Out of the past 5/15/10

25 years ago: May 15, 1985

Rainy weather this spring has turned part of Cherokee Park, located between Perryville Road and Lexington, into a virtual jungle of tall grass and kept park crews scurrying to mow the problem down to size throughout the city's park system; in some spots in Cherokee Park, the grass is a foot tall.

A contingent of railroad enthusiasts led by John Lorberg of Gordonville had planned to ride a vintage engine from Marion, Ill., to Cape Girardeau in one day yesterday; it got off to a good start only to be held up for more than eight hours at Benton, Ill.; Lorberg and other Cape Girardeau investors plan to put the 1946 steam engine and two passenger trains built in 1926 into operation between Delta and Jackson by late this summer.

50 years ago: May 15, 1960

The Rev. William Bauer, furloughed missionary from India, is the guest speaker at the Emanuel United Church of Christ at Jackson; for the past 16 years, he has been superintendent of the Chandkhuri Leprosy Home and Hospital.

Two men who gave much of their lives to the cause of education in Missouri -- the late Dr. W.W. Parker, president of State College for 23 years, and Dr. A.C. Magill, head of its science department for 43 years and now a member of Cape Girardeau County Court -- have been honored by the school's Board of Regents; in action Friday, the board adopted the names Walter W. Parker Physical Education Building and A.C. Magill Hall of Science for two of four new buildings now under construction on the campus.

75 years ago: May 15, 1935

Burglars, plying their trade again in Cape Girardeau last night, took loot at two Main Street stores amounting to nearly $200; at the H.A. Lang jewelry store, 126 N. Main St., where a plate glass window valued at $150 was ruined, jewelry valued at between $150 and $175 was stolen; at the Sides Gas & Oil Co., 231 N. Main St., oil worth $10 was carted away.

Cape Girardeau's claim to the title "City of Roses" is renewed again this spring, when the roses are at their best, in spite of rain and cool weather; almost every yard in the town has some roses blooming.

100 years ago: May 15, 1910

Since the Rev. A.M. Ross is attending the Baptist convention in Baltimore, there is no preaching at the First Baptist Church; the regular Sunday School and young people's meetings are held, however.

The Rev. A. Berthanl, one of the graduates of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, has been appointed to the pastorate of Hanover Lutheran Church; he will take charge some time this summer; another member of the same class, the Rev. W. Krueger, will take charge of the Lutheran missions at Poplar Bluff and Dexter, Mo.

-- Sharon K. Sanders