Out of the past 7/15/06

25 years ago: July 15, 1981

During its study session last night, the Cape Girardeau City Council was presented a proposed lease agreement between the city and the local museum board, which would convert the old Cape Girardeau Fire Department headquarters at Frederick and Independence streets into a museum; the museum has been without a home since last summer, when it closed its doors at a Water Street location.

The Jackson Board of Education Tuesday night approved the athletic budget for the 1981-1982 school year; the budget will be $35,471 compared to last year's $33,820 budget.

50 years ago: July 15, 1956

The Rev. John Tierney, rector of Christ Episcopal Church, conducts his final service at the church; Tierney and his family plan to move to Thermopolis, Wyo., where he has accepted another call; Tierney came to Cape Girardeau in 1951 from New Hampshire.

Plans are being made to hold services in the New Bethel Baptist Church building, now under construction, on the first Sunday in August; presently, services are conducted in the Church of God and Christ building by New Bethel's pastor, the Rev. L. Ragland of St. Louis, who comes here each weekend.

75 years ago: July 15, 1931

Fire, originating in a store, sweeps that building and the bank and damages two others at Illmo at 3 a.m., causing damage estimated at $40,000; one truck from the Cape Girardeau Fire Department is dispatched to the blaze, along with trucks from Fornfelt, Chaffee, Mo., and Kelso, Mo.; the buildings ruined are those occupied by the Illmo Bank and the Illmo Mercantile Co.

City officials point out the motor vehicle speed limit in Cape Girardeau remains 20 miles an hour, while the intersection speed still is 10 miles per hour; police have been ordered to arrest those breaking the 20-mile limit.

100 years ago: July 15, 1906

The Rev. Adolph Kistler, pastor of the Presbyterian church, preaches in the evening at the lawn service at Common Pleas Courthouse Park; the subject of his address is "Guilty, But Pardoned"; music is provided by the Presbyterian church choir.

The Cape Girardeau Capahas trounce the visiting baseball team from Perryville, Mo., 15 to 0; the Perryville club boasts a St. Louis pitcher, but the locals whack nearly everything he throws.

-- Sharon K. Sanders