Out of the past 11/24/11

25 years ago: Nov. 24, 1986

Union Electric Co. employees Jim Niswonger and Cecil Turner erect the Salvation Army's Tree of Lights in front of the KFVS12 tower on Broadway; the annual campaign will begin Friday.

Cape Girardeau's citizens utility committee, which is studying the possibility of establishing municipal-operated water and electric systems here, receives a firsthand look at a city-owned utility system in Columbia, Mo.; the group tours the water-treatment facility and Columbia's water-distribution system.

50 years ago: Nov. 24, 1961

The State Park Board has named the new lake at Trail of Tears State Park Lake Boutin in recognition of Charles W. Boutin, who helped develop the river hills territory into a major state recreation area; the lake, on a road that extends northward into the park from the Moccasin Springs Road, is now being filled with water behind a large earthen dam.

Two Cape Girardeau Central High School grid stars, Paul Ebaugh and Floyd King, and Adolph Sokolowski of Jackson High were selected for the first team Big Eight All-Conference football squad.

75 years ago: Nov. 24, 1936

Howard Frye, formerly of Dexter, Mo., is enrolled as a member of the bar in Common Pleas Court, the formal motion that he be permitted to sign the roll of the court being made by his brother, J. Grant Frye, Cape Girardeau lawyer.

Because he saw a bunch of boys playing sandlot football run off one lot and then another, F.M. Casey has single-handedly organized five football teams for young boys of the city; he's now conducting an elimination tournament.

100 years ago: Nov. 24, 1911

Unless some of the St. Louis stockholders object, Cape Girardeau will have another fine factory in operation by mid-January; representatives of the Martell Automatic Heater Co. have accepted a proposal by the Commercial Club to locate its gas water heater factory here.

Charles Lowes of Jackson passes through Cape Girardeau on his way to St. Louis; from there he will accompany U.S. Marshal E.F. Regenhardt to Fort Leavenworth, Kan., where they will take some prisoners.

-- Sharon K. Sanders