Photos around Cape Archives

October 5, 2014

1304 Broadway

I’ve passed the yellow brick building at 1304 Broadway no telling how many times, but I never stopped to look at it closely, and I certainly was never in it. I vaguely remember it being some kind of international food store for awhile.

Like so many of Cape’s other older buildings, it has had an interesting past, with many familiar names popping up in news stories and briefs associated with that address. It was built between 1923 and 1928 by Dr. J.F. Riddle of Bernie who lived in Cape for about five years before moving back to Bernie.

Judge Joseph L. Moore and his family moved into the house in 1931, and lived there until the kids grew up and they went looking for a smaller place in 1937. The next residents were Albert M. Spradling, described in early stories as “an attorney,” and the father of future Senator A.M. Spradling, Jr.

In the early 1960s, Hartford’s Gift Shop moved into the property. By the 1970s, the Jim Haman family occupied the dwelling. After that, it gets a little muddy. Global Trading, an international grocery was established in 1986. The grocery and the city got into a legal tussle over eminent domain when Broadway was widened. I didn’t see a story about the outcome, but I note that the building seems to be unoccupied now.

The Riddle – Moore years

All stories are from The Southeast Missourian, except as noted.

February 5, 1931 – Mr. and Mrs. Joseph L. Moore moved Wednesday from 1402 Bessie Street to 1304 Broadway. Mr. Moore is a referee in bankruptcy.
June 7, 1932 – Ella Haw Johnson, 6, has returned to her home at Farmington after a visit with her little cousin, Patricia Grubb, 1304 Broadway.
June 18, 1932 – Mrs. Paul A. Reardon of Knoxville, Tenn., is here to be a guest for possibly three weeks at the home of her parents, Judge and Mrs. Joseph L. Moore, 1304 Broadway.
February 27, 1933 – The fourth blaze [of the weekend] was at 9:12 Sunday night at the dwelling of Judge Joseph L. Moore, 1304 Broadway, where a flue burned out.
October 25, 1933 – Judge J.L. Moore and daughter, Miss Anna Lee Moore, 1304 Broadway, left today for Chicago and will be at the fair until Monday. Judge Moore attended the other world’s fair in Chicago, held 40 years ago.
Feb. 29, 1936 – Miss Anna Haw of Farmington is visiting her sister, Mrs. W.H. Wescoat, 1417 Themis Street, and Mrs. Joseph L. Moore, 1304 Broadway. She will be here several weeks.
October 31, 1936 – Dr. J.F. Riddle, 68 years old, of Bernie, formerly of Cape Girardeau, died of diabetes at a hospital in Poplar Bluff at 5 a.m. after being a patient there for two weeks. Dr. Riddle practiced medicine until he became ill, and managed his farm land near Bernie and real estate he owned in that town. The Riddle family moved to Cape Girardeau from Bernie in 1923 and resided here for five years. They lived for a time on Good Hope Street then built a dwelling at 1304 Broadway and lived there until they moved back to Bernie.
December 28, 1936 – Mr. and Mrs. Joe L. Moore, 1304 Broadway, have received word of the birth of a son to Mr. and Mrs. Paul A. Reardon of Knoxville, Tenn., Christmas day. Mrs. Reardon, formerly Miss Martha Moore, is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Moore. Mr. Reardon is connected with the TVA development.
May 31, 1937 – The condition of Joseph L. Moore, 1304 Broadway, was reported slightly improved today, but he is not yet permitted to have visitors other than relatives. He had a slight temperature today but was able to take a little nourishment. Mr. Moore has been ill 10 days.
October 1, 1937 – Judge J.L. Moore, who with Mrs. Moore was getting settled at 626 South Benton Street, moving from 1304 Broadway, said he found it a difficult task locating a vacant dwelling. He stated that he feared for a time they would have to move out of the city to locate a place to live. Judge Moore spent more than a month casually looking for a house then put in two down right busy weeks on the search. The dwelling on Broadway was too large, none of the Moores’ sons and daughters being at home at present. They moved there in February, 1931, and had spent the last 6-1/2 years at that location.

