Out of the past 10/2/06

25 years ago: Oct. 2, 1981

Cape Girardeau County lost 3,000 acres of farmland to housing and other rural developments last year, according to statistics presented at a hearing of the Missouri House Select Interim Committee on the Preservation of Agricultural Land held in Cape Girardeau yesterday.

The Cape Girardeau Jaycees recently topped the $10,000 mark in their drive for funds to buy bulletproof vests for Cape Girardeau police with several donations from the AMVETS, the Elks, Knights of Columbus and the Knights of Columbus Ladies Auxiliary; the Jaycees are now $1,000 short of reaching the figure needed to buy the vests.

50 years ago: Oct. 2, 1956

Last-minute registrants for the November general election receive another windfall with the announcement that the registration office in Common Pleas Courthouse will remain open three nights in the remaining six days of registration; the office will be open until 8:30 p.m. tomorrow, Friday and Monday.

A.H. Macke of Gordonville, who has sold his St. Louis milk route to A.H. Haertling and son Leon, says he will devote his time largely to his store at Gordonville and will continue to haul livestock and feed; Macke established the milk route 19 years ago.

75 years ago: Oct. 2, 1931

Heading a delegation of several score persons in automobiles, Cape Girardeau Mayor Edward L. Drum and the municipal band go to Lutesville and Marble Hill, Mo., in the afternoon to observe Cape Girardeau Day at the annual Bollinger County Fair, held in Twin City Parks between the two towns.

Barney Pelty, former Major League Baseball pitcher for the St. Louis Browns and the Washington Senators of the American League from 1903 to 1912 and a well-known baseball figure in Southeast Missouri, is in Cape Girardeau on business and visiting.

100 years ago: Oct. 2, 1906

Souvenir Centennial postal cards are placed on sale at most prominent stores in Cape Girardeau; they are as pretty as steel engravings and should be sent out by everyone; a set of 10 costs 25 cents; the money goes to the parade committee.

Republican and Democratic leaders get together to make arrangements for the reception of the big "guns" who will be in Cape Girardeau for the Centennial celebration; it is decided to erect a speaker's platform on the north side of the courthouse, and many rows of seats will be provided.

-- Sharon K. Sanders