Out of the past 2/21/09

25 years ago: Feb. 21, 1984

Construction begins on the new Venture store at West Park Mall by C. Rallo Contracting Co. Inc. of St. Louis; plans call for a building of 89,471 square feet that will adjoin the mall on the south center of the complex.

A collection of military items has been donated to Southeast Missouri State University by Margery Roberts McLarty and Dorothy Roberts Rehak of Ann Arbor, Mich., the daughters of former Cape Girardeau resident Edward Roberts.

50 years ago: Feb. 21, 1959

Despite the cold weather, few days are being lost by workers engaged in building the floodwall along the Mississippi River in the downtown section; special heating devices make possible pouring of concrete in cold temperatures.

An accident commonplace 30 or more years ago but rare these days befell Ray DaVault 53, of Marble Hill, Mo., yesterday; he suffered a broken arm when a truck crank kicked back as he was trying to manually start the motor.

75 years ago: Feb. 21, 1934

Plans for the proposed building of an annex at Central High School are filed with Sen. R.L. Dearmont, County Civil Works Administration chairman, for approval; the plan proposes construction of the annex with CWA funds and brick from the old Lorimier School.

Plans for a new armory building for the two companies of Missouri National Guard in Cape Girardeau have been submitted to Guard officials by officers of the local companies and Louis Hecht, who proposes to build the structure; the building would be erected on the vacant northwest corner of Good Hope and South Middle streets.

100 years ago: Feb. 21, 1909

The Lutheran congregation at Egypt Mills has sent a call to the Rev. A. Spiegel of Cheboygan, Mich., to succeed the Rev. E.F. Manske, who will preach his farewell sermon next Sunday; Manske has served the Egypt Mills congregation for the past six years.

The women who are raising money for the memorial fountain collected $172.28 yesterday; the amount has been added to the fund on hand for the erection of the public fountain in Common Pleas Courthouse Park.

-- Sharon K. Sanders