Out of the past 1/24/06

25 years ago: Jan. 24, 1981

The 12 months just ended were the busiest ever for the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri, with nearly 5,000 animals brought to the Route W shelter; that represents almost a 60 percent increase over 1979.

There has been an increasing swarm of workers at West Park Mall this week following issuance by the city of building permits for 11 more firms starting to set up shop there; this brings to 30 the number of businesses that have taken out building permits and have started construction at leased locations in the mall interior space sandwiched between the two big anchor stores, Famous-Barr Co. on the east end and J.C. Penney Co. on the west end.

50 years ago: Jan. 24, 1956

The Edgar Stephens Construction Co. of Cairo, Ill., is the apparent low bidder for a levee construction project at Cape Girardeau; first construction on the levee will likely get underway within the next few weeks and will largely be on sewer changes necessary before the main floodwall can be built.

Vinco Plumbing & Heating Co., 2126 Broadway, has been sold by Homer Cooper to Tom David of Bonne Terre, Mo.; the sale consists of all the inventory, trucks and trenching equipment.

75 years ago: Jan. 24, 1931

Fire originating in a shower room of the gymnasium on the ground floor of St. Vincent's College causes damage estimated at approximately $100; the blaze first attracts attention as a dense volume of smoke pours into other sections of the large building, and students and faculty members are routed from their beds.

The Cape Girardeau plant of Marquette Cement Mfg. Co. has been awarded a silver plaque for completing the year 1929 without a single lost-time injury in the quarry.

100 years ago: Jan. 24, 1906

At a meeting of the Commercial Club last night, the president and secretary of the club were authorized by members to accept the proposition of Southern Metal and Manufacturing Co.; they will sign a contract binding the officers of the company to establish the smelting works here; the club will sell $20,000 worth of bonds to finance the project.

Four Jackson men and one from Cape Girardeau have formed the Marble City Real Estate Co. and purchased the Mrs. F. Meyer farm of 40 acres north of the city; the company intends to open the land and place the lots on the market; the company is composed of C.H. Wolter, R.S. Wolter, J.J. Mayfield, Ben Vinyard and J.A. Hope.

-- Sharon K. Sanders