Out of the past 2/9/09

25 years ago: Feb. 9, 1984

The Cape Girardeau United Way and the Jackson Community Chest will cease to exist as separate entities if plans to consolidate the two fundraising agencies this spring come to fruition.

After considering about 65 different locations, the Safe House and Women's Center board will purchase a duplex at 17-19 S. Lorimier St., which will be used as a residential building, and a house at 233 Independence St., which will serve as an outreach office and day care.

50 years ago: Feb. 9, 1959

BENTON, Mo. — Sikeston, Mo., Mayor C.E. Felker is directed by circuit court order to call a special election to consider the city manager form of municipal government; petitions were submitted to the mayor Jan. 5 asking for a vote; however, at the Feb. 2 meeting of the city council, Felker refused to call the election.

Building of a liquefied petroleum installation adjacent to the Missouri Pacific tracks west of Sheridan Drive runs afoul of a city ordinance that prohibits the planned type of above-ground storage tanks within the city's fire limits.

75 years ago: Feb. 9, 1934

Post Commander J. Morton Thompson of the American Legion is advised by the Missouri Department that the Cape Girardeau post was the first to go over the top in its membership campaign; it has the largest membership of any post in Missouri with 264.

Fire of unknown origin guts the Rodney-Whitelaw building at the northwest corner of Broadway and Main Street; the corner of the building is owned by Ella W. Rodney of Cape Girardeau, while the west portion is owned by Barrett R. Whitelaw of Hollywood, Calif.; the structure once housed the Boston Store.

100 years ago: Feb. 9, 1909

When the electricity fails briefly in the morning, a streetcar leisurely proceeding down Broadway hill gets beyond the control of the motorman and dashes down wildly; it strikes another car at the intersection of Broadway and Main Street and both cars are derailed.

The A. Kraft Home Bakery, at the corner of Spanish and Independence streets, will install a dough mixer that can hold two and a half barrels of flour.

— Sharon K. Sanders