Out of the past: March 3

1991

Christopher Washko of Dunedin Beach, Florida, has been hired as events coordinator at the Show Me Center; he replaces Jim Doyle, who went to work for Stardate Productions in Milwaukee.

Dennis Stockard has re-opened the Royal N'Orleans Restaurant, less than a year after a devastating fire reduced the 123-year-old brick building to a shell; rejecting recommendations to level the site and build a new structure, Stockard used the remaining four, 22-inch-thick brick walls to rebuild the historic Opera House.

1966

The Cape Girardeau City Council has approved a contract with the St. Louis engineering firm of Horner and Shifrin to prepare plans and specifications for improvements at the municipal airport, as well as to supervise the construction project; the project includes a new east-west runway.

Patrick Furniture Mart held formal opening activities at its new North Kingshighway location; Peyton Patrick, owner, reports hundreds of people turned out for the event; the 22,000-square-foot building also includes the new center for Lamberts Fabricks, which replaces two former smaller downtown stores.

1941

The future of historic Common Pleas Courthouse hangs in the balance; Cape Girardeau voters will ballot "yes" or "no" tomorrow on whether the city shall trade off part of Courthouse Park as the location for a proposed new federal court building; in return, the city would acquire the present Federal Building at Broadway and Fountain Street.

In an effort to curb traffic infractions, Mayor Hinkle Statler appoints Sgt. Edgar W. Hirsch to head the police department's traffic division; Statler also announces the promotion of patrolman H.J. Reed to sergeant.

1916

It still isn't known whether the Board of Health will permit services in Jackson churches Sunday and the opening of schools Monday; Dr. R.D. Henderson, chairman of the board, said if schools and churches are opened, it will be against his advice, although no new cases of diphtheria have developed.

A. Ray Smith comes to Cape Girardeau from Sikeston, Missouri; he tells a newspaper reporter his mother, Mrs. J.B. Porter, will be in charge of the new A. Ray Smith Dry Goods Co. store, which he expects to open in late March in the Jaynes building, 23 Main St.

-- Sharon K. Sanders