Out of the past 9/17/05

25 years ago: Sept. 17, 1980

The tail of a heavy thunderstorm whipped through the Cape Girardeau area late last night, bringing with it gusty winds and more than an inch of rain; the storms rumbled through parts of Oklahoma, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana and Michigan, leaving behind much cooler temperatures.

MOUND CITY, Ill. -- Construction of a $2.5 million river loading facility here could begin as early as next spring, following action of the Mound City Council last night; the council approved the extension of a 20-year lease to the J.B. Holman Co. of Paducah, Ky., for 2,100 feet of riverfront property.

50 years ago: Sept. 17, 1955

An automobile thrill show, entertainment that always packs the grandstand to overflowing in prior years, brings to a close the centennial showing of the SEMO District Fair at Arena Park; fair attendance soared to 31,328 for the five days through Friday.

A jumbo-sized rattlesnake, bearing 16 rattles and a button, is brought to The Missourian office by Don Lynch, 520 Albert St.; the reptile, found in woods just north of town, measures 5 feet long and weighs 6 pounds; Lynch, his young son, Donald, and Delbert Parker were squirrel hunting when they bagged the reptile, killing it with a 12-gauge shotgun.

75 years ago: Sept. 17, 1930

Work is being rushed at the new Houck Field; the foundation is being placed at the east end of the field for erection of the huge scoreboard for football games; the steel supports for the board should be shipped here within a few days; one car load of the ornamental iron fence to be built along Bellevue Street is on its way, and paving of the area beneath the stadium should be completed soon.

LUTESVILLE, Mo. -- Examiner Eugene Worth of the State Finance Department takes charge of the Farmers & Merchants Bank of Lutesville, closed Tuesday by action of the board of directors after a run of 10 days.

100 years ago: Sept. 17, 1905

The Rev. Theodore Ludwig returned Friday night from the conference held at Peoria, Ill., and today occupies his pulpit at the German Methodist Episcopal Church; he has been returned to this charge for the coming year.

The Rev. H. Kellermann arrived in Cape Girardeau Friday and was met by a delegation from the Hanover Lutheran Church neighborhood; he is the new pastor for that church.

-- Sharon K. Sanders