Out of the past 8/24/11

25 years ago: Aug. 24, 1986

The congregation of Bethany Baptist Church celebrates the 25th anniversary of the church with special events; an open house was held yesterday afternoon; a potluck luncheon is scheduled for noon today.

A new home-style restaurant is under construction at Independence Square, at the corner of Independence Street and Sheridan Drive; "The Homestead" will be owned and operated by Dan Younghouse, who is returning to Cape Girardeau from Ocean Springs, Miss.

50 years ago: Aug. 24, 1961

The Cape Special Road District agrees to assist the County Court with the purchase of right of way for a state highway to be built along the west side of Trail of Tears State Park; property owners have asked in excess of $20,500 for land that will be needed to build the road, designated as Highway 177AP.

Cape Girardeau is being considered as a site for the western terminus of Interstate 24 originating in Nashville, Tenn.; the I-24 route is projected to link Nashville with St. Louis.

75 years ago: Aug. 24, 1936

Route SZ, a farm-to-market road sector west of Gordonville, has been approved by the State Highway Commission; the portion is about seven miles long, extending southwest from the end of a survey already made on SZ, near Zion M.E. Church, to Crump.

While hurling a ball to a batter in the Cape County League game at the shoe factory field yesterday, Gilbert Geringer, 22, pitcher for the Cut Rate team, broke his right arm; the bone of his pitching arm snapped between the elbow in the shoulder in the second inning when he threw a curve ball to Henry Brinkopf of the Egypt Mills team; Cut Rate lost the game 9-5.

100 years ago: Aug. 24, 1911

Word is received of the death Sunday of L.B. Blackwood, St. Louis architect; he was 67; after the World's Fair and when Cape Girardeau was experiencing its greatest building boom, Blackwood came here and established an office; he was kept busy for a year or so and then returned to St. Louis; some of the best residences in Cape Girardeau are the result of his skill.

The dirt will soon fly along the riverfront; the flatcars and big dirt unloading plow have arrived to begin the big job on the riverfront as projected by the Frisco; a big steam shovel that left Springfield, Mo., on Tuesday is expected here today.

-- Sharon K. Sanders