1999

A two-year study to determine the feasibility of building a new road between Scott City and Cape Girardeau found the costs too high for the benefits it would bring, says DawnRae Vaught, Missouri Department of Transportation project manager; a number of options were explored, says Vaught, but they would all cost more than $10 million.

The Cape Girardeau Public Library’s interior is getting a facelift; the library, 711 N. Clark Ave., will be remodeled this fall with new paint and carpet; the project will cost $141,000 and will require about two weeks of work; the library will be closed during that time, but an exact date for the work hasn’t been set.

1974

Although heavy clouds and light drizzle pose threats of inclement weather early in the day, Arena Park is groomed and ready for the afternoon opening of the 1974 SEMO District Fair; on tap for the fair, to run through Saturday, are a record number of exhibits, a midway featuring the Blue Grass Shows and other entertainment, including grandstand attractions free with a gate admission charge; tonight’s featured entertainment will be a garden tractor rodeo and a tractor-pulling contest.

David B. Knight and Associates have started restoring the old three-story brick warehouse structure at the corner of Themis and Water streets with plans to open a new restaurant, Port Cape Girardeau; the building, which extends halfway up Themis toward Main Street, was purchased from Martin Hecht; it hadn’t been used for at least 10 years and prior to that was a furniture warehouse.

1949

Sunday, Sept. 18, will be Conversion Day in Cape Girardeau; on that day an army of 350 to 400 men, armed with necessary tools and equipment, will make a door-to-door canvass of the city converting every manufactured gas appliance to use of natural gas; the entire task of converting appliances will be done in the single day.

Service on the Cotton Belt Railroad’s main line to the southwest is halted several hours by trainmen on strike against the Missouri Pacific Railroad; union officials announce after a conference that interruption of Cotton Belt traffic resulted from a misunderstanding on the part of the strikers; one of the trains halted is a northbound Cotton Belt passenger at Illmo; the Cotton Belt uses Mo Pac tracks between Dupo, Illinois, and Illmo.

1924

In a front page editorial, the Southeast Missourian newspaper suggests a way to procure a traffic crossing over the Mississippi River for Southeast Missouri: “The great Thebes (Illinois) bridge is now being used solely for railroad traffic. Why cannot this bridge be equipped to also handle vehicle traffic?”; railroad and highway engineers have agreed that such a plan is feasible.

With every grade and high school of Cape Girardeau in session, the total enrollment of the various institutions stands at 3,400 pupils, the greatest in the history of Cape Girardeau; public schools, including the high school, have 2,600 pupils; enrollment at the other schools are: Training School (including Training High), 325; St. Vincent’s, 90; Trinity Lutheran, 185, and St. Mary’s, 200.

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.