Cape Girardeau landmarks Archives

September 10, 2012

A.C. Vasterling Building

I went to get something out of my van parked at Broadway and Fountain when I noticed a cornerstone for the first time: A.C. Vasterling 1903, it read.

It was on a light-colored three-story building next to where the Idan-Ha Hotel used to stand. A quick search didn’t turn up about Mr. Vasterling, except that it sounded like he had been a mayor at one time. There was a Google-scanned document called Barrel and box and packages, Volume 19, by Edgar Harvey Defebaugh that had this brief item that made it sound like Vasterling was a mover and shaker:

Himmelberger – Vasterling wedding

Charles A. Himmelberger, of Cape Girardeau, Mo., and Miss Louise Marguerite Vasterling were married June 16 [possibly 1914]. Mr. Himmelberger is the son of J.H. Himmelberger, the well-known lumberman of southeast Missouri and president of the Hardwood Manufacturers of the United States. The bride is a daughter of A.C. Vasterling, one of the best-known insurance men of Missouri.

Dinner party for newlyweds

A Missourian story on January 2, 1920, carried this brief: Mrs. Charles Himmelberger entertained at a dinner party last night at her home at 325 North Sprigg street in honor of Mr. and Mrs. A. C. Vasterling, who were married on Christmas day. Mrs. Laura Pape, Miss Lizzie Vasterling and Mrs. J.F. Williams were the other guests present.

Firsts of 1920

In the same paper was this lists of “firsts” of 1920:

First Baby – Marguerite Oliver Dearmont, 9:30 a.m. Jan. 1.
First Death – Mrs. Mary Herbst at her home, as clocks announced arrival of new year.
First Accident – Albert Mason, fireman, badly burned at 4 p.m., Jan. 1.
First Court Case – Suit of a hound dog, won by Cicero Estes.
First Snow – 2 a.m., Jan. 2

August 25, 2012

Lang Jewelers to Close

KFVS had a story that Roger and Judith Ann Lang will retire this fall and close Lang Jewelry and Fine Gifts store. The jewelry store has been in the family and in the same location at 126 North Main Street since 1916.

The story said that the store will be closed to the public from September 8-16 to host private shopping events. They will close their doors forever this fall once all of the inventory and fixtures are sold.

Zickfeld’s is last standing

Someone may contradict me, but I think Lang Jewelers and Zickfield’s were the last two of the original stores left from the 1960s. Hutson’s Fine Furniture goes back that far, but anything south of Independence doesn’t “feel” like main Main Street to me.

August 7, 2012

Academic Hall Dome

I stopped by Kent Library to see the folks in Special Collections, but it happened to be Friday when they sneak out (unlike the poor woman who was chained to her station at the reference desk). Brother Mark had photographed some of the Academic Hall construction in May, but he didn’t get to see the shiny new copper being applied to the dome. Here are his shots and some comparison shots over the years.

Photo gallery of Academic Hall

You can read Erin Ragan’s story about the renovation in The Missourian. That’ll give me time to pack up my stuff to head back to Florida. (Or, I may have already packed up and be half-way home. I’m not sure in what order I’m going to run some of these stories I’m putting in the can.) [Tuesday night finds me in Newport, TN.]

Click on any photo to make it larger, then click on the left or right side of the image to move through the gallery. I sort of like the shot with the fountain in the foreground. It’s not a view I’ve seen many times.

August 6, 2012

Franklin’s North Wing Gone

I decided to make one last pass at Franklin School before leaving town. Looks like the north wing and the Kamikaze bees are gone. The old flagpole which had been knocked down and was on the ground in front of the school was nowhere to be found. I had hoped someone would salvage the unique base, but it’s probably buried in one of those piles of rubble.

One of the reasons for tearing it down was that it was supposed to have cost too much to bring it up to earthquake standards. Based on the amount of reinforced concrete and rebar I see in the photos, it looks like it was built pretty well.

Franklin demolition photo gallery

Here are some other photos of the demolition. Click on any photo to make it larger, then click on the left or right side of the image to move through the gallery.