Out of the past 4/16/05

25 years ago: April 16, 1980

Citing a need for a countywide mass transit system and improved roads, Jackson businessman Gerald L. Powers filed yesterday as a Democrat for Cape Girardeau County Court associate judge of the 1st District.

Fred C. Springer Jr., president of Springer Insurance and Realty Co., has been appointed by Gov. Joseph P. Teasdale to the newly formed Mississippi River Parkway Commission.

50 years ago: April 16, 1955

A complete new ward system, equalized in voter population and set up into 12 sections of the city, will come into being in Cape Girardeau next week with a registration of all voters that will wipe out the bulky, unwieldy voter list that has accumulated over a 21-year period.

When the contents of the Christian Church at Themis and Sprigg streets were moved yesterday to the new church at Dunklin Street and North Boulevard, it marked the end of 48 years that the Disciples of Christ have used the building for their church.

75 years ago: April 16, 1930

First 1930 population figures for a few area towns are announced by Carl F. Bloker of Caruthersville, Mo., census supervisor for the district; in Cape Girardeau County, Daisy has 47 residents; in Scott County, Ancell has 221; Kelso, 221; New Hamburg, 107, and Crowder, 130.

Final negotiations are underway for the purchase of the Home Builders Lumber Co., 5 S. Henderson Ave., by the E.C. Robinson Lumber Co. of St. Louis, which owns a large number of yards in Missouri and other states.

100 years ago: April 16, 1905

The Rev. V.J. Mills, who was pastor of the English Methodist Church 12 years ago, is visiting the Rev. Boggess and seeing the sights of Cape Girardeau.

The night Frisco train from St. Louis has a brake beam break above Ste. Genevieve, Mo., and is delayed a considerable time getting to Cape Girardeau; then, a short distance south of Ste. Genevieve, the front wheels of the engine leave the track, again delaying the train.

-- Sharon K. Sanders