Businesses decorate to celebrate centennial

The outside of Renaissance home decor shop in downtown Cape Girardeau is almost alive with newspaper images. Cut from little slips of history is a decoupage of stories and columns that co-owner Sherry Yaeger found inspirational as an artist, leading to songs and paintings.

The door says "Southeast Missourian: 100 years of inspiration."

Several businesses decorated windows in their Cape Girardeau shops to help the newspaper mark the end of its centennial celebration, which culminates today with a block party on the newspaper's grounds at 301 Broadway.

"As an artist, everything I do is inspired by something," Yaeger said. "The Southeast Missourian has inspired me on many occasions to develop an idea, with my art, with my business. Our window was decorated with some of my favorite articles throughout the years."

Other businesses that did displays were Past Times Antiques at 45 N. Main St., The Woman's Store at 113 N. Main, Kids Wear Again at 118 N. Main and Lang Jeweler's at 126 N. Main.

"The merchants all did a neat job of decorating," said Jon Rust, co-president and publisher of the Southeast Missourian. "Each has displayed something that is best understood up close, looking at the details and the words."

Rust said each of them offered unique perspectives: Past Times featured Southeast Missourian artifacts and modern vision with a space-girl in a newspaper miniskirt with an accompanying robot dog.

"Priceless," Rust said.

Rust said he liked Lang's Jewelers display, which he described as a classy look at the history of the newspaper alongside photos of their history. He called the "Hats Off to the Missourian" at the Woman's Store "simple and elegant." At Renaissance, Rust said they share a great vision of the newspaper and the community with specific headlines and words that form a tribute to harmony and love. And Kids Wear Again put a display together in newspaper cut-outs that fits in great with the theme of their merchandise, Rust said.

"It's special how downtown merchants support each other, and we appreciate their kind words," Rust said.

Judith Ann Lang, co-owner of Lang's Jewelers, said she admires the longevity of the newspaper.

"I think it's great that a business can survive," she said. "The world's not as simple as it used to be. Their efforts in changing with the times has helped them survive 100 years. You have to be willing to grow. That's the key to success. The Missourian has been willing to do that."

smoyers@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 137