CAMPSTER SCHOOL: HISTORIC BUILDING EARNS A NEW LEASE ON LIFE AS BUSINESS

The antique shop offers primitive collectables from toys to tools.

Students posed for a Campster School photo in the spring of 1957. From left to right in the front row, Stephen Golden, Stephen Schonhoff, Kermit Melton, Richard Golden, Danny Niswonger, Bonnie Schwepker, Kathy Compas, John Melton, Darrel Hobbs, Patrick Suzuki and Terry Juden. Second row, Brenda McElroy, Linda Armstrong, Larry McElroy, Norman "Butch" Golden, Martin Dubs, Terry Keller, Denise Keller and Ronnie Propts. Also pictured were the teacher, Mrs. Clark Ervin, left, and Miss Lena Schwepker, the cook. (submitted photo)

The old Campster School was situated more west and further off Bloomfield Road for more than 80 years. The new school replaced it in 1940. (submitted photo)

A lot of history can be found inside the walls of the old Campster School, 3892 Bloomfield Rd.

Not only would the walls be chattering if they could talk, but the merchandise inside the school house also could tell some tales.

Almost a year ago, Jane Cox purchased Campster School from the Cape Girardeau Public Schools. She decided to start an antique business and convinced other antique dealers to sell merchandise at her store.

"I live on Highway 25 and would pass by this every time I came to Cape," she said. "The idea to buy it really came first. The avenue -- to have the antiques -- came later."

Since February, Cox has offered antiques she has collected, as well as collectibles from other antique dealers. "I wanted to have a variety of merchandise," she said of the decision to recruit other dealers.

The building was vacant for a number of years before she moved in. She said the last civic group to rent it was the Shriners.

"I think the '64-'65 year was the last class that was here," she said.

Campster School was built in 1940. Cox said the school was probably named after a local resident, because a cemetery close by has a few Campsters buried there.

The stone used for the school's walls was purchased in Perryville, Cox said.

"It's a well-built building," she said. "When they put in the alarm system, they had to drill through 17 inches of concrete."

Much of the original materials still are in the school. The tiled floors and the chalk boards found on three of the four walls in each of the two rooms were the same ones students who attended the last day of classes saw in 1965, over 30 years ago. Some of the furniture used at the school also was left behind in the building.

"That book case was from the school," Cox said of the case now containing antiques. "There's another one downstairs that I haven't brought up yet."

In addition to the building maintaining its 1940s charm, stories of ghosts and hauntings also add to its appeal.

"I've heard some stories and the rumors," she said. "I don't really believe them though."

Cox installed an elaborate alarm system, and other than that installation, very few renovations have taken place at the school. She said the inside of the building was painted, but the building remains in the condition it was after construction was completed in 1940.

Cox not only has pictures of the school built in 1940, but also the original Campster School built in 1858. That school was torn down in 1940 because the building was dilapidated.

But Cox said some area residents want to make sure this building lasts for many years to come.

"The people in the area really take pride in this school," she said.

She said a group that used to be called the Campster Welfare Ladies met Wednesday at the school. "I think they've dropped the `welfare' since I bought the building," she said. "They kind of took care of things around here."

According to the business card, Campster School Antiques, Collectibles and the Unique is open daily but closed on major holidays.