Out of the past 1/22/09

25 years ago: Jan. 22, 1984

The Rev. F. Jan Bengtson is installed as pastor of St. Mark Lutheran Church in the morning; Bengtson and his wife, Darlene, recently moved to Cape Girardeau from Quincy, Ill., where he was pastor of Luther Memorial Lutheran Church.

A third man has entered the race for Cape Girardeau County sheriff; James E. Hobbs of Jackson filed for the office Friday on the Democratic ticket.

50 years ago: Jan. 22, 1959

Plans for an extension of the west wing of the Common Pleas Courthouse to provide more space for city and county offices and a more commodious council chamber are given joint approval by the Cape Girardeau City Council and the County Court; at the same time, the city transfers a half interest in the buildings and the ground on which it and the addition will rest; the deeds don't include, however, that part of Courthouse Park outside the building site.

George Seymour is named county director of civil defense by the County Court; he succeeds Russell Smith of Cape Girardeau, who resigned.

75 years ago: Jan. 22, 1934

O.E. Damron announces his intention to enter the race for mayor of Cape Girardeau; Dr. R.P. Dalton, however, says he will not be a candidate, although about 50 people have asked him to toss his hat into the ring.

Paul P. Harris, founder of Rotary International, is a surprise guest at the noon luncheon of the Cape Girardeau Rotary Club; he and a friend slip in quietly and observe the program, at the end of which he consents to speak, using Rotary as a subject.

100 years ago: Jan. 22, 1909

At about 4 a.m., a northbound freight train strikes a rock lying on the track about four miles north of Seventy-six, causing the derailment of nine cars; by some means, the engine passes over the rock safely, but the cars immediately following it are thrown from the rails and are piled up; two of the cars are loaded with livestock, and one of these, loaded with hogs, is thrown up on end; many of the animals are injured or killed.

Those who enroll at the agricultural course at the Normal School in the morning are R.L. Medley, Alvin Neumeyer, L.E. Kies, H.C. Neumeyer and C.H. Laws.

-- Sharon K. Sanders