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Firefighters from the Cape Girardeau Fire Department gear up fight a structure fire Monday night in the 100 block of Louisiana Street at the intersection of William Street.
The blaze occurred around 7 p.m., when a caller notified the Cape Girardeau Fire Department of flames showing from the north side of the building, which sits on the northwest corner of William Street and Louisiana Avenue.
The Jackson, Scott City, Gordonville and Sikeston, Mo., fire departments were called to assist in battling the blaze.
It took firefighters more than an hour to completely subdue the fire; portions of the nearby roads were blocked off during that time.
The interior of the house appeared to have sustained significant damage from flames, smoke and water.
The house, a three-story brick building, was built in 1905 by Abraham Russell Ponder, a railroad executive.
The house was owned by Cape Girardeau County 2nd District Commissioner Jay Purcell, who was running it as an extended-stay bed and breakfast.
Purcell went to the scene after learning about the fire, but said he was waiting for firefighters to finish their work.
"I don't know. I'm trying to see what's going on," he said. "I'm just waiting."
Fire investigators are still trying to determine the cause, said assistant fire chief Mark Hasheider. The fire is believed to have begun in the basement, he said.
Comments
What a loss. That house was beautiful.
Let's home SEMO doesn't buy it and turn it into a parking lot.
Loss? What loss? A high dollar B&B in a poor economy? This is the most profitable thing that could have happened.
what loss? this was a great house! not just one of the hundreds of cookie-cutter houses like we see all over town. I live across the street and watched as the firefighters tried to put the flames out. what an ordeal. this thing was huge. no telling how many thousands of dollars of damage was done. hopefully this wasn't arson.
As much as I dislike Jay's politics I am very glad nobody was injured in this fire. That house is indeed a wonderful example of cape historical places and I for one am sad to see it damaged so badly. Hope
this was simply electrical or hvac related. Sorry this happend Jay and I am glad you or your Family are safe and sound. No need to jump to conclusions here Folks.
Lets wait see what the fire dept has to say.
Malan: Yes, losing that beautiful, old, historical home is not only a lose but, a tragedy. I would much rather see these beautiful old homes used as a B&B and continued to be well maintained than to just sit there and roit to the ground. What good is another empty lot going to do this town "in this poor economy"? This town is losing more and more of it's history every day and this house being destroyed by fire is just another lose added to the list. Your remark makes me ashammed of the narrow-mindedness of some people in this community. I'm sorry but, your post sickened me. And don't post back to me telling me that you have never singled any other posters on this forum because you have many times. You have a right to your opinion but, I also have a right to mine and again I say your post sickened me.
Probably going to be a "you called it TommyStix".
maybe "Boss (Jones) Hogg" will assemble a blue-ribbon action committee to make a report...?
Malan-
your comment borders cruel! Gee- I hope it happens to you and then see if you think it is a loss or not! Normally I wouldn't wish a fire on anyone- but since you think it is no loss- I do wish it on you.
Cape doesn't have very many beautiful historic homes like this one- and it is sad that it has now burned! I fell sorry for the people who owned it. This house was the most beautiful by far of all the homes on William Street.
Does anyone know what is going on with the house caddycorner to this one? The one that faces William? I see people over there from time to time wth moving vans, but as far as I can tell, there is no one acctually living there. What a waste. It is a huge house and looks like the outside has been maintained. I have no idea what the inside is like, but I would love to find out.
What was wrong with saying, "In before Swingle files arson charges against Purcell?"
That's not disgraceful or anything like that. It was a simple comment. For crying out loud!
Thanks for all the neighborly thoughts there frazzled, but you're about 45 years to late. I watched with my family as our "home" burned along with our every worldly possession except the clothes on our backs. I was a freshman in high school and it was devastating. Over the years I have donated clothing, furniture, food, money, and time countless times to those who have had the same misfortune. And NO, I wouldn't wish it on anyone.
That wasn't the case here, this wasn't the loss of a home. It wasn't like the "Gump House" with Purcell and his family living there and letting rooms to make ends meet. It was a dollar and cents business, pure and simple, no different than a Burger King or a tattoo parlor.
So, mourn the building if you want but, I'd be willing to speculate it will add more to Purcell's bottom line in 2009 than it did in 2008.
Malan, I was disgusted enough by your first post, but your 2nd post only made me think even less of you. First of all, you've lived through a house fire and losing everything yet show no compassion toward someone else experiencing a similar tragedy. How self-centered you are!
Secondly, you attempted to justify your callousness by saying the house wasn't a home, that Purcell and his family lived there but took in boarders. If Purcell and his family lived there, that house was their home, irregardless of how many boarders they might have. My grandmother took in boarders when my grandfather went to fight in WWII, leaving her with kids to raise and a big house with empty rooms that could generate revenue. Her taking in boarders during this time in no way lessened the fact that their house was a home to her, her children, and even (for a time) the boarders.
You seem to be a bitter, unhappy person who likes to wish ill on others and rejoice in their misfortune. How sad!
KatieM- amen
Malan- shame on you
Malan- why do you hate? If you truly lived through a fire you would have more compassion than this.
If Purcell lived there or not- say it was "just a business" it is still a loss by fire. Why feel no compassion for someone who suffered a loss? You think somehow he will profit by this? No insurance company pays 100% of what something is worth when there is a fire or when a home is destroyed. You think he can afford it therfor it isn't a loss? WRONG - in these times no one can afford it. Have you ever thought maybe they loved that house?
My prayers are with Jay tonight- and I hope others will also pray tonight for him and his family!
malan,
I'm sorry to hear about your loss when you were in high school. Besides the death of a parent (happened to me when I was a senior), experiencing losing everything is the next worse thing that could happen to someone--especially at that age. You're also correct in stating that the insurance will put more in Purcell's pocket than a nickel and dime bed and breakfast (especially one in Cape).
Don't listen to the nay-sayers, that's what makes the internet so great: you can speak your mind anonymously. Who cares what they say, besides narcing to the site administrator, what can they do?
Personally, I think it sucks that a historic building was damaged.
I'm in the middle on this. Jay Purcell was our landlord for a time. You know the old hospital on Spanish Street? Across from the License Bureau? Yeah, he owned that, we rented from him, and lived in the basement. Rent was 165 and all we could afford. Everytime it rained, water seeped in and flooded the apartment. When it would rain really hard, all the basement apartments were flooded. He never fixed it, never gave us anything to compensate us. He didn't do jack. I'm sorry for the house, but not sorry for him. I've lost my own possessions thanks to his carelessness and unwillingness to take care of his tenants. I'm also sorry for his wife and children, but will never be for him. I'm one to believe in karma, and now he's walking in someone else's shoes. Maybe he finally understands how it feels.
Boo Hoo Malan: Try digging your best friend out of the charred remains of a burned down house. I have and everytime I see the remains of a fire it all comes flooding back. Waiting 3 hours for the coronor, watching him peel his head back so that we can identify the body and then a closed casket funeral and then watching his kids grow up without a dad. How cruel of you.
Frazzled, I said something that offended you. So you openly pray that I be burned out of my home, without so much as a thought about my grand babies that often stay with us, and you ask ME why I hate. You are amazing.
And KatieM, next time, please read and try to understand what someone actually said BEFORE you fly off the handle. Am I "a bitter, unhappy person who likes to wish ill on others and rejoice in their misfortune"? Not at all. Do I believe in calling a spade a spade regardless (irregardless only exists because people like me got tired of telling people like you it was wrong) of the political correctness? Absolutely.
Purcell nor anyone else lived in this building. He and his family are nestled securely at their full time home. This was just a business. Do I think he will profit from this? Absolutely!!
malan- don't twist my words you psycho
I did NOT say I was praying for you or to have your home burnt. I am NOT evil like you.
I said I was praying for Jay and his family who have suffered a loss. They deserve sypmathy over htis - not criticism.
You are so blind by your hate that you can't even read straight. And you are trying to justify your hatred by a fire that happened as a child. Yet you have NO sypmathy for anyone else who are fire victims.
YOU NEED HELP!
malan,
in everyone's life, we have all suffered a loss.
Malan: I don't think it is your place to justify this by feeling that you are the authority on this issue. You made the ignorant post first not any of the rest of us. We just happen to have had a strong reaction to your thoughtless, cruel remarks. I don't need you to tell me I am wrong because I am NOT. I really do not care for your attitude which I deem to need lots of improvement. You brought all this on now live with the fact that there is several of us who just do not agree with you crude posts. And yes you always come across like the town know-it-all you must be a very busy person or should I say busy-body with a big mouth.
malan: "Loss? What loss? A high dollar B&B in a poor economy? This is the most profitable thing that could have happened."
frazzled63701: "Malan- your comment borders cruel! Gee- I hope it happens to you and then see if you think it is a loss or not!"
KatieM: "Malan... You seem to be a bitter, unhappy person who likes to wish ill on others and rejoice in their misfortune. How sad!"
Sundance: "Boo Hoo Malan..."
frazzled63701: "malan- don't twist my words you psycho... I am NOT evil like you... You are so blind...trying to justify your hatred...YOU NEED HELP!"
Sundance: "You made the ignorant post first... We just happen to have had a strong reaction to your thoughtless, cruel remarks. I don't need you to tell me I am wrong because I am NOT. you always come across like the town know-it-all you must be a very busy person or should I say busy-body with a big mouth."
What's with all these mean comments and judgments thrown at Malan here? As far as his first comment he's right. It would be the most profitable thing for his business in this economy. How is that offensive?
If people have feelings about a historic building getting damaged, that's fine because that's what they care about. But the responses to the article aren't related to the building at all, they're just attacks on malan that are mean and judgmental. Where in his responses is he being "psyco", showing "hatred", "rejoicing" in misfortune, and being "cruel"? I must be blind myself for not seeing it.
"Gee- I hope it happens to you and then see if you think it is a loss or not! Normally I wouldn't wish a fire on anyone- but since you think it is no loss- I do wish it on you."
Frazzled, I stand corrected, you aren't praying that I be burned out of my home, you're just hoping and wishing. Kind of a fine line there don't you think? And this your way of NOT being evil? I would really hate to see the wrath should you ever turn toward the dark side.