Podcasts about almost yesterday

It seems like Almost Yesterday that the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team traded one of their most famous players, Enos Slaughter, to the New York Yankees for Mel Wright and four players to be named later. One of those four players, named later, was Bill Virdon, who became a successful major leaguer.

It seems like almost yesterday that The Lodge at Giant City State Park near Makanda, Illinois wad dedicated. The date was Sunday, August 30, 1936, and approximately 20,000 people attended the ceremonies featuring comments from Illinois Governor Henry Horner.

It seems like Almost Yesterday when the community of Greenville, Missouri experienced a disastrous flood. The event was the most extensive flood in the history of the small town on the St. Francis River, and caused such destruction that it permanently altered the region.

It seems like almost yesterday that a large weather front stalled over the Ohio Valley,covering much of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky. Heavy rain fell during thefirst three weeks of January, 1937, elevating the Ohio River to record levels from Pittsburgh to Cairo, and into the lower Mississippi.

It seems like Almost Yesterday that the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team traded one of their most famous players, Enos Slaughter, to the New York Yankees for Mel Wright and four players to be named later. One of those four players, named later, was Bill Virdon, who became a successful major leaguer.

It seems like almost yesterday that a young man from Farmington high school in Farmington, Missouri joined the University of Missouri football team. Edward Homer Blaine moved quickly from his role as an outstanding “black knight” student and athlete to a stand out Missouri tiger student and athlete.

It seems like almost yesterday that The Lodge at Giant City State Park near Makanda, Illinois wad dedicated. The date was Sunday, August 30, 1936, and approximately 20,000 people attended the ceremonies featuring comments from Illinois Governor Henry Horner.

It seems like Almost Yesterday that Bartholomew Cousin moved into the district of Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Born on March 28, 1767 near Cherbourg, France, Cousin emigrated to North American in 1791 and within a few years settled in Cape Girardeau where he was soon one of the most prosperous and important residents of the region.

It seems like Almost Yesterday that Holy Family Catholic Church was dedicated. The building, which still stands on South Sprigg Street was dedicated on Sunday October 6, 1940 as a mission of St. Vincent's Catholic Church in Cape Girardeau.

It seems like Almost Yesterday that a traveling salesman drowned in a drainage ditch along Highway 60 west of Sikeston, Missouri. The accident occurred at approximately 11:00 P. M., Friday night, May 17, 1946.

It seems like almost yesterday that the Mississippi River was solidly frozen over. It was the winter of 1918 and 1919 when a cold December with extended low temperatures closed the river to all north - south river traffic.

It seems like Almost Yesterday that residents of southeast Missouri became keenly interested in the New Madrid earthquakes of 1811-12.

It seems like almost yesterday that a large weather front stalled over the Ohio Valley,covering much of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky. Heavy rain fell during thefirst three weeks of January, 1937, elevating the Ohio River to record levels from Pittsburgh to Cairo, and into the lower Mississippi.

It seems like Almost Yesterday that residents of Cape Girardeau gained access to important historical records of Louis Lorimier, the founder of Cape Girardeau.

It seems like Almost Yesterday that the Malden, Missouri School System introduced a new era in southeast Missouri education. With the beginning of the 1957-1958 school year, the Malden schools, for the very first time, provided special education classes for handicapped children.

It seems like almost yesterday that Fred Henry McGuire of Gordonville, Missouri received our nation's highest award for valor, the Congressional Medal of Honor. McGuire was born on November 7, 1890 and joined the Navy at age 19 in 1909.

It seems like Almost Yesterday that intercollegiate debate began on the campus of Southeast Missouri Normal School. A turning point in that process was the arrival on campus of Professor Arthur Winn Vaughn, who served as the motivation for the expansion of debate from an on-campus activity to competition with other colleges.

It seems like Almost Yesterday that the first Cape Girardeau High School was dedicated. The date was December 17, 1915, and the event serves as a turning point in the educational history of Cape Girardeau and Southeast Missouri.

It seems like Almost Yesterday that the Aetna Powder Company plant at Fayville, Illinois exploded.

Tuesday July 26, 2022 - Not long ago - almost yesterday - regulators were citing the rise in Cryptocurrency value as reason to heavily regulate the industry. Now, Cryptocurrency values have plummeted - losing more than $1 Trillion in value in a matter of weeks. And regulators are coming out of the woodwork to impose ever more regulations. All the heavy hitters, who were set to protect Cryptocurrency with political donations are gone. Attorney Steven A. Leahy looks at the regulatory future of Cryptocurrency on Today's Tax Talk. https://time.com/nextadvisor/investing/cryptocurrency/crypto-price-crash-leads-to-regulation/ https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/ceo-titanium-blockchain-pleads-guilty-21-million-cryptocurrency-fraud-scheme https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-07-26/coinbase-faces-sec-investigation-over-cryptocurrency-listings --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/steven-leahy1/message

It seems like Almost Yesterday that a tragic fire swept through the Wayside Inn in Farmington, Missouri.

It seems like Almost Yesterday that the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team traded one of their most famous players, Enos Slaughter, to the New York Yankees for Mel Wright and four players to be named later. One of those four players, named later, was Bill Virdon, who became a successful major leaguer.

It seems like almost yesterday that a young man from Farmington high school in Farmington, Missouri joined the University of Missouri football team. Edward Homer Blaine moved quickly from his role as an outstanding “black knight” student and athlete to a stand out Missouri tiger student and athlete.

It seems like Almost Yesterday that the last graduates of Will Mayfield College received their diplomas. For over 50 years this institution of higher learning in Marble Hill, Missouri provided teachers and school administrators for regional and state schools.

It seems like Almost Yesterday that American, British, and Canadian military forces invaded Adolf Hitler's “Fortress Europa,” initiating the campaign that brought an end to World War II in Europe.

It seems like Almost Yesterday that a growing national fad streaked through Cape Girardeau, Missouri. The craze was simply called "streaking."

It seems like almost yesterday that The Lodge at Giant City State Park near Makanda, Illinois wad dedicated. The date was Sunday, August 30, 1936, and approximately 20,000 people attended the ceremonies featuring comments from Illinois Governor Henry Horner.

It seems like Almost Yesterday that President Harry Truman awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, posthumously, to Private Billie Gene Kanell of Poplar Bluff, Mo.

It seems like Almost Yesterday that Andrew Conway Ivy was one of the most well-known and celebrated physicians in the world. Born and raised in Farmington, Missouri, Dr. Ivy graduated from Southeast Missouri State Normal School in 1913, where his father, Henry Ivy, was a member of the science faculty.

It seems like Almost Yesterday that the historic Halliday Hotel in Cairo, Ill., was destroyed by fire. The most famous structure in the history of Cairo was consumed by flames on the morning of Feb. 22, 1943. Within four hours, the majestic five-story, 155-room hotel was reduced to rubble.

It seems like almost yesterday that Denver Wright sought to bring a bit of Africa to the veldt of Southeast Missouri.

It seems like almost yesterday that a teacher told me when I was very young, that the Milky Way was the very end of our universe. Like many youngsters I was curious about the end of the universe and what was beyond the Milky Way.

In the fall of 1938 Mark Scully was named the principal of Jackson High School in Jackson, Missouri. Young Mark Scully said that his days as principal and teacher in Jackson were some of the most enjoyable of his 47 year career. Well…all but one.

