Out of the past: Dec. 19

1991

PATTON, Mo. -- Fire officials said Tuesday's fire at Mary's Ranch, a private, residential-care facility for the mentally handicapped, was set deliberately; the fire claimed the life of one of the residents; authorities don't believe whoever started the fire had criminal intentions.

Students in a Southeast Missouri State University architecture class are trying to spawn interest in the renovation of the Marquette Hotel on Broadway; at last night's Historic Preservation Commission meeting, several members of Southeast's History of American Architecture class presented a class report, urging the city and residents to assure the building's preservation.

1966

The live Nativity scene on the front lawn of the Common Pleas Courthouse is attracting a lot of attention, young and old alike; many took advantage of yesterday's mild weather to view the scene.

An anniversary tea marking the 40th anniversary of the Central High School Chapter of Quill and Scroll international honor society was attended by two of the original seven charter members Sunday afternoon, when the chapter entertained at the home of Margaret Randol and her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Narvol A. Randol; Aileen Lorberg, professional writer, and Inez Smith, English teacher at Central High, were the two charter members who attended.

1941

Situated at the north end of North Henderson Avenue, in the center of a newly completed entrance to Teachers College farm and the president's home, is a scene designed to illustrate the more reverent meaning of Christmas; it is a Nativity scene, set up under the direction of Judge and Mrs. I.R. Kelso of Arboreta. The work, done by Anton Haas and son Victor has drawn the attention of many admirers.

The County Defense Committee is prepared to register men in Cape Girardeau, older than age 16 and without major physical handicap, for training as auxiliary firemen; the training will have to do with firefighting, fire watching, bomb handling, air-raid shelters, first aid and blackout conditions.

1916

The grand jury for the special session of Federal Court in Cape Girardeau, set for Jan. 29, was drawn yesterday in St. Louis and is composed of Cape Girardeau city and county men only. The petit jury was drawn from all other counties of the district except Cape Girardeau County; as the petit jury is drawn particularly to hear the First National Bank case against a bonding company, no Cape Girardeau residents were drawn for serving on it.

Katherine Coker Dalton of St. Louis is in Cape Girardeau to organize a Delphian Society, a literary club; in addition, she is one of the leading women's-suffrage enthusiasts in the state.

-- Sharon K. Sanders