Out of the past 9/17/06

25 years ago: Sept. 17, 1981

A planned building permit program in Cape Girardeau County will become a prelude to countywide zoning if County Court Presiding Judge Gene Huckstep has his way; Huckstep says he plans to call for a meeting between the court and the County Planning Commission soon after the building permit program becomes effective to discuss establishment of a countywide zoning ordinance.

Enthusiastic crowds continue to pour into the SEMO District Fair; about 14,000 people were on the grounds yesterday, bringing the total attendance thus far to about 35,000; today, Cape Girardeau Day, admits youngsters free to the fair.

50 years ago: Sept. 17, 1956

A large barn on the Weston Henderson farm at the south edge of Delta was destroyed by a fire which was caused by lighting at about 8:30 last night; rain that came a little later helped to save another barn and the Henderson home.

A continuous stream of automobiles jammed into Arena Park Saturday night, bringing with them the greatest paid attendance ever to witness a night performance of the SEMO District Fair and boosting the Saturday paid attendance to the highest figure in fair history; the attraction which brought the huge crowd to the grounds was the Aut Swenson Thrillcade, an automobile thrill show.

75 years ago: Sept. 17, 1931

Harold V. Beal, World War hero and holder of the Distinguished Service Cross, was elected commander of the Louis K. Juden Post of the American Legion at a meeting last night; Beal is one of two men in this county who has received the high award, J. Grant Frye being the other honored war veteran.

Enrollment of students at Teachers College at noon increases 48 over that on Wednesday, there being a total of 590 on the college roster, not counting the enrollment of 270 in the Training School; this surpasses the previous record set last year.

100 years ago: Sept. 17, 1906

George Cross returned to Cape Girardeau over the weekend from a trip throughout Southeast Missouri to advertise the city's centennial celebration, Oct. 9 through 13; he reports that everyone he talked to said he would be here for the event.

The old Whitelaw house at the northwest corner of Broadway and Fountain Street has been razed; excavation for the six-story office building on the site will begin this week.

-- Sharon K. Sanders