The Spradling Era

August 29, 1938 – Members of the Teens Club, of which she is a member, and extra guests, who were Miss Margaret Bohnsack, Miss Helen Hosea and Miss Betty Hunt, the latter of Salem, Ill., were entertained in honor of Miss Margaret Spradling Saturday night by her mother, Mrs. A.M. Spradling, at their home, 1304 Broadway. The honoree was 15 years old that day. Miss Virginia Waller assisted with the party. Prizes and tallies carried out a Mexican motif at three tables of hearts, and the prizes were won by Misses Betty Shaner, Jean Chatham and Margaret Bohnsack.
March 22, 1939 – Albert M. Spradling, 1304 Broadway, an attorney, is improving at the Missouri Pacific Hospital in St. Louis, Mrs. Spradling said today. He is a patient there for treatment of an inflamed condition of his eyes, which has not yet been fully diagnosed, although various tests have been made.
April 13, 1939 – Albert M. Spradling, an attorney of 1304 Broadway, returned early today from Rochester, Minn., where he spent the past week undergoing treatment of his eyes at the Mayo Bros. Clinic. Mr. Spradling has been out of his office most of the time since the first of the year and was in a St. Louis hospital for a month. His eyes are improved and he said today that he will spend much of his time at his office in the H-H building, but will not do a great deal of work. He is a law partner of S.P. Dalton, recent appointee as Supreme Court commissioner.
November 22, 1942 – A.M. Spradling, an attorney of 1304 Broadway, who went to the Missouri Pacific Hospital in St. Louis for an operation Nov. 3, is greatly improved and expects to return to his home here Monday. He has been sitting up most of the week. After returning he will remain at home for several days.
June 11, 1942 – Albert Spradling Jr., who was graduated from the University of Missouri law school at Columbia Tuesday morning, accompanied his parents, Mr. and Mrs. A.M. Spradling, and his sister, Miss Margaret, 1304 Broadway, home and began work this morning as a partner in the law office of his father. His parents and sister went to Columbia Monday to be present for the exercises. He attended the university three years after having attended Teachers College three years. He passed the bar examinations in February. Last summer he was here in the law office of his father.
October 26, 1943 – Here visiting her parents, Mr. and Mrs. R.W. Cambron, on her way to Montgomery, Ala., after having resided a short time at Seymour, Ind., Mrs. Donald E. Beebe, formerly Miss Patsy Cambron, was a guest in the Hexamesalinamine Klub [that what it said, I’m not making it up] at the home of Miss Margaret Spradling, 1304 Broadway. She was a member of the group before her marriage. Conversation included travel talk, accounts of recent trips.
February 6, 1961 – Mrs. Alma Marsha Spradling, 75 years old, the mother of Sen. Albert M. Spradling, Jr. and the widow of a prominent Cape Girardeau attorney, died Thursday night at a Cape Girardeau hospital. There is an extensive Spradling family history in her obituary.

Hartford’s Gift Shop and Haman family

December 10, 1961 – Classified ad – Hartford’s Gift Shop now located at 1304 Broadway, $1.00 gift specials.
November 10, 1962 – Display ad: New Location – Hartford’s Gift Shop. Gifts – Antiques. Plenty of parking space. Lots of new merchandise for Xmas.
August 28, 1971 – Hartford E. Hill, wholesaler and importer of gift merchandise, while closing out his retail store at 1304 Broadway, will continue in the wholesale business, serving a wide area around Cape Girardeau, a radius of 200 miles… He has been in the gift business here for 27 years ….
November 11, 1971 – Cape Girardeau Bulletin – Kassell’s studio, started more than 50 years ago by Chester Kassell, now operated and owned by Jim Haman, who purchased the firm about ten years ago. His father, Chester Haman, has an antique, coin and stamp shop in half of the building. The firm will move the first of the year to “Hartford Hills,” 1304 Broadway, a building recently purchased by the Hamans.
June 11, 1978 – Trinity Lutheran Church was the site of the May 20 wedding of Miss Denise Annette Haman and David Michael Dodd… Parents of the couple are Mr. and Mrs. James G. Haman, 1304 Broadway, and Mr. and Mrs. Robert Dodd of Des Moines, Iowa.
September 2, 1979 – Bulletin-Journal – Jennifer Lynne Haman and Stephen Ross March were united in marriage August 4 in a double ring ceremony performed by Dr. J. Ray Trotter at Centenary Methodist Church… Parents of the couple are Mr. and Mrs. James G. Haman, 1304 Broadway, and Dr. and Mrs. Bryce D. March, 3007 Kage Road.
March 6, 1988 – Trinity Lutheran Church was the setting Jan. 23 for the wedding of Gail Ellen Haman and Steven Adolf Sokolowski… The former Miss Haman is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Haman, 1304 Broadway. The groom’s parents are Mr. and Mrs. Adolf Sokolowski of Jackson Route 2.

