Out of the past 12/31/02

10 years ago: Dec. 31, 1992

Cape Girardeau area residents will say farewell tonight to 1992 and welcome in 1993; many will ring in new year at private or family gathers, while others will welcome 1993 at public celebrations; still others will observe arrival of new year by attending New Year's Eve candlelight church services.

Delays in construction of new Cape Girardeau Senior Center means New Year's Eve Party won't be held in new building, as previously hoped; but footing for building has been poured and pre-fabricated building is on site - in pieces; delays getting appropriate permits stalled work early; now, weather has been too wet to work.

25 years ago: Dec. 31, 1977

Second long weekend is underway, with many offices, factories and stores to be closed today through Monday in observance of New Year holiday; tax collector, however, has made arrangements to have both Cape Girardeau and Jackson offices open today to accommodate last-minute taxpayers; deadline for payment of personal, real estate, merchants and manufacturing taxes without penalty is today.

Purchase of Walther's Funeral Home, 260 N. Middle, by Tom Boudinot and his son, Tom L. Boudinot, both of Jackson from Walther family group is announced; purchase also includes real estate, and firm will be known as Walther's Funeral Service; business dates back slightly over century in one family's ownership.

50 years ago: Dec. 31, 1952

With solemnity and amidst merrymaking, Cape Girardeau will usher in New Year tonight after bidding farewell to 1952; many churches hold watch meetings for religious part of observance, while on lighter side, revelers are expected to gather in crowded night spots and homes; Thursday, first day of 1953, will be marked with general suspension of business and industry.

Cape Girardeau's postwar construction, operating at peak levels in seven-year span, passed $10,000,000 mark in 1952, year in which city put out second highest amount of money in history for new houses; record shows that total of $1,569,104 expended for building projects of all kinds in year ending today boosted amount spent by individuals and business since 1945 to $10,695,216.

75 years ago: Dec. 31, 1927

Cape Girardeau, in continuing its building program to meet growing needs of its business enterprises, churches, schools and individuals, during 1927 expended average of $3,300 each day of year for new structures; in past seven years, 1,474 buildings have been built, with aggregate expenditure of $8,000,500, records of The Missourian show; 136 new buildings, costing in excess of $2,115,000, were constructed during 1927.

Schultz Surgical Hospital, 605 Broadway, will close its doors with opening of Southeast Missouri Hospital, it is announced; this private hospital for patients of Dr. G.B. Schultz has been operating in his own home past four years.

-- Sharon K. Sanders