September 2010

September 29, 2010

Cedar Hills Pet Cemetery

I’ve spent a lot of time wandering through old cemeteries and graveyards. You can tell a lot about a community by the way it takes care of its dead. You can get a feel for who the prominent families were and be amused by some of the tombstone inscriptions.

I get a lump in my throat when I get to the sections set aside for kids, particularly in the older cemeteries where some of the homemade markers incorporate the child’s marbles or jacks.

When the kids were little, we took off cross-country and made a detour to see the Key Underwood Coon Dog Memorial Graveyard just outside Tuscambia, Al. Follow the link to see more markers like High Pockets, above, and read an account of a misunderstanding that could only happen out in the country.

Cape Girardeau’s Cedar Hills Pet Cemetery

If I’d traipse all over Alabama, surely I’d pull off Big Bend Rd. to take a look at the Cedar Hills Pet Cemetery in Cape. It’s a bit plain looking, but it’s neatly kept.

The Coon dog Cemetery (originally called Graveyard), was founded in 1937, when Key Underwood buried Troop, so it’s had a lot more time to get that old-time feeling. The Cape cemetery is only about a couple decades old.

Only coon dogs allowed in Coon Dog Cemetery

Another big difference is that the Cedar Hills Pet Cemetery appears not to discriminate. They’ll even take, god forbid, cats. [Editor’s note: that was meant tongue-in-cheek. Our back yard is so full of cats that I don’t know where we’ll plant the next one when the time comes.]

The Alabama site has strict rules: “A dog can’t run no deer, possum — nothing like that. He’s got to be a straight coon dog, and he’s got to be full hound. Couldn’t be a mixed up breed dog, a house dog.”

Cremations, urns and caskets

Cedar Hill’s website says they offer a full range of products and services. A crematory was supposed to open in Spring of 2010, to handle the 75% of services that involve cremations these days. They’ll also sell you urns or caskets for your pet.

The Missourian’s Bridget DiCosmo did a story about Cedar Hills in 2009.

Gallery of Cedar Hill Pet Cemetery Photos

Click on any photo to enlarge it, then click on the left or right side of the image to move through the gallery.

September 29, 2010

Broadway Landmarks & Cracked Sidewalks

I don’t know if these women were leaving the DayZy Beauty Salon or Jordan Office Equipment and Supply. I suspect the former. The 1979 City Directory said the beauty salon was at 718 Broadway and owned by Mrs. Dorothy Willman.

“Women,” not “ladies”

I called them “women” because Missourian style was that females of a certain age were “women,” because that was a verifiable fact. “We don’t KNOW if they are ladies,” it was drilled into me.

Cracked sidewalks

These photos were in a sleeve slugged “Cracked Sidewalks 3/27/67.” There were some other photos in it, too. Wife Lila was in The Missourian’s print shop, where The Capaha Arrow was on the press, and I had a couple of shots of Jim Stone from a trip to the Ohio University campus. The variety of the photos makes me think the date was when the film was processed, not when it was taken.

I don’t know if I shot the sidewalks on assignment or on the off-chance that I could turn the photos into a story. There was a difference. At some point Editor John Blue or someone in the business office must have discovered that they weren’t paying me much salary ($50 a week to start and probably around $70 a week by the time I left), but I was making about half that much again in freelance photos. That probably put me in the salary range of real, experienced reporters.

Sliding pay scale

The solution: they changed my pay schedule. I got $5 for every ASSIGNED photo, but only $3 if the photo was self-generated.

That’s where I learned to think in terms of picture stories and multiple photos. A photo that contained all of the elements of the story in one picture was only worth $3 to $5. If I could find a way to tell the story in pieces, then it was more money in my pocket.

I understand how Frony became One-Shot

Oh, yeah, there was another catch. I had to pay for my own film, paper, chemicals and darkroom equipment.

I can understand why Frony became One-Shot Frony.

Still, I was living at home and didn’t have many expenses outside gas, photo supplies and dates. Lila will testify that I certainly didn’t spend a lot of money on THOSE.

I used to drive the accounting department nuts because I’d go weeks without depositing my pay checks. Eventually, someone would come up and ask me to cash them so they could balance their books.

Trust me, that was the ONLY time in my life that happened.

Armstrong Tires and Chris Cross Cafe

I could have used this photo with two stories. The Armstrong Tire ad would have fit nicely with the one dealing with the early days of the automobile in Cape.

It also shows a corner of the mystery building that was being demolished at the corner of Broadway and Sprigg in my Sept. 9 piece. Readers identified it as the Chris Cross Cafe. I don’t know that I was ever in the Broadway Radio-TV Shop.

