Out of the past 12/15/04

25 years ago: Dec. 15, 1979

R. Graham Wagoner, associate professor of industrial and technical education at Southeast Missouri State University, will retire May 16; he joined the faculty in 1949, the same year he earned his master of arts degree at the University of Northern Colorado.

The Evening Optimist Club of Cape Girardeau and its immediate past president, Charles R. Wiles, have received the Distinguished Club Award and the Distinguished President Award, respectively, from the national organization.

50 years ago: Dec. 15, 1954

Mayor Narvol A. Randol announces the selection of Mrs. James W. Wilson of Cape Rock Drive to receive Cape Girardeau's first safe-driving award; the selection is made in connection with the observance of Safe-Driving Day.

Grace Methodist Church has set Jan. 16, 1955, as the starting date for a campaign to raise $45,000 as the initial quota toward the start of construction of a new church building on a site between Caruthers and Cordelia avenues; the location is in front of the old Haas house, which overlooks Broadway from the new Central High School tract.

75 years ago: Dec. 15, 1929

Clara Macke of Cape Girardeau has gone to Nashville, Tenn., where she will take a position as secretary to Mary Virginia Lee, who is secretary for the Intermediate Department of the Sunday School Board of the Southern Baptist Convention.

Increasing financial success in the operation of the Hotel Marquette by Interstate Hotels Inc. and the Cape Girardeau Hotel Co. was discussed yesterday by officials of the two companies; they plan to expand the present hotel facilities at the end of the coming year, if the contemplated business increase during the coming tourist season is realized.

100 years ago: Dec. 15, 1904

Passenger service aboard the Houck railroad is inaugurated between Cape Girardeau and Oak Ridge in the morning; a number of Cape Girardeans are on hand to make the initial trip.

Work on the handsome new First National Bank building on Main Street is progressing slowly because of the cold weather; workers are putting on the roof, while others are installing the tiling in the vestibule; the fine stone work on the building is nearly completed.

-- Sharon K. Sanders