World War I and the demand for air mail service created great demand for long distance flying early in the 20th century.

It seems like Almost Yesterday that the Puxico , Missouri basketball team achieved state and national recognition. Their story is told in Matt Chaney's 1994 publication, My Name is Mr. Ryan , and it is a remarkable story. The 1950s was a decade of significant change in high school basketball. This is the decade of small school triumphs that became the basis of legendary and magical stories still told by sports fans across the nation who remember the great teams from Milan, Indiana; Cuba, Kentucky; and Hebron, Illinois But no team in American high school sports history became such an attraction as did the Puxico, Missouri Indians between 1949 and 1953. In four years the Puxico team won 149 games while losing only 10, in the process winning two state championships and accelerating the changing nature of high school basketball. The Puxico story is closely connected to Arnold Ryan, who began his coaching career in 1945 at the small Stoddard County community – with virtually no basketball

It seems like Almost Yesterday that Warren Eastman Hearnes became governor of Missouri. Born in Moline, Illinois, on July 24, 1923, Hearnes grew up in Charleston, Missouri, the county seat of Mississippi County, a place he called home for the remainder of his life. While in high school he determined that he wanted to attend West Point in pursuit of a military career. The desired appointment was received and he graduated from the academy in the class of 1946. In 1947, Hearnes married his high school sweetheart, Betty Cooper, a minister's daughter. While in the military he broke his ankle in a softball game, and on the last day of 1949 retired from the military. On that occasion, he said, there was no doubt that he was going to obtain a law degree - and enter politics. In typical Hearnes fashion, he became a member of the House of Representatives, and then received his law degree. He was energetic - and ambitious. He was soon majority floor leader, Secretary of State, and in 1964

It seems like Almost Yesterday that the city of Ironton, Missouri installed a series of historical markers to identify Civil War sites in the community. Of all the important historic sites in the Arcadia Valley, one that has great significance is where Ulysses S. Grant, on August 8, 1861, received notice of his promotion to the rank of brigadier general. Colonel Grant had been ordered to Pilot Knob and Ironton to control the terminus of the Iron Mountain Railroad used to transport essential iron ore to smelters in St. Louis, seventy miles to the north. When the thirty-nine year old brigadier assumed his command, he found that he was in charge of three thousand untrained and disorganized troops. His first challenge was to impose military discipline – and he moved quickly. Many officers had limited command of their troops. Many men still wore the clothes they had on when they enlisted in May and June. By August they were an ill-equipped and ragged force. Grant sent hundreds of them home,

It seems like Almost Yesterday when Professor A. C. Magill stated on February 19, 1955, that colleges are not buildings, classrooms, nor even libraries. Colleges, in his view, consisted of people: teachers, students and staff. And, he stated, one of the greatest teachers to ever serve Southeast Missouri State University was Henry Stephen Moore, a member of the faculty from 1904 to 1955, approximately 52 years. At Professor Moore’s retirement, President Parker commended him as a master teacher. Dr. Magill asserted that no Southeast professor had influenced the thinking of the leaders of the region as had Henry Moore. Moore was born on October 8, 1872 in Oran , Missouri. He attended Southeast from 1891 to 1895, and went on to study at the University of Missouri and the University of Leipzig, returning to Southeast as a professor in 1904. On July 1, 1905 Moore purchased land from R. B. Oliver on North Street and built a family home at 828 North Street, where the family lived until 1959

It seems like Almost Yesterday that the lead mining area of Southeast Missouri was caught up in a tense situation known as the “Flat River Riot.” From the early decades of the 18th century the lead of St. Francois County was of national importance. This was especially true when America was at war. The greatest demand for lead came in the early 20th century and during World War I, when approximately 70% of the national lead supply came from the Missouri “Lead Belt.” Much of the labor for the new American industry came from large numbers of immigrants from Southern and Eastern Europe. Many of these immigrants came to St. Louis, and into Missouri’s mining regions. Many of the immigrants were brought in by the mine companies, others lured by the promise of a new life in a new land.Many of these alien miners were from countries that America went to war with in April of 1917, thus increasing tension with miners who were U. S. citizens. The alien miners were also not subject to the draft and

It seems like Almost Yesterday that the University of Missouri football team achieved one of its greatest victories. The date was Saturday, November 18, 1978 and the Missouri Tigers were in Lincoln, Nebraska to play the second-ranked Cornhuskers. Nebraska had won nines in a row, upset number-one ranked Oklahoma, and had their sights set on a national championship. Missouri entered the game with a record of six and four, and had lost two of their previous three games. Nebraska led by three points at the half, 31 to 28 at the beginning of the fourth quarter, and appeared on their way to victory. But with four minutes and forty-two seconds to go, running back James Wilder, “The Sikeston Train,” powered his way into the end zone, scoring his fourth touchdown of the day, and gave Missouri a thrilling 35 to 31 victory. It remains one of the greatest moments in Missouri sports history. Wilder was born on May 12, 1958 on a farm outside of Sikeston. Always with a love for football, Wilder led

It seems like almost yesterday that a young man from Chaffee, Missouri, joined the United States Marine Corps. The date was October 24, 1933. And, the young man, John H. Craven, went through boot camp at Parris Island, South Carolina, and volunteered for sea duty in order to qualify for admission to the Naval Academy, the only visible option to him for acquiring a college education during the Great Depression. Craven was assigned to the battleship New Mexico where he served for 18 months. In May 1935, while his ship was in port in Pearl Harbor, Craven said that, "God spoke to me, and it was a clear call - like a still small voice." He added that, "I then had a wonderful experience of God's grace in my heart." From that inspirational moment Craven redirected his life to become a "preacher and a military Chaplain." He attended college and seminary while serving as a pastor in a number of small churches, and when World War II began he re-entered military service as a Navy Chaplain. During

It seems like almost yesterday that one of the great legends of Southeast Missouri was born. On the afternoon of August 14, 1902, William Helms, a farmer near Hopewell, Missouri stopped to water his horse in a stream under a railroad trestle near Irondale. As he turned to leave he heard the muffled cry of a child. To his great surprise he found the sound coming from a suitcase that was on the river’s bank at the water’s edge. Inside the suitcase he found a baby boy with an extra set of clothes and a spool of black thread. The 72 year old Helms quickly took the baby home to his wife, Sarah, who tenderly cared for the infant who they concluded had he been stuffed into the suitcase and deliberately thrown from an Iron Mountain Train as it passed over the river. The suitcase had landed on the bank, its fall broken by some bushes, and was found by Mr. Helms. Sarah named the youngster William Moses Gould Helms: William for the man who found him, Moses due to his being found by the river,

It seems like Almost Yesterday that a young man from Farmington, Missouri, walked on to the pitcher’s mound in New York’s Yankee Stadium for the first game in his major league baseball career. It was Saturday, June 28, 1980, when twenty-four year old Tim Lollar pitched the seventh and eighth innings against the Cleveland Indians, a game the Yankees won, eleven to ten. This game began a seven year, one-hundred ninety-nine game career by Lollar, who was born in Poplar Bluff, Missouri in 1956. Lollar was familiar with major league baseball, having watched his father, Sherm Lollar, seventeen years a major leaguer. Following the completion of the second grade, Tim Lollar’s youth was spent in Farmington, Missouri, where he emerged as a talented player in bantam, midget, and Babe Ruth competition. At the age of sixteen he began playing American Legion Baseball, and attracted the attention of major league scouts. Upon graduation from high school, Lollar played at Mineral Area Community College

