Out of the Past 12/11/08

25 years ago: Dec. 11, 1983

A cultural recreation hall, additional classrooms and a new kitchen were recently dedicated by the Cape Girardeau Branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; the church addition completes the third phase of construction, which began in November 1981.

Plans to construct an indoor ice-skating rink and retail and restaurant facilities in the former Kroger Co. building at 2001 Independence St. have been announced by Dr. and Mrs. C.R. Talbert Jr.

50 years ago: Dec. 11, 1958

Linder Deimund, owner of the Cape Girardeau Sand Co., says he is hoping to recoup nearly $50,000 from major property owners in the North Main Street Levee Improvement District in order to stay in business; his explanation comes after the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recommend withdrawal of $420,000 allocated the district to build the floodwall; the engineers say the money was withdrawn because right of way for the levee hasn't been obtained.

Despite the cold weather, no ice floes have been reported in the Mississippi River at Cape Girardeau, but the situation upstream is different; river shipping is having trouble with ice as far south as Rock Island, Ill.

75 years ago: Dec. 11, 1933

Edwin L. Purcell, 72, publisher of the Illmo weekly newspaper and president of the Fornfelt-Illmo Rotary Club, dies unexpectedly as he walks through the door of his office; Purcell had been publisher of the Jimplicute 20 years.

With hundreds turned away last night, Billy Sunday over the weekend saw his campaign in Cape Girardeau take on the appearance of the other hundreds of evangelistic meetings he has held in the last 40 years; over the weekend he spoke to 4,300 people in three sermons.

100 years ago: Dec. 11, 1908

The stock of goods that was deserted by Halim & Salim at Sikeston, Mo., recently was sold by the creditors to the Caldwell Trading Co. of Cape Girardeau and will be sold out at once; the stock of goods was valued at $15,000.

Louis Tillman, an expert motorman from St. Louis, has been employed to run the motor car in the suburban traffic between Cape Girardeau and Jackson.

-- Sharon K. Sanders