Out of the past 10/20/09

25 years ago: Oct. 20, 1984

Area residents continue to carefully watch rain gauges and swollen streams, as near-continuous rain brings with it the chance of flash flooding.

The Biltmore Corp. announces the sale of all its interest in the hotel, motel, restaurant and lounge at 45 S. West End Blvd. here; the property, formerly the Sunny Hill Motel and Golden Coin Restaurant, has been sold to First Commerce Group Inc., which has leased the motel operations to Magic Key Inns of America.

50 years ago: Oct. 20, 1959

Carolyn Patrick, a student at Cape Catholic High, was crowned varsity queen Sunday night by retiring queen Nancy Drury; Patrick is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Peyton Patrick of Cape Girardeau.

On a free throw by George Yardley with four seconds left, the Syracuse Nationals edge the St. Louis Hawks in overtime, 137-136; the contest between the two National Basketball Association teams is held at the Jackson High School gymnasium and is sponsored by the Jackson Jaycees.

75 years ago: Oct. 20, 1934

Missouri's Golden Troopers will entrain just before midnight for Miami to seek the national American Legion drum and bugle corps championship for Cape Girardeau and Missouri; 45 members of the two-time state champion corps and about 30 other Girardeans, including wives of members, will make the trip.

Workers are preparing the roadbed of Highway 74, from Highway 61 to Highway 25 at Dutchtown, for paving with amiesite; weather permitting, contractor E.L. Markham estimates the job will be completed in about six weeks.

100 years ago: Oct. 20, 1909

E.F. Regenhardt has been selected by the Cape Girardeau City Council as the inspector for the paving work on Broadway; the hill part of Broadway will be paved with granite blocks and, as Regenhardt has had so much experience in rock work, it is thought he will make an excellent inspector.

Ruth Glenn has been chosen to hand a big, beautiful bouquet of roses to President William Howard Taft next Tuesday morning, when the chief executive steps forward on the platform at the Normal School to address the multitudes; she is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. D.A. Glenn.

-- Sharon K. Sanders