It seems like Almost Yesterday that the first commercial airplane landed at Chicago's Municipal Airport, later Midway Airport. The plane came in from Omaha, Nebraska, with passengers and several bags of mail. The date was December 1, 1927, and it was an historic first for aviation in Chicago. The Boeing Aircraft was piloted by Ira Oris Biffle, from Patton, Missouri. Biffle was born on September 14, 1886, the son of Valentine and Matilda Berry Biffle. Biffle spent his first eighteen years on the family farm between Patton and Marble Hill, Missouri, and there in 1904 he learned about the Wright Brothers and man's first flight. From that time forward the Bollinger County farm could not hold him. Within a decade he was one of America's first skilled aviators, air mail pilots, and aviation instructors. In 1915 he joined three other pilots to initiate the United States Army Air Corps, operating out of San Diego, California. During World War I Biffle may have trained more daring young men to

It seems like Almost Yesterday that hundreds of comic books and magazines, judged as indecent and unfit for children, were ceremonially burned in Cape Girardeau . The date was February 24, 1949, and the location was St. Mary’s High School on the corner of Sprigg and William Streets. This large burning was one of many that emerged across the nation in 1948-49, seeking to eliminate the perceived dangers of the “new” graphic comic books. In the Depression years of the 1930’s, comic books gained widespread popularity, and began to attract criticism for the vivid use of violence. But, World War II brought even greater use of graphic violence, and by the end of the war more than 60 million comic books per month were being sold in the United States. In 1948 critics of this new and popular form of entertainment found an articulate voice in Dr. Fredric Wertham, a German-born medical doctor, who blamed comic books for the troubling new behavior in youngsters. In 1948 Dr. Wertham published a

It seems like almost yesterday that George Frederick Bollinger led a contingent of North Carolinians across the Mississippi River into Missouri. The young Mr. Bollinger had visited the small community of Cape Girardeau in 1797, established a friendship with Louis Lorimier who encouraged him to return to North Carolina and bring more settlers to the area. Bollinger did so and after the autumn harvest of 1799 a group of eager adventurers set out from their farmsteads in North Carolina for the Missouri frontier. With George Frederick were his four brothers, John, Daniel, Philip, and Mathias; two nephews William and Henry Bollinger, and such friends and neighbors as: Joseph Nyswonger, John and Isaac Miller, Leonard Welker, Frederick Slinkard, Peter and Conrad Statler, Peter Crytes, John and Jacob Cotner, George and Peter Grount, and Frederick Limbaugh and a large number of family members. Their belongings were pulled west in covered wagons and carts by a variety of horse, oxen and human

It seems like almost yesterday that a meeting in a Farmington, Missouri coffee shop yielded a story about the theft of a doughnut from a local grocery store that made national news! It was September of 2007 when a middle-aged man entered the Farmington country mart grocery, picked up a freshly baked doughnut, placed it inside his sweat shirt, and left the store without paying for the fifty-two cent item. His actions were observed by an alert cashier who notified a co-worker, who followed the subject into the parking lot, and demanded that he return to the store to pay for doughnut. The man turned to leave, and the clerk tried to take his arm and lead him back into the store. At that point the man pushed the clerk and took off running. The police were called and within minutes “the Farmington doughnut thief” was in the local jail. When the charges were filed, in this seemingly minor case, suddenly, the doughnut thief found himself in a tough situation. A repeat offender, with a dozen or

It seems like Almost Yesterday that the landscape of Cape Girardeau featured a number of special places where residents could relax and enjoy a pleasant change of scenery. In the middle of the nineteenth century Franck’s Gardens on the hill along Jackson Road, now Broadway, was such a place. A product of the German migration to the region in the 1850s, this park-like beer garden was one of the social centers and “beauty spots” of the community for approximately four decades. Named for John A. Franck, but anglicized to “Frank”, the grounds included a mansion, beautiful gardens and varied amusements. A visitor in May of 1864, during the Civil War, described the grounds as a beautiful, green, and shady park, with exotic plants, extensive flower beds, and pleasant walking paths, all surrounded by rows of silver poplar trees. Children loved the swing sets, the ten pin bowling alley, and the town’s only Flying Dutchman. A long arbor extended to the back of the property to a small summer

It seems like Almost Yesterday that residents in the northern area of Cape Girardeau County established a new school which would bring together the students from six one-room country schools in the area. The country schools were crowded and located in wood-frame buildings that dated back to the 1800’s. The new modern building was complete and ready for occupancy at the beginning of the 1960-61 school year. It contained modern classrooms, a hot lunch program, a gymnasium, and indoor rest rooms. These were all new and modern features for the youngsters of the R-IV School District which stretched from the Mississippi River on the east, six miles to the west, and from the city limits of Cape Girardeau on the south, to Highway 177 on the north. Advocates of the new school were motivated by the county’s improved roads, accessibility to automobiles, the nation-wide movement for school consolidation, and the desire to enhance the teaching of science and math in the face of the Soviet launching

We recently spoke with the authors of the new book "Seth: The Life and Journey of General Seth Jefferson McKee." McKee grew up in Southeast Missouri and rose from a rural farm boy to become one of America's most highly decorated members of the United States Air Force. The authors are Jerry Ford -- educator, legislator, businessman and musician. He has authored articles on regional history including two books. And Dr. Frank Nickell, Associate Professor Emeritus of History at Southeast Missouri State University. He directed the Center of Regionally History at the university through which he edited and published approximately 25 books about the region; conducted many oral interviews and produced a series of historical podcasts on KRCU Public Radio titled "Almost Yesterday." The book is now available for purchase and proceeds from sales of the book will be designated for a scholarship to support students attending Southeast Missouri State University who have served or are currently serving

It was more than 90 years ago but it seems like Almost Yesterday that KFVS Radio first went on the air. It was the evening of June 22, 1925. Hundreds of citizens of Cape Girardeau gathered in front of the house at 318 South Frederick Street. The street was closed to traffic and the crowd gathered on the sidewalks and the yard and the living room of the Oscar W. Hirsch home. The windows were open and individuals pushed forward to both see and hear this historic event. Peg Meyers' Melody Kings was encircled by a curious audience. At precisely seven o'clock, the orchestra came alive with the first sounds of music broadcast from Cape Girardeau. Just moments after the conclusion of the first number, the telephone rang and a Mr. Danenmueller in Kelso said, "Keep it up. She's comin' in fine." From that time on, advertising for the Melody Kings promoted themselves as KFVS artists. The historic broadcast lasted less than two hours. From this evening on, here in the Hirsch living room, KFVS

It seems like Almost Yesterday that Walter W. Parker retired as president of Southeast Missouri State College. The date was July 1, 1956, and his 23 year tenure as president of the institution is the longest in its history. President Parker assumed the presidency of the small teacher’s college in July of 1933. Born in rural Howard County, Arkansas on January 17, 1889, Parker graduated from Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas with a degree in English, and began his career in education at Central Missouri State College as a young professor of English. Graduate work at Columbia University in New York enabled Professor Parker to advance to chairperson of his department, dean of the college, and later president of Northwest Oklahoma State Teachers College. When Parker assumed the presidency at Southeast in 1933 there were 637 students and 46 faculty members on the campus of five buildings. As president between 1933 and 1956, Parker saw the college grow to 1,715 students and 80 faculty. Five

