Out of the past 2/2/12

25 years ago: Feb. 2, 1987

BRAGGADOCIO, Mo. -- A $20 million thoroughbred horse-racing track has been proposed for this area; developers say Bootheel Downs could be an economic winner for Pemiscot County.

About 75 union employees return to work following a two-week strike at West Lake Quarry at Scott City; employees from the Teamsters Local 574, Laborers International Local 1104, accepted a new three-year contract.

50 years ago: Feb. 2, 1962

There is evidently a slippage along the New Madrid fault early in the morning, bringing reports from a wide area of the resulting earthquake; many Girardeans are shaken awake by a sharp shock at 12:45 a.m., accompanied by a general rattling of windows and doors.

A falling tree on a farm near Advance, Mo., yesterday afternoon cut off long-distance telephone service for 2,300 people in Advance, Marble Hill, Mo., Lutesville, Mo., Bell City, Mo., Sedgewickville, Mo., and Patton, Mo., for more than two hours.

75 years ago: Feb. 2, 1937

POINT PLEASANT, Mo. -- Along weary miles of frozen dike, thousands of flood workers toil in the final stages of their battle as the mammoth Mississippi River approaches its crest; a bitter cold brings additional hardships to the half-frozen men, as they continue to add rows of sandbags to the levee's crown.

Mayor Charles G. Wilson has signed a contract purchasing 14.82 acres from Mrs. Iska W. Carmack of Los Angeles, the first land acquired by the city as part of its new fairground and park site west of Cape Girardeau; the price is $3,350, and payment will be made in cash upon sale of the $55,000 bonds the city is issuing.

100 years ago: Feb. 2, 1912

O.H. McCarthy, the new superintendent for the Frisco Third District, passes through Cape Girardeau on his way from St. Louis to Chaffee, Mo., being accompanied by assistant superintendents C.H. Claiborne and W.W. Gyles; McCarthy comes to Missouri from Oklahoma.

H.S. Deane has been commissioned a notary public and will have his office in the Houck Building.

-- Sharon K. Sanders