Out of the Past : 12/12/14

1989

The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board has endorsed a proposal to spend $376,050 in capital improvements for the city's park system over the next three fiscal years; included in the plan is the purchase and development of the old St. Vincent's College property as a community center and center for elderly people.

Cape Girardeau School Board member Carolyn Kelley says she plans to file for reelection; Johnny James, an appointed member, says he will file for a seat om the board as well.

1964

With no official word received locally about Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara's plan to wipe out all Army Reserve units and merge some with the National Guard, it appears that the only Army Reserve unit in Cape Girardeau will either be merged with a Guard unit or its members will go on an individual Reserve status.

An explosion and fire that followed caused extensive damage to the building and contents of Swann and Son Garage, 430 William St., yesterday afternoon; the owner of the garage, Elwood Swan, says he had left the garage only about 10 minutes before the explosion; an employee, Kenneth Tritchler, was there at the time, but wasn't injured.

1939

Fire destroys two barns and a corn crib belonging to L.C. Lorberg on his farm four miles west of Dutchtown in the morning; loss of the buildings and their contents is estimated at $2,500; the farm, known generally as the Robert Hager place, is operated by Charles Slinkard.

W.G. Wicker, recently appointed supervisor for the government census in the Tenth Congressional District, and his assistant, W.C. Mayes, arrive late in the day to begin the preliminary work of setting up the district census bureau office here.

1914

Two women of the Shawneetown neighborhood will be tried at Oak Ridge on the charge of stealing 13 turkeys from Mrs. Isabell Schmidt, who lives near them; while the charge of theft has been placed against the pair, it is suspected that the trial will be a contest over ownership of the turkeys; the fowls are valued at $26.

Mrs. E.G. Gramling, chairman of the municipal Christmas tree program, announces the hour for the unveiling of the tree has been changed from 5 to 7 p.m. on Christmas Eve; a band couldn't be on hand at the earlier hour.

-- Sharon K. Sanders