It seems like almost yesterday that “the Father of American Physical culture” was born. He was the predecessor of Charles Atlas and a number of individuals who emphasized body building and nutrition as the keys to long and healthy life. Bernarr Macfadden was born on August 16, 1868 in the small community of Mill Spring, in Wayne County, Missouri. A weak and sickly child, he was orphaned at age eleven and sent to live with another Wayne County farm family where he found that hard work and good food made him strong and healthy. At age 13 he moved to St. Louis, obtained an indoor office job, and found that his health again declined. At that point he dedicated himself to a new lifestyle that included fasting and strenuous exercise. He believed that this routine would enable him to live to be 150 years of age. For the rest of his life he did not eat meat or bread, which he called the “Staff of Death.” Macfadden began numerous vegetarian restaurants, published over 100 books about his

It seems like Almost Yesterday that the mechanical hobby horse came into existence. U. S. patent number 1,863,012 was filed on February 21, 1931 by J. Otto Hahs of Sikeston , Missouri. The mechanical horse was designed to serve as entertainment for children. The attractively designed pony was operated by electricity and set in motion with the insertion of a coin in a slot on the horse’s neck. There were four drive wheels in the base on which the horse stood, each providing a different speed for the rider. Thus, the horse could walk, lope, trot, or buck, with the rider regulating the gait with the bridle reins. The hobby horse, as named by its inventor, was photographed and explained in the February 1932 issue of the magazine, Popular Mechanics. Within days of the magazine’s publication there were inquiries from potential buyers across the nation. By the end of 1932 the Hahs hobby horse was named the most original invention of 1932 by the National Association of Amusement Parks. By the

It seems like Almost Yesterday that I first heard the song “On the Wings of a Dove.” This haunting melody was written by Robert Ferguson of Willow Springs, Missouri. In 1958 Ferguson was the manager of another Missourian , country singer Ferlin Husky. Husky was born and raised on a farm near Flat River, Missouri. Every Saturday night in the 1930s, the Husky family radio was tuned to the Grand Old Opry. Young Ferlin loved to sing and a family story is that his father traded a hen to a neighbor for a guitar for the youngster. Husky served in the Merchant Marines and after World War II returned home and worked at radio station KXLW in St. Louis with one of the great characters of country music and western movies – Smiley Burnette. Husky then made his way to Bakersfield, California where he worked as a disc jockey and sang under the name of Terry Preston. In Bakersfield, Husky teamed with female vocalist Jean Shepherd to record a song about a soldier jilted by his girlfriend. “A Dear John

It seems like almost yesterday that the US postal system implemented a zone improvement plan for distribution of the United States mail. World War II had dramatically increased the volume of mail and in 1943 a series of basic postal zones were created. But by the 1960’s the character and volume of U.S. mail dramatically changed. There was a virtual explosion of business mail. By 1963 business transactions made up 80%of the total volume. Computers created a massive centralization of business accounts and suddenly it seemed book clubs, record clubs, utility bills, credit card transactions, department store billings, social security checks, and billions of magazines and catalogs made a faster more efficient system essential. In June of 1962 the Postal Advisory Board presented a series of recommendation which were outlined on April 30, 1963 by Postmaster General John Gonouski. These included the implementation of a nation wide system of zip codes scheduled to go into effect on July 1, 1963

It seems like Almost Yesterday that Kelvin “Earthquake” Anderson burst on the football scene at Southeast Missouri State University. The date was September 5, 1992 and the opponent was rival Murray State University. From the opening kick-off Anderson was, in the words of a student reporter, “electrifying.” In this, his first college game, Anderson carried the ball 23 times, gained 222 yards, and scored two touchdowns. One of the touchdowns was 96 yards, the longest scoring run in school history. He missed the single-game rushing record by only 32 yards. It was a stunning performance for the young man from New Madrid Central High School. Anderson’s entire first year was remarkable. He ended the season holding the Southeast record for most yards gained in a single season, and was among the national leaders in yards gained by a running back. Although his second and third year achievements were strong, they never quite matched that first year. By the end of his senior year he held several

It seems like Almost Yesterday when the community of Greenville, Missouri experienced a disastrous flood. The event was the most extensive flood in the history of the small town on the St. Francis River, and caused such destruction that it permanently altered the region. The flood was precipitated by a persistent rain that fell for nearly one week, followed by a heavy downpour on the night of August 19. By Friday morning, August 20, the St. Francis was rising at the rate of twelve inches per hour. By six p. m. the river inundated the town. Residents of the community moved most of the livestock to safety, raised furniture, and took refuge on the second floors of the school, business buildings and the homes of friends who lived on high ground. But, the high level of the water that spread across the town was not anticipated, reaching a depth of five feet in homes and streets, with significant damage to homes and businesses. Heavy rains in the middle of August were rare and this one

It seems like Almost Yesterday that Richard G. Wilson became the only resident of Cape Girardeau to ever receive the Congressional Medal of Honor, our nation’s highest military honor. Wilson was born August 19, 1931, in Marion, Ill., but grew up in Cape Girardeau in a family of seven children. On August 19, 1948 – his 17th birthday – he enlisted in the army and reported to Fort Sam Houston, Texas, where he was trained as a medic. He volunteered for Airborne School and was assigned to Fort Campbell, Kentucky, as a medic in the 11th Airborne Division. When the Korean War began in June of 1950, Wilson’s unit was informed they would soon be moving in that direction. He received a final weekend home – over the Fourth of July – returned to Fort Campbell and was soon in Korea. On Oct. 20, 1950, Private Wilson participated in one of the largest airdrops in American military history. He was part of the 187th Regimental Combat Team which was dropped behind enemy lines, north of Pyongyang, to cut

It seems like Almost Yesterday that Hollywood came to Southeast Missouri. A production company headed by prominent director Roger Corman came to Charleston and East Prairie in 1961 to produce a movie based upon Charles Beaumont’s novel about race relations and school integration in the American South. Filmed one year prior to the classic, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Intruder was a commercial failure. Corman was unable to secure support for the film from Hollywood Studios, thus this socially daring movie was the independent work of Corman who took a second mortgage on his home to produce the movie. Consequently, in order to maintain a low budget, Corman made use of many local residents in the film. The key role in the movie was played by thirty year old William Shatner, five years before he assumed his role as Captain Kirk in the Star Trek Series. In this controversial film Shatner plays “The Intruder,” Adam Cramer, who comes into the small southern town of Caxton in order to arouse

It seems like Almost Yesterday that Southeast Missouri State Teacher’s College became a pioneer in radio broadcasting. With 200 watts of power and a wave length of 360 meters, WSAB went on the air on Tuesday, March 27, 1923. Construction of the station began in the summer of 1922, but was delayed until the Education Building, now Crisp Hall, was near completion so that an antenna could be erected there. The station was housed in an oak cabinet made by students in the agriculture shop, and was located in the college physics lab, on the second floor of the Science Building, now Carnahan Hall. Development of the station was the idea of Professor E. H. Thomas, Chairman of the Department of Physics at the college. The first voice to go out over the Southeast College air waves was that of President Joseph Serena, who welcomed all listeners, and then explained the objectives of Southeast Missouri Teacher’s College—and what the college expected from the region’s high schools. The first full

