Ken Steinhoff, Author at Cape Girardeau History and Photos

June 13, 2013

1965 Graduation Party

From what I read in the paper, today’s graduation parties cost more than wedding did back in our day. Here are photos from the all-night graduation party held at the Arena Building for the Class of 1965.

It’s my blog, so I’ll cheat a little and post a photo of MY date for the night: the future Lila Perry Steinhoff, at right. She gained points because she didn’t try to put a funny hat on my head like Margaret Ritter is doing to John Ueleke.

Harold Payne, never absent or tardy

The caption on the Youth Page on June 12, 1965, said “Harold Payne, the only member of the class to go four years to Central High without missing a day or being tardy reached his breaking point at the all-night senior party last week.”

Peggy Estes looks at Girardot

“Classmate Miss Peggy Estes keep semi-awake by gazing at the class yearbook.”

Called an all-night binge

The Missourian story called the party an “all-night binge.” I’d hate to hear what they’d call today’s extravaganzas. I’ll set the official Missourian story in italics.

Central High School graduating seniors, treated to an all-night binge by their parents, danced their way from last Thursday night after graduation to breakfast at 4 Friday morning.

Danced through the night

Most of them danced through the entire night, according to Mrs. Gale Heise, one of the head chairmen for the affair. An annual event, this year’s party was the biggest ever. And, according to Mrs. Heise, the seniors can thank all the parents for their complete cooperation.

Door prizes sparked the dull moments when the band took a break. Local merchants donated 125 items for prizes. And a grand prize, a portable television, which Lee Dahringer won, was purchased with money donated by parents. Fifteen prizes, including the big one, were given out just before breakfast.

Made a beeline for Arena Building

Two bands were hired for the evening – the Goldtones, which played for the first half of the evening, and Willies Band [the microfilm was sketchy here, but that’s what it looked like] which played until the wee hours.

The graduates, some with underclassmen as dates – made a beeline for the Arena Building as soon as the graduation ceremonies were over. The underclassmen were allowed to stay until 1 Friday morning. Then they left and the seniors were given a half hour to run home to change into sports clothes for the remainder of the party. [I was given a little more leeway since I had to go home to process the photos for the paper.]

Food was plentiful

Food was plentiful and free. Parents did the decorating, which followed a Mardi Gras theme. [The rest of the paragraph couldn’t be read.]

Some of the graduates dozed off for awhile, but the dance floor, said Mrs. Heise, was still pretty full at 4.

Head chairmen for the party were Mr. and Mrs. Heise, Senator and Mrs. Albert Spradling, Mr. and Mrs. Jack Knehans and Mr. and Mrs. Charles House.

Graduation Party photo gallery

Click on any photo to make it larger, then click on the side to move through the gallery.

June 11, 2013June 11, 2013

Fred R. Nebel Farm

If the mailbox is correct, these were taken on the Fred R. Nebel farm on Route 1 in Cape County. I think I shot them for The Jackson Pioneer in 1965, but the only way to find out would be to root through a big box of crumbling clips that make me sneeze and causes my skin to itch. To keep from doing that, I’ll reach out for some stories The Southeast Missourian did about Mr. Nebel.

Fred Nebel died July 21, 2010

July 23, 2010 – Missourian Obituary: Fred R. Nebel, 95, of Cape Girardeau died Wednesday, July 21, 2010, at Missouri Veterans Home. He was born July 9, 1915, in Gordonville, to Julius F. and Pauline Friedrich Nebel. He and Cordia Stueve were married Nov. 21, 1943, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Cape Girardeau by the Rev. F.H. Meltzer. They had been married 63 years. She preceded him in death Dec. 18, 2006.

Fred was confirmed June 30, 1929, at Zion Lutheran Church by the Rev. Valentine Walther. He enjoyed playing cards at the Jackson Senior Center and bingo at Missouri Veterans Home, where he resided 2 1/2 years. He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church where he was a voter, usher, served on the board of elders and was a member of the Men’s Club. He was a member of Jackson American Legion Post 158 and member of NARFE.

He worked for Marquette Cement plant 32 years, Army Corps of Engineers eight years, and farmed north of Cape Girardeau.

Nebel served with the Navy Seabees.

Survivors include a son, Steve Nebel and wife Connie of Cape Girardeau; two daughters, Sharon Ann King of Overland, Mo., Vicki Rolf and husband Charles of St. Louis; a grandchild, Michael King and wife Holly; a great-grandchild, Madison King; a great-stepgrandchild, Caleb Codding; a sister, Anna Marie Daume; and a sister-in-law, Gladys Nebel.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife; brother, Calvin P. Nebel; infant sister, Irma Nebel; and granddaughter, Michele King.

Celebrates 60th Wedding Anniversary

December 7, 2003 – Mr. and Mrs. Fred Nebel of Cape Girardeau celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary with a dinner at Bella Italia Nov. 29. Hosts were their children and spouses, Sharon King, Vicki and Charles Rolf, all of St. Louis, and Steve and Connie Nebel of Cape Girardeau.

The couple was married Nov. 21, 1943, at Trinity Lutheran Church, by the Rev. Meltzer. Members of the wedding party included Calvin Nebel, Hildegard Leimbach Schilling, Nora Stueve Kasten, and the late Emily Leimbach Krause, Ervin and Norbert Stueve.

The Nebels have a grandson, Mike King, and a great-granddaughter, Madison King, both of St. Charles, Mo.

