Out of the past 2/17/10

25 years ago: Feb. 17, 1985

Mr. and Mrs. James L. Mungle have purchased the Central Inn, 1 S. Frederick St., from Virgie Hill; in addition to beer and wine, the business will also serve mixed drinks, pizzas and assorted snacks.

Southeast Missouri State University president Dr. Bill W. Stacy finds himself in a quagmire of emotions when he fields questions and statements about the possible closing of the university's laboratory school during a meeting at Academic Hall.

50 years ago: Feb. 17, 1960

An extensive re-equipment program that will completely modernize the plant and expedite its operations to equal those of any similar firm in the industry has been started by the Himmelberger-Harrison Mfg. Co. in its Morehouse, Mo., factory; the company, which manufactures lumber for the lumber and television industries, is closed down for two weeks while the equipment is installed.

Benjamin G. Shackelford of St. Louis, a member of the faculty of the Cape Girardeau Normal School from 1903 to 1913 and a former teacher and superintendent in the St. Louis school system, dies at age 98.

75 years ago: Feb. 17, 1935

The making of maple sugar isn't a lost art in this area; among those who carry on the tradition is Roy Drum of Daisy, who has a small sugar orchard; he is only working about 24 trees, because he has no more containers to catch the sap; he brings his wares to Jackson for sale.

T.J. Mulkey and M.E. Leming Jr. have opened Stokol Heat Service Co. at 409 Broadway; they will be distributors for that type of automatic equipment.

100 years ago: Feb. 17, 1910

Another "worst storm in years" is having a time with Cape Girardeau in the form of sleet, snow, wind, thunder and lightning; the storm began last night and by noon today, 10 inches of snow is on the ground, with drifts several feet deep in places; all trains running through Cape Girardeau are delayed; trolley cars aren't running, as workers are unable to keep the tracks clear.

Two local companies have incorporated: the Missouri Patent Manufacturing Co. of Jackson and Bergmann-Bartels Mercantile Co. of Cape Girardeau.

-- Sharon K. Sanders