Out of the past 5/24/11

25 years ago: May 24, 1986

The Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce added 100 members during its annual membership drive May 13; the local chamber is now one of the largest in the United States in cities under 50,000 population, with 1,063 members.

University High School held its final commencement last night, when 31 seniors and nine graduating juniors received diplomas at Rose Theater; University High phased out its secondary operation this spring, and next year will phase out the elementary part of its program.

50 years ago: May 24, 1961

A resolution under which the Cape Girardeau housing authority could continue its reservation for 220 units under the current year's nationwide allocation is taken under advisement by the city council; immediately following the council meeting, city attorney Raymond H. Vogel files suit in Common Pleas Court asking the court to determine if the housing ordinance passed by the council is valid.

ANNA, Ill. -- The Anna Municipal Produce Market is destroyed by a fire of unknown origin at 3 a.m.

75 years ago: May 24, 1936

Participating in a mission festival at the Evangelical Church in Jackson are four brothers, three of whom are ministers: John Piepenbrock of Milwaukee; the Rev. Paul Piepenbrock, pastor of the Jackson church; the Rev. Fred Piepenbrock of Deerfield, Ill.; and the Rev. Ernest Piepenbrock of Indianapolis.

Dr. R.H. Daugherty, pastor of Centenary Methodist Church, delivers Central High School's baccalaureate sermon in the evening in the big auditorium at State College; Central will graduate 150 seniors.

100 years ago: May 24, 1911

This week marks the close of the present term of the public schools in Cape Girardeau, and the year has seen great improvements; the high school department has been changed from a two-year course to the full high school course of four years.

The fine excursion steamer Morning Star, with a party of Iowans aboard, stops here in the morning on its return trip from New Orleans.

The Morning Star can be seen at right in this circa 1914 photograph. (Photo courtesy of Robert White of Southeast Missouri State University.)

-- Sharon K. Sanders