Out of the past 9/17/2008

25 years ago: Sept. 17, 1983

Six Southeast Missourians passed the Missouri Bar Examination in July; they were Elvis Mooney of Bloomfield, Peter Myers Jr., of Matthews, Herbert Preyer of Malden, Michael Hoehn of Perryville, Michael Jackson of Fredericktown and Kenny Hulshof of Bertrand.

The Southeast Missouri State University Indians are pummeled 56-7 by Southern Illinois University on the gridiron at Carbondale, Ill.

50 years ago: Sept. 17, 1958

State Highway Department crews have started surface preparation of U.S. 61 from Cape Girardeau northeast to Jackson in advance of widening and resurfacing of the nine-mile stretch of heavily-traveled road.

The first item of construction in Trail of Tears State Park, rebuilding of the Moccasin Spring Road, has been completed and provides access generally along the park's southern boundary; the road was opened to traffic late last week after being closed several months for construction.

75 years ago: Sept. 17, 1933

Dr. R.H. Daugherty delivers his first sermons as the new pastor of Centenary Methodist Church, having succeeded Dr. Marion N. Waldrip, who has gone to Lexington, Ky., to become pastor of First Methodist Church; it is the same congregation Daugherty led before coming to Cape Girardeau.

A letter from President Franklin D. Roosevelt is read in connection with the dedication of Boy Scout Troop 1 cabin in Schonhoff's woods; the troop had invited the president to attend, sending along pictures of the cabin in various stages of construction.

100 years ago: Sept. 17, 1908

Cape Girardeau will profit by the big fire that recently destroyed a large part of the stock of the Buckner-Ragsdale establishment; a bigger and grander store is to take the place of the blackened ruins and depleted stocks; L.B. Houck has agreed to rebuild the store, which Buckner-Ragsdale will occupy at the same location on Main Street.

E.F. Regenhardt is advertising the sale of old brick, stone, doors, rods, gutters, building wood, etc., the remains of the old Ruesskamp house he tore down to make room for the new federal building.

— Sharon K. Sanders