Out of the past 10/21/08

25 years ago: Oct. 21, 1983

David Dormeyer, co-owner of Bridgeport Realtors Inc., has succeeded Douglas Stevens as president of the Cape Girardeau Kiwanis Club; new officers for the coming year were installed last night; in addition, the annual Kiwanian of the Year award went to Fred Vogt.

Chase Cafeteria opened this week at 15 N. Main St.; the restaurant is owned by Vince Chase, who also operates and owns the Chase House, 239 N. Middle St.

50 years ago: Oct. 21, 1958

The Frisco Railroad formally announces in a newspaper advertisement that it will operate its last night passenger trains between St. Louis and Memphis, Tenn., this weekend.

Through the combined efforts of the Auxiliary Police, Civil Defense and the Civic 500, historic Fort D is being restored; all the window panes have been replaced, the roof has been tarred, and volunteers have repaired the stone work and cleared the grounds.

75 years ago: Oct. 21, 1933

C.R. Gibbs Jr. has been elected commander of the American Legion Drum and Bugle Corps, while Dr. J.H. Ruff has been re-elected drum major; the corps is seeking new equipment and uniforms before the next state and national conventions roll around; next year it will defend its state championship title and plans to go to Miami to compete in the national contest.

Additional improvements are being done at the Hotel Idan-Ha; a wall at the rear of Dormeyer Drug Store in the building is being torn out, and a glass partition installed; two telephone booths are also being built at a corner of the inside wall; S.R. Smith, local contractor, is in charge of the work.

100 years ago: Oct. 21, 1908

Dr. F.B. Schulz, 70, for many years dean of the medical profession in Cape Girardeau, died at his home last night.

Work on the greatest industry for Cape Girardeau, as well as the greatest in all Southeast Missouri, started yesterday and within the next year a Portland cement factory will be in operation here, turning out 1,500 to 2,000 barrels a day; George S. Emerick, a prominent engineer and contractor of Nazareth, Pa., has the contract to build the immense plant for the Cape Girardeau Portland Cement Co.

— Sharon K. Sanders