Out of the past 9/10/10

25 years ago: Sept. 10, 1985

Cape Girardeau firefighters attend the SEMO District Fair on business in the morning when they are called to extinguish a small fire in a straw pile in the stock tents area of the fairgrounds; the fire is put out within minutes, and no damage is done.

The Jackson School Board approves a new busing plan for winter in an effort to alleviate the frequency of having to close schools on snow days; under the plan, parents, bus drivers and school officials will coordinate student pick-up locations so that buses may reach children of the district's more than 400 rural families.

50 years ago: Sept. 10, 1960

A man and woman whose identities remain confused are being held by police after they kidnap and disarm Cape Girardeau police officer Don Roberts; they flee on Perryville Road but are apprehended within a short time.

The Haarig Aces, circa the 1920s, hold their first official reunion with a dinner at the Hotel Idan-Ha Blue Room; the event is so popular, plans are made for a reunion in October of all those who played in the Municipal League when the Aces were a part of it.

75 years ago: Sept. 10, 1935

Grading of a parallel section of road along U.S. 61 between Broadway and Highway 74, a distance of about four miles, has been rejected as a Works Progress Administration project.

Looking at an unusually large fall term enrollment, State College officials at noon had registered 665 students; they predict that number will pass 700 before the day ends; this includes 375 first-year students, who enrolled yesterday.

100 years ago: Sept. 10, 1910

At last the big Portland cement plant is ready for operations; it is hoped that Monday will see the beginning of the manufacture of the brand of cement which will make Cape Girardeau famous.

Louis Houck has purchased a gasoline motor plow for his farms; Thursday it was given its first tryout, pulling three large plows through heavy gumbo soil; the result of the day's work was seven acres thoroughly plowed by the labor of two men, at an expenditure of about 25 cents in gasoline for each acre.

-- Sharon K. Sanders