Out of the past 7/3/05

25 years ago: July 3, 1980

Cleanup operations are underway following a savage summer storm that ripped through much of the area late yesterday afternoon, bringing with it 70 mph winds that played havoc with roofs, trees and power lines; damage estimates at Jackson are put around $250,000, and may go as high as $500,000 in Cape Girardeau; between 500 and 700 customers of Missouri Utilities Co. remain without power this morning.

Salaries and benefits for Public Works Department employees and Cape Girardeau firefighters will be increased an average of 10.9 percent under terms of recently negotiated agreements approved last night by the city council.

50 years ago: July 3, 1955

Second Baptist Church at Frederick and Jefferson streets is conducting a drive for funds to carry out a reconstruction program to build an addition to the present church building, among other improvements; the proposed two-story addition would face Jefferson Avenue.

A special National Independence Day service is held at the Church of the Nazarene in the evening; those who have ever served or are now members of any branch of the military service are honored.

75 years ago: July 3, 1930

Cape Girardeau Mayor Edward L. Drum initiates long-distance service at the new Southeast Missouri Telephone Co. building in Cape Girardeau, making a call to Missouri Gov. Henry S. Caulfield in Cedar City, Utah; at midnight tonight, when the traffic load is light, the actual "cut-over" will be made, and operators at the board in the old building on the south side of Broadway and North Ellis Street will be supplanted by operators at the new switchboard in the new building across the street.

The Fourth of July celebration in Jackson will be a quiet one; Mayor J.E. Schmuke revives an old ordinance forbidding the setting off of fireworks of any character; he issues the order because of the low water supply in the town and the danger of fire.

100 years ago: July 3, 1905

Jackson Mayor Ed Hayes and Charles Daues recently purchased 17 acres of land in the west end of Jackson, and today Hayes and L.M. Bean are laying it out into town lots.

The Cape Brewery and Ice Co. last week bought property adjoining the brewery on the south; workers are constructing a large brick and concrete building on the lot, which will be used as a bottling works.

-- Sharon K. Sanders