From the Morgue: The Doyle house succumbs to 'progress'

"Progress" has been the excuse given for the destruction of numerous Cape Girardeau landmarks over the years. The Ellis-Wathen-Ranney house on Main Street and the Hartzell mansion on Morgan Oak were both demolished in the name of "progress". And don't EVEN get me started about the razing of the handball court on the River Campus.

Another structure that came down in the name of progress was one few of us have probably heard of, because its demolition happened 100 years ago. The Doyle house at the southwest corner of Broadway and Lorimier Street was razed to make way for a new Southeast Missourian building.

The newspaper, owned by Fred and George Naeter, had been housed in a building they constructed at 225 Broadway since 1908. But by 1924, the quarters had become too cramped to meet the needs of the growing company. The Naeters decided to construct a new home for the operation at the city's "most desirable commercial location."

They announced their plans in a front-page article in the July 1, 1924, edition:

WORK STARTED ON NEW HOME FOR MISSOURIAN

The Cape Girardeau Southeast Missourian is to have a new home as soon as it can be erected, work having started on it today.

Being the foremost daily newspaper published in a city of its size, The Missourian is entitled to a home in keeping with the importance of the newspaper, and that the new building will measure up to this standard there will be no question.

Naeter Brothers purchased from Roberta O'Brien in Kansas City the property at the (southwest) corner of Broadway and Lorimier streets, known for many years as the Doyle property, it being considered the most desirable commercial location in Cape Girardeau. The property faces 125.6 feet on Broadway by 173 feet on Lorimier Street.

It is planned to erect a two-story fire-proof building covering the width of the property on Broadway and being 113 feet deep. The Missourian will occupy the entire building with the exception of the second floor facing Broadway and two shops facing Broadway.

Start work today

Frank Hamar, a local contractor, started the work of removing the present brick building today and hopes to finish within 10 days. By that time a contract for the excavation will have been awarded. It is planned to cut the surface of the entire lot down to a level with Lorimier Street and then a basement will be excavated. By the time this work is finished the architects will have completed the plans and the contract for the building will have been let so construction work can start early in August. It is believed the building can be erected in six months.

The new Missourian building will be one of the largest in Cape Girardeau. It will be modern in every respect and of the Spanish type of architecture which will make it distinctive.

The present Missourian building, 40 by 115 feet, two stories, is recognized as one of the most beautiful and substantial buildings in Cape Girardeau and is the best newspaper building in Missouri outside of the three largest cities. But it is not large enough to meet the needs of The Missourian's constantly growing business.

The new Missourian building will typify the ambitions and faith of this newspaper.

* * *

This formal announcement almost immediately prompted a number of letters to the editor and articles providing the history of the Doyle house.

Published July 8, 1924, in the Southeast Missourian:

STATELY LANDMARK GOES AT CALL OF MISSOURIAN

The old Doyle house, at the corner of Broadway and Lorimier Street, faded from sight Monday afternoon, and thus another landmark vanished. The property is being cleared for The Missourian's new home and within another day or so Frank Hamar will start the excavation work. The lot, which faces 125.5 (feet) on Broadway and 173.25 on Lorimier Street, will be cut down level with the sidewalk on Lorimier Street. Then a basement approximately 110 by 75 feet will be dug.

The brick house that stood on the northeast corner of the lot was erected longer ago than any living person can remember. Mrs. A. List, who has lived across the street for 35 years, told The Missourian that she remembers when an addition was built to the house and when the stone wall along the Lorimier Street side was built, but the house was there many years before the improvements were made.

Mrs. List does not remember much of the early history of the Doyle house. Mrs. Doyle, Miss Jane Broderick and Mr. J.G. Gale were living in it when she and her late husband moved to their fine new home diagonally across the street. That was 35 years ago and the List house was then the finest in Cape Girardeau, being the replica of a castle in Switzerland.

Mrs. List says she remembers very well when the late Thomas Fagan built the stone wall on the Lorimier Street side. The wall on the Broadway side was erected several years previously by the late William Regenhardt. To this day those walls are works of art.

The Missourian would like to know more of the history of the old Doyle house and will appreciate hearing from anyone who might give some information on the subject.

Two great trees

The two great trees that stand on the property and that now attract so much attention because they can be seen so well, are doubtless more than 100 years old. It is believed that the black walnut tree is the oldest. The trunk measures fully 36 inches in diameter and a more graceful tree never raised its face to heaven. The elm, which stands close to the corner of Broadway and Lorimier streets, is the most wonderful tree. Its trunk is not large but its boughs spread out like the ribs of an umbrella, shading both sidewalks. For many years pedestrians have stopped during the hot days to get a fresh breath of air under it and they marveled at the beauty of the hospitable elm.

Mrs. List says she often spoke with Mrs. Doyle and Miss Broderick about these trees. Mrs. Doyle fairly worshiped the elm, she said. She was a woman who took life easy and in the summer she spent much of her time under it. It will be recalled that the Doyle place was one of the attractions of Cape Girardeau, the display of flowers, shrubs and trees being unusually beautiful.

Tried to move one

The Missourian endeavored to have the great elm moved to the rear of the lot but found it impossible. Tree specialists say it would probably be impossible to move such a great tree even during the winter months and that there would be no chance of success whatever during the summer. So the grand old elm and the majestic walnut will have to give way to the trend of higher civilization. In this instance the space occupied by these trees in serving humanity will be used by a modern building in which will work scores of men and women trying to serve humanity along a different line.

The destruction of these two masterpieces of the Divine Power impresses The Missourian anew with its responsibilities. It musty build well and beautifully if it is to make up for the loss it will incur and it must serve as it has never served before.

To this end The Missourian will strive with all its might.

Read the rest of this blog at semissourian.com/blogs/fromthemorgue.

Sharon Sanders is the librarian at the Southeast Missourian.