Out of the past 10/7/09

25 years ago: Oct. 7, 1984

Congregations throughout the community fill grocery bags for the fifth annual fall food drive for FISH.

The RENEW program begins at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church and will run through Nov. 17; a tree-planting ceremony and balloon-raising activities mark the day; RENEW is a program designed to deepen faith by study and discussion of scriptures.

50 years ago: Oct. 7, 1959

Tossing away his prepared address, Attorney General John M. Dalton spoke off the cuff last night to members and guests of the Cape Girardeau Business and Professional Women's Club at a dinner celebrating National Business Women's Week.

Representatives of contracting firms recently attended an organizational meeting of the Associated Building Contractors of Missouri at the Hotel Idan-Ha; Ray Clinton of Sikeston, Mo., was elected president of the group; Carl L. Penzel of Jackson, vice president; James Stovall of Cape Girardeau, secretary; and Jack Harrison of Cape Girardeau, treasurer.

75 years ago: Oct. 7, 1934

It is believed that Dr. H.H. McGinty, pastor of the Baptist Church at Lawrenceburg, Ky., will accept the call to become pastor of Cape Girardeau's First Baptist Church.

Loot amounting to about $5 was taken in a series of barber shop burglaries overnight, money evidently being the only thing the burglars were after; break-ins were at the Walter Froemsdorf shop, in the 300 block of South Sprigg Street; the College Barber Shop, 900 Broadway; Kassel's shop in the 200 block of South Sprigg Street, and the Bowman & Hahs shop in the 400 block of North Sprigg Street.

100 years ago: Oct. 7, 1909

Burglars take advantage of Cape Girardeau residents who are attending the fair; nearly $100 in cash is secured, along with wearing apparel and dinners enjoyed at two houses.

The Gem Theater in Haarig is breaking all theatrical records for Cape Girardeau; when 700 people visited the place Sunday night, it thought the limit had been reached; however, more than 900 attend the two performances today; besides the regular moving pictures, the Gem is hosting the William A. Carr vaudeville players.

-- Sharon K. Sanders