WILL LAST CHANCE HAVE `THIRD' CHANCE?

CAPE GIRARDEAU - It's the beginning of spring in Southeast Missouri. The March flowers are blooming, and the white jasmine flower used to flavor tea has been spreading its fragrant perfume since February.

In Cape Girardeau, however, one of the old landmarks of brick, stone and wood, stands deserted and boarded on the southwest corner of Broadway and Pacific. It's waiting patiently to be recognized for the once important role it played in the city's history.

The building has been known as the First Chance, Second Chance, a grocery, a boarding house, saloon, college meeting place, (where sandwiches and soft drinks were sold) and a residence. It is now one of the oldest buildings in town and occupies a very important site on Broadway.

When the city was growing and reaching westward, most of the old buildings that remained from the early years of the city were torn down to make room for new structure. Some cities had foresight to save and restore some of the old buildings.

Ste. Genevieve is an example, and tourists delight in visiting such places. But unfortunately little of the very old remains in Cape. The city presents a fresh, modern look that is appealing. But today's tourists have developed a desire to learn not only the roots of their family and their environment, but the early history of the country. Tourist groups are waiting to be challenged.

Louis Lorimier first owned the building site. It was purchased from his estate after his death in 1812. The date of the transaction was before 1848, only five years after the town was incorporated.

The present building was erected about 1850 by a Mr. Krueger. It was an imposing brick building for the time, being the same size it is now. One of the interesting things is that the building remained as it was from the time it was built on the exterior until 1978 when the Last Chance was leased to two different individuals and then released to Richard Kinder and James Rust.

The board siding was used to cover the old handmade brick front on the first level to give it a rustic look. The exterior was originally a typical example of German-European architecture because the residents of Cape at the time were chiefly Germans who had migrated into the area. Many appreciated the similarity to the native land countryside decided to remain.

When the Kruegers erected the building, it was a grocery store. The inner section was a saloon called the Last Chance. That's because the stage from Jackson, the county seat, passed the door and passengers had a chance to stop, rest, and have refreshments before continuing their journey, either to or from Cape. The road was dirt, narrow, not smooth, and this was the western boundary line of the city in 1850, when the population was about 2,500.

The Kruegers had three daughters who eventually inherited the building. Mr. Krueger died first and his wife later remarried Henry Vosage, a German bartender. The grocery store was then converted into a residence for the Krueger family, and the upstairs was fixed for house students attending the `Normal.'

The remaining history becomes more interesting but lack of space makes recounting impossible. The important thing about the story is arousing a civic interest to save the Last Chance-Second Chance, restore it, and put it back into business as an antique shop, restaurant or book store, or something profitable. It would be of interest to tourists who flock to Southeast Missouri by boat and motor car during vacations.