Out of the past 6/13/09

25 years ago: June 13, 1984

Republican gubernatorial candidate John Ashcroft, speaking in Cape Girardeau, says he would debate primary opponent St. Louis executive Gene McNary here, countering McNary's charge over the weekend that Ashcroft refused to debate him anywhere but in St. Louis.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony marks the official opening and dedication of the riverfront park; the first of three phases of work on the park has been completed at a cost of $100,000.

50 years ago: June 13, 1959

Traffic is once again traveling the busy stretch of U.S. 61 between Cape Gir­ardeau and Jackson; the bridge at Williams Creek has been repaired, and the route was opened to vehicles last night.

The brick and stone work on the new addition to the Cape Girardeau Public Library was started Thursday; with three to six men employed, it will take from three to four weeks to complete the exterior and to brick up the front windows of the original Carnegie section of the structure.

75 years ago: June 13, 1934

In a brief visit to Cape Girardeau, 90 Illinoisans, members of Dr. R.E. Heironymus' art extension group, sponsored by the University of Illinois, are taken on a motor tour of the city; the visitors are traveling toward Muscle Shoals, Ala., aboard the steamer Cape Girardeau.

Work on the construction of two Main Street grocery store buildings is progressing rapidly; about 30 men are employed on the two projects, which are adjacent to each other; brick is being laid for the Atlantic & Pacific store building, while workers finish tearing down an old brick structure just north of this location to make way for the new Kroger store.

100 years ago: June 13, 1909

Bowing to the request of Cape Gir­ardeau businessmen, the city council has agreed to replace the watering trough on Broadway, which was removed some time ago.

The first services in the big tent erected at the corner of Pacific and Merriwether streets by the First Baptist Church were held last night; regular Sunday services are conducted there today, with Dr. Montgomery preaching.

-- Sharon K. Sanders