Chamber, Boy Scouts & Salvation Army

This cracked sidewalk photo in the 200 Block of Broadway picks up several landmark establishments: The Chamber of Commerce, the Boy Scouts of America and the Salvation Army. That’s my ’59 Buick LaSabre station wagon facing the river.

September 28, 2010September 28, 2010

Miss Alene Sadler: Most Influential

When the Class of 1965 filled out the bio information for the 20th reunion in 1985, 18 students listed Miss Alene Sadler as their most influential teacher.

She was one of the toughest and best teachers I had. Miss Sadler was not one to trifle with lightly. After she marked one of my answers wrong on a test, I brought in a stack of books the next day to prove my point. She conceded that I was correct, but I had a clear sense that I may have won the battle, but the war was going to be distinctly unpleasant.

Missouri Teacher of the Year

I did a Missourian search, but couldn’t find an obit or any current information on Miss Sadler. There were lots of stories going back to 1925 about her musical performances, but little about her teaching. She WAS named Missouri Teacher of the Year in 1964. Looks like we were fortunate enough to catch her in her prime.

Comments from the Class of 65

Charlie Baldwin: She was an excellent instructor who demonstrated the ability to teach subject matter in a very interesting fashion while at the same time developing positive relations with students. She has been a very good role model for me during my career.

Vicky Berry Dereign: The teachers who influenced me were Miss Sadler and Miss Sivia, they set a standard for me after which I have tried to pattern my own teaching. (Humorous memories: “I remember how Kenny Steinhoff used to argue about everything, including the pros and cons of kissing.”) [Editor’s note: I have no idea what she’s talking about.]

Lee Dahringer: …for developing an appreciation of and an interest in effective communication and analytical thought.

Put my brain to work

Peggy Estes Goddard: She was creative and caused me to really put my brain to work.

Connie Hall Schwab: Her efforts helped me to realize that proper English and grammar are essential in every aspect of one’s life.

Marsha Harris Vangilder: Taught me to read – just for pleasure.

Alice Lynn Snell: The skills that she stressed have had a lasting effect and have helped much in my career.

Love of students

Marsha Marshall Gutshall: Her love of the students and her strong desire to impart knowledge.

Connie Nelson Copsy: She treated us as adults and prepared us for college, while still getting the information across.

Mary Ponder Wyss: I still recall and utilize many of the things learned in her class.

Victoria Roth Hardy: Most influenced by Miss Sadler’s exposure to the Humanities and the Arts. [Vicky] had fond memories of Miss Sadler’s harp player.

Michael Seabaugh: … for her being able to open up the world in all its glorious depth and breadth.

Ken Steinhoff: She tried to teach me how to express myself clearly on paper.

September 27, 2010September 22, 2020

Cape’s First Car: 1904; First Crash: 1910

The first gas-powered automobile of record in Cape Girardeau was a Great Northern owned by George McBride, a stave manufacturer. The year was 1904. The Missourian’s 25th Anniversary edition has a fascinating history of the automobile from a 1929 perspective.

Other motorists in 1904

Dr. A.D. Blomeyer drove a Locomobile, a slow-moving, steam-powered vehicle.

The first gasoline bus was the “Red Devil,” bought by William Gockel. The paper said that “the Red Devil remained true to its name during the period Mr. Gockel was its owner and he finally gave it away for fear it may take a notion to return to the place from which, as its name indicated, it originally came.”

Buggy manufacturer considers Cape

Not everyone was so sure automobiles were going to be a permanent transportation fixture. Russell Gardner, a prominent St. Louis buggy manufacturer, came to Cape in October, 1904, to select a location for a buggy factory that was to be in operation by March of the next year. The factory was never built.

Cape automotive pioneers

Fred A. Groves and O.G. Edwards came to Cape in 1914 to start an automobile business. They had been in business together in Farmington, a Missourian story explained, when they decided to give Cape a go.

It took them three days to drive from Farmington to Cape Girardeau. One day from Farmington to Ste. Genevieve; one from Ste. Gen to Perryville, and one to cover the 35 miles from Perryville to Cape.

The two young men established an agency for Hudson and Hupmobile. Edwards went back to Farmington, but Groves stayed in Cape. He took over the Ford agency in 1914. Groves sold 5,526 Ford Model Ts and 500 Model As in his first 15 years.

