Out of the past 8/2/11

25 years ago: Aug. 2, 1986

The Rev. Doug Sparks, associate pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Cape Girardeau the past two years, will leave tomorrow for Cortez, Colo., and the Diocese of Pueblo; his new parish is larger than Rhode Island.

An increased number of building permits issued during the first six months of 1986 reflects a growth in new construction in Cape Girardeau; during the first half of the year, the city issued 214 building permits, 45 more than was issued in the same period last year.

50 years ago: Aug. 2, 1961

A large, two-story residence at 416 Themis St., believed to be about 60 years old, is being torn down to make way for a modern two-story apartment house; the house, built in the 1890s, was once the home of the late Joel T. Nunn, past president of the Cape Building and Loan Association; more recently it was operated as a boarding home by the W.W. Hobbs family.

The recent hot, humid weather has been good for the ice manufacturing business; J.R. Dean, president of Pure Ice Co., says ice sales have shown a 20 to 30 percent increase in July over June.

75 years ago: Aug. 2, 1936

The Rev. Harold Roshke of Washington, Mo., has accepted the call of the St. Paul Lutheran congregation in Jackson and will arrive the latter part of the month to take over his duties as assistant pastor and teacher in the primary grades in the parochial school.

The Rev. Roland Richmann, pastor of First English Lutheran Church, is the speaker in the evening at the weekly union worship service at Courthouse Park; his topic is "Blessed Are the Pure in Heart for They Shall See God."

100 years ago: Aug. 2, 1911

Cape Girardeau yesterday went against the proposal to issue $3.5 million in state bonds to build a new capitol at Jefferson City; in the county, a majority of the people voted in favor of the measure but not enough to give it the required two-thirds majority; however, on a statewide level, the measure passed.

A great throng attends the "Last Days of Pompeii" spectacle at the fairgrounds; 8,500 people packed into the amphitheater, the bleachers at either end of the stand, and out onto the racetrack to witness the fireworks display following the eruption of Mount Vesuvius; the show will be repeated this evening.

-- Sharon K. Sanders