Out of the past 7/25/04

10 years ago: July 25, 1994

Home building in Cape Girardeau is moving at record pace this year; overall starts during first six months of 1994 are healthy 12.1 percent above those of same period in 1993; during past two months, 22 permits have been issued for single-family houses.

Following hourlong closed door meeting, members of Cape Girardeau Board of Education say they welcome public comments on superintendent Neyland Clark's performance; those comments will be considered during Clark's upcoming evaluation.

25 years ago: July 25, 1979

EAST CAPE GIRARDEAU, Ill. -- Village of East Cape Girardeau has received $14,408 to repair damage incurred by spring flooding; at same time, Illinois Department of Transportation has promised by end of summer to resurface section of Highway 146 here that is covered with gravel.

J.W. "Bill" Gerhardt, who during his three-quarters of century as contractor built more structures in Southeast Missouri than any other person, dies at age 93; among buildings he constructed in Cape Girardeau are the Southeast Missourian building, Federal Building, Hecht's, Buckner-Ragsdale, Central High School, Magill Hall, May Greene School, Jefferson School and Hawthorn School.

50 years ago: July 25, 1954

Trinity Lutheran Church celebrates another centennial service; guest speaker is Dr. Arthur C. Piepkorn, professor of systematic theology at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis.

Several local pilots, each with an observer, take part in air search for plane in which four teenage Michigan soldiers and commercial pilot were killed late yesterday in Taum Sauk Mountain area south of Ironton.

75 years ago: July 25, 1929

Two Cape Girardeau youths -- Herbert Wickham, son of police chief H.F. Wickham, and Charles Pape -- make heroes of themselves when they catch two horses on Cape Girardeau traffic bridge.

Negotiations are being carried on by Sugar Creek Creamery Co., which recently bought Golden Grain Butter Co. here, for site upon which to build factory proposed by company; structure probably will be located on Frisco or Missouri Pacific railroads, so as to aid shipping.

-- Sharon K. Sanders