Out of the past 2/27/06

25 years ago: Feb. 27, 1981

Cape Girardeau will become the national headquarters for an industrial firm; National Transformer Corp., has leased the 32,000-square-foot building at 100 Minnesota, occupied until recently by Griffaw Furniture Manufacturing Co., which has moved back to a former smaller location on South Middle Street.

Former Missouri governor Warren E. Hearnes says he is interested in becoming director of Southeast Missouri Legal Services if he is wanted, but he has told its board of directors to withdraw his name from contention, if it foresees any problems with his employment.

50 years ago: Feb. 27, 1956

Pledged the cooperation of the bar in the conduct of the court, Judge Freeland L. Jackson holds his first session of Common Pleas Court in Cape Girardeau; Jackson was elected to the bench in January, but had withheld taking office until he had disposed of personal legal business.

"Old in Tradition, Young in Ambition" is the official slogan adopted for the 150th anniversary of the founding of Cape Girardeau; Ester M. Foley, as composer of the slogan from among hundreds of entrants, will receive two tickets to the pageant which will highlight the week-long sesquicentennial celebration in August.

75 years ago: Feb. 27, 1931

Lee James, who formerly was engaged in the garage business on North Main Street, says he is planning to build a combination restaurant and oil filling station on Highway 61, adjoining property owned by Dr. and Mrs. Joseph Serena; the building will be of brick and stucco construction.

Dr. C.E. Schuchert, 61 years old, organizer of the Cape Girardeau Municipal Band, and a former city commissioner, dies of paralysis; he had been in ill health for several months, returning to Cape Girardeau from Red Bud, Ill., last June and discontinuing his dental practice in which he had been engaged for 35 years.

100 years ago: Feb. 27, 1906

The steamers Grey Eagle and Chester, which were to have left St. Louis, Mo., yesterday evening, arriving here today, were delayed because of the heavy snow in St. Louis, which amounted to about 13 inches; merchants there refused to send out freight, and the boats had nothing to bring down.

William McBride, who has been in the manufacturing business at Canalou, Mo., has moved his plant to Cape Girardeau and will operate it in connection with George McBride's stave mill.

-- Sharon K. Sanders