Out of the past 4/13/06

25 years ago: April 13, 1981

Howard C. Tooke, who served as Cape Girardeau mayor from 1970 to 1978, is unanimously chosen to resume those duties by the other four members of the city council during its reorganization meeting; since 1843, when the position was created here, only three men have served as mayor of Cape Girardeau longer than Tooke: G.H. Cramer, James A. Barks and Walter H. Ford.

Loretta A. Schneider makes a bit of history as she is sworn in as the first female member of the Cape Girardeau City Council; she will attend her first regular meeting of the council Wednesday.

50 years ago: April 13, 1956

Cape Girardeau is once again host to thousands of high school pupils of the area, here for the 10th annual Southeast Missouri Choral Festival at Houck Field House; some 2,900 vocalists and 97 musicians are spending the day in rehearsal and will present a concert this evening at the field house.

The Cape Girardeau County Court agrees to a recommendation of the county's state park committee that the cost of retiring bonds on proposed Trail of Tears State Park, if they are approved at the April 24 election, be set at a tax of one mill, for a three-year period; that sum is expected to be sufficient to retire the $150,000 bond issue and pay interest.

75 years ago: April 13, 1931

Steps to provide Cape Girardeau with adequate facilities for distribution of water and electric power, all looking toward the construction of the Missouri Utilities Co.'s new $235,000 plant at Cape Rock and construction of the city's street lighting system without a franchise election, are delayed at least another week at the request of Rush H. Limbaugh, who represents some Cape Girardeau men; Limbaugh asks the city council to delay the issue so that townspeople might decide whether they favor the plan or have other suggestions to make.

Slightly more than 1 1/2 miles of pavement have been poured east on Highway 74 from Dutchtown; the contractor worked a large force of men Sunday, taking advantage of the fine day.

100 years ago: April 13, 1906

Columbia Brewing Co., which has leased the former Nicholas-Scharff grocery store on the levee at the foot of Themis Street for a saloon and beer depot, appears to be having trouble obtaining a liquor license; it is said that nearly all the property owners in the block have refused to sign the petition for the license.

Rodney G. Whitelaw and family have vacated the homestead at the corner of Broadway and Fountain Street, which was recently sold to Himmelberger & Harrison; the house was built in 1856 and has been occupied by the Whitelaw family since.

- Sharon K. Sanders