It seems like Almost Yesterday that a twenty-two foot tall fiberglass statue of an Indian chief was placed on the top of Houck Stadium in Cape Girardeau . At the time, Southeast Missouri State athletic teams were known as The Indians, and for nearly a decade the giant figure greeted those who attended sporting events at Houck Field or Houck Field House. For many students and alumni at Southeast the mascot for the athletic teams had long been known as Chief Sagamore, an Algonquin name for leader or chieftain, and the year book at Southeast was also named ”The Sagamore.” Thus, it was natural for fans of Southeast Athletics to refer to the figure towering over Houck Field as “Chief Sagamore.” The giant Indian Statue was moved to Houck Stadium from The War Drum Restaurant in Sikeston - a site which was briefly the location of the second Lambert’s Restaurant. The national movement to eliminate the use of Indian symbols as mascots led to the university removal of the giant figure and it was

It seems like Almost Yesterday that Elam Vangilder was playing baseball in the major leagues. “Big Elam,” was born in Cape Girardeau, Missouri on April 23, 1896, and began playing baseball at an early age. Following service in World War I, Vangilder returned home, picked up his bat and glove and tried out with the St. Louis Browns. He was assigned to Tulsa of the Class A Western League and there on August 20, 1919, the 23 year old pitcher earned recognition by stopping the 69 game hitting streak of Joe Wilhoit of the Wichita Witches, who had the longest hitting streak in the history of professional baseball. One month later Vangilder was wearing the uniform of the major league St. Louis Browns, and there in Sportsman’s Park Vangilder became one of the most dominant major league pitchers of the 1920s. His greatest year was 1922 when the Browns battled the New York Yankees for the American League Pennant, losing out on the very last day of the season. It was Vangilder who kept the Browns

It seems like almost yesterday that the worst train wreck in Missouri history occurred. The date was August 5, 1922, and the location was on a bridge over Glaize Creek, beside the Mississippi river, between Herculaneum and Kimmswick. At this location a fast moving steel passenger train from Texas, train number 4, crashed into the rear of a local passenger train of wooden cars, coming into St. Louis from Hoxie, Arkansas, train number 32, with 190 passengers, including a large contingent of boy scouts returning from a week at camp. The local train had stopped at Sulphur Springs to take on water. Train number 4 had recently pulled on to a siding to let a southbound train pass, and then pulled back on to the main line and as it did so, the engineer missed the signals regarding the presence of train number 32 stopped in front of him at Sulphur Springs. The result was a terrific collision reportedly heard three miles from the point of impact. A number of the passenger cars rolled down a

It seems like Almost Yesterday that the transcontinental railroad was completed at Promontory Point in Utah. The year was 1869. Within a few months, Hiram Morgan Hill and his sister Sarah Althea Hill were on the new “Pacific Train” heading to California in search of fame and fortune. At the time, “Morgan” Hill was 22 years of age; Sarah was 20. They were the orphaned children of Samuel Allen Hill, an attorney and Missouri legislator, and Julia Sloan, daughter of Hiram Sloan, who had operated a mill on Sloan’s Creek at the northern edge of Cape Girardeau. Once in California, Morgan Hill found a position as a teller in the Bank of California, owned by Cornelius Vanderbilt and managed by William Ralston. Ralston was impressed by Hill, and quickly advanced him to a prominent position. In 1880, Hill met Diana Helen Murphy, the beautiful daughter of cattle baron Daniel Murphy, one of the largest landowners in North America. But Murphy disliked Hill, and sought to block the developing

It seems like Almost Yesterday that the Cape Girardeau Writers' Guild was organized. The date was October 30, 1943, and the meeting was called by Dr. Earl A. Collins, a long-time professor of history at Southeast Missouri State College. The purpose of the meeting, according to Dr. Collins, was to regularly bring together anyone who had an interest in writing. Six people responded to the initial call, and provided early leadership for the group. Forest E. Wolverton was selected as the first president and Miss Elizabeth Walther as secretary and treasurer. Other charter members included Mr. John Putz , Jr . Felix Snider, Director of the State College Library, and Mr. Vest Myer, Dean of the State College. From these early gatherings in the middle of World War Two, The Writers' Guild maintained a record of monthly meetings, with the concise minutes of Miss Elizabeth Walther reflecting the growth and success of the organization. Following the October 22, 1944 meeting, Miss Walther recorded

It seems like Almost Yesterday that the Reverend J. C. Berryman , founder and Superintendent of Arcadia High School in Arcadia, Missouri, received a report from a committee of observers who had visited the school in order to submit an overall evaluation. The distinguished observers, J. M. Kelly; John Hadlee; James Relfe; and William Newberry, were so impressed with what they found that they wrote a letter to the Western Eagle newspaper in Cape Girardeau for wide distribution. Here the Arcadia students were commended for their achievement, depth of understanding, and promptness of response. The instructors were praised for their high qualifications and the extent of order and discipline of the students. The observers especially called attention to the high level of student proficiency in mathematics. The committee expressed pride in what they had observed, as they wrote that as southern Missourians, they looked upon the establishment of the school in Arcadia as one of the great events

It seems like Almost Yesterday that the largest tree in Charleston, Mo., was cut down. The giant cottonwood was said to be the largest and most loved tree in the city. Legend has it that the tree was fully grown when Missouri became a state in 1821 and that it witnessed the founding of the town in 1837. But by 1933, Charleston had expanded and grown around the mighty cottonwood and it stood squarely in the center of State Street, directly behind of the home of Edwin P. Deal, a prominent resident and town historian. Mr. Deal valued the past glory of the great tree as a city landmark; resting place for ball players; shade tree for horses and mules; and during the Civil War, an important lookout for approaching enemy forces. But by the mid-30s, the growing number of automobiles led many to believe that this obstacle to traffic should be removed, and in August of 1933, the city council voted to end the tree’s long history. In September, it came down. But the action made citizens of

It seems like Almost Yesterday that Ken Sisler of Dexter, Mo., received our nation’s highest award for valor: the Congressional Medal of Honor. Lieutenant Sisler was born in Dexter Sept. 19, 1937, graduated from Dexter High School in 1955, attended Arkansas State University, spent five years in the Air Force, and then returned to Arkansas State where he graduated in 1964. In 1963, he won the National Collegiate Skydiving Championship while competing with his leg in a cast. In 1965, Sisler returned to the military, became an officer, graduated from Airborne and Ranger Schools, and was commissioned as a military intelligence officer. In June of 1966, Sisler was in South Vietnam and serving as the leader of a special operations group conducting reconnaissance missions deep into enemy territory. On one of these missions in February of 1967, Sisler’s small team was moving through the thick Vietnamese jungle when they were attacked from three sides by a large enemy force. He quickly deployed

It seems like Almost Yesterday that a “crank-in” was held in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. The motive that brought approximately eighty “Crankers” from across the United States and Canada together on the first weekend in April of 2011 was the unveiling of the Erlbacher - Gearhart hand-powered, knitting machine invented in the last half of the nineteenth century in Clearfield, Pennsylvania. The Gearhart knitting machine company was used primarily to knit socks, but the machine was capable of producing over one hundred different items. A small machine, powered entirely by a hand-turned crank, “The Gearhart” was sold in every state and many different nations. Inexpensive and long-lasting, the Gearhart significantly accelerated the knitting process, enabling a single individual to produce a finished pair of woolen socks in approximately one hour, as opposed to several days if knitted by hand. During World War I the machines were used to produce thousands of pairs of warm socks for soldiers

