Cape Girardeau History and Photos

March 18, 2015

Feelin’ Run Over

I’m rushing to get a bunch of stuff done before I pull the plug and start loading the van to head back to Cape Thursday. I feel sort of like this mud-covered football player- run down and run over.

I think he’s a SEMO player, but there was nothing on the back of the print to identify him. Click on the photo to make it larger.

I have Road Warriorette Shari with me for this trip. We’re going to take mostly back roads through Florida, Alabama and Mississippi, so I’m sure there will be adventures along the way. I’ll bag a couple of quickie subjects in case we end up someplace that communicates with smoke signals instead of digital 1s and 0s.

I understand Southeast Missouri State University just razed a landmark building and has another one in its sights. I hope there is some Cape left in Cape when I get there.

March 17, 2015

Bathtub at Court and Union

If you went to Ohio University, your world centered on Court and Union. You crossed that intersection to get from one side of campus to the other. Bars, restaurants, the shopping district and the movie theaters were in the block surrounding it.

It’s where sit-ins, marches and demonstrations started, ended or passed through. In fact, two months earlier, in the wake of the Kent State shootings, a fog of tear gas blanketed that location.

I found several sleeves of negatives labeled “Riot Meeting,” which have lots of serious-looking suits probably doing “fact-finding.” Tucked in the middle of them and shot on the same day, was this collection of photos capturing passersby reacting to a bathtub sitting on the busiest corner in town.

Tub was to promote plays

On the side of the tub was a cryptic sign, “You Know I Can’t Hear You When the Water’s Running,” along with some dates.

The gimmick was to promote a production of four one-act plays by Robert Anderson. The Amazon reviews make it sound like fun.

Check out the reactions

Click on any picture to make it larger, then move through the gallery with your arrow keys.

March 16, 2015

The Missing Art Student

When I took this photo in March of 1966, five students were in the picture, along with their teacher, Mrs. Edna Glenn. If you look at the crop marks on the margins of the print, though, the poor guy on the right was cut out.

I don’t know who you are, but, here, 49 years later, you have made it into print. (Click on the photo to make it larger.)

The photo caption in the March 5, 1966, Missourian said, “More than 35 local high school pupils have entered an art contest sponsored this weekend by the General Federation of Women’s Clubs and the Hallmark Card Company. Here, four Central High School pupils and Mrs. Edna Glenn, Central art instructor, take some of the art works to the KFVS Studio, 324 Broadway, where the exhibit is being held. The pupils are, from left, Miss Susan Welker, Miss Linda Davis, John Young and Miss Holly Lueder. Mrs. Glenn is seated inside the car.

Mrs. Glenn was mentioned in other stories

March 15, 2015

George F. Cram Globes

When I looked at this globe and map salesman with his fold-up table and sample cases, I wondered if his company was still around.

I assumed that the company’s name was George F. Crain, but Google popped up a website for George F. Cram – Globe and Map Maker since 1867. That was pretty neat.

Company was shut down in 2012

Unfortunately, the last line on the website said, “UPDATE: As of the beginning of 2012, the George F. Cram company’s operations have been shut down & all products have been discontinued at this time. This page remains available for informational reference only.”

Maybe that’s why their globes are going for high prices on the vintage market.

I know the teacher on the left is Ruby Davis; I think the other two are Norma Sanders and Vivian Kies, but I’m open to correction on them.