Global Trading

June 8, 1988 – The City Council issued a special use permit to allow living quarters on the second floor of the main building and an apartment over the garage at 1304 Broadway.
May 22, 1996 – Global Trading on Broadway offers a variety of delicacies for Filipino, Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese, Laotian, Cambodian, Indian and Korean cuisine, said Avelina Lichtenegger. Litchenegger, who is Filipino, opened the store in 1986 because she was tired of driving to Carbondale, Ill., or St. Louis to find the ingredients she needed.
May 14, 2006 – Owners of a local grocery store, Global Trading, are wondering whether all businesses are being treated equally by city hall in Cape Girardeau’s Broadway widening project. City hall officials counter that they have altered their plans to accommodate the store and believe the process is a fair one…. Owners of Global Trading say they have been fighting for more than a year to prevent eminent domain use from putting them out of business. [Unfortunately, the microfilm was turned sideways, so I can’t link to the legal wrangling. If anybody REALLY wants a copy of the story, email me.]

October 3, 2014

Perryville Pumpkin Farm

Bob Campbell did a story on the Perryville Pumpkin Farm in the September 28, 2014, Missourian. When Friend Shari and I wrapped up our business at the Altenburg Lutheran Heritage Center and Museum, I suggested we head up the road to take a look at it.

I had never seen so many different colors, shapes and varieties of pumpkins and squash. They aren’t ALL orange and round, children. Bob’s story said the farm raises 146 varieties of pumpkins. There are some that have long necks like swans; others are covered with “warts” and look like brains.

Rides, mazes and more

We got there late in the afternoon, so we didn’t take advantage of a lot of the things the farm had to offer like rides out to the fields, the one-mile corn maze, the pumpkin slingshot or Sophia the simulated cow. I couldn’t even convince Shari that it would be fun for her to crawl through the straw tunnel while I photographed her head sticking out from time to time.

We bought some small items

We both bought some small, colorful pumpkins and squashes to take back to our mothers. It’s little things like that that keep you listed in the will (sorry Brothers David and Mark).

Shari was kitty-captivated

Shari, who is owned by two cats, fell in love with this kitten. Mom Meckler said they were overstocked on kittens, noted how Shari was “the only one the cat would allow to pick her up,” and brought out a cardboard box for her to take it home to St. Louis. I tried to guilt her into taking it, but she called that evening to say she was going to have to pass this time, and to find the critter a good home.

Curator Jessica saw this photo and said she wants the black and white cat. She’s coming to Cape in November, so maybe it’ll find its way back to Ohio.

Pumpkins in the semi-wild

One of the farm’s pumpkin patches bumps up against the Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery. It’s a bit disconcerting to look in one direction and see hundreds of pumpkins, then look over your shoulder to see hundreds of tombstones.

How to get there

Here is the Perryville Pumpkin Farm’s website. They are open 7 days a week, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., from September 1 through October 31.

If you want to make a Perry County day of it, stop by the Altenburg museum for the new exhibit, Revision: Recovery, Repair, and Transformation by artist, Kurt Mueller of Minneapolis. Mueller is the fifth generation descendant of the 1839 German-Lutheran immigration to Perry County, MO This extraordinary exhibit consists of sculptures, paintworks, and assemblages including detailed narratives of the artist’s journey.

