Out of the past 2/16/09

25 years ago: Feb. 16, 1984

The daily routine returns to Delta High School after about half of the student body participated in a walkout yesterday to protest the Delta School Board's decision last week not to renew the contract of high school principal Jack McIntosh; a public meeting has been called for tonight to give students and their parents the opportunity to discuss the decision with board members.

Francis F. Lewis, a longtime Cape Girardeau stock broker and civic leader, is named the 1984 recipient of the Golden Deeds Award at the annual Chamber of Commerce dinner; the award is presented annually by the Cape Girardeau Exchange Club.

50 years ago: Feb. 16, 1959

The latest in post office design is on display in the new facility at Chaffee, Mo., which was put into service last week; the most striking feature of the building is the open space, bank-type fixtures and an absence of windows, which once marked post offices everywhere.

The Flying Indians of State College, an aviation club with 32 members, has purchased its second plane, a four-place 1946 Stinson Voyager.

75 years ago: Feb. 16, 1934

Under instructions received by Sen. R.L. Dearmont, county Civil Works Administration chairman, from the state organization, some of the county's civil works projects for women will be halted; work in the sewing room at the H.-H. Building has been discontinued.

W.F. Martens, who has exchanged his 214-acre farm near the Brick School on the Perryville Road for Elam Vangilder's residence at 1433 Good Hope St., is preparing to sell his farm machinery and household furnishings, and will go to California for a visit before deciding what to do in the future.

100 years ago: Feb. 16, 1909

Forty ladies of Cape Girardeau, divided into two committees, are busy raising funds to erect a public fountain in Common Pleas Courthouse Park; the fountain will be a memorial to those who fought for the Union in the Civil War.

In order to meet the increasing demand for his ice cream, I. Ben Miller is making contracts with farmers and dairymen for their entire output of milk and cream.

— Sharon K. Sanders