G.D. Fronabarger shot a series of aerials in 1939, including this view of the west side of Cape Girardeau looking northeast. (Southeast Missourian archive)...

In the spring of 1922, about 100 West End property owners gathered at Cape Girardeau Central High School (now Schultz Senior Apartments) and unanimously agreed to push through a proposition to build a sewer in the residential areas west of Pacific Street. ...

In a recent blog we examined the history of Grace United Methodist Church. It made reference to the congregation's move to a new edifice on Caruthers Avenue in 1959. As members of the congregation departed the old church, various "properties" were removed and transported to the new church. ...

The Cape Girardeau City Council made plans for the future of city parks and recreaetion at a meeting on Thursday, March 8, 1973. At the meeting, the body authorized the hiring of R.W. Booker and Associates Inc. of St. Louis and Thomas E. Phillips and Associates of Cape Girardeau to develop a master park plan at a fee not to exceed $14,600...

One hundred years ago -- Feb. 13, 1923 -- the German Methodist Church in Cape Girardeau became Grace Methodist Church through a decision made by the church's governing board. Up until that time, the German congregation had been known alternatively as Ebenezer Methodist, German Methodist and Methodist Episcopal. ...

Seventy-five years ago this month, Cape Girardeau lost its "true community center." On the morning of Tuesday, Feb. 17, 1948, fire destroyed the 21-year-old Houck Field House on the State College campus. Not only was the field house the home of the Indians' basketball games, it also housed hoop competition for Cape Girardeau Central High School, College High School and the Sunday School League. ...

Saint Francis Medical Center has been a part of Cape Girardeau, in one form or another, since 1875, when three Franciscan Sisters -- Philomena, Engelberta and Felicitas -- began caring for the ill in a two-story frame house on Themis Street. Their "hospital" could accommodate a dozen patients...

Last week's blog about a veritable flood in Hecht's women's clothing store 75 years ago made me curious about the origins of the ornate building. A quick search in the Missourian's clip files revealed the structure was constructed in 1927 at a cost of $60,000. ...

The frigid temperatures back in December were blamed on numerous broken pipes in the Legends apartment complex in Cape Girardeau. Water in the pipes froze with the sub-zero temps and caused the ruptures when they thawed out...

It's an exciting time for Masonic organizations in Cape Girardeau. In October 2022 the sale of the Masonic Temple on Broadway was announced, and just last month construction of a new temple was made public...

An article published on the front page of the Southeast Missourian in January 1923 caught my eye. It lamented the passing of the harness maker from among the ranks of Cape Girardeau's manufacturing establishments. Alas, the popularity of the automobile drove the trade to extinction...

The A.C. Brase Arena Building was still under construction when this aerial was taken in 1939. The park was officially named in January 1948. (G.D. Fronabarger ~ Southeast Missourian archive)...

Today's blog is the last of three I've done featuring Warren E. Hearnes' final days as Missouri's 46th governor. This blog shares the story and images of Warren and Betty Hearnes' return to Mississippi County on Jan. 8, 1973...

As Warren E. Hearnes packed his bags to leave the Missouri governor's office in December 1972, his secretary, Cathryn Clack Adams, began preparing to depart Jefferson City as well and the job she had handled for 18 years. Published Dec. 19, 1972, in the Southeast Missourian:...

Leslie L. Lindy acquired his first model train in 1948. From then on Lindy's enthusiasm for all things railroad became a passion for the young father and, eventually, his son. The Southeast Missourian newspaper has published several articles about Lindy and his train collection, but this was the first one...

As his days as Missouri governor were drawing to a close, Warren Hearnes took time out of his schedule to give an interview to a Southeast Missourian newspaper staff writer. What resulted is an interesting look back on Hearnes' years in office, what he considered his successes and his failures, and his thoughts on the recent gubernatorial race...

James Brown sang, "It's a Man's World," but he never met Flora "Flo" Edwards. At a time when men brought home the bacon and women were expected to stay home and tend the children, Flo Edwards drove a taxicab in Cape Girardeau, an occupation she followed for nearly 30 years...

When Mom passed away back in 2004, I became the "Keeper of the Family Photos." Big Sis handed over a big Tupperware container of pics, some in frames, some not. I spent a lot of time working my way through that tub, supplemented now and again by strays Big Sis would find around her house, which was my parents' home since they married in 1956...

Many of my older readers will recall the name Frieda V. Rieck. She was associated for many, many years with Cape Girardeau's musical life. A skilled violinist, she taught vocal music, string instruments and orchestras here at all levels — elementary, high school and college — for almost 40 years. Rieck is credited with organizing the Cape Girardeau Symphony. She taught at Southeast Missouri State College and retired in 1962 as head of the Music Department...

As a kid, my siblings and I loved the demolition derbies staged at Arena Park. Dad would take us; Mom got a quiet evening away from four noisy kids. I wonder if the people who attended the auto polo demonstrations in Capaha Park during the 1922 fair enjoyed the shows, which, I imagine, bore some resemblance to the demo derbies we cheered on...