Out of the past 2/20/08

25 years ago: Feb. 20, 1983

Christian Campus House, next to the Rose Theatre on the Southeast Missouri State University Campus, has acquired a new director, the Rev. Dennis Evans, who replaced the Rev. Pat Patterson.

Julian Bond, the 43-year-old Georgia state senator and civil rights leader, speaks at Academic Auditorium on the Southeast Missouri State University campus in the afternoon as part of the school's observance of Black History Month.

50 years ago: Feb. 20, 1958

A tremendous ice gorge on the Mississippi River moves to within eight miles of Cape Girardeau in the morning, and from the present amount of ice moving downstream, it appears likely the Cape Girardeau area will be within its grip in a short time.

Packages of meat were scattered along U.S. 61 three miles north of Jackson yesterday when a truck and a passenger vehicle sideswiped; Charles Clemons had picked up the meat at St. Vincent's Seminary at Perryville, Mo., and was bringing it St. Vincent's College in Cape Girardeau when the accident occurred.

75 years ago: Feb. 20, 1933

A sign of the approach of spring has appeared on Main Street; a new awning was installed on the front of the Woolworth store Saturday by T.L. Gerlach.

Gardening by needy families is agreed upon as a community project to be undertaken by the Red Cross, directors decide; the chapter hopes to provide a garden plot, seed and necessary tools for every needy family in Cape Girardeau so that they may raise enough vegetables to supply their needs through the summer and to can enough for winter use.

100 years ago: Feb. 20, 1908

Jackson is well lighted; the municipal light plant is in full operation, and the city began charging for its lights Monday. The street lamps are 32-candle-power and are placed at one side of every street crossing.

F.M. Early, the shoe man at the Buckner-Ragsdale Store, has consented to continue at the store for several weeks in order to help take care of the great quantity of spring goods that are now being unpacked; as soon as this is done, he and his family will go to Oklahoma.

-- Sharon K. Sanders