Ripping out the front of the Broadway Fruit Market Building, 616 Broadway, an explosion early in the morning in the basement of the structure injures two persons and does damage estimated at $7,000; the blast occurring at 7 a.m. centers in a large banana-ripening compartment; when an employee opens the heavy door of the room to make a temperature reading, the explosion occurs.

A 68-year connection of a Cape Girardeau family with one business is severed when W.F. Bergmann, county collector-elect, sells his store at 523 Broadway to E.O. Happel, owner and manager of the Model Grocery, 701 Broadway.

100 years ago: Jan. 9, 1910

Dr. E.J. Moore, state superintendent of the Anti-Saloon League, delivers an address during the morning worship service at Centenary Methodist Church.

Albert La Pian, an employee of the shoe factory, while walking along the Frisco railroad tracks last night about 9:30, slipped on the icy ties and fell through the bridge onto the ice in Sloan's Creek below; he was badly bruised in the fall, although his injuries aren't considered dangerous.

-- Sharon K. Sanders