Out of the past 3/26/12

25 years ago: March 26, 1987

With winter over, a project involving the restoration of the two old locomotives in Capaha and Arena parks is beginning to pick up steam; the tarpaulins which had covered the engines have been removed in preparation for the start of work.

Although many television viewers in America will have a new choice April 5 as a fourth television network hits the air, viewers in Southeast Missouri will have to wait until at least fall before Fox Broadcasting Co. is available here.

50 years ago: March 26, 1962

Bidding farewell to Bishop Charles H. Helmsing, a public reception is held in the evening at Notre Dame High School; the reception follows a solemn Pontifical Mass in St. Mary's Cathedral, at which the bishop is celebrant; on Tuesday, Helmsing will be formally installed as the new bishop of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph.

Several area high school bands are participating in the annual Spring Band Festival of the Northern Section of the Southeast Missouri Band Association at the Arena Building; throughout the day, bands hold individual, 45-minute sessions under the direction of guest conductor R.B. Watson of Pine Bluff, Ark.; a short concert will conclude the festival in the evening.

75 years ago: March 26, 1937

Mr. and Mrs. Joe G. Howell of the Brinkopf-Howell Funeral Home have purchased the two-story brick dwelling just north of the funeral home on Frederick Street; they'll move there from the funeral home about May 1, as soon as renovations are completed; the house was purchased from Bernadine Jones, formerly of Cape Girardeau and now residing in St. Louis.

Dr. R.M. Stevenson, who is blind, has opened an osteopathic office in the Farmers & Merchants Bank building.

100 years ago: March 26, 1912

Assistant superintendent W.W. Gyles of the Frisco comes in in the morning from the Hoxie branch; he reports that the danger of high waters along that district has passed, as the water at Delta is falling.

The second steamer Cape Girardeau. (Missourian archives; Katherine Cochran photo)

The steamer Cape Girardeau arrives at 10:30 a.m. with several passengers aboard and a big freight list, including three automobiles.

-- Sharon K. Sanders