Out of the past 7/2/09

25 years ago: July 2, 1984

The annual Cape Girardeau Jaycees' Fourth of July Festival kicks off at Arena Park with Kids' Night, which includes a slate of contests for youngsters; holiday festivities will conclude the night of the Fourth with a demolition derby and fireworks.

Transactions have been completed by Thorngate Ltd., for the purchase of the remainder of the former Landgraf Lumber Co. property in the 1500 block of Independence Street; the property is adjacent to the Thorngate plant on the east; the former lumber firm's main building will be razed for a parking lot.

50 years ago: July 2, 1959

Missouri Utilities Co. has installed a battery of eight electronic machines in its second-floor headquarters in the H.-H. Building to allow it to consolidate the billing operations for all its properties; the machines will automatically calculate and print on customers' bills the amounts of power, gas or water used and will address them ready for mailing.

Cape Girardeau parking meter flags flipped over countless times in the year ending this week, netting the city's operating fund $40,478.21, the second highest amount on record.

75 years ago: July 2, 1934

An American flag now adorns the top of the pole on the Cape Girardeau Fire Department's drill tower; the banner was donated by Mrs. Robert Turlin.

Finishing work is being done on the open-air dance pavilion constructed on West Broadway by Joe E. Moore and associates; the place was opened this weekend, with 225 people paying admission to dance Saturday night.

100 years ago: July 2, 1909

One of the largest funerals in the history of Cape Girardeau pays tribute to the memory of Judge Louis F. Klostermann; representatives of the Masonic orders, the GAR, the Sons of Veterans and the Elks take part in the services, and the line of carriages extends for more than four city blocks.

WASHINGTON -- Rep. Charles A. Crow, Edward F. Regenhardt and Harry Naeter of Cape Girardeau visit President William Howard Taft in the morning while all Cabinet officers are with the president.

--- Sharon K. Sanders