Out of the past 4/3/09

25 years ago: April 3, 1984

The windows at the Common Pleas Courthouse in Cape Girardeau will be replaced with ones similar in appearance, following action taken by the County Court yesterday; the court voted to award a contract to E.R. Thompson and Co. of Cape Girardeau, low bidder for the base window project at $37,575.

Outgoing City Councilman Cecilia Sonderman's effort to get the council behind a proposed move toward a double-entry method of keeping city books is defeated by a vote of the council; the council rejects by a 4-to-3 vote a proposed resolution offered by Sonderman.

50 years ago: April 3, 1959

The number of candidates in the race for two places on the Cape Girardeau School Board is reduced to four with the withdrawal of Ruth Rueseler-Knote.

When the old steamer Sprague was started on its way from Vicksburg, Miss., to Pittsburgh, Pa., to be a part of the latter city's bicentennial celebration, it was piloted by a Cape Girardeau man, Capt. C.G. Brumley of the Union Barge Lines; the Sprague is the world's largest towboat, being 318 feet in length and 65 feet in width.

75 years ago: April 3, 1934

J. Morton Thompson, appointed a month ago as deputy U.S. marshal in Southeast Missouri to succeed A.C. King, sends his resignation to U.S. Marshal William Fahy at St. Louis, stating he didn't receive the salary he expected to get at the time of his appointment.

Mr. and Mrs. J.L. Morrow of Cape Girardeau have purchased a building site on U.S. 61; they plan to start constructing a five-room brick residence on the lot at once; the location is a short distance south of the James service center and beside the Mrs. Clyde Little residence.

100 years ago: April 3, 1909

The efforts of the Commercial Club to secure a modern hotel for Jackson have already been rewarded to some extent; of the required stock, $10,000 has been subscribed, and a suitable location has been found.

Wessel Brothers of near Dutchtown bring in 20 head of the choicest hogs that have been seen in Cape Girardeau for a long time; they weigh 3,870 pounds and are sold to McDonald & Johnson.

-- Sharon K. Sanders