Out of the past 9/12/07

25 years ago: Sept. 12, 1982

Dr. Elbert C. Cole, pastor of Central United Methodist Church in Kansas City, Mo., is featured speaker at the 49th Old McKendree Day service at the chapel; the outdoor service commemorates the 198th year of the organization of the United Methodist Church in America, the 173rd year since the organization of Old McKendree Chapel, and the 163rd year of the building of the chapel itself.

Dr. Rodney H. Travis has accepted the call to be pastor of First Baptist Church in Jackson; he conducts his first service there today.

50 years ago: Sept. 12, 1957

A heavy rain at 1:30 p.m. forces hundreds attending the SEMO District Fair to take refuge in the Arena Building and under concession stands; the Arena Building itself is jammed to capacity; fair officials hope for drier weather when Minnie Pearl performs this evening in front of the grandstand.

While in Cape Girardeau, Rep. Paul C. Jones of Kennett, Mo., says the Army Corps of Engineers has been directed to make a study of the location for adequate small boat and commercial harbor facilities on the Mississippi River at Cape Girardeau.

75 years ago: Sept. 12, 1932

The lagoon at Fairground Park was virtually drained over the weekend, and today six men are cutting out the water lilies; after the bed of the lagoon dries sufficiently, a steam shovel will be put to work digging it out; it will be dug about three feet deeper, making the water between 5 and 6 feet deep.

Beginning today, the Cape Girardeau plant of the American White Cross Laboratories begins operating on a 24-hour schedule; the south side plant, employing 30 men and women, will operate on this basis six days a week.

100 years ago: Sept. 12, 1907

The Ladies' Bazaar will open at 512 Broadway about Sept. 29, with a large and select line of millinery and furnishings for ladies and children; Miss Mathews will be in charge.

The Normal School formally opens; students by the dozen crowd the big Academic building, where the opening sessions take place; students and faculty assemble in the auditorium at 9 a.m. to hear an address by President W.S. Dearmont; the real work will begin tomorrow.

-- Sharon K. Sanders