Oldest person at Friedrich Reunion

September 1, 2005, Community Digest – 52 in attendance at the Friedrich reunion. The Friedrich reunion was held at Delmonico’s in Jackson Aug. 21. Food and fellowship were enjoyed by 52 in attendance from Cape Girardeau, Jackson, Oak Ridge, Leopold and surrounding Missouri communities. Fred Nebel of Cape Girardeau, age 90, was honored as the oldest in attendance; Ashley Hillis of Tulin, Mo., age 7 months, was honored as the youngest in attendance; Paul and Maxine Friedrich of Jackson were honored as the biggest family with six children; traveling the furthest was Cherry Hinderberger of Columbia, Mo. Entertainment was provided by Hinderberger and Dennis Mayfield.

Recognized for his service

November 18, 2009 – The Missourian ran a photo of Fred Nebel, a veteran and resident of the Veteran’s Home receiving a card of thanks from one of the children of A Small World’s Kid’s Club.

Click on any of the photos to make them larger.

June 11, 2013

Harris Motor Car Co Fire

The Harris Motor Company fire at the northeast corner of Broadway and Lorimier wasn’t all that exciting, but it did capture some interesting things in the background of a couple of shots.

I don’t know that I was ever in the building, but Fred Lynch and Sharon Sanders did a pretty good job of nailing down the history of the landmark building in Fred’s blog.

Idan-Ha Hotel sign

You can see the Idan-Ha Hotel sign off in the distance on the left. The N’Orleans sign shows up behind one for the State of Missouri Employment Service. The Idan-Ha burned in 1989, and the N’Orleans is sitting empty today.

Built in 1915

Fred’s blog said the building was constructed in 1915. In 1937, Harris Motor Car Co. razed the adjoining Dr. Adolph List house, built in 1888, to expand its operation. Another story noted that the List house was modeled after a German castle.

Turned into apartments in 2001

I couldn’t find a story about the fire, but there was an ad in the Dec. 3, 1965, Missourian saying to watch for the Grand Opening of Harris Motor Car Co. The 1968 City Directory listed Harris Motor Car Co. at Highway 61 North and Independence.

In 1968, Charmin, which was building its new plant near Neely’s Landing, leased space in the “former Harris Motor Car Building.” In 1971 the paper reported that the building had been converted into an apartment complex by Vernon Rhodes.

June 10, 2013

Troop 14 at Camp Lewallen

Troop 14 raised most of the money it took to go to Camp Lewallen in the summer of 1966. When their sales of soft drinks at the Arena Park stock car races and distributing posters came up a little short of being able to send all the boys to camp, the Cape Girardeau Jaycees made up the difference.

Somehow or another I managed to convince jBlue to devote the whole July 30, 1966, Youth Page to the boys. It’s the only single-topic page I can recall. That made me happy, because we ran eight pictures, which brought in almost as much money as I made in salary that week. I’m missing a couple of the photos that ran, but I substituted some that were close. The information under the photos came from captions that appeared in the paper for the most part.

Doing their swim checks

Most Scouts take to water with the fervor of ants heading for a picnic basket, and these members of Troop 14, sponsored by the Cape Girardeau Jaycees are no exception. Hitting the water for their swim check at Camp Lewallen are Roscoe Newbern, 304 LaCruz; Ed Slaughter, 532 College; David Vann, 522 South Frederick; Raymond Ward, 1211 South Sprigg; Harold Webb, 620 Vine; Calvin Sides, 548 South Frederick, and Larry Ross and Ervin Williams, 1622 South Sprigg.

Medical check

Before they go swimming, they are given a quick medical check to detect any major physical disabilities that might limit their participation at camp. Dr. Tim Talbert listens to Ed Slaughter’s heartbeat, while a nurse examines Calvin Sides for possible skin infections that could keep him out of aquatic activities.

Some quiet time

Ottis Johnson, 1610 South Sprigg, finds that there’s even time for a little solitude worked into his busy schedule of axemanship, horseback riding and a little advancement work. [I don’t know if ‘Ottis” is the correct spelling, but that’s what was in the paper.]

Acting Senior Patrol Leader Ervin Williams

The responsibilities of an acting senior patrol leader are mirrored by Ervin Williams’ wrinkled brow. Ervin, the oldest scout in the troop, was elected to the post at the group’s first meeting at the camp. [This wasn’t the photo that ran, but it’s close.]

Jaycees helped out

[This isn’t the photo that ran, so the names won’t match up. I wanted to get them listed, even if they might not be in this particular photo.]

Talking over the plans for the week are are, from left, Harold Webb, David Vann, Acting Scoutmaster Roy Dzurick, Ed Slaughter and Troop Committee Chairman Jeff Ryan, a Jaycee. Because the boys’ regular scoutmaster couldn’t attend camp, a Lewallen staff member was in charge of the nine scouts.

Newbern and Moore sell drinks

Roscoe Newbern seems to turn up everywhere. The Missourian photographer caught him and Joe Moore dishing out soft drinks to Jeff Ryan at the Arena Park stock car races. Proceeds from the stand helped pay the troop’s way to Camp Lewallen.

A pensive Tenderfoot

Roscoe is silent, pensive, wondering, perhaps how it was possible to cram so many projects into a six-day period.

Making a tent a home

Roscoe and his tentmate Calvin Sides worked so hard to make their tent liveable that one of the other boys shouted, “Hey, Roscoe, you’ll make some woman a good wife someday.” Roscoe, always a good Scout, didn’t reply.

Most boys advanced in rank

At Lewallen, most of the boys advanced at least one rank and some of them picked up merit badges.

“Kind of spooky”

Long-term camping was something new to most of the scouts, but a few random comments would indicate they they got along all right.

“It was great – the food was good and there was plenty of it…those Indian dances Thursday night were terrific – I really liked the Hoop Dance… I had trouble getting to sleep that night we spent out under the stars: it was kind of spooky.”

Camp Lewallen photo gallery

Click on any photo to make it larger, then click on the side to move through the gallery. Bonus point if you can find the photo with me in it.