The opening reception is Saturday, October 4, from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. It is free and open to the public. The exhibit will be shown from October 4 through November 7, 2014. If the exhibit is half as impressive as its catalog, it’s going to be worth a scenic drive to see.

October 2, 2014

The End of Summer

These rope swings at the Dark Cypress Access Area boat ramp near Greenbrier aren’t going to see a lot of use until next summer.

The Missouri Department of Conservation says the Greenbrier Unit of Duck Creek Conservation Area is in southeastern Bollinger county.

The Conservation Department purchased this 460-acre lowland swamp to preserve a small portion of the 2.4 million acres of hardwood bottomland swamps that once covered the southeastern part of the state.

Situated between Crowleys Ridge and the Ozark Plateau, the swamp formed after the Mississippi River abandoned its channel through the region and shifted east toward Cape Girardeau. Runoff from the Ozark hills, heavy rainfall and overflow flooding from the Castor River floods the surrounding swamp.

Dark Cypress Tales

I grew up hearing tales of the Dark Cypress. It was an area where hunters would go in and never come out. While we were down there, Mother told me that my grandfather had been shot accidentally while hunting in the Dark Cypress and the bullet remained in his neck until he died decades later.

September 30, 2014

815 Bellevue Street

I was pretty sure the brick apartment building I was looking for on Bellevue Street had been torn down, but I decided to shoot this house at 815 Bellevue just for the record. Tonight I did a search for any Missourian stories related to that address. It’s amazing how much you can reconstruct from personal notes, briefs, ads and obits.

The house belonged to the Glenn Hope family going back to the 1930s. Mrs. Hope was a teacher who was socially active in bridge clubs and the United Daughters of the Confederacy. Mr. Hope owned the Ford, Buick and Nash automobile agencies in Cape Girardeau, and had been associated with the St. Louis-Cape Bus Lines.

Over the years, a number of different people lived with the Hopes.

Finally, we see the obits of the Hope and Siemers families, the announcement of a public auction for the contents of the house, followed by a rental notice. It’s like the whole arc of the house has been captured in newspaper briefs and personal announcements. Here is a sampling of the stories. [As much as possible, I tried to reproduce the actual wording and grammar of the day, even though it makes for some confusing reading today.]

February 3, 1930 – Mrs. Glenn Hope, 815 Bellevue Street, was hostess to members of the Friday Club and additional guests at a bridge party at her home Saturday afternoon. There were two tables of bridge, and the club prize went to Mrs. Ernest Walker; the guest prize to Mrs. Ed Pott.
December 8, 1930 – The Wimodausis Club of the Centenary Methodist Church will meet with Mrs. Glenn Hope, 815 Bellevue Street, Tuesday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock. Assisting Mrs. Hope will be the following co-hostesses: Mrs. W.T. Siemers, Mrs. J.D. McFarland, Mrs. W.P. Caruthers, Mrs. Ray Walb and Mrs. Earl Byers.
February 12, 1932 – Mr. and Mrs. Glenn C. Hope, 815 Bellevue Street, are in St. Louis to attend the automobile show.

