Out of the past 5/19/10

25 years ago: May 19, 1985

A groundbreaking ceremony is held at noon at the First Baptist Church, 926 Broadway, to mark the start of construction of the church's new $1 million activities building, which will be built adjacent to the existing church structure.

Ruth A. Lewis, a counselor at the Betty Ford Center for Alcoholism and Chemical Dependency, is the keynote speaker at the dedication of the new Franciscan Alcohol-Chemical Dependency Program at Saint Francis Medical Center.

50 years ago: May 19, 1960

Mayor Walter H. Ford says agreement has been reached with Frisco officials on the tentative location of the railroad's tracks on Water Street, adjacent to the floodwall; the agreement provides for the center of the rails to be 14 1/2 feet from the abutment of the Broadway gate.

The old Cape Girardeau Northern depot, at Middle and Independence streets, has fallen on hard times; glass in its windows is broken, and doors are boarded up in the once-fine stone structure; built nearly 60 years ago by the Houck interests, the property is now owned by Missouri Pacific Railroad.

75 years ago: May 19, 1935

Formally opening commencement week activities, both the State Teachers College and Central High School hold baccalaureate services at the college auditorium; exercises for the college class are held at 11 a.m., while those for the high school class are held at 8 p.m.

From a crowd of more than 200 youngsters ranging in age from 12 to 16, E.L. McClintock, secretary of the new Hillcrest Golf Club, Saturday selected 30 to work as caddies at the club; they will receive 25 cents per round.

100 years ago: May 19, 1910

At a meeting last night, members of the First Baptist Church closed a deal for the purchase from J.W. Stausing of a lot at the corner of Themis and Ellis streets, whereon the congregation will build a church costing at least $20,000; the present church at Broadway and Spanish Street will be sold.

The summer trolley cars are put in service; they're kept busy hauling people out to the auction of lots in Glenn Place Addition.

-- Sharon K. Sanders