LETTER: BOTANICAL GARDEN NOT NEW

Dear Editor:

I have been following with great enthusiasm the stories about the old St. Vincent's Seminary and potential ground use. I am delighted to finally see the community coming together to say what they would like there.

Of particular interest of late is the number of callers to the "Speakout" columns about a botanical garden. There was a very famous botanical garden on the seminary grounds. It was totally destroyed in the 1850 tornado which tore away the southeastern corner of Building A, then moved northeast to wipe out Old St. Vincent's Catholic Church. Father John F. McGerry was the professor of natural sciences, in particular botany. Father McGerry had other religious contacts from France and Italy who would mail him many of their native species. All the walks were in the crucifix designs and there in the middle was a small cottage where old Henry King, a caretaker, died in the tornado.

The grounds are open to the public if you would like to try to envision this. At the time of the tornado there were only two structures up. The new boys day school was completed about 1838 and sat directly across from the main Building A. The dorm rooms, theater and chapel were much later additions. The gardens started near the present-day ball field baselines and went due south and stopped at where the present-day dorm additions (Building B) and the theater and chapel (Building C) are.

There are two young ladies in this town trying to pull a book together on Joseph Lansman, the architect behind this structure, Old St. Vincent's, St. Marys of the Barrens at their seminary, the courthouse overlooking Themis Street...his list goes long. They would love to interview people who remember the tales and stories passed through generations. You may fax/voice to 335-3195 or use the snail mail to 3702 Stonebridge Drive, Cape Girardeau, Mo. 63703.

We are also collecting stories to write a book on Father Darling, who established the first black Catholic Church here in Cape on South Sprigg Street. If any of your readers attended or know where these folks are buried, please write to us at the above address and fax/voice line.

DIANA STEELE

Cape Girardeau