Out of the past 6/2/09

25 years ago: June 2, 1984

Robert B. Hendrix, Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce president, was given the Cobblestone Award in recognition of his civic efforts at yesterday's First Friday Coffee; presenting the award was Chamber representative W.H. "Dutch" Estes.

The Town Pump Restaurant, 120 N. Main St., has been purchased by Evelyn Newcomer of Perryville, Mo., from Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert J. Popp, who have operated it for the past 12 years; the eatery was established more than 25 years ago by Peg Eaker.

50 years ago: June 2, 1959

Hilary F. Schmittzehe, president of the Cape Girardeau County Association for Retarded Children, says he has received notification that necessary appropriations for the planned Retarded Children's School here have been approved by the State Legislature; work on transforming the County Home into a school will begin immediately.

Construction is progressing on the new school being erected north of Cape Gir­ardeau on the Egypt Mills Road; most of the foundation has been poured, and the steel and brick work on the six-classroom building will soon get underway.

75 years ago: June 2, 1934

A petition by the bondholders' protective committee of the Cape Girardeau Bridge Co., filed yesterday in federal court in St. Louis and transferred here today, asks for foreclosure of the river bridge under a first mortgage deed of trust.

Field crops and gardens of Cape Girardeau County are beginning to feel the effects of the early summer drought, particularly since the temperatures have run high.

100 years ago: June 2, 1909

Inquiries are beginning to come in both locally and from adjacent towns relative to the coming of William Jennings Bryan to Cape Girardeau on June 14; requests for tickets have already been made, and without doubt every available seat in the big Normal School auditorium will be sold in advance.

The new fire wagon, pulled by the team of big grays, and upon which four firefighters are riding, passes up Broadway in the afternoon, followed by a crowd of admiring lads.

-- Sharon K. Sanders