Out of the past 11/7/02

10 years ago: Nov. 7, 1992

Scouting for Food drive results in collection of 13,900 cans of food in Cape Girardeau area alone; canned goods are collected by Scouts in entire region served by Southeast Missouri Boy Scout Council, but only figures from Cape Girardeau food drive are available; last year 11,000 cans of food were collected in Cape Girardeau area.

Anna, Ill. -- Mayor Ken Kohler is looking for business that wants to move to Southern Illinois; Kohler and group of Anna and Illinois state officials have drawn up list of businesses that might be interested in taking over Florsheim Shoe Co. plant that will be closing here soon.

25 years ago: Nov. 7, 1977

Thirty-one area towns, same number as last year, will be represented in 29th Missourian Art Exhibition this weekend, with 61 artists bringing 116 of total 216 pieces of artwork to be shared with public; Jackson will have largest single contingent of outside Cape Girardeau -- nine, and Charleston will run close second with eight.

Scott City -- Bridge over Ramsey Creek at old Highway 61 would cost $634,000 if built according to state standards, Missouri Highway Department engineer tells board of aldermen; Lionel T. Murray, district engineer of Sikeston, says state won't fund such a project; board is exploring possibility of building bridge to provide alternative southbound route into Scott City and ease traffic backups on Interstate 55 at Route M exit.

50 years ago: Nov. 7, 1952

Federal patronage such as selection of postmasters and like will pass into Republican hands in Southeast Missouri after inauguration of Dwight Eisenhower in January, party leaders say; and this despite fact that both United States senators in Missouri and representatives from 10th District are Democrats; it will be first time in 20 years that patronage will be dispensed by Republican party.

Sealed-over cistern caves in in front yard of old Broadway School; forgotten cistern recalls to old-timers days when private dwelling stood on site, and cistern was source of water for both residents and their horses; it is believed cistern was built about 75 years ago, when family named Heil lived there.

75 years ago: Nov. 7, 1927

Large crowd attends mass meeting at Common Pleas Courthouse, dedicating itself to carry railroad proposal to people in intensive drive; enthusiastic crowd pledges to raise necessary $60,000 for right-of-way acquisition, which will secure second railroad -- Missouri Pacific -- for Cape Girardeau.

Jack Knehans of Cape Girardeau is winner of declamatory contest of Benton Literary Society, held at Teachers College; he delivers oration titled "Power of Conviction"; taking second place in competition is Robert Riggs, who speaks on "The Patriotism of Stephen A. Douglas."

-- Sharon K. Sanders