Common Pleas Archives

October 28, 2011

Did They Open the Time Capsule?

It was a pretty, if chilly, day in Cape, so Missourian reporter Melissa Miller and I decided to walk from the paper downtown to lunch by cutting through the Common Pleas Courthouse grounds and walking down (and up) 55 steps (plus landings). I won the honor by being the 100th person to “Like” her Facebook page. (Here’s how I know it was 55 steps.)

It was a pleasure meeting her after exchanging email and FB messages. It was a bit of a downer, though, when the cashier asked if I was her dad, but I suppose that’s better than being asked if I was her grandfather.

On the way back to the office, I looked around at all of the markers and memorials that I had never paid attention to before.

Research or nap?

This one is a marks a time capsule right next to the west foundation of the courthouse:

SESQUICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION
CAPE GIRARDEAU MO
AUG. 19 – 25, 1956
OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS AND OTHER RECORDS TO BE OPENED DURING BICENTENNIAL YR 2006

My interest was piqued. What was in the time capsule from 1956? Did they open it in 2006? I did a cursory search of Cape Bicentennial events in 2006 and saw no mention of it. As the afternoon went on, I had to make a choice: continue my research or take a nap. Nap won out. I’ll let someone else tell me if it was opened.

Cardinals to name Mother MVP

You’ll read about the other courthouse markers and memorials later. I couldn’t edit photos, do research and write copy with the Cardinals playing like they did in Game 6. I decided to call it a night after that last homer.

I’m waiting to open the door any minute though, and be visited by a plague of sportswriters carrying a big trophy naming Mother Most Valuable Player. When I took a break, I found her dead asleep with the TV blaring basefall. She and the Cardinals were taking the same approach to the game.

Fortunately, she woke up in the bottom of the ninth, and so did The Birds. I made sure to go upstairs and give her a poke every time the Cards came up to bat after that. I hope I can keep her awake for Game 7.

September 26, 2011

Memorial to Slain Police Chief

When I wrote about Murtaugh Park on Main Street in the historical triangle between the Red House, St. Vincent’s Church and the Jewish Synagogue, I noted that a memorial to Cape Police Chief N.J. (Jeff) Hutson was missing. Chief Hutson was killed in the line of duty Oct. 7, 1922. The Lion’s Club planted a Hawthorn tree in his honor on Arbor Day in 1923. That tree, along with another one planted by the Wednesday Club on April 11, 1923, was also gone.

A reader pointed out that the chief’s marker, which reads, “In memory of N.J. Hutson, Chief of Police, a man who stood for law and order for which he gave his life,” had been moved to the Common Pleas Courthouse grounds Sept. 17, 1965. The Missourian had a photo of Chief Hutson’s relatives posing with the memorial. I don’t remember shooting the photo that ran in the paper, but I do have this one of the workers pouring a concrete base for it. (Click on it to make it larger.)

I don’t know who the men are, but a couple of them look familiar. Ideas?

June 13, 2011December 29, 2011

Do These Photos Say Cape?

I have a friend who was looking for some stock photos of Cape to use as headers on a web page. I started poking around and came up with these old and new photos that I think capture some of the spirit of the town.

The biggest challenge was finding pictures that would fit the exact format shape – a skinny horizontal.

Photographers HATE to shoot for shape

Photographers HATE going out to shoot for shape. We always figured that was a sign that the page designer was too lazy to work with the most story-telling photos on deadline. He wanted to dummy the page early so he could go home early.

Photographers, of course, believe that every photograph is perfectly composed. Some would express that conceit by printing their photos “full frame” with black borders that indicated that the picture had not been cropped. (Guilty as charged.)

Of course, as a guy who had to do his own layouts, I found that sometimes cropping the photo made the page look a lot better. It was OK if I did it; it was a mortal sin if someone else did it.

Photo gallery

Since I’m not exactly sure what my friend is looking for, I’ve pulled together photos that you’ve seen before and some that were in the pipeline. I’m curious to see what you think best says “Cape Girardeau.”

If she uses any, I’ll post the website address. As always, click on any photo to make it larger, then click on the left or right side to move through the gallery.

May 16, 2011September 18, 2011

Themis and Spanish Landmarks

This green stucco building at the northeast corner of Spanish and Themis was the Doyle’s Hat Shop I mentioned in the story about my grandmother, Elsie Adkins Welch. She would ride a wagon from Advance to Cape to buy a new bonnet there.

A Missourian column, Lost and Saved provides some historical background: The two-story brick stucco building, designed with Italianate influences served as the residence of Elizabeth Doyle and as her business, the Doyle Hat Shop. The hat shop was located in the southwest corner of the building with the house adjoining. Mrs. E.W. Harris, aunt of Doyle, started the hat shop in 1859 and, when she passed away in 1908, Doyle took over the family business. Doyle had a pet fox terrier named Dan and, when he died in 1922, it made the newspaper that she was in mourning over losing her beloved pet. When Doyle died in 1925, her daughter in-law, Mrs. E.M. Doyle, ran the business. The hat shop closed in 1960.

Teen Age Club

Teens from the 1960s will recall walking through this door and going up to the Teen Age Club located on the second floor.

Officials shut down dance

This is the building where the kids were gyrating so enthusiastically the floor started bouncing Officials shut down the dance before the building could collapse.

Dancing in the parking lot

Not to be deterred, the teens moved out to the bank parking lot at the corner of Broadway and Main. Follow the link to see more photos.

Common Pleas Courthouse

If you look up the hill to the west, you’ll see the Common Pleas Courthouse overlooking the downtown area.