Out of the past: March 14

1993

A.E. Birk & Son Plumbing and Heating, Inc., will close Monday after 69 years of service to the area; A.E. Birk founded the business in 1924 having moved to Cape Girardeau from Jackson in 1921 and working with Polack Plumbing Co., until he started his own operation.

This evening's concert at the sold-out Show Me Center gives music fans a chance to compare the king of country bands -- Alabama -- with heir apparent Diamond Rio; led by playful lead singer Randy Owen, Alabama cuts loose with most of its hits in a non-stop performance that shows why the band has been so popular for so long.

1968

Nearly half the Missouri school districts maintaining high schools are seeking tax levy hikes in this year's annual election April 2, says the Missouri State Teachers Association; among those are the Cape Girardeau and Jackson districts, both of which seek raises of 35 cents per $100 valuation.

Army Spec. 4 Robert L. Taylor Jr., 20, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert L. Taylor of Cape Girardeau, was killed last Friday morning while serving in the Mekong River Delta in South Vietnam; he died of gunshot wounds while engaged with the enemy in the Delta, according to his father.

1943

The Rev. Walt E. Hill, retiring pastor of Third Street Methodist Church in Cape Girardeau, moved to Illmo Thursday and today assumes his duties as pastor of the Methodist Church there; after being at Third Street 56 years, this week he was named pastor of the Illmo church to succeed the Rev. Fred Armstrong, who is now at Harvard University in training for a chaplaincy in the Army.

The St. Louis Browns step from the southbound Frisco train at noon into a closely packed crowd of several hundred enthusiastic Cape Girardeau baseball fans, who let the American Leaguers know that this community is solidly behind the great American sport; nine of the Brownies arrive on the train and another comes later by automobile.

1918

Contractor A.W. Brandes, with a force of carpenters, started work several days ago repairing Trinity Lutheran Church at the corner of Frederick and Themis streets; the old roof is being torn away and a new one will replace it; other repair work about the church is also to be made.

W. Palmer Oliver, until several weeks ago assistant cashier of the Sturdivant Bank, leaves for Champaign, Illinois, to enter training for the aviation corps of the U.S. Army; Oliver volunteered his services several months ago and passed the examinations easily.

-- Sharon K. Sanders