Out of the past 7/3/07

25 years ago: July 3, 1982

Cape Girardeau architect Thomas C. Holshouser has instructed by the County Court to negotiate with the low bidder, Drury Construction Co., in an attempt to lower the cost of a planned war memorial at the County Farm Park; Drury's bid was $29,351, while the estimate for the memorial was $18,000.

The Four Seasons Chapter has been chosen as the name for the area chapter of the National Audubon Society; counties included in the new chapter are Bollinger, Cape Girardeau, Perry, Mississippi, Scott and northern New Madrid.

50 years ago: July 3, 1957

With drainage ditches full, surface water covering a wide area in Dunklin County poses a new threat to crops in that county and other lower sections of Southeast Missouri; a heavy rain overnight dumped another 5 inches of water on Dunklin County on top of a 2.7-inch fall Saturday night.

The Fourth of July came prematurely to a Cape Girardeau fireworks stand yesterday; Steve Kirchhoff was minding the stand at 1631 Independence St., when it suddenly erupted, sending him on a hasty exit.

75 years ago: July 3, 1932

Union services at Common Pleas Courthouse Park begin in the evening and will continue each Sunday throughout July and August; this year four churches are cooperating in the movement: Christ Evangelical, Grace Methodist Episcopal, Christ Episcopal and First Presbyterian.

The Rev. F.H. Melser, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church, begins his vacation and will return to Cape Girardeau on Aug. 1; the Rev. F. Forster of St. Louis will conduct services at the church in his absence.

100 years ago: July 3, 1907

The Cape Girardeau Retail Merchants' Association has decided to keep its stores open until late this evening to give the people who expect to go picnicking tomorrow a chance to lay in their supplies; all stores will close at noon Independence Day, so clerks can do their own celebrating.

Vogelsang Brothers, contractors, are awarded the contract for building three modern cottages for Albert Sloan at the corner of Jefferson Avenue and Sprigg Street; work will commence at once.

-- Sharon K. Sanders