Out of the past 4/16/11

25 years ago: April 16, 1986

For only the third time in its 72-year history, Cape Girardeau's oldest existing automobile dealership has changed hands; Ford Groves has been sold to two St. Louis automobile dealers, William J. Schicker and D. Charles Lesseg; the pair bought the firm from L. Edgar Massey, who purchased it from the late Frederic A. Groves in 1977.

It is announced that the Old Timers Agricultural Museum near Altenburg, Mo., will be relocated to Cape Girardeau County; it will be renamed Schmidt's Museum and Crafts, retaining the museum's collection of antique and agricultural equipment; a living farm is also planned.

50 years ago: April 16, 1961

Speaking at both services at First Baptist Church is the Rev. Earl Harding of Jefferson City, executive secretary of the Missouri Baptist Convention since 1945.

KENNETT, Mo. -- With his formal installation as pastor of St. Cecelia's Catholic Church last evening, the Rev. James Seyer becomes the first resident pastor of the parish; Seyer is a native of Cape Girardeau and previously served as associate pastor at Sacred Heart Church in Poplar Bluff, Mo.

75 years ago: April 16, 1936

Seven more appointments to city positions were made by the new City Council yesterday; in addition, the municipal offices in Common Pleas Courthouse are being revamped; the former mayor's office will become the official City Council room, and the former council chamber will be divided into two offices, one for Mayor Charles G. Wilson and the other for City Attorney R.P. Smith.

Petitions will be filed Friday with the city by property owners along North Main Street and in the Red Star Suburb asking that the council take steps to re-route North Main from Mason to First Streets, taking out an "S" curve and eliminating what they term a traffic hazard.

100 years ago: April 16, 1911

Easter Sunday. Easter services are conducted in the German language in the morning at Trinity Lutheran Church, with G. Polack of Concordia Seminary in St. Louis preaching the sermon; the evening service is in the English language.

W.H. McBride spends the holiday at Cape Girardeau and goes back to Arkansas late in the afternoon.

-- Sharon K. Sanders