Other early Cape car dealers

A Dodge franchise went to Thomas L. Harris.
Rudert and Sons started in the garage and automobile agency business in 1917.
Albert P. Rueseler and Walter Bohnsack organized the Rueseler-Bohnsack Auto Co. in 1923. The Rueseler Motor Co. was formed in 1925, and Bohnsack became a Studebaker dealer.

Significant dates in Cape automotive history

First car theft: Oct. 21, 1905. Salesman Vince Chapman left his car in front of the Broadway Mercantile Co. “Manufacturers apparently thought there was about as much temptation for the predatory criminal to steal an automobile as to steal a box car or a steamboat and had not provided locks,” The Missourian speculated. There is no indication that the car was recovered. It is estimated that there were perhaps 20 cars in Cape at that time.
Fastest time Cape to Jackson: July 9, 1906, Joe Wilson drove from Cape to Jackson in a record time of 25 minutes, “probably the shortest time in which the 10 miles had ever been traversed up to that time.”
First Tin Lizzie: George McBride (remember him) brought the first “Henry” into Cape in May of 1909.
First garage: A.J. Vogel opened the first garage on Jan. 10, 1910. It had a showroom big enough to hold six cars, a washing and cleaning shop and a repair shop. Vogel, a farm machinery salesman and experienced mechanic, placed the first display auto ad to run in The Missourian. The 4-inch, single column ad read: “The Vogel Motor Car Co., 419 Broadway, will be ready for business in 10 days. Come and see us.”
First auto license tax: Dec. 6, 1909. $5.
First car vs ped: July 21, 1910. Esaw Hendrickson, a Delta farmer, got off a street car between the H&H Building and the Idan-Ha Hotel and stepped in front of a car driven by City Councilman Joe T. Wilson. He was knocked down and run over, but his injuries were not serious.

(Cars were still bumping into each other at Broadway and Fountain in 1966. See more photos of this crash, plus read about Fred Kaempher, Cape’s song-writing policeman.)

First auto vs bicycle: the day after Mr. Hendrickson’s accident, a car driven by R.B. Oliver, Jr., and a bicycle ridden by Fred Frenzel, a Western Union messenger boy, collided at the corner of Broadway and Spanish. “The boy was not hurt much, but his brand-new wheel was demolished.”
First funeral procession: Oct. 30, 1916, when the body of Charles E. Booth, a Frisco fireman, was laid to rest. The Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and the Odd Fellows asked Booth’s friends to bring automobiles for the funeral procession.

Cars were big business in Cape in ’29

Ten garages were exclusively devoted to repair work; 14 others were dealerships in addition to their garage functions.
Two automobile accessory concerns.
Three automobile battery stations.
Seven exclusive tire and service stations, not counting garages and stores handling tires.
One vulcanizing shop.
At least 30 filling stations.
Cape automotive landmarks
First car theft: Oct. 21, 1905. Vince Chapman left the car in front of the Broadway Mercantile Co. “Manufacturers apparently thought there was about as much temptation for the predatory criminal to steal an automobile as to steal a box car or a steamboat and had not provided locks.” There is no indication that the car was recovered. It is estimated that there were perhaps 20 cars in Cape at this time.
Fastest time Cape to Jackson: July 9, 1906, Joe Wilson drove the 10 miles from Cape to Jackson in a record time of 25 minutes, “probably the shortest time in which had ever been transversed up to that time.”
First Tin Lizzie: George McBride (remember him) brought the first “Henry” into Cape in May of 1909.
First garage: A.J. Vogel opened the first garage on Jan. 10, 1910. It had a show room big enough to hold six cars, a washing and cleaning shop and a repair shop.
First auto license tax: Dec. 6, 1909. $5.
First Missourian auto ad: Oct. 15, 1909. A.J. Vogel, a farm machinery salesman and experienced mechanic placed a 4-inch single column ad: “The Vogel Motor Car Co., 419 Broadway, will be ready for business in 10 days. Come and see us.”
First auto crash: July 21, 1910. Esaw Hendrickson, a Delta farmer, got off a street car betwen the H&H Building and the Idan-Ha Hotel and stepped in front of a car driven by City Councilman Joe T. Wilson. He was knocked down and run over, but his injuries were not serious.
First auto vs bicycle: the day after Mr. Hendrickson’s accident, a car driven by R.B. Oliver, Jr., and a bicycle ridden by Fred Frenzel, a Western Union messenger boy, collided at the corner of Broadway and Spanish. “The boy was not hurt much, but his brand-new wheel was demolished.”
First funeral procession: Oct. 30, 1916, when the body of Charles E. Booth, a Frisco fireman, was laid to rest. The Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and the Odd Fellows asked Booth’s friends to bring automobiles for the funeral procession.