25 years ago: March 5, 1985

A proposed quarter-cent sales tax for four years to produce local revenue to help construct a Mississippi River port passes with ease in Cape Girardeau and Scott counties; the tax will go into effect Jan. 1.

A fundraising campaign for the Family Learning Center is launched in the morning with an informal breakfast at the facility at 605 Broadway; the goal of $20,000 would provide about one-fifth of the not-for-profit organization's budget for the year.

50 years ago: March 5, 1960

ST. LOUIS -- At its meeting this week, the board of governors of Concordia Historical Institute voted to purchase a part of a century-old farm homestead in Frohna, Mo., as a memorial to the Lutheran pioneers; the institute will buy about 11 1/2 acres on which are a two-story log home, a large log barn and several other smaller log structures; these buildings were built more than 100 years ago by the Bergt family, which participated in the Lutheran immigration from Saxony, Germany.

The cost of clearing state highways and roads in the State Highway Department sector centered at Jackson has run more than $3,000 since the main snow started Wednesday.

75 years ago: March 5, 1935

The steamer Cape Girardeau, built in 1923, has been sold by the Eagle Packet Co. of St. Louis to the Greene Line of Cincinnati; it will be placed in service on the Ohio River; the Cape Girardeau is the largest steel-hull boat in service on western rivers; its name will be changed to the Gordon C. Greene.

A frame annex to be used as a dance hall and that will also be furnished with booths for serving customers is being built at the Shady Grove Barbecue Stand at 1400 S. Sprigg St.; Arthur Mayer is owner of the establishment.

100 years ago: March 5, 1910

Four parcels of real estate were sold at the Common Pleas Courthouse yesterday, which were bid in by some of the heirs to the estates; the Schlueter property was bought by Louis and Matilda Schlueter; the Joerns property by Joe and Venetta Joerns Headrick; the Speaks property by Claude Speaks, and the Kirgin property by Blanche and Alice Kirgin.

Will Bergmann, Henry Nussbaum and Charles Stehr return in the morning from Lilbourn, Mo., where they spent a few days hunting ducks.

-- Sharon K. Sanders