Out of the past 11/12/09

25 years ago: Nov. 12, 1984

George O. Robinson, commander of Disabled American Veterans, Department of Missouri, speaks at the annual Veterans Day ceremonies; the program is held in the city hall gymnasium, following the Veterans Day parade.

Dennis Wescott of Makanda, Ill., was the overall men's division winner yesterday of the fourth annual Cape Girardeau Biathlon, a 20-mile bicycle race followed by a 10,000-meter foot race; taking honors in the women's division was Joy Gilbert of Cape Girardeau.

50 years ago: Nov. 12, 1959

CHARLESTON, Mo. -- Fire was started by arsonists in four rooms of the Eugene Fields Elementary School last night, and one of them severely damaged the school's art department; the intruders also ransacked teachers' desks throughout the building, but nothing appears to be missing.

Final preparations for The Missourian's Art Show this weekend are being made; nearly 70 artists living in and near Cape Girardeau will have about 150 paintings exhibited in this year's 13th annual event.

75 years ago: Nov. 12, 1934

The annual state convention of the American Legion closed at Poplar Bluff, Mo., last night; Cape Girardeau was selected as the meeting place for 1935,

Seventy-seven new uniforms for the two National Guard companies in Cape Girardeau have been received; they are different from the uniforms worn in the past, in that they are of much better material, the trousers being of the "elastique type" and the coats of wool serge.

100 years ago: Nov. 12, 1909

The explosion of a gasoline stove at 7 a.m. in the home of Horace Green, who lives in the Osterloh flats on South Spanish Street, causes considerable excitement; fortunately, the flames from the explosion don't spread to the contents of the room.

The operation of a fast automobile line between Cape Girardeau and Jackson means that county seat residents can now receive The Daily Republican the same day it is printed; beginning yesterday, the newspapers were rushed to Jackson, where two carrier boys distributed them to subscribers.

-- Sharon K. Sanders