Out of the past 5/12/05

25 years ago: May 12, 1980

The annual salary talks between the city of Cape Girardeau and the local firefighters' union have been completed, and both sides are expressing satisfaction with the points of an agreement arrived at last week; the terms of the agreement, which is scheduled to go into effect July 1, won't be announced until the city council has the opportunity to review them.

The old public library could become the home of the Cape County Nursing Service and several other county offices, if the city council approves a request from the county court.

50 years ago: May 12, 1955

Cape Girardeau is embarking on the second largest street-paving program, dollar-wise, in its history; before the end of the construction season in the autumn, a whopping $360,264.84 will be spent on street and sewer improvements; all of the work will be paid for by affected property owners, and none is to be done by bond financing.

Col. Francis Fabick and Capt. Eugene Cummins, both with the Civil Air Patrol, and Air Force Capt. Joe Cravens will arrive here by plane tomorrow evening from St. Louis, Mo., to meet with the local Civil Air Patrol group and activate the unit; squadron commander is Charles E. Barker.

75 years ago: May 12, 1930

Star route mail service, supplanting that formerly given by the Frisco Gulf Line Railroad, is inaugurated, following abandonment by the road of service to Illmo, Commerce and Benton, Mo.; under the present arrangement, the mail truck, operated by B.F. Webb of Illmo, leaves Cape Girardeau each day at 1:30 p.m.

Dr. Harry J. Gerling, superintendent of schools at St. Louis, Mo., will give the commencement address at the Teachers College May 21, when 174 students will receive degrees and certificates.

100 years ago: May 12, 1905

F.A. Ury of the Bauscher United Shows is in Cape Girardeau arranging for a queen contest and to get up an attractive program for the big street fair next week.

W.A. Eudaly of Cincinnati, Ohio, is in Cape Girardeau to speak to the board of directors of the Cape Brick Works; Eudaly is the patentee of a new kind of brick kiln which is used by the larger plants in the country; the local factory has been undergoing improvements, and it may be that this new "downdraft" kiln will be adopted.

-- Sharon K. Sanders