Cape Girardeau History and Photos

September 12, 2014February 19, 2021

Approaching Antiquity

Curator Jessica and I were on Scenic Route 124 headed for Letart Falls, Ohio, where I wanted to see if an old gas station / convenience store / teenage hangout I had photographed in 1968 was still standing. About 1.9 miles down the road from Racine, and 3.9 miles from Letart Falls, I pulled off onto the shoulder.

“Hop out,” I said to Miz Jessica. “I need some scale in the photograph. Go down that way a bit and start walking back toward the city limits sign, please.”

After I popped off a few frames, she asked what I was REALLY trying to accomplish. Mistrust is an ugly thing in one so young.

“Well, now that you’ve finally hit 30, I thought this would be a photograph of you approaching Antiquity.”

I don’t think ‘guy’ is the word she used

“Wait here, Wiseguy (I’m pretty sure ‘guy’ isn’t the word she used). Go stand under that sign. I may be APPROACHING Antiquity, but you’ve already arrived.”

To add insult to injury, she said she doesn’t like it when I walk behind her because “I can feel old age creeping up on me.”

I’m going to have to start auditioning new Road Warriorettes. I’m just not getting the respect and reverence I deserve.

September 12, 2014

Carson Makes Splashes

I was headed over to the Emerson Memorial Bridge to work on an illustration for a Bill Hopkins mystery book still in the plotting stage. There was time for a quick visit to the riverfront. In the distance, I could see a toddler about the age of my Grandson Elliot throwing sticks and rocks in the Mississippi while being photographed by Dad.

Checking out the video

Amazing how kids that young can understand the workings of smart phones and tablets. He is obviously enjoying seeing himself. (Click on the photos to make them larger.)

Loud moving things are trains

After watching for a few minutes, I walked over to meet Carson, age 18 months, and his dad, Brad. Brad has lived in Cape most of his 33 years and loves to fish on the river. While we were talking, the barge came close enough that Carson heard the noise of the engines and started saying, “Train, Train!”

Time to explore

Before long, it was time to explore a new section of the riverfront.

More splashes needed

Watching Carson pitch things reminded me of the boys skipping rocks with the old traffic bridge in the background in 1966, and the Duncan kids of Kennett learning the fine art of skipping from a stranger in 2011.

Toddlers are back-loaded

When I first saw Carson bending over facing the steep downgrade to the water, I was afraid he could tumble forward and keep on rolling until he ended up in New Orleans in a few days. (Dad was keeping a close eye on him, not to worry.)

When I got closer, though, I remembered how back-loaded toddlers are. Their center of gravity is well behind them, particularly if that diaper is full.

Telling him all about it

It was just about time to leave, so Carson was telling his dad all about his adventures. Another man and boy are content to sit in front of the floodwall mural watching the action.

You can’t beat the riverfront at the end of the day.

September 11, 2014September 14, 2023

2014 SEMO District Fair

After covering the Cannonball run, I almost didn’t go to the fair Tuesday night. Then I looked at the 80% chance of rain Wednesday night. I have been to some rainy SEMO District Fairs, and I didn’t want to punch that ticket (literally) again.

While I was waiting to turn toward Arena Park, a number of fair announcements flashed up on the sign. One, I thought, said something about tickets being $40. “There better be a place to turn around, ’cause no fair is worth forty bucks,” I thought.

I got waved over to a parking place without having to reach for my wallet. That’s a good thing. I walked toward where all the action was and saw a sign that said $5. That’s more my speed. I got my five bucks worth before the evening was over.

I concentrated on people

There are some things I should mention: I feel guilty that I didn’t see the things off the midway that really make up a fair: the livestock, cooking contests, quilts and crafts …

Since I had a limited amount of time to spend, and because it was so late, I concentrated on the flash and trash of the midway food, rides and games of chance. I also spent more time taking photos of people than things.

I don’t do heartwarming much, but I really enjoyed what I presumed to be fathers and grandfathers enjoying their kids.

Older stories about fairs

Photo gallery of 2014 Fair

Sometimes you just have to get out of the way and let the photos tell the story. I’ve tried to group the gallery somewhat according to subject. That’s why you’ll find the potato booth together, rides together and games of chance together. Click on any photo to make it larger, then use your arrow keys to move through the gallery.

September 10, 2014

2014 Cannonball Run

Cape was awash with sound, and I don’t mean my brother’s snoring. (He was on his way back to Oklahoma.) No, we were bracketed by the SEMO District Fair to the west and 110 vintage motorcycles (and the ones who came to see them) on the east.

I had to stop by Annie Laurie’s Antiques to pick up something for Wife Lila. While there, Laurie reminded me of the Cannonball Run that was forming up on Spanish for a parade over to Broadway, then west on to Kingshighway, then over to William Street. I really didn’t plan to shoot anything because I was going to the fair Tuesday night. Still, I couldn’t resist taking a swing downtown.

I saw a gazillion motorcycles – some part of the run, some belonging to spectators – and still wasn’t sure if I was going to stop. I got about three blocks away and decided this was too good to pass up. The motorcycles, some of them dating before the 1930s, started in Daytona Beach in Florida and will wind up in Tacoma, Washington, on Sept. 21.

From 24 states, and 10 countries

I heard smatterings of German, and took a couple of photos for some visitors from South Africa. (They wanted to make sure the bridge was in the background.)

For more information, check out Samantha Rinehart’s story in The Missourian. Here is the official Cannonball Run website.

Cannonball Run photo gallery

Having never been a motorcycle rider, I was as much interested in watching the people as looking at the machines. It was a mostly older crowd who did much photo-taking and chin scratching. The body language was interesting. Click on any photo to make it larger, then use your arrow keys to move through the images.