Out of the past 11/20/11

25 years ago: Nov. 20, 1986

The Christmas season has arrived; Union Electric employees are busy stringing garland and lights along Broadway and Main Street.

An organization designed to help meet social, emotional, educational and political needs of homosexual students at Southeast Missouri State University has been recognized as an official campus organization; the Student Senate, a part of the university's Student Government, voted 11-6 on Nov. 3 to recognize the Gay and Lesbian Student Association.

50 years ago: Nov. 20, 1961

Striking paintings, amateur and professional, drew the admiration of the largest crowd in 15 years of The Missourian Art Exhibitions at the annual event over the weekend; an estimated 2,500 attended the show.

Jackson residents are scheduled to go to the polls tomorrow to ballot in a special election for city collector; however, at noon today, it is still uncertain if voters will have seven or eight candidates from which to choose; the outcome hinges on a court decision as to whether Joe Howard is eligible as a candidate.

75 years ago: Nov. 20, 1936

Dr. Sylvester Doggett, owner of the large tract of property on the south side of the pavement at the intersection of West Broadway and U.S. 61, says that if he can secure approval of the State Highway Commission he will start at once the construction of some buildings that will harmonize with the Alvarado and Simpson Tavern properties.

The hunt for three of the five prisoners who crawled through a hole in the wall of the little Scott County Jail at Benton, Mo., Tuesday night is still unsuccessful.

100 years ago: Nov. 20, 1911

The Commercial Club's "white way" committee, having secured the support of merchants and property owners on Main Street for the lighting plan, turns its attention to the Broadway corridor, from Spanish Street to Pacific Street.

Nationally known reformer Jacob Riis of New York speaks in the evening at the Normal School's big auditorium, part of the school's lyceum course; he uses illustrated views of slums and scenes of metropolitan conditions.

-- Sharon K. Sanders