Out of the past 9/13/09

25 years ago: Sept. 13, 1984

The Southeast Missouri Regional Port Authority has asked the Cape Girardeau and Scott county courts to submit to voters in March separate proposals to enact a special quarter-of a cent sales tax for four years to help finance initial development of a Mississippi River port.

With the SEMO District Fair halfway through its run, attendance is running ahead of last year; tickets are still available for two shows tonight featuring the Statler Brothers.

50 years ago: Sept. 13, 1959

Marking the 150th year of the organization of the congregation of McKendree Chapel, and the 114th year of the building of the chapel, the 26th annual Old McKendree Day is held in the afternoon; the main address is delivered by Rush H. Limbaugh, president of the State Historical Society.

St. Andrew Lutheran Church plans to have its doors open for private prayer all day and evening Tuesday because of the arrival of Premier Khrushchev in the United States that day.

75 years ago: Sept. 13, 1934

Fifteen minutes after the crowd attending the wrestling matches last night had departed, Houck Field House was struck by lightning; one broken light bulb and some blown fuses constituted the only damage; several college boys were dismantling the ring and some smaller boys were removing chairs when "balls of fire" started playing around the steel beams near the ceiling.

Cape Girardeau police have been instructed to give special attention to traffic violations, particularly pertaining to safety near schools, and to keeping the main streets unblocked by double-parked or cross-parked automobiles.

100 years ago: Sept. 13, 1909

A study by postmaster E.W. Flentge shows that the number of new houses built or under construction since July 1, 1908, is 99; because of the growth of Cape Girardeau, the Post Office Department may be persuaded to allow the city another letter carrier.

The workers on the wood-block paving on lower Themis Street got the first 30 feet, starting from Main Street, laid in crooked lines Saturday morning; they were compelled by the mayor and street and wharf committee to take the blocks up and start over.

-- Sharon K. Sanders