Murtaugh Park Expansion

Murtaugh Park construction 07-12-2013As many of you have figured out, I’m in Cape for a few weeks. When I’m here, I drive around like crazy trying to bag as much new material as possible to dole out when I return home to Florida.

From time to time, I have even managed to scoop The Missourian. (Of course, as I point out to bike riders who brag about overtaking another rider, “It’s only a race if the other guy knows it.)

I thought I might have a chance of catching Photo Buddy Fred Lynch asleep this afternoon when I drove past what I’ve dubbed the Historical Triangle.

Have catskinners become deere slayers?

Murtaugh Park construction 07-12-2013

There was a artist on a bulldozer who we’d have called a “catskinner” in the days when yellow Caterpillar equipment was ubiquitous on job sites. I’ve seen enough dirt pushed around to judge he knew what he was doing.

Since he’s on a Deere dozer, I guess that would make him a “deere slayer,” but that doesn’t have the same ring. The sign in the foreground proclaims the narrow strip of grass to be Murtaugh Park. The Red House is in the background.

Drat! James Baughn beat me

Murtaugh Park construction 07-12-2013Right there in front of me was a flurry of dump trucks, jackhammers, front end loaders and guys leaning on shovels. All I had to do now was to figure out what was going on.

Drat! Missourian webmaster James Baughn, who with Fred and Sharon Sanders, are must-read Missourian bloggers, beat me to the story. He deserves the traffic, so get the full story from Baughn. (If you REALLY want to be distracted, go to his Bridgehunter website. There’s nowhere else like it to find interesting factoids about bridges.)

The short version is that making Main Street open to two-way traffic made Aquamsi Street redundant between William and Merriwether Streets. The workers were ripping up Aquamsi so grass could replace asphalt, resulting in Murtaugh Park nearly doubling in size. (Of course, that will last until the City Fathers and Mothers decide to make Main one-way again in a few years.)

I stumbled across another story that is right up Baughn’s alley. I hope he reads it here before I see it appear in his blog.

Stories about Murtaugh Park

Happy Independence Day

Flags flying on Veterans Day at North County Park 11-11-2011I cheated a little. I took this photo at North County Park on Veterans Day 2011. It’s appropriate for the 4th of July, though. Have a safe and thoughtful Independence Day.

Don’t forget

Flags flying on Veterans Day at North County Park 11-11-2011Take a moment out from grilling and shooting fireworks to think of the men and women who are out there making this celebration possible. You can click on the photos to make them larger.

Other Flag pictures

 

 

“The Rose Sniffs Me”

Karen Lampher at Capaha Park Rose Garden 06-11-1966Three-year-old Karen Lampher, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ted Lampher of Advance, sniffed every variety of rose at the Rose Display garden at Capaha Park when she visited it in June 1966.

“I sniff the rose and the rose sniffs me,” she said, exhibiting a great sensitivity for imagery.

Not big on bugs, though

Karen Lampher at Capaha Park Rose Garden 06-11-1966She like sniffing the roses, but she wasn’t crazy when a bug inside a bloom returned the favor.

Rose Garden Photos

Karen Lampher at Capaha Park Rose Garden 06-11-1966

In addition to the photos of Karen, here are some other stories about the Rose Garden:

 

 

 

Name That Bridge

Dennis Scivally Park Photos by James D. McKeown III, courtesy Steven McKeown

About a year ago reader Steve McKeown sent me a selection of family photos taken by his father, James D. McKeown III. I was scrolling through my directory of scanned photos when these photos jumped out – not because the girls are cute, which they are – but because of the Cape landmark they are posing on.

I’m going to bet you’ve had your photo taken on it at some time in your life.

Gallery of McKeown pictures

Click on any photo to make it larger, then click on the left or right side of the image to move through the gallery. If you haven’t figured out where these were taken, I’ll give you a hint.