Out of the past 6/25/06

25 years ago: June 25, 1981

Frederic A. Groves, a pioneering automobile dealer in Cape Girardeau, founder of the "Ford" Groves Motor Co., and a leading civic figure here for nearly 70 years, dies at Saint Francis Medical Center at age 89; Groves was born in Bonne Terre, Mo., and moved to Cape Girardeau in 1911; he married Allene Wilson in 1921, and she survives, along with a daughter, two granddaughters and a great-grandchild.

Cape Girardeau businessman Sidney R. Pollack is elected president of the Southeast Missouri State University Board of Regents, replacing Sikeston, Mo., attorney Kenneth Dement, who headed the board since 1979.

50 years ago: June 25, 1956

Cape Girardeau County farmers say they'll harvest a record wheat crop this year; A.W. Phegley, whose farm lies between Delta and Chaffee, Mo., claims the bonus yield -- 66 bushels per acre off 16 acres of the Knox wheat variety.

A 17-member residents committee is created by the Cape Girardeau City Council to make a study into the city's garbage and trash collection system and to make recommendations for its improvement prior to the expiration of the three-year contract in August; the contract is currently held by the Hoffmeister Disposal Co.

75 years ago: June 25, 1931

While in Cape Girardeau yesterday, R.G. Alexander, vice president and treasurer of the William B. Ittner architectural firm, which has furnished plans for a number of Cape Girardeau school buildings, inspected old Lorimier School and recommended to the school board that no money be spent in an effort to put the building into condition for use again as a school; the school, now unused, was built in 1872.

A.H. Gerhardt & Son of Cape Girardeau, having been awarded the contract for general construction of additions to Washington and Franklin schools, moves equipment to the sites and begins doing preliminary work.

100 years ago: June 25, 1906

The Alabama Carnival Company, a street-fair outfit, arrives in Cape Girardeau and will begin a week's entertainment tomorrow evening on the Whitelaw lot, near the Stein & Lance Mill.

Mrs. W.M. Cheltum, daughter of Capt. H.H. Miles, arrives here from Occawolamie, Kan., for a visit with her father; she is accompanied by Mrs. Otto Sherry and Mrs. Jessie Webb; the ladies will tour Southeast Missouri and, if they like this area, may decide to locate here.

-- Sharon K. Sanders