Cape Girardeau History and Photos

February 25, 2014

Beechwood Club from the Air

I was picking through some aerials from November 2010 when I spotted this single frame of the Beechwood Club. It’s the blue-green water surrounded by a square concrete pool deck.

You can click on the photo to make it larger, but I checked: there are no visible skinnies being dipped. While trying to figure out the correct plural of skinny, I came across this link (it’s safe for work, don’t worry). Who knew you had to LEARN how to do it?

The paved road running in the foreground is Highway 25. Take it left, go around a curve and down a hill and you’ll find yourself in what’s left of Dutchtown. Go right and you’ll pass through Gordonville on your way to Jackson.

When I wrote about the Beechwood Club on March 24, 2010, I uncovered some interesting tidbits of history about the place. Based on reader comments, though, I missed some of the most interesting goings-on.

February 24, 2014

SEMO Track Meet

Like I mentioned in another track story, the boys and girls of spring didn’t get a lot of attention. Their sports usually took place after the yearbooks closed, and they didn’t have the hoopla of basketball, football and even baseball.

I’m pretty sure this shot won some prize or another in a photo contest, but I can’t remember which one. I suspect it was less because it was a great shot (although I do like the falling hurdle), but for the fact that it doesn’t show any wardrobe malfunctions. It’s almost a cliche shot, but one of the reasons that some phrases and photos become cliches is that they tend to work.

Track meet photo gallery

Since I’m short on info, I’ll let the photos speak for themselves. Click on any picture to make it larger, then use your arrow keys to move through the gallery.

February 22, 2014January 2, 2025

Missourian Picnic

This Missourian picnic was held August 12, 1967, right before I packed up to head to Athens, Ohio, for school. Since it wasn’t a paying assignment (and I was buying my own film), I shot the event with my half-frame camera that got two shots to every 35mm frame. That’s one of the reasons the quality is a little shaky.

This must have been a picnic for back shop production employees. I don’t recognize any editorial types lurking around and they have an uncanny ability to sniff out free food.

Picnic photo gallery

Click on any photo to make it larger, then use your arrow keys to move through the gallery. The Missourian’s production folks were like family because, in a lot of cases, they were. Unlike the newsroom which had lots of turnover with young folks paying their dues and moving on to bigger papers, the composing and press staffs were in for the long haul. I liked working with them and learned a lot that helped me at other papers.

February 21, 2014

Natatorium from the Air

This April 17, 2011, aerial shows just how close to the Natatorium the cement plant’s quarry has advanced over the years. The main section is at its maximum depth and the plant is starting to strip off the overburden on the north and west sides to expand in that direction.

The plant’s manager told me that he’s doing everything he can to keep from taking the tiny plot of ground the old indoor pool sits on. Click on the photo to make it larger.