Clock addition to Downtown Sikeston area

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Historic Downtown Sikeston is hoping donations will put more time on their clock.

Downtown merchants and property owners are pleased with what has been accomplished so far and want to keep the ball rolling, according to Kim Robinson, executive director of Historic Downtown Sikeston.

A lot of the improvements made to the Downtown area, such as landscaping, park benches, period lighting, trash receptacles, a bike rack, new sidewalks, improvements to the Malone Park Band Stand and the "Welcome to Downtown Sikeston" sign, were made possible with funding assistance from grants.

The project most recently completed, the old-fashioned, double-sided pedestrian clock on Front Street, is a good example of what can be accomplished through local efforts.

"The clock, the brick work, the pavers, the total package -- it was all paid for by donations," Robinson said. "The cost for the entire project was $22,000."

The clock itself arrived in the spring and was put into place in April to commemorate the city's sesquicentennial.

"Historic Downtown Sikeston, formerly known as the Historic Midtown Development Group, wanted to do something for the 150th celebration so this is what we came up with -- that's what this clock was all about," said Melissa Leible, a member of Historic Downtown Sikeston's design committee. "The city and Historic Downtown Sikeston members really came together for us. Some, like Randy and Charlotte York, Terri Hurley and Harry and Anita Sharp, donated in memory of their loved ones."

Historic Downtown Sikeston members also made a contribution in appreciation of someone dear to them: Laurence P. "Larry" Braden.

"He was always there for us to offer a helping hand," Leible said. "He was such a big supporter for all organizations in Sikeston."

The finishing touches -- a brick planter around the base of the clock with a plaque commemorating the 150th anniversary and 10 plaques recognizing donations that made the project possible -- were only recently put into place.

"We just completed it in November with the laying of the pavers and all the limestone work," Robinson said.

And they couldn't be more pleased with the final results.

"It's fabulous," Robinson said. "I think it enhances the beauty of Downtown Sikeston. We invite everyone to come down and see it."

While there has been some disagreement among merchants and property owners about how future improvements, marketing and events should be funded, all seem to be in agreement that those efforts need to continue.

Options for a permanent funding source are being researched and discussed, Robinson said.

In the meantime, Historic Downtown Sikeston will need a little something to keep things going.

"We are going to have a capital campaign next month as a short-term source of funding to support Historic Downtown Sikeston. It will raise some needed funds all through donations. Steve McPheeters is heading up the capital campaign with help from Jerry Pullen," Robinson said. "We will also have a membership drive in February."

More information for anyone interested in supporting Historic Downtown Sikeston's efforts can be obtained by contacting Robinson at the HMDG office located at 105 E. Center Street or by calling 380-3801.