Out of the past 9/18/05

25 years ago: Sept. 18, 1980

The U.S. Postal Service is studying possible expansion of the Jackson Post Office or construction of a new facility there because postal officials say more space is needed; the one-story brick post office at 125 E. Main St. has been in use for over 40 years; it was constructed in 1936.

MOUNDS, Ill. -- Some 1,350 Meridian Unit 101 pupils are back in classrooms, nearly a month to the day after school was scheduled to start; members of the Meridian Education Association yesterday ratified a two-year contract including a 9 percent salary hike each year.

50 years ago: Sept. 18, 1955

Three former pastors are among those who take part in the golden jubilee celebration of the Methodist Church in Illmo; they are the Revs. J.T. Evitts, Howard E. Conner and A.D. Rankin; Rankin has charge of the Communion service in the morning; Conner speaks of the church's history at the afternoon service, and Evitts is in charge of a memorial during the Sunday school hour.

Crews of workers are at the fairgrounds in Arena Park, removing tents and fair property; paid admissions to the SEMO District Fair were down slightly from last year, from 44,125 to 42,921; the drop was in merchants' booster tickets.

75 years ago: Sept. 18, 1930

The Missouri State Chamber of Commerce squadron of 14 airplanes on a state-wide goodwill air tour arrives in Cape Girardeau just before noon, landing at Cuskaden Field on Highway 61; waiting automobiles take the air guests to the downtown section, where they lunch at the Hotel Marquette.

P.T. Boles of St. Louis, who purchased the Hotel Idan-Ha equipment in bankruptcy proceedings Sept. 3, says he will continue to operate the hotel and plans a program of gradual improvements; Boles is also the owner of the hotel building, which he purchased in May at a foreclosure sale.

100 years ago: Sept. 18, 1905

One of the most pleasant excursions ever pulled off here was that tendered the employees of the E&W shirt factory Saturday evening; about 50 girls and half as many men employed there shared manager Hugh Logan's hospitality; the big feature of the excursion aboard the steamer Cape Girardeau was the dinner served.

Hyman Caldwell returned home Sunday after an absence of several weeks; he went to Denver to see his wife, who has been spending the summer there for her health; she will remain in Denver until the middle of October.

-- Sharon K. Sanders