Out of the past 10/8/11

25 years ago: Oct. 8, 1986

Voters here told the Cape Girardeau Public Schools in no uncertain terms they don't want a tax increase during yesterday's special election; with just less than a 2-1 margin, citizens voted against a 48-cent tax levee which would have been used by the schools to fund parts of the Excellence in Education Act and to maintain moderate class size.

Jackson R-2 School District officials are pleased with the turnout of Tuesday's election, in which district voters passed a 35-cent tax levy increase.

50 years ago: Oct. 8, 1961

The 28th annual service at Old McKendree Chapel is held in the afternoon; it commemorates the 176th year of the organization of the Methodist Church in America and the 152nd year of the organization of the chapel; Bishop Eugene M. Frank delivers the sermon.

A police officer clubs a copperhead snake to death after a woman reports she nearly stepped on the poisonous reptile while getting into her car in the 1100 block of North Main Street; officer Cecil Propst dispatches the snake with his night stick.

75 years ago: Oct. 8, 1936

In the first nine months of 1936, Cape Girardeau has constructed 92 buildings at an estimated cost of $387,691, giving indication that the building program by the end of the year will be the largest in seven years; of the new construction, 82 are dwellings within the city limits which cost an aggregate of $244,480.

A.H. Gerhardt, Cape Girardeau contractor, has finished an Ely-Walker factory building at Vandalia, Mo., and also has two dwellings, for Ely-Walker officials, nearly done there; Gerhardt, who recently completed a store at Kennett, Mo., also expects to finish the new grammar school at Sikeston, Mo., early in November.

100 years ago: Oct. 8, 1911

The Rev. F. Bemberg, pastor of the German Evangelical Church, preaches his last sermon before taking a trip to the Fatherland, where he will visit home folks for several months; the Rev. E. Otto will occupy the pulpit during Bemberg's absence.

Dr. Ivan Lee Holt, new pastor of Centenary Methodist Church, preaches at both the morning and evening worship services at the church.

-- Sharon K. Sanders