Out of the past 10/31/02

10 years ago: Oct. 31, 1992

Altenburg -- Dedication ceremony for three-sided concrete and granite memorial marker is held in afternoon; marker is located in Log College Park at Altenburg; each side bears bronze plaque dedicated to Martin Luther, the Rev. C.F. Walther and the Rev. G.H. Loeber; Walther was co-founder of first Lutheran seminary west of Mississippi River in 1839 at Altenburg.

Spirits of past descend on Southeast Missouri State University for annual Homecoming celebration; as part of Homecoming events, Delmar A. Cobble posthumously is named 1992 "Friend of the University" by Southeast Missouri University Foundation.

25 years ago: Oct. 31, 1977

Cape County Center for Senior Citizens, now at 23 N. Middle, may be moving to new location soon if approval is given by state this Friday; regional and area board approvals have already been given for new location, which would be in County Farm Park; group of senior citizens has begun circulating petition to stop move, saying new location would be inconvenient.

Sit-down strike is reported in morning at Florsheim Shoe Co., Highway 74 and South Boulevard, to which police dispatch two officers at company's request; about 300 factory employees are reported to have participated in work stoppage; dispute hinges on pay differences between two workers here who are getting lower salaries than workers in another factory performing essentially the same task.

50 years ago: Oct. 31, 1952

Weary farmers, after fighting raging woods fire throughout night, are back at hot, back-breaking task north of Cape Girardeau again, trying to keep it away from fields and buildings, but it is questionable if they can stop its spread at every part; fire is continuation of one that broke out on Herman Zierath farm Tuesday between Egypt Mills and Oriole.

Bloomfield -- Three people are killed when their private plane crashes on farm at Leora; dead are identified as Jim East, about 30, Elmer Mead, about 28, and his wife, about 22, all of Kennett; plane is en route from Kennett to St. Louis, when it crashes on farm of Alvia Griffy, three and one-half miles northeast of Bloomfield.

75 years ago: Oct. 31, 1927

Committees working to secure funds for right of way for Missouri Pacific Railroad into Cape Girardeau meet at luncheon at Idan-Ha Hotel and report additional sum of $6,747.50; this brings grand total to $21,822.50; city must yet raise about $39,000.

After ordering out entire police force for emergency duty tonight, Chief of Police H.F. Wickham, preparing for annual Halloween celebration, warns that merrymakers must be orderly and devoid entirely of vandalism; chief warns, "Destruction or marring of property will not be permitted."

-- Sharon K. Sanders