Out of the past 5/10/06

25 years ago: May 10, 1981

Dr. Marvin H. Wilkening, speaking yesterday at the spring commencement for Southeast Missouri State University, described the "tremendous flash of light" that accompanied the first test of the atomic bomb in the New Mexico desert on June 16, 1945.

Officers and members of "Circle K," the new college level affiliate of the Kiwanis International, were inducted and presented a charter Saturday night at a dinner meeting in the University Center.

50 years ago: May 10, 1956

A successful effort -- twice thwarted --last night to snatch Rusty D. Razor from his grave in the parkway intersection of Main and Independence streets is reported by the Brothers of the Brush; the theft follows on the heels of a series of mass arrests last evening of certain beardless residents who were roaming the Good Hope area without permission to so appear.

When time and money permit, the land in the vicinity of Cape Rock, formerly owned by the Cape Park Association, will be cleaned of underbrush and developed into a park, says a spokesman of the Cape Special Road District; the tract was formally transferred a few days ago, with 23 1/2 acres going to the road district and one acre to the Country Club.

75 years ago: May 10, 1931

Approximately 500 visitors call at St. Francis Hospital during the afternoon in a joint observation of Hospital Day and Mother's Day; assisted by Mrs. W.H. Campbell, Mrs. M.J Koeck, Emma Madden, Mrs. Meyer and Mrs. Lutie C. Lacy, the Sisters of the hospital show visitors through the entire building.

William Knudsen of Detroit, Mich., president of the Chevrolet Motor Co., spends an hour in Cape Girardeau in the afternoon as the guest of A.P. Rueseler of the Rueseler Motor Co., the local Chevrolet agency; Knudsen is en route to St. Louis and Detroit from New Orleans.

100 years ago: May 10, 1906

Architect L.B. Blackwood is drawing the plans for the Liberty Carriage factory; the building will contain three stories and will be one of the largest in Cape Girardeau.

A monster celebration of the 100th anniversary of the birth of Cape Girardeau will be held this fall during fair week, if the plans and wishes of the publicity committee of the Commercial Club are ratified; among other things, the committee is making plans for banquets, excursions on the river, horse racing, a parade, and a number of conventions that will draw thousands to the city.

-- Sharon K. Sanders