Out of the past 11/6/05

25 years ago: Nov. 6, 1980

Police approached three men rolling a black Fiberglas coffin down Ellis Street on a dolly last night; when the men couldn't come up with a viable reason for wheeling the coffin down the middle of the street at 10 o'clock at night, officers suspected the coffin might have been taken from the Jaycees Haunted House at 802 Independence St.

EAST CAPE GIRARDEAU, Ill. -- Twenty-three people are arrested at the Hushpuppy Lounge near here for underage drinking and illegal sale of alcohol; the raid was the result of "numerous complaints" of underage drinking at the establishment, a number of those coming from neighboring Cape Girardeau, Mo.

50 years ago: Nov. 6, 1955

Dr. James M. Finney, 75, for 52 years a practicing physician in the south end of Cape Girardeau County and in Bollinger County, died last night in a fire which destroyed his residence-office on Route N, west of Whitewater and Delta.

Cape Girardeau's Congressional Medal of Honor winner, Pfc. Richard Wilson, is buried in Memorial Park Ceremony with solemn military rites and a salute, through the National Guard here, from all the soldiers with whom he served in Korea.

75 years ago: Nov. 6, 1930

County Judge James A. Kinder, who Tuesday was elected the new county collector to serve a four-year term, will consider the possibility of locating at least a branch of his office in Cape Girardeau; Kinder is aware of the sentiment that exists here for the establishment of an office where Girardeans can pay their taxes without standing in line on the few occasions during the year when the collector comes here from Jackson.

In order to meet truck competition, Eagle Packet Co. of St. Louis has cut its freight rates nearly in half; in addition, for the rest of the season, Capt. William "Buck" Leyhe will make two trips a week between St. Louis and Cape Girardeau, using the steamer Golden Eagle.

100 years ago: Nov. 6, 1905

Fearing that an diphtheria epidemic might result from the congregation of school children, the public schools of Jackson are closed in the morning.

Harmon Loeffel, the local stone contractor, finishes work on the Popp residence, corner of Themis and Pacific streets; the first story is constructed of rustic masonry, white limestone being used; the second story is of slate; Loeffel did a fine piece of work on this residence.

-- Sharon K. Sanders