Out of the Past 8/31/08

A Marceline, Mo., man and woman believed to be involved with two fraudulent calendar schemes in Cape Girardeau County have been arrested; they were involved with a Marceline-based group that is alleged to have stolen about $950 from area businesses and civic groups by selling advertisements for calendars that were never printed.

A survey shows that members of the Cape Girardeau City Council are strongly in favor of a proposed motel-hotel gross receipts tax and a restaurant tax to help fund a tourism and convention bureau as well as aid in the retirement of the $5 million multipurpose building bond issue which voters approved last spring.

50 years ago: Aug. 31, 1958

Construction of a new building at the northwest corner of Sprigg and William streets to house a supermarket of the National Tea Co. is nearing completion; the building is being erected by the Burton J. Gerhardt Construction Co.

Burglars make off with between $100 and $150 in cash in a break-in at the Harris Motor parts department office, 232 Broadway; it is believed the thieves were locked in the building at closing.

75 years ago: Aug. 31, 1933

Establishment of an amusement park at the intersection of U.S. 61 and Gordonville Road is contemplated by Roy J. Mahy of Cape Girardeau; he has purchased the land from W.O. Ragsdale and is laying plans for a park that will include a large swimming pool with a sand beach, concessions, a dance pavilion, and possibly permanent amusement devices such as steam swings.

With the month drawing to a close, ending the announced time for alignment of employers under the National Recovery blue eagle, Cape Girardeau has most major employers displaying the insignia.

100 years ago: Aug. 31, 1908

Public schools will begin classes tomorrow; the system consists of four schools -- Lorimier, Jefferson, Broadway and Lincoln -- and the high school department, located in the Broadway building.

Excavation for a basement is started in the morning for a new, two-story building, which Miss M.E. Pennowsky is having built on the south side of Broadway, in the middle of the block between Frederick and Sprigg streets.

-- Sharon K. Sanders