Out of the past 9/13/11

25 years ago: Sept. 13, 1986

The SEMO District Fair, off to a slow start early in the week, finished strongly with 28,691 packing the grounds yesterday and the promise of an even larger crowd today; at least 8,000 are expected to enjoy this evening's Tammy Wynette shows.

Democrats hold a huge all-day picnic alongside Elks Lake north of Cape Girardeau for area labor union members and their families; a number of Democratic political candidates and party members are on hand to talk issues.

50 years ago: Sept. 13, 1961

The city of Cape Girardeau will pave an additional two blocks of Independence Street, providing a new surface on the street from Frederick Street to Park Avenue; blocks of Independence from Hanover Street to Park Avenue will be added to the street-surfacing project.

Martha Harmon, 18, of Illmo was crowned queen over the SEMO District Fair last night, winning out over 25 other contestants at the beauty contest; at the grandstand this evening will be recording artist Carl Smith.

75 years ago: Sept. 13, 1936

With the church auditorium filled for the morning service, a last appeal to the congregation of Centenary Methodist Church is made to pay off the mortgage on the church; less than $4,000 on the original $60,000 original debt must be raised before Wednesday to save the church from foreclosure; the congregation mortgaged its edifice to pay for construction of its education building.

A suggestion that a movement be started immediately to preserve the Old McKendree Chapel in its present state and keep it perpetually as a shrine of Methodism is made by Dr. W.W. Parker, president of State College, in an address at the annual service held at McKendree by Methodists of the district.

100 years ago: Sept. 13, 1911

The body of Bern Ferguson, a former Jackson boy who died in the Philippines some six weeks ago, was expected to arrive in San Francisco yesterday; the body will be brought to Jackson for burial.

Visiting the Saint Francis Hospital here is the Very Rev. H. Hukestein, superior of the Order of St. Francis, who arrived on the noon Frisco train; the hospital is under the order's jurisdiction; arriving on the same train is the Rev. E. Pruente of St. Mary's Church and his guest, the Rev. R. Bettels of St. Louis.

-- Sharon K. Sanders