Out of the past 2/3/09

25 years ago: Feb. 3, 1984

State legislative leaders are optimistic funds for a Cape Girardeau multipurpose building will be approved this session, a Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce gathering is told; further, it is learned Gov. Kit Bond has said he will sign a general appropriation bill for the facility if one is passed by the legislature.

The May Department Store Co. makes it official: Construction will begin this spring on a new Venture Discount Department Store at West Park Mall, with a tentative opening date in the fall.

50 years ago: Feb. 3, 1959

KEWANEE, Mo. — Fire presumably originating in the boiler room of the 16-room brick building destroys the public school building here with a loss that will exceed $100,000; firefighters from New Madrid, Mo., and Sikeston, Mo., are called, but are without an adequate water supply to extinguish the blaze.

A 1959 budget of $458,209.31 was adopted by the Cape Girardeau County Court at its session yesterday; last year's budget was $417,052.04.

75 years ago: Feb. 3, 1934

JEFFERSON CITY -— The Missouri Supreme Court rules that the Sturdivant Bank of Cape Girardeau has no "clear legal right" to force the Little River Drainage District by mandamus action to pay in full bonds and coupons held by the bank.

With two new salesmen added this year, the Roth Tobacco Co., will place three or more in service in the southern states this month; the company now has 17 salesmen as compared to nine Jan. 1, 1933; reception of products of the company in the South has been extremely favorable.

100 years ago: Feb. 3, 1909

Acting mayor Herman Rabich calls a meeting of the Cape Girardeau City Council to consider the question of accepting the sewer system; the sewer committee reports that, after inspecting the system, all was found in good shape except the line on Themis Street from Ellis to Sprigg streets, where water refused to flow through the pipes; the council refuses to accept the system.

In other business, the council approves a plan allowing a spur switch to be put in on Water Street connecting with the Frisco railway for the use of the Union Milling Co.

— Sharon K. Sanders