Out of the past 5/12/09

25 years ago: May 12, 1984

Cliff F. Rudesill, manager of Riverside Building Supply and Home Centers, announces his retirement; Rudesill will be succeeded by Charles Haubold.

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Perry County Court has received approval from the state to replace the Brazeau Bridge, which was washed out by a flood more than a year ago; funds for the project had been previously approved under the Federal Building Program.

50 years ago: May 12, 1959

The wrecking of two brick buildings on the waterfront, just north of Themis Street, was started yesterday; the buildings are to be removed so Cape Federal Savings & Loan Association can prepare a parking lot on the site; the building at the corner is the former Albert Boat Store, while the structure adjacent to it is the former Yellow Dog building.

Expansion of Cape Girardeau's public school system under the city's continued growth will require the addition of 19 new staff members and an increased salary outlay of about $70,000.

75 years ago: May 12, 1934

A giant "thermometer," used to register the progress of the drive to raise money for new uniforms for Missouri's Golden Troopers, is being constructed; it will be mounted on the front of the Legion Hall, 811 Broadway.

No one is injured when a section of the floor of a building at 518 Independence St., housing the Pollack Hide & Fur Co., falls into the basement, 8 feet below; joists give way beneath a pile of about 500 pounds of copper wire, and a 10-by-15-foot section of floor drops.

100 years ago: May 12, 1909

At 2 a.m., fire consumes the old mill building on Sprigg Street, between Independence and Themis streets, owned and used by Herman Bock as a storage building; the old two-story building housed several hundred dollars worth of machinery from the old soap factory and about $100 worth of hay.

JEFFERSON CITY -- The Missouri House yesterday increased the appropriation budget, passing bills that will take an additional $24,011.75 from the state treasury; among the items was $5,382 to Edward F. Regenhardt for repairs to the Cape Girardeau Normal School.

-- Sharon K. Sanders