Out of the past 4/15/11

25 years ago: April 15, 1986

Ronald Wikel of Brown Shoe Fit Co. here is the new president of the Greater Cape Girardeau Downtown Merchants Association; he succeeds Shirley Hoener.

Town and Country Gardens on Cape Rock Drive has been consolidated with Town and Country Florist, 211 West Park Mall; both are now in the mall.

50 years ago: April 15, 1961

The Walter W. Parker Physical Education Building, erected from the 1956 state bond issue funds at a cost of $477,283, is formally dedicated in evening ceremonies that recognize the contribution to education in Southeast Missouri by the late president of State College; Rush H. Limbaugh, a friend of Parker through his 23 years as president before his death in 1957, speaks of him and his activities as an educator.

Eddie A. Erlbacher, 58, dies at the family home here after being ill several months; he was head of the Erlbacher Machine and Transportation Co.

75 years ago: April 15, 1936

The return of the Cape County Fair is to be the goal of the newly formed Junior Chamber of Commerce (Jaycees), leaders of that organization report; not only will members attempt to re-establish the fair, they will seek to acquire a suitable new fairgrounds to serve the community.

While he can't be specific about negotiations, A.E. Miles, head of the Miles Packing Co. plant in south Cape Girardeau, says the plant will resume operations in a few days with a new company operating it; the plant was closed about six weeks ago.

100 years ago: April 15, 1911

Three large lots along Independence Street in the west end have been purchased by the Houck road from the Painter Realty Co.; they will be used for switch tracks ostensibly because of the heavy traffic to and from the Union Lumber Co. factory, which is alongside the Houck tracks at Painter Avenue.

Doyle Fullerton returns to Cape Girardeau from Panama, having been there the past few months.

-- Sharon K. Sanders