Out of the past 5/26/06

25 years ago: May 26, 1981

Clean-up operations are still underway today, two days after a tornado ripped through southern Cape Girardeau County, narrowly missing Cape Girardeau; the tornado, spawned by a line of heavy thunderstorms, caused an estimated $1 million worth of damage; at least eight mobile homes, six businesses, several houses and a church were reported destroyed or damaged.

The Cape Girardeau and Jackson chambers of commerce have been officially notified by the Missouri Department of Revenue that they will be the vehicle license agents for their respective cities.

50 years ago: May 26, 1956

A number of city swimming pools in the district have opened or will open on Memorial Day; in the case of Cape Girardeau, the old pool at Capaha Park won't be opened; according to acting mayor J.W. McBride, the pool will sit idle this summer.

The Lloyd Dale Clippard Post of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Louis K. Juden Post of the American Legion and the local unit of the Disabled American Veterans will join Wednesday morning in placing commemorative flags on the graves of deceased veterans in Cape Girardeau cemeteries.

75 years ago: May 26, 1931

Door-to-door freight delivery in Cape Girardeau will be established about Aug. 1, announces J.T. Hulehan, general agent for the Frisco Lines; it is planned to deliver freight from the railroads to merchants by means of trucks operated by transfer companies, and to collect freight for shipment.

Country butter, which is now on the market in Cape Girardeau in liberal quantity, is being retailed at 25 to 30 cents per pound; some farmers, because of the low price of butter and cream, are feeding much of their milk and cream to poultry and hogs.

100 years ago: May 26, 1906

The train to Poplar Bluff, Mo., yesterday morning carried about 150 people from Cape Girardeau who went over to attend the festivities of the Southeast Missouri Drummers Association, which held its spring festival.

Two great games of baseball are in store for fans; the strong Maroons of St. Louis will be here Monday to play the Capahas, upon whom the city is depending to uphold its reputation as a great baseball town; the visitors will play two games here.

-- Sharon K. Sanders