It seems like almost yesterday that President William Howard Taft visited Cape Girardeau . His purpose was to promote the deepening and stabilization of the Mississippi River channel. President Taft was the first sitting President to ever visit the city and Cape Girardeau and the whole region prepared for his visit accordingly. A welcome arch was constructed over the entrance to the city at Themis Street, a commemorative badge was commissioned, a grand parade planned, and special excursion trains were arranged to bring people to Cape Girardeau from all over Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois. Taft came to Cape Girardeau as part of a 16 boat flotilla that included cabinet members, senators, congressmen, and governors. Cape Girardeau was alerted early on the morning on October 26, 1909 when the flotilla reached Neely's Landing. In the time it took to travel south from Neely's to Cape, a crowd estimated as close to 20,000 gathered on the riverfront to welcome the President - an

It seems like Almost Yesterday that Congress passed the “Hospital Survey and Construction Act” which became Public Law 725. This act provided funds to hospitals, nursing homes, and chronic care facilities, which had declined during the Great Depression and World War II. By 1945 and the end of World War II, many American hospitals were obsolete – and approximately 50% of the nation’s counties had no hospital facilities at all. In early 1946 Senators Lister Hill, a Democrat from Alabama, and Harold Burton, a Republican from Ohio, introduced a nine-page bill that became the catalyst for the creation of a modern health care system – consisting of 10,800 construction projects that expanded the number of available hospital beds by more than half a million by 1960. Senator Hill, the driving force behind the legislation, was the son of the first American physician to successfully suture a human heart in a living patient. Due to the determined efforts of these two Senators, the act became known

It seems like almost yesterday that 15 students from Southeast Missouri State University set out to dribble a basketball from Cape Girardeau, Missouri to Evansville, Indiana. The Southeast basketball team of 1960-61 had a great record and qualified to play in the NCAA college division national tournament. To call attention to the team’s success and to rally support for their participation in the tournament, Southeast students Rudy Gardner and Jim Piatchek organized a 15-man dribbling team that departed Cape Girardeau at 8 a.m. on March 15, 1961. Their task was to dribble a single basketball all the way to Evansville in time for the tip off of the game between Southeast and the University of Chicago. They would have 35 hours to dribble 150 miles. A Missouri state trooper escorted the excited dribblers across the bridge into Illinois, and the 15-man team was on its way. Five students were in each of three cars. Each student would dribble the ball one hour at a time, each covering a ten

It seems like almost yesterday that the most devastating tornado in American history passed through Southeast Missouri. The F-5 tornado first touched down in Reynolds County , west of Ellington and stayed on the ground for approximately 220 miles, for three and one-half hours, crossing southern Missouri and Illinois, finally dissipating in southern Indiana. The severe storm, called the tri-state tornado, killed 695 people, injured 2,027 more, and resulted in over a billion dollars in property damage. The weather channel recently rated it as the seventh worst storm to ever hit the United States. Cemeteries in southern Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana, tragically have approximately 700 tombstones which carry the date of death, March 18, 1925. It was an unusually calm and warm march day when a cold front moved through the region in the early afternoon of that tragic day. The storm spawned the deadly tornado which moved out of Reynolds County, across the small community of Annapolis where a

It seems like Almost Yesterday that the U. S. military planned the first transcontinental test of United States military aircraft. Under the direction of General Billy Mitchell, the proposal was for 74 planes to fly from New York to San Francisco and back - to document the performance of a variety of military aircraft. One of the young aviators scheduled to participate in this, the greatest moment in aviation to that time, was 32 year old Patrick Frissell of Cape Girardeau. Born in Oak Ridge, Missouri, Frissell was married to Rebecca Houck and the father of beautiful three year old Mary Giboney Frissell. Frissell joined the U. S. Army at an early age, and was quickly recognized as a man of intellect, and fierce determination to fly. Before and after World War I he spent much time in Europe and China, and by the autumn of 1919 was one of the most well known aviators in the world. On September 15 of 1919, Frissell left his California home to fly to New York for the October 8

It seems like Almost Yesterday that a group of young men in Cape Girardeau, Missouri decided to start a band. Under the leadership of Captain C. F. Schuchert, twelve young men who were musically inclined – and had instruments - came together and became a popular group, performing at parades, picnics and public events. In their first years they were identified as “Schuchert’s Cornet Band.” In 1910 Captain Schuchert’s son, Clarence, assumed leadership of the band and changed the name to “Schuchert’s Concert Band.” Shortly before the coming of World War I the band was mustered into the National Guard, becoming the official 140th National Guard Band. In 1917 the band moved into the U. S. Military with some members assigned to other bands, a large group assigned to Camp Pike, Arkansas, in North Little Rock, Arkansas. Members of the band who were too young – or too old – for military service, gathered in Cape and formed the Cape Girardeau Municipal Band. For the duration of the war they

It seems like almost yesterday when a powerful tornado roared through the center of Cape Girardeau , Missouri. The deadly storm smashed into the city at approximately 7 p.m., Saturday, May 21, 1949. The twister came in from the southwest along Gordonville Road and moved east across Highway 61. It demolished the Airline Restaurant and Lounge, swept across to the intersection of Broadway and Clark, and moved north of Broadway. From there, the 350 yard-wide storm moved along Dunklin Street north of the college, crossed over North Sprigg and slammed into the Red Star and Marble City Heights Subdivisions. And then, as quickly as it came, it was gone. Behind was a scene of destruction and tragedy. In just a few moments, the twister claimed 21 lives and injured over 100 others. More than 220 homes and businesses were completely destroyed and nearly 250 others were damaged. Most of the injured and dead lived on North Fountain, Emerald, North Middle, North Frederick and Sprigg Streets. Local

It seems like Almost Yesterday that the legendary origin of the four rivers of St. Francois County was recorded by the writer and historian Allan Hinchey. The four rivers – the Whitewater, Castor, Saline, and Little St. Francois – emerge close together, northeast of Fredericktown, Missouri, near the junction of Perry, Bollinger, Ste. Genevieve, Madison, and St. Francois Counties. Although they emerge close together, the four rivers flow in different directions. The Native American explanation of the unique geographic feature came from the tale of a Shawnee chieftain who lived along Apple Creek with his four sons. The sons married and lived in their individual homes in their father’s village. While the four brothers got along well, their wives did not, and there was soon friction among them. To end the bickering, the wise chieftain gathered his four sons and walked north until they were standing on a beautiful hill in what is now the southeast corner of St. Francois County. The chief

It seems like almost yesterday that streetcars in Cape Girardeau stopped rolling through the city. On August 10, 1934, the last car was driven into the north Main Street barns at 9:30 p.m., signaling the end of a community service that had been available for 29 years. The era of the streetcar began on December 27, 1905, when the service began on a line that ran from Good Hope Street on the south side of town to the shoe factory on the north and the college on the west. Occasionally, workers at the international shoe factory would entertain themselves by jumping on the rear of the cars and bouncing them up and down as the moved along the track. The track eventually expanded into a four-mile route commonly called "the loop" or "the big square." The rails began at the barns on Main Street, traveled north to the shoe factory, south to Broadway, west to Henderson, north to Normal, west to the fairgrounds (now Capaha Park), south to Independence and east back to Main. On occasion the route

