Southeast Missouri State University, which claims to have a historic preservation program but tears down local landmarks, should take a lesson from guys like Chad Hartle and Rick Hetzel.
Chad turned the old Central High School on Pacific Street into attractive housing for senior citizens.
Rick rescued the historic Kage School from collapse and has made it into a guest cottage for daily, weekly or monthly rental. You can get more information on the property’s website.
The May 10 grand opening attracted hundreds, including some students who attended the school three-quarters of a century earlier. Savanna Maue covered the opening for The Missourian.
I first photographed Kage School in 1966, the year it closed. After the turn of the century (it’s always cool when I can say that), I was drawn back to the building time and time again. To be honest, I was afraid that every visit would be the last one before the brick building collapsed from neglect.
Here’s what it looked like during the grand opening and through the years. Click on any image to make it larger, then use your arrow keys to move through the galleries.
1966 before school closed
The school had a fascinating history. It was unusual because of its racial and economic diversity. Enrollment included white children from well-established families, the district’s African-American students from as far back as 1889 or earlier and children from the County Poor Farm. The original school was built in 1880 for $1,200 (changes and additions bumped that up to $1,600).
You can read more of the Kage School history here.
Initials scratched in the walls
I never noticed the initials and names scratched in the walls until Brother Mark pointed them out to me. Here are some examples, plus some photos showing the condition of the school. I pointed out when these were taken in 2010 that “the bricks in the chimney are beginning to crumble and there are cracks above a window on the southeast side. If anyone is going to step up to preserve this historic building, they’d better do it soon.”
2013 before renovations
When I checked out the school in the fall of 2013, the back door was standing open. Since the property wasn’t posted, I took that to mean that I was invited inside to look around. Time, termites and gravity had not been kind, but parts of it were in good shape.
What I found particularly interesting was what was left behind. You’ll see some of the objects – like the green dishes, pencil sharpener, light fixtures and some of the books in the renovated school.
A work in progress
By the spring of 2014, Rick Hetzel had purchased the property from Keith Deimund, who had attended the school about 75 years ago. He launched an army of workmen to repair almost every part of the building, while leaving as much of it intact as possible.
The pine floors were refinished and reinstalled. The original windows were replaced with energy-efficient glass, and foundation stones under the floor were used to create a flower bed out front. Even a baby squirrel discovered by workers Justin Wissmann and Wes Langston was relocated.
Headed for the finish line
When I went back in the fall of 2014, most of the exterior work had finished and walls were starting to go up. Hetzel had the exterior walls sprayed with an insulation that had a high R-value and provided a good moisture barrier
Workers found a wooden block capping one of the interior columns that had the initials of the contractors who built the original school, including the date 1880. I wonder if they ever expected anyone to find it?
Wonderful pictorial Dr ken Steinhoff !
Nice piece Ken. I once stayed overnight in a bed and breakfast that originally had been a girls school established before the civil war. It was located in Kentucky. Girls had scratched their names and dates on the windows. You could still see many. I did not sleep well that night.
Ken,
Great pics and coverage of Kage School. I have lived near the school for 41 years and always hoped someone would rescue the old school. Many thanks to Rick and Cheryl for doing just that. They have done a great job unlike our university that destroys our nice older buildings in the name of progress. Thank you for publicizing this wonderful progress. Thanks again to Rick and Cheryl.
hi my name is kenneth d. kimbel i went to this school in 1959 & 1960 this was the best school memories i ever had in all the years of my school life,our teachers name was miss hursh she was a wonderful teacher and i still remember most of the kids names,we had so much fun and good teaching in those days
Hello Kennth. My mom was your teacher. She passed away 6 years ago in Dallas, Texas. I became a teacher also. I remember visiting the school and mom telling me about all the students she worked with and how proud she was of all of you. She fondly remembered the lady that cooked all those wonderful meals for you guys.
hello ricki , im kenneth kimbel and i just found your reply to my note that i had put on this coment about kage school , it is wonderful to see you coment , and i loved you mother as a teacher she was the best teacher i ever had , i live in wichita kansas now and when ever i go back to cape i allways go by the ole school kage and just reminisce the days that i went to that ole school i atended there in 1959 & 1960 i still remember most of the kids in the school, but i cant remember the cooks name , she had a little girl that attended also , and i still have the original class picture that was taken for those two years . ps if you happen to read this coment please let me know my email is kimbel@sbcglobal.net, i would love to talk to you about your mother she was the best. think you ken kimbel.