Kage School restoration begins

Fred Lynch

Monday, March 24, 2014

The old Kage School building which dates from 1880 is undergoing restoration on Monday, March 24 in Cape Girardeau. The building will be repurposed into a 2-bedroom home. The school building closed in 1966 and has remained vacant.

Justin Wissmann with Langston Masonry & Construction grinds out joints in the brick wall of the old Kage School in preparation for tuckpointing on Monday, March 24, 2014 in Cape Girardeau. (Fred Lynch)
Restoration work has begun at the old Kage School as seen Monday, March 24, 2014 in Cape Girardeau. The building served as a one-room school for 112 years until 1966. (Fred Lynch)
Justin Wissmann with Langston Masonry & Construction grinds out joints in the brick wall of the old Kage School in preparation for tuckpointing on Monday, March 24, 2014 in Cape Girardeau. The building's owner, Rick Hetzel, said he bought the former one-room school from Keith Deimund and plans to repurpose it into a 2-bedroom home. The building itself dates from 1880, replacing a log structure that stood since 1854. Classes continued until 1966. Hetzel plans to restore the building consistent with historical guidelines. The classroom area will remain open and a loft bedroom will be added above the kitchen area. Indoor plumbing will also be added. Hetzel plans to have an open house within a couple of months before the repurposing construction begins. (Fred Lynch)
The interior of the old Kage School shows the need for restoration.

The classroom area in the old Kage School is seen Monday, March 24, 2014 in Cape Girardeau.
A wall in the classroom area at the old Kage School is seen Monday, March 24, 2014 in Cape Girardeau.
School books from school days at Kage School are seen Monday, March 24, 2014 in Cape Girardeau.
Science and arithmetic books at Kage School are seen Monday, March 24, 2014 in Cape Girardeau.
A reminder of school is seen at Kage School are seen Monday, March 24, 2014 in Cape Girardeau.

Justin Wissmann with Langston Masonry & Construction grinds out joints in the brick wall of the old Kage School in preparation for tuckpointing on Monday, March 24, 2014 in Cape Girardeau. (Fred Lynch)
Remnants from school days at Kage School are seen Monday, March 24, 2014 in Cape Girardeau.
Dishes sit on a window sill at the old Kage School on Monday, March 24, 2014 in Cape Girardeau.
The kitchen area of the old Kage School is seen Monday, March 24, 2014 in Cape Girardeau.
The front of the classroom area in the old Kage School is seen Monday, March 24, 2014 in Cape Girardeau.
The interior of the old Kage School is seen Monday, March 24, 2014 in Cape Girardeau.
Wes Langston replaces some bricks in the chimney wall at the old Kage School on Monday, March 24, 2014 in Cape Girardeau. (Fred Lynch)
Chimney work is part of the restoration at the old Kage School as seen Monday, March 24, 2014 in Cape Girardeau. The building served as a one-room school for 112 years until 1966. (Fred Lynch)
Restoration of the old Kage School is underway Monday, March 24, 2014 in Cape Girardeau. The building's owner, Rick Hetzel, said he bought the former one-room school from Keith Deimund and plans to repurpose it into a 2-bedroom home. The building itself dates from 1880, replacing a log structure that stood since 1854. Classes continued until 1966.
The old Kage School is seen Monday, March 24, 2014 in Cape Girardeau.