Out of the past 2/19/08

25 years ago: Feb. 19, 1984

Human rights activist Dick Gregory, speaking at an observance of Black History Month on the Southeast Missouri State University campus, tells his audience to forgo the "bricks and hatred" approach to racial problems in favor of "love, kindness and decency."

St. Vincent's Council No. 111 Knights of Columbus and Ladies Auxiliary held their annual recognition banquet yesterday, honoring James Banken as Knight of the Year and Helen Ourth as Outstanding Woman of the Year.

50 years ago: Feb. 19, 1959

The State College speech department brought its play, "The Crucible," to a downtown theater, opening last night for the first of a three-night stand at the Rialto; college plays are usually given in the auditorium, this being the first time in years one has been produced away.

First-grade pupils in Cape Girardeau Public Schools have their teeth looked at, chiefly to determine what effect fluoridation of the water supply has had in the four years since it was started; the check is made by local dentists in cooperation with the State Division of Health.

75 years ago: Feb. 19, 1934

The Cape Girardeau City Council receives six bids to collect garbage during the next year; the bids range from a privilege to collect garbage just for the refuse to a set price of $350 per month.

Painting of the brick and woodwork of the exterior the building occupied by Miller & Foeste Grocery, 901 Broadway, and the Last Chance Pool Room, 903 Broadway, has been finished; the building is owned by the Wulfers Bros.; the painting was done by Wren Williams.

100 years ago: Feb. 19, 1909

At its Wednesday session, the County Court accepted propositions from two persons to tear down the old Jackson courthouse and to build a new barn on the County Farm; Fred A. Brand got the contract to wreck the old building on a bid of $900; J.M. Martin will build the new county barn.

George S. Griffith, vice-president of the Algonite Stone Co. of St. Louis, is in Cape Girardeau on a business trip; his company furnished the Algonite stone for the Normal School building and the Daily Republican building.

— Sharon K. Sanders