Out of the past 9/8/05

25 years ago: Sept. 8, 1980

A parade with 100 units -- nearly double that of last year -- officially kicks off the six-day run of the 125th annual SEMO District Fair; the parade originates at Capaha Park, proceeds west on Broadway and north on Kingshighway to the Arena Park fairgrounds.

Following a public hearing attended only by the news media, the county court sets the 1980 tax rate at 21 cents for general revenue and 35 cents per $100 assessed valuation for the road and bridge fund.

50 years ago: Sept. 8, 1955

Edward L. Drum, former mayor of Cape Girardeau, dies at Scarsdale, N.Y., where he lived in recent years near his son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. D. Cayce; the body of the four-term mayor will be returned to Cape Girardeau for burial.

First classes of the fall term begin in the morning at State College after a registration rush yesterday that saw all existing enrollment records shattered; the enrollment figure at the end of the day stood at 1,592 students, slightly under the 1,600 who had been anticipated for the first day of registration; by noon today, the enrollment had risen to 1,605.

75 years ago: Sept. 8, 1930

Plans for the improvement of its water and street lighting service in Cape Girardeau are presented by Missouri Utilities Co. to the city council; two proposals for the solution of the water situation and one proposing a modern street-lighting system to replace the present antiquated one are filed.

Teachers College president Joseph A. Serena says that contracts for all major equipment for the new stadium and athletic field have been awarded with a guarantee that all will be installed no later than Oct. 1; the stadium should be completed for its big opening Oct. 3.

100 years ago: Sept. 8, 1905

The Commercial Club is making plans for a big event to welcome the opening of the federal court in Cape Girardeau in October; former congressman W.D. Vandiver has urged residents to hold a reception of some sort, to make it clear the town desires the construction of a federal building here.

Work resumes in full force on the street railway, which was halted yesterday because of the rain; the rails down Broadway hill to Main Street have been placed and are being evened up.

-- Sharon K. Sanders