Out of the past: Sept. 15

1991

The 58th annual service at Old McKendree Chapel is held in the afternoon, with Bishop Monk Bryan of Lake Junaluska, North Carolina, as guest speaker; Bryan served churches in Missouri 37 years before his election to the episcopacy in the Nebraska area.

Despite scorching daytime temperatures, attendance at the week-long SEMO District Fair totaled about 81,500, an increase over last year's attendance of 78,208.

1966

Children by the hundreds flock to Arena Park to take advantage of Cape County Day at the SEMO District Fair; schools and many business places close at noon to allow children and employees to go to the fair; in front of the grandstand tonight will be the Porter Wagoner Show; Wagoner, a native of West Plains, Missouri, is the star of his own television show carried by 58 stations throughout the United States and Canada.

An inferno, the origin of which is undetermined, ignites in the afternoon in the Happy Hollow dump near Merriwether and South Frederick streets; at one point, flames leap into the sky up to 60 feet.

1941

Cape Girardeau and its new city park have assumed the exposition atmosphere as the week of the SEMO District Fair arrives; by late last night, 85 head of livestock, including 25 race horses from four states are on the grounds; the fair will open tomorrow, receiving entries; the program will get underway Wednesday.

The steamer Golden Eagle, raised from the Mississippi River near Chester, Illinois, where it sank June 7 after striking a submerged piling, passed Cape Girardeau at noon Sunday on its way to Paducah, Kentucky, where it will be repaired; the steamer didn't move under its own power, but was towed by the towboat A.I. Baker.

1916

The Capaha Parade, with a showing of the Grand Cacique and his princess, Indian scenes and other incidents in the history of the famous American Indian tribe, proved to be a great attraction last night for fair week; it will be repeated tonight.

There's another big crowd at the fairgrounds, with a constant stream of people pouring in to sample all the fun; managers of the exposition are hoping to bring another aviator here to fly demonstrations over the fairgrounds; Al Boshek so badly damaged his airplane after performing yesterday at noon, it had to be sent to a factory for repairs; he was landing the craft, when he flew into some trees.

-- Sharon K. Sanders