Photos around Cape Archives

April 5, 2014

Main Street Improvements

After all the stories I did about the building at 101 North Main Street being condemned and looking like the front wall could come down at any minute, I never thought it would ever be fixed up and occupied again.

Here’s what it looked like on April 2, 2014. The downstairs is occupied by the “prom superstore.” (Click on the photo to make it large enough to pick out your prom dress.)

The building had an interesting history with all kinds of local ties.
Even the alley behind the building was worth a story.
It was showing signs of improvement last August.

The Hecht’s Building

There was some work going on in front of the old Hecht’s building, but I don’t think it’s going to bring back “the grand lady of fashion” it had been for 86 years, making it the second oldest business on Main Street when it closed in 2004.

Here is a story and photos from 2010, including the topless ladies in the ceiling of the lobby.
We even found out where “Poof” ended up.

April 4, 2014

915 Broadway

Mother and I did a quick loop around Cape on Wednesday. I was surprised at how many changes had occurred since I was here last fall. The economy must be picking up because there we spotted construction trucks parked all around town.

This small building at 915 Broadway, west of Pacific and next door to Burrito-Ville, was one being worked over. I thought the orange stripe around it might have indicated that it was a Gulf station at one time. Click on the photos to make them larger.

Brennecke’s 66 Service

A 2011 Fred Lynch blog shows the station when it was the Brennecke’s 66 Service. Like in this photo, the Medical Arts Building is shown in the background.

Building had many owners

The 915 address was mentioned is several business and crime reports over the years.

A 2004 review of 2003 business stories noted that the Mr. Tire opened at that address on September 29, 2003. It was next to the Dairy Queen and was owned by David McCormick.
In 1988, Orville and Jay Grim, a father-son team opened the Phillips 66 Service Station and Garage at 915 Broadway.
American Motors appeared frequently in The Missourian’s police report column: February 22, 2013, a theft from American Motors; October 12, 2012, currency was reported stolen; May 2, 2013, two suspects were charged with tampering with a vehicle and trespassing; January 4, 2006, and a license plate was reported stolen May 13, 2011.
Renaissance Auto reported a CD player stolen, a vehicle fender damaged and damaged vehicle doors on January 4, 2006.

McGinty’s Jewelers

One of the bright spots – literally – on Main Street is McGinty’s Jewelers at 117 North Main Street. It’s refreshing to see how much that block has spiffed up in the last few years. (Click on the photos to make them larger.)

The McGinty building is one of the more impressive ones in the downtown area, but the First National Bank that occupied 115-117 North Main from 1905 to 1959 may have been even more impressive, based on the description in Fred Lynch’s October 11, 2013, blog.

First National Bank

From the blog: The bank was constructed of brick with a facade done in Bedford limestone trimmed in bushhammered rock, the building featured a massive arched entrance that was 28 feet tall, 26 feet deep and 24 feet wide, with marble steps that led to the entrance doors. The building featured elaborate detailing around the windows, with an enriched and projecting cornice, brackets and dentils. The roof was highlighted with a balustrade. The interior of the bank was designed elaborately, with a 16-by-30-foot prism skylight supported by six carved Iconic columns. Italian marble wainscoting, mahogany wood trim and a mosaic-type floor were some of the many details found inside.

First National Bank was established in August 1891 and was first at 118 N. Main St. In 1956, the bank relocated to the northwest corner of Broadway and Main Street. Charles Hood, who became the owner of the stone-faced building in 1959, decided to renovate the structure by tearing out the interior, filling in the basement, and removing the stone arch. However, two months into the project, Hood made a change in plans and had the building razed in November 1959.

Downtown jewelers offered personal touch

A February 27, 2005, Missourian story talked about how four long-time jewelers had found that downtown is where they wanted to be. It’s worth a read. The point was made that “Other stores in other parts of town may get more walk-in customers who may be just looking, but when someone comes to Lang Jewelers or McGinty’s or Zickfield or Jayson, it’s a special occasion for them. Their customers come, all the jewelers say, because their parents bought diamonds or watches there, and service and tradition mean something to those families.”

The four businesses mentioned in the story:

Zickfield Jewelers and Gemologists – 29 North Main Street – in business since 1939
McGinty Jewelers – 117 North Main Street – about 25 years in the downtown
Jayson Jewelers – 115 Themis Street – “two generations” according to their website
Lang Jewelers – 126 North Main Street – started as N.S. Weiler Jewelers in 1905 and became Lang in 1916. It closed in the fall of 2012.

March 28, 2014

House in a Hole

Niece Laurie Everett of Laurie Antiques fame, sent me a question: “One place in Cape that has always intrigued me is the little house that sits in the middle of chaos out by Wal-Mart, Drury Hotel and White Castle. Have you ever done a story on it?”

As it turned out, I had just looked at photos of that house the day before while I was figuring out what I had shot but not run.

When Science Buddy Jim Stone was in town chasing a monster magnet up the Mississippi, he stayed at one of the hotels near it. When I picked him up, I said I needed to pause long enough to shoot some house mug shots for a follow-up story. Well, I’m easily distracted, so the photos have been languishing in my “get-around-to-it-some-day” file.

Here’s a hint

A reader who saw Laurie’s question pointed me in the direction of an aerial map that shows where the house is. Glad to see Cape County has a great mapping tool.

He has a piece of the story: “the little white house by Wally World is the gentleman that used to own all that property. Obviously, the Drury family was the purchaser and the rest of the development is history. The gentleman will live there as along as he wants/able to.”

I’ll have the real answer for you when I get to Cape next month. In the meantime, you can click on the photos to make them larger. The little pin-thing marks the location of the house.

Category: Photos around Cape