Out of the past: June 14

1999

No one knows about the origins of the street, but one thing city officials do know is that Walnut Street is falling apart; situated between Commercial Street and South Kingshighway, a 300-foot stretch of road is causing major problems for Motorsports Unlimited and Gary’s Car and Truck Sales; both businesses sell vehicles that get covered with dust from the dirt road every day and frequently need to be cleaned to entice sales; no one seems to know who built the road, and because its origins are murky, no one know who is responsible for maintaining it.

One hundred wild horses and 50 burrows will be available for adoption July 10 and 11 at Flickerwood Arena; the animals may be viewed July 9 at the arena, and Dave Seay, a professional horse gentler and equine educator, will conduct a seminar that afternoon.

1974

What began to look like a death watch, as a Caterpillar pushed around the new dirt at the base of Cherry Hill, turned into “at least a stay of execution,” as one of those who gathered there last night put it; approximately 75 persons met at a Capaha Park under the nearby picnic shelter to protest the City Council’s decision to locate four new tennis courts on that spot; the result of the 2 1/2-hour session was a promise from Mayor Howard C. Tooke that only earthwork would be done at the site until a special meeting of the City Council, probably on Monday night, can be held; the protestors say the Cherry Hill plot is an ill-conceived location for the courts.

Charles H. Bruce, president of the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce, announces the chamber’s purchase of property in the 600 block of North Kingshighway for its future home; he also reports the sale of its current location at 225 Broadway to Dr. John T. Crowe; it was built by the Naeter Brothers and served as the home of the Southeast Missourian newspaper until 1925.

1949

Air age education is being featured at the State College this week, and activities started last evening with an airport tour for 12 of the faculty and students; nine took plane rides through the cooperation of Consolidated School of Aviation; the airport tours will continue through Thursday with free bus rides being offered those who go; lectures on aviation will be given throughout the week by Harold Weatherly, aviation education consultant for the Missouri State Division of Resources and Development.

If Old Sol doesn’t make a prolonged visit to Southeast Missouri soon, area crops — mainly cotton, corn and soybeans — are going to suffer badly; excessive rains have left fields too wet to work.

1924

The Rev. John Muehlsiepen, priest of St. Augustine Parish in Kelso, collapsed while celebrating Mass at the church yesterday morning; he fell to the floor before members of the congregation could reach him; Muehlsiepen had just completed Mass and was nearing the end of the benediction, when he was seen to totter and beckon to his nephew, Joe Keusenkothen; he wasn’t seriously injured in the fall; the priest, who is 64 years old and one of the best known churchmen in that area, has been ill with a nervous disorder for months, but has refused to give up his duties.

The Cape Girardeau levee is the scene of unusual activity in the morning, when three large steamers are tied up at the wharf at the same time; the Bald Eagle and the Tennessee Belle are both here discharging freight and passengers, while the Cape Girardeau is here briefly while with a special excursion.

Southeast Missourian librarian Sharon Sanders compiles the information for the daily Out of the Past column. She also writes a blog called “From the Morgue” that showcases interesting historical stories from the newspaper. Check out her blog at semissourian.com/history.