Out of the past 5/18/05

25 years ago: May 18, 1980

The Rev. William McCutchen Jr. is guest speaker at the annual Apple Creek Presbyterian Memorial Association meeting at the Apple Creek Church near Pocahontas; McCutchen has been pastor of the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Cape Girardeau since 1970.

Ronald K. Meyr of Cape Girardeau has received a call to become pastor of St. Peter and St. Luke Lutheran churches in Estavan and Midale, Saskatchewan, Canada; he is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Harold R. Meyr of Cape Girardeau.

50 years ago: May 18, 1955

Plumbing and pipefitting work in five major Southeast Missouri towns remain at a near standstill as a strike of members of Local 318, United Association of Journeymen Plumbers and Pipefitters (AFL), which is in its third day, continues with now sign of a settlement; shops affected by the strike are in Cape Girardeau, Sikeston, Bonne Terre, Ste. Genevieve and Poplar Bluff.

The Tucker Truck Line has purchased the franchise of the Hogan Line at Memphis, Tenn., to extend the operations of the local line south to that city; formerly, it had operated only to Blytheville, Ark., with St. Louis, Mo., as its northern terminus.

75 years ago: May 18, 1930

The annual homecoming is observed at the Apple Creek Presbyterian Church near Pocahontas, beginning with a morning sermon preached by Dr. C.H. Morton, pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Cape Girardeau.

Morning services are dismissed at a number of Cape Girardeau churches, allowing members to attend the baccalaureate exercises at the Teachers College; Dr. Joseph A. Serena, president of the college, preaches on "The Gospel of Labor" before a large crowd in the school auditorium.

100 years ago: May 18, 1905

The act that seems to startle and please the large crowds attending the street carnival in Haarig is that of Billy Merriam, known as America's greatest aerial artist; Merriam does some clever work on the high bars, looping the loop with his head down; he gives two exhibitions daily.

The boulevard committee of the city council meets with a similar committee of the Cape Girardeau Commercial Club and drives over the proposed route of the large thoroughfare; members of both committees are satisfied with the route, and the special committee will soon report whether the land can be obtained to be opened up.

-- Sharon K. Sanders