Out of the past 11/23/09

25 years ago: Nov. 23, 1984

Shoppers swarm Cape Girardeau stores as Christmas shopping gets underway in heavier-than-expected fashion in all of the city's business districts; merchants theorize shoppers are taking advantage of warm, sunny weather, probably remembering the frigid December that gripped the area last year.

Cape Mercantile Bank and Trust Co. of Cape Girardeau will soon begin construction of a new facility in West Park Mall; the branch will be located next to the Venture store.

50 years ago: Nov. 23, 1959

The building and restaurant of Ella's & Norton's Cafe, 38 N. Main St., in Cape Girardeau have been bought from Mr. and Mrs. Norton Seabaugh by Mr. and Mrs. S.R. Craft, who will operate it in the future.

Carl G. Brown, a barber for about 15 years, plans to open a shop at 1827 Bend Road Friday morning; he will offer complete barbering services.

75 years ago: Nov. 23, 1934

Nine members of the State College MIAA champion football team are named to the 1959 all-conference team; selected on the first team are Roy Fassell, Glennon Schott, Edwin McWilliams, Kenneth Inman and Gary Nichols; second team picks are Les Anderhub, Kenneth Weakley, Tom Throwe, and Charles Matthews.

Workers are busy each day transforming the former Grace Methodist Church into Cape Girardeau's new police station; it is expected the transfer from the old station will be made the first part of December; some of the work has been completed, but the major job of installing the cell blocks will be tackled next.

100 years ago: Nov. 23, 1909

Cape Girardeau School Superintendent John Laidlaw and Capt. M.A. Grissom of Company K have arranged a basketball game between the high school team and the soldier boys on Wednesday; the game will be played in the Normal School gymnasium.

Dr. B.W. Hays leaves Jackson for Kansas City in the morning to see the big football game there between Kansas and the Missouri university on Thanksgiving Day.

-- Sharon K. Sanders