It seems like Almost Yesterday that Union troops under General William Tecumseh Sherman were moving south against Atlanta. General Kirby Smith, Commander of the Confederate Trans-Mississippi Department, saw Missouri as a place to strike a blow at the Union by making a direct threat upon St. Louis. This, he believed, would force the transfer of Union troops from Atlanta, thus saving that vital supply center. General Sterling Price, a former governor of Missouri, was selected to lead the expedition, and in early September of 1864 Price assembled 12,000 troops in Pocahontas, Arkansas and moved into Missouri heading toward the small mining town of Pilot Knob. There, Price thought, he could gain control of the St. Louis and the Iron Mountain Railroads, providing easy access to St. Louis. It seemed a swift and straightforward plan to alter the course of the war. By September 25 the Confederate forces were gathered near Fredericktown and prepared to move on Pilot Knob. In anticipation of the

It seems like Almost Yesterday that the Ohio and lower Mississippi Rivers experienced a severe flood. And, this 1937 flood occurred in January and February in the midst of cold, snow and ice. From Pittsburgh to Cincinnati, Louisville, Paducah and Cairo the rivers reached record levels. Desperate calls went out for volunteers to help sand bag. One young man who volunteered was Robert “R. E.” Tompkins of Campbell, Missouri. A young man of 18, R.E. traveled to New Madrid where he joined others on a wooden barge that was pushed north toward Birds Point and Cairo, Illinois by a tow boat named the “Mud Hen.” Approaching bird’s point the wooden barge hit a partially submerged tree resulting in damage to the front of the barge, but they continued on, dropping the men at bird’s point to join in a massive sand bagging effort. There they worked all day and into the night until they were cold and exhausted. Late in the evening the workers were ordered back onto the barge to return to New Madrid

It seems like Almost Yesterday that Ms. Christine Brewer appeared on the stage of Shryock Auditorium in Carbondale as a featured artist in the Southern Illinois Music Festival of 2008. For Ms. Brewer this was very much a homecoming. Born and raised in Grand Tower, Illinois, Ms. Brewer graduated from Shawnee Community High School near Wolf Lake, Illinois and graduated from McKendree College in Lebanon, Illinois. Following her college graduation she taught school in Marissa, Illinois and continues to make her home in Lebanon. She was recently described as “a great down-home Southern Illinois woman.” She is also recognized as possessing one of the leading soprano voices in the world. From 2002 when she made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera to the summer of 2010, this native of Grand Tower has performed before some of the great operatic audiences in the world: New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Santa Fe, London, and Paris. Ms. Brewer continues to be recognized by music critics around

It seems like Almost Yesterday that Dr. Lee Turley was delivering babies and providing medical care to the residents of St. Francois County Missouri. For over 45 years, from 1890 to 1935, Dr. Turley became one of those legendary family doctors who became both physician and friend to three generations – and hundreds of families. Dr. Turley was born in 1862 and raised on a farm north and west of Bonne Terre. His grandfather, Aaron Turley, was one of the early settlers of St. Francois County, and his father, William Wesley Turley, fought with the Union Army during the Civil War. Lee Turley was educated in the rural, public schools of St. Francois County, attended the University of Missouri in Columbia, and in 1890 received a Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Missouri School of Medicine which was, at the time, in St. Louis. Within a few months of receiving his medical degree, the young Dr. Turley returned home to Bonne Terre and opened his office. For the next 45 years, he

It seems like Almost Yesterday that Miss Eliza Ann Carleton began a log cabin college north of Farmington, Missouri. Her goal was to establish a college of high quality for the young people of the region. Born and raised in a prominent Virginia family, Miss Carleton moved to Missouri in 1843 at age 17 to be close to her uncle Henry Carleton. Her family had provided her with an excellent education, and she had visited some of the most famous college of her native state. She taught school in her new state, received a Master of Arts degree from Arcadia College, and was so inspired that in 1854 she opened a four-year college with a curriculum modeled upon the very best institutions in the nation. So impressive was the program that the Missouri Legislature granted “The Carleton institute with university privileges” on March 4, 1859. The log cabin Carleton College served the young people of St. Francois County and the wider region for 24 years. In 1878 Ms. Carleton moved the college to a 16

It seems like Almost Yesterday that the last of the unplanned and unscheduled steamboat races occurred on the Mississippi. On the evening of September 5, 1923, the steam boat, The Capitol, went out of Cape on a moonlight excursion. The Bald Eagle, one of the oldest river boats, was preparing for a late night departure for St. Louis. At approximately 10:00 P.M., the Bald Eagle pulled out of Cape and headed north. About a mile up river the two ships passed – passengers shouting, and the captains laying heavy on the whistles. Near midnight the Bald Eagle encountered thick fog and tied up for the night on the Illinois shore. By Sunday morning, September 6, the fog lifted, a bright sun shone, and the Capitol moved past the Bald Eagle. Someone shouted, “Get up, we’re having a race,” and soon crew and passengers were on deck. The captain screamed “More power! More steam!” And smoke poured, bells rang, steam hissed, people yelled, some cried, and everyone was covered with soot. The destination

It seems like Almost Yesterday that the State of Missouri acquired a state flag. The date was March 22, 1913, and this was part of a movement motivated by the development of aluminum flag poles, the 1893 Columbian Exposition in Chicago, and the admission of three new states: Oklahoma, New Mexico and Arizona, all occurring in the early twentieth century. Only a few states had an official flag prior to 1900 but with the availability of sturdy aluminum flag poles, states could hoist their banners high -- in a period of great national pride and rapid growth. Ohio, New Jersey, Connecticut, Alabama, Colorado and Tennessee adopted state flags between 1895 and 1911. Many of the campaigns to adopt official state flags were led by the Daughters of the Amerian Revolution and The Colonial Dames. Such was the case in Missouri. Marie Watkins Oliver of Cape Girardeau was the State Regent of the Missouri DAR Chapter and in 1908 she discovered that Missouri did not have an official state flag. At her

It seems like Almost Yesterday that Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois experienced an unusually hot and dry summer. The year was 1867 and rainfall remained scarce well into the autumn. Temperatures were high, humidity low, and the landscape turned brown and crunchy. By mid-November, with crop yields low, a higher than usual number of hunters took to the woods and dry wetlands in pursuit of animals that could be used to sustain families through the coming winter. This resulted in an increased number of camp fires. On November 19, a heavy cloud of smoke covered all of Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois. A Cairo, Illinois newspaper reported that “a sweeping, surging flame is spreading over hundreds of miles of our territory, and dense, heavy stifling smoke, like a pall, have settled upon the whole country.” Along the north-south Illinois Central Railroad, the heavy layer of smoke was said to be more than 100 miles wide. A journalist wrote that “the sight is one of awful

It seems like almost yesterday that three veterans of the American Revolution were honored with appropriate markers at Old Bethel Cemetery south of Jackson, Missouri. The three patriots participated in the Revolutionary War and between 1797 and 1806 moved to the Jackson area, acquired land, and joined what is now called “Old Bethel Baptist Church.” “Old Bethel” has been restored, the cemetery refurbished, and the site made accessible for interpreting the early history of Southeast Missouri. Ithamar Hubbel was born in Connecticut in 1762 and at the age of 17 joined the New York militia but he contracted small pox and was incapacitated until 1780 when he re-enlisted and fought with General Phillip Schuyler’s private guards. In 1797 Hubbel came to Cape Girardeau County and built a water mill on a stream that was soon known as Hubbel creek and around which the community of Gordonville grew. Enos Randol came to the Cape County area in 1797 received a land grant and built a grist mill.

