Out of the past: Sept. 5

1999

Heather Wissore of Marquand was selected as a member of the Missouri Baptist All-State Youth Choir and sang in the nation’s capital this summer; she is the daughter of Melanie Wissore of Marquand; the all-state choir included 48 youths and nine sponsors, as well as 12 handbell ringers.

It really has been a Labor Day weekend for those preparing for the SEMO District Fair; work began in earnest yesterday for the fair that runs Sept. 12 to 18 at Arena Park in Cape Girardeau; crews are putting up fences, pouring concrete, setting out ticket booths and running wires for lights; all are volunteers.

1974

Remodeling of the new Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce office building at 601 N. Kingshighway is well underway, and the organization expects to move in by Nov. 1; the building was formerly the office of Dr. Thomas C. Sparkman, who moved to Doctors Park.

Cape Girardeau property owners rushing to their mailboxes this week and next will be reminded that another year has rolled around, and it’s tax-paying time again; the 1974 city tax bills total $593,760.55, an increase of $46,084.81 over the 1973 taxes, although the tax levy is down one cent from last year; this year’s tax bills represent assessed valuation of $70,685,780, with the tax levy 84 cents on each $100.

1949

Labor Day. The holiday in Cape Girardeau is observed with a general suspension of business; two public picnics are held, one at the Knights of Columbus Hall on South Spanish Street and the other, sponsored by organized labor, at Capaha Park; a street parade precedes the latter event.

Voters in Cape Girardeau Township and in parts of three other townships — Randol, Hubble and Welch — will ballot in a special election tomorrow on extending the boundaries of the Cape Special Road District so as to include an estimated additional 45 miles of rural roads under its jurisdiction; the proposed consolidation has been endorsed by the Cape Special Road District Commission, upon the recommendation of its engineering staff.

1924

A bridge over the Mississippi River at Cape Girardeau looms as a possibility, according to Rep. James F. Fulbright of Doniphan, who is in Cape Girardeau visiting friends before going out to Kurreville, where he will spend a few days with his mother; a bill providing for the preliminary estimates and survey of such a bridge is to be introduced in the next session of Congress, when it convenes in December.

Something in the nature of a local record is held by Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Barenkamp, who move into the home at 734 Williams St., recently purchased by them, after living for the past 51 years at 705 Broadway; Joseph Barenkamp lived at the old home 55 years, marrying Mrs. Barenkamp four years after he moved there; the home was on the second floor over their shoe store, which for many years was conducted by the senior Barenkamp, but which during the past four or five years has been operated by his son, Joseph Barenkamp II.

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 www.semissourian.com/history.