Out of the past 4/3/05

25 years ago: April 3, 1980

Cape Girardeau City Councilman Howard C. Tooke told the rest of the council last night he won't support urban redevelopment in certain areas of the downtown proposed for renewal, if that redevelopment must take place at the expense of designating the area as "blighted."

The Census Bureau's district office has begun the process of reviewing thousands of completed census forms which are being received daily following last week's distribution.

50 years ago: April 3, 1955

A special Palm Sunday service is conducted in the morning at Church of the Nazarene; the pastor, the Rev. J. Paul Tucker, preaches on "The Kingship of Jesus," and there is special music.

Under a bright and sunny afternoon sky, an estimated 2,000 people hunt Easter eggs in Capaha Park in an event sponsored by Kappa Tau Gamma Sorority of State College.

75 years ago: April 3, 1930

Henry Ueleke, jeweler and clock repairer, believes the dome on the county courthouse is becoming unsafe; he maintains it is settling to such a degree that it interferes with the accuracy of the clock; he warns that a severe storm could cause the structure to "tumble about the ears of the county officials in a heap of ruins."

Commissioner-elect Phillip H. Steck favors an increase in the force of the Cape Girardeau Fire Department; he hopes to increase the present force of a chief and three men to probably five or six men working under a chief.

100 years ago: April 3, 1905

The entire populace of Cape Girardeau was awakened last night by the fire alarms announcing a blaze in the south end of town; two barns of little value were consumed.

A large crowd from Cape Girardeau went down to Thebes, Ill., yesterday to look over the new railroad bridge; the Frisco's train master says trains will be running soon, probably the latter part of this week.

-- Sharon K. Sanders