Front porch enclosed

March 15, 1934 – Workmen directed by Will Taylor enclose front porch on residence of Glenn Hope, 815 Bellevue Street, with glass and screen; area to be used as sleeping porch.
May 11, 1934 – The condition of Dr. W.G. Siemers, a dentist, who has been ill for four months with a heart malady and other complications, was reported today as grave. He is now at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Glenn C. Hope, 815 Bellevue Street. Prior to his illness, Dr. and Mrs. Siemers and daughter Lorraine lived at 1439 Bessie Street, and he had his dental offices at 801A Broadway.
March 20, 1935 – W.O. Medley, former cashier of the Bank of Gordonville and who resides at 815 Bellevue Street, sustained cuts on the head and on his right hand when he stepped from behind one automobile, parked on Broadway in front of the Southeast Missouri Telephone Co. building, and walked into the path of a west-bound car, driven by H.E. McCormick, 1536 Whitener Street, and was knocked down. [Mr. Medley was Mrs. Hope’s father.]
January 22, 1938 – The date for a reunion to honor Miss Martha Shea of Teachers College faculty and to mark the 25th anniversary of the Black Mask Dramatic Club of the college has been fixed at March 5, and a dinner will be given at the Hotel Marquette. It was recalled at the college that the Black Mask was not actually formed on the college campus, but was organized by students and teachers, who had gathered for the purpose, at an apartment at 815 Bellevue Street.
November 28, 1940 – Glenn C. Hope, 815 Bellevue Street, was taken to Southeast Missouri Hospital this afternoon. He had been at his place of business, the Hope Auto Co., 725 Broadway, until Tuesday night and went home with a severe cold. His condition was said at the hospital to not be serious.
March 15, 1941 – One of the series of benefit card parties to be given by the local chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy will be held a 2:30 this afternoon at the home of Mrs. Glenn C. Hope, 815 Bellevue Street.
September 2, 1942 – Miss Lorraine Siemers, daughter of Mrs. Marie Siemers, 815 Bellevue Street, will go to Bonne Terre Sunday to begin teaching in junior high school next week.
June 6, 1944 – The Wesleyan Service Guild of Centenary Methodist Church, will meet at 7:30 o’clock Wednesday evening with Mrs. Glenn Hope, 815 Bellevue Street. Mrs. Beulah Riley will have charge of the program on “The Present Day Status of Women.”
March 7, 1945 – Arriving here Tuesday night from Topeka, Kans., where he has been a patient in Winter General Hospital since returning to the states, Jan. 31, Pfc. Clyde Arms will spend a 21-day furlough with his wife at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Hope, 815 Bellevue Street, Mrs. Arms’ temporary residence. Pvt. Arms, in service two and a half years, is in the Air Service Command and served, since October 1944, in New Guinea. Upon expiration of his furlough, Pvt. Arms will report to a redistribution center in Miami, Fla.
December 27, 1949 – Mrs. Henry Ellis of Hobbs, N.M., arrived Saturday to visit with her mother, Mrs. Marie Siemers, 815 Bellevue Street. Mr. Ellis will arrive here tomorrow to spend New Years here with his wife and mother-in-law. Mrs. Ellis is the former Lorraine Siemers of this city.
May 26, 1958 – Sunday visitor guests of Mr. and Mrs. Glenn C. Hope and Mrs. Marie Siemers, 815 Bellevue, and of other friends were Miss Tula Marie Standley, Miss Annie Lester, Miss Fay Champion and Mrs. Lola Pratt, all of Paducah, Ky. The group was taken on a drive around the city, especially to view the many roses now in full blossom, and to the Rose Test Garden and along the Ten Mile Garden span.

Mr. and Mrs. Hope, Mrs. Siemers die

July 13, 1967 – Glenn Charles Hope, a landowner and former businessman active in civic affairs, died at 10:05 Wednesday at a hospital here. He resided at 815 Bellevue. You can read his obituary here.
July 28, 1970 – Mrs. Marie M. Siemers, 76 years old, died shortly before midnight Monday. She had worked for Vandeven Mercantile Co., 22 years, before retiring in 1967. The former Miss Medley was born March 16, 1894, near Gordonville, and married Dr. Walter Siemers there in November 1918. He preceded her in death in 1933. [This is incorrect, because a story above said he was gravely ill in 1934.] Here is her obituary.
August 14, 1970 – Mrs. Maude Medley Hope, 815 Bellevue, died this morning in a nursing home here. She was married to Glenn C. Hope, Nov. 27, 1911, at Gordonville, and he preceded her in death July 12, 1967. Mr. Hope was formerly owner of the Ford, Buick and Nash automobile agencies in Cape Girardeau, and had been associated with the St. Louis-Cape Bus Lines. Mrs. Hope was a retired schoolteacher, a graduate of the Old Normal School. You can read the full obituary here.
July 29, 1971 – Advertisement: On Saturday, July 31, 1971, at 815 Bellevue Street, the following items to be auctioned are … This is the property of the late Glen C. Hope, Maude M. Hope and Marie H. Siemers.
September 25, 1981 – Classified ad: Huge completely refurbished second floor of duplex for rent. Fireplace, carpet, heat and water. No pets. 815 Bellevue. $275 a month plus deposit.