Out of the past 9/20/2008

25 years ago: Sept. 20, 1983

The Missouri Pacific Railroad will be forced to continue rail service to Jackson, at least for the next few weeks; the Interstate Commerce Commission, which recently granted MoPac permission to abandon the line, has ruled that a $93,000 offer from the Jackson Industrial Development Co. is a good faith offer, forcing the railroad to keep the line open temporarily.

Mary Foote, co-owner of Port Cape Girardeau, is recognized as "Restaurateur of the Year" in the Southeast Missouri chapter of the Missouri Restaurant Association.

50 years ago: Sept. 20, 1958

Spinning blades of powered rotary lawn mowers, a fairly recent addition to home mechanical devices, took a toll on toes and caused other injuries to Southeast Missourians this summer; starting with the mowing season in April, a total of 14 persons, five of them from Cape Girardeau, were injured in mower accidents.

The demolition of the former Hirsch family home at 720 Good Hope St., is progressing rapidly; after its removal, the area will be made into a parking lot for Hirsch Midtown store; the house is believed to be nearly 100 years old.

75 years ago: Sept. 20, 1933

Burglars who entered the Economy Cash Grocery, 701 N. Main St., through a sidewalk grate opening last night knocked off a safe combination and escaped with between $60 and $70 and a quantity of cigarettes and chewing tobacco; the vandals threw dozens of eggs against the walls of the building and store fixtures.

Plasterers are at work on the interior of the new Montgomery Ward & Co. department store building on Main Street.

100 years ago: Sept. 20, 1908

The Rev. Theodore Ludwig, for several years the pastor of the German Methodist Church in Cape Girardeau, preaches his last sermons here; at the recent conference meeting, he was transferred to a church in Illinois.

In the absence of the Rev. W.H. Whitnell from Cape Girardeau, Professor W.A. Webb, president of Central College at Fayette, Mo., takes the pulpit at the new Methodist church; Whitnell left Friday for Hot Springs, Ark., to spend some time at the resort until he is recovered from a severe case of bronchitis.

— Sharon K. Sanders