Out of the past 9/5/06

25 years ago: Sept. 5, 1981

Lindsay W. Simmons, who watched Cape Girardeau's financial community grow for well over half a century, dies at his home in Cape Girardeau at age 82; Simmons organized what is now First Federal Savings and Loan Association here in 1927 and served for many years, and up until the present, as its president; he was also associated for many years with First National Bank.

Expansion of the Cape Girardeau store into a new division to be known as FB Lifestyles was announced Friday by Famous Barr; store manager Paul Oscarson said the new store will occupy about 4,500 square feet and will include a mezzanine area, the store to be located just across from the company's budget store in West Park Mall.

50 years ago: Sept. 5, 1956

A proposal by State College to convert a lot on Normal Avenue into a parking facility is meeting with opposition from residents of the area; the group voiced its opposition Tuesday when it came before the city council; the plans apparently call for the college to convert a lot east of Pacific Street and on the south side of Normal Avenue behind the D. Crump residence into a parking lot.

Cape Girardeau's public school enrollment, bolstered by the figures for kindergarten pupils, reaches 3,405 youngsters, a figure that is 172 pupils more than at the corresponding period last year.

75 years ago: Sept. 5, 1931

Fire of mysterious origin, starting 30 minutes after services had ended late last night destroyed the greater part of a large tent in which the Rev. Leslie Garrison had been holding a revival meeting in Jackson; the blaze spread rapidly, and only a portion of the tent was saved.

A taxicab price war, which had been raging in Cape Girardeau since January, comes to an end when owners of local cabs come to an agreement as to a common fare to charge.

100 years ago: Sept. 5, 1906

John Haines of the firm of Barnett, Haines & Barnett, architects of St. Louis, is in Cape Girardeau consulting with Taylor Construction Co. of Jackson; Haines drew the plans for the big office building to be built at Broadway and Fountain Street by the Jackson firm; details for the preliminary work and tearing down the old Whitelaw house are decided upon; work will commence shortly.

Col. Henry Daues of St. Louis, an uncle of Prosecuting Attorney Charles Daues, is in Cape Girardeau on a visit to his numerous relatives.

-- Sharon K. Sanders