Out of the past 5/1/05

25 years ago: May 1, 1980

The Magill Hall addition at Southeast Missouri State University is a step closer to reality after approval by the Missouri Legislature only minutes before the midnight adjournment Wednesday night; the $3.9 million for Magill was the largest appropriation for any state university.

An increase in the number of cases of animal rabies and outbreaks in particular areas of the state have prompted health officials to urge that pet owners make certain their animals are vaccinated; rabies continues to be a problem in Southeast Missouri; a lab at Poplar Bluff, Mo., has checked 166 specimens through April, with 34 positives; for all of 1979, only 299 specimens were examined.

50 years ago: May 1, 1955

Members of First Christian Church begin a Week of Dedication of their new church building at North Boulevard and Dunklin Street in the morning service; a series of well-known speakers will take part in the services throughout the week; the Rev. Guy L. Steele, pastor, opens the seven-day observance, speaking today on "Who Builds This House?"

The annual May crowning and living rosary is held at St. Vincent's Catholic Church in the afternoon; crowned queen is Julia Buehrle.

75 years ago: May 1, 1930

Bids for the establishment of a star mail route from Cape Girardeau to serve five towns lopped off by the Frisco Railroad under its reported plan to abandon passenger service on a portion of its Gulf Line are being taken by postmaster H.H. Haas and will be forwarded to the postal department; those Missouri towns include Ancell, Fornfelt, Illmo, Commerce and Benton.

It was decided at a meeting of Cape Girardeau men yesterday that an organization of a Boy Scout area in Southeast Missouri will proceed; headquarters for the group will be maintained in Cape Girardeau.

100 years ago: May 1, 1905

The Roth Tobacco Co. begins business in its big new three-story brick building, and it will keep a big force busy to turn out the product that has already been ordered; a specialty will be made of a twist for either chewing or smoking, but plug tobacco will also be manufactured.

George C. Neibur, 70, died at his home on West Broadway Saturday and is buried this afternoon at the Catholic cemetery through St. Mary's Church; Neibur had been a wagon maker in Cape Girardeau for more than 40 years.

-- Sharon K. Sanders