Out of the past 10/3/04

25 years ago: Oct. 3, 1979

The Southeast Missourian marks its 75th anniversary, reaffirming the promise made by George, Fred and Harry Naeter in 1904 to bring Cape Girardeau a quality newspaper.

Program designed to give portion of downtown Cape Girardeau a major facelift was presented to the city council last night; A.M. Spradling Jr. asked the council for the legal tools to form a Cape Girardeau Redevelopment Corp., which would oversee the downtown redevelopment.

50 years ago: Oct. 3, 1954

Two testimonials marking the 50th anniversary of the establishment of The Southeast Missourian are presented George and Fred Naeter at ceremonies at Boulder Crest; one comes from a citizens' committee representing the community and the other from the Elks Lodge.

Television comes to Cape Girardeau and the surrounding area when KFVS-TV, which had been energizing its test pattern for a week, puts its first programs on the air over Channel 12; Don McNeely, station announcer, welcomes the audience and introduces Oscar C. Hirsch, owner of the station.

75 years ago: Oct. 3, 1929

The 25th anniversary of the Naeter brothers' ownership of The Southeast Missourian is celebrated with an open house and the publication of a special edition filled with historic photos and stories.

Louis A. Hoffman, freight agent for the Missouri Pacific Railroad at Thebes, Ill., has been appointed freight agent for the road in Cape Girardeau; Hoffman is the son-in-law of Mr. and Mrs. Louis Schlueter of Cape Girardeau.

100 years ago: Oct. 3, 1904

The Naeter Brothers -- Fred and George -- begin publishing The Daily Republican newspaper; the four-page publication promises late telegraph news, columns of local and personal news, and sparkling ads from local merchants; first edition consists of 479 copies.

Work on opening up William Street with a new paving has begun and will rapidly be pushed to completion; the best grade of crushed blue stone is being used and is being hauled from the quarry of Ed Hely.

-- Sharon K. Sanders