Out of the past 2/26/09

25 years ago: Feb. 26, 1984

An open house is held at St. Mary's School to mark the 25th anniversary of Flavian Lappe as custodian of the school and cathedral.

John H. Cochran III, a Cape Girardeau native, has been named president of the Bank of Illmo in Scott City in preparation for the planned acquisition of the bank by Financial Bancshares Inc., a Missouri multibank holding company.

50 years ago: Feb. 26, 1959

A total of $967 has been turned in by contributors toward a fund for the renovation of the County Farm building, officers of the Cape Girardeau County Association for Retarded Children report; the campaign goal has been set at $7,000 to complete all remodeling necessary to make the building acceptable by the state as a school for retarded children.

BENTON, Mo. -- A safe stolen from the office of the Farm Bureau Supply Co. here is recovered from the Mississippi River at the old Thebes Ferry crossing east of Illmo; the safe contained about $1,500 in cash and checks when it was rolled out of the Farm Bureau store.

75 years ago: Feb. 26, 1934

The worst winter storm in seven years holds the district in an icy grip; while five inches of snow, sleet and ice covers the ground in Cape Girardeau and a half-inch of ice clings to trees, in the district south of here a heavier coating temporarily paralyzes telephone and telegraph communications, cuts electric service and delays traffic.

Thirty men and 14 trucks are being employed by the city of Cape Girardeau to clear ice and snow off streets in the business sections; they start at the intersections on Broadway, then move to Main and Good Hope streets.

100 years ago: Feb. 26, 1909

The new county road being built from Randles to Delta is progressing rapidly; it will be of great convenience to the residents of this part of the county, as it will shorten the distance between Randles and Delta by about two miles and give a better route.

The children of the Adams orphans home will give an entertainment to celebrate the first anniversary of the opening of the institution tomorrow; several prominent speakers have invited to make short addresses; the home is at Jefferson Avenue and Frederick Street.

-- Sharon K. Sanders