Out of the past 10/6/09

25 years ago: Oct. 6, 1984

The annual Jackson Fall Festival is forced indoors by rain; the festival is relocated to West Lane Elementary School's gymnasium, which is packed for much of the day as area residents examine wares from a number of artists and craftsmen.

Honoring U.S. Army Air Corps pilots who trained in World War II at what is now the municipal airport, more than 100 "Harris Field Warbirds" attend a reunion of the pilots at the airport this weekend.

50 years ago: Oct. 6, 1959

Creeping expense of municipal operation is reflected in a budget adopted in the morning by the Cape Girardeau City Council, which calls for an expenditure of $752,011.38 in the 12-month period ending next June 30; it is the largest budget in the city's history.

Through arrangements made with officials of the Cape Girardeau Public Schools lunch program, hot lunches are now being served at the Training Center for Handicapped Children; the meals are catered from Franklin Schools in thermos containers to keep the food hot.

75 years ago: Oct. 6, 1934

With Cape Girardeau's record-setting celebration at an end, some are suggesting that the fair be repeated each year, with the entertainment made more elaborate and impressive; huge crowds flocked to the city for the free entertainment from Wednesday to Friday night.

ST. LOUIS -- Cardinals pitching ace Dizzy Dean is hit on the head with a thrown ball, knocked out and carried from the field in the midst of a fourth-inning rally in which the Cards tie the score 4-4 in the fourth game of the World Series with the Detroit Tigers; the Tigers go on to eclipse the Cardinals 10-4.

100 years ago: Oct. 6, 1909

The Belle of Cape, the fine gasoline passenger boat which Clay Phelps has been running in the passenger business between Cape Girardeau and Thebes, Ill., is no more; last night the boat was consumed by fire at Thebes; Phelps and his assistant had gone up to town, when Phelps discovered he left his keys in the boat; returning to the Belle, he struck a match to search for the keys, with the result being an explosion; Phelps barely escaped with his life.

Along with the usual attractions, the Cape Girardeau fair has a moving picture exhibition of Dr. Frederick A. Cook's discovery of the North Pole.

-- Sharon K. Sanders