Out of the past 10/30/09

25 years ago: Oct. 30, 1984

Missouri-Pacific Railroad's plan to abandon a 3.3-mile branch line through Cape Girardeau and its freight office here would be devastating for several companies which depend on the rail service, private shippers and local officials say; abandonment could lead to the loss of about 200 jobs and the closing of several local industries.

Six of the banners, which were stolen recently from downtown Cape Girardeau, have been recovered from behind a building at 100 S. Main St.

50 years ago: Oct. 30, 1959

A controversial gate which had blocked entrance over a long-used road into the southern section of Trail of Tears State Park was removed yesterday on direction of the director of parks; residents of the area had circulated a petition asking that the gate be removed.

Additional room is being provided for the big football crowd expected at tomorrow night's game between the Cape State Indians and the Kirksville Bulldogs at Houck Stadium; bleachers to seat an additional 1,200 people are being set up after being moved to Houck from Arena Park.

75 years ago: Oct. 30, 1934

Negotiations are underway between the Sinclair Oil Co. and owners of the northwest corner of the intersection of Broadway and Main Street for a leasing of the property; the land is owned by the Whitelaw family and Mrs. Ella Rodney; plans call for razing the present buildings and construction of a new, super service filling station.

The government may soon place three or four carloads of goats on Little River Drainage District land for the purpose of keeping down vegetation on levees.

100 years ago: Oct. 30, 1909

Clay Phelps, owner of the Terminal Hotel building, brings suit against the Water and Light Co. to compel it to furnish water for the operation of the elevator in the hotel; the water was turned off Thursday evening, with the water company asserting that a leak in the elevator's apparatus causes many barrels of water to flow away unused every day.

The Kage livery barn on Spanish Street, near Broadway, is again in new hands; Joe Schwartz and W.G. Meier are the new proprietors.

-- Sharon K. Sanders