Out of the past 12/12/10

25 years ago: Dec. 12, 1985

A contract providing for construction of a final section of Highway 177 between Fruitland on the west and Route J on the east has been awarded by the Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission; Bloomsdale Excavating Co. of Bloomsdale, Mo., was given the $3,220,500 contract.

A well-known Cape Girardeau business, the Rust & Martin Bridal Salon & Fashion Store, 615 Broadway, has been sold by Harry and Barbara Rust to Consolidated Mutual Investors Inc. of Cape Girardeau; Robin Duncan, who has been manager and a buyer for the salon for the past three years, has become part owner of the store and will continue to manage it.

50 years ago: Dec. 12, 1960

An early morning fire, sweeping through the metal Quonset hut home of Mr. and Mrs. Gene Dickerson on the George Kimbel farm on U.S. 61, not only destroys the building but also all belongings of the family.

Protests to a change in zoning of residential property on Park Avenue, between Broadway and Normal Avenue, are registered by several property owners at a public hearing conducted as part of the city council meeting; the city planning and zoning commission has approved the change from one-family to apartment zoning for the entire block.

75 years ago: Dec. 12, 1935

Three women relief clients are soon to be put to work as assistants at three school cafeterias; when the plan is approved, a woman will be placed at Central High, Washington and May Greene schools; they'll replace pupils who had worked part of the time.

Coach Harry Kipke, famous football mentor of the University of Michigan, spoke to members of the State College and Central High School football squads last night at the annual dinner given them by the Lions Club at May Greene School.

100 years ago: Dec. 12, 1910

The arrest of an engineer, a grading foreman and the manager of a construction company, and a suit for $10,000 have resulted because of the blocking of the Thebes Terminal Railroad by the builders of the levee just south of Cape Girardeau.

J. McElroy opened his new electrical supply store in the Grissom Building at Broadway and Spanish Street on Saturday.

-- Sharon K. Sanders