Out of the past 5/5/05

25 years ago: May 5, 1980

The Cape Girardeau Public Library Board plans to check out of the present library building at Themis and Lorimier in mid-June in preparation for a tentative June 23 opening at the new location on North Clark.

Work begins on the installation of a stronger interlock system for elevator doors in the Towers dormitories at Southeast Missouri State University; two recent incidents brought to light the fact that the interlocks that could alleviate a potentially dangerous situation in the dorms hadn't yet been installed.

50 years ago: May 5, 1955

A second plant for the manufacture of steel products will be located in Cape Girardeau, if negotiations being carried on by the Chamber of Commerce with W.L. McDowell of Vicksburg, Miss., result in agreement; the plant, which manufactures liquid petroleum tanks and other high-test steel containers, would be located on property owned by Central Packing Co., between the packing company and the Missouri Pacific Railroad tracks in South Cape Girardeau.

ORAN, Mo. -- Neighbors, very busy themselves, are chipping in to do some farming work on John Diebold's farm west of here.

75 years ago: May 5, 1930

Cape Girardeau business and professional men have raised $500 as an initial fund toward getting the organization of a Boy Scout area in Southeast Missouri underway; this city will have the headquarters office of the area; other towns affiliated with the movement are Poplar Bluff, Mo., Sikeston, Mo., and Charleston, Mo.

An organization is formed to promote the establishment of an airport in Cape Girardeau under the supervision of Curtiss-Wright Flying Service of St. Louis, Mo.

100 years ago: May 5, 1905

The county grand jury turns in its report to the court at Jackson, and the jury is dismissed; four true bills are presented, but no arrests have yet been made; the jury compliments the sheriff for the manner he conducts the county jail, but both the jail and the courthouse are condemned as being unsanitary and in no proper condition to serve the purpose for which they were intended.

Al Eckhardt, assistant postmaster, returns on the steamer Chester from several weeks of vacation; he has regained his health, which had been run down by too close application to his duties.

-- Sharon K. Sanders