Out of the past 8/19/09

25 years ago: Aug. 19, 1984

Dr. J. Gordon Kingsley, president and professor of religion and literature at William Jewell College in Liberty, Mo., is the guest speaker at the morning worship service at First Baptist Church; the service is part of the church's sesquicentennial celebration.

The Kiwanis Club will organize a fund-raising drive involving groups in the Cape Girardeau and Jackson area to raise funds to build a fishing pier for the handicapped at the County Park.

50 years ago: Aug. 19, 1959

Joe Wilkins was the successful bidder for the star mail route job, which he will assume on Saturday; the route is in two trips, from Cape Girardeau to Jackson and Millersville, thence to Burfordville and back to Jackson; and secondly, from Cape Girardeau to Jackson and Oak Ridge, returning by way of Pocahontas and Fruitland, thence to Gordonville and back to Cape Girardeau.

Janice Sirclum of Elvins, Mo., is crowned "Miss Homecomers for 1959" at a coronation ceremony on the stage at the Jackson Homecomers in the evening.

75 years ago: Aug. 19, 1934

The Rev. Ralph E. Weisser conducts his first services as pastor of Christ Evangelical Church; he and his wife came here Thursday from Milwaukee, Wis.

Cape Girardeau residents are startled by an earthquake that shakes Southeast Missouri about 6:47 p.m.; the tremor topples a 10-foot brick chimney on the large brick residence of C.H. Pelz, 129 S. Lorimier St., sending it crashing to a drive; no one is injured.

100 years ago: Aug. 19, 1909

The steamboats have been selected for the presidential trip down the river in October: the Mississippi for President Taft and his cabinet, the Kate Adams for senators and representatives, the Alton for the governors, the Cape Girardeau for the East St. Louis crowd, the City of Providence for the St. Louis businessmen, and many other steamers for other organizations and parties.

Joseph Humbert, the new engineer for the water works, has moved his family to Cape Girardeau and will occupy a new cottage on North Main Street.

-- Sharon K. Sanders