A legacy of land

By J. Charles Stotz

executive director

Southeast Missouri Hospital Foundation

There are many ways to offer lasting support to one's favorite charities. Often the obvious ones are life insurance and a remembrance bequest in the donor's will. One unique way to "leave a legacy" is to donate property.

Southeast Missouri Hospital recently received such a gift from a local family who felt that the work of our hospital warranted a special charitable gift. In 1925 Florian and Lula Armstrong settled on a piece of property west of Cape Girardeau and named it the Silver Springs Farm. The land had significant historical value because it was the site of the original Andrew Ramsey home which was built in 1795.

Andrew Ramsey was the first American settler in the Cape Girardeau area. The original, two-story log cabin built by Ramsey still exists within the walls of the Armstrong farm house and is said to be one of the oldest buildings still standing between Ste. Genevieve and Memphis.

For many years, the land was used as a dairy farm. The Armstrong Dairy produced and delivered milk to city residents for many years, first using a box-like buggy pulled by a horse to deliver bottles of raw milk, buttermilk, cream, cheese and eggs.

In 2001 the family of Florian and Lula Armstrong created a lasting memorial the donation of four acres of land near the new Central High School west of the city.

"This land has a significant place in the history of our area," said hospital trustee member Narvol Randol Jr. "The Armstrong family's generous donation of 4.2 acres and their belief in the Southeast Missouri Hospital and its future are deeply appreciated."

Gifts of property can offer a long lasting legacy to the receiving charity and set a gift standard for others to follow.