Out of the Past 11/25/08

25 years ago: Nov. 25, 1983

The Cape Girardeau County Major Case Squad, the Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Department and representatives of the FBI convene in Jackson to review evidence gathered in the murder of a 61-year-old Oconto, Wis., truck driver, whose body was found yesterday alongside Interstate 55 about 1,000 feet north of the Appleton exit.

If all 6-year-old Janey wants for Christmas is her two front teeth, she'll stand a better chance getting them than a Cabbage Patch Doll; the moon-faced dolls are sold out everywhere.

50 years ago: Nov. 25, 1958

Southeast Missouri peace officers and the Missouri State Highway Patrol are conducting an investigation into two similar burglaries yesterday that netted the thieves a substantial quantity of firearms; one of the break-ins was at the Lutes-Hartle Hardware Store in Lutesville, Mo.; the other was at the Jean Brothers service station and sporting goods store in Kennett, Mo.

Neighbors of Henry Strack, whose farm is on Perryville Road three miles north of Cape Girardeau and who has been ill several weeks, pitched in Monday and gathered his corn crop.

75 years ago: Nov. 25, 1933

With Uncle Sam setting up man-made dikes to whip the current of the Mississippi River toward the Missouri bank and straighten the channel, an island owned by the Marquette Cement Mfg. Co. opposite its Cape Girardeau plant will disappear, engineers say.

Mayor Edward L. Drum officially opens the new Montgomery Ward & Co. department store building, 18-24 N. Main St., in the presence of company officials from Chicago and Fort Worth, Texas; there are 150 clerks and attendants on hand.

100 years ago: Nov. 25, 1907

Didama Murrell Wills, the popular dressmaker of 312 Bellevue St., packs her bag and leaves for Sikeston, Mo., where she will visit for a week with the family of her cousin, Dr. Warren Smith.

Mrs. A.C. Sherwood comes down from St. Louis on the boat in the morning and is preparing to spend the winter in Cape Girardeau; she has been prevailed upon to come here so as to furnish music for the dances to be given this winter.

-- Sharon K. Sanders