Out of the past 1/31/06

25 years ago: Jan. 31, 1981

The city of Cape Girardeau sold 243 of its old parking meters yesterday and today, netting the city $2,273; not only did people from Southeast Missouri take advantage of the sale, but so did meter speculators and antique dealers from as far away as Florida and Wisconsin.

The seven counties encompassed by Southeast Missouri Regional Planning and Economic Development Commission, including Cape Girardeau County, had an average population growth of nearly 18 percent during the past decade, according to preliminary statistics compiled by the U.S. Census Bureau.

50 years ago: Jan. 31, 1956

BENTON, Mo. -- Voters in the R-4 School District pass a bond issue which will make possible construction of a modern, centrally located high school; the site which has been chosen is known as the Crumpecker tract, 5 1/2 miles southeast of Benton on Highway 55.

The Polio Porchlight campaign last night in Cape Girardeau brings in $2,949.21 and additional contributions from the rural districts are expected to be received by mail; in a similar campaign at Jackson, $526.53 was raised; the campaign was sponsored by the March of Dimes.

75 years ago: Jan. 31, 1931

D.M. Scivally, engineer for the Cape Special Road District, offers another inducement to unemployed men; Scivally reports that his farm west of Cape Girardeau contains many young hard maple trees, which would make excellent shade trees for Cape Girardeau residences.

With Frisco railroad passenger rates being cut to 2 cents per mile effective Sunday, many predict that the motor bus lines operating through Cape Girardeau will also endeavor to cut their rates to a rate equal to or smaller than the railroad's.

100 years ago: Jan. 31, 1906

Several well-to-do and prosperous farmers living north of the city and on the road extending from North Sprigg Street have organized for the purpose of working up enthusiasm for the building of the road into a good highway; they met a week ago at Juden's school and formulated plans; Louis Creibaum, who owns one of the largest farms in the neighborhood, is circulating a petition among merchants of this city seeking support.

The Rev. E. Pruente of St. Mary's Catholic Church returns from a visit to the Rev. F. Bettels at Leopold, Mo., who will leave next Wednesday to take charge of St. Bernard's Parish in St. Louis.

-- Sharon K. Sanders