Out of the past 8/24/07

25 years ago: Aug. 24, 1982

A raging fire believed to have been caused by an exterior neon sign destroyed the once popular Purple Crackle Club in East Cape Girardeau, Ill., yesterday; damage to the night club is put at $700,000 to $800,000 by its owner, Clyde "Bud" Pearce Jr., who says it likely would cost $1 million to rebuild.

Five members of a team of consultants meet with the multipurpose building committee composed of city, county and university officials, and representatives of service clubs and businesses; where the arena would be located will be one of the first questions examined by the consultants.

50 years ago: Aug. 24, 1957

The cornerstone of Jefferson School, the latest addition to the Cape Girardeau public school system, will be laid by the Masonic Lodge in ceremonies Monday afternoon; the new building, on Minnesota Avenue south of Bloomfield Street, was erected at a contract cost of $330,123; equipment cost approximately $20,000, and the site cost $30,000.

A decision on improvement of the Cape Girardeau Municipal Airport through runway and taxi-strip expansion and construction of an administration building will be made Tuesday by Cape Girardeau voters in balloting on a $295,000 bond issue.

75 years ago: Aug. 24, 1932

During the past three nights, a crew of workers has been employed all night in the quarries of the Federal Materials Co. in South Cape Girardeau to supplement the day force in getting out rock to be used on government projects along the Mississippi River.

After serving the customary six-year period as president of St. Vincent's College here, the Rev. J.J. McWilliams will leave tomorrow for New Orleans, where he will become pastor of St. Catherine's Catholic Church; he will be succeeded here by the Rev. G.A. O'Malley.

100 years ago: Aug. 24, 1907

Mollie Denton and Myrtle Jones of Poplar Bluff, Mo., are visiting Blanche Harroll of Cape Girardeau; accompanied by Clara and Irma Bader, they make the round trip to Commerce, Mo., in the afternoon on the boat.

Joseph Scherf, a young man of Cape Girardeau, has entered the naval service.

-- Sharon K. Sanders