25 years ago: May 6, 1980

With little more than a month before the present Cape Girardeau Public Library building at Lorimier and Themis streets is scheduled to be vacated, the city council has yet to decide what the future use of the building will be.

Jackson city officials are in the process of applying for a federal grant from the Bureau of Outdoor Recreation for development of the new Litz Park which is located along Goose Creek in the northeast part of town; the undeveloped park consists of 10 acres of land donated by Jack Litzelfelner after those family the park is named.

50 years ago: May 6, 1955

Otahki Council of Girls Scouts has announced the purchase of a camp site, located three miles west of Lutesville, Mo.; the 10 acres were bought from Mr. and Mrs. H.S. Harvey of Lutesville.

Erection of a work office on the site signals the start of construction for the new home of First National Bank at the northwest corner of Broadway and Main Street, which is expected to be ready for use by Jan. 1; the cost of the building, site and equipment is expected to be about $300,000; First National Bank is 63 years old and has been in its present location on Main Street 50 years.

75 years ago: May 6, 1930

Dr. Lincoln McConnell, widely-known lecturer, minister and evangelist, who held three meetings in Cape Girardeau during the past 24 years, the last one being in March of this year, dies at his home in Jacksonville, Fla., of a heart attack.

Apparently shot as he resisted bandits who sought to rob him, William R. Mayhew, 48, of Cape Girardeau is found critically wounded in his automobile on Highway 61, five miles northwest of here in the morning; Mayhew, who was shot in the head, is unable to talk so as to supply officers with clues.

100 years ago: May 6, 1905

The morning session of the circuit court is taken up by the suit which Hoffman Heading & Stave Co. brought against the Iron Mountain Railroad; the stave company had brought suit to recover money it had lost on contract when the railroad hadn't supplied cars agreed upon; the court awards the milling company $1,000.

Jack Champion and Rosalie Schwartz, who are said to be expert actors, have been engaged by the local order of Eagles to give, with the help of local talent, the heart-stirring play, "Heart of Alabama"; the production is set for May 18 and 19.

-- Sharon K. Sanders