Out of the past 8/28/06

25 years ago: Aug. 28, 1981

The Missouri Highway and Transportation Department has approved a $55,000 project for improvement of the Missouri Pacific Railroad crossing at the junction of Highways 61, 25 and 72 at Jackson, the same line Mo-Pac is considering abandoning.

A $100 bill issued by the First National Bank of Cape Girardeau in 1891 is the first-place winner in the bank's "treasure hunt" to locate the oldest item connected with the bank's history; the bill turned up as part of legal proceedings in the estate of the late Theodore Zierath, a Cape Girardeau County farmer.

50 years ago: Aug. 28, 1956

A decision on repair operations in the South Main Street area where levee district sewer work damaged streets and parkways took top billing before the city council last night; after lengthy discussions, the council instructed Victory Construction Co. to replace streets, curbs and parkways in the area as they were before sewer work began; the parkway had been proposed as the site of a parking lot.

Voters in the proposed enlarged school districts in Cape Girardeau County vote in favor of the reorganization in three of the four districts; the two proposed high school districts, Delta and Oak Ridge, carry and an elementary district north of Cape Girardeau is approved; the proposed new district west of Cape Girardeau is voted down.

75 years ago: Aug. 28, 1931

Because of the cool and rainy weather, Cape Girardeau's municipal swimming pool at Fairground Park closes; it may be reopened if the weather changes and will probably be open for the Labor Day picnic.

Tomorrow morning, the largest retail jewelry store between St. Louis and Memphis, Tenn., will be formally opened in Cape Girardeau; the new store, Joe L. Moseley Inc., will occupy the first floor of the old Cape Girardeau Bell Telephone Co. building at 801 Broadway.

100 years ago: Aug. 28, 1906

A blind horse and a heavy load lead to the death of Andy Adams, a well-known drayman, close to midnight last night; Adams was taking a load of rubbish to dump in the river and, in going down the incline toward the water, lost control of the horse; he followed horse and wagon into the river and drowned.

Manager W.M. Harley of the shoe factory that carries his name is in town showing merchants a sample pair of men's shoes which his factory will turn out; the shoes are well made and will retail at $2.50.

-- Sharon K. Sanders