It seems like Almost Yesterday that Ronald Reagan came to Sikeston , Missouri to serve as the speaker at the annual banquet of the Sikeston Chamber of Commerce. The year was 1965 and Reagan had only recently emerged as a national political figure following the 1964 Republican National Convention. Reagan brought his emerging appeal to Southeast Missouri where Republicans were beginning to show strength. Here he argued that high taxes, social programs, and governmental regulations were strangling individual freedom and threatening to drag the country down “to the ant hill of totalitarianism.” It was this appeal that would soon take Reagan to the California’s Governor’s Mansion and then the White House, and it was this message that Ronald Reagan brought to the crowd of nearly 1,000 in the Sikeston Armory, the largest crowd to attend the annual Chamber Banquet to that time. Fielding Potashnick served as master of ceremonies and coordinated the annual Chamber Awards made to retiring board

It seems like Almost Yesterday that the community of Bunker celebrated its centennial history. Founded by Sylvanus J. Bunker in 1907, the small community paid tribute to its founders and its history with a weekend commemoration in June of 2007. Under the slogan, “Come Home to Bunker,” there was the traditional opening ceremony, a parade, beauty pageant, band concert, and a book signing for a new history of the town and region. The book, written by Dean Burns, who was born and raised in Bunker, was a highly sought after item throughout the summer of 2007. In a community of approximately 400 residents, Dr. Burns sold over 700 copies of his book, The Voices of Bunker, and Extended Communities. The village of Bunker emerged early in the twentieth century when brothers Samuel and George Culler moved a large sawmill from Mountain View, Missouri to an area of high ground between Reynolds and Dent counties that Sylvanus J. Bunker identified as containing some of the best oak and pine forests

It seems like Almost Yesterday that the State College Golden Eagles Marching Band became national media stars. In 1971, the 160 member Golden Eagles band was selected to perform at the Super Bowl in Miami, Florida. The band was given an intimidating schedule - a pre-game presentation, the national anthem, and a five-and-a-half minute marching routine during the halftime. Band director Leroy Mason began rehearsals in early September and they continued until the day before the game. The band performed the Star Spangled Banner in front of 80,000 fans and an international television audience. Orange Bowl officials later recognized the band as the best disciplined and easiest to work with in their history. Soon after this performance, the band was invited to perform at the NFL Pro Bowl game, making the Golden Eagles one of the most televised university bands in the United States. Culinary professional and cookbook author Nina Swan Koeller remembers her Super Bowl debut saying that in

It seems like Almost Yesterday that the circus came to De Soto, Missouri. In the days before television, color movies, and modern entertainment options, a high light for every community was when “the circus” came to town. Colorful costumes, trapeze artists, beautiful ladies, wild animals, and entertaining clowns — provided an escape from the hard work and isolation of rural and small town America. The Al G. Barnes wild animal shows regularly stopped in De Soto, Missouri and moved up St. Louis Street to the fairgrounds where the big tent was erected in time for the show. The giant elephants and caged animals concluded the parade and attracted a crowd of excited spectators. One of the memorable circus events in De Soto was a grand evening finale when an advertised “wild golden-maned nubian male lion” was raised from his cage to the very top of the tent where he sat on a small platform, with no enclosure. There, high above the crowd, the show concluded with loud music and a blaze of

It seems like Almost Yesterday that a new musical sound came up the Mississippi from the south. It moved north with the orchestras of the river excursion boats. Thus, Cape Girardeau was among the first communities in the nation to receive this new music. Almost all large cities on the inland waterways had excursion boats that remained in the community from Memorial Day in May to Labor Day in September. During the day the boats would take special excursions or picnic tours, followed by night time moonlight dances. There were other excursion boats that moved up and down the great rivers, stopping at various communities to do one-day or one-night events. There were also packet boats that made regular stops at specific locations. These vessels hauled freight, livestock and passengers. Almost all of these steamers had musical groups that entertained passengers during meals and provided music for evening dances. In 1921 two young men from Cape Girardeau, Jess Stacy and Raymond F. “Peg” Meyer

It seems like Almost Yesterday that the movie, “The Gangs of New York” shocked American audiences with its graphic portrayal of New York City in the middle of the nineteenth century. Martin Scorsese’s 2002 production is a shockingly violent account of the gangland struggle for the territorial control of lower Manhattan. The film grossed over two hundred million dollars and won a number of significant awards for direction, acting and music. Ticket sales were helped by the publicity surrounding the leading actors: Leonardo Dicaprio and Daniel Day-Lewis. Residents of Southeast Missouri were interested in this prominent movie due to the fact that it was based upon the 1928 book: The Gangs of New York: An Informal History of the Underworld, written by Herbert Asbury of Farmington, Missouri. Asbury was born in Farmington on September 1, 1889, the son of Samuel and Ellen Prichard Asbury. Educated in the public schools of Farmington, Asbury attended Carleton College and in 1917 joined the U. S

It seems like Almost Yesterday that the territory Americans know as Texas began – from its origins in Southeast Missouri. In 1796 a young man from Connecticut left his home and moved west in response to stories of vast quantities of lead in the Missouri country. With a large land grant from the Spanish government, Moses Austin initiated the Missouri lead industry and established a number of mining communities with essential roads, bridges, stores, mills, and labor. The geographic center of this early Missouri mining industry was in the vicinity of Potosi, named for the Bolivian mining center of Potosi. The outlet for the tons of lead produced in this region was Herculaneum on the Mississippi River and by 1817 a very wealthy Moses Austin turned his mines over to his son Stephen and moved to Herculaneum. The economic panic of 1819 significantly impacted the Austin wealth and in 1821 Moses Austin traveled to Spanish Texas where he received permission to bring 300 American families to the

It seems like Almost Yesterday that the Roberts, Johnson and Rand Shoe Company of St. Louis opened a manufacturing plant in Cape Girardeau . The date was September 9, 1907 and this proved to be a significant development in the economic growth of the city. In 1900 Cape Girardeau was a small community of fewer than 5000 residents. But it was eager to grow. In 1904 a railroad connected Cape to St. Louis, enabling residents to visit the World’s Fair and bringing frequent visitors from St. Louis. Leaders of the community identified a need for a factor or sizable business enterprise that could create jobs and increase the population that had grown slowly during the last half of the 19th Century. In September of 1906, the owners of the Roberts, Johnson and Rand Shoe Company arrived in Cape to announce that they were interested in establishing a new factory and were considering such possible sites as Quincy and Mount Vernon, Illinois; Washington, Missouri; and Cape Girardeau. The company

Having trouble with the new Anchor app but had some time to figure it out after fully preparing for LogoUNLTD.com presents Supporting Sound! We talk about the show, video editing, streaming, and more. Callers were: Gerad Forte of Slangsmith Radio, Killjoy, TC Rae of Action 25, Kingfish, and Sheena Diane. Thanks for call ins! Featured song: "Almost Yesterday"

We discuss more about following your gut, soundtracks and snow in Seattle. Featured song: "Almost Yesterday" part 2

Episode 3 of Break Room Balladeer drops today and it features Blok24, event application. Also I hear strange noises in the college woods, it's Kurt Cobain's birthday, and we discuss innocence. This podcast episode is FULL of cool stuff. Featured song: "Almost Yesterday" (part 1)