Out of the past: June 13

1999

The Rev. Hugh V. Stewart begins his new duties as interim pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Cape Girardeau; he served 11 years as pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Rolla; he and his wife, Pat, have two daughters and two grandchildren.

Seven-year Riverfest crawfish-eating champion Don Greenwood admitted defeat yesterday, joking, “There’s always some young punk gunning for you”; the Cape Girardeau resident is originally from New Orleans and knows his crawfish, but then so does the new champion, Paul Maret of Cape Girardeau; the annual event is sponsored by Broussard’s Cajun Cuisine.

1974

Preparation of plans for the renovation of the north wing of Southeast Hospital, the last part of a five-stage development program, has been approved by the executive committee of the board of trustees; the renovation program, which would eliminate the original 1927 building as a patient care center, is part of a multi-million dollar expansion of facilities under a long-range plan developed several years ago; the north wing will be converted to use by the medical laboratory, radiology, records administration, pharmacy and other hospital facilities.

As heavy equipment moves into Capaha Park to begin work on four new tennis courts at the base of Cherry Hill, residents of the area and others are prepared to meet on the site tonight in opposition to the courts’ location; the group wants the City Council to reconsider its decision.

1949

The City of Cape Girardeau, in its first 12 days of operation under the $15,000 federal emergency grant for storm clearance, spent $3,347.61, according to city engineer John R. Walther, director of the program; he notes that this sum, for labor, equipment, supervision and tools, cared for only the preliminary phases of the work; it cleared the streets and removed some debris from the parkways, but still ahead is the major task of removing trees, shattered stumps and the greater portion of debris.

Red Cross expenditures to sufferers in the tornado-torn pathway through Cape Girardeau climb to $84,294.56, with less than a third of the 235 applications filed for assistance yet processed and acted on by disaster workers and the local disaster relief advisory committee; Cecil Davis, Red Cross area disaster director, announces that June 21 has been set as the deadline for receiving applications for assistance.

1924

The new home of Excelsior Lodge, No. 441, Ancient, Free and Accepted Mason, was dedicated yesterday evening in the presence of nearly 400 Masons at Jackson, who came from six states to assist in the ceremonies; Joseph F. McIntyre of St. Louis, grand master of the Grand Lodge of Missouri, officiated at the service; Jackson’s new Masonic temple is perhaps the finest to be found in Southeast Missouri.

Denouncing prohibition as “a ruthless invasion of the powers of the state” and declaring that the Ku Klux Klan and the Anti-Saloon League “are dealing marked cards and selling gold bricks,” former federal judge Henry S. Priest of St. Louis fires the opening gun in his campaign for the Democratic nomination for governor of Missouri in an evening address in Courthouse Park, cut short by the rumblings of an approaching thunderstorm.

Southeast Missourian librarian Sharon Sanders compiles the information for the daily Out of the Past column. She also writes a weekend column called “From the Morgue” that showcases interesting historical stories from the newspaper.