Out of the past 9/23/01

10 years ago: Sept. 23, 1991

Robertson Contractors, Inc., of Poplar Bluff submitted low bid of $1.29 million for next phase of Cape Girardeau's Lexington Avenue arterial street project; Robertson's bid was lowest of four bids opened Friday in Jefferson City; project will include construction of signalized intersection of North Kingshighway, Lexington and Mt. Auburn Road and five-lane bridge over Cape LaCroix Creek.

Jackson - St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Railway Company's newest locomotive, the "R.T. Hughes," will enable railroad to expand operations into winter months; 90-ton, twin-engine diesel locomotive, which will begin regular runs late this fall, also will be used as backup for railroad's popular Number Five steam locomotive.

25 years ago: Sept. 23, 1976

Griffaw Furniture Co., planning to increase employment, has entered into 10-year lease with trustees of 33,000-square-foot building owned by Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce; building at 100 S. Minnesota formerly was occupied by Lowenbaum Manufacturing, garment firm; William E. Griffaw, president of company, says he expects move to triple production of his current plant.

Gordonville - About 100 rural box-holders outside Gordonville have decided to continue to use Gordonville Route 1 address while protesting U.S. Postal Service decision which changed their addresses to Gordonville Route 3, moving service from Gordonville Post Office to post office in Cape Girardeau; decision was reached at town meeting last night attended by postal officials from Flat River, Cape Girardeau and Gordonville.

50 years ago: Sept. 23, 1951

The Rev. O.C. Lewis takes up his duties as new pastor of Westside Church, assisted by Luke Blanchard; Lewis fills vacancy of the Rev. E.C. Fisher, who has taken over pastorate at Harrisburg, Ill.

Francis Seyer of Cape Girardeau receives Holy Order of Diaconate in solemn pontifical ceremony in St. Meinrad Seminary Chapel, St. Meinrad, Ind.; Seyer this year will complete his course of four years of theological study at seminary, and at termination of course he will be ordained to priesthood; he is son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Seyer of Cape Girardeau and is member of St. Mary's Catholic Church.

75 years ago: Sept. 23, 1926

Opening program of 60th annual meeting of Missouri Press Association is held in evening in auditorium of Academic Hall; immediately after dinner, visiting editors gather in The Missourian office to hear returns of Jack Dempsey-Gene Tunney heavyweight championship bout, which comes over Associated Press wire.

Building Committee of First Baptist Church announces that new $175,000 edifice will be under roof by Oct. 15, and should be ready for occupancy by next Easter Sunday; construction of massive walls for church should be completed Saturday, with exception of one in front, where unusually heavy material being used is causing some delay; more than 550,000 bricks have been used in construction of walls, these being in addition to heavy Bedford stone blocks, which give church massive touch.

- Sharon K. Sanders