Out of the past 9/15/10

25 years ago: Sept. 15, 1985

A $4.7 million contract for expansion to two sections of Saint Francis Medical Center has been awarded to Kiefner Brothers Construction Co. of Cape Girardeau; one project will add 40,702 square feet to the medical center's north wing and the other will add 8,254 square feet to the facility's outpatient surgery unit.

John Clunas, described as one of Scotland's outstanding evangelists, speaks three times at Cape Bible Chapel.

50 years ago: Sept. 15, 1960

The tempo of the SEMO District Fair accelerates as thousands of enthusiastic school children and adults move in a steady stream to Arena Park on Cape Girardeau Day; before the grandstand in the evening is the Country Jamboree, with Stonewall Jackson, Red Sovine, Justin Tubbs and others.

Cape Girardeau has had a 24 percent increase in the number of housing units in the past 10 years, Census numbers show; there are 8,046 housing units at this time compared to 6,481 in 1950.

75 years ago: Sept. 15, 1935

A crowd of between 400 and 500 people assembles in the afternoon at Old McKendree Chapel for a service and the annual meeting of the McKendree Chapel Memorial Association; guest speaker is Dr. Cameron Harmon, president of McKendree College at Lebanon, Ill.

Probably the largest crowd ever to gather at Houck Field Stadium turns out in the evening to hear a classical concert by the Musicians Post Band of St. Louis and to see Cape Girardeau's pride, the American Legion Golden Troopers, present their 15-minute drill with which they will try for national honors at the Legion meeting Sept. 25 in St. Louis.

100 years ago: Sept. 15, 1910

The overcrowded conditions at Lorimier and Lincoln schools were discussed by the school board yesterday, without a solution found; the primary rooms at Lincoln are particularly crowded, with one teacher having charge of 72 pupils.

Plans for a grand fireworks display at the fair have been called off, with the news that a circus will show here the second day of the exposition; the Commercial Club canceled plans rather than detract from patronage at the circus.

-- Sharon K. Sanders