Out of the past 9/29/11

25 years ago: Sept. 29, 1986

A new study projects it would cost more than $7.8 billion to meet Missouri's basic highway needs over the next 15 years, and without additional highway funding the state will be $6 billion short of that amount, state highway officials say.

The assessed valuation of Cape Girardeau County increased by about $11 million in 1986 over the previous year; a county clerk's office report shows the total assessed valuation of the county in 1986 was $336,618,381.

50 years ago: Sept. 29, 1961

Police are investigating a fire at a residence at 1525 Rand St. that they say is a definite case of arson; firefighters find gasoline cans at various points in the house, including a 5-gallon can in a bedroom, tilted at a 45-degree angle and held by a piece of string.

Voters of the Jackson School District will ballot Tuesday on a $678,000 bond issue for the proposed new junior high school, to be south of the city limits on Highway 25, a site selected on the Albert Illers farm.

75 years ago: Sept. 29, 1936

Charles Templeton, a former municipal baseball league player in Cape Girardeau and who is now playing with the Illmo team, signs a contract with the Houston club of the Texas League to play professional ball next season; Templeton will be farmed out to the Caruthersville, Mo., club of the Northeast Arkansas League; he plays second base for the Big Bucks.

Broadway School, 935 Broadway, was constructed in 1906. (Missourian archives)

Thirty years ago today, the contract for construction of the Broadway School was let to Vogelsang Bros. Co. on a bid of $15,500; the building is still in use as a school.

100 years ago: Sept. 29, 1911

The last flight made by J.C. Mars at the fair is a splendid exhibition of aviation, especially when one considers the injuries he sustained in Wednesday's mishap and two other recent crashes; Mars' flights are impressive, flying from a wholly inadequate field in front of the filled grandstand at the fairgrounds.

The kitchen of the house occupied by Mr. and Mrs. W.H. Thomas, 401 North St., at the corner of Middle Street, is burned out at noon when a gasoline stove explodes.

-- Sharon K. Sanders