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James Baughn
James Baughn was the webmaster of seMissourian.com and its sister newspapers for 20 years. On the side, he maintained even more sites, including Bridgehunter.com, LandmarkHunter.com, TheCapeRock.com, and Humorix. Baughn passed away in 2020 while doing one of the things he loved most: hiking in Southeast Missouri. Here is an archive of his writing about hiking and nature in our area.
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Cape Girardeau's government will turn 200 years old this Wednesday

Posted Monday, July 21, 2008, at 10:19 AM

The city of Cape Girardeau is on the verge of entering its third century. On July 23, 1808, a petition was submitted to incorporate the town and create the first municipal government.

To celebrate, the Red House Interpretive Center will host a birthday party this Wednesday, starting at 10 AM, featuring free birthday cake.

How much do you know about the early history of our fair city?

Take this quiz and test your knowledge of the early days of Cape Girardeau, when the future looked bright and those upstarts in Jackson hadn't snatched away the county seat yet.

The answers to the quiz will be revealed at the Red House birthday party on Wednesday. See you there.

1. What was Themis Street named after?

  1. One of Louis Lorimier's distant relatives
  2. The Greek goddess of divine law
  3. A small village in France
  4. A fictional character in a popular 18th Century novel

2. Approximately how many acres were included in the original incorporation of 1808?

  1. 12
  2. 127
  3. 640
  4. 1,347

3. Which of these streets has kept the same name throughout the last 200 years?

  1. Broadway
  2. Main
  3. Independence
  4. William

4. What street marked the western boundary of the original 1808 town limits?

  1. West End
  2. Middle
  3. Sprigg
  4. Lorimier

5. Which of these streets was NOT named on the original town plat?

  1. Spanish
  2. German
  3. Indian
  4. American

6. Who has the oldest marked grave in Old Lorimier Cemetery?

  1. Louis Lorimier
  2. Charlotte P. B. Lorimier
  3. Jean B. Girardot
  4. John Randol

7. What was the original name of Broadway?

  1. Fortune St.
  2. Louisiana St.
  3. Gravois Rd.
  4. Harmony St.

8. How much did it cost to buy the first town lots?

  1. $1
  2. $25
  3. $100
  4. $1033

9. At the time of the 1808 incorporation, Cape Girardeau was under the jurisdiction of which territory?

  1. Territory of Indiana
  2. Territory of Ohio
  3. Territory of Louisiana
  4. Territory of Missouri

10. The Cape Girardeau post office was established January 1, 1807. Who was the first postmaster?

  1. Charles E. Ellis
  2. Robert Worthington
  3. Louis Lorimier
  4. Joseph McFerron

11. Cape Girardeau was re-incorporated as a city in 1843. Who served as the first mayor?

  1. Edgar Mason
  2. Alfred T. Lacey
  3. George Thilenius
  4. Rodney G. Whitelaw

12. When was Cape Girardeau County officially established?

  1. January 1, 1804
  2. July 1, 1806
  3. October 1, 1812
  4. August 10, 1821

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  • So me an Coby suffer 'cause we can't be at that Red House? We're a dyin' to know those answers. Also, Coby wants to know about the first dog...

    -- Posted by Hugh M Bean on Mon, Jul 21, 2008, at 12:43 PM

  • Is this all of the celebrations of our bicentennial?

    -- Posted by BABE on Mon, Jul 21, 2008, at 8:41 PM

  • The city was platted in 1806, but incorporated in 1808.

    The big, yearlong bicentennial celebration took place in 2006.

    -- Posted by wreckless76 on Tue, Jul 22, 2008, at 3:02 PM

  • why would anyone have a rabbit with a pancake on its head as an avatar?

    -- Posted by goat lady on Tue, Dec 8, 2009, at 6:20 PM

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