Out of the past 2/23/08

25 years ago: Feb. 23, 1983

More details of a proposal to move the state mental health hospital from Farmington, Mo., to Cape Girardeau County are discussed at a news conference in the morning; under the plan, a 150-bed hospital would be built in Klaus Park; it would create hundreds of permanent jobs and bring millions of dollars into the area.

An early morning earthquake rattles dishes and shakes lamps in the Caruthersville, Mo., area, but causes no apparent damage.

50 years ago: Feb. 23, 1958

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- The Rev. Arthur Clodfelter delivers his final sermons at First Baptist Church; he will depart in midweek with his family for Independence, Mo., where he will become pastor of Calvary Baptist Church.

Members of the Bible Baptist Church of Cape Girardeau have purchased a building from Mr. and Mrs. Irvin Huff, formerly known as the Gospel Center, on Marsha Kay Drive; members of the Gospel Center will meet temporarily in a chapel adjoining the Huff residence in Rodney Acres pending further building plans.

75 years ago: Feb. 23, 1933

Hollywood's fad for pants suits for women hasn't invaded Teachers College, and Dean Kathleen Gillard hopes it won't; "The fad does not appeal to the girls here," says Gillard.

The squabble among Democrats for the postmastership of Cape Girardeau becomes more heated with a report that a leading Democratic woman is angling for the appointment; what support she will get and her identity aren't revealed; names that have been mentioned for the position include Mayor E.L. Drum, Julien N. Friant, County Judge Charles G. Wilson, former sheriff Nat M. Snider and Renfro Gibbs.

100 years ago: Feb. 23, 1908

The new St. Paul Lutheran Church at the southeast corner of Locust and West Second streets in Jackson is dedicated; the pastor, the Rev. W.H. Langehennig, delivers a memorial and farewell address at the old church, and then the congregation adjourns to the new church.

The new pastor of the Christian Church in Cape Girardeau, the Rev. B.H. Whiston, arrived last Tuesday; today he preaches at both morning and evening services.

-- Sharon K. Sanders