Out of the past 12/4/04

25 years ago: Dec. 4, 1979

A new $104,000 "bubble" air-supported structure is inflated on the Southeast Missouri State University campus, replacing a bubble damaged in last winter's blizzard.

State Department of Transportation officials are meeting with members of the Cape Girardeau City Council to discuss various mass-transit programs and how they might relate to the city should Southeast Missouri State University get involved in busing or van-pooling operations.

50 years ago: Dec. 4, 1954

With 130 paintings and 23 pieces of sculpture, copper tooling, ceramics and woodwork on display, the Missourian Art Exhibition of 1954 officially opens in the evening and will continue tomorrow afternoon.

Fluoridation of supplies of public drinking water in Southeast Missouri is beginning to catch on in a big way; while the treatment hasn't yet started for water anywhere in the district, Cape Girardeau, Sikeston and Kennett have approved the treatment, and others are considering the campaign.

75 years ago: Dec. 4, 1929

Shipping on the Mississippi River, caught by the worst ice jam in history for this early in the season, is seriously threatened, while damage to many of the boats may result; the steamer Cape Girardeau, tied up at St. Louis, is in the grip of ice floes and is unable to make its trip here.

It is learned on good authority that Sears Roebuck and Co., which for some time has considered establishing a store in Cape Girardeau, has abandoned its proposal, at least for the time being.

100 years ago: Dec. 4, 1904

The Rev. W.H. Sheppard, the noted black missionary to the Congo in Africa, tells of his years of work in that far off country at the Presbyterian church in the morning; in the evening he speaks at the Rev. C.W. Latham's congregation in Jackson.

The Rev. C. Monroe holds regular services at the Christian church; his morning sermon is titled, "The Day We Keep"; in the evening he speaks on "The Raven."

-- Sharon K. Sanders