Out of the past 2/23/09

25 years ago: Feb. 23, 1984

Dozens of grave markers were knocked over and some were broken in a vandalism incident at Old Lorimier Cemetery two weeks ago; Cape Girardeau police knew about the incident when the damage was discovered but decided against making it public.

Dr. Robert W. Foster, updating the Southeast Missouri State University Board of Regents on the work of the SEMO Foundation, the private fund-raising arm of the school, says the university has received gifts of cash, pledges and other items amounting to $964.521.45 in the period from July 1, 1983, through mid-February.

50 years ago: Feb. 23, 1959

A safe theft at Benton, Mo., involving the loss of about $1,500 is being investigated by law enforcement officers; burglars pried open a window in the Farm Bureau office, rolled the safe to the rear of the building and hauled it away.

Subscription of funds for Children's Products Inc., which proposes the location of a factory at Cape Girardeau to build a new type of baby stroller, has reached $65,000; an additional $10,000 subscriptions is needed to attain the campaign goal.

75 years ago: Feb. 23, 1934

B. Hugh Smith, a member of the Cape Girardeau School Board, advocates the construction of two small grade school buildings here, one on the site of the old Lorimier School and the other in the Red Star suburb.

The Classner Hosier Mill Co., under the management of Robert Classner of Paducah, Ky., has leased the Ely-Walker Hosiery Mill building in Fornfelt and is putting up machinery in preparation to start the plant; when running at capacity, it will employ about 75 people.

100 years ago: Feb. 23, 1909

Ike Caldwell, a merchant of Tiptonville, Tenn., is in Cape Girardeau visiting his brother, Hyman Caldwell, and arranging for the opening of the new Caldwell store here.

J.C. Campbell, St. Louis representative of the Miehle Printing Press Co. of Chicago, is in Cape Girardeau negotiating with the Naeter Brothers, publishers of The Daily Republican, for the sale of the best book-printing press on the market.

— Sharon K. Sanders