Out of the past 5/17/05

25 years ago: May 17, 1980

The owner of the Circuit Court Division III building in Jackson, who earlier this month said he was terminating his lease with Cape Girardeau County, has now offered to sell the building or negotiate a new five-year lease with the county court; owner of the building is Truman Farrow of Jackson.

In an effort to improve dormitory living at Southeast Missouri State University, Dr. Bill W. Stacy will recommend to the board of regents that the university contract with food service firms to operate the residence hall cafeterias on campus; in the past, the university has operated its own residence hall cafeterias.

50 years ago: May 17, 1955

A mercury vapor street-lighting system, extending first out Broadway from Pacific Street west and on Kingshighway from Independence Street north to the Arena Park entrance, is projected in an ordinance given first reading Monday by the city council; the ordinance calls for installation at a cost of $5.50 per light for those on Kingshighway and $5 per light for those to be erected elsewhere in the city.

With voting moderately heavy, patrons of Jackson School District in a special election approve a bond issue of $500,000 which will provide more schoolrooms and help to modernize the schools of this part of the county.

75 years ago: May 17, 1930

About 25 people were stricken with a light form of ptomaine poisoning following a dinner at the Lincoln School in Jackson last night held in connection with graduation exercises there; none of those stricken are in serious condition.

Hubble Township in Cape Girardeau County, including Allenville, Gordonville and Whitewater, had a decrease of 1,407 in population during the past 10 years, census figures for 1930 show; the present population of the township is 1,719; Whitewater showed a drop of 61 people to 223; Allenville dropped from 270 in 1920 to 190 this year; Gordonville fell from 150 to 129.

100 years ago: May 17, 1905

A reformation has been worked in the drug store of Dr. George Tarlton on Broadway; the woodwork has been redecorated, new fixtures added and a new stock of goods put in.

Ike Spiner, a Russian, arrives in Cape Girardeau, intent on entering business life; he will be associated with Caldwell Brothers commercial houses; he can speak no English and has a hard time understanding our ways.

-- Sharon K. Sanders