Cape Girardeau History and Photos

June 15, 2013June 15, 2013

What IS That Symbol?

One of the most frequently-asked questions is “What is that symbol on the side of Central High’s wall over the auditorium entrance?” Nobody has come up with an answer.

Here’s a look at it on a rainy day, probably in 1965. I think Mrs. Muegge is the woman in the dark dress on the left. The two women in the doorway on the right may have worked in the library. You can click on the photos to make them larger.

1965 Girardot Photo

Here’s a view of it at night that appeared in the back of the 1965 Girardot. I shot it using the school’s Crown Graphic 4×5 camera.

2009 recreation

I went back to recreate the photo in 2009. Here’s how the photos were taken then and now.

June 13, 2013

Syl Johnson Earns Suspension

From The Missourian: Sylvester Johnson, Cape Central’s football and basketball standout, fulfilled one of his greatest dreams – to wear Principal Dallas Albers‘ suspenders – at the recent basketball homecoming dance.

Mr. Albers, an inveterate suspenders-wearer, noticed Syl admiring the pants-holder-uppers at an assembly one day, so he made a “deal” with him: if the team won the homecoming game with Sikeston, Syl wouldn’t have to worry about his pants falling down at the dance – they would be securely held up by the coveted suspenders.

“Had confidence in my boys”

To make a long story short, Central did just that – and Mr. Albers, is shown here wearing a belt (“because I had confidence in my boys”) pinning the prize on the season’s high scorer.

Beth Barringer crowned queen

Miss Beth Barringer, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Barringer of 1012 North Middle, was crowned Central High School Basketball Homecoming Queen. The queen and her court are, from left, Miss Mary Ann Sides, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J.O. Sides of 1403 Bessie; Miss Debbie Elfrink, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Elfrink of 1216 Butler; Miss Barringer; Miss Linda Stone, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Louis Stone of 1744 Themis, and Miss Ruth Wilson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Walter A. Wilson of 527 Amethyst.

Escorts didn’t rate a photo

Serving as escorts were Brad Horky, son of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Horky of 1447 Broadway; Terry Robinson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert Robinson of 1708 Montgomery; Mike Johnson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel B. Johnson of 1301 Bertling; Richard Baker, son of Dwight Baker of 121 North Clark, and Sylvester Johnson, son of Mrs. Lula Mae Johnson of 910 Giboney.

June 13, 2013

1965 Graduation Party

From what I read in the paper, today’s graduation parties cost more than wedding did back in our day. Here are photos from the all-night graduation party held at the Arena Building for the Class of 1965.

It’s my blog, so I’ll cheat a little and post a photo of MY date for the night: the future Lila Perry Steinhoff, at right. She gained points because she didn’t try to put a funny hat on my head like Margaret Ritter is doing to John Ueleke.

Harold Payne, never absent or tardy

The caption on the Youth Page on June 12, 1965, said “Harold Payne, the only member of the class to go four years to Central High without missing a day or being tardy reached his breaking point at the all-night senior party last week.”

Peggy Estes looks at Girardot

“Classmate Miss Peggy Estes keep semi-awake by gazing at the class yearbook.”

Called an all-night binge

The Missourian story called the party an “all-night binge.” I’d hate to hear what they’d call today’s extravaganzas. I’ll set the official Missourian story in italics.

Central High School graduating seniors, treated to an all-night binge by their parents, danced their way from last Thursday night after graduation to breakfast at 4 Friday morning.

Danced through the night

Most of them danced through the entire night, according to Mrs. Gale Heise, one of the head chairmen for the affair. An annual event, this year’s party was the biggest ever. And, according to Mrs. Heise, the seniors can thank all the parents for their complete cooperation.

Door prizes sparked the dull moments when the band took a break. Local merchants donated 125 items for prizes. And a grand prize, a portable television, which Lee Dahringer won, was purchased with money donated by parents. Fifteen prizes, including the big one, were given out just before breakfast.

Made a beeline for Arena Building

Two bands were hired for the evening – the Goldtones, which played for the first half of the evening, and Willies Band [the microfilm was sketchy here, but that’s what it looked like] which played until the wee hours.

The graduates, some with underclassmen as dates – made a beeline for the Arena Building as soon as the graduation ceremonies were over. The underclassmen were allowed to stay until 1 Friday morning. Then they left and the seniors were given a half hour to run home to change into sports clothes for the remainder of the party. [I was given a little more leeway since I had to go home to process the photos for the paper.]

Food was plentiful

Food was plentiful and free. Parents did the decorating, which followed a Mardi Gras theme. [The rest of the paragraph couldn’t be read.]

Some of the graduates dozed off for awhile, but the dance floor, said Mrs. Heise, was still pretty full at 4.

Head chairmen for the party were Mr. and Mrs. Heise, Senator and Mrs. Albert Spradling, Mr. and Mrs. Jack Knehans and Mr. and Mrs. Charles House.

Graduation Party photo gallery

Click on any photo to make it larger, then click on the side to move through the gallery.

June 11, 2013June 11, 2013

Fred R. Nebel Farm

If the mailbox is correct, these were taken on the Fred R. Nebel farm on Route 1 in Cape County. I think I shot them for The Jackson Pioneer in 1965, but the only way to find out would be to root through a big box of crumbling clips that make me sneeze and causes my skin to itch. To keep from doing that, I’ll reach out for some stories The Southeast Missourian did about Mr. Nebel.

Fred Nebel died July 21, 2010

July 23, 2010 – Missourian Obituary: Fred R. Nebel, 95, of Cape Girardeau died Wednesday, July 21, 2010, at Missouri Veterans Home. He was born July 9, 1915, in Gordonville, to Julius F. and Pauline Friedrich Nebel. He and Cordia Stueve were married Nov. 21, 1943, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Cape Girardeau by the Rev. F.H. Meltzer. They had been married 63 years. She preceded him in death Dec. 18, 2006.

Fred was confirmed June 30, 1929, at Zion Lutheran Church by the Rev. Valentine Walther. He enjoyed playing cards at the Jackson Senior Center and bingo at Missouri Veterans Home, where he resided 2 1/2 years. He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church where he was a voter, usher, served on the board of elders and was a member of the Men’s Club. He was a member of Jackson American Legion Post 158 and member of NARFE.

He worked for Marquette Cement plant 32 years, Army Corps of Engineers eight years, and farmed north of Cape Girardeau.

Nebel served with the Navy Seabees.

Survivors include a son, Steve Nebel and wife Connie of Cape Girardeau; two daughters, Sharon Ann King of Overland, Mo., Vicki Rolf and husband Charles of St. Louis; a grandchild, Michael King and wife Holly; a great-grandchild, Madison King; a great-stepgrandchild, Caleb Codding; a sister, Anna Marie Daume; and a sister-in-law, Gladys Nebel.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife; brother, Calvin P. Nebel; infant sister, Irma Nebel; and granddaughter, Michele King.

Celebrates 60th Wedding Anniversary

December 7, 2003 – Mr. and Mrs. Fred Nebel of Cape Girardeau celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary with a dinner at Bella Italia Nov. 29. Hosts were their children and spouses, Sharon King, Vicki and Charles Rolf, all of St. Louis, and Steve and Connie Nebel of Cape Girardeau.

The couple was married Nov. 21, 1943, at Trinity Lutheran Church, by the Rev. Meltzer. Members of the wedding party included Calvin Nebel, Hildegard Leimbach Schilling, Nora Stueve Kasten, and the late Emily Leimbach Krause, Ervin and Norbert Stueve.

The Nebels have a grandson, Mike King, and a great-granddaughter, Madison King, both of St. Charles, Mo.

Oldest person at Friedrich Reunion

September 1, 2005, Community Digest – 52 in attendance at the Friedrich reunion. The Friedrich reunion was held at Delmonico’s in Jackson Aug. 21. Food and fellowship were enjoyed by 52 in attendance from Cape Girardeau, Jackson, Oak Ridge, Leopold and surrounding Missouri communities. Fred Nebel of Cape Girardeau, age 90, was honored as the oldest in attendance; Ashley Hillis of Tulin, Mo., age 7 months, was honored as the youngest in attendance; Paul and Maxine Friedrich of Jackson were honored as the biggest family with six children; traveling the furthest was Cherry Hinderberger of Columbia, Mo. Entertainment was provided by Hinderberger and Dennis Mayfield.

Recognized for his service

November 18, 2009 – The Missourian ran a photo of Fred Nebel, a veteran and resident of the Veteran’s Home receiving a card of thanks from one of the children of A Small World’s Kid’s Club.

Click on any of the photos to make them larger.