Out of the past 8/27/10

25 years ago: Aug. 27, 1985

Cape Girardeau postmaster Herman W. Marshall has taken an administrative leave because of what a postal official calls "an internal problem."

The former dean of the College of Education and Behavioral Science at Southeast Missouri State University has officially assumed a new role in teacher education; Dr. Milford O. Holt, new associate provost for teacher education at Southeast, began his new duties Aug. 19 in quarters at Washington School on North Fountain Street.

50 years ago: Aug. 27, 1960

School will call some pupils in Cape Girardeau and elsewhere in the county next week, but others will unveil the 1960 term after Labor Day; starting sessions the coming week will be Catholic High and St. Vincent's and St. Mary's grade schools, all to open Thursday; in the county those to start the term Monday include the Holcomb School, Delta, Oak Ridge and Oak Grove.

The first 50th Anniversary Achievement Awards in the Southeast Missouri Council of Boy Scouts went to Jim Brown, Albert Spradling, Jim Stone, Richard Haas and Mike Hagan; they received a free airplane ride for winning the awards.

75 years ago: Aug. 27, 1935

Family here has learned of the death of L.P. Finley, formerly of Cape Girardeau, who was fatally injured Saturday night at Coffeyville, Kan., when an elephant stepped on him; Finley was with the Russell Bros. Circus.

The new sales tax goes into effect in Cape Girardeau today, as it does across the nation; but because of the scarcity of the pasteboard, bottle-top-shaped tokens, some locals escape paying the levy.

100 years ago: Aug. 27, 1910

This is the last day of Homecomers, and Jackson is packed with an estimated 20,000 people; among those visiting from a distance are C.W. Conrad from Nevada, Mrs. August Kessberger from Springfield, Ill., and Emerson Greer from San Francisco.

Sciortino Fruit Co. has opened a fruit store at 621 Good Hope St. and will have on hand at all times the finest produce to be had.

Featured in "Men of Affairs" are Ben Morton and John Schuler.

-- Sharon K. Sanders