Out of the past 6/3/10

25 years ago: June 3, 1985

The death of a pet bird in Raleigh, N.C., and the subsequent tracing of the bird to Bird-Dee Wings & Things in Cape Girardeau may lead to the mass extermination of the store's entire inventory of birds; the store has been quarantined since May 18.

Heavy thunderstorms rumble through the area during the night, causing power outages; electrical power is out from about 10:30 to 11:30 p.m. in the Town Plaza and West Park Mall areas and in residential areas west of Cape Girardeau.

50 years ago: June 3, 1960

Frisco officials and the city council come to terms on an ordinance eliminating a $3,600 rental payment by the railroad, providing for demolition of the present passenger station on South Main Street and construction of a new depot within "a reasonable time"; the railroad will move passenger service to the freight station a week from today and on June 13 will begin demolition of the present passenger station, which was built in 1921.

Deeds for right of way from Weiss Park north of Jackson southward to Scott City are the only thing standing in the way of a contract for the multimillion-dollar interstate highway through Cape Girardeau County and north Scott County; early optimism that the project may be contracted at least by mid-September has faded.

75 years ago: June 3, 1935

The Federal Emergency Relief Organization office and auxiliary units will be moved this week from the Chamber of Commerce building on Broadway to the Dempsey building, owned by Magnus Dempsey of St. Louis, on Water Street.

The Catholic Union of Missouri opened its annual convention in Cape Girardeau yesterday, with an attendance of more than 300 delegates.

100 years ago: June 3, 1910

Henry Brune, the Broadway blacksmith, recently sold his property to an eastern syndicate, which will erect a fine building for a 10-cent store; after a half a century, Brune's blacksmith shop is no more.

The Lyric Theater, the popular Main Street amusement place, is being remodeled; a balcony is being installed and the stage rebuilt.

-- Sharon K. Sanders