Out of the past 8/21/11

25 years ago: Aug. 21, 1986

BENTON, Mo. -- The Scott County Historical Society purchased the former Bank of Benton building from the Benton Jaycees last year, with plans to use the building for the society's Scott County Museum; however, the society voted recently to demolish the old building and construct a new one in the future.

Saint Francis Medical Center this week opened its new Same Day Surgery facility between the medical center's north wing and emergency services area.

50 years ago: Aug. 21, 1961

Go-kart owners and drivers from all over the country are arriving in Cape Girardeau for registration and inspection of karts in preparation for the World's Championship Go-Kart Races, the Rose Stakes, that will be held all week at the TWIKA Speedway at Municipal Airport.

The steamer Avalon was in Cape Girardeau yesterday afternoon for a Mississippi River cruise to Trail of Tears State Park, its only visit here this year.

75 years ago: Aug. 21, 1936

Fire destroys the maintenance depot of Division 10 of the State Highway Department, located near the Jackson city limits on Highway 25; the alarm sounds shortly after 4 a.m., but when firefighters arrive, they find the roof had already caved in; all contents of the building are lost.

With the No. 6 sanitary sewer system in the West End nearly finished, the inspector of the Missouri State Board of Health is here looking the system over; the sewer was constructed through a PWA, city and property owner arrangement.

100 years ago: Aug. 21, 1911

The Standard Basket and Veneering plant in south Cape Girardeau has been bought by W.W. Norman of Huntersville, Mo., the proprietor of a big box factory at that place; he bid in the property Saturday at public sale for himself and a party of Cape Girardeau capitalists; the new owners will organize this week and expect to employ about 125 people.

The roadmaster of the Frisco is putting in a track at Hely's quarry for the getting of material to make the big fill at the riverfront improvement; there are tons of dirt near the Hely works taken out of the quarry, which will be hauled to the riverfront and dumped in behind the retaining wall being built along the river between Independence Street and the freight house.

-- Sharon K. Sanders