Out of the past 8/28/05

25 years ago: Aug. 28, 1980

Repairs to the county courthouse dome in Jackson have been completed by Pyramid Roofing Co. of Sikeston, Mo.; since the new copper on the dome is very obvious compared to the old copper which has turned green, acid is used on the new copper in an effort to artificially turn it green so it will match the older metal.

Although the exact number of students enrolled this semester at Southeast Missouri State University won't be computed for several weeks, university officials expect the final enrollment count to be a record of between 8,800 and 9,000 students.

50 years ago: Aug. 28, 1955

The Rev. Arthur W. Clodfelter, assistant pastor at First Baptist Church, delivers his farewell message to the congregation; after serving at First Baptist for the past two years, he will leave for postgraduate work at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky.

CHARLESTON, Mo. -- Authorities are searching for those who burned a gasoline-soaked wooden cross in the yard of school board president T.J. Brown early yesterday morning; Brown, a lawyer, says despite the cross and one other incident to another board member, the decision to open junior and senior years at the high school here to black pupils will stand.

75 years ago: Aug. 28, 1930

Construction of a two-story addition to the federal building in Cape Girardeau at a cost exceeding $30,000 to provide additional facilities for the post office has been recommended; preliminary plans provide for a wing 60 feet long and 50 feet wide, extending to the south from the rear end of the building.

A jury in Common Pleas Court yesterday returned a verdict of $1,743.25 in favor of Harrison A. Boone and other owners of a farm east of Jackson as compensation for damages suffered by the property by reason of construction of Highway 61 through it.

100 years ago: Aug. 28, 1905

The vote on the courthouse proposition Saturday resulted favorably for proponents of the new structure; while a majority of Cape Girardeau voters cast their ballots against the measure, there were sufficient votes for the measure in other parts of the county to defeat those opposed.

There is a great deal of activity around the Houck Railroad yards; increased gangs of men are put to work unloading rails and constructing the street railway track to Frederick Street north of the Houck main line.

-- Sharon K. Sanders