AUTUMN VISIT TO CAPE COUNTY PROVIDES COLORFUL, SCENIC TOUR

Indian summer has begun. The first frosts of the season have encouraged individuals who enjoy fall vacations to contemplate driving south, where fall tours have been arranged by tourism committees. Missouri is one of these states.

To better acquaint out-of-state visitors with the scenic beauty of Missouri and the historical landmarks, a booklet about these attractions has been published by the state. It is available at offices of the Chamber of Commerce, and some post offices, and is free.

In addition, the Southeast Missourian has published a city guide called Tip Off, which can be obtained at the newspaper office on Broadway, as well as at motels, banks, the Chamber of Commerce and other places. It is also free. It has pertinent facts about this interesting Mississippi River city situated on the west bank of the Mississippi River south of St. Louis and north of Memphis. There is information in the booklet not available elsewhere, about the city and also about the country seat, Jackson, four miles northwest on Highway 61 North.

Today, interstate highways make travel easy and enjoyable. Distances can covered in much less time than it took years ago. Until after World War II, there were many back roads in Missouri surfaced with gravel that were bumpy to travel on, and hard on rubber tires. Automobiles were not as common as they are today, and when a family purchased a car they did not want to scar it or damage it traveling on bad roads. Hence, many of the historical landmarks of the past, associated with the early history of the state, were often unseen by most of the out-of-state visitors. Today, this condition has changed. Reaching the old water mill and covered bridge at Burfordville is no longer a wish but a reality. It dates to the turn of the last century and is something tourists enjoy, and camera buffs and painters find a delight to capture on film and canvas.

Missouri landscapes are exceptionally attractive in the fall, because of the dense growth of trees, both hard and soft varieties. Early frost that accompanies shorter days and cooler nights prevents warm sunlight from turning the water and carbon dioxide into food within the body of the leaves, a process called, "photosynthesis. When the chlorophyll stops making food (green color), the other colors, hidden in the leaves, appear and bright fall colors of red, gold, and yellow turn Missouri landscapes into a delight for natives of the state to see, and out-of-state visitors to enjoy. The colored leaves remain on the trees until the high winds of late November send them blowing across the landscape. The native Indians were taken with the beauty and they tried to put the colors in their craft work.

One of the rural roads with a history of being traveled in the fall is Greensferry Road. It extends from the bank of the Mississippi River, in Trail of Tears State Park, to Jackson, joining North High Street and coming into Jackson at the north side of the Cape Girardeau County Courthouse. Bend Road extends north of the city of Cape Girardeau and eventually joins Greensferry Road. Residents of both Cape and Jackson have been familiar with the road since pioneer days. The road has seen some changes over the years, but it is best remembered because the Cherokees walked it in the winters of 1838-39, when they migrated westward to the new reservation the government had prepared for them in Oklahoma Territory.

At one time, there were many very old houses on the roadside. The homes were small, built of wood or logs, and the land surrounding them had been homesteaded.

Once the Rock Hill Methodist Church stood on the summit of a high hill, where there is a view that is breathtaking. It is worth the drive to see this view.

The old Brooks home with its long rambling porch, center doorway, four front windows on the first floor, five on the second floor, once presented an inviting appearance to travelers. Other old homes on the road were: the Kinder home, Barks, Campbell, Keeling, Hicks, Brennecke, Wohigamuth, Hensley, Minton, and Wissman. And there were others.

The road was well populated and was the only direct route from the southeastern section of the Missouri Territory and the Mississippi River to the Southwest Territory.

The river crossing at the end of the road was Moccasin Springs, and the river journey from Illinois to Missouri at this point was made on Capt. Samuel Wiggins' boat. On the Missouri side, the journey across river was made on Capt. William W. Green's boat. The boat was named, "Capt. Green."

Greensferry Road was important as it connected travelers with the old Spanish El Camino Real, which was the southern end of what became the Santa Fe Trail in 1820.

When Greensferry Road eventually reaches the bank of the Mississippi, the view is beautiful. Looking north there is Apple Creek, Hines Landing, Hanging Dog, Neely's Landing, the Devil's Tea Table, Sublett's Hollow, Vancill's Landing, then Moccasin Springs.

To the south is Sheppard's Point, Bainbridge, Poe Landing, Kinney Point, Flora Creek, Cape Rock. On the opposite shore is Willard's Landing, Hemburg, Picayune, Sunlit Shore, Devil's Island, and Whoahoo Piling.

The names were derived from river pilots, old families in the area, and Indians. Some names have been changed and may not be listed on a new river chart, but the old names remains written in historical records and all of the places are interesting for travelers to visit.