Cape Girardeau History and Photos

November 3, 2013November 3, 2013

Color Finally Arrives

I was surprised at how little color there was this year as I’ve driven across the country. It wasn’t until last week around Louisville that reds and yellows started popping up.

We had a serious storm (tornado sirens and the whole deal) blow through Cape a couple of nights ago, so I thought most of the leaves would be blown off the trees before they had a chance to show their stuff.

Just the opposite happened: it was like the wind slapped the trees around and woke them up that winter was coming. Mother, Curator Jessica and I meandered all over the place Saturday afternoon, marveling at the changes that 48 hours had made. Jessica ignored my “are you kidding?” look and decided we should climb out on the breakwater off the Trail of Tears State Park marina. Click on the image to make it larger.

I’m glad we went. The sun kept popping in and out of the clouds until just the right combination got stirred in.

We’re on our way to St. Louis in the morning so she can hop on a plane back to Ohio and her husband and cat. I won’t tell you which one she seems to have missed more.

I’m sure we’ll stop along the way to appreciate even more color. Stay tuned.

November 2, 2013

Hope for Esquire?

I’ve seen some activity around the old Esquire Theater lately, but didn’t have time enough to stop to ask what was going on before Friday.

Is this going to be another tease where we think good things are going to happen or is it being prepped to become yet another SEMO parking lot.

Alas, if may be more of the tease variety. A workman told me that they were just doing routine maintenance to make the place look a little better.

Earlier Esquire stories

Photos of the Art Deco Esquire Theater before the recent renovation project
Infrared film photos of teenybopper reaction to the Beatles movie Help! when it played at the Esquire in September 1965
Photos of the last project to renovate the movie house.

October 31, 2013

Fort Defiance Fun

I always take visitors to see Fort Defiance, the southernmost tip of Illinois, where the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers meet. Wednesday was Curator Jessica’s turn. (Click on the photos to make them larger.)

You have to wade

I should have known better than to say, “You have to wade in the water so you can say you straddled two great American rivers,” because I said something like that when we were looking at a spring in Princeton, Ky.

The next thing I knew, she was splashing and frolicking, much to the amusement of some pre-teens who were watching from a bridge.

Shuckin’ off the boots

After not more than a moment’s hesitation, she started shucking off her boots.

Is this REALLY a good idea?

This is her “Is this REALLY a good idea?” look. To be honest, I wasn’t sure. I didn’t know how quickly the bottom fell off or what might be lurking under the muddy waters.

I don’t think you’re in both rivers

“You need to spread out,” I told her. “I don’t think you’re actually in both rivers.” About that time, a wave from a passing towboat started rolling ashore.

She kept her balance, but I guess a splash wouldn’t have been too bad. Jessica kept saying on the trip that she really likes New Orleans. If the 300-foot rope I carry in the car turned out to be short, I calculated she would be passing the Big Easy in a week or so.

Headed to St. Louis

I have to put her on a plane in St. Louis back to Ohio on November 4. We’ll go up a day early so she can meet Brother Mark, Robin and Friend Shari and do some sightseeing.

I promised I’d bring along some alcohol wipes to clean off an area of the stainless steel Gateway Arch so she could lick it, something that all first-time visitors are supposed to do.

Meet her at First Friday

She and I will be at Annie Laurie’s on Broadway on First Friday, November 1. I’ll have Snapshots of Cape Girardeau calendars and the Smelterville book with me. Laurie says she’ll have cookies and hot cider.

Maybe you can help me come up with other quaint Missouri customs like arch-licking that I can share with our Ohio visitor. I’ve found that she is willing to try just about anything once.

Other Fort Defiance photos

October 30, 2013October 30, 2013

Holy Halloween!!!

I have often thought each individual should be allocated a finite number of exclamation points on birth. When they are all used up, you’re done. That should make you use them wisely.

Well, when Mother suggested we turn down Brookwood Drive instead of up Janet so we could see some Halloween decorations, I humored her.

WOW!!!

We have whole neighborhoods in Florida who go to wretched excess putting up Christmas decorations, but this has to be the Halloween decoration of all time WOW!!!

I consider these exclamation points well-spent. (Click to make the photos larger.)

I don’t know who the Groves are, but I tip my cap to you for a job well overdone.

P.S. Friend Carol, when I asked you to help me find decorations in Athens earlier, THIS is what I had in mind.