Out of the past 2/27/10

25 years ago: Feb. 27, 1985

The North Main Street floodgate is closed late in the morning in the face of the rising Mississippi River; floodwaters cover the Main and Second streets intersection, just north of the floodgate, and force the closing of South Sprigg Street just south of the Highway 74 intersection; the river stands at 39.2 feet and is expected to crest the day after tomorrow at 41 feet.

Virginia Blissett, a Southeast Missouri State University junior who starred at Scott County Central High School, has been named to the all-Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association first team for the second straight season.

50 years ago: Feb. 27, 1960

Three more candidates for the nomination for Cape Girardeau city commissioner filed their petitions at the city clerk's office yesterday, bringing to 19 the number in this race; the latest filers were Philip H. Steck, Ruddle Gleason and Ernest Niswonger.

Ancell and Fornfelt, except for the formalities involved, appear to have merged into a single corporate body after voters in both towns gave required majorities for consolidation at a special election yesterday; the merger carried by a more than 17 to 1 vote in Fornfelt, but barely squeaked through on a two-vote margin in Ancell, where it was defeated last December.

75 years ago: Feb. 27, 1935

Contractor Ralph E. Brown plans to move a gasoline shovel to Route SV, north of Cape Girardeau, this week and begin construction of the roadway for a sector of the north-south farm-to-market road; he has a contract for grading and bridging three miles of the road, north from the present pavement; part of the bridges were built this winter.

Ste. Genevieve, Mo., has received a check for $225 from the Cape Girardeau County Court for a bridge that formerly spanned the Aux Vasse River on old Highway 25; the 130-foot span will be erected at the Tripp crossing near Indian Creek School houses in Shawnee Township.

100 years ago: Feb. 27, 1910

J.E. Coulter, special secretary of the Young Men's Christian Association of Missouri, is in Cape Girardeau on a missionary trip, looking to establish a branch of the Y.M.C.A. here.

Mrs. T.J. Gill and Lucy O'Connell, of the firm of Gill & O'Connell, returned to Cape Girardeau from St. Louis last night; they had been there buying spring millinery.

-- Sharon K. Sanders