Out of the past 9/12/05

25 years ago: Sept. 12, 1980

The Cape Girardeau Elks Club has purchased a 100-acre parcel from the Otahki Girl Scout Council and has earmarked the land as the site for future construction of a new Elks Lodge; the Lake Hollenbeck property includes about 100 acres northwest of the city.

Attendance at Cape Girardeau Day at the SEMO District Fair yesterday nudged total attendance this year to approximately 44,000, and fair officials are hoping for banner days to close out the 125th annual exposition; in front of the grandstand this evening will be the Joie Chitwood Thrill Show.

50 years ago: Sept. 12, 1955

A tinge of autumn in the air and a final flurry of activity on the grounds marks the start of the centennial year of the SEMO District Fair; over the weekend, all but one of the huge tents that will house the numerous livestock exhibits were erected; the last one -- measuring 100 by 30 feet -- goes up today, along with the carnival midway south of the Arena Building.

The R-7 Millersville School District has posted notice for a second election to be held Sept. 24 for the purpose of voting on an $80,000 bond issue to erect a modern school; the first election, held Sept. 1, failed by 10 votes.

75 years ago: Sept. 12, 1930

Workers making excavation for the piers of the West Main Street bridge at Jackson yesterday unearthed a huge, hewn log or oak timber several feet under the ground, which was in perfect state of preservation.

A contract has been signed with the Mississippi Valley Structural Steel Co., St. Louis, for construction of a large scoreboard to be used at Houck Field for football games; the board will be a duplicate of the one used at Municipal Stadium in St. Louis and will be illuminated for night games.

100 years ago: Sept. 12, 1905

With an attendance of something like 300 students, the Normal School begins the new term in the morning; at chapel exercises in the morning, president W.S. Dearmont lays down the following rules: "No smoking on campus. No frequenting saloons. No leaving the city without permission."

The shirt factory opens its E. & W. dormitory for girl employees; the dorm occupies 12 fine, large rooms on the second floor of the Houck building, corner of Spanish and Independence; all have electric lights and steam heat, and a large bathroom is provided; Mrs. Francis Anderson is the matron.

-- Sharon K. Sanders