Out of the past 7/15/08

25 years ago: July 15, 1983

A pre-dawn, two-alarm fire, believed to be incendiary in nature, destroys a vacant, two-story apartment building at 207 S. Spanish St., which the owner has been trying to sell; authorities find five plastic containers of flammable liquid in the old brick building.

The Reynolds House in Cape Girardeau, the Oliver House at Jackson, and the Marshall/Dunn Hotel in Sikeston, Mo., are among 10 historic sites to receive nomination from the Missouri Council of Historic Preservation for placement on the National Register of Historic Places.

50 years ago: July 15, 1958

A severe storm strikes Old Appleton and the rural area nearby in the afternoon; damage is done to roofs of some dwellings and barns, and several trees are toppled; a chimney at the R.S. Schnurbusch home is partially wrecked.

The bid of G.H. Walker & Co. of St. Louis is accepted when the Cape Girardeau Board of Education receives proposals for the sale of $700,000 bonds; the bonds were voted to build a new elementary school and make extensive repairs to others.

75 years ago: July 15, 1933

A loss estimated at $15,000 is sustained by the Himmelberger-Harrison Lumber Co. early in the morning, when fire destroys the company's handle factory and two storage buildings at Morehouse, Mo.; lightning started the blaze.

The Hodges Bros. roller rink and dance pavilion, which has been on North Sprigg Street since last October, is being torn down to prepare to move it to Anna, Ill.; the brothers had planned to move to a location west of Cape Girardeau, but failed to find a suitable site.

100 years ago: July 15, 1907

Two happy Illinois couples initiated the new courthouse in Jackson yesterday; Jack McNeely and Maud Hubbs, and Delbert Gill and Mellie Polk were married by a justice of the peace in a minor dedication of the building; the real dedication will be a leading feature of the Homecomers event in September.

Paul B. Hinchey of De Soto, Mo., is in Cape Girardeau for a week in the absence of his brother, W.W. Hinchey, from the Broadway store; the latter is taking a vacation in Washington and Iron counties.

— Sharon K. Sanders