Out of the past: July 3

1990

A split city council last night voted 4-2 to designate a downtown exit from the planned Mississippi River bridge route that will align with Lorimier Street; the council also voted 5-1 in favor of a Mount Auburn extension to the planned highway, a relocation of Highway 74, that will bypass Northview Subdivision.

An electric transformer for neon lights is being blamed for a fire in the marquee of the old Esquire Theater at 836 Broadway; the blaze damages the neon lights, lobby ceiling, framing and wiring to the lighting system.

1965

Massive storms dumped up to seven inches of rain on parts of Cape Girardeau County overnight, sending a number of creeks well out of their banks and causing considerable agricultural damage; lightning was intense, but apparently the only large casualty was the office building of the Old Appleton Limestone Co. at Old Appleton.

Jackson Sesquicentennial chairman Marvin Proffer says the public fireworks display, scheduled for tomorrow night, may have to be rescheduled for Monday, if much more rain falls; City Park is soggy after nearly four inches of rain.

1940

City officials announce that two modern rest rooms will be built at Fairground Park in the immediate future, taking the place of the unsanitary outbuildings that have served the park for years; the new buildings will be near the temporary swimming pool dressing room structure and may be joined onto this building.

Remodeling of the building at 420 Broadway to be converted into a theater for Olga Theaters Inc. will be started Tuesday; a contract for the work has been let to the Gerhardt Construction Co.; the entire project, which should be completed in about two months, will cost about $25,000; part of the conversion will include the removal of the present concrete floor and the installation of an inclined floor; the theater, to be known as the Rialto, will seat about 550 people.

1915

The big Elks Club picnic, a two-day affair, kicks off with a balloon ascension by a young woman; the female daredevil, in coming down, rocks the parachute from one side to another until it looks as though she will turn the thing over; she lands near Independence Street; other activities enjoyed by the crowd of 3,000 include a baseball game, car racing and dances.

Charles Barrett, scout for the St. Louis Browns, will be in town to see the Capahas play today and tomorrow.

-- Sharon K. Sanders