Handball Court being demolished right now

Sad, very sad.

that is all they know is tear down

Thanks to your earlier column, I made it a point to stop by on my last visit to Cape. I was amazed to see all the names carved in the bricks, some going back to the 1920s.

Here are photos of a few of them.

http://www.capecentralhigh.com/cape-photos/southeast-missouri-state-university/w...

It was for sale for many years...everyone had a chance to purchase it.

insider63785, I assume you are not from Cape Girardeau or the surrounding area. I would imagine that if any of us commoners could have afforded the old seminary we would have purchased it. No one is saying the university should not have purchased it, and I personally believe they were respectful of the old buildings that were there. What we don't like is that they chose to tear down a Cape Girardeau and (apparently from Ken Steinhoff's article) a national landmark. Could they not have somehow built around it the way I believe Deaconess Hospital in St. Louis built around the old chapel there?

My husband grew up in the house at Morgan Oak and Spanish Street that faces the river. The handball court, as well as the lawns and trees, were and are treasured by many. It just makes us sad to see that it is gone. It seems to me the university could have found another place to build whatever it is they intend to build.

All SEMO University knows is tear down and build parking lots! Look at Broadway. They have more parking lots than businesses.

I attended “The Cape” 1954/55. I played handball with Father Collier on the the court. He was also responsible for creating and building the Blessed Mother’s grotto on the southeast side of the building. Our class helped with the construction. We traveled north to collect a truckload of red granite used